Association of the time to first epinephrine administration and outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: SOS-KANTO 2012 study

Objective

This study assessed the association between the timing of first epinephrine administration (EA) and the neurological outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) with both initial shockable and non-shockable rhythms.

Quality of life after single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized,clinical trial

Background

Controversy continues as to whether single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with the somewhat larger incision at the umbilicus, may lead to a worse postoperative quality of life and more pain compared with the more classic 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to compare single-incision and 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy from the perspective of quality of life.

SALVAGE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH UNRESECTABLE HILAR CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA

We describe our methods and outcomes of multidisciplinary treatments in patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Fifty‐seven patients with a known outcome were enrolled. Thirty‐four of 57 patients were treated and evaluated by salvage therapy. For salvage therapy, we used internal and external radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, YAG laser therapy and microwave coagulation therapy. The median survival time was 548 days for the group receiving salvage therapy and 198 days for the group not receiving this treatment. In conclusion, although no randomization of the patients was performed in this retrospective study, our present data provide convincing evidence that salvage therapy is a useful therapeutic approach for unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinomas.     

Induction of endothelium-dependent relaxation in the rat aorta by IRL 1620, a novel and selective agonist at the endothelin ETB receptor.

1. The effects of a novel and selective agonist at the endothelin ETB receptor, IRL 1620 (Suc-[Glu9, Ala11,15] endothelin-1 (8-21)), were examined in the isolated aorta of the rat. 2. IRL 1620 (1-300 nM) changed neither the resting tone nor the cytosolic Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) of the aorta without endothelium. In the presence of endothelium, however, IRL 1620 increased endothelial [Ca2+]i with little effect on the muscle tone. In the absence of external Ca2+, IRL 1620 still induced a transient increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i. 3. Noradrenaline (100 nM) increased both muscle [Ca2+]i and tension. IRL 1620 (1-300 nM) relaxed the muscle with an increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i only in the presence of endothelium. An inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, 100 microM NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, inhibited the relaxant effect of IRL 1620 but not the increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i. 4. In resting and noradrenaline-stimulated aorta, the effects of IRL 1620 were inhibited by a selective antagonist of the ETB receptor, IRL 1038 (0.3-3 microM), although a selective antagonist of the ETA receptor, BQ-123 (3 microM), was ineffective. Verapamil (10 microM) did not alter the effects of IRL 1620. 5. A muscarinic receptor agonist, carbachol (1 microM), also induced endothelium-dependent relaxation with an increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i. However, the effects of carbachol were not inhibited by the ETB antagonist, IRL 1038 (3 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Biochemical activities of lysosomal acid hydrolases in leukemic cells

The biochemical activities of 8 lysosomal acid hydrolases in leukemic cells from 48 patients were examined. Characteristic alterations were found in α-mannosidase, β-galactosidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activities of leukemic cells. The level of α-mannosidase activity was much higher in myelo(mono)genous leukemias (AML, AMoL, AMMoL, CML and CMMoL) than in lymphogenous ones (ALL, T-cell leukemia, hairy cell leukemia and CLL) without exception. The β-galactosidase activity also differed as a result of α-mannosidase, except in T-cell leukemia. In T-cell leukemia it was within the range of normal lymphocytes, but in the other lymphogenous leukemias it was significantly below normal. N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity in myelo(mono)genous leukemic cells was above the range of normal granulocytes. The changes in these enzyme levels were consistent. The lymphocytic or myelocytic nature of three cases of acute undifferentiated leukemia could be determined by enzyme studies. In two cases it was lymphocytic and in one it was myelocytic. The enzymatic abnormalities were also found in morphologically mature neutrophils from patients with not only chronic types (CML, CMMoL) but also acute types (AMoL, AMMoL) of leukemias, and were similar to those of their respective leukemic cells. Analysis of lysosomal enzymes (at least three of those mentioned above), can elucidate one of the biochemical properties of leukemic cells and may be valuable in the differentiation of leukemias.     

A case of pulmonary artery bypass surgery for a patient with isolated Takayasu pulmonary arteritis and a review of the literature.

A 45-year-old female was presented with progressive dyspnea and bilateral leg edema. Pulmonary angiography revealed total occlusion of the right pulmonary artery and significant stenosis of the left pulmonary artery. The inferior lobar artery as well as the segmental arteries were well patent. No pathology was detected elsewhere at the aorta and its branches. The diagnosis of chronic pulmonary arterial occlusion by isolated Takayasu arteritis was made because of the characteristic pattern of angiographic findings and the presence of unusual shunt formation from the coronary artery to the peripheral portion of the pulmonary artery, as well as a characteristic presentation of HLA typing in blood analysis, which strongly suggested the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis. To restore the pulmonary blood flow, we employed reconstructive surgery by means of bypass procedure, using PTFE graft. Postoperatively there was marked improvement in cardiopulmonary function and the quality of life of the patient. The graft was proved to be patent at long-term follow-up study. An extremely rare case of chronic occlusive pulmonary arteritis, which was surgically treated by means of bypass procedure, is reported herein, and a brief review of previous reports on this subject was attempted.