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Biomedical subjects

E E Furth

Publications and source records attributed to E E Furth.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Adenocarcinoma in colonic brushing cytology: High-grade dysplasia as a diagnostic pitfall.

Cytologic evaluation of brushing specimens obtained from the colon may be useful in the diagnosis of neoplastic and inflammatory lesions, as previous studies have reported favorable sensitivity and specificity figures for this procedure. In this study, we report our experience with 80 colonic brushings examined over a 5-yr period. Thirty cases received an atypical or malignant cytologic diagnosis. Nineteen of 20 cases diagnosed cytologically as adenocarcinoma revealed adenocarcinoma on biopsy; one case showed only adenomatous epithelium on biopsy and subsequent resection. Cases diagnosed cytologically as "atypical" or "adenomatous" showed adenocarcinoma, adenoma, and inflammatory conditions upon biopsy. Slides from 30 atypical/malignant cases were retrospectively reviewed for a number of cytomorphologic features and were correlated with the histologic diagnosis. Cases from histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma tended to show greater degrees of altered nuclear polarity, nuclear pleomorphism, membrane irregularities, and chromatin pattern alterations than those from histologically proven adenomatous or inflammatory lesions. The most likely cause of a false-positive diagnosis in this setting is sampling of an adenoma with high-grade dysplasia which fails to meet histologic criteria for adenocarcinoma (invasion of the underlying muscularis mucosae). Thus, in the second part of the study, we examined histologic sections from surgically excised adenomas to determine the frequency with which profound nuclear atypia is at least focally present, potentially resulting in a false-positive cytology diagnosis upon brushing. Slides from 51 cases were reviewed; cytologic atypia beyond that typically observed in adenomas was not observed in 43% of cases. However, profound nuclear atypia was present in 6% of cases; cytologic evaluation of a brushing specimen from these lesions may have resulted in a false-positive diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, despite the histologic diagnosis of adenoma with severe dysplasia. The remaining cases demonstrated intermediate degrees of atypia. These findings serve to quantitate the frequency with which cytohistologic discrepancies might be expected for mass lesions of the colon.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Activation of interleukin-6/STAT3 and liver regeneration following transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Every liver that is procured, stored, and transplanted experiences injury from cold ischemia and reperfusion. Most recover quickly, but some grafts sustain enough injury to result in prolonged organ dysfunction or require retransplantation. The molecular mechanisms involved in early graft function and recovery following cold ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) after liver transplantation have not been well defined. Interleukin (IL)-6 is a critical factor in the mitogenic response within the liver, and is important for cell cycle progression and protection from injury. Activation of the latent transcription factor, STAT3, is dependent on IL-6 release. The role of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway and hepatocellular regeneration in graft recovery and cell cycle progression following cold ischemia and reperfusion was studied in a rat liver transplant orthotopic (OLT) model. Methods. Rat OLT was performed in a syngeneic model. The presence, time course, and magnitude of expression of IL-6, STAT3 activation, and upregulation of target immediate early genes were determined in liver grafts with minimal (<1 h) and prolonged (12 h) cold preservation times followed by transplantation. Progression of the cell cycle and replication was confirmed by BrdU uptake. RESULTS: Prolonged cold ischemia resulted in increased IL-6 expression and STAT3 activation. This correlated with upregulation of junB, c-fos, c-myc, and c-jun, immediate early genes associated with hepatic regeneration. Extensive DNA replication was present in livers with 12-h ischemia, demonstrating successful completion of the cell cycle. CONCLUSIONS: The participation of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway leading to cell cycle progression and regeneration is an important component in the recovery of organs immediately following cold preservation and transplantation.

Animals↗

Regulation of pancreatic beta-cell growth and survival by the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt1/PKBalpha.

The physiological performance of an organ depends on an interplay between changes in cellular function and organ size, determined by cell growth, proliferation and death. Nowhere is this more evident than in the endocrine pancreas, where disturbances in function or mass result in severe disease. Recently, the insulin signal-transduction pathway has been implicated in both the regulation of hormone secretion from beta cells in mammals as well as the determination of cell and organ size in Drosophila melanogaster. A prominent mediator of the actions of insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is the 3'-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase Akt, also known as protein kinase B (PKB). Here we report that overexpression of active Akt1 in the mouse beta cell substantially affects compartment size and function. There was a significant increase in both beta-cell size and total islet mass, accompanied by improved glucose tolerance and complete resistance to experimental diabetes.

Animals↗

Central venulitis in pediatric liver allografts.

Central venulitis (CV), a distinct histologic lesion described in adult liver transplants, can occur with acute portal tract rejection or in isolation (ICV). Possible etiologies include immunosuppressive drug toxicity, acute cellular rejection, viral hepatitis, ischemic injury, and recurrent disease. This study was designed to characterize ICV and to assess its potential etiology in pediatric liver recipients because this population generally does not develop recurrent disease or viral hepatitis. All posttransplantation liver biopsy specimens that were obtained from children who received liver allografts over a 4-year period were reviewed. ICV was identified in 12 of 127 posttransplantation biopsies and in 7 of 45 allograft recipients. Only 4 liver transplantations were performed for potentially recurrent diseases (primary sclerosing cholangitis). ICV first appeared in posttransplantation biopsy specimens significantly later than did portal rejection alone. The finding of CV was not significantly correlated with elevation of Tacrolimus levels, reason for transplantation, donor/recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) status or blood type, cold ischemic times, or the incidence of outflow obstruction. The responses of CV to therapy were variable and, although the majority of cases resolved, several episodes persisted or recurred. In conclusion, ICV occurs in 16% of pediatric liver allograft recipients and does not appear to be related to recurrent disease, viral hepatitis, drug toxicity, or graft ischemia. CV may be a variant of acute rejection, but longer follow-up is required to determine the most adequate therapy for this entity.

Adolescent↗

Accuracy of EUS in the evaluation of Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Nonoperative therapy with intent to cure may be considered for patients with Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma. However, a more advanced stage of disease must be precluded before such treatment. The potential of EUS for this purpose was evaluated. METHODS: EUS was performed in patients with Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma based on endoscopy, endoscopic biopsies, and CT before esophagectomy. EUS findings were compared with surgical/pathologic evaluation. RESULTS: EUS suggested submucosal invasion in 6 patients and lymph node involvement in 5 patients. By surgical/pathologic evaluation, 5 of 22 patients (23%) had unsuspected submucosal invasion and 1 had lymph node involvement. EUS detected all 5 instances of submucosal invasion and the single instance of lymph node involvement. EUS was falsely positive for submucosal invasion in 1 patient and for lymph node involvement in 4 patients. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive values of preoperative EUS for submucosal invasion were 100%, 94%, and 100%, and for lymph node involvement were 100%, 81%, and 100%, respectively. A nodule or stricture noted by endoscopy was associated with an increased likelihood of submucosal invasion. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma, EUS detected otherwise unsuspected submucosal invasion and lymph node involvement. Patients should be evaluated with EUS when nonoperative therapy is contemplated.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Cytomegalovirus colitis complicating ulcerative colitis in the steroid-naive patient.

We report a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) presenting as acute refractory colitis in a patient with a pre-existing 14-month history of ulcerative colitis (UC) who had never previously been treated with corticosteroids or immunosuppressants. A review of existing literature and previous cases of patients with coincident CMV and UC are examined, stratifying these cases based upon absence or presence of corticosteroid use. To date, only five previous case reports of CMV colitis in patients naive to corticosteroids have been described, and only one previous case has had UC diagnosed over 4 wk before the development of CMV colitis. We further discuss the relationship between these two diseases as well as the diagnosis, treatment, patient characteristics, and outcome of CMV infection of the colon in patients with underlying UC. We discuss the need to consider the diagnosis of CMV colitis in patients with refractory UC who are not receiving corticosteroid treatment as well as those who are refractory and are being treated with immunosuppressants and/or corticosteroids.

Acute Disease↗

Demonstration of varicella-zoster virus infection in the muscularis propria and myenteric plexi of the colon in an HIV-positive patient with herpes zoster and small bowel pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome).

Gastrointestinal symptomatology as a complication of herpes zoster (HZ) is extremely rare, with the majority of reported cases showing only temporal or radiological evidence of GI tract involvement by varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection. We present the first case of documented direct VZV infection in the muscularis propria of the gut presenting as intestinal pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome). The patient was a 34-yr-old HIV+ man who developed small bowel pseudo-obstruction in association with disseminated cutaneous HZ. A partial ileocolectomy specimen demonstrated a focal ulcer in the terminal ileum. Immunohistochemistry against VZV gpI demonstrated diffuse staining of the muscularis propria and myenteric plexi throughout the length of the specimen. Viral particles consistent with Herpesviridae were shown to be present ultrastructurally. We postulate that the viral infection in the neuronal plexi and muscularis propria caused muscle injury leading to pseudo-obstruction.

Adult↗

An open-label trial of the PPAR-gamma ligand rosiglitazone for active ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVES: Previous research has demonstrated that ligands for the gamma subtype of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) reduce inflammation in two different murine models of colitis. This study was designed to examine the potential efficacy of rosiglitazone, a ligand for the gamma subtype of PPARs, as a therapy for active ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Fifteen patients with mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis despite therapy with 5-aminosalicylic acid compounds were enrolled in an open-label study of rosiglitazone (4 mg b.i.d. p.o.) for 12 wk. Thirteen of 15 patients were receiving concomitant therapy with corticosteroids and/or immunomodulator medications. Disease activity was measured with the Disease Activity Index. RESULTS: After 12 wk of therapy, four patients (27%) had achieved clinical remission, of whom three (20%) also had an endoscopic remission. Four additional patients (27%) had a clinical response without achieving remission. Two patients were hospitalized with worsened disease activity, and one patient was withdrawn for nephrotic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that ligands for the gamma subtype of PPARs may represent a novel therapy for ulcerative colitis. A double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial is warranted.

Adult↗

Compensatory hepatic regeneration after mild, but not fulminant, intraperitoneal sepsis in rats.

Sepsis is the leading cause of death in surgical intensive care units. Although both mild sepsis secondary to cecal ligation and single puncture (CLP) and fulminant, double puncture CLP (2CLP) may provoke hepatocyte death, we hypothesize that regeneration compensates for cell death after CLP but not 2CLP. In male Sprague-Dawley rats, hepatic necrosis, as determined by serum alpha-glutathione S-transferase (alpha-GST) levels, was significantly but equally elevated over time after both CLP and 2CLP. Apoptosis, evaluated using both terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling and morphological examination, was minimal after both CLP and 2CLP. Regeneration, assayed by staining tissue for incorporation of exogenously administered bromodeoxyuridine, was present after CLP but not after 2CLP. To further substantiate impaired regeneration, steady-state levels of mRNAs encoding JunB, LRF-1, and cyclin D1 were determined. After 2CLP, the absence of JunB, LRF-1, and cyclin D1 mRNAs confirmed failed activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase-linked proliferative pathway and progression through the cell cycle. Therefore, failed hepatocyte regeneration may be a manifestation of hepatic dysfunction in fulminant sepsis.

Activating Transcription Factor 3↗

Tumor-associated antigen expression and growth requirements predict tumorigenesis in squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are the most common malignancies in man. While clinical specimens are theoretically ideal to study tumor development and progression, practical difficulties such as normal cell contamination, the presence of different cell types. and limited material make preclinical studies of model systems involving a homogeneous population of normal or transformed cells preferable. Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) found on the cell surface, including integrins, mucins, cadherins, growth factor receptors, membrane bound antigens, and glycoproteins are known to play an important role in squamous carcinogenesis. We hypothesized that (1) alterations in TAA expression in vitro predict in vivo alterations, (2) analysis of a group of TAAs would provide a better indication of SCC tumorigenesis than any single marker, and (3) SCCs with independence from exogenous growth factors in vitro would demonstrate the most aggressive growth in vivo. The cell line which grew best in vitro without serum or other supplements demonstrated the most rapid tumor growth. whereas cell lines which grew only with supplements rarely formed tumors. Normal keratinocytes. eight SCC and two immortal keratinocyte cell lines were evaluated by flow cytometry for the expression of 10 cell surface markers, including alpha and beta integrins, minor blood group-related carbohydrate determinants. carcinoembryonic antigen-related proteins, E-cadherin, and GA733 (epithelial glycoprotein. epithelial cell adhesion molecule). None of the cell lines with abnormal expression of < or = 2 markers formed tumors, whereas all lines with altered expression of > or = 3 markers formed tumors. Using GA733 expression as an example, we found that altered TAA expression in vitro predicted the presence of TAA alterations in clinical specimens. In summary, in vitro independence from supplements for optimal growth and altered expression of > or = 3 cell surface markers were good predictors of SCC tumorigenesis. These findings may be useful in decreasing the need for whole animal tumorigenicity experiments.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Short-segment Barrett's esophagus: findings on double-contrast esophagography in 20 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the findings of short-segment Barrett's esophagus on double-contrast esophagography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of pathology and endoscopy data revealed 142 patients with short-segment Barrett's esophagus, which was defined as columnar epithelium in the distal esophagus extending 3 cm or less above the gastroesophageal junction at endoscopy with histopathologic confirmation of intestinal metaplasia. Twenty of these patients underwent double-contrast esophagography. These 20 patients comprised our study group. The original radiology reports and images were reviewed to determine the findings on double-contrast esophagography. Medical records were also reviewed to determine the clinical findings and treatment. RESULTS: Double-contrast esophagrams revealed hiatal hernias in 18 patients (90%), gastroesophageal reflux in 16 (80%), reflux esophagitis in seven (35%), peptic scarring or strictures in 11 (55%), and a reticular mucosal pattern in none. A total of 14 patients (70%) had morphologic findings of reflux disease with esophagitis alone (three patients), peptic scarring or strictures alone (seven patients), or both (four patients), but the remaining six (30%) had hiatal hernias or gastroesophageal reflux as the only radiographic finding. CONCLUSION: Double-contrast esophagography revealed morphologic findings of reflux disease with esophagitis, peptic scarring or strictures, or both in 70% of patients with short-segment Barrett's esophagus. Thus, the absence of esophagitis or peptic scarring or strictures on double-contrast esophagography does not exclude the possibility of short-segment Barrett's esophagus.

Adult↗

Lymphoid hyperplasia of the stomach: radiographic findings in five adult patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to report the radiographic findings of biopsy-proven lymphoid hyperplasia of the stomach in five adult patients. CONCLUSION: Lymphoid hyperplasia of the stomach is characterized by distinctive findings on double-contrast upper gastrointestinal tract barium examinations; all five patients had innumerable tiny (1--3 mm in diameter) round frequently umbilicated nodules that carpeted the mucosa of the gastric antrum or antrum and body. Three of these five patients had associated Helicobacter pylori gastritis. The diagnosis of gastric lymphoid hyperplasia, therefore, can be suggested on the basis of the radiographic findings.

Adult↗

Fatal hyperammonemia after orthotopic lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: A case of fatal hyperammonemia complicating orthotopic lung transplantation was previously reported. OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence, clinical features, and treatment of hyperammonemia associated with orthotopic lung transplantation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING: Academic medical center and lung transplantation center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PATIENTS: 145 sequential adult patients who underwent orthotopic lung transplantation. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma ammonium levels. RESULTS: Six of the 145 patients who had had orthotopic lung transplantation developed hyperammonemia, all within the first 26 days after transplantation. The 30-day post-transplantation mortality rate was 67% for patients with hyperammonemia compared with 17% for those without hyperammonemia (P = 0.01). Development of major gastrointestinal complications (P = 0.03), use of total parenteral nutrition (P < 0.001), and lung transplantation for primary pulmonary hypertension (P = 0.045) were associated with hyperammonemia. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperammonemia is a potentially fatal event occurring after orthotopic lung transplantation. It is associated with high nitrogen load, concurrent medical stressors, primary pulmonary hypertension, and hepatic glutamine synthetase deficiency.

Adult↗

Population risk and physiological rate parameters for colon cancer. The union of an explicit model for carcinogenesis with the public health records of the United States.

The relationship between the molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis and the actual processes by which most people get cancer is still poorly understood. One missing link is a physiologically based but quantitative model uniting the processes of mutation, cell growth and turnover. Any useful model must also account for human heterogeneity for inherited traits and environmental experiences. Such a coherent algebraic model for the age-specific incidence of cancer has been developing over the past 50 years. This development has been spurred primarily by the efforts of Nordling [N.O. Nordling, A new theory on the cancer-inducing mechanism, Br. J. Cancer 7 (1953) 68-72], Armitage and Doll [P. Armitage, R. Doll, The age distribution of cancer and a multi-stage theory of carcinogenesis, Br. J. Cancer 8 (1) (1954) 1-12; P. Armitage, R. Doll, A two-stage theory of carcinogenesis in relation to the age distribution of human cancer, Br. J. Cancer 9 (2) (1957) 161-169], and Moolgavkar and Knudson [S.H. Moolgavkar, A.G. Knudson Jr., Mutation and cancer: a model for human carcinogenesis. JNCI 66 (6) (1981) 1037-1052], whose work defined two rate-limiting stages identified with initiation and promotion stages in experimental carcinogenesis. Unfinished in these efforts was an accounting of population heterogeneity and a complete description of growth and genetic change during the growth of adenomas. In an attempt to complete a unified model, we present herein the first means to explicitly compute the essential parameters of the two-stage initiation-promotion model using colon cancer as an example. With public records from the 1930s to the present day, we first calculate the fraction at primary risk for each birth year cohort and note historical changes. We then calculate the product of rates for n initiation-mutations, the product of rates for m promotion-mutations and the average growth rate of the intermediate adenomatous colonies from which colon carcinomas arise. We find that the population fraction at primary risk for colon cancer risk was historically invariant at about 42% for the birth year cohorts from 1860 through 1930. This was true for each of the four cohorts we examined (European- and African-Americans of each gender). Additionally, the data indicate an historical increase in the initiation-mutation rates for the male cohorts and the promotion-mutation rates for the female cohorts. Interestingly, the calculated rates for initiation-mutations are in accord with mutation rates derived from observations of mutations in peripheral blood cells drawn from persons of different ages. Adenoma growth rates differed significantly between genders but were essentially historically invariant. In its present form, the model has also allowed us to calculate the rate of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) or loss of genomic imprinting (LOI) in adenomas to result in the high LOH/LOI fractions in tumors. But it has not allowed us to specify the number of events m required during promotion.

Adenoma↗

Altered gastric epithelial cell kinetics in Helicobacter pylori-associated intestinal metaplasia: implications for gastric carcinogenesis.

We have compared apoptosis and proliferation in antral epithelium from individuals not infected with H. pylori (Hp), those with Hp-induced gastritis and those with Hp-induced gastritis containing areas of gastric intestinal metaplasia, the precursor lesion to gastric adenocarcinoma. Antral biopsies from 42 patients were assessed for evidence of Hp infection, severity of gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. Apoptosis was evaluated by the TUNEL assay and proliferation by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry and were expressed as apoptotic (AI) and proliferation (PI) indices. In the 31 Hp-positive (Hp(+)) patients, apoptosis and proliferation were increased compared with the 11 Hp-negative (Hp(-)) patients (AI = 1. 22 +/- 0.13% vs. 0.15 +/- 0.03%, p < 0.0001; PI = 24 +/- 1% vs. 13 +/- 2%, p < 0.0001). Increases were proportional to the severity of the inflammation. Within foci of intestinal metaplasia, in 9 of the Hp(+) patients, apoptosis was significantly reduced compared with surrounding gastritis (AI = 0.20 +/- 0.06% vs. 1.34 +/- 0.23%, p = 0. 0014), whereas proliferation was not altered (PI = 25.4 +/- 4% vs. 24.7 +/- 2%, p = 0.87), resulting in a lower AI/PI ratio in intestinal metaplasia than in surrounding gastritis (0.008 +/- 0.005 vs. 0.054 +/- 0.009, p < 0.02). Hp-induced gastritis is thus associated with increased epithelial apoptosis and proliferation compared with uninfected controls. In intestinal metaplasia, proliferation remains increased but apoptosis reverts to normal levels, and this perhaps contributes to Hp-associated gastric carcinogenesis.

Adolescent↗

Increased toxin-induced liver injury and fibrosis in interleukin-6-deficient mice.

Interleukin-6 null (IL-6-/-) mice have impaired liver regeneration and increased liver necrosis following partial hepatectomy that is corrected with IL-6 treatment. Following acute carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) treatment, we found that IL-6-/- mice developed increased hepatocellular injury and defective regeneration with significant blunting of signal transducer-and-activator of transcription protein 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and reduced hepatocyte DNA synthetic and mitotic responses. After CCl(4) treatment, unlike partial hepatectomy, increased hepatocyte apoptosis was noted in IL-6-/- livers. Pretreatment with IL-6 before CCl(4) reduced acute CCl(4) injury and apoptosis and accelerated regeneration in both IL-6+/+ and -/- livers. Repetitive doses of CCl(4) in the presence or absence of phenobarbital resulted in increased injury and fibrosis in IL-6 -/- compared with +/+ livers. After acute and chronic injury, IL-6-/- livers showed the protracted presence of alpha-smooth muscle actin associated with activated stellate cells, indicating a disturbed response in wound healing that progressed to fibrosis. These data provide evidence for an important role for IL-6 in reducing CCl(4)-induced acute and chronic liver injury and fibrosis.

Actins↗

Distinction between dysplasia-associated lesion or mass (DALM) and adenoma in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Polyps with epithelial dysplasia in ulcerative colitis (UC) represent either dysplasia-associated lesions or masses (DALMs) or sporadic adenomas. DALMs are frequently associated with associated carcinoma and are an indication for colectomy. Removal of the polyp is treatment of choice for sporadic adenomas. Differentiating between these 2 lesions is not always easy. The goal of this study was to distinguish DALMs from adenomas in patients with UC on a genetic basis. We evaluated genetic alterations in DALMs and compared them with a previously published set of dysplastic polyps in patients with UC that were considered adenomas for the following reasons: (1) polyps were located outside of current active disease; (2) polyps had histological features of sporadic adenomas; and (3) patients displayed a uneventful follow-up after polypectomy (UC-adenomas). In addition, adenomas not associated with UC were studied. Genetic alterations on chromosome 3p were assessed for the markers D3S1766, D3S2409, and D3S2387. LOH with or without microsatellite instability was found in 70%, 37%, and 57% of cases of DALM, respectively. In contrast, UC-adenomas lesions exhibited genetic alterations in 8.3%, 11.7%, and 15.3% for the respective markers. Spontaneous adenomas exhibited genetic alterations in 10.5%, 7.1%, and 0% of cases, which were not significantly different from the UC-adenoma results. These results indicate that UC-adenomas are genetically and biologically similar to sporadic adenomas and that UC-adenomas may biologically represent sporadic adenomas, supporting on a genetic basis the criteria chosen to diagnose adenomas in UC. Genetic markers on chromosome 3p may be useful in the differential diagnosis between DALM and UC-adenomas.

Adenoma↗