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Objectives: Ordinary chronic pancreatitis (CP), such as alcoholic CP, is well established to have the increased risk for pancreatic cancer (PaC), nevertheless an association between autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and PaC is still unknown. The aims of this study are to examine the frequency of patients who developed PaC during follow-up after being diagnosed with type 1 AIP and to compare the incidence rate of PaC between patients with type 1 AIP and CP., Methods: Sixty-three patients with type 1 AIP and 41 patients with CP were enrolled. We examined development of PaC during follow-up from their clinical records., Results: The mean follow-up period was 62.4 months in AIP group and 49.2 months in CP group. The occurrence of PaC was observed in 3 patients with AIP during the mean follow-up period of 94.7 months (range, 31-186), whereas a single CP patient developed PaC 38 months after CP diagnosis. The incident rate of PaC during follow-up was comparable between the 2 groups [4.8% (3/63) in type 1 AIP group vs. 2.4% (1/41) in CP group]. In all of 3 AIP patients who developed accompanying PaC, the clinical remission of AIP was achieved with maintenance steroid therapy, when tumors were discovered. In the histological examination of one surgical patient with PaC, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in storiform fibrosis with abundant IgG4-positive cell infiltration was observed around the PaC area., Conclusions: Similar to patients with ordinary CP, surveillance for development of PaC is needed at regular interval during follow-up in AIP patients., (Copyright © 2014 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

IgG4 related cholangiopathy, a distinctive type of cholangitis of unknown origin, is characterized by increased serum levels of IgG4, massive infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells with storiform fibrosis and/or obliterative phlebitis in the thickened bile duct wall, and good response to steroids. Patients with IgG4-cholangiopathy are frequently associated with autoimmune pancreatitis; IgG4-cholangiopathy is recognized as a biliary manifestation of IgG4-related disease. This condition can be diagnosed by a combination of imaging, serology, histopathology, and steroid responsiveness; however, cholangiographic features are often difficult to differentiate from primary sclerosing cholangitis, pancreatic cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma. The Japanese clinical diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis established in 2012 are useful in the diagnosis of IgG4-cholangiopathy. Although the precise pathogenic mechanism remains unclear, the development of IgG4-cholangiopathy may involve: susceptible genetic factors, abnormal innate and acquired immunity, decreased naïve regulatory T cells, and specific B cell responses. Further studies on genetic backgrounds, disease specific antigens, and the role of IgG4 are necessary to clarify the pathogenesis., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the preoperative diagnosis by International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria (ICDC) with histological diagnosis in patients with focal autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) who underwent surgery., Methods: Thirty patients (type 1 AIP in 23 and type 2 AIP in 7) with a diagnosis of AIP based on histology of surgical specimens were classified according to ICDC based on their preoperative data., Results: Pancreatic core biopsies and diagnostic steroid trial were not preoperatively performed in any of the patients. Based on preoperative data, ICDC diagnosed 6 patients (20%) as having type 1 AIP and 24 (80%) as probable AIP. Assuming all patients had responded to a steroid trial preoperatively, ICDC would have diagnosed 8 patients (27%) as having type 1 AIP, 4 (13%) as type 2 AIP, 10 as AIP-not otherwise specified (33%), and 8 (27%) as probable AIP. In the hypothetical situation, 7 of 8 type 1 AIP patients and 3 of 3 type 2 AIP patients would have been classified into the correct subtype of AIP., Conclusions: A steroid trial enhances the possibility of correctly diagnosing AIP by ICDC despite the lack of histology. However, some patients cannot be diagnosed as having AIP or be classified into the correct subtype without histology.

Background and Aim: A double-balloon (DB) endoscope can be selectively inserted into the afferent loop to carry out endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with surgically altered anatomy, allowing various types of endoscopic treatments for pancreaticobiliary diseases to be successfully carried out. In order to make such a lengthy procedure more comfortable and safe, sedatives and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) insufflation are widely used for gastrointestinal endoscopy. However, these techniques can increase the risk of CO2 retention. Recently, a new sensor for transcutaneous measurement of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2 ) has been introduced. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in transcutaneous PCO2 (PtcCO2 ) during DB-ERCP with CO2 insufflation under conscious sedation and assess any complications related to sedation and CO2 insufflation., Methods: A total of 312 patients underwent DB-ERCP with CO2 insufflation at our hospital between March 2009 and December 2012. The patients were moderately sedated using midazolam with or without pentazocine. PtcCO2 was measured by a non-invasive sensor throughout DB-ERCP in all patients., Results: The mean peak PtcCO2 during the procedure was significantly higher than the mean PtcCO2 value before and after DB-ERCP. Body mass index, procedure time and dose of pentazocine were significantly higher in the CO2 retention group (peak PtcCO2 ≥ 50 mmHg). CO2 narcosis was observed in one case., Conclusions: DB-ERCP with CO2 insufflation under conscious sedation might have the potential to increase the risk of CO2 retention. Hence, non-invasive and continuous PtcCO2 measurement is useful for early detection of hypercapnia., (© 2013 The Authors. Digestive Endoscopy © 2013 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Recently, autoimmune pancreatitis has been classified into two subtypes. Type 1 is related to immunoglobulin G4 and type 2 is related to granulocytic epithelial lesions, but pathogenetic mechanisms in both still remain unclear. Apart from type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis, the pathological features of type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis with increased serum immunoglobulin G4/immunoglobulin E levels, abundant infiltration of immunoglobulin G4+plasmacytes and lymphocytes, fibrosis, and steroid responsiveness are suggestive of abnormal immunity such as allergy or autoimmunity. Although pathophysiological conditions seem to be different in each, both respond well to steroid drugs. After remission, the patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis show high relapse rates (30-50% within 6-12 months), whereas those with type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis seldom relapse. After remission, the steroid maintenance therapy and therapeutic strategy for relapsing patients with type 1 is different among local expertise. In this paper, recent advances in pathogenesis and clinical guidance for therapy are discussed.

Background and Aim: Endoscopic approaches for pancreatobiliary diseases in patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy had been impractical until the development of balloon-assisted endoscope (BAE) made it feasible. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of a newly developed short-type single-balloon endoscope (s-SBE) for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy., Methods: From March 2013 to November 2013, s-SBE-assisted ERCP was done in our hospital in 26 postoperative patients who had surgically altered anatomy. We retrospectively evaluated the success rate of reaching the blind end, the mean time required to reach the blind end, the diagnostic success rate, the therapeutic success rate, the mean procedure time, and complications., Results: The success rate of reaching the blind end was 92.3%. The mean time required to reach the blind end was 25.3 min. The diagnostic success rate was 91.7%. The diagnostic success rate for naïve papilla was 75%. The mean procedure time was 56.0 min. The success rate of overall s-SBE-assisted ERCP was 84.6%. The complication rate was 3.8%., Conclusion: Diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP using a newly developed s-SBE is sufficiently effective., (© 2014 The Authors. Digestive Endoscopy © 2014 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Background & Aims. Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is often associated with abdominal pain, which impairs quality of life. The aim of this prospective study was to clarify whether the use of a low-fat elemental diet (ED) is beneficial for managing pain in patients with CP. Methods. Seventeen CP patients with pain despite fat-restricted dietary and conventional medical treatments were enrolled in this prospective study. These patients received low-fat ED therapy in addition to restricting fat intake for 8 weeks. The change of pain severity was examined by interviewing the patient and status of analgesic use. Results. Mean serum levels of amylase and lipase at 8 weeks after the beginning of low-fat ED therapy decreased compared to those before the therapy. At 8 weeks, pain alleviation after low-fat ED therapy was reported in 15 out of 17 patients (88%). Of these 15 patients, 10 patients reported complete pain disappearance. One of 3 patients with severe or moderate pain requiring analgesic was relieved of analgesic use after low-fat ED therapy. Conclusion. Low-fat ED therapy is useful as means of pain control in CP. The therapy is recommended in outpatients with CP who present with pain despite conventional dietary and medical treatments.

Background: International consensus diagnostic criteria (ICDC) have been proposed to classify autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) in type 1, type 2, or not otherwise specified., Objective: Aim was to apply the ICDC to an Italian series of patients to evaluate the incidence and clinical profiles among different subtypes of AIP., Methods: we re-evaluated and classified 92 patients diagnosed by Verona criteria, according to the ICDC., Results: Out of 92 patients, 59 (64%) were diagnosed as type 1, 17 (18%) as type 2, and 15 (16%) as not otherwise specified according to the ICDC. A significant difference between type 1 and type 2 were found for age (54.5 ± 14.5 vs. 34.4 ± 13.9 respectively; p < 0.0001), male sex (76 vs. 47%; p = 0.007), jaundice (66 vs. 18%; p = 0.002) and acute pancreatitis (9 vs. 47%; p < 0.0001), elevated serum IgG4 levels (85 vs. 7%; p < 0.0001), inflammatory bowel disease (8 vs. 82%; < 0.0001), and relapse of the disease (34 vs. 6%; p = 0.058). Imaging and response to steroids in the not-otherwise-specified group were similar to type 1 and 2., Conclusions: Type 1 has a different clinical profile from type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis. The not-otherwise-specified group has peculiar clinical features which are shared both with type 1 or type 2 groups.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) using a double-balloon enteroscope (DBE) in patients with bowel reconstruction due to a previous abdominal surgery is now widely accepted. In particular, a short DBE, which has a 2.8-mm working channel and 152-cm working length, is useful for ERCP because of its good rotational and straightening ability and the availability of various conventional ERCP accessories through the working channel. Herein we report a case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma via ERCP with a short DBE. This is the first report in which the pre-cutting and the brush cytological examination were performed successfully under a DBE to diagnose intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma pathologically. The short DBE allowed us to perform all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures accepted in conventional ERCP in patients with surgically altered anatomies.

Background: High serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels and infiltration of IgG4-positive cells are characteristic of Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). We previously reported that increased regulatory T cells (Tregs) may regulate IgG4 production in AIP. Although an increased serum IgG4 concentration is observed in some patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), clarification is still necessary. We have therefore studied the correlations between IgG4-positive cells and Tregs in patients with PDA., Subjects and Methods: A total of 21 PDA and nine AIP patients were enrolled in our study. The numbers and ratios of Tregs, IgG4-positive, and IgG-positive cells immunohistochemically stained with anti-Foxp3, IgG4, and IgG antibodies, respectively, were counted in three areas of resected pancreata in PDA, peritumoral pancreatitis (PT), and obstructive pancreatitis (OP)., Results: In PDA, PT, OP area, the number of IgG4-Positive cells (5.183 ± 1.061, 2.250 ± 0.431, 4.033 ± 1.018, respectively; p < 0.05) and the ratio of IgG4/IgG (0.391 ± 0.045, 0.259 ± 0.054, 0.210 ± 0.048, respectively; p < 0.05) were significantly lower than those in AIP (21.667 ± 2.436 and 0.306 ± 0.052, respectively). The numbers of IgG4-positive cells did not differ significantly among the three areas of resected pancreata examined. However, the IgG4/IgG (0.391 ± 0.045) and Foxp3/monocyte (0.051 ± 0.008) ratios in PDA area were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those in OP area (IgG4/IgG: 0.210 ± 0.048; oxp3/monocyte: 0.0332 ± 0.005), but not in PT area. Of the 21 cases of PDA, the ratio of IgG4/IgG was >40 % in nine (43%), six (29%) and three (14%) cases in PDA, PT and OP area, respectively. Foxp3 and IgG4 were positively correlated in OP area, but not in PDA and PT area., Conclusions: Clinicians should be careful when basing a differential diagnosis of PDA and AIP on the numbers of IgG4-positive cells and the ratio of IgG4/IgG, especially when determined using a small biopsied sample.

Background: Among many diagnostic criteria for autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), the International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria (ICDC) first enabled us to diagnose and compare type 1 and type 2 AIP, which permitted tailoring individual diagnostic algorithms depending on local expertise. We compared them and validated ICDC with special reference to levels 1 and 2, and proposed a diagnostic algorithm for AIP in Japan., Methods: The diagnostic sensitivity of 5 major criteria (ICDC, Korean, Japanese-2011, Asian, and HISORt criteria) was compared, using 61 patients with AIP. Fifty six patients with pancreatic cancer served as a control. Pancreas imaging on computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) were independently evaluated by 3 pancreatologists (5, 10, and 20 years of career experience) and each diagnostic criterion of ICDC was validated with special reference to levels 1 and 2., Results: The sensitivities of 5 major criteria were 95.1% (ICDC), 90.2% (Korean), 86.9% (Japanese), 83.6% (Asian), and 83.6% (HISORt) with 100% of specificity in each. In the evaluation of pancreas imaging, diagnostic sensitivities of combination with CT and ERP in segmental/focal type AIP were significantly higher than single imaging (26% in CT (P < 0.01) or 35% in ERP (P < 0.05) vs 63% in CT + ERP), but not significantly different in the diffuse type., Conclusions: Of the 5 criteria, ICDC is the most sensitive and useful for diagnosing AIP. We have proposed a diagnostic algorithm with CT for the diffuse type of AIP, and combination with CT + ERP followed by EUS-FNA for the segmental/focal type., (Copyright © 2013 IAP and EPC. All rights reserved.)

Recently, IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) has been recognized as a novel clinical entity with multiorgan involvement and unknown origin, associated with abundant infiltration of IgG4-positive cells. The Japanese research committee, supported by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan, unified many synonyms for these conditions to the term "IgG4-RD" in 2009. The international symposium on IgG4-RD endorsed the comprehensive nomenclature as IgG4-RD, and proposed the individual nomenclatures for each organ system manifestations in 2011. Although the criteria for diagnosing IgG4-RD have not yet been established, proposals include the international pathological consensus (IPC) and the comprehensive diagnostic criteria (CDC) for IgG4-RD for general use, and several organ-specific criteria for organ-specialized physicians, e.g., the International consensus diagnostic criteria (ICDC) and the revised clinical diagnostic criteria in 2011 by the Japan Pancreas Society (JPS-2011) for type1 AIP; the Clinical Diagnostic Criteria 2012 for IgG4-sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC-2012); the diagnostic criteria for IgG4-positive Mikulicz's disease by the Japanese Society for Sjogren's syndrome; and diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related kidney disease by the Japanese Society of Nephrology. In cases of probable or possible IgG4-RD diagnosed by the CDC, organ-specific diagnostic criteria should be concurrently used according to a diagnosis algorithm for IgG4-RD, with referral to a specialist.

In June 2008, a 74-year-old male was diagnosed with IgG4-related disease including histologically proven IgG4-related prostatitis, and then followed as an outpatient. In July 2011, cervical, chest, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed right parotid gland swelling and lymph node enlargement of the supraclavicular, mediastinal, left hilar, porta hepatis, and para-aorta. A biopsy of the right parotid gland was performed, and we diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). As malignancies are possible complications for patients with IgG4-related disease, we must be careful in the follow-up of IgG4-related disease patients.

Dipeptidyl peptidase III (DPP III), the zinc peptidase, has a unique helix portion in the metal-binding motif (HELLGH). The enzyme activity of the cupric derivative of rat DPP III (Cu(II)-rat DPP III) for Lys-Ala-β-NA is about 30% of that of the wild-type enzyme. On the other hand, the enzyme activity of Cu(II)-rat del-DPP III, in which Leu453 is deleted from the metal-binding motif, possesses only 1-2% of the enzyme activity of rat del-DPP III. The EPR spectra of Cu(II)-rat DPP III in the presence of various concentrations of the substrate, Lys-Ala-β-NA, changed dramatically, showing formation of the enzyme-metal-substrate complex. The EPR spectra of Cu(II)-rat del-DPP III did not change in the presence of excess Lys-Ala-β-NA. The deletion of Leu453 from the HELLGH motif of rat DPP III leads to a complete loss of flexibility in the ligand geometry around the cupric ions. Under the formation of the enzyme-metal-substrate complex, Glu451 of Cu(II)-rat DPP III is sufficiently able to approach the water molecule via a very different orientation from that of the resting state; however, Glu451 of Cu(II)-rat del-DPP III is not able to access the water molecule., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Recent histological and clinical studies have suggested the existence of 2 distinct types of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP): type 1 AIP related to IgG4, exhibiting lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP), and type 2 AIP related to granulocyte epithelial lesions (GELs), exhibiting idiopathic duct-centric chronic pancreatitis (IDCP). We herein present a case of type 1 AIP with histologically proven LPSP with GELs. This patient had neither serum IgG4 elevation nor MPD narrowing. In this case, the clinically and histologically atypical findings for type 1 AIP are intriguing.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a newly recognized pancreatic disorder. Recently, International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for AIP (ICDC) was published. In this ICDC, AIP was classified into Type 1 and Type 2. Patients with Type 1 AIP have several immunologic and histologic abnormalities specific to the disease, including increased levels of serum IgG4 and storiform fibrosis with infiltration of lymphocytes and IgG4-positive plasmacytes in the involved organs. Among the involved organs showing extrapancreatic lesions, the bile duct is the most common, exhibiting sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC). However, the role of IgG4 is unclear. Recently, it has been reported that regulatory T cells (Tregs) are involved in both the development of various autoimmune diseases and the shift of B cells toward IgG4, producing plasmacytes. Our study showed that Tregs were increased in the pancreas with Type 1 AIP and IgG4-SC compared with control. In the patients with Type 1 AIP and IgG4-SC, the numbers of infiltrated Tregs were significantly positively correlated with IgG4-positive plasma cells. In Type 1 AIP, inducible costimulatory molecule (ICOS)(+) and IL-10(+) Tregs significantly increased compared with control groups. Our data suggest that increased quantities of ICOS(+) Tregs may influence IgG4 production via IL-10 in Type 1 AIP.

Recent studies suggested the existence of two subtypes of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP): type 1 related with IgG4 (lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis; LPSP) and type 2 related with a granulocytic epithelial lesion (idiopathic duct-centric chronic pancreatitis; IDCP). Apart from type 2 AIP, the pathological features of type 1 AIP with increased serum IgG4/IgE levels, abundant infiltration of IgG4+ plasmacytes and lymphocytes, fibrosis, and steroid responsiveness are suggestive of abnormal immunity such as allergy or autoimmunity. Moreover, the patients with type 1 AIP often have extrapancreatic lesions such as sclerosing cholangitis, sclerosing sialadenitis, or retroperitoneal fibrosis showing similar pathological features. Based on these findings, many synonyms have been proposed for these conditions, such as "multifocal idiopathic fibrosclerosis", "IgG4-related autoimmune disease", "IgG4-related sclerosing disease", "IgG4-related plasmacytic disease", and "IgG4-related multiorgan lymphoproliferative syndrome", all of which may refer to the same conditions. Therefore, the Japanese Research Committee for "Systemic IgG4-related Sclerosing Disease" proposed a disease concept and clinical diagnostic criteria based on the concept of multifocal fibrosclerosis in 2009, in which the term "IgG4-related disease" was appointed as a minimal consensus on these conditions. Although the significance of IgG4 in the development of "IgG4-related disease" remains unclear, we have proposed a hypothesis for the development of type 1 AIP, one of the IgG4-related disease. The concept and diagnostic criteria of "IgG4-related disease" will be changed in accordance with future studies.

Background: The efficacy of oral steroid therapy for autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is well known, and oral prednisolone treatment is most usually commenced at 30-40 mg/day, but there have been few reports about comparative studies of oral steroid therapy and steroid pulse therapy as the initial treatment for AIP. We studied the clinical course and image findings to estimate the utility of steroid pulse therapy for AIP, comparing it with oral steroid therapy., Methods: Laboratory and image findings were assessed retrospectively in 11 patients who received steroid pulse therapy, and the findings were compared to those in 10 patients who received conventional oral steroid therapy., Results: Change in pancreatic size showed no significant difference between the therapies after 2 weeks of treatment. Significant improvement of lower bile duct strictures after 2 weeks of treatment and that of immunoglobulin values within 6 months were shown with both therapies. However, steroid pulse therapy showed significant improvement of γ-guanosine triphosphate (GTP) in 2 weeks and of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in 2 and 8 weeks, compared with oral steroid therapy. Moreover, there was one patient in whom the lower bile duct stricture was not improved by oral steroid therapy, but it did show improvement with steroid pulse therapy., Conclusions: Initial steroid pulse therapy is a beneficial alternative to oral steroid therapy for the improvement of bile duct lesions. In future, the accumulation of a larger number of patients receiving steroid pulse therapy is needed, and prospective studies will be required.

Immunoglobin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) is recognized as one of the systemic sclerosing diseases characterized by abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells with effective steroid therapy. On the other hand, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), recognized as a sclerosing cholangitis of unknown origin without steroid efficacy, has been often clinically confused with IgG4-SC. To date, the prognosis of IgG4-SC is unclear, while the prognosis of PSC is well known to be poor. Therefore, it is clinically very important to be able to distinguish IgG4-SC from PSC. However, at the present time it still remains unclear whether PSC may sometimes be misdiagnosed as IgG4-SC or not. Herein, we report three rare cases of PSC with elevated serum IgG4 levels and/or an infiltration of abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells in the liver: a young male with ulcerative colitis (UC), and elderly female and a young female, each with elevated serum IgG4 levels. The first two patients showed infiltration of abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells in the portal area of the liver without response to steroid therapy. From our experiences, we emphasize that some patients with PSC, who do not respond to steroid therapy, show elevated serum IgG4 levels and/or infiltration of abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells, although the mechanism still remains unclear.

A 65-year-old woman with elevated serum levels of pancreatic enzymes was referred to our hospital for further examinations. Abdominal US and contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated swelling of the pancreas body and tail. MRCP and ERCP revealed abrupt ending of the MPD in the pancreas body. Under the suspicion of malignancy, distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed. The histopathological findings showed idiopathic duct-centric pancreatitis (IDCP) with granulocytic epithelial lesions (GEL). As most cases of Japanese autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) are lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP), the present case seems to be helpful to clarify the clinical findings of IDCP in Japan.

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation (XGI) is histopathologically characterized by a marked proliferative fibrosis, parenchymal destruction, and infiltration of foamy histiocytes intermixed with other inflammatory cells. Herein, we report a case of a 73-year-old man without symptoms who was initially diagnosed with a pancreatic cystic tumor but later with XGI in the peripancreatic region. Although XGI has been reported to occur in various organs or tissues, such as the gallbladder, kidney, bone, stomach, colon, appendix, lymph nodes, and soft tissues, XGI involving the pancreas or its surrounding tissues is extremely rare. When a pancreatic cystic lesion does not have typical clinicoradiological features of common pancreatic cystic neoplasms, this pathologic condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

A simple and selective method was developed for determining the concentration of hexaconazole in river and sea water samples by using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization interface in the positive ion mode and selective reaction monitoring mode. Trace amounts of hexaconazole were collected in a Sep-Pak Plus tC18 cartridge that was eluted with methanol. The detection limit for hexaconazole was 6 ng/l. The recovery of a standard aqueous solution containing 1 microg/l was 96%. The recovery of hexaconazole in the river and sea water samples was 95% and 90%, respectively. Hexaconazole was not detected in the sea water samples. Trace peaks of hexaconazole were found in the river water samples, the concentration being less than 6 ng/l in all cases. The biological degradation of hexaconazole was tested by using river water. No degradation of hexaconazole was apparent in river water incubated at 20 degrees C for 3 weeks.

Increase in the number of intrapancreatic sensory nerve fibers has been implicated in the generation of pain in chronic pancreatitis. Because some sensory neurotransmitters (e.g., substance P) are known to have proinflammatory effects, we hypothesized that denervation of intrapancreatic nerves might influence not only pain generation but also inflammation. Neonatal Lewis rats were injected with capsaicin (50 mg/kg or 0 mg/kg), a neurotoxin, to induce denervation of primary sensory neurons. When rats reached 170-190 g body weight, experimental pancreatitis was induced by a single administration of dibutyltin dichloride (7 mg/mg). The severity of pancreatitis was evaluated in both groups in the acute phase (at 3 and 7 days) and chronic phase (at 28 days). At day 7, the sensory denervation induced by neonatal capsaicin administration inhibited pancreatic inflammation on both histological (determination of interstitial edema, expansion of interlobular septa and intercellular spaces, and inflammatory cell infiltration) and biochemical (intrapancreatic myeloperoxidase activity) evaluation. Furthermore, at day 28, glandular atrophy, pseudotubular complexes, and rate of fibrosis were each significantly lower in the capsaicin-pretreated group than in the vehicle-pretreated group. Our findings provide in vivo evidence that primary sensory neurons play important roles in both acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatic inflammation with fibrosis.

Recently, it has been reported that autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) can be complicated with various extrapancreatic lesions. Here, we report a very rare case of pancreatic and hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) with the infiltration of IgG4-positive plasmacytes. The patient showed pancreatic and hepatic masses with elevated levels of serum IgG4. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed narrowing of the intrapancreatic bile duct. Fluorine-18fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography suggested pancreatic cancer with hepatic metastasis. Histopathologic findings showed fibrosis and infiltration of IgG4-positive plasmacytes, suggesting IPT. The present case suggests a possible common mechanism in the development of AIP and IPT of the liver.

Objectives: Increase in number of intrapancreatic nerve bundles has been implicated in the generation of persistent pain in chronic pancreatitis. To examine the origin of these nerve fibers and the mechanisms linking neural morphological change to pain generation, we used neuronal tracing techniques in combination with immunohistochemistry in spontaneous chronic pancreatitis in the Wistar Bonn/Kobori (WBN/Kob) rats., Methods: For retrograde tracing, horseradish peroxidase was injected into the pancreas, and labeled neurons in the sensory ganglia were counted. For anterograde tracing, biotinylated dextran amine was injected into the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), and labeled intrapancreatic sensory fibers were histochemically assessed. For assessment of pain generation, we evaluated c-Fos-positive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn and behavioral changes of the animals., Results: In WBN/Kob rats, the numbers of horseradish peroxidase-labeled neurons were decreased in the DRGs, and the numbers of biotinylated dextran amine-labeled intrapancreatic nerve fibers and terminals were increased. Biotinylated dextran amine-labeled nerve fibers contained growth-associated protein 43. The number of c-Fos-positive neurons in the dorsal horn was also increased and was correlated with intrapancreatic growth-associated protein 43 immunoreactivity. Grooming behavior was reduced in WBN/Kob rats, and this reduction was facilitated by exocrine stimulation., Conclusions: Axonal branching in DRG neurons innervating the pancreas increases in WBN/Kob rats, and these morphological changes are likely involved in pain generation in chronic pancreatitis.

Direct measurement of the gases adsorbed on charcoal disk was examined by the gas-chromatograph with thermal desorption devices to improve the inadequacies of the common passive monitor. Since the most satisfactory values were obtained by a preliminary experiment with toluene vapor, the experiments were done with concentrations of 20, 40 and 80 ppm, respectively to get a linear relationship between the mean adsorption per piece and the concentration of toluene. Adsorption on the charcoal disk, and its extraction by carbon disulfide without degeneration, are the necessary conditions for the measurement of gas concentration. Methanol was selected as typical from among the gases for which the common passive monitor is inapplicable. The experiment on methanol was carried out in a manner similar to that done on toluene. In conclusion, our method was found to be satisfactory for the analysis of toluene, and, if the conditions are appropriate, for methanol.