Endoscopic spray cryotherapy for esophageal cancer: safety and efficacy

Few options exist for patients with localized esophageal cancer ineligible for conventional therapies. Endoscopic spray cryotherapy with low-pressure liquid nitrogen has demonstrated efficacy in this setting in early studies

Safety and efficacy of endoscopic spray cryotherapy for Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia

Endoscopic ablation to treat Barrett’s esophagus (BE) with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) is associated with a decreased incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic spray cryotherapy (CRYO) demonstrates promising preliminary data

The Role of Laparoscopy in the Evaluation of Liver Transplant Patients

Diagnostic laparoscopy is safe and effective in the diagnosis of liver diseases. In liver transplant patients, laparoscopy has a valuable role in the early detection and staging of hepatic lesions. Laparoscopy is helpful in the early detection and staging of primary hepatic malignancy. With the increase of liver transplantation around the world, gastroenterology and hepatology programs should re-evaluate the role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of liver diseases

Viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis accounts for most liver diseases seen in hepatology practice. In the past year studies have been focused on uncovering the basic mechanisms of viral–cellular interactions, the knowledge of which will contribute to more effective treatment. Hepatitis A virus outbreaks still occur, even in the most developed countries, which points to the need for more comprehensive vaccination measures. Lessons learned from the treatment of HIV with combination antiviral therapies are being applied to both chronic hepatitis B and C. Progress has been made toward better understanding of viral kinetics and the quasispecies of hepatitis C virus with new and more sensitive diagnostic methods. Several therapeutic protocols are emerging to identify and tailor the management approach in various subsets of the population. Although posttransplantation hepatitis B has been more effectively managed with lamivudine therapy, no major advances have been accomplished in the treatment of recurrent hepatitis C among transplant recipients. Major advances in the field of viral hepatitis including A to E and TT viruses during the past year are highlighted

A neuropathological study of cerebrovascular abnormalities in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3–deficient patient

Human signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) deficiency (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man [OMIM] no. 147060) is a rare primary immunodeficiency caused by heterozygous mutations of STAT3, conferring susceptibility to infections and skeletal and connective tissues features. Recent morphologic data revealed that STAT3 deficiency is responsible for a diffuse vasculopathy,1, 2, 3, 4 which is characterized by alteration in mechanotransduction in the arterial wall causing hypotrophic remodeling despite increased forces exerting on the wall (circumferential wall stress), leading to enhanced susceptibility to aneurysm.The high vascular risk of such lesions was confirmed by the sudden death of a 35-year-old patient (carrying a missense F384L STAT3 mutation) after rupture of a giant basilar artery aneurysm (see Fig E1 in this article's Online Repository at www.jacionline.org). After consent of his family, an autopsy was performed 24 hours after death