Primary Tuberculous Abscess of the Spleen in an Immununocompetent Patient Diagnosed by Biochemical Markers and Radiologic Findings

Tuberculous splenic abscess in an immunocompetent patient is extremely rare. We came across a case of middle aged immunocompetent female who presented with abdominal distension, weight loss, and low grade fever. Abdominopelvic computed tomography showed multiple low density lesions in the spleen with ascites. Interferon-gamma release assay was positive and adenosine deaminase level of ascites was significantly high. No primary focus of infection was detected. The patient was diagnosed as having primary multiple tuberculous splenic abscesses with tuberculous peritonitis causing ascites. Follow up computed tomography, after completion of six month course of anti-tubercular therapy, showed splenic abscess and ascites completely disappeared

Subepithelial Tumor-like Gastric Cancer

Subepithelial tumor-like gastric cancer (SET-like GC) is a special type of gastric cancer with a relatively low prevalence of approximately 1%. Diagnosing SET-like GC is challenging because the tumor is often covered with normal mucosa. The mechanisms of occurrence of SET-like GC include: 1) excessive infiltration of lymphocytes in the cancer, 2) intensive secretion of mucin by mucinous adenocarcinoma, 3) excessive fibrosis around the cancer, and 4) adenocarcinoma arising from heterotopic gastric glands in the submucosa. It is important to be aware of the endoscopic features of SET-like GC to differentiate it from other subepithelial tumors, to recognize the possibility of SET-like GC, and to make a diagnosis before treatment. In this review, we summarized the epidemiologic and clinicopathologic characteristics of SET-like GC

Myocardial Infarction Thought to be Provoked by Local Epinephrine Injection During Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

Due to its hemostatic effect, local epinephrine has been used to minimize mucosal bleeding during endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), but its clinical benefit remains unclear. On the other hand, several adverse events deemed to be caused by epinephrine have been observed during ESD. A 73-year-old woman developed myocardial infarction after ESD for a large rectal adenoma, and an 80-year-old woman developed abrupt chest tightness during ESD. In both patients, changes on electrocardiogram and elevated cardiac markers provided evidence of myocardial ischemia. The patients were transferred to the cardiac care unit and recovered completely. Up to our knowledge this is the first report of myocardial infarction thought to be provoked by submucosal epinephrine injection during ESD

Development of Pseudomembranous Colitis Four Months after Initiation of Rifampicin

Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) may develop with long-term antibiotic administration, but is rarely reported to be caused by antitubercular agents. We present a case of PMC that occurred 120 days after starting rifampicin. A 74-year-old man was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and started on a standard HERZ regimen (isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampicin, pyrazinamide). After 4 months of HERZ, he presented with frequent bloody, mucoid, jelly-like diarrhea and lower abdominal pain. Sigmoidoscopy revealed multiple whitish plaques with edematous mucosa that were compatible with PMC. Biopsies from these lesions showed ulcer-related necrotic and granulation tissue. We stopped antitubercular treatment and started the patient on oral metronidazole. His symptoms completely resolved within 2 weeks. Antitubercular treatment was restarted by replacing rifampicin with levofloxacin. The patient did not present with diarrhea or bloody stool throughout the rest of treatment

Synchrotron x-ray imaging visualization study of capillary-induced flow and critical heat flux on surfaces with engineered micropillars

Over the last several decades, phenomena related to critical heat flux (CHF) on structured surfaces have received a large amount of attention from the research community. The purpose of such research has been to enhance the safety and efficiency of a variety of thermal systems. A number of theories have been put forward to explain the key CHF enhancement mechanisms on structured surfaces. However, these theories have not been confirmed experimentally because of limitations in the available visualization techniques and the complexity of the phenomena. To overcome these limitations and elucidate the CHF enhancement mechanism on the structured surfaces, we introduce synchrotron x-ray imaging with high spatial (similar to 2 mu m) and temporal (similar to 20,000 Hz) resolutions. This technique has enabled us to confirm that capillary-induced flow is the key CHF enhancement mechanism on structured surfaces.11Ysciescopu