Type classification of anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction by ERCP

The role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the preoperative assessment of anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction was retrospectively evaluated in 74 consecutive patients (19 males and 55 females; aged 0–80 years). Sixty-three patients had congenital biliary dilatation and 11 did not. Type classification of congenital biliary dilatation was possible by ERCP alone in 45 patients (71%). The main causes of classification failure were previous bilio-enteric anastomosis and restriction of postural changes during ERCP due to general anesthesia in pediatric patients. Classification of anomalous junction was possible in 69 patients (93%). Technical difficulty in ERCP caused classification failure in 5 patients. Neoplastic lesions were found in 12 patients (16%) and all but 1 were correctly diagnosed by ERCP. We conclude that ERCP plays an important role in the preoperative diagnosis and type classification of anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction and congenital biliary dilatation.     

Pharmacokinetic studies on aztreonam in late pregnancy in sheep and humans

The transplacental passage of single intravenous doses of aztreonam (AZT), 1 g or 2 g, was examined in 7 sheep and 14 women in late pregnancy, respectively and the obtained data were analyzed by a two-compartment model. The obtained results were summarized as follows. After single 2 g intravenous doses were given to pregnant sheep, the mean peak level of AZT in maternal blood was 83.79 micrograms/ml and the half-life of the beta-phase was 1.525 hours. After single 1 g intravenous doses were administered to pregnant women, the mean peak level of AZT in blood was 102.62 micrograms/ml and the half-life of beta-phase was 2.128 hours. The peak levels in umbilical venous blood and amniotic fluid were 14.43 micrograms/ml and 11.86 micrograms/ml, respectively.     

Plasminogen activation in plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Summary We measured ₂-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complexes (PI-PC) in plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to examine the plasminogen activation in SLE. The plasma PI-PC level in 23 patients with SLE was significantly higher than that in 18 normal subjects (P<0.001) and the SLE patients with nephrotic syndrome had higher plasma PI-PC levels than those without nephrotic syndrome (P<0.01). In addition, the plasma PI-PC level was significantly correlated with the level of plasma C3 breakdown products (iC3b/C3dg) in the patients with SLE (r=0.53, P<0.01). These results suggest that plasminogen is activated in plasma of patients with SLE and that the plasminogen activation may be associated with the activation of complement in SLE.     

Up-regulation of histamine H1 receptors in an allergic rat nasal mucosa model

Inflammation Research -