刘保和教授运用《难经》腹诊理论的验案举隅

中医经典记载了腹诊,并指出"按之痛"为其阳性指征。刘保和根据《难经》理论,确定了与其相应的腹诊部位及治法方药。

中医腹诊法原理及理论依据

腹诊法是中医诊察疾病的方法之一,发端于《内经》和《难经》,经张仲景的《伤寒杂病论》予以临床验证和践行,自此这一诊病方法就成为历代医家临床认知病证的重要手段。这一诊法与《内经》创立中医学其它诊病方法一样,都依存于"司外揣内"的思维背景,凭借着相当丰富的临床实践资料的支撑,以脏腑经络、精气血津液等理论为其基础,成为独特的诊病手段,是临床医生不可或缺的识病方法。

Leptin levels in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant ascites

AIM： To evaluate the role of leptin levels in the differentia diagnosis of ascites. METHODS： Ascitic leptin, TNFα and serum leptin levels were measured in 77 patients with ascites （35 with malignancies, 30 cirrhosis and 12 tuberculosis）. Control serum samples were obtained from 20 healthy subjects. Leptin and TNFα levels were measured by EUSA. Body mass index （BMI） and percentage of body fat （BFM） by skin fold measurement were calculated for all patients and control groups. Peritoneal biopsy, ascites cytology and cultures or biochemical values were used for the diagnosis of patients. RESULTS： In patients with malignancies, the mean serum and ascites leptin levels and their ratios were significantly decreased compared to the other patient groups and controls. In tuberculosis peritonitis, ascitic fluid TNFα levels were significantly higher than malignant ascites and cirrhotic sterile ascites. BMI and BFM values did not distinguish between patients and controls. CONCLUSION： In patients with malignant ascites, levels of leptin and TNFα were significantly lower than in patients with tuberculous ascites.

Efficacy of leukocyte esterase dipstick test as a rapid test in diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of dipstick test in diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients who underwent abdominal paracentesis based on the locally available dipstick test. METHODS: There were 200 consecutive samples from cirrhotic patients who underwent abdominal paracentesis. Urine dipstick (Combur10 Test?M, Roche, Mannheim, Germany) was used as a screening test. A manual cell count with differential study was done in all samples by experienced technicians. The polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell count more than 250 cells/mm3 was used as a diagnostic cut off level. One to three plus dipstick results were used as cut off levels for a positive result. The dipstick test results had to be agreed by three experienced readers. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of two different colorimetric cut off scales (1+ and 2+) were calculated and compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of SBP diagnosed by manual cell count was 21.0%. There were 128 specimens that had a true negative result by dipstick. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of 1+ and 2+ cut off scale to diagnose SBP were 88%, 81%, 55%, 96% and 83% respectively, and 63%, 96%, 82%, 81% and 89% respectively. CONCLUSION: Dipstick test can be used as a rapid test for screening of SBP. The higher cut off colorimetric scale has a better specificity and positive predictive value but a lower sensitivity.

Choledocholithiasis: Evolving standards for diagnosis and management

Cholelithiasis, one of the most common medical conditions leading to surgical intervention, affects approximately 10 % of the adult population in the United States. Choledocholithiasis develops in about 10%-20% of patients with gallbladder stones and the literature suggests that at least 3%-10% of patients undergoing cholecystectomy will have common bile duct （CBD） stones. CBD stones may be discovered preoperatively, intraoperatively or postoperatively Multiple modalities are available for assessing patients for choledocholithiasis including laboratory tests, ultrasound, computed tomography scans （CT）, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography （MRCP）. Intraoperative cholangiography during cholecystectomy can be used routinely or selectively to diagnose CBD stones. The most common intervention for CBD stones is ERCP. Other commonly used interventions include intraoperative bile duct exploration, either laparoscopic or open. Percutaneous, transhepatic stone removal other novel techniques of biliary clearance have been devised. The availability, of equipment and skilled practitioners who are facile with these techniques varies among institutions. The timing of the intervention is olden dictated by the clinical situation.

Suture granuloma of the abdominal wall with intra-abdominal extension 12 years after open appendectomy

Most complications after appendectomy occur within ten days; however, we report the unusual case of a suture granuloma 12 years after open appendectomy. The afebrile 75-year-old woman presented with a slightly painful palpable mass in the right lower abdomen. There was no nausea or vomiting and bowel movements were normal. She lost 10 kg during the 3 mo before presentation. The patient had undergone an appendectomy 12 years previously. Physical examination revealed a tender mass, 10 cm in diameter, under the appendectomy scar. The preoperative laboratory findings, tumor markers and plain abdominal radiographs were normal. Multi-slice computed tomography scanning showed an inhomo-genous abdominal mass with minimal vascularization in the right lower abdomen 8.6cm×8cm×9 cm in size which communicated with the abdominal wall. The abdominal wall was thickened, weak and bulging. The abdominal wall mass did not communicate with the cecum or the ascending colon. Complete excision of the abdominal wall mass was performed via median laparotomy. Histopathological examination revealed a granuloma with a central abscess. This case report demonstrates that a preoperative diagnosis of abdominal wall mass after open appendectomy warrants the use of a wide spectrum of diagnostic modalities and consequently different treatment options.

Diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography withlocal anesthesia in hepatocellular carcinoma

Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common digestive malignancy, remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of performing laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound with local anesthesia as a diagnostic procedure in HCC. Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound with local anesthesia was performed in the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit in three patients diagnosed of HCC. Endoscopy staged diffuse liver disease. Laparoscopic ultrasonography identified all liver tumors not visible during endoscopy and guided needle biopsy in one case. No complications happened. In conclusion, laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound,performed as a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure can be a safe and very promising tool in planning therapy of HCC.

A case of scirrhous gastric cancer with peritonitis carcinomatosa controlled by TS-1~ + paclitaxel for 36 mo after diagnosis

A 34-year-old female complaining of abdominal fullness was diagnosed as scirrhous gastric cancer （type 4＇） with peritonitis carcinomatosa in July 2002. A combined chemotherapy regimen was selected to control massive ascites; TS-1 80 mg/m^2 was given orally on d 1-14, 22-35, and paclitaxel 50 mg/m^2 was administered intravenously on d 1, 8, 22 and 29. After 2 courses of this regimen, the primary tumor was markedly reduced, and ascites completely vanished. Alopecia （grade 1, since d 30）, leukocytopenia （grade 2, on d 34） and anemia （grade 2, on d 34） were the only adverse events throughout the following courses. The chemotherapy was effective for 28 mo, and then it was discontinued upon the patient＇s own request, and she survived for 36 mo after diagnosis.

A diagnostic approach to abdominal tuberculosis

TO THE EDITORWe read with interest the article by Uzunkoy et al[1]. about diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis. In this article authors concluded that PCR for mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is a noninvasive method which can provide the diagnosis in most cases. If this tests negative or not feasible, laparotomy should be performed.

Clinical Characters of Gastrointestinal Lesions in Intestinal Behcet's Disease

Objective To investigate the clinical features,diagnosis methods,therapeutic principles of intestinal Behcet's disease.Methods The clinical data of 45 patients with confirmed intestinal Behcet's disease admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 1998 to April 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.Results The clinical courses of patients with intestinal Behcet's disease were from 26 days to 33 years,and the average duration was 6.32±1.01 years.The appearance of extra-gastrointestinal symptoms was significantly earlier than that of gastrointestinal symptoms(7.35±1.39 years vs.3.24±0.82 years,P<0.05).The predominant gastrointestinal manifestations were right lower quadrant pain(95.56%) and hematochezia or melena(40.00%).Misdiagnosis occurred in 17 cases.In patients without systemic medicine therapy before surgery,the incidence of postoperative infection of incision site and abdominal cavity was significantly higher than that in those undergoing systemic medicine therapy(80.00% vs.0%,P<0.05).Conclusions Because of the diversity of gastrointestinal manifestations,intestinal Behcet's disease is easily misdiagnosed.The systemic medical therapy before surgery could decrease the incidence of infection of incision and abdominal cavity.

Multifocal intraportal invasion of breast carcinoma diagnosed by laparoscopy-assisted liver biopsy

Hepar lobatum carcinomatosum (HLC) is defined as an acquired hepatic deformity consisting of an irregularly lobulated hepatic contour caused by intravascular infiltration of metastatic carcinoma. To date, only nine cases of HLC have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 68-year-old woman showing hepatic metastasis of breast carcinoma in radiologically unidentified form. Initially, she received left partial mastectomy for breast cancer but solid hepatic metastases were identified in S2 and S6, 9 mo after surgery. Then, they responded to chemotherapy and radiologically disappeared. After radiological disappearance of the liver tumors, the patient's blood chemistry showed abnormal liver function. A CT scan demonstrated heterogeneous enhancement effect in the liver in the late phase,suggesting uneven hepatic blood supply. Hepatic deformity was not obvious. Laparoscopy revealed a slightly deformed liver surface with multiple indentations and shallow linear depressions. Furthermore, a wide scar was observed on the surface of S2 possibly at the site where the metastatic tumor existed before chemotherapy. Liver biopsy from the wide scar lesion showed intraportal tumor thrombi with desmoplastic change. Because of its similarity to the histology of the original breast cancer, we concluded that the hepatic functional abnormalities and slightly deformed liver surface were derived from the circulatory disturbance caused by microscopic tumor thrombi. Besides, since the wide scar was located at the site of the pre-existing tumor,it is probable that chemotherapy was an important cause of fibrous scarring as a result of tumor regression. These morphologic findings are compatible with those of HLC.Laparoscopy-assisted liver biopsy was useful to make definite diagnosis, even though the hepatic deformity was radiologically undetectable.

Ages of celiac disease: From changing environment to improved diagnostics

From the time of Gee's landmark writings, the recent history of celiac disease (CD) can be divided into many ages, each driven by a diagnostic advance and a deeper knowledge of disease pathogenesis. At the same time, these advances were paralleled by the identification of new clinical patterns associated with CD and by a continuous redefinition of the prevalence of the disease in population. In the beginning, CD was considered a chronic indigestion, even if the causative food was not known; later, the disease was proven to depend on an intolerance to wheat gliadin, leading to typical mucosal changes in the gut and to a malabsorption syndrome. This knowledge led to curing the disease with a gluten-free diet. After the identification of antibodies to gluten (AGA) in the serum of patients and the identification of gluten-specific lymphocytes in the mucosa, CD was described as an immune disorder, resembling a chronic "gluten infection". The use of serological testing for AGA allowed identification of the higher prevalence of this disorder, revealing atypical patterns of presentation. More recently, the characterization of autoantibodies to endomysium and to transglutaminase shifted the attention to a complex autoimmune pathogenesis and to the increased risk of developing autoimmune disorders in untreated CD. New diagnostic assays, based on molecular technologies, will introduce new changes, with the promise of better defining the spectrum of gluten reactivity and the real burden of gluten related-disorders in the population. Herein, we describe the different periods of CD experience, and further developments for the next celiac age will be proposed.