Selective-occlusive method of drug administration in the treatment of experimental liver tumors

263 experimental studies on 184 rats were carried out. Hepatic tumors were provoked by intraparenchymatous implantation of 0.1 ml 20% tumoral suspension of mucous cancer (RS-I). Treatment was realized on 10-12 day after vaccination. Photodynamic therapy with "Photosense" (PS) and laser irradiation (670 nm, 50-100 Dj, 4-13 mm), and also catalytic therapy (CT) with "Teraftal" (TF) and ascorbic acid (AA) were used. FS and TF were administered by developed selective-occilisive method (SOM). Rapid accumulation of drugs in occluded lobe of liver was revealed in SOM, that permitted to decrease administered dose of TF in 16.5 times. There was no growth of tumor after FDT unlike control group. Same results were obtained after CT with SOM, but there was further growth of tumor after systemic administration of drugs. Developed SOM of drugs administration in FDT and CT lead to good results in treatment of experimental hepatic tumors.     

The patterns and costs of the Da Vinci robotic surgery system in a large academic institution

The da Vinci ™Robotic System (dVRS) is the latest advancement in laparoscopic surgery allowing the surgeon more accurate and precise control of instrumentation with an added three-dimensional image. Technology comes with a price, $1.3 million. Due to charitable contributions from the Durham family, the University of Nebraska was the eighth Medical Center in the USA to obtain a dVRS in June 2000. UNMC analyzed 224 dVRS surgical procedures from July 2000 to February 2007. These procedures were designated by surgical service and further scrutinized for length of stay, and cost. We also reviewed trends in operative usage, academic and public relations components with this innovative technology. The dVRS was used for multiple other purposes that were beneficial including research with engineering graduate students, training for surgical residents, display and demos as a means for public relations. Primarily general and urologic surgeons utilized the dVRS. General surgeons were the early adopters of the new technology, the greatest growth and utilization of the equipment has been in urologic procedures, which has outpaced general surgery in the past year. Cost analysis shows a subtle benefit with a reduced length of stay by an average of 4 days. Average direct costs were found to be greater with the dVRS by $1,470. Overall, the effects of the dVRS are vast reaching and are fundamental to the growth of an academic institution and continued progress in minimally invasive surgery.     

A case of generalized pustular psoriasis arising following the use of psoriazin

A case with a most severe course of psoriasis is described, developing after prolonged psoriazin therapy. The female patient has developed a condition threatening for life.     

Short esophagus: how much length can we get?

Introduction  Laparoscopic antireflux surgery requires an adequate length of intra-abdominal esophagus. Short esophagus can cause wrap herniation and poor clinical outcomes. The aim of the study is to measure maximum length of esophageal elongation with transhiatal mediastinal dissection. Methods  This is a review of a prospective database created in the tertiary referral center between 2003 and 2006. One hundred and six patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and suspected short esophagus on barium swallow were studied. Patients underwent antireflux surgery with extended transhiatal mediastinal dissection to elongate short esophagus. Routine measurement of intra-abdominal esophageal segment length with intraoperative esophagogastroscopy and laparoscopy was utilized to define the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) in order to quantify total intra-abdominal esophageal length. Postoperative 24-h pH manometry, UGI series, and symptom scores were recorded to document the clinical outcomes. The aim of the dissection was to mobilize ≥3 cm of intra-abdominal esophagus. Results  Total esophageal elongation was achieved with a mean of 2.65 (range 2–18) cm. Resultant intra-abdominal esophageal length was measured with a mean of 3.15 (range of 3 to 5) cm. None of the preoperative “short esophagus” required Collis’ gastroplasty post extended mediastinal dissection. All preoperative symptom scores showed significant improvements with mean follow-up of 18 (9–36) months. Mean distal esophageal acid exposure normalized in all patients studied postoperatively. Conclusion  Short esophagus can be safely elongated with extended mediastinal esophageal dissection. This technique can obviate the need for Collis’ gastroplasty and improve overall outcome after antireflux surgery. We recommend that extended transhiatal mediastinal dissection be performed to establish 3 cm of intra-abdominal esophagus at the time of antireflux procedures.     

Synthesis,structure and certain biochemical properties of 31-branched thymidines and their 51-phosphate derivatives

Translated from Khimiko-farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 14–24, May, 1992.     

Work capacity of patients with sarcoidosis of the respiratory organs

The results of examination of 92 patients with sarcoidosis of the respiratory organs by a medical and labor examination commission were analyzed and it was shown that the majority of the patients (85.9 per cent) had no signs of permanent loss of the working ability. However, shortcomings in the work on diagnosing the disease resulted in late hormonal therapy of the patients and brought difficulties in drawing the conclusion on their working ability since the positive time course of pulmonary lesions was not sufficient because of short-term hormonal therapy. Permanent loss of the working ability resulted from progressing and generalized sarcoidosis, pronounced functional impairment of the cardiopulmonary system and unfavourable labor conditions.     

Use of physiological reparation regulators in glaucoma surgery: a clinicoimmunological study

The paper presents the comparative results of clinical and immunological studies dealing with the use of the physiological reparation regulators (the human amniotic membrane and systemic enzyme therapy) and the antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to prevent excessive ocular tissue scarring. The clinical observations have demonstrated the high efficiency of the proposed methods for the physiological regulation of reparative processes as compared with the use of 5-FU, which manifested as a more marked normalization ofophthalmotonus and fewer numbers of postoperative complications. The investigation of the study of proliferation-activating cytokine (TGF-beta1) and antiprolerative cytokine (IFN-gamma) has demonstrated the immunomodulating properties of the physiological reparation regulators used in the present study.     

Effects of the Val158Met Polymorphism of the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Gene on Measures of Sensory Gating in Health and Schizophrenia

Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology - The effects of the Val158Met polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene on sensory gating were studied in 41 mentally healthy volunteers...