Laparoscopy in transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Solid-organ transplantation has become the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal disease, end-stage liver failure, and some patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Similarly, surgical expertise and mechanical improvements have led to significant advances in laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic interventions are sometimes not pursued in transplant recipients due to the lack of strong supporting evidence for the use of laparoscopic techniques in these patients. METHODS: Using an extensive literature search, we review herein the available data on the utility of laparoscopic interventions in transplant recipients, with particular attention to the risks and benefits, indications, and contraindications for this complex patient population. RESULTS: Although randomized trials are few, multiple case reports indicate that many transplant recipients have benefited from laparoscopic interventions. CONCLUSION: The well-known benefits of laparoscopy could be extended to transplant recipients.     

Does damage of perivascular astrocytes in multiple sclerosis plaques participate in blood-brain barrier permeability?

In six young and two senile MS cases perivascular astrocytes within demyelination lesions were evaluated immunocytochemically. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase method of Sternberger et al. (1970) was used for visualization of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In all cases very weak immunoreactivity of perivascular astrocytes was noted. Accumulation of perivascular glial fibers, and infrequently their fragmentation were observed both within active and old demyelination plaques. Clasmatodendrosis, Rosenthal's fibers and prominent regressive changes of astrocyte perikarya were found only in old plaques. A lack of immunoreactivity of perivascular astrocytes was noted within old demyelination lesions. The background of the latter was often immunonegative to GFAP. It is suggested that secondary damage of perivascular astrocytes influences vascular permeability within demyelination lesions including old plaques.     

Structure and Spectral Properties of β-Carbolines,I: 13C-NMR and Mass Spectra of Decahydro-5H-pyrido[1′,2′;5,1]-imidazo[3,4-a]-β-carbolines

¹³C-NMR and the electron impact mass spectra of the β-carboline derivatives 1 – 18 were examined. The structure of the possible diastereomers is discussed. A quantitative relationship between the relative intensity of ions a in the mass spectra of 1 – 18 and the structure of substituents R was found.     

Tongue oximetry in children with extensive thermal injury: comparison with peripheral oximetry

We undertook a prospective study of standard peripheral pulse oximetry versus a modified pulse oximeter probe applied to the tongue in order to determine the efficacy of this alternative monitoring site in children with thermal injuries. Ten patients with a mean age (± SD) of 7.5 ± 4.5 yr were studied on 15 occasions. The mean weight +- SD) was 31.4+- 13.7 kg and percent surface area burn (± SD) was 56+- 21%. A total of 1,992 min of anaesthesia time was monitored. Both sites functioned simultaneously 47% of the time; the lingual but not the peripheral site functioned 28% of the time and only the peripheral site and not the lingual functioned 22% of the time. Neither site functioned 3% of the time. The tongue oximeter provided 563 min more monitoring time than the peripheral sites. The tongue oximeter also functioned in children with peripheral vasoconstriction when the peripheral sensor failed and was less susceptible to electrocautery interference. The tongue oximeter is a reasonable adjunct but not a substitute for peripheral oximetry since its application is limited to paralyzed, intubated patients.     

Decreased sensitivity to experimental pain in adjustment disorder.

An altered perception of pain has been described for several psychiatric disorders. To date the influence of adjustment disorders (AD) on pain perception has not been described. Here, we investigated perception of experimentally induced pain in 15 patients suffering from AD (subtype with depressive symptoms) and controls matched for age and sex. Thresholds and tolerances were assessed for thermal and electrical pain on both sides of the body. We found an overall increase of pain thresholds and tolerances in AD patients as compared to controls, predominately on the right side of the body. Analogue findings have been reported for pain perception in major depressive disorder (MDD). Of the data obtained, only thermal pain threshold on the right arm correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms. Although the underlying pathology is elusive it is likely that the mechanisms for reduced pain sensitivity are comparable in MDD and AD.     

Basilar artery blood flow in subclavian steal

Subclavian "steal", when blood siphons from one vertebral artery to the other, has been suggested as a cause of brain stem ischaemia and stroke. We investigated 33 patients using transcranial Doppler to determine the direction and velocity of basilar blood flow. All patients had severe subclavian stenosis with reversed vertebral blood flow in the ipsilateral artery previously demonstrated by extracranial Doppler. Basilar flow was normal in direction in all cases, but its velocity was significantly increased (p less than 0.0008) compared to age- and sex-matched controls. These findings, in conjunction with previous observations using extracranial Doppler techniques, suggest that subclavian steal is little more than a harmless haemodynamic phenomenon.