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Biomedical subjects

E Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to E Watanabe.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

[Possibilities and limits of intraoperative functional assessment of the spinal cord].

Based on a series of 95 neurosurgical spinal cord monitoring cases with space-occupying lesions, most of which were monitored using both spinal and cortical recordings, the use and the limits of intraoperative monitoring of sensory pathway function of the spinal cord is described. Intraoperative spinal cord monitoring performed by recording of somatosensory evoked potentials following peripheral nerve or intrathecal stimulation is shown to be a useful adjunct in cases of difficult spinal cord surgery. In our own material using both spinal and cortical recordings there have been no false-negative monitoring cases so far. In the discussion the limitations and pitfalls of this technique are reviewed.

Brain Neoplasms↗

New technique for pancreaticojejunostomy using a biological adhesive.

A new technique of pancreaticojejunostomy using a fibrin glue biological adhesive system (BAS) after pancreaticoduodenectomy is reported. Pancreaticojejunostomy was performed on 112 patients between 1971 and 1985. Forty-two of the patients received BAS application (Group I), but the remaining seventy did not (Group II). To evaluate more precisely the effectiveness of BAS, 22 patients in Group I (Group I-ST) and 26 patients in Group II (Group II-ST) who were operated upon by the same surgeon during the same period were reviewed retrospectively. The selection of patients for the use of BAS was randomized. In Group I-ST, one patient had a minor leak; no major leaks or operative deaths occurred. Two of the twenty-six patients in Group II-ST had minor leaks and one patient had a major leak causing death. This new technique for pancreaticojejunostomy using a biological adhesive system may be useful for preventing anastomotic leaks, especially in a patient with a normal pancreas.

Bandages↗

Three-dimensional digitizer (neuronavigator): new equipment for computed tomography-guided stereotaxic surgery.

A new device was invented as an adjunct for computed tomography (CT)-guided stereotaxic or open neurosurgery. It is composed of a multijoint three-dimensional digitizer (sensor arm) and a microcomputer, which indicates the place of the sensor arm tip on preoperative CT images. Computed tomography scan is performed preoperatively with three markers placed on the nasion and ears. At surgery, after fixing the patient's head and the sensor arm, sampling of the standard points was done to translate the position of the tip of the sensor arm onto the CT images displayed on a computer screen. In this way positional data from conventional preoperative CT scan can be directly transferred into the surgical field. This system has the unique feature of introducing CT-guided stereotaxis into conventional open neurosurgery.

Brain Neoplasms↗

[Mechanism of deafferentation pain--experimental research using spinal root resection model].

In rats, autotomy of the digits following dorsal root resection has been observed by many researchers and is considered as an animal model of deafferentation pain. Using C5-Th 1 root resection model of rats, we investigated the role of the ventral roots and pain experience given before deafferentation in the development of autotomy. Male Sprague-Dawley rats of eight weeks old, weighing about 200 g, were used. Animals were divided into two major groups; dorsal root resection group and total (both ventral and dorsal) root resection group. Each group was further divided into several sub-groups, according to the use of formalin injection, before or after surgery, and to the side of formalin injection, the forearm of the affected (root resection) side or unaffected side or of both sides. In pre-injection groups, 0.1 ml of 5% formalin was given subcutaneously on the forearm one hour before surgery. In the postinjection groups, formalin was given within one hour after surgery. Dorsal root resection group without formalin injection was used as control. Under anesthesia with intraperitoneal injection of nembutal, left C 5-Th 1 dorsal root resection was performed by C 4-Th 1 laminectomy and left C5-Th 1 total root resection by opening of the corresponding vertebral foramen. After surgery, we checked neurological findings, systemic condition and local changes of all the extremities everyday during the first week and once a week thereafter for at least three months. In control groups, autotomy was not observed at all during the observation period of three months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Afferent Pathways↗

[Surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis without pancreatic duct dilation].

In 11 patients with chronic pancreatitis without dilation of the main pancreatic duct, 4 had segmental lesions of the pancreas and 7 had diffuse lesions of the pancreas. Patients with the segmental lesion had a relatively good pancreatic function and were relieved from pain by surgical treatment for the segmental lesion. On the other hand, patients with the diffuse lesion had far advanced dysfunction of the pancreas and were not improved by drainage operation of the pancreatic duct. For such cases, total or near total pancreatectomy has been indicated to relieve pain at the price of creating insulin dependent diabetes. To control pain and to reserve pancreatic function as long as possible in these cases, we performed the resection of all the pancreatic nervous plexus for such 3 patients and have obtained good results, although follow-up periods are still short. This new approach may offer a means of relieving pain with preservation of endocrine function in selected patients with chronic pancreatitis, especially in patients who have not dilated pancreatic duct.

Adult↗

[A preliminary study of chemo-interferon therapy in malignant lymphoma].

Clinical studies of combination therapy with chemotherapeutic agents and interferon (IFN) were performed. Seventeen patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 2 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) were treated by combination chemotherapy (COPP or CHOP), and then received 300 X 10(4) U of alpha-IFN daily for 14 days. Complete remission was seen in 11 of 15 evaluable patients with NHL and both of 2 patients with HD. Myelosuppression such as leukopenia and thrombocytopenia was observed in half of the patients. Other side effects were fever, liver dysfunction, alopecia, and peripheral neuropathy. However, all these side effects were mild and well tolerated even in elderly patients.

Adult↗

Effects of storage and 37 degrees C-incubation with fresh plasma on platelet calcium distribution, mobilization, influx and aggregability.

Aggregability of platelet concentrate decreased progressively during storage at room temperature and recovered when these stored platelets were incubated with fresh plasma at 37 degrees C. During storage, the resting level of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) which was measured by fluorescence Ca2+ indicator, quin 2, increased. On the other hand, the amount of Ca2+ mobilization and influx after stimulation with ADP or thrombin decreased. After 37 degrees C-incubation of these stored platelets with fresh plasma for 2-3 hours, resting level of [Ca2+]i decreased, and the amount of Ca2+ mobilization and influx increased (recovered). The resting level of [Ca2+]i indicated reverse correlation to aggregability and to the amount of Ca2+ mobilization and influx. These results suggest that the platelet Ca2+ influx in resting or activation state change during storage and by 37 degrees C with fresh plasma. These changes cause the reduction and the restoration of platelet aggregability.

Biological Transport, Active↗

A new surgical approach for control of pain in chronic pancreatitis: complete denervation of the pancreas.

With the aim of pain control in chronic pancreatitis without the morbidity of insulin-dependent diabetes, a new procedure was devised to completely resect the postganglionic pancreatic nerves and to totally free the pancreas from the posterior abdominal wall. This procedure was performed on two patients with follow-up periods of 24 and 10 months. Pain was resolved in both patients, and their blood glucose levels were substantially unchanged. This new approach offers a means of relieving pain with preservation of endocrine function in selected patients with chronic pancreatitis, especially in patients who have a small pancreatic duct.

Adult↗

Role of the primate flocculus in adaptation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex.

Neuronal events associated with adaptation of the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (HVOR) induced by sustained vestibular-visual mismatching were investigated in the primate flocculus. The floccular area related to the HVOR (H-zone) was identified by electrical micro-stimulation which induced ipsilaterally directed horizontal eye movement. It was thus found that Purkinje cells in the H-zone consistently changed their simple spike responses to head rotation in parallel with the adaptive HVOR gain change. This was demonstrated by observing the change of simple spike firing of Purkinje cells during adaptation of HVOR either in a population study or an individual study. Since similar changes occurred even after bilateral lesioning of vestibular nuclei had extinguished the HVOR, these changes appear to represent vestibular, but not eye velocity, mossy fiber responsiveness. The complex spike discharge, on the other hand, modulated during vestibular-visual stimulation with a reciprocal pattern to the adaptive changes in the simple spike discharge. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the flocculus Purkinje cells adaptively control the HVOR through their simple spike activity under influences of retinal error signals conveyed by visual climbing fiber pathways.

Adaptation, Physiological↗