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Biomedical subjects

H G Beger

Publications and source records attributed to H G Beger.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Duodenum-preserving head resection in chronic pancreatitis changes the natural course of the disease: a single-center 26-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: To present preoperative and early postoperative data for 504 patients who underwent duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) for severe chronic pancreatitis (CP). BACKGROUND: The pancreatic head is considered to be the pacemaker of the disease in alcohol-induced CP. Indications for surgery in CP are intractable pain and local complications. DPPHR offers the advantage of treating the complications related to the inflammatory process in the head, relieving the pain syndrome, and preserving the bilioduodenal anatomy, and it may have the potential to change the natural course of chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: Between November 1972 and December 1998, 504 patients with chronic pancreatitis and an inflammatory mass in the pancreatic head were treated surgically after medical pain treatment for a median of 3.6 years. The procedure resulted in a hospital mortality rate of 0.8%. A continuous follow-up investigation lasting up to 26 years was conducted, during which the patients were reevaluated four times (1983, 1987, 1994, 1996). Between November 1982 and October 1996, 388 patients treated surgically were reinvestigated to evaluate the late outcome; the follow-up rate was 94% (25 patients were lost to follow-up). The reinvestigation evaluation included glucose tolerance test, exocrine pancreatic function test, pain status, physical status, professional and social rehabilitation, and quality of life. RESULTS: After an observation period of up to 14 years, 78.8% of the patients were completely pain-free and 12.5% had (yearly) pain. 91.3% were considered as pain-free; 8.7% had continuing abdominal pain; 12% had abdominal complaints. During the 14 years of follow-up, only 9% were admitted to the hospital for acute episodes of chronic pancreatitis. Endocrine function was improved in 11%; in 21%, diabetes developed de novo. The rate of hospital admission for acute episodes decreased from 69% before surgery to 9% after surgery. In the clinical management period of 9 years (median), the frequency of hospital admission dropped from 5.4 per patient before surgery to 2.7 after surgery. Fourteen years after surgery, 69% of the patients were professionally rehabilitated; in 72%, the quality of life index (Karnofsky criteria) was 90 to 100 and in 18%, it was <80. CONCLUSION: In patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis in whom an inflammatory mass has developed in the pancreatic head, DPPHR results in a change in the natural course of the disease in terms of pain status, frequency of acute episodes, need for further hospital admission, late death, and quality of life.

Adult↗

Increased angiogenin expression in obstructive chronic pancreatitis surrounding pancreatic cancer but not in pure chronic pancreatitis.

We previously demonstrated the increased expression of angiogenin (ANG) in pancreatic cancer and its relation to cancer aggressiveness; however, the expression patterns and the roles of angiogenin in chronic pancreatitis are still unknown. We investigated the expression of ANG both in the tissues and in the sera of chronic pancreatitis patients (pure chronic pancreatitis) by using in situ hybridization, Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In situ hybridization revealed no detectable ANG messenger RNA (mRNA) signals in all tissues of pure chronic pancreatitis and normal pancreas. Only a small amount of protein band expression was obtained in all of the protein lysates of pure chronic pancreatitis and normal pancreas. Accordingly, there was no significant difference between the mean serum ANG concentration of chronic pancreatitis patients (352.1+/-72.5 ng/ml) and that of healthy volunteers (357.6+/-45.2 ng/ml). By contrast, acinar cells and interstitial fibroblasts in the tissues surrounding pancreatic cancer showed increased ANG mRNA expression. Strong protein band expression was obtained in the protein lysates of pancreatic cancer surrounding tissue, and mean serum ANG concentration was increased in pancreatic cancer patients. These findings suggest that ANG expression is increased in pancreatic cancer surrounding tissue but is not increased in pure chronic pancreatitis, and that ANG is potentially involved in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment rather than the establishment of pure chronic pancreatitis.

Blotting, Western↗

Systemic lymphocyte activation modulates the severity of diet-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.

To examine the role of lymphocyte activation in the development of local and systemic complications in acute pancreatitis, we compared disease severity of choline-deficient, 0.5% ethionine supplemented (CDE) diet-induced acute pancreatitis in T- and B-cell deficient SCID mice and immunocompetent C.B-17 mice. Twenty-five female SCID and 17 female C.B-17 mice were fasted for 24 h and fed a CDE diet for 72 h. Twenty SCID and 12 C.B-17 mice were bled and their organs removed for histologic evaluation. Five control animals of both kinds were fed a regular diet for 6 days. Lung, kidney, and pancreas were examined microscopically, and pancreatic damage scored. Apoptosis was detected by DNA nick-end labeling and confirmed by DNA laddering. Trypsinogen-activation peptide was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the catalytic activity of PLA2 was determined by a radiometric assay. Four-day mortality was 10% in SCID and 33% in C.B-17 mice, and 10-day mortality was 0 in SCID and 60% in C.B-17 mice. SCID mice had mild pulmonary damage, whereas pulmonary injury was severe in C.B-17 mice. Pancreatic damage was severe in both groups. Even though in situ staining of apoptotic cells was found in all pancreatitis animals, apoptosis was confirmed by DNA laddering only in C.B-17 mice. In SCID mice, apoptotic cell staining positively correlated with necrosis (r = 0.91; p < 0.001). Plasma TAP and PLA2 catalytic activity did not differ significantly between the groups. In conclusion, the absence of T and B lymphocytes prevents severe pulmonary injury resulting from acute pancreatitis but does not influence pancreatic or renal damage. Our results suggest that systemic lymphocyte activation does not affect the initiating events that trigger pancreatic injury but modulates the systemic response, in particular, pulmonary injury caused by acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

Changes in endotoxin-binding proteins during major elective surgery: important role for soluble CD14 in regulation of biological activity of systemic endotoxin.

Assessment of circulating endotoxin during the perioperative period, which is only demonstrated by the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test, may be modulated by several endotoxin-binding proteins. Endotoxin-neutralizing capacity (ENC) and the plasma levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) were determined in 40 patients 6 h prior to skin incision for major abdominal surgery. The bioactivity of plasma endotoxin was tested by the polymyxin B-inhibited stimulatory activity of the plasma samples on healthy monocytes as measured by the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Plasma endotoxin levels in almost all patients increased from 0.05 +/- 0.01 to 0.23 +/- 0.03 experimental units (EU) per ml (P < 0.001); more specifically, 17 of 40 samples showed endotoxin levels of greater than 0.2 EU per ml and corresponding reductions in ENC. Soluble CD14 plasma levels were decreased from 5. 6 +/- 0.3 to 4.6 +/- 0.3 microg per ml (P < 0.05). ENC was strongly correlated with the sCD14 plasma concentration throughout the period of observation. The addition of sCD14-neutralizing monoclonal anti-sCD14 antibodies reduced ENC both pre- and postoperatively. No correlation could be established between ENC and the plasma levels of BPI, high-density lipoproteins, or low-density lipoproteins determined by measuring the concentrations of apoprotein A and apoprotein B. Biologically active endotoxin was found in only 6 of 17 samples with endotoxin levels greater than 0.2 EU per ml in the LAL test. These samples could be characterized by their perioperative loss of at least 35% of their sCD14. No change in sCD14 was detected in the remaining 11 samples. The perioperative loss of ENC is partly caused by the loss of sCD14 resulting from its consumption by endotoxin reaching the bloodstream. This study demonstrated the role of sCD14 on the bioactivity of circulating endotoxin in a human model of endotoxemia after major abdominal surgery.

Abdomen↗

A randomised, double blind, multicentre trial of octreotide in moderate to severe acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: The pharmacological inhibition of exocrine pancreatic secretion with the somatostatin analogue octreotide has been advocated as a specific treatment of acute pancreatitis. AIM: To investigate the efficacy of octreotide in acute pancreatitis in a randomised, placebo controlled trial. METHODS: 302 patients from 32 hospitals, fulfilling the criteria for moderate to severe acute pancreatitis within 96 hours of the onset of symptoms, were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: group P (n=103) received placebo, while groups O1 (n=98) and O2 (n=101) received 100 and 200 microg of octreotide, respectively, by subcutaneous injection three times daily for seven days. The primary outcome variable was a score composed of mortality and 15 typical complications of acute pancreatitis. RESULTS: The three groups were well matched with respect to pretreatment characteristics. An intent to treat analysis of all 302 patients revealed no significant differences among treatment groups with respect to mortality (P: 16%; O1: 15%; O2: 12%), the rate of newly developed complications, the duration of pain, surgical interventions, or the length of the hospital stay. A valid for efficacy analysis (251 patients) also revealed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: This trial shows no benefit of octreotide in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

Distal pancreatectomy in chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: The indications for a resective procedure in chronic pancreatitis are severe pain and local complications. The aim of this study, based on prospectively assessed data, was to evaluate distal pancreatectomy in patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis localized in the corpus and cauda of the pancreatic gland. METHODS: Seventy-four patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy were evaluated pre- and postoperatively (after a median observation period of 58 months) for pain, professional status, alcohol consumption, and endocrine function as measured by the glucose tolerance test preoperatively. RESULTS: The indication for operation was severe therapy-resistant pain in nearly all patients and an inflammatory tumor or pancreatic pseudocysts in over 50% of the patients. One fourth of the patients were operated in order to exclude malignancy. Ninety-five percent of the patients underwent distal pancreatectomy, only in 4 cases (5%) was a subtotal (Child) resective procedure performed. In 34% of patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy a splenectomy could be avoided. The early postoperative complications were few and mostly due to the severe comorbidity of the patients. During the median observation period of 58 months 14.7% of the patients died due to diseases not related to distal pancreatectomy. Six percent of the patients could not be reevaluated and were lost to follow-up. In the remaining 59 patients 88% had significantly less pain and 66% had an increase in median body weight of 8 kg. Fifty percent of the patients had full or partial professional rehabilitation, one fourth was unemployed and 24% had retired due to age. 51.7% had a normal endocrine function as assessed by the glucose tolerance test, 16.2 and 21.6% had a latent or manifest diabetes mellitus, respectively. In 74.5% of all patients the endocrine function did not worsen during the observation period. CONCLUSION: In comparison to conservative treatment distal pancreatectomy is a suitable therapeutic measure in patients with severe pain and local complications. It significantly improves the quality of life of patients without compromising endocrine function. Postoperative lethality is lower than in conservatively treated patients and is not related to distal pancreatectomy.

Adult↗

Need for a standard report and future directions in pancreatic resections for cancer.

The ability to compare treatment results is essential for the proper evaluation of treatment protocols. Especially in the case of exocrine pancreatic cancer different classifications and documentation systems hinder the comparison between institutions and do not allow multicenter analysis across the world. This might explain the vastly different results of similar therapeutical trials and studies. In the classifications used at present, the features included, as well as terminology and description, vary greatly. First attempts to stage pancreatic malignancies according to UICC criteria were mentioned in the 1987 edition. These rules were predominantly based on the suggestions of the AJCC Cancer of the Pancreas Task Force of 1981 and have since not been changed. In Japan a different staging system has emerged and was first published by the Japanese Pancreatic Society (JPS) in 1986: General Rules for Surgical and Pathological Studies on Cancer of the Pancreas. The major difference between the two classifications concerns the evaluation of local tumor growth and the extent of lymph node involvement. Unfortunately most attempts to 'restage' Western patients postoperatively according to the JPS criteria, or vice versa, in order to compare treatment results have not added to a clearer understanding. Much in contrary, the results were frequently confusing since not comparable data were nevertheless retrospectively compared. Thus, a uniform standard report is needed, leading to prospective data acquisition and biometric analysis of outcome. The report should serve as a standard format for worldwide data acquisition and documentation and thereby become the common language to describe diagnosis, treatment, pathology and outcome of pancreatic cancer patients undergoing surgical therapy. It should enable: (1) inter-institutional data exchange from different staging systems; (2) comparisons between institutions on an international basis; (3) quality management in clinical practice and studies, and (4) reliable insight into tumor biology and differences in growth patterns.

Forms and Records Control↗

A surgical and pathological based classification of resective treatment of pancreatic cancer. Summary of an international workshop on surgical procedures in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: The extent of pancreatic resection and lymphadenectomy, both for Kausch-Whipple pancreatoduodenectomy and for left pancreatectomy, is variable between surgeons, according to their training. METHODS: On May 30, 1998, a consensus conference on the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer took place in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy. A group of 29 European surgeons and pathologists, recognized as international experts, analyzed the surgical and pathological procedures used in European countries to resect pancreatic cancer and examine the specimen. RESULTS: A general agreement was reached on the definitions of standard , 'radical and 'extended radical Kausch-Whipple pancreatoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the head of the pancreas, and standard and 'radical left pancreatectomy for carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas. Segmental venous resection, as well as adjacent organ resection, can be performed at the time of standard, radical or extended radical pancreatoduodenectomy or left pancreatectomy if required. The pylorus-preserving procedure is contraindicated only for carcinomas of the anteriorsuperior part of the head of the pancreas. Guidelines for a standardized pathological examination of the resected specimen were produced. CONCLUSION: Adoption of the recommended terminology will improve outcome comparisons between institutions performing the different procedures. Moreover, standardization of operations, terminology and pathological reporting is essential for prospective randomized trials comparing different operations either alone or within the context of adjuvant therapy studies.

Humans↗

New approaches in surgical management of severe acute pancreatitis.

Despite many prospective randomized clinical studies a specific pharmacotherapy for severe acute pancreatitis is not in sight. To date, the only possibility to influence the prognosis of this severe illness is early diagnosis and prevention of intra- and extrapancreatic necrosis and its subsequent infection. In severe necrotizing pancreatitis the incidence of infected necrosis amounts to 40-70% of all patients within 3 weeks. Thereby, the clinical picture often varies to large extent. Ultrasonographically or computer tomography-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNAC) is a fast and reliable technique for diagnosis with an overall sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 90%. This method should however not be applied too early in the course of necrotizing pancreatitis. Since infection of pancreatic necrosis determines significantly the prognosis of disease, various studies have assessed the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotic treatment in patients. Three prospective randomized studies have shown that prophylaxis significantly minimizes septic complications, only in one study, however, the mortality rate could be improved. Although randomized studies are still mandatory to resolve the controversy, it seems justified to recommend prophylaxis with antibiotics which are capable of penetrating the pancreatic tissue and juice. Sterile necrosis should be treated conservatively, with prophylactic antibiotic treatment for as long as possible. Only if patients worsen despite intensive care medicine, surgical debridement should be considered. In contrast, in patients with infected necrosis immediate surgery is in most cases mandatory. Although in one prospective study conservative treatment did not lead to an enhanced mortality rate, possible delay of surgical treatment may endanger the patient. In order to improve the prognosis of the disease, timely and adequate treatment in specialized units provides the best chances for a good prognosis whereby the severely ill patient should not be treated according to a scheme but to his/her individual needs.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗

Serum and correspondent tissue measurements of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R). Clinical relevance in pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that routine measurements of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) cannot improve screening for pancreatic cancer despite the frequently present tissue overexpression. Both values fail to reveal this malignancy in a serum test. Patients with chronic pancreatitis exhibit no or very low concentrations of EGF. In cases where preoperative diagnosis is difficult the noninvasive EGF and EGF-R serum measurements may be helpful in discriminating between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. BACKGROUND: EGF and EGF-R are frequently overexpressed in the tissue of patients suffering from ductal pancreatic cancer and to lesser degree in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the value of serum measurements in these patients to detect malignant pancreatic disease. In cases of pancreatic cancer, the tissue expression of EGF and EGF-R was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. METHOD: Thirty-five patients with chronic pancreatitis and 31 patients with pancreatic cancer were evaluated; 71 patients admitted for routine surgery (hernia repair, cholecystectomy, goiter surgery) served as controls. RESULTS: EGF and EGF-R values were not significantly different in pancreatic cancer as compared to controls and did not correlate with other tumor markers (CA 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], tumor polypeptide antigen [TPA]) or with the stage of the disease. Fourteen patients (67%) with pancreatic cancer displayed tissue overexpression for EGF and 11 patients for EGF-R (52%). These patients, however, also failed to exhibit any significant pathological changes in serum concentration. In chronic pancreatitis, EGF and EGF-R were significantly decreased as compared to pancreatic cancer and controls. This was an unexpected finding. There was a positive correlation to clinical exocrine insufficiency.

Adult↗

Detection of liver metastases from pancreatic cancer using FDG PET.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated the potential of the glucose analog [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as a PET tracer for the hepatic staging in 168 patients designated for resective pancreatic surgery. METHODS: Metastatic liver disease was confirmed or excluded during surgery or with CT follow-up for at least 6 mo. Proven metastases were then retrospectively identified on preoperative CT (gold standard). Hepatic PET scans of all patients were interpreted blindly. Any focal FDG uptake was considered malignant. Both proven hepatic metastases and suspicious hepatic PET lesions were then compared, lesion by lesion, with CT. Standardized uptake values (SUV) and tumor-to-liver ratios (T/L) were determined for the most intense lesion of each patient. RESULTS: Sensitivity of FDG PET was 68% (15 of 22 patients). The lesion detection rate was 97% (28 of 29 metastases) for lesions >1 cm and 43% (16 of 37 metastases) for lesions < or = 1 cm. Specificity was 95% (138 of 146 patients). Six of eight patients with false-positive results had marked intrahepatic cholestasis (versus 3 of 15 patients with true-positive lesions), one had an infrahepatic abscess and one had a right basal pulmonary metastasis. The SUV and T/L were 4.6+/-1.4 and 2.3+/-1.1, respectively, for malignant lesions and 4.1+/-1.5 and 1.9+/-0.3, respectively, for false-positive lesions and therefore are of limited value. CONCLUSION: FDG PET provides reliable hepatic staging for lesions >1 cm. False-positive results are associated with the presence of marked intrahepatic cholestasis. For lesions < or = 1 cm, FDG PET can define malignancy in 43% of suspicious CT lesions in the absence of dilated bile ducts.

Aged↗

Basic research supported developments of chemotherapy in nonresectable isolated colorectal liver metastases to a protocol of hepatic artery infusion using mitoxantrone, 5-FU + folinic acid and mitomycin C.

OBJECTIVE: Since the developments in systemic chemotherapy of metastasized colorectal cancer have not resulted in substantial gains in survival times, we wished to improve the course of isolated nonresectable colorectal liver metastases (CPLM) by hepatic arterial infusion treatment. BACKGROUND: Patients (pts) with CRLM have a worse fate than those pts whose liver metastases could be resected. Systemic (i.v.) chemotherapy for CRLM/colorectal metastases does not improve survival to a relevant level (median survival time (med. surv.) after 5-Fluorouracil + Folinic Acid (5-FU + FA) i.v.: 6.4-14.3 months (m)). Hepatic artery infusion (HAI) with 5-Fluorode-oxyuridine (5-FUDR) has been demonstrated in a metaanalysis of randomized trials to be superior to i.v. treatment/palliative care (med. surv.: 15 vs. 10 m). The benefit of HAI with 5-FUDR, although recommended as treatment for CRLM, is severely compromised by the 5-FUDR induced hepatotoxicity, leading eventually to sclerosing cholangitis (SC)/liver scirrhosis. We have stepwise developed a protocol for HAI of CRLM, which is superior to HAI with 5-FUDR, and, most evidently, to systemic chemotherapy. PATIENTS/METHODS: Between 1982-1997, 222 CR (L) M patients were treated within subsequent protocols (Table). In protocol A, 68 CRLM pts received HAI with 5-FUDR (A1: nonrandomized pts; A2: randomized pts). In protocol B (randomized pts.), 46 pts received 5-FUDR i.a. (via HAI) + i.v. In protocol C, systemic chemotherapy with 5-FU + FA was conducted in 34 pts with metastasized colorectal cancers, including CRLM. In protocol D 5-FU + FA was delivered via HAI in 25 pts with CRLM. In protocol E, based on in vitro phase II studies and the results of protocol D, Mitoxantrone and Mitomycin C were added to 5-FU + FA (MFFM). Fifty (50) CRLM pts received HAI with MFFM. RESULTS: The response rates, med. surv. times, systemic toxicity and SC rates are shown in the table. HAI with MFFM produced objective responses in 66%, the med. surv. was 27.4 m, and no SC occurred. The ports surgically placed for HAI, e.g., in protocols D and E, functioned in 90%, 82%, and 76% 6, 9, and 11 m after start of the HAI. Quality of life in protocol E was high. Nine pts from protocols D + E with either partial (PR, 7 pts) or complete (CR, 2 pts) remissions received a secondary liver resection without hospital mortality, and 7/9 pts are living 2-58 m after liver resection, 2/9 pts died 11 and 22 m after resection. [table: see text] SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS: Our learning curve to achieve optimal treatment of CRLM resulted in a protocol using HAI with MFFM. The results of this protocol (E) including the high remission rate, long median survival time, good port function, high quality of life, and, most interestingly, the possibility to downstage and resect primarily nonresectable metastases, seem to be superior to HAI with 5-FUDR of 5-FU + FA and to systemic chemotherapy with 5-FU + FA. This hypothesis is currently examined in a phase III study (HAI with MFFM vs. 5-FU + FA i.v.).

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Is a Whipple operation in chronic pancreatitis still a current procedure?].

Until the eighties, the surgical procedure of choice in chronic pancreatitis with an inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas has been partial duodenopancreatectomy (pDP). Since neither stomach, duodenum nor the common bile duct are directly involved in the inflammatory process of the pancreas, the Whipple's procedure (pDP) might lead to overtreatment. Therefore, duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR), developed by Beger in 1972, has become in several centers the standard procedure for patients with an inflammatory enlargement of the head of the pancreas. We reviewed the literature of the last ten years and evaluated the different surgical procedures for pancreatic head resection. Comparing pDP and DPPHR. Whipple procedure has a higher hospital mortality (3.2% versus 0.6%), a higher late mortality (22% versus 8.4%), a higher morbidity and a higher incidence of a new "surgical" diabetes (17.6% versus 2%). With regard to relief of pain long-term investigations show totally pain-free patients after pDP in 72%, after pylorus-preserving duodenopancreatectomy (PPDP) in 82% and after DPPHR in 89%. Furthermore, other disadvantages of PPDP are the high rate of gastric outlet dysfunction (17% on average with a range of 4-32%) and the high rate of marginal ulcers (8.4% on average with a range of 5-11%). In summary, we conclude that in patients with chronic pancreatitis and an inflammatory enlargement of the pancreatic head. DPPHR is the procedure of choice. Whipple's procedure should only be performed if a suspicion of malignancy is suspected or, secondly, if a patient suffers from persistent pain (5%) after DPPHR.

Chronic Disease↗

Basal expression and cytokine induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Although expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression has been demonstrated in many human malignancies, very little is known about the ICAM-1 expression in human pancreatic cancer. We have examined ICAM-1 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines and the induction of ICAM-1 in these cells by flow cytometry. The degree of baseline ICAM-1 expression was most significant in Panc-1, followed by PMH-2, Capan-2, Bx-PC-3, Capan-1, and PMH-3 in that order. PaCa-2 and AsPC-1 showed very low levels of baseline ICAM-1 expression. After tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma stimulation, five cell lines exhibited distinct ICAM-1 induction. The degree of induction was remarkable in AsPC-1 (32-fold), and moderate in PMH-3 (6.5-fold), PaCa-2 (3.2-fold), Capan-1 (1.6-fold), and BxPC-3 (1.5-fold). The ICAM-1 expression levels of PMH-2 and Capan-2 after stimulation were nearly the same as those before stimulation (1.2-fold and 1.1-fold, respectively). These results suggest that ICAM-1 is overexpressed and inducible by tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma in pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Cytokines↗

[Pouch stomach reconstruction after gastrectomy].

Up to now there is no general agreement on the ideal reconstruction after total gastrectomy. The importance of the duodenal passage, the need for a pouch reconstruction, and the ideal pouch volume are matters of controversy. Prospective randomized trials show a significantly better quality of life, a higher body weight and a better glucose regulation in patients with a curative operation and good life expectancy, if the duodenal passage is preserved. Reconstruction with a small jejunal pouch offers a better reservoir, less reflux and a better nutritional passage, but a statistically significant improvement of life quality could not be demonstrated up to now. Nevertheless, patients with a curative resection should undergo pouch reconstruction with preservation of the duodenal passage. If curative resection is not possible, reconstruction can be performed according to Hunt-Lawrence-Rodino. The Roux-en-Y-reconstruction without pouch should only be performed in high-risk patients and in carcinoma of the cardia with intrathoracic anastomosis. Nevertheless, further prospective randomized studies with more patients and more specific tests to measure life quality are necessary to evaluate the importance of a jejunal pouch in patients with a preserved duodenal passage.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y↗

Local resection of benign periampullary tumors.

Benign tumours of the ampulla of Vater are rare and histologically mostly villous or tubulovillous adenomas. The frequency of malignant lesion in an adenoma of the papilla figures around 26%. Villous adenoma of the ampulla is considered as premalignant lesion. Various techniques have been advocated ranging from simple excision of the ampullary tumour and the contiguous duodenal mucosa to wide resection of the mass including the papilla and adjacent duodenal, ductal, and pancreatic tissue. In this study, 41 patients suffering from a benign tumor of the Ampulla of Vater were examined. Sixty-six percent of all patients exhibited a villous or tubulovillousadenoma with medium or severe degree of dysplasia. Thirty-six patients were treated with local resection of the ampulla, using ampullectomy in 33 patients. In 5 of the 41 patients pylorus-preserving duodenopancreatectomy was applied. The median follow-up of 42 month showed no evidence of recurrent disease. Ampullectomy is an adequate way of treating benign ampullary lesions, but, precise technique is important. The decision-making should be based on histological examination of preoperative biopsy specimens and of operative frozen sections, by an experienced pathologist. If the histology of the ampullary lesion is uncertain, pylorus-preserving partial pancreaticoduodenectomy is justified in patients with low perioperative risks, and if this extended procedure can be done safely by an experienced surgeon.

Adolescent↗

[Perioperative infection prophylaxis in gastrointestinal surgery].

Antibiotic perioperative prophylaxis is known to reduce postoperative infections and is generally administered as single-dose regimen today. Effective prophylaxis requires plasma- and tissue concentrations above the MIC of the expected bacterial spectrum throughout the whole operation from skin incision to wound closure. In longlasting operations a second dose after 4 hours is recommended. Indications for antibiotic prophylaxis are clean-contaminated or contaminated procedures according to Cruse and in patients with elevated risk of infection. Generally antibiotic prophylaxis is administered intravenously. Chinolons achieving high tissue- and plasmalevels and showing a broad antibacterial spectrum seem appropriate to be used for oral prophylaxis. In a prospective study in 36 patients pharmocokinetics of ofloxacin were measured perioperatively and proper plasma- and tissue concentrations were attained. A following prospective randomized study in 56 patients undergoing colonic or pancreatic resections oral prophylaxis did not show a higher infection rate compared with a standard intravenous prophylaxis. Therefore oral prophylaxis seems to be an attractive option, its effectivity needs to be proven by studies with sufficiently high patient numbers.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗