Clinical experience with PTFE graft replacement in the descending thoracic aorta

In 6 cases, we have performed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft replacement in the descending thoracic aorta, with all patients alive and showing good results. Fifty months have passed since the first graft replacement, but no complications due to the PTFE graft have occurred.     

Comparison of ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 2-O-alpha-glucoside on the cytotoxicity and bioavailability to low density cultures of fibroblasts.

Ascorbic acid 2-O-alpha-glucoside (AA-2G) is a stable ascorbate derivative which has vitamin C activity in vivo and in vitro. We studied whether AA-2G exerts a prooxidant action in cultured fibroblasts from chick embryo and human skin, as does ascorbic acid. At concentrations of 0.1-1.0 mM, ascorbic acid markedly reduced the viable cell number of low density cultures within 24 hr, whereas AA-2G had no such effect. The ascorbate cytotoxicity was dependent on the cell density at the time of its addition and it was characteristic of low density cultures. This cytotoxicity was completely prevented by catalase and partially by an Fe3+ ion chelator, desferrioxamine. In the early culture stage at which a morphological change in the fibroblasts began to occur, intracellular ascorbate concentrations in low density cultures after addition of ascorbic acid were much higher than in high density cultures. However, at the same concentrations, AA-2G did not cause an elevation even in low density cultures and it was also effective on collagen synthesis at high and medium densities. These results suggest that the abnormally accumulated ascorbic acid in the cells cultured at low density possibly amplifies the generation of oxygen radicals through the reduction of Fe3+ ions and subsequent oxidative reactions, leading to cell death. Therefore, it is concluded that AA-2G which supplies an adequate amount of ascorbic acid during culture period is a bioavailable ascorbate source without cytotoxicity.     

LAPAROSCOPIC TREATMENT FOR PERFORATED APPENDICITIS WITH PELVIC ABSCESS

We performed laparoscopic appendectomy and drainage to treat panperitonitis due to perforated appendicitis that occurred in a 28‐year‐old woman. We believe this is an appropriate procedure to treat perforated appendicitis because it is safe and minimally invasive, and faster recovery can be expected than after conventional open appendectomy.     

Safety and usefulness of a novel eMotion electric mesh nebulizer in children with asthma.

BACKGROUND: A new electronic mesh nebulizer, eMotion is known to have higher performance compared to conventional nebulizers. However, there are some concerns about whether too much delivered dose might cause side effects with higher frequency. METHODS: To evaluate the safety and usefulness of the nebulizer, we measured changes in heart rates and lung functions of 73 asthmatic children when they inhaled 1 microg/kg of procaterol with eMotion or a conventional nebulizer, Junior BOY. RESULTS: In 34 children with mild asthma exacerbation, physical findings, lung function and transcutaneous oxygen saturation levels were improved after inhalation using both nebulizers. No adverse effects including significant increase of heart rate were found. Improvements in the rates of the parameters were comparable. When response to beta2-agonist inhalation was checked in 39 children in stable condition, similar degrees of improvement in lung function were observed, and heart rates did not change after inhalation with either nebulizers. CONCLUSIONS: Safety and efficacy was comparable between eMotion and a conventional nebulizer when it was used to administer beta2-agonists in asthmatic children. However, from the fact that eMotion needs only 3-4 minutes to inhale 2 mL solution, eMotion could be more useful for most children who usually do not prefer longer inhalation time with conventional compressor nebulizers.     

Effect of Cry-consensus peptide, a novel recombinant peptide for immunotherapy of Japanese cedar pollinosis, on an experimental allergic rhinitis model in B10.S mice.

BACKGROUND: We are developing an immunotherapeutic peptide, Cry-consensus peptide, for Japanese cedar pollinosis. Cry-consensus peptide is a recombinant polypeptide containing six major human T-cell epitopes derived from both Cry j 1 and Cry j 2, two major allergens of Japanese cedar pollen. We examined the effect of Cry-consensus peptide on an allergic rhinitis model in B10.S mice, which have one common T-cell epitope in the Cry-consensus peptide. METHODS: B10.S mice were sensitized with Cry j 1/alum, then the Cry-consensus peptide was administered subcutaneously once a week for 5 weeks from the last sensitization. Histamine was dropped in both nostrils (10 microL per nostril) of each mouse on the day before continuous intranasal instillation of Cry j 1. Soon after the final challenge with Cry j 1, the mice were observed for 5 minutes for the resulting number of sneezes. In addition, serum levels of Cry j 1-specific IgE and IgG2a antibody, eosinophil infiltration in nasal tissue, and Cry j 1-specific cytokine production from splenocytes were evaluated. RESULTS: Cry-consensus peptide markedly inhibited Cry j 1-induced sneezes, eosinophil infiltration, and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity in nasal tissue. Cry-consensus peptide inhibited the production of anti-Cry j 1 IgE (Th2-mediated) and significantly enhanced anti-Cry j 1 IgG2a (Th1-mediated). In cytokine production from splenocytes, Cry-consensus peptide significantly decreased in IL-4/IFN-gamma and IL-5/IFN-gamma ratios. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that Cry-consensus peptide effectively controlled allergic responses, which results from shifting from a Th2-dominated to a Th1-dominated immune response.     

Fecal stream is essential for adaptive induction of glucose-coupled sodium transport in the remnant ileum after total proctocolectomy

Our previous studies demonstrated that sodium glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT-1) was induced in the remnant ileum of total colectomized rats via the action of factors other than hyperaldosteronism. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether fecal stream is required for the enhancement of SGLT-1-mediated sodium transport. Twenty-seven pairs of ileal tissues were obtained from the proximal and distal side, respectively, of loop ileostomy after total proctocolectomy. Mucosae were mounted in an Ussing chamber to evaluate glucose-coupled sodium transport. Levels of SGLT-1 mRNA in proximal and distal mucosae were compared by Northern blotting. Villous height and crypt depth were measured to test for correlations between mucosal structure and SGLT-1-mediated sodium transport or mRNA expression levels. Both glucose-coupled sodium transport and expression of SGLT-1 mRNA were significantly lower in distal mucosae relative to proximal mucosae. In distal mucosae, villous height, but not crypt depth, was significantly lower than in proximal mucosae, demonstrating a positive correlation between villous height and SGLT-1 function and expression. Comparative studies of proximal and distal mucosae demonstrated that in addition to hormonal changes, fecal stream is required for full induction of the sodium transport system (which includes SGLT-1-mediated transport) in the remnant ileum following total proctocolectomy. Presented in part at the Forty-Sixth Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Chicago, Illinois, May 14–19, 2005 (poster presentation). This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research 10557118 and 14657295 from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan to K. Fukushima, and by Kanae Foundation to K. Fukushima.     

Late onset epilepsy associated with migration disorder: a case report]

We reported a 57-year-old female patient recently suffering from frequent seizures such as motionless staring and oral automatism. Electroencephalograms showed spikes in the right sphenoidal derivation and magnetic resonance images revealed an abnormal region, most likely related with a migration disorder such as a focal cortical dysplasia. She was diagnosed as mesiotemporal lobe epilepsy associated with a migration disorder. Seizure disappeared after medication therapy was done. No previous literature has described such a case, thus this is the first report of an epilepsy associated with migration disorder newly onset in a patient older than 50 years old.     

成人先天性胆管扩张症手术治疗

目的 探讨成人先天性胆管扩张症手术治疗的经验体会。方法 回顾分析1985年1月至2004年12月中国医科大学附属第一医院普外科收治的成人先天胆管扩张症68例手术治疗资料。依Flanigan分型：Ⅰ型59例，Ⅱ型3例，Ⅳ型6例。所有病例均行囊肿切除，结果 术后发生胆汁漏6例。胰漏3例，急性胰腺炎2例。死亡2例，56例经1-20年随访，随访率为82．3％。5例表现轻度胆管炎，2例吻合口狭窄。余下49例均痊愈，无胆管炎及胆管狭窄表现。结论 囊肿切除、胆管空肠Roux-en-Y吻合是成人先天性胆管扩张症的首选治疗。切除囊肿时，囊肿近端在尽量切净囊肿基础上行大口吻合，防止术后吻合口狭窄；囊肿远端在保证睫液引流通畅、不损伤胰管开口的基础上，尽量切净囊肿内膜。