Dopamine does not correct oxygen consumption/oxygen delivery relation abnormality during vasomotor shock induced by interleukin-1beta

We previously showed that interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) induces vasomotor shock and impairs the oxygen consumption (VO2)/oxygen delivery (DO2) relation by increasing the slope of the supply-independent line in rabbits. In the present study, we investigated the inotropic effect of dopamine on the VO2/DO2 abnormality induced by IL-1beta. Twelve rabbits were divided into two groups (n = 6, each) and were given 10 microg/kg of IL-1beta or saline (control) intravenously. After baseline measurements were obtained, dopamine was infused continuously at a rate of 20 microg/kg/min throughout the study in both groups. All rabbits were subjected to stepwise cardiac tamponade to reduce the DO2 to <5 mL/min/kg by inflation of a handmade balloon placed into the pericardial sac. The VO2/DO2 relation was then analyzed by the dual-line method. Dopamine failed to correct the IL-1beta-induced decrease in mean arterial pressure to the baseline level. Dopamine significantly increased cardiac index in both groups, resulting in significant increases in DO2 (IL-1beta, 28.5 +/- 6.0 mL/min/kg from baseline 24.1 +/- 3.5 mL/min/kg; control, 27.7 +/- 2.9 mL/min/kg from baseline 22.9 +/- 2.9 mL/min/kg), but did not affect VO2 (IL-1beta, 10.0 +/- 0.5 mL/min/kg from baseline 9.9 +/- 0.7 mL/min/kg; control, 10.2 +/- 0.4 mL/min/kg from baseline 10.2 +/- 0.2 mL/min/kg). The IL-1beta group showed a significantly greater supply-independent line slope than that of controls (IL-1beta, y = 0.14x + 6.3; control, y = 0.06x + 8.6) during stepwise decreases in DO2. These results indicate that continuous infusion of dopamine at 20 microg/kg/min increases DO2 but does not correct the vasomotor disturbance or VO2/DO2 abnormality caused by IL-1beta.     

Medical treatment of Barrett's esophagus

In patients with Barrett's esophagus, medical treatment is necessary for the control of reflux symptom, healing of accompanying erosive esophagitis, and prevention of carcinogenesis. For this purposes, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and aspirin/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are increasingly used. There are enough evidences that show the usefulness of PPIs for the control of reflux symptom and esophagitis. The values of PPI and aspirin/NSAIDs for the prevention of Barrett's carcinoma are still under investigation all over the world. Since many groups are actively working to find the appropriate methods for preventing carcinogenesis on the Barrett's esophagus, we will have an evidence-based strategy for the prevention of Barrett's adenocarcinoma in near future.     

Forearm elevation augments sympathetic activation during handgrip exercise in humans

Although angina pectoris in patients with coronary heart disease often occurs when their forearms are in an elevated position for a prolonged period, and sympathetic activation is a major cause of this condition, little is known about the physiological effects of forearm elevation on sympathetic activity during forearm exercise. We hypothesized that forearm elevation augments sympathetic activation during the static handgrip exercise in humans. A total of 10 healthy male volunteers performed 2 min of static handgrip exercise at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction followed by 2 min of post-exercise muscle ischaemia (PEMI; specific activation of the muscle metaboreflex) with two forearm positions: the exercising forearm was elevated 50 cm above the heart (forearm-elevated trial) or fixed at the level of the heart (heart-level trial). Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), blood pressure and heart rate were monitored. MSNA increased during handgrip exercise in both forearm positions (P<0.001); the increase was 51% greater in the forearm-elevated trial (516+/-99 arbitrary units) than in the heart-level trial (346+/-44 units; P<0.05). The increase in mean blood pressure was 8.4 mmHg greater during exercise in the forearm-elevated trial (P<0.05), while changes in heart rate were similar in both forearm positions. The increase in MSNA during PEMI was 71% greater in the forearm-elevated trial (393+/-71 arbitrary units/min) than in the heart-level trial (229+/-29 units/min; P<0.05). These results support the hypothesis that forearm elevation augments sympathetic activation during handgrip exercise. The excitatory effect of forearm elevation on exercising MSNA may be mediated primarily by increased activation of the muscle metaboreflex.     

Annuloplasty ring removal from patients with hemolysis after mitral valve repair

We present a case of severe hemolysis following a mitral valve repair, which was successfully treated by removing the annuloplasty ring. The etiology of the hemolysis appeared to be a small regurgitant jet at the level of the annuloplasty ring.     

Massive ascites after living donor liver transplantation with a right lobe graft larger than 0.8% of the recipient’s body weight

Shirouzu Y, Ohya Y, Suda H, Asonuma K, Inomata Y. Massive ascites after living donor liver transplantation with a right lobe graft larger than 0.8% of the recipient’s body weight.
Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 520–527.
© 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Background: There are only limited data on post‐transplant ascites unrelated to small‐sized grafts in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods: The subjects were 59 adult patients who had received right lobe LDLT with a graft weight‐to‐recipient weight ratio (GRWR) > 0.8%. Patients were divided into either Group 1 (n = 14, massive ascites, defined as the production of ascitic fluid > 1000 mL/d that lasted longer than 14 d after LDLT) or Group 2 (n = 45, no development of massive ascites). Patients were followed for a median period of 3.0 yr (range, 0.5–7.5 yr). Results: Group 1 had both higher Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score and Child‐Pugh score than Group 2. Portal venous flow volume just after reperfusion was significantly greater in Group 1 than Group 2 (307.8 ± 268.8 vs. 176.2 ± 75.0 mL/min/100 g graft weight, respectively; p < 0.05). Post‐transplant infectious complications including ascites infection developed more frequently within the first post‐transplant month in Group 1. Massive ascites was significantly associated with early graft loss (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Post‐transplant massive ascites associated with portal over‐perfusion into the graft liver can develop in patients with a GRWR over 0.8%. Recipients with post‐transplant massive ascites require careful management to prevent infection.     

Application of an automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation device for kidney transplantation from uncontrolled donation after cardiac death donors in the emergency department

Morozumi J, Matsuno N, Sakurai E, Nakamura Y, Arai T, Ohta S. Application of an automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation device for kidney transplantation from uncontrolled donation after cardiac death donors in the emergency department.
Clin Transplant 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399‐0012.2009.01140.x.
© 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Vital‐organ transplantation has become acceptable as the treatment of choice for end‐stage organ failure. If the patient, facing the end of life, wishes to donate organs after cardiac arrest (CA), donation after cardiac death (DCD) is increasingly important for the realization of the patient’s desires after CA. In Japan, kidney transplantation from uncontrolled DCD donors, who are identified in modified Maastricht categories II or V, is one of the critical factors in expanding the donor pool. However, according to the forensic code for post‐mortems and the requirement of legal consent for transplantation, the time required to meet all procedural requirements has sometimes prohibited organ procurement from uncontrolled DCD donors. We have therefore attempted to use an automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) device and maintain arterial pressure for uncontrolled DCD donors during all interim procedures after sudden CA. Comparing kidneys procured from standard DCD donors (n = 10) and uncontrolled DCD donors (n = 4), significant differences were seen in warm ischemic time (WIT), defined as the time from CA to initiation of cooling in situ. However, our early experience showed good tolerance and viability of uncontrolled DCD kidneys. Immediate availability of an automated CPR device might provide a bridge to kidney procurement from uncontrolled DCD donors.     

A case of dense deposit disease associated with a group A streptococcal infection without the involvement of C3NeF or complement factor H deficiency

A 14-year-old girl presented with acute glomerulonephritis. Tests revealed hypocomplementemia and elevated Antistreptolysin-O titers, and renal biopsy revealed endocapillary and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with double contours of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Despite methylprednisolone pulse therapy and the administration of oral prednisolone, overt proteinuria and hypocomplementemia persisted. A second renal biopsy 6 months later confirmed the initial diagnosis of dense deposit disease (DDD) based on electron-dense deposits in the GBM. C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) and a deficiency of complement factor H (CFH) were not evident. A nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr), nephritogenic group A streptococcal antigen, and the plasmin activity by in situ zymography were been in both the first and second biopsy specimens. The patient received combined immunomodulatory therapy with prednisolone and mizoribine, and the urinary protein decreased to a mild level at 27 months after disease onset. These findings suggest that persistent glomerular NAPlr deposition may be associated with the pathogenesis of DDD in some patients without the involvement of C3NeF or CFH mutation and that DDD patients of this type may respond to immunomodulatory treatment.     

Conversion to hypertrophic vertebral pseudarthrosis following percutaneous vertebroplasty

To determine the role of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in bone formation and the union of vertebral pseudarthrosis, we analyzed 14 patients with an average follow-up duration of 21 months. Evaluation methods included back pain (visual analog scale: VAS), wedge angle, dynamic mobility, radiographic remodeling including callus and spur formation, and union status. The Student's t test was used for statistical analysis and a probability of less than 0.05 was determined as a significant difference. Back pain improved in all 14 patients with a VAS score of 57.8 ± 23.5 mm (average ± standard deviation) preoperatively and 14.7 ± 16.4 mm at the final follow-up (P < 0.001). The wedge angle decreased from 21.6° ± 8.3° (average ± standard deviation) preoperatively to 13.2° ± 6.9° at the final follow-up (P < 0.001). Callus formation was seen in four patients. Bony spurs were seen in the affected vertebra in preoperative radiographs in all patients, and were further developed to a solidified form during follow up after PVP. Dynamic mobility of the affected vertebrae was 6.9 ± 2.9 mm preoperatively, which decreased to 1.1° ± 0.7° at the final follow-up (P < 0.001). Notably, all patients showed the dynamic vertebral mobility of 2 mm or less. Nevertheless, only two patients exhibited the dynamic vertebral mobility of 0 mm at the final follow-up, which is referred to as bone union. These findings indicate that PVP serves as a mechanical stabilizer for vertebral pseudarthrosis, which leads to immediate pain relief and segmental bony responses.     

ITPA gene variant protects against anemia induced by pegylated interferon‐α and ribavirin therapy for Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C

Aim: Host genetic variants leading to inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) deficiency, a condition not thought to be clinically important, protect against hemolytic anemia in chronic hepatitis C patients receiving ribavirin. In this study, we evaluated the clinical significance of ITPA variants in Japanese hepatitis C patients who were treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective cross‐sectional study, 474 hepatitis C patients were enrolled who were treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin in four geographically different hospitals in Japan. Patients were grouped according to hemoglobin decline of more than 3 g/dL at week 4. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within or adjacent to the ITPA gene (rs6051702, rs1127354) were genotyped. Results: A functional SNP, rs1127354, within the ITPA exon was strongly associated with protection against anemia with only one (0.8%) in 129 patients with the ITPA minor variant A developing severe anemia (P = 5.9 × 10^?20). For rs6051702, which had significant association in European‐Americans, significant but weak association with severe hemoglobin reduction was found in Japanese (P = 0.009). In patients excluding genotype 1b and high viral load, those with the ITPA minor variant A achieved significantly higher sustained viral response rate than those with the major variant (CC) (96% vs 70%, respectively, P = 0.0066). Conclusion: ITPA SNP, rs1127354, is confirmed to be a useful predictor of ribavirin‐induced anemia in Japanese patients. Patients with the ITPA minor variant A (～27%) have an advantage in pegylated interferon plus ribavirin‐based therapies, due to expected adherence of ribavirin doses, resulting in a higher viral clearance rate.     

Lymphatic marker podoplanin/D2-40 in human advanced cirrhotic liver- Re-evaluations of microlymphatic abnormalities

Background  

From the morphological appearance, it was impossible to distinguish terminal portal venules from small lymphatic vessels in the portal tract even using histochemical microscopic techniques. Recently, D2-40 was found to be expressed at a high level in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). This study was undertaken to elucidate hepatic lymphatic vessels during progression of cirrhosis by examining the expression of D2-40 in LECs.