Primary idiopathic chylopericardium: Report of two cases

Primary chylopericardium is an extremely rare disease. This report presents two cases of this disease, in a 47-year-old man and 21 -year-old woman. Both cases were given diagnosis of primary chylopericardium by chylous pericardial fluid examination and lymphangio-scintigraphy which demonstrated abnormal communication between the left thoracic duct and the pericardial cavity.     

Quantitative analysis of adenosine A1 receptors in human brain using positron emission tomography and [1-methyl-11C]8-dicyclopropylmethyl-1-methyl-3-propylxanthine

Fully quantitative analysis of the adenosine A₁ receptor (A1R) in the brain with ¹¹C-MPDX and positron emission tomography is reported. The kinetics is described using a two-tissue three-compartment model, and estimated binding potentials correspond well with the estimates made by Logan plot. The image of the binding potential of the MPDX is physiologically reasonable. We conclude that MPDX is applicable to the visualization of the A1Rs in the brain with Logan plot.     

Additional radical surgery after colonoscopic snare polypectomy for T1 colorectal cancer: use of the minilaparotomy approach

An additional resection is indicated when colorectal polyps resected by colonoscopy reveal T1 carcinoma with unfavorable histology (no free margin or having risk factors for lymph node metastasis). We describe our experience with this type of surgery with the minilaparotomy approach (< or = 7 cm). This prospective study included 19 consecutive patients between 1997 and 2001. Specimens resected by colonoscopy revealed T1 carcinomas with one of the following histological types: inadequate excision (no free margin), lymph-vascular invasion, histologic grade III, or sm2/sm3 (submucosal invasion greater than 200-300 microm from the muscularis mucosa). The minilaparotomy approach included 15 colectomies and 4 anterior resections. Median length of minilaparotomy was 7 cm (range, 4-7 cm). Median number of lymph nodes removed was 11 (range, 7-21 lymph nodes). Median proximal and distal margins were 9.0 (range, 5.2-17.5 cm) and 8.5 cm (range, 2.0-11.5 cm), respectively. The patients quickly returned to normal function without morbidity and mortality. Five (26.3%) had a residual carcinoma within the bowel wall, and one (5.3%) had lymph node metastasis. At a median follow-up of 33.6 months, one patient (5.3%) developed local recurrence and subsequent distant metastasis. The minilaparotomy approach is suitable for an additional operation following colonoscopic polypectomy for T1 carcinoma, thus providing a minimally invasive alternative to conventional laparotomy.     

A survival case of cardiac arrest resuscitated initially by several anesthesiologists in an airport

We experienced a case of cardiac arrest in a man near the boarding gate area in an airport. An anesthesiologist witnessed the onset of his cardiac arrest. Three anesthesiologists undertook cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the arrival of the emergency medical service crew. An emergency medical kit equipped in an airplane could not be used during the resuscitation. Successful defibrillation was achieved by fourth 360 J shock performed by an emergency life-saving technician. The patient regained consciousness before hospitalization. Airport employees should be trained in techniques of basic life support in order to be able to resuscitate patients who have suffered cardiac arrest in an airport. Medical emergency kits equipped in airplanes should be made available for use in cases of cardiac arrest occurring near a boarding gate in an airport.     

Successful pain control by continuous epidural infusion of ropivacaine for a pregnant woman with biliary colic

This report describes a pregnant woman with common bile duct stones whose colic was successfully treated by prolonged continuous epidural infusion of ropivacaine. A 32-year-old woman in the 26th week pregnancy complained of severe abdominal pain due to common bile duct stones. We adopted ropivacaine for infusion into the epidural space using patient controlled analgesia system considering fetoplacental circulation. We administered the solution successfully for 3 weeks, but we observed that the effectiveness of ropivacaine became reduced. This suggests that tachyphilaxis to ropivacaine might have developed by its long-term infusion.     

Effect of postoperative chemotherapy on the serum alpha-fetoprotein level in hepatoblastoma

Purpose

It is generally accepted that postoperative chemotherapy does not affect the serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. The authors report on 3 patients who supposedly showed chemotherapy-related changes in their AFP levels after operation.

Methods

This study included 3 patients with hepatoblastoma (1 case of PRETEXT III and 2 cases of PRETEXT IV).

Results

One patient with PRETEXT III underwent a complete tumor resection, and the postoperative AFP level decreased until it reached the normal range. However, he consistently exhibited a transient, 2- to 3-fold increase in the AFP after each course of chemotherapy for 3 courses. The chemotherapy regimen had to be stopped because of drug-induced encephalopathy, but he has been followed up for 5 years without any evidence of recurrence, and his AFP level has also remained stable and in the normal range. Two patients with PRETEXT IV, who underwent a curative tumor resection, also showed similar chemotherapy-related changes in AFP levels. Both of these cases were observed only after the administration of routine postoperative chemotherapy instead of administering further high-dose chemotherapy. The AFP level remained stable for 17 months and 7 months after the cessation of chemotherapy in 2 cases, respectively.

Conclusions

Regarding the postoperative chemotherapy of hepatoblastoma, we have to pay close attention to both the AFP status during chemotherapy as well as the absolute AFP level.     

Direct evidence that induced nitric oxide production in hepatocytes prevents liver damage during lipopolysaccharide tolerance in rats

BACKGROUND: The role of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tolerance in the liver has been investigated in a number of previous studies, but it is still not clear whether NO is cytotoxic or cytoprotective. The aims of this study were to investigate whether low-dose LPS (LLPS)-induced hepatic production of NO is beneficial and to clarify the origins of cytoprotective NO-producing cells in the liver during LPS tolerance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats received saline or LLPS intraperitoneally (i.p.; 0.01-1000 microg/kg) followed by a high dose of LPS (HLPS, 5 mg/kg) at various time intervals (4-16 h). NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was used to investigate the effects of inhibition of NOS. 4,5-Diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) was used to identify NO-producing cells in isolated liver cells in vitro. At various time points (4-16 h) after saline or LLPS (1 microg/kg, i.p.) injection, hepatocytes and Kupffer cells were isolated, incubated in 7 microm DAF-2 diacetate, and perfused with Krebs solution. Illumination at 495 nm revealed DAF-fluorescence (515 nm) in isolated cells under confocal laser fluorescence microscopy. The NO production in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells was assessed by the number of labeled cells per 1000 cells or per 100 cells, respectively. RESULTS: Pretreatment with LLPS (0.1-100 microg/kg) resulted in a significant reduction (maximal at 8 h) of the HLPS-induced liver damage. L-NAME abolished the LLPS-induced protection. The NO production in hepatocytes was significantly increased and reached a maximum of 84% of all cells 8 h after LLPS administration. By contrast, the NO production in Kupffer cells remained constant at 95%, even following preinjection of LLPS. CONCLUSION: LLPS-induced NO in hepatocytes, but not in Kupffer cells, exhibits cytoprotective effects on HLPS-induced liver damage, suggesting that NO has a beneficial role in the induction of the early phase of LPS tolerance.     

Subdural hematoma caused by intracranial hypotension after syringosubarachnoid shunting--case report

A 32-year-old man developed an extremely rare subdural hematoma after syringosubarachnoid shunting for syringomyelia. He presented with a 4-year history of neck pain and spastic paraparesis resulting from T-7 and T-8 vertebral body fracture suffered in a traffic accident at age 22 years. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed syringomyelia between the craniocervical junction and the T-10 level. The symptoms were slowly progressive, and a syringosubarachnoid shunting was performed. His spasticity improved after surgery, but he developed orthostatic headache 7 days after surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated a thin subdural hematoma over the right cerebral convexity. The subdural hematoma resolved spontaneously within a week with conservative treatment. Vigorous cerebrospinal fluid outflow observed during surgery presumably lowered the pressure in the syrinx cavity, leading to significant but transient intracranial hypotension and consequently the formation of subdural hematoma.     

Obese Japanese children have low bone mineral density after puberty

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between BMD and childhood obesity. We examined 1070 obese children (722 boys and 348 girls) aged 7 to 15 years. Their mean relative weight, as a percentage of the standard weight for age, height, and sex, was 152.9 ± 14%. BMD was assessed, by a digital image processing method, in the second metacarpal bone of the left hand. We compared our results with those of healthy nonobese Japanese children based on both chronological and bone age. Mean BMD values for bone age in the obese children were significantly higher than those in control groups in boys aged 11 years and under and girls 9 years and under. On the other hand, in boys over 12 years old, BMD values for bone age were lower than those in the control groups. In girls over 11 years old, BMD values tended to be lower than those in the control groups. In conclusion, we studied the BMD of obese children from the point of view of advanced bone age. Our results showed that BMD was higher than in prepubertal obese children, but a low BMD value was found after puberty, due to poor gain of BMD during puberty. It is important to prevent obesity in childhood in order to prevent the low BMD after puberty.