Hepatectomy in repeated operations on patients with parasitic diseases of the liver]

The results of resection of the liver in repeated operations on patients with parasitic disease of the liver are discussed. Operations were conducted on 22 patients with alveococcosis and 7 patients with echinococcosis. By means of the method of atypical liver resection radical operations were performed on 20 patients (69%) and palliative resections of the liver in 9 patients (31%). The palliative resections were combined with cryodestruction of the remaining parasitic tissue, which improved the therapeutic effect significantly and prolonged the patients' survival. The volume of the resection ranged from a segment to one half of the liver. The fatality rate was 6.8%.     

Incidence of femoral and tibial shaft fractures. Epidemiology 1950-1983 in Malm?, Sweden

We studied 362 fractures of the femur that had occurred during the years 1950-57 and 1973-83, and 849 fractures of the tibia that occurred during the the years 1950-55 and 1980-83. There was an increase in age-specific incidence over aged 60 years. The risk of low-energy femoral shaft fractures also had increased in elderly women. Both fracture types shifted their age- and sex-specific incidence in the direction of a fragility pattern. There was no increase in the incidence of tibial shaft fractures. Fracture type, site, and degree of displacement of the tibial fractures remained unchanged during the 30 years, i.e, they were predominantly distal, longitudinal fractures with moderate displacement.     

Early bladder outlet obstruction in fetal lambs induces renal dysplasia and the prune-belly syndrome

A model of posterior urethral valves in fetal lambs was developed in order to evaluate the effect of intrauterine urinary obstruction on the developing kidney. Complete urethral obstruction was induced in five fetal lambs at 43 to 45 days of gestation. Two control fetal lambs underwent sham operations. At full term (140 days), two of the five experimental lambs and both control lambs were available for postmortem examination. Results of gross and histological examination of the control lambs were normal. In contrast, the kidneys of the experimental lambs were markedly asymmetrical in size. Histological examination of the kidneys in experimental lambs showed cystic dilatation of the collecting ducts and occasional cystic dilatation of Bowman's spaces, features compatible with obstruction. Also noted were peripheral cortical cysts and primitive tubules lined with cuboidal epithelium and surrounded by fibromuscular collarettes, characteristic of renal dysplasia. One of the infant lambs had many characteristics of the prune-belly syndrome, including a wrinkled, markedly distended abdomen, deficient abdominal wall musculature, flared chest wall, limb deformities, and undescended testes. These results suggest that early in utero urethral obstruction (at the beginning of the second third of gestation) causes renal dysplasia. The results also support the hypothesis that the prune-belly syndrome results from abdominal distention that occurs early in gestation.     

Destructive changes of the spine in magnetic resonance imaging

Summary Twenty-nine patients were examined by magnetic resonance imaging for various lesions of the spine. The results of these scans were compared with those of plain radiographs, computertomographs, and radionuclide bone scans. The findings were substantiated by intraoperative or histological findings in 18 cases. The MRI scans proved to be very sensitive in the detection of a wide spectrum of morphological changes of the bone marrow of vertebral bodies. Characteristic changes of the signal patterns for inflammatory and tumorous lesions were not observed. The differentiation of these lesions will presently continue to have to be based on morphological criteria.No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this study. No funds were received in support of this study     

Value of extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy in treatment of gallstone disease

Alternative techniques were introduced in the last 20 years for the treatment of gallstones. Among these the extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy followed by a systemic litholytic therapy represents undoubtedly the most attractive one. A group of two surgeons and two gastroenterologists has started to evaluate this treatment in April 1988, using a piezoceramic lithotryptic system (Piezolith 2300). From April 1988 to May 1989 we have treated 32 patients who fulfilled the selection criteria-symptomatic gallstone disease, 1-3 radiolucent concrements of less than 30 mm of diameter, functioning gallbladder. We noted only one pancreatitis as a complication of this treatment. The overall stonefree rate is 16% after two months, 32% after four months and 56% after six months, depending on the size and number of stones. A definitive evaluation and final conclusion will only be possible when the rate of late recurrences after this treatment will be known.     

Spontaneous gallbladder perforation—An unusual presentation of carcinoma of the pancreas

A 50 year old man with a two month history of upper abdominal pain and a one month history of anorexia and weight loss, presented with icterus and evidence of peritonitis. Laparotomy revealed biliary peritonitis which had been caused by a rupture of the fundus of the gallbladder. The common bile duct was dilated and there was a large growth in the head of the pancreas with multiple hepatic metastases. A cholecysto-jejunostomy and gastrojejunostomy were done and the patient had an uneventful recovery.     

Dependency levels of people in aged care institutions in Auckland

Between January and June 1988, a survey of 7516 people in aged care facilities in the Auckland region (99.4% response rate) was undertaken to ascertain the extent and provision of care for elderly people requiring ongoing care in order to make comparisons with other centres in New Zealand. Information was gathered about their ability to perform various activities of daily living by staff members who completed a structured precoded and pretested questionnaire for each resident or patient. Overall levels of dependency were also assessed as part of the questionnaire: 13% were assessed as requiring long stay hospital care, 48% had moderate or appreciable dependency, and the remainder had some dependency (23%) or none at all (16%). Almost one quarter (23%) of the 5213 residents in old people's homes were rated as apparently independent. Of people in religious and welfare residential homes, 38% were rated as independent whereas in commercial rest homes 12% of people were classified in this way. This high level of apparent independence in religious and welfare homes is the main aspect in which the Auckland long term care scene is distinct from other regions in the country.     

Antihepatotoxic Effects of chlorogenic acid from Anthocephalus cadamba

In the present study, chlorogenic acid (CGA) isolated from Anthocephalus cadamba was screened for hepatoprotective activity by in vitro and in vivo assay methods using carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) as a model of liver injury. Intraperitoneal administration of CGA to mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight for 8 days caused significant reversal in lipid peroxidation, enzymatic leakage, cytochrome P450 (Cyt P450) inactivation and produced enhancement of cellular antioxidant defence in CCl₄-intoxicated mice, revealing that the antioxidative action of CGA is responsible for its liver protective activity. CGA exhibited a better therapeutic protective action than silymarin (SM), in CCl₄-administered mice.     

Hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis in neurogenetic syndromes

There are conflicting reports on the relationship between cerebellar vermal lobule hypoplasia and autism. Using quantitative magnetic resonance image analysis, we measured the cerebellar vermis in 125 normal individuals with a broad age range and 102 patients with a variety of neurogenetic abnormalities. We conclude that hypoplasia of cerebellar vermal lobules VI and VII is a nonspecific finding that even occurs in several conditions without autistic behavior. This suggests that it is not a specific neuroanatomical marker for autism, nor is cerebellar dys- genesis likely to be solely responsible for clinical autistic behaviors.