Pyloric motor abnormality in patients with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

There are no published data of manometric studies of pyloric motor function in patients with infantile hypertropic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). The present study attempted to examine the characteristics of motor abnormality of the pylorus in five children with IHPS. Using a transducer-built-in manometric catheter cannulated through the pylorus under fluoroscopy, the pressure in the pyloric canal was recorded continuously over 3 h during fasting. Clusters of high-amplitude spastic contractions of over 300 mmHg were recorded at intervals. The frequency was 1–3/min (mean 1.7 cpm) and the duration was 7–15 s. These periodic spastic contractions were suppressed temporarily for 20–30 min after intravenous injection of 0.01 mg/kg atropine. After pyloromyotomy, these spastic contractions decreased remarkably in amplitude, but there were no changes in frequency. It is concluded that the underlying motor abnormality observed in hypertrophied pyloric muscle is clusters of high-amplitude contractions, although more precise measurements of basal pyloric pressure are needed to explore the pathophysiology of IHPS in detail. The effect of pyloromyotomy may be related to the decrease in high-amplitude contractions. Accepted: 26 May 1998     

Sarcomatoid chordoma: chordoma with a massive malignant spindle-cell component

We report a case of chordoma containing a spindle cell sarcomatoid component with a gradual transition from conventional chordoma. Immunohistochemically, many tumor cells in both conventional chordoma and sarcomatoid components were positive for cytokeratins (AE1/AE3, CAM5.2) and epithelial membrane antigen as well as vimentin. This report provides a rare example of sarcomatoid chordoma. Familiarity with this type of bone tumor should help to avoid confusion with dedifferentiated chordoma and other spindle cell sarcomas or carcinomas. Received: 25 February 2000 Revision requested: 28 March 2000 Revision received: 30 May 2000 Accepted: 28 June 2000     

Total parenteral nutrition-associated intrahepatic cholestasis in infants: 25 years' experience

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: There are few long-term chronological reviews examining the incidence of total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-associated intrahepatic cholestasis (TPNAC) in infants. The authors therefore reviewed TPNAC in their 25-year series, and also looked at the current problems associated with TPN in infants. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-three surgical neonates who received TPN for more than 2 weeks were divided into 3 groups chronologically: group A (1971 through 1982, n = 77), group B (1983 through 1987, n = 72), and group C (1992 through 1996, n = 124). TPNAC was defined as serum direct bilirubin (DB) level greater than 2.0 mg/dL during the neonatal period. RESULTS: The incidence of TPNAC in groups A, B and C was 57%, 31%, and 25% (P< .01), respectively, and the mortality rate from TPN-associated complications was 13%, 3%, and 3% (P< .05), respectively. Over the last 5 years, severe TPNAC developed in 20 patients (16%). Four of 20 died of TPN-associated sepsis with hepatic failure; 2 had hypoganglionosis with intractable stagnant enteritis and subsequent sepsis, and 2 had fatal respiratory or cardiac disease. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of TPNAC in surgical neonates and TPN-associated mortality rates have decreased significantly. The mortality rate, however, still remains at 3%. Two of 4 fatal cases had hypoganglionosis, which were totally dependent on TPN. In patients who require long-term TPN, TPN still has unsolved problems, and small bowel transplantation may be indicated.     

Age-specific effects of noradrenergic alpha-2 agonist clonidine on the development of amygdaloid kindling in developing rats

The effects of clonidine on the development of amygdaloid kindling were studied in rats of various ages (14, 21, 28 and 70 postnatal days). Administration of clonidine (0.2, 0.5 mg/kg i.p.) caused a significant retardation of kindling development in the 28-day-old rats as well as in the adult rats, whereas, in the 14-day-old rats, the development of kindling was significantly facilitated by clonidine. No significant effect of clonidine was observed in the 21-day-old rats. These results indicate that in rats the effects of clonidine on the development of amygdaloid kindling vary during development.     

Jugular venous bulb oxygen saturation in patients with preexisting diabetes mellitus or stroke during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass

BACKGROUND: The authors hypothesized that patients with cerebrovascular abnormalities or metabolic disorders may experience abnormality in cerebral circulation more frequently than patients without these risks. The current study attempted to assess jugular venous bulb oxygen saturation (SjvO2) in patients with preexisting diabetes mellitus or stroke undergoing normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery were studied, including 19 age-matched control patients, 10 diabetic patients, and 9 patients with preexisting stroke A 4.0-French fiberoptic oximetry oxygen saturation catheter was inserted into the right jugular bulb to continuously monitor internal SjvO2. Hemodynamic parameters and arterial and jugular venous blood gases were measured at seven time points: (1) after the induction of anesthesia and before the start of surgery, (2) just after the beginning of cardiopulmonary bypass, (3) 20 min after the beginning of bypass, (4) 40 min after the beginning of bypass, (5) 60 min after the beginning of bypass, (6) just after the cessation of bypass, and (7) at the end of the operation. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen in mean arterial pressure, arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2), or hemoglobin concentration among the three groups during the study. The SjvO2 value did not differ among the three groups after anesthesia induction and before surgery, just after the beginning of cardiopulmonary bypass, 60 min after the beginning of bypass, just after the end of bypass, or at the end of the operation. Significant differences between the control group and the diabetic and stroke groups were observed, however, at 20 min and 40 min after the beginning of bypass (at 20 min: control group 62.2 +/- 6.8%, diabetes group 48.4 +/- 5.1%, stroke group 45.9 +/- 6.3%; at 40 min: control group 62.6 +/- 5.2%, diabetes group 47.1 +/- 5.2%, stroke group 48.8 +/- 4.1% [values expressed as the mean +/- SD]; P < 0.05). Also, values in the diabetes and stroke groups were decreased at 20 min and 40 min after the beginning of bypass compared with before the start of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A reduced SjvO2 value was observed more frequently in patients with preexisting diabetes mellitus or stroke during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. It is possible that cerebral circulation during normothermic bypass is altered in patients with risk factors for cerebrovascular disorder.     

Screening for Nicotine Dependence among Smoking-related Cancer Patients

To identify lung and head-and-neck cancer patients who will have difficulty stopping smoking it is necessary to measure the severity of their nicotine dependence. In this study, we compiled a Japanese version of the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and examined its reliability and validity. One hundred and fifty-one cancer patients participated in this study and took our Japanese version of the FTND. Socio-demographic and medical data and information about smoking habits were obtained from a semi-structured interview, and the patients' nicotine dependence was evaluated according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Ed., Rev. (DSM–III–R). The mean FTND scores±SD of the group with nicotine dependence and the group without nicotine dependence were 6.85±2.00 and 3.70±2.13 respectively, and the difference was significant ( P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney's U-test). The test-retest correlation was 0.75. Cronbach's a of the FTND was 0.66. The FTND score correlated significantly with the number of satisfied criteria of nicotine dependence ( r =0.70; P <0.001, Pearson's correlation). By using a receiver-operating-characteristic curve, we determined a score of 5/6 as a suitable cut-off point for nicotine dependence; this point gave high sensitivity and specificity (0.75 and 0.80, respectively). These results suggest that our Japanese version of FTND is a reliable and valid measure of nicotine dependence in patients with smoking-related cancers.