A technique for vascular reconstruction of pancreaticoduodenal allograft. A literature review and case report

In most cases, whole pancreaticoduodenal allograft vessels can be reconstructed using a segment of donor common iliac artery bifurcation. An alternative way to bridge the splenic artery and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is to use a short segment of distal SMA as an interposition graft, as described herein.     

In vivo expression of interleukin-8, and regulated on activation, normal, T-cell expressed, and secreted, by human germinal centre B lymphocytes

T-cell homing within germinal centres (GCs) is required for humoral B-cell responses. However, the mechanisms implicated in the recruitment of T cells into the GC are not completely understood. Here we show, by immunohistology, and Northern and Western blots, that in vivo human GC B lymphocytes can express CxC and CC chemokines. Moreover, B-cell subset-specific experiments reveal that interleukin (IL)-8 and regulated on activation, normal, T-cell expressed, and secreted (RANTES) are predominantly expressed by GC centroblast and centrocytes, suggesting that chemokine expression is essential at stages in which B-lymphocytes engage in active antigen-dependent interactions with T lymphocytes. In keeping with this hypothesis, we show that the T cells recruited into the GC correlatively express the receptors for IL-8 and RANTES. We propose that chemokine expression is a key B-cell function that facilitates T-lymphocyte recruitment into the GCs and supports cognate B-cell : T-cell encounters. Moreover, our data are consistent with the impaired homing of T cells to secondary lymphoid organs in mice that are either deficient in CC and CxC chemokines or their receptors.     

Immune suppression and skin cancer development: regulation by NKT cells

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is carcinogenic and immunosuppressive. UV-induced immune suppression is mediated by antigen-specific T cells, which can transfer suppression to normal recipients. These cells are essential for controlling skin cancer development in the UV-irradiated host and in suppressing other immune responses, such as delayed-type hypersensitivity. Despite their importance in skin cancer development, their exact identity has remained elusive. We show here that natural killer T cells from UV-irradiated donor mice function as suppressor T cells and play a critical role in regulating the growth of UV-induced skin cancers and suppressing adaptive immune responses in vivo.     

Prostate vascular flow: the effect of ejaculation as revealed on transrectal power Doppler sonography

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to determine the effect of ejaculation on prostate vascular flow. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Using power Doppler technology, we performed four transrectal sonographic examinations before and immediately, 6 hr, and 24 hr after ejaculation in 10 healthy volunteers. Images were assessed by three independent observers. RESULTS. Ninety-seven percent of the images ranked as having the least flow were from the baseline examination. There was a significant difference between the rankings when categorized into the four time sets (mean score for the baseline group was 1.1, whereas for the immediate, 6-, and 24-hr postejaculation groups it was 2.5, 2.9, and 2.4, respectively (p<0.0001). The only statistically significant difference was between the baseline and the three remaining groups. Interobserver agreement was high, with the chance-corrected measure of agreement of 0.78. CONCLUSION. Transrectal sonography revealed that prostate vascular flow increases dramatically after ejaculation and remains elevated for at least 24 hr. This observation should be considered when power Doppler sonography is used to assess for potential hyperemia in patients suspected of having prostate abnormalities.     

Both HCV and HBV are Major Causes of Liver Cancer in Southeast Asians

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is higher in Asian Americans than in other ethnicities. While hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is more prevalent in some subgroups. Our goal was to determine the etiology of liver disease associated with HCC in subgroups of Asian Americans. This was an analysis of 510 Asian HCC patients at a US medical center. Patients were identified using ICD9 diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to study predictors of HCV as the cause of HCC. Patients were Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Korean, with similar gender, age, and foreign-born status. Southeast Asians had a similar proportion of HBV- and HCV-related HCC, while Chinese and Korean patients had a higher proportion of HBV-related HCC. HCC was usually associated with HBV in Chinese and Korean patients, but both HCV and HBV were important associations in Southeast Asians.