The vagal nerve as a link between the nervous and immune system in the instance of polymicrobial sepsis

Background The role of the vagal nerve in the autonomic nervous system is widely well known. Recently, an additional function was revealed serving as a connector between the nervous and immune system. This connection is called the “cholinergic inflammatory pathway.” Through stimulation of the acetylcholine receptors located upon the macrophages, the “unspecific” immune system can be directly influenced. Methods The vagal nerve was completely transected directly posterior to its passage through the diaphragm. The effect of complete vagotomy was analyzed using a murine model of polymicrobial peritonitis (colon ascendens stent peritonitis, CASP). Survival and clinical course of vagotomized or sham-operated mice were analyzed in the CASP model. Results After CASP surgery, vagotomy led to a significantly increased mortality (64.7%) in comparison to sham-vagotomized animals (34%). No difference in the bacterial load of various tissues (lung, liver, spleen, blood, lavage fluid, and kidney) from septic animals with or without vagotomy was observed. Vagotomized animals reveal elevated serum cytokine levels (TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP-1) 20 h after the induction of polymicrobial peritonitis. Conclusion The vagal nerve is therefore an important modulator of the immune system. W. Kessler and T. Traeger contributed equally to this work Best of Forum Papers presented at the Annual Meeting of the German Society of Surgery, 2–5 May 2006, Berlin, Germany     

Diagnostic accuracy of the Retinal Thickness Analyser: differentiation between normal eyes and eyes with glaucoma or macular pathologies

Background The Retinal Thickness Analyser (RTA) is intended to detect glaucomatous changes as well as macular pathologies at the posterior pole. We determined the diagnostic accuracy for eyes with manifest glaucoma or macular diseases.Methods We examined 71 eyes with long-term, established eye conditions. Included were 28 eyes with glaucoma, 21 with different macular diseases and 22 normal eyes. All examinations were evaluated in a blind-test by RTA experts without any clinical information on the patients. After comparison of the RTA interpretation with the clinical diagnosis, we determined sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values.Results Of 71 examinations, 15 (21%) were not interpretable. If these results are excluded, the following diagnostic accuracy values were calculated for glaucoma and macular disorders respectively: sensitivity 75 and 59%, specificity 55 and 97%, positive predictive value 48 and 90% and negative predictive value 80 and 84%. These values were not significantly different when both eyes of each patient were included in the final analysis (n=133).Conclusion The diagnostic values of the RTA determined in this case control study were not satisfactory. However, no clinical information was used in the assessment. The extent to which additional clinical information increases the diagnostic value remains to be determined.     

Occupational exposure to hazardous substances and risk of cancer in the area of the mouth cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx. A case-control study

A case-control study of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract conducted in Heidelberg and Giessen (FRG) provided information on occupational factors in 200 patients and 800 controls (adjusted to sex, age and area of living; 4:1 matched design). The number of subjects exposed to wood dusts, organic chemicals, coal products or to cement was significantly elevated in the tumour group. An increased risk for head and neck cancer was observed after exposition to wood dust (RR = 2,2), organic compounds (RR = 2,4), coal products (RR = 2,7) and especially to cement (RR = 4,4). The cancer risk due to cement exposition showed a positive correlation to the duration of exposition and remained significantly elevated after adjustment for alcohol and tobacco consumption.     

QT prolongation under sevoflurane in infants

Introduction   QT interval prolongation may cause the potentially lethal tachyarrhythmia torsades de pointes ( 1 ). The cause of the QT interval prolongation may be a congenital mutation in genes encoding cardiac potassium and sodium channels ( 2 ) or be acquired following drug administration ( 3 ) or metabolic disorders ( 4 ). Among a few other drugs volatile anaesthetics prolong the QT interval. During the last few years sevoflurane has become the most used volatile anaesthetic for the induction of anaesthesia in infants.
Methods   This investigation, on infants aged from 1 to 6 months, was approved by the institutional ethic committee. Thirty-six otherwise healthy infants due to elective surgery were included in our study The patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Group S ( n  = 24) was anaesthetised with sevoflurane, Group H was anaesthetised with halothane. ECG recordings were taken before the anaesthesia onset, 15 min after the first contact with the volatile anaesthetic and 60 min after the ending of the volatile gas exposition. QTc interval was calculated using the Bazett's formula ( 5 ).
Results   QTc interval was significantly ( P < 0.0002) (Table 1) lengthened 15 min after anaesthesia induction with sevoflurane as well as 60 min ( P < 0.01) after the ending of the gas exposition without any difference in age and gender. The QTc interval in patients anaesthetised with halothane did not show any significant change.  

  Table 1     

8.

Methodik und Ergebnisse von Stoffwechseluntersuchungen beim Krebs     

Emil Maier  Alfred Freiherrn von Christiani 《Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology》1940,49(6):679-710

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 13 Textabbildungen     

9.

Transthoracic esophagectomy and lobectomy performed in a patient with synchronous lung cancer and combined esophageal cancer and esophageal leiomyosarcoma.   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Joerg Lindenmann  Veronika Matzi  Alfred Maier  Freyja-Maria Smolle-Juettner 《European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery》2007,31(2):322-324

We report a pitfall deriving from the assumption of metastatic disease based upon seemingly identical histology in a pulmonary lesion and in the esophagus. In a 60-year-old patient, cT1 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was found. One of the two pulmonary nodules was histologically diagnosed as metastasis. When esophageal perforation occurred during palliative therapy, esophagectomy became necessary together with the right lower lobectomy for the removal of the remaining pulmonary lesion. Definitive histology showed pT1N0 cancer of the esophagus, primary esophageal sarcoma and pT4N0 bronchogenic carcinoma. The other pulmonary lesion was re-evaluated and defined as intralobar M1 of bronchogenic carcinoma.     

10.

A CT-free, intra-operative planning and navigation system for minimally invasive anterior spinal surgery - an accuracy study.   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

B Maier  G Zheng  C Ploss  X Zhang  K Welle  L-P Nolte  I Marzi 《Computer aided surgery》2007,12(4):233-241

OBJECTIVE: A comprehensive study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of a newly developed CT-free, intra-operative planning and navigation system for anterior spine surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Instruments and an image intensifier were tracked using the SurgiGATE navigation system. A laboratory study was performed on 27 plastic vertebrae. Fiducial markers were implanted in the vertebrae for accuracy evaluation purposes, and a dynamic reference base was placed on the vertebrae to establish a patient coordinate system (P-COS). Two fluoroscopic images were used for intra-operative planning. The graft bed plan was recorded in P-COS, followed by surgical formation of the graft bed, which was visualized. To evaluate the accuracy, the vertebrae were scanned with CT, and the markers were used to calculate an accurate paired-point registered transformation between the CT coordinate system and P-COS. RESULTS: Using the new SPO module, accurate planning and navigation of a resection of the vertebral body is possible using two fluoroscopic images. The overall mean error between the planned resection volume and the actual resection was 0.98 mm. In addition, the module can serve as an educational tool for training spine surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: The new fluoroscopy-based system can be used safely for accurate performance of anterior resection during spondylodesis. New methods for safe and accurate registration during anterior spine surgery need to be developed.     

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Methodik und Ergebnisse von Stoffwechseluntersuchungen beim Krebs

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 13 Textabbildungen     

Transthoracic esophagectomy and lobectomy performed in a patient with synchronous lung cancer and combined esophageal cancer and esophageal leiomyosarcoma.

We report a pitfall deriving from the assumption of metastatic disease based upon seemingly identical histology in a pulmonary lesion and in the esophagus. In a 60-year-old patient, cT1 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was found. One of the two pulmonary nodules was histologically diagnosed as metastasis. When esophageal perforation occurred during palliative therapy, esophagectomy became necessary together with the right lower lobectomy for the removal of the remaining pulmonary lesion. Definitive histology showed pT1N0 cancer of the esophagus, primary esophageal sarcoma and pT4N0 bronchogenic carcinoma. The other pulmonary lesion was re-evaluated and defined as intralobar M1 of bronchogenic carcinoma.     

A CT-free, intra-operative planning and navigation system for minimally invasive anterior spinal surgery - an accuracy study.

OBJECTIVE: A comprehensive study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of a newly developed CT-free, intra-operative planning and navigation system for anterior spine surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Instruments and an image intensifier were tracked using the SurgiGATE navigation system. A laboratory study was performed on 27 plastic vertebrae. Fiducial markers were implanted in the vertebrae for accuracy evaluation purposes, and a dynamic reference base was placed on the vertebrae to establish a patient coordinate system (P-COS). Two fluoroscopic images were used for intra-operative planning. The graft bed plan was recorded in P-COS, followed by surgical formation of the graft bed, which was visualized. To evaluate the accuracy, the vertebrae were scanned with CT, and the markers were used to calculate an accurate paired-point registered transformation between the CT coordinate system and P-COS. RESULTS: Using the new SPO module, accurate planning and navigation of a resection of the vertebral body is possible using two fluoroscopic images. The overall mean error between the planned resection volume and the actual resection was 0.98 mm. In addition, the module can serve as an educational tool for training spine surgeons. CONCLUSIONS: The new fluoroscopy-based system can be used safely for accurate performance of anterior resection during spondylodesis. New methods for safe and accurate registration during anterior spine surgery need to be developed.