Long-term results of elective hepatectomy for the treatment of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/Purpose According to the General rules for the clinical and pathological study of primary liver cancer, compiled by the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan, ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is classified as stage 4, even if the tumor is small and solitary. We examined the long-term results of elective hepatectomy for the treatment of ruptured HCC. Methods A first hepatectomy was performed without operative death in 193 patients with HCC. Ten patients had ruptured HCC (ruptured group) and 183 patients had nonruptured HCC (nonruptured group). The extension of HCC was macroscopically classified as stage 1 in 23 patients, stage 2 in 71, stage 3 in 53, and stage 4 in 46. Results Cumulative survival rates in the ruptured group at 1, 5, and 10 years were 90.0%, 67.5%, and 20.3%, respectively. The cumulative survival rate was lower in patients with stage 4 disease in the nonruptured group than that in patients in the ruptured group (P < 0.05). Cumulative survival rates did not differ significantly between patients in the ruptured group and those with stage 2 or stage 3 disease. Conclusions Survival rates after elective hepatectomy in patients with ruptured HCC are good, even if the disease is classified as stage 4.     

Effect of Robusta (Coffea canephora P.) coffee cherries quantity put out for sun drying on contamination by fungi and Ochratoxin A (OTA) under tropical humid zone (Côte d‘Ivoire)

The effect of coffee cherries quantity put out for sun drying on the kinetics of the drying, chemical components variation, fungal growth and ochratoxin A production was evaluated. The results showed that the more coffee cherries quantity on the drying area was important, the slower they dried. Indeed, the drying durations were 12, 17, 21, 26, 31 and 32 days respectively for the lots of 10 kg, 20 kg, 30 kg, 40 kg, 50 kg and 60 kg of cherries by square meter of drying area. The slowness of the drying led to the increasing of fungal development and ochratoxin A production in the cherries. Indeed, samples more contaminated were those from the lots of 50 kg and 60 kg of cherries by square meter of drying area with between 10% and 100% of infected beans and with levels of ochratoxin A ranging from 0.92 to 118.47 and 1.4 to 131.33 μg kg⁻¹ respectively. The slowness of the drying led also to the acidification of the cherries (pH = 5.55–4.54) and the degradation of their chlorogenic acids content (13.03–11.69) while for their caffeine content (2.52–2.54), any significant difference was observed whatever the drying duration.     

Toxicity of Degradation Products of the Antifouling Biocide Pyridine Triphenylborane to Marine Organisms

We evaluated the acute toxicities of the main degradation products of pyridine triphenylborane (PTPB), namely, diphenylborane hydroxide (DPB), phenylborane dihydroxide (MPB), phenol, and biphenyl, to the alga Skeletonema costatum, the crustacean Tigriopus japonicus, and two teleosts, the red sea bream Pagrus major and the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus. DPB was the most toxic of the degradation products to all four organisms. The acute toxicity values of DPB for S. costatum, T. japonicus, red sea bream, and mummichog were 55, 70, 100, and 200–310 μg/L, respectively. The degradation products were less toxic than PTPB to S. costatum and T. japonicus; however, the toxicities of DPB and PTPB to the fish species were similar. We also examined changes in the inhibition of growth rate of S. costatum as well as the percentage of immobilization of T. japonicus as end points of toxicity of PTPB after irradiation of PTPB with 432 ± 45 W/m² of 290–700 nm wavelength light. After 7 days of irradiation with this light, the concentration of PTPB in the test solutions decreased markedly. A decrease in toxic effects closely coincided with the decrease in the concentration of PTPB caused by the irradiation. PTPB probably accounted for most of the toxicity in the irradiation test solutions. Because the concentrations of PTPB that were acutely toxic to S. costatum and T. japonicus were <10 % of the corresponding concentrations of its degradation products, PTPB probably accounted for most of the toxicity in the irradiation test solutions.     

Evaluation of a compressive-type skeletal muscle pump for cardiac assistance

BACKGROUND: Recent investigations have focused on using the latissimus dorsi muscle for cardiac assistance. Although cardiomyoplasty has been applied clinically, other procedures remain experimental, but promising, modes of cardiac assistance. We assessed the latissimus dorsi muscle as an in situ energy source for circulatory assist devices. METHODS: We developed a pneumatic chamber as a compressive-type muscle actuator. The chamber was implanted under the latissimus dorsi muscle and converted contractile power into pneumatic pressure. The effect of chamber position and size and the influence on muscle blood flow were examined. After muscle conditioning, the pump performance of a circulatory assist device driven by the chamber was evaluated. RESULTS: The chamber functioned better when placed in the proximal position of the latissimus dorsi muscle. The size affected the generated pneumatic pressure, and the higher resting pressure of the chamber reduced the muscle blood flow. The maximum stroke work of the circulatory assist device was greater than that of the right ventricle but less than that of the left ventricle. The chamber could drive the circulatory assist device against the systemic range of afterload in which a high preload was available. Long-term adhesion surrounding the chamber reduced the pressure generation capability. CONCLUSIONS: The compressive-type muscle actuator using the latissimus dorsi muscle generated acceptable hemodynamic work for right ventricular bypass or aortic counterpulsation.     

CT portography by multidetector helical CT: comparison of three rendering models

PURPOSE: To assess the value of multidetector CT portography in visualizing varices and portosystemic collaterals in comparison with conventional portography, and to compare the visualizations obtained by three rendering models (volume rendering, VR; minimum intensity projection, MIP; and shaded surface display, SSD). METHODS: A total of 46 patients with portal hypertension were examined by CT and conventional portography for evaluation of portosystemic collaterals. CT portography was performed by multidetector CT (MD-CT) scanner with a slice thickness of 2.5 mm and table feed of 7.5 mm. Three types of CT portographic models were generated and compared with transarterial portography. RESULTS: Among the 46 patients, 48 collaterals were identified on CT transverse images, while 38 collaterals were detected on transarterial portography. Forty-four of 48 collaterals identified on CT transverse images were visualized with the MIP model, while 34 and 29 collaterals were visualized by the VR and SSD methods, respectively. The average CT value for the portal vein and varices was 198 HU with data acquisition of 50 sec after contrast material injection. CONCLUSIONS: CT portography by multidetector CT provides excellent images in the visualization of portosystemic collaterals. The images of collaterals produced by MD-CT are superior to those of transarterial portography. Among the three rendering techniques, MIP provides the best visualization of portosystemic collaterals.