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Biomedical subjects

I Endo

Publications and source records attributed to I Endo.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[Effects of clavines, ergot alkaloids, on the membrane potential of an identifiable giant neuron of the African giant snail Achatina fulica Ferussac].

The effects of seven clavines, alkaloids of ergot, on the electrical activity of an identifiable giant neurone (TAN, tonically autoactive neurone) of the African giant snail were examined. All the substances examined, lysergine, agroclavine, elymoclavine, festuclavine, chanoclavine, rugulovasine A and rugulovasine B, at 2 X 10(-4) kg/l have no constant effect on TAN, indicating that they have no direct effect on this neurone. However, the substances examined, except for chanoclavine, in the same concentration occasionally caused the transient depression with an augmentation of trans-synaptic influences. This depression may be due to the trans-synaptic influences. The four substances examined, lysergine, agroclavine, elymoclavine and festuclavine, in the same concentration produced TAN abnormal spike discharges, doublet or triplet spikes.

Animals↗

On the Mirizzi syndrome--benign stenosis of the hepatic duct induced by a stone in the cystic duct or the neck of the gallbladder.

Three cases of Mirizzi Syndrome are reported. One of them was induced by the stone in gallbladder remnant. On the cholangiogram, one case showed narrowing of common hepatic duct near the porta hepatis, and one case revealed a tapered narrowing-like stenosis. Those findings resembled malignancy but closer examination could differentiate this syndrome from malignancy. Selective angiography was useful to differentiate the syndrome from malignancy. Even in the cases where stricture is severe, exstirpation of gallbladder or cystic duct, freeing the anterior wall of extrahepatic bile duct from marked hyperplasia of fibrous tissues and insertion of a T-tube as an internal splint through the stenosis were effective. It is the opinion of the authors, therefore, that the reconstruction of a strictured bile duct may not necessarily be done by resection of stricture and a hepatojejunostomy.

Aged↗

Microfabricated polymer chip for capillary gel electrophoresis.

A polymer (PDMS: poly(dimethylsiloxane)) microchip for capillary gel electrophoresis that can separate different sizes of DNA molecules in a small experimental scale is presented. This microchip can be easily produced by a simple PDMS molding method against a microfabricated master without the use of elaborate bonding processes. This PDMS microchip could be used as a single use device unlike conventional microchips made of glass, quartz or silicon. The capillary channel on the chip was partially filled with agarose gel that can enhance separation resolution of different sizes of DNA molecules and can shorten the channel length required for the separation of the sample compared to capillary electrophoresis in free-flow or polymer solution format. We discuss the optimal conditions for the gel preparation that could be used in the microchannel. DNA molecules were successfully driven by an electric field and separated to form bands in the range of 100 bp to 1 kbp in a 2.0% agarose-filled microchannel with 8 mm of effective separation length.

Coated Materials, Biocompatible↗

Use of transcatheter arterial infusion of anticancer agents with lipiodol to prevent recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatic resection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatectomy has been accepted as a reliable cure for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the residual liver recurrence rate after hepatectomy remains high. To improve the prognosis after hepatectomy for HCC, repeated post-operative transcatheter arterial infusions of anticancer drugs and lipiodol (TAI) was given. This study evaluates the efficacy of this treatment for preventing residual liver recurrence after hepatectomy. METHODOLOGY: TAI after hepatectomy was performed in 24 (TAI group) of 65 cases showing tumor invasion such as infiltration to the capsule, intraportal spread, and intrahepatic metastasis. In TAI, a mixture of Mitomycin C (MMC) and Adriamycin (ADM) is administered with lipiodol via the hepatic artery. The recurrence and survival rates of the TAI (n = 24) and non-TAI (n = 41) groups were compared to evaluate the efficacy of TAI after hepatectomy. RESULTS: The TAI group had a lower cumulative residual liver recurrence rate than the non-TAI group (p < 0.01). Division of residual liver recurrence cases into two groups according to the duration of recurrence showed that the rate of recurrence within 1 year after hepatectomy was lower in the TAI group (10.0%) (1/10) than in the non-TAI group (48.4%) (15/31) (p = 0.07). Also, the cumulative survival rate in the TAI group was significantly higher (p < 0.05). The morbidity rate was 16.6%. Bilomas occurred without infection in 2 cases, and liver abscess in one. CONCLUSIONS: TAI may be an effective surgical adjuvant against residual liver recurrence, and we suggest that its effectiveness results from suppression of intrahepatic micrometastases rather than multicentric carcinogenesis.

Aged↗

Early enteral nutrition after hepatectomy to prevent postoperative infection.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Enteral nutrition helps to prevent septic complications in patients with critical illness, but there are few reports on its use after hepatectomy. To evaluate its benefits, we studied the indications for it. METHODOLOGY: In a retrospective study we reviewed 67 hepatectomized patients, 19 with enteral nutrition after hepatectomy (EN group) and 48 without (TPN group). In the TPN group, the risk factors of postoperative infections were analyzed with discriminant analysis. Then we prospectively selected high-risk patients before surgery and started enteral nutrition soon after surgery. The incidences of postoperative infections were examined in the EN and TPN groups of high-risk patients. RESULTS: In high-risk patients selected using a new discriminant formula, the infection rate was decreased from 73.1% in the TPN group to 53.3% in the EN group (NS). However, in cases in which enteral nutrition was initiated within 4 days after surgery, the infection rate dropped to 30%, a significant decrease (P < 0.03). In this prospective study, the infection rate of high-risk patients was markedly decreased and the overall infection rate was decreased significantly, to 21.4% from 47.4% in the retrospective study (P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that early enteral nutrition after hepatectomy is helpful for preventing septic complications, especially in patients at high risk of infection as evaluated with our new formula.

Enteral Nutrition↗

Changes in clinicopathological findings after portal vein embolization.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Portal vein embolization is becoming more common as a method of preventing hepatic failure after an extended hepatectomy but its mechanism is not well understood. This clinicopathological study focused on its mechanism. METHODOLOGY: Thirty patients who underwent extended hepatectomy after portal vein embolization were evaluated. Liver volume was measured before and after portal vein embolization, and histological studies were performed to examine morphological changes, morphometric parameters and apoptosis of hepatocytes. RESULTS: The mean volume of the non-embolized lobe grew significantly from 392 to 462 mL after portal vein embolization (P < 0.0001). The hypertrophy ratio of the non-embolized lobe (100 x volume change during portal vein embolization/volume before portal vein embolization, %) was correlated closely with the volume of the non-embolized lobe before portal vein embolization (r = -0.65, P < 0.0001). Histological study showed the embolized lobe hepatocytes to be atrophic, partly necrotic and apoptotic. In the non-embolized lobe, the mean hepatocyte volume was 8686 micron 3 (control: 6544 micron 3) and the mean hepatocyte count was 109 x 10(6)/mL (control: 122 x 10(6)/mL). CONCLUSIONS: The enlargement of the non-embolized lobe was caused by hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia suggesting hyperfunction. The resection of the atrophic embolized lobe, leaving the hypertrophic non-embolized lobe was thought to be less surgically stressful than hepatectomy without portal vein embolization.

Aged↗

Indications for posthepatectomy hepatic vein reconstruction from functional and morphological studies: clamping test and hepatic vein branch distribution determined by three-dimensional computed tomography.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Indications for hepatic vein reconstruction for preserving remnant liver function after hepatectomy were assessed using the clamping test and the findings of preoperative 3D-CT (3-dimensional computed tomography). METHODOLOGY: Fifteen patients who underwent hepatectomy for malignant tumors in segment VII or VIII, or both, were examined with preoperative 3D-CT and an intraoperative clamping test. RESULTS: On the basis of changes in right hepatic venous pressure during clamping, we classified all patients into 3 types: the persistent elevation type (P-type, 8 patients), the no elevation type (N-type, 3 patients) and the transitory elevation type (T-type, 4 patients). Hepatic venous hemoglobin oxygen saturation (ShvO2) decreased significantly in the P type but hardly changed in the T and N types during the clamping test. Both the inferior right hepatic vein (IRV6) and the tributary of the middle hepatic vein draining segment V (MV5) were detected by preoperative 3D-CT in the T and N types. CONCLUSIONS: Assessments of hepatic vein branch distribution using preoperative 3D-CT served to predict the results of the hepatic vein clamping test. The results of preoperative 3D-CT were useful as indications for hepatic vein reconstruction.

Adult↗

Dermatomyositis associated with Sjögren's syndrome: VEGF involvement in vasculitis.

Two patients with dermatomyositis complicated with Sjögren's syndrome (SjS), are reported. Both patients exhibited sensory-dominant polyneuropathy, compatible with neurologic involvement in SjS. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were increased in their plasma. Histological examination demonstrated vasculitic changes in biopsied specimens of muscle and salivary glands from the patients, and VEGF was overexpressed in the vasculitic lesions. These findings suggest that VEGF overexpression was associated with the development of vasculopathy in skeletal muscle and salivary glands and possibly in the peripheral nervous system.

Dermatomyositis↗