Liver transplantation without isoniazid prophylaxis for recipients with a history of tuberculosis

Abstract:  Tuberculosis remains one of the most serious infections after organ transplantation. Isoniazid prophylaxis for liver transplant recipients with a history of tuberculosis is generally recommended. However, its benefit is controversial because of potential hepatotoxicity of isoniazid. It is crucial to determine appropriate post-transplant managements for the recipients with a history of tuberculosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the necessity of isoniazid prophylaxis for liver transplant recipients who had a history of tuberculosis. The medical records of 1116 liver transplant recipients were studied, of whom seven had a history of tuberculosis (0.63%). One who underwent living-donor liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure was excluded from evaluation because of early death, caused by bacterial sepsis two months after transplantation, although reactivation of tuberculosis was not observed. The median observation period after transplantation was 25.5 months (range 12–82). Reactivation of tuberculosis did not occur in any of these six patients. In conclusion, we could not find rationale for isoniazid prophylaxis in liver transplant recipients with past diagnosis of tuberculosis, when the disease is considered to be inactive. Tuberculosis should be considered as cause of post-transplant infections, and careful post-transplant observations are essential for an early diagnosis.     

An intraoperative evaluation of the cerebral circulation using the ophthalmic artery Doppler method in a case of brachiocephalic trunk occlusion

A 57-year-old man underwent left-right subclavian artery bypass for brachiocephalic trunk occlusion. The cerebral circulation was evaluated by ophthalmic artery Doppler method during the operation. Before the bypass, maximal flow velocity (Vmax) of the right ophthalmic artery was 6.09 cm x sec(-1), compared to 43.8 cm x sec(-1) of the left. The preoperative flow acceleration (FA) was 8.3 cm x sec(-2) and 500 cm x sec(-2) in the right and left, respectively. Both Vmax and FA of the right ophthalmic artery improved to 17.6 cm x sec(-1) and 96.7 cm x sec(-2) at the end of the bypass. Additional sutures were performed because of difficulty in stopping bleeding at the site of anastomosis. However, this additional procedure blunted the Doppler waveform, with decreases in Vmax to 8.69 cm x sec(-1) and FA to 33.1 cm x sec(-2) Re-anastomosis at the leftsubclavian artery was performed. Anaphylactic shock induced by transfusion was encountered at the end of re-bypass. Vmax of the right ophthalmic artery at that time was only 10.2 cm x sec(-1) However, the fact, that the Doppler waveform was no more blunt and FA had improved up to 116.4 cm x sec(-2), let us conclude that the cerebral circulation had recovered. In conclusion, the ophthalmic artery Doppler method is a useful tool for evaluation of the cerebral circulation.     

Use of ultrasound for thoracic paravertebral block

Thoracic paravertebral block is the technique of injecting local anesthetic adjacent to the intervertebral foramina, resulting in unilateral somatic and sympathetic nerve blockade. Previous studies have reported its effectiveness for thoracic surgery including breast surgery and relief of postoperative and chronic pain of unilateral origin from the chest and abdomen. The technique is relatively easy to learn and safer than thoracic epidural. Its clinical advantages include the inhibition of stress and pressor responses to surgical stimuli, maintenance of hemodynamic stability, low incidence of complication, long duration of analgesia, and few contraindications. Recent advances in ultrasound technology can further increase the effectiveness and the safety of thoracic paravertebral block, although identification of the nerve and needle is not still possible.     

Met-RANTES ameliorates fibrous airway obliteration and decreases ERK expression in a murine model of bronchiolitis obliterans.

OBJECTIVES: Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is the main cause of late mortality among long-term survivors of lung transplantation. Chemokine-chemokine receptor (CCR) interaction and subsequent recruitment of infiltrating cells to the graft are early events in the development of chronic rejection of transplanted lungs. The present study investigated whether blockade of chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR5 with Met-regulated-on-activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES), an amino-terminal modified derivative of RANTES/CCL5, affects the development of BO in murine model and we sought to determine the expression of RANTES/CCL5 and their relationship with extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Materials and Methods: BALB/c mouse tracheas were heterotopically transplanted into C57Black6 recipients and treated for 21 days with either Met-RANTES at 20 microg/day or vehicle. Animals were killed at 21 days after transplantation for histologic examination of ERK expression. RESULTS: RANTES/CCL5 was highly expressed in allografts compare to isografts. Met-RANTES treatment ameliorated fibrous airway obliteration in a mouse model of BO and decreased ERK expression. CONCLUSION: Blockade of chemokine receptors by Met-RANTES ameliorated airway obliteration and decreased ERK expression. These findings suggest that chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR5 play significant roles in the development of chronic rejection and ERK may be a new molecular target for chronic rejection.     

Recurrent Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Breast with Undifferentiated Features: Report of a Case

Squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare type of cancer, the origin of which is still uncertain. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the breast with a recurrent tumor that showed undifferentiated features. The patient was a 55-year-old woman who originally presented with a left breast mass in the upper outer quadrant. Echography showed a 46 × 29 × 23-mm mass with cavity formation, and aspiration cytology confirmed a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. A modified radical mastectomy with level III lymph node dissection was performed. Pathologically, the tumor was composed of squamous cell carcinoma and noninvasive ductal carcinoma. A recurrent tumor showing undifferentiated features was detected in the left forechest 3 months after the operation, and tumorectomy with partial resection of the major and minor pectoralis muscles was performed. Despite intensive therapy including chemotherapy (CEF: cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil) and irradiation (50 Gy), the patient died from pulmonary and skin metastases 20 months after her initial operation. The squamous cell carcinoma of the breast in this patient grew rapidly and her prognosis was poor. Immunohistochemical findings indicated the possibility that the squamous cell carcinoma developed from noninvasive ductal carcinoma of the comedo type, and that the undifferentiated cells from the site of recurrence developed from dedifferentiation of the squamous cell carcinoma. Received: August 10, 2001 / Accepted: March 5, 2002     

Randomized study of the benefits of preoperative corticosteroid administration on the postoperative morbidity and cytokine response in patients undergoing surgery for esophageal cancer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether preoperative corticosteroid administration plays a role in attenuating postoperative morbidity. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: There is as yet no consensus on the beneficial effects of steroids in alleviating surgical stress. METHODS: A total of 66 patients undergoing surgery for thoracic esophageal cancer were randomly categorized preoperatively into two groups of 33 patients each. One group was administered an intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone (10 mg/kg body weight) 30 minutes before the surgery (MP group), while the other group received a placebo infusion (control group). The primary endpoint was organ system failure during the first 7 days after surgery. Comparisons of surgery-related complications, cytokine responses, and blood counts were also made between the two groups. RESULTS: The percentage of patients in the MP group who had one or more organ system failures was 33%, significantly lower than the corresponding percentage of 61% in the control group. The surgery-related complication rate and long-term survival rate were similar in the two groups. The peak plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly lower in the MP group than in the control group. Changes in the plasma levels of IL-10 were significantly larger in the MP group. No significant differences in the circulating lymphocyte and neutrophil counts were observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that prophylactic administration of corticosteroids is associated with a decrease in postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing invasive surgery. The laboratory data suggest that corticosteroids may attenuate surgical stress-induced inflammatory responses both directly by suppressing the release of proinflammatory cytokines and via inducing IL-10 synthesis.     

Pain relief by stellate ganglion block in a case with trigeminal neuralgia caused by a cerebellopontine angle tumor

A 29-year-old woman with symptoms suggestive of trigeminal neuralgia is presented. Because of her age, an intracranial tumor was suspected, but images of a brain computerized tomography scan revealed nothing in particular. A magnetic resonance imaging was scheduled 2 weeks later. However, as the pain increased and occurred more frequently, the patient returned to the hospital 2 days later. After a stellate ganglion block with transient nausea and dizziness, the pain was noticeably relieved. Using magnetic resonance scanning, a tumor in the cerebellopontine angle was discovered, and at surgical resection was diagnosed as an epidermoid tumor. Stellate ganglion block may provide pain relief to some patients who are suspected to have symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia.     

Spontaneous and isolated dissection of the main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery.

A 42-year-old man was admitted to another hospital complaining of acute abdominal pain that was induced by eating. Abdominal computed tomography and selective angiography revealed an intimal flap separating true and false lumens that was located 3 cm from the origin of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Emergency surgery was performed because of the sudden recurrence of diffuse abdominal pain after eating and abdominal aorta-SMA bypass grafting was done using a radial artery graft. Postoperative angiography revealed that the graft showed good patency. The postoperative course was uneventful and abdominal pain no longer occurred after eating. This excellent result was achieved by early diagnosis using CT scanning and angiography plus an aggressive surgical repair with a radial artery bypass graft for isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery.     

Characteristics affecting cervical sagittal alignment in patients with chronic low back pain

BackgroundSagittal spino-pelvic malalignment in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) have been reported in the past, which may also affect cervical spine lesions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the cervical alignment in patients with CLBP.MethodOf the patients who visited an orthopedic specialist due to low back pain lasting more than three months, 121 cases (average 71.5-years-old, 46 male and 75 female) with whole standing spinal screening radiographs were reviewed (CLBP group). Cervical parameters included cervical lordosis (CL), C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (C2-7 SVA), and the T1 slope minus CL (T1S-CL). Cervical spine deformity was defined as C2-7 SVA >4 cm, CL <0°, or T1S-CL ≧20°. We compared the cervical alignment of these patients with 121 age and gender matched volunteers (control group).ResultsThe prevalence of cervical spine deformity was significantly higher in the CLBP group than in the control group (20.7% vs. 10.7%, P = 0.034). The mean CL was smaller in the CLBP group than in the control group (16.1° vs. 21.4°, P = 0.002). The mean C2-7 SVA was 17.6 mm vs. 18.7 mm in the CLBP group and in the control group, respectively (P = 0.817). The mean T1S-CL was larger in the CLBP group than in the control group (9.1° vs. 3.5°, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that people with CLBP were more likely to have cervical deformities than people without CLBP (odds ratio 2.16, 95% confidence interval 1.006 to 4.637).ConclusionsThis study results suggest that people with CLBP present with worse cervical sagittal alignment and higher prevalence of cervical spine deformities than age and gender matched volunteers with no CLBP. This means CLBP impacts cervical spine lesions negatively.Level of evidenceⅣ