Gastric carditis:Is it a histological response to high concentrations of luminal nitric oxide?

During the last decade, inflammation (carditis) and in- testinal metaplasia localized to immediately below the human gastro-oesophageal junction have received much attention in relation to the rising incidence of cancer at this site. Since these histological findings are frequently observed even among those who are H pylori-negative, the causative factors for such histologic events at the human gastro-oesophageal junction remain obscure. A series of recent studies have demonstrated that a high level of salivary nitrite is sustained over several hours after the ingestion of a high nitrate meal, and that the nitrite in swallowed saliva is rapidly converted to nitric oxide by an acid catalyzed chemical reaction at the gastro-oesophageal junction. Eventually, a substantial amount of nitric oxide diffuses from the lumen into the adjacent tissue. Therefore, the human gastro-oesopha- geal junction is likely to be a region of high nitrosative stress. Considering the life-time exposure of the gastro- oesophageal junction to cytotoxic levels of nitric oxide, this may account for the high prevalence of inflamma- tion, intestinal metaplasia, and subsequent development of neoplasia at this site. Although gastric acid, pepsin, and bile acid have been intensively investigated as a cause of adenocarcinoma at the gastro-oesophageal junction and the distal esophagus, nitric oxide and the related nitrosative stress should also be examined.

Cardiac mucosa at the gastroesophageal junction:An Eastern perspective

AIM:To investigate the nature and origin of cardiac mucosa(CM).METHODS:Biopsy samples from sixty-one individuals were included in this study. The specimens were taken "at","just below",or "just above" the gastroesophageal junction,including the histologic squamocolumnar junction. Clinical data were obtained by reviewing electronic medical records for each patient. Patients with a history of stomach adenoma or carcinoma and esophageal carcinoma were excluded,and cases that were endoscopically suspicious of Barrett's esophagus or a polyp were also ruled out. Histologic and endoscopic reviews were performed blinded to the patient's clinical data. Histologic evaluation wasconducted by two pathologists,and endoscopic review was performed by a endoscopist with wide experience in the field. Histologically,the columnar epithelium of squamocolumnar junction,presence and severity of acute and chronic inflammation,atrophy,intestinal metaplasia,and presence of carditis were evaluated. Endoscopically,reflux esophagitis was evaluated by Los Angeles(LA) classification,hiatal hernias were classified by Hill grade,and gastroesophageal flap valves were assessed. RESULTS:Fifty-nine of the 61(96.7%) patients were Korean; 65.6%(40/61) of the patients underwent endoscopy according to the schedule of the National Health Insurance Program as a screening inspection. Of these,only 20.0%(8/40) of cases had reflux s y m p t o m s. C M w a s p r e s e n t i n 4 1 / 6 1( 6 7. 2 %) individuals,and its presence was associated with older age compared to oxyntocardiac mucosa/oxyntic mucosa(60.59 ± 2.02 years vs 51.55 ± 3.35 years; P = 0.018). The presence of CM was associated with endoscopic diagnosis of esophagitis according to the LA classification(P = 0.022). CM was associated with mononuclear cell infiltration and neutrophilic infiltration,which were statistically significant(P = 0.001,and P = 0.004,respectively). The inflammation of CM,"carditis",showed a statistically significant association with endoscopic diagnosis of reflux esophagitis according to the LA classification(P = 0.008). CONCLUSION:CM at the gastroesophageal junction is a common histologic finding in biopsy specimens,though not always present,and associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease and carditis severity.

Heart stopping tick

Although Lyme carditis is relatively rare within 4-6 wk of exposure, it can uncommonly present as the first sign of disseminated Lyme disease. Here we present 17 year old boy who presented to the emergency department with chest discomfort and was later found to have complete atrioventricular block due to lyme carditis. He had uneventful recovery after empiric treatment with ceftriaxone. Our case highlights the importance of considering reversible causes of complete AV block since appropriate therapy can avoid the need for permanent pacemaker insertion.