Hyperemic Islets: A Possible Explanation for Poor Yields in Human and Porcine Islet Isolation

When studying histological characteristics of human and porcine pancreata in relation to islet isolation, we encountered a remarkably high number of hyperemic islets. The abnormalities observed in these islets ranged from a single dilated vessel through multiple widely dilated vessels to hemorrhages extending into the surrounding exocrine tissue. We determined their possible relevance for outcomes of islet isolation. This study involved a histological examination of 143 porcine pancreata (72 juvenile and 71 adult) and islet isolation from 48 adult pancreata. Human pancreata obtained from 71 multiple organ donors yielded islet isolation in 24 cases. To determine their endocrine content, tissue samples were stained with Aldehyde Fuchsin. The presence of hyperemic islets was scored semiquantitatively with pancreata allotted to categories based on the severity. In humans and pigs we observed hyperemic islets in 48% of pancreata, but only 4.0 ± 2.4% of the islets were hyperemic. In both humans and pigs, significantly higher endocrine content was found in the most severely affected pancreata. When the higher endocrine content was taken into account and isolation results were expressed as ratios of yield and content, we observed significantly lower yields in the most affected pancreata in pigs with a trend toward lower yields in humans. A substantial proportion of human and porcine pancreata contain hyperemic islets. Although the results in humans are preliminary, our data suggest that this phenomenon may contribute to the unpredictable, highly variable islet yields in pigs and humans.     

Evaluation of Patient-Reported Outcome in Subjects Treated Medically for Acute Pancreatitis: A Follow-Up Study

Aims: To explore the quality of life in patients treated medically during the acute phase of pancreatitis as well as at 2 and 12 months after discharge from the hospital. Patients: 40 patients were studied. The etiology of the pancreatitis was biliary causes in 31 patients and non-biliary causes in 9; mild disease was present in 29 patients and severe disease in 11. 30 patients completed the two surveys at 2 and 12 months after hospital discharge. Methods: The SF-12 and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires were used for the purpose of the study. Results: The two physical and mental component summaries of SF-12, all the domains of EORTC QLQ-C30 (except for physical functioning and cognitive functioning) and some symptom scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 (fatigue, nausea/ vomiting, pain, and constipation) were significantly impaired during the acute phase of pancreatitis. There was a significant improvement in the SF-12 physical component summary, and global health, role functioning, social functioning, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, and financial difficulties (EORTC QLQ-C30) at 2 months after discharge as compared to the basal evaluation. Similar results were found after 12 months except for the mental component score at 12-month evaluation, which was significantly impaired in acute pancreatitis patients in comparison to the norms. The physical functioning of the EORTC QLQ-C30 at basal evaluation was significantly impaired in patients with severe pancreatitis in comparison to patients with mild pancreatitis. Conclusions: Two different patterns can be recognized in the quality of life of patients with acute pancreatitis: physical impairment is immediately present followed by mental impairment which appears progressively in the follow-up period.     

Exploration simplifiée des atteintes plexiques par réduction aux atteintes nerveuses et radiculaires connues

The anatomic complexity of the brachial plexus makes its electrophysiological exploration difficult. Electrodiagnosis nevertheless plays a crucial role in assessing brachial plexopathies, particularly in the perspective of post-traumatic surgical reconstructions. The evaluation aims to locate as precisely as possible injuries within the plexus, as well as to determine their severity and capacity for recovery. This requires various sensory nerve conduction studies and needle EMG recordings of “marker” muscles. Plexopathies differ from radiculopathies by altered sensory nerve responses and unaltered functional innervation of paracervical muscles. We propose to simplify the exploration of brachial plexopathies by following some practical rules derived from a reanalysis of the brachial plexus anatomic sketch. Two main simplification rules can be deduced from an analysis of the anatomic sketch. First it would be judicious to associate the plexopathies involving a single element of the brachial plexus with distinct etiological and symptomatic patterns according to the altered element, as one does for peripheral nerve and root pathologies. The second proposal relies on the observation that each supraclavicular “truncal” element (upper, middle, or lower) of the brachial plexus results from reunion of cervical root nerves and behaves like a “super-root” for the upper limb, while each infraclavicular “cord” element (posterior, lateral, or medial) is the sum of two or more peripheral nerves and behaves like a “super-nerve”. Accordingly, the motor and sensory abnormalities associated with the lesion of a single plexus branch may occupy a clinical and electrophysiological territory that recovers those of its constituants. Except the unaltered paracervical muscles, it is useful to reduce the topographical semiology of truncal lesions to well-known cervical radiculopathies (upper trunk neuropathy to C5 and C6 associated radiculopathies, middle trunk neuropathy to C7 radiculopathy, lower trunk neuropathy to C8 and T1 associated radiculopathies); and that of cord lesions to well-known mononeuropathies of the upper limb (for example, a posterior cord neuropathy may be considered as a full radial mononeuropathy associated with an axillary one). This method of simplification allows to demystify the brachial plexopathies and to facilitate their comprehension and exploration.     

Comparison of effects and plasma concentrations of opioids between elderly and middle-aged patients after cardiac surgery

Background: In elderly patients, opioids may cause prominent postoperative sedation and respiratory depression. We evaluated the influence of age on the effects of opioids and plasma concentrations of fentanyl and oxycodone in cardiac surgery patients.
Methods: Thirty (≥75 years, gender M9/F21) and 20 (≤60 years, gender M20/F0) patients scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery. A standard anesthesia with fentanyl as an opioid was used. Fentanyl plasma concentrations were measured at the end of surgery and 2 h later. After tracheal extubation, when the pain intensity was at least moderate, blood samples for fentanyl and oxycodone plasma concentration measurements were taken. Thereafter, oxycodone hydrochloride 0.05 mg/kg i.v. was administered. After 15 and 45 min, pain intensity, sedation and oxycodone plasma concentration were determined. This test protocol was repeated twice.
Results: The elderly had a higher plasma concentration of fentanyl at the end of surgery than younger patients (5.7±2.2 vs. 3.8±1.2 ng/ml, P =0.001). The plasma concentrations of oxycodone were comparable between the groups. The interval between the second and the third oxycodone dose was longer in the elderly patients ( P =0.036). Pain intensity on the verbal rating scale was lower at the 45-min assessment point after all three oxycodone test doses ( P =0.008) and sedation scores were significantly higher after the third dose in the elderly patients ( P =0.035).
Conclusions: In elderly patients, the plasma concentration of fentanyl was higher but plasma levels of oxycodone were at a similar level compared with middle-aged patients. However, the elderly patients had less pain and were more sedated after doses of oxycodone.