Effects of bone and mineral metabolism on arterial elasticity in chronic renal failure

Arterial stiffness (Ast) individually predicts cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Ast increases via vascular calcification and can be characterized by pulse wave velocity (PWV). We assessed the influence of mineral and bone metabolism on Ast in dialyzed (D) and renal transplanted (Tx) children by measuring fetuin-A and bone markers [bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP); beta-CrossLaps (β)]. Normalized PWV/height (PWV/h) of 11 D and 17 Tx patients was measured by applanation tonometry. Levels of calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), fetuin-A, and bone markers were analyzed. Ca × P/fetuin-A ratio was calculated to characterize the balance of calcification and inhibition. Cumulative dose of calcitriol was also assessed. Fetuin-A was lower in D and Tx compared with healthy controls. Bone markers and Ca × P/fetuin-A of D were significantly higher than those of Tx and controls. In D PWV/h correlated with Ca × P/fetuin-A and BALP (r = 0.8; p = 0.005, r = 0.6, p = 0.05, respectively); BALP correlated with Ca × P/fetuin-A (r = 0.7, p = 0.01). In Tx, there was a correlation between calcitriol administered before transplantation and PWV/h (r = 0.5, p = 0.04). Increased bone turnover was coupled with an increased potential of calcium-phosphate precipitation, as shown by the increased Ca × P/fetuin-A. It might explain the connection between disturbed mineral and bone metabolism and Ast. Tx might be beneficial on Ast, though follow-up studies are needed.     

Cystic pancreatic neoplasms: Enucleate or resect?

Asymptomatic cystic pancreatic neoplasms are being detected by abdominal imaging with increasing frequency. Enucleation of small cystic neoplasms can be performed without recurrence but has been associated with a higher incidence of pancreatic fistula. Thus the procedure has been modified to include intraoperative ultrasound imaging and closure of the pancreatic defect. This analysis was performed to determine whether these modifications have improved operative outcome. Thirty patients with mucinous cystic neoplasms (n = 16), serous cystadenomas (n = 10), and cystic islet cell tumors (n = 4) were studied. Enucleation was performed in 11 patients (7 with mucinous cystic neoplasms, 2 with serous cystadenomas and 2 with islet cell tumors), whereas 19 underwent resection of cystic tumors (pancreatoduodenectomy in 8 and distal pancreatectomy in 11). The mean groups did not differ with regard to age (57 years), gender (73% female), presentation (63% incidental), or site (43% head, neck, or uncinate). Patients undergoing enucleation had smaller tumors (2.2 vs. 4.7 cm, P < 0.01) that were less likely to be in the tail (9% vs. 42%). Operative time was significantly shorter in the enucleation group (199 vs. 298 minutes, P < 0.01). Blood loss also was significantly reduced in the enucleation group (114 vs. 450 ml, P < 0.001). Pancreatic fistula rates (27% vs. 26%) and length of hospital stay (12.6 vs. 15.7 days) were similar in the two groupsz. Enucleation of benign cystic pancreatic neoplasms reduces operative time and blood loss without increasing postoperative complications or length of stay. Therefore enucleation should be the standard operation for small benign cystic neoplasms in the uncinate, head, neck, and body of the pancreas. Presented at the Fourth Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Congress, Miami, Florida, February 27-March 1, 2003.     

Surgical aspects of histologically unproven space-occupying lesions of the pancreas head

A suspected, but unproved malignant tumor in the head of the pancreas is a fairly common problem for surgeon. Even intraoperatively, differentiation between chronic pancreatitis and carcinoma is difficult. We try to give guidelines about what can be done with a pancreas head mass intraoperatively without previous cytology or histology. When do we have to achieve definite diagnosis at all costs, and how can we achieve it? Results of 40 intraoperative aspiration cytologies, performed for suspected pancreatic cancer were analysed. All of them were controlled by histology in the resected specimen. Intraoperative biopsy was false negative in 12.5% and the diagnosis was uncertain in 35%. These data show that a benign result by itself never excludes the presence of malignancy. If pathology will alter our decision about resection, all efforts should be made to confirm the diagnosis. On the other hand, in a case of a mass lesion with obstructive symptoms, cytology does not alter the need for surgical decompression, and some kind of resection is a reasonable option, even in case of chronic pancreatitis. Nihilistic approach in the case of pancreatic head mass with suspected but unproved malignancy is not justified. Pancreatoduodenectomy should be performed for all tumors even without histologic confirmation if an experienced team can perform it with low postoperative morbidity and mortality.     

Robotic endoscopic surgery in a porcine model of the infant neck

Minimally invasive surgery is rapidly becoming the desired surgical standard, especially for pediatric patients. Infants and children are a particular technical challenge, however, because of the small size of target anatomical structures and the small surgical workspace. Computer-assisted robot-enhanced surgical telemanipulators may overcome these challenges by facilitating surgery in a small workspace. We studied the feasibility of performing robotic endoscopic neck surgery on a porcine model of the human infant neck. The study design was a prospective, feasibility pilot study of a small cohort for proof of concept and for a survival model. Sixteen non-survival piglets weighing 4.5–10 kg were used to develop the surgical approach and operative technique. Eight piglets aged 3–6 weeks old and weighing 4.0–9.1 kg underwent survival thyroidectomy by a cervical endoscopic approach using the Zeus surgical robot, which includes the Aesop endoscope holder and “Microwrist” microdissecting instruments. We succeeded in performing endoscopic robotic neck surgery on a piglet as small as 4 kg, in an operative pocket as small as 2 cm³. Total incision length for all three ports was ≤23 mm. There were no major complications, no major robotic instrument malfunctions or breakages, and no procedures required conversion to open surgery. These results support the feasibility of robotic endoscopic neck surgery on a neck the size of a human infant’s. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Behavior of the Common Bile Duct Diameter Before and 12 Years after Choledochostomy for Cholecystolithiasis and Choledocholithiasis. A Prospective Study

INTRODUCTION : In patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones, the diameter of the CBD is usually dilated. After surgery, the behavior of CBD diameter is not clearly known. OBJECTIVE : To determine at a late follow-up the width of CBD before and after choledochostomy for CBD stones. MATERIAL AND METHODS : In this prospective study, 39 patients with gallstones and CBD stones were included. They were 30 women and 9 men with a mean age of 52.6 years. In all ultrasound, determination of the CBD caliber before and 12 years after surgery was performed. RESULTS : The mean value of the inner diameter of the CBD before surgery was 11.6 and 12.3 mm in patients below or above 60 years, respectively. Measurement 12 years after surgery showed a mean decrease of nearly 50% of preoperative values, which was highly significant (p < 0.0001). However, either below or above 60 years, only 75% of the patients showed this decrease, whereas 25% remained unchanged. CONCLUSION : The dilated preoperative CBD returns to normal or near normal values in 3/4 of the patients after surgical exploration of the CBD and extraction of the stones.     

Pediatric robotic surgery: lessons from a clinical experience

PURPOSE: Robotic surgery may improve minimally invasive surgery at high magnification by tremor filtration, motion-scaling, and improved dexterity with the provision of a wrist at the end of the robotic instrument. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We chose the Zeus Microwrist robotic surgical system as more applicable to small children than the competing da Vinci surgical system. We attempted 57 surgical procedures and completed 54. RESULTS: Completed procedures included Nissen fundoplication (n = 25), cholecystectomy (n = 18), Heller myotomy (n = 2), splenectomy (n = 2), Morgagni hernia repair (n = 2), and single cases of complex pyloroplasty in the chest, bowel resection, left Bochdalek congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair, esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula repair, and choledochal cyst excision. There were no complications related to the use of the robot. The mean time for the surgeon at the console using the robot was 117 +/- 39 minutes for Nissen fundoplication, and the total operating room time was 250 +/- 60 minutes. Surgeons found dissection, suturing, and knot tying easier than with conventional laparoscopy. None of the surgeons thought the lack of touch feedback (haptics) was crucial. CONCLUSION: Robotic surgery offers increased dexterity to the pediatric minimally invasive surgeon, but procedures require more time, and there is no defined patient benefit. The fact that robotic surgery digitalizes minimally invasive surgery creates exciting possibilities for training surgeons, planning operations, and performing surgery at great distances from the operator.     

No effect of transfusion transmitted virus viremia on the distribution and activation of peripheral lymphocytes in hemodialyzed patients

AIM: We aimed to examine the distribution and activation of peripheral T cells in TTV positive (n = 32) and negative (n = 17) hemodialyzed patients. The control group (n = 20) consisted of healthy blood donors. METHOD: TTV-DNA was detected by seminested PCR. CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD56, CD3/HLA-DR, CD3/CD69 and the Th1/Th2 ratio of T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Circulating IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta levels were measured by ELISA in the sera. RESULTS: There was no difference between the CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19 values of HD subjects. In addition, the expression of both activation markers, HLA-DR and CD69, was significantly elevated in the TTV-positive and -negative HD groups compared to the controls, but not showing any difference from each other. The measurements of intracellular cytokines showed the enhanced occurrence of INF-gamma + CD4 T cells, and decreased appearance of IL-4 + CD4 lymphocytes in the HD groups without any significant difference between the TTV virus positive and negative patients. In addition, HD also elevated the expression of IL-10 in CD4 and CD8 (Th2) cells. There were only two significant changes in the levels of circulating cytokines: (a) IL-2 increased; (b) IL-13 decreased in both groups of HD patients compared to the controls, independently of TTV positivity or negativity. CONCLUSIONS: We assume that transfusion-transmitted virus does not cause any specific change in the distribution and activation of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of hemodialyzed patients. Hemodialysis itself, however, results in a significant activation of peripheral T cells with the domination of increased production of Th1 type cytokines, IFN-gamma, IL-2, in contrast to the decreased synthesis of Th2 type cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13. Furthermore, the increased expression of IL-10 in the CD4 and CD8 cells of HD patients can be the sign of a contraregulatory Th2 activation as an answer on the Th1 effect.     

β‐catenin expression and claudin expression pattern as prognostic factors of prostatic cancer progression

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the patterns of expression of the junctional proteins β‐catenin and claudins in different prognostic groups of patients with prostatic cancer, to determine their value as prognostic markers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated the samples of 30 patients who had a radical prostatectomy for organ‐confined cancer (pT2N0M0), men with clinically advanced cancer, and a control group with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Using immunohistochemistry applied to tissue microarrays, each group was evaluated for claudin‐1, ‐2, ‐3, ‐4, ‐5, ‐7, ‐8 and ‐10, and β‐catenin expression.

RESULTS

There were differences among the three groups in the expression of claudin‐1 (P = 0.001), ‐2 (P = 0.014), ‐3 (P = 0.027), ‐4 (P = 0.001), ‐8 (P = 0.001) and β‐catenin (P = 0.002), regardless of Gleason score. By contrast, claudin‐5, ‐7 and ‐10 patterns were not significantly different among the groups. Furthermore, claudin‐1 (P = 0.014) and ‐4 (P = 0.004) could be used to distinguish between those patients who had metastases and those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of claudin expression could be a novel diagnostic marker in re‐classifying adenocarcinomas, and an additional sensitive predictive factor for a clinically poor prognosis. Our results suggest that patients with organ‐confined and advanced cancer are subsets with distinct claudin expression profiles, and that claudin‐4 is related to cellular differentiation in prostate cancer, which is not only the receptor molecule for the Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin, and thus a theoretical future therapeutic target for prostate cancer, but also a marker of progression.     

Steatocholecystitis: the influence of obesity and dietary carbohydrates

INTRODUCTION: We have recently demonstrated that obese and lean mice fed a high fat diet have increased gallbladder wall fat and decreased gallbladder contractility, cholecystosteatosis. Animal and human data also suggest that diets high in refined carbohydrates lead to gallstone formation. However, no data are available on the role of dietary carbohydrates on gallbladder wall fat and inflammation. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that both obesity and dietary carbohydrates would increase gallbladder fat and cytokines, steatocholecystitis. METHODS: At 8 wk of age, 47 lean and 22 obese female mice were fed a 45% carbohydrate (CHO) diet while an equal number of lean and obese mice were fed a 75% CHO diet for 4 wk. All mice underwent cholecystectomy, and the gallbladders were snap-frozen. Individual and total lipids were measured by gas chromatography. Interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and Tukey test. RESULTS: Gallbladder total fat, triglycerides, and cholesterol were maximum (P < 0.001) in obese mice on the 75% CHO diet. Gallbladder TNF-alpha and IL-1beta as well as serum cholesterol levels showed a similar pattern (P < 0.001). Gallbladder saturated free fatty acids and IL-6 levels were highest (P < 0.001) in obese mice on the 45% CHO diet. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that (1) both obesity and dietary carbohydrates increase gallbladder total fat, triglycerides, cholesterol, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta and (2) obesity also increases gallbladder free fatty acids and IL-6. Therefore, we conclude that obesity is associated with steatocholecystitis and that a high carbohydrate diet exacerbates this phenomenon.