Duodenal carcinoma at the ligament of Treitz. A molecular and clinical perspective

Background There is very small occurrence of adenocarcinoma in the small bowel. We present a case of primary duodenal adenocarcinoma and discuss the findings of the case diagnostic modalities, current knowledge on the molecular biology behind small bowel neoplasms and treatment options. Case The patient had a history of iron deficiency anemia and occult bleeding with extensive workup consisting of upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, capsule endoscopy, upper gastrointestinal series with small bowel follow through and push enteroscopy. Due to persistent abdominal pain and iron deficiency anemia the patient underwent push enteroscopy which revealed adenocarcinoma of the duodenum. The patient underwent en-bloc duodenectomy which revealed T3N1M0 adenocarcinoma of the 4th portion of the duodenum. Conclusions Primary duodenal carcinoma, although rare should be considered in the differential diagnosis of occult gastrointestinal bleeding when evaluation of the lower and upper GI tract is unremarkable. We discuss the current evaluation and management of this small bowel neoplasm

Sedimentation and light scattering studies of copolymer latexes

Our current understanding of the structure of carboxylic acid latexes is briefly reviewed. Earlier measurements of the dependence of particle diameter on pH by angular intensity light scattering (AILS) were in apparent disagreement with measurements by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). New measurements of the dependence of particle diameter on pH for a carboxylic acid latex and a comparable no-acid latex by AILS, PCS, and sedimentation are reported. The hydrodynamic methods (PCS and sedimentation) show a maximum in diameter with pH while the AILS results are independent of pH. The diameter of a no-acid latex was found to be independent of pH both by AILS and PCS