Biomedical subjects

J M Müller

Publications and source records attributed to J M Müller.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

[Gastrointestinal quality of life after duodenopancreatectomy in pancreatic carcinoma. Preliminary results of a prospective randomized study: pancreatoduodenectomy or pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy].

BACKGROUND: The Whipple operation (PD) is the standard operation in patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas and the periampullary region. However, the pylorus-preserving duodenopancreatectomy (PPPD) is supposed to be superior in gastrointestinal function. METHODS: In a prospective randomized trial (October 1994-October 1998) PD and PPPD were compared in terms of global and gastrointestinal quality of life, operation time, duration of hospital stay, transfusions and perioperative morbidity. Quality of life was analyzed under standardized conditions (EORTC-QLQ-30) pre- and postoperatively (weeks 2, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60). RESULTS: A duodenopancreatectomy was performed in 48 patients because of cancer of the head of the pancreas (n = 38) and the periampullary region (n = 10) (PD, n = 24; PPPD, n = 24). The PD and PPPD groups did not differ according to age, gender or UICC stage. Operation time was shorter in the PPPD group (206 +/- 48 vs 306 +/- 54 min) (P < 0.05). Morbidity did not differ between the two groups (PPPD 20% vs PD 30%, P > 0.05). While there was no difference in global quality of life, gastrointestinal quality of life was postoperatively increased in the PPPD group regarding appetite, nausea and diarrhea (P < 0.05). While the preoperative body weight was reached after 6 months in 85% of the PPPD group (n = 20), this was true in only 60% of the PD-group (n = 14) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PPPD seems to be associated with a better postoperative gastrointestinal quality of life than PD.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Long-term results after laparoscopic resection of colorectal carcinoma].

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic techniques are currently used for curative resection of colorectal cancer although long-term results from controlled clinical trials are not available yet that prove laparoscopic procedures are adequate. METHODS: All patients who under-went a curative resection of a colorectal tumor from 1995 to 1997 were included in a prospective cohort study to evaluate the short- and long-term results. RESULTS: Laparoscopic colorectal resections were accomplished in 68 patients. In only 3 patients was an adenoma (stage 0) found, and 10 patients had multiple liver metastases at the time of palliative resection. An oncological resection was performed in 55 patients. The average age was 62.8 +/- 14.6 years (29 female and 26 male patients). Eleven right colectomies, 1 left colectomy, 21 sigmoid resections, 16 proctosigmoidectomies and 6 abdominoperineal resections were carried out. Two patients (3.6%) were lost during follow-up. The median follow-up was 27.1 months (range 9.1-45.1 months). No port-site metastases were found. Two patients who are still alive after sigmoid resection suffered from a recurrence. The first patient underwent only limited lymphadenectomy because of synchronous malignant lymphoma. The second patient developed bilateral lung metastases. Only one patient died during the follow-up period because of myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: Although the follow-up is short, it seems that the recurrence rate is low. Controlled multicenter clinical trials are currently performed to evaluate whether laparoscopic surgery is really adequate to treat colorectal cancer.

Cohort Studies↗

PubMed1999

[Hormone therapy of postoperative recurrent pancreatic carcinoma with octreotide and tamoxifen].

BACKGROUND: In a prospective trial (October 1996-April 1998) the effect of octreotide and tamoxifen on the recurrence of pancreatic carcinoma after R0 resection was evaluated. METHODS: Patients with a local recurrence after curative resection of ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were treated with 100 micrograms of octreotide three times a day and tamoxifen 20 mg once daily. The median survival time, quality of life (EO-RTC-QLQ-30) and side effects of the octreotide-tamoxifen group were compared with a historic cohort (n = 14) of patients treated in our department (9/95-9/96) according to the "best supportive care" concept. RESULTS: Recurrences were diagnosed after R0 resection in a mean time of 13 +/- 6.8 months. Patients treated with octreotide and tamoxifen had a significantly (P < 0.05) longer median survival time (7 months; range: 3-12) vs 3.5 months; range: 1.5-5). The octreotide-tamoxifen group suffered less from lack of appetite, nausea, fatigue, and pain and needed fewer analgesics. The only side effect of the octreotide-tamoxifen therapy was moderate diarrhea in 2 patients at the beginning of the therapy. CONCLUSION: Since combined therapy with octreotide and tamoxifen can be administered comfortably for outpatient treatment, this seems to represent progress in the palliative therapy of pancreatic cancer.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Endoscopic surgery: fit for malignancy?

Neither experimental nor clinical data confirm the repeatedly published opinion that video-endoscopic surgery promotes tumor growth or the occurrence of implantation metastases in cancer patients. On the contrary, alterations due to pneumoperitoneum by the application of different gases, pressures, and temperatures might provide the basis for a new therapeutic approach to cancer surgery. Oncologically adequate resections defined by such terms as "no touch isolation" and "monobloc resection" can be performed video-endoscopically in a variety of intraabdominally or intrathoracically located cancers if a standardized technique is used. The benefit of video-endoscopic surgery is limited in large tumors, especially if they have reached the organ surface. There is still a major deficit in the clinical evaluation of video-endoscopic interventions in most oncologic diseases. Randomized studies comparing video-endoscopic and conventional surgery have been reported only for the resection of colorectal carcinoma. They show that laparoscopic resections can be performed with a minimum of postoperative complications to the same extent as conventional resections and offer several advantages during the early postoperative period. No reliable data from comparative trials are as yet available on the long-term results.

Endoscopy↗

PubMed1999

Is mesh fixation necessary in abdominal hernia repair? Results of an experimental study in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal hernia repair with implantation of synthetic meshes using the sublay technique has resulted in low recurrence rates and high patient satisfaction. AIM: The purpose of this experimental animal study was to investigate whether mesh fixation is necessary in abdominal hernia repair using a polypropylene mesh in the sublay technique. METHODS: Forty-five rats were divided into three groups after creating an abdominal wall defect (CG control group, no mesh implantation; NoFixG mesh implantation without fixation group; SG mesh with suture fixation group) with 15 animals in each group. End-points were clinical herniation pressure, hydroxyproline (HP) concentration, mesh shape and number of fibroblasts/collagen fibres of the anchor zone 7, 14 and 90 days after implantation. RESULTS: Herniation pressure, HP content and number of fibroblasts were similar between NoFixG and SG, although significantly higher in these groups than in the CG (P<0.05). Both mesh groups had significantly higher counts of fibroblasts and collagen fibres than the CG. Mesh shrinking occurred in both groups but was less in the SG. CONCLUSION: Mesh fixation was not mandatory in abdominal hernia repair using this animal model.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

K-ras mutations in tissue and stool samples from patients with pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: K-ras oncogene is the most promising molecular marker of pancreatic cancer. However, the incidence of single and combined K-ras mutations in stool and pancreatic tissue is unknown, and it is not clear whether detection of the K-ras oncogene in stool could be employed in screening tests. PATIENTS/METHODS: Stool and pancreatic tissue of patients with ductal adenocarcinoma (n = 36), cystadenocarcinoma (n = 1), periampullary carcinoma (n = 7), endocrine tumour (n = 2) and chronic pancreatitis (CP, n = 5) were analysed for mutated K-ras sequences prospectively. DNA of stool and pancreatic tissue was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and K-ras status was analysed by hybridisation. RESULTS: K-ras mutations were detected in the pancreatic tissue of 28 patients with ductal adenocarcinoma (78%), in 1 patient with cystadenocarcinoma, in 1 patient with periampullary carcinoma (14%) and in 1 patient with CP (20%). In 1 patient with an endocrine tumour, no K-ras mutations were diagnosed. K-ras mutations were detected in stool in 7 patients with ductal adenocarcinoma (20%), in 1 patient with cystadenocarcinoma and in 2 patients with CP (40%). Sensitivity of K-ras mutations for pancreatic cancer was 78% in tissue and 20% in stool. CONCLUSION: K-ras mutations lack specificity to discriminate malignant pancreatic disease from chronic inflammation in tissue and stool.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

Tumor size and lymph-node status in pancreatic carcinoma - is there a correlation to the preoperative immune function?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It has not been clarified whether there is a correlation between the tumor size and the preoperative immune function in pancreatic carcinoma. PATIENTS/METHODS: In a prospective trial, the influence of tumor size and lymph-node status on different immune system factors [interleukins (IL)-6 and -10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, CD3-, CD4-, and CD8-lymphocytes, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR-monocytes] was analyzed in 28 patients with pancreatic carcinoma and compared with a control group (n=20). There were 3 pancreatic carcinomas of the T1-tumor type, 20 T2- and 5 T3-tumors; 14 patients were in stage N1. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, tumor patients preoperatively showed a significant increase of leukocytes (P=0.02), monocytes (P=0. 04), and granulocytes (P=0.03). The total count of lymphocytes, the number of CD3-, CD4- and CD8-lymphocytes, and the expression of HLA-DR on monocytes were significantly decreased as a sign of immunosuppression in tumor patients. A multivariate analysis proved that only tumor size (T-stage) but not lymph-node status correlates with the deficiency of immune competence. Progressive tumor size correlated with decreasing expression of HLA-DR on monocytes, CD3- (P=0.04) and CD8- (P=0.02) lymphocytes. In contrast IL-6, IL-10 (P=0. 04) and TNF-alpha (P=0.02) increased with progressive tumor size. CONCLUSION: Regarding the negative prognosis after resection, the preoperative immune status could be an additional help for decision between a resection or a preoperative immune stimulation in pancreatic carcinoma.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed1999

Operative technique for thoracoscopic thymectomy.

In most cases, myasthenia gravis (MG) and thymoma require complete removal of the thymus gland and resection of the pericardial fatty tissue. There is some debate however, over which surgical approach is best for thymectomy. We have developed a new technique for complete thoracoscopic thymectomy. Between October 1994 and February 1998, we performed a prospective observational study of thoracoscopic thymectomy in 19 patients. The results were analyzed with special reference to perioperative morbidity, short- and intermediate-term improvement of MG, and quality of life. This study showed the feasibility of complete thoracoscopic thymectomy. The procedure was successfully applied in 19 of 20 cases. Thoracoscopic thymectomy was accomplished with zero mortality and a very low perioperative morbidity. While the short-term improvement of MG after this procedure was comparable to that seen with conventional surgery, the short- and intermediate-term quality of life was much better. The preliminary results of thoracoscopic thymectomy appear to be excellent for both patients and neurologists. A prospective randomized trial has been designed to compare thoracoscopic thymectomy with the gold standard of median sternotomy for thymectomy.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Influence of different gases and intraperitoneal instillation of antiadherent or cytotoxic agents on peritoneal tumor cell growth and implantation with laparoscopic surgery in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: A generally accepted approach to prevent tumor implantation with laparoscopic surgery does not exist. Alternative gases in combination with intraperitoneal instillation of different antiadherent or cytotoxic agents have not been evaluated. METHODS: The effect of taurolidine, heparin, and povidone-iodine on the growth of colon adenocarcinoma DHD/K12/TRb was measured in rats undergoing laparoscopy with carbon dioxide (n = 40), helium (n = 40), or xenon (n = 40). In the procedure, 10(4) tumor cells were administered intraperitoneally, and pneumoperitoneum was established over 30 min at 8 mmHg with the different gases. The rats additionally received intraperitoneal instillation with one of the following: 1 ml of Ringer's solution, 1 ml of 0.5% taurolidine, 1 ml 0.5% taurolidine with heparin (10 U/ml), or 1 ml 0.25% of povidone-iodine. Tumor growth was measured after 4 weeks. RESULTS: Median intraperitoneal tumor weight was lower in rats receiving taurolidine (CO(2): 10 mg; helium: 50 mg; xenon: 39.5 mg) or taurolidine with heparin (CO(2): 4 mg; helium: 4.5 mg; xenon: 46.5 mg) in all gas groups than in the control groups (CO(2): 427 mg; helium: 268 mg; xenon: 345 mg) (p < 0.001). Whereas povidone-iodine caused significantly lower tumor growth in the CO(2) group (56.5 mg) (p < 0.01), the combination of helium (145 mg) and xenon (457 mg) with povidone-iodine produced no reduction of tumor growth as compared with the control groups (helium: 268 mg; xenon: 345 mg). CONCLUSIONS: Taurolidine and taurolidine with heparin significantly inhibit intraperitoneal tumor growth, with different gases used for pneumoperitoneum. Only povidone-iodine caused significant decrease of tumor growth in combination with CO(2). The combination of xenon and povidone-iodine should not be used in patients with cancer because of increased tumor growth.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

Laparoscopic aortofemoral bypass grafting: human cadaveric and initial clinical experiences.

PURPOSE: Postoperative complications are mainly related to the surgical trauma derived from the extensive abdominal incision and dissection after a conventional aortofemoral bypass grafting procedure. In an attempt to reduce postoperative complications, a concept of video-endoscopic vascular surgery on the infrarenal aortoiliac artery has been developed. On the basis of our experience with the practicability of video-endoscopic vascular surgery in the pelvic region in an animal study and in a pilot study of human cadavers, the purpose of this report was to describe three different methods that we evaluated on human cadavers and that we partly applied to patients. METHODS: In this experimental study, three different approaches were used to perform video-endoscopic aortofemoral bypass grafting. We performed an observational trial on human corpses (n = 24) with the transabdominal-retroperitoneal approach (TARA), the extraperitoneal approach (EPA), and the transabdominal left paracolic approach (TAPA). The EPA also was applied to patients with aortoiliac occlusive diseases. RESULTS: The TARA on cadavers (n = 4) soon was abandoned because it caused a burdensome sliding of the intestine into the operative field adjacent to the renal vessels, particularly in cases with obese subjects. In comparison, the TAPA (n = 6) with right-sided positioning of the patient retained the intestine in the right upper abdomen throughout the procedure. Until a surgeon actually is acquainted with the anatomic landmarks and the laparoscopic preparation technique, the EPA (n = 14) is a challenging procedure that necessitates thorough training. As with the TAPA, the EPA represents a procedure that reveals constant exposure of the operating field, even in cases with obese subjects. In the clinical observational study (n = 7), aortobifemoral bypass grafting was achieved totally laparoscopically with the EPA. The mean operating time was 6.5 hours and ranged from 3 to 10 hours. Blood transfusions were necessary after surgery in three patients (range, 1 to 3 red packed blood cells). One patient, who had had occlusion of the inferior mesenteric artery, died of ischemic colitis at postoperative day 10. The other patients had uneventful postoperative courses with minor wound discomfort. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic vascular surgery seems to be a promising procedure to minimize postoperative complications. On the basis of our experience, we do not favor the TARA. Because it necessitates steep Trendelenburg positioning to displace intra-abdominal organs, the TARA is not an appropriate approach, particularly in obese and cardiopulmonary frail cases. Contrarily, the TAPA and the EPA deliver potentially better results in terms of exposing the operative field and thus reducing operating time and perioperative morbidity rates. A prospective cadaveric and clinical trial may be justified to further evaluate the use of these surgical techniques.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

An NSF function distinct from ATPase-dependent SNARE disassembly is essential for Golgi membrane fusion.

The precise biochemical role of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) in membrane fusion mediated by SNARE proteins is unclear. To provide further insight into the function of NSF, we have introduced a mutation into mammalian NSF that, in Drosophila dNSF-1, leads to temperature-sensitive neuroparalysis. This mutation is like the comatose mutation and renders the mammalian NSF temperature sensitive for fusion of postmitotic Golgi vesicles and tubules into intact cisternae. Unexpectedly, at the temperature that is permissive for membrane fusion, this mutant NSF binds to, but cannot disassemble, SNARE complexes and exhibits almost no ATPase activity. A well-charaterized NSF mutant containing an inactivating point mutation in the catalytic site of its ATPase domain is equally active in the Golgi-reassembly assay. These data indicate that the need for NSF during postmitotic Golgi membrane fusion may be distinct from its ATPase-dependent ability to break up SNARE pairs.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1999

Randomized controlled trial to examine the influence of thoracic epidural analgesia on postoperative ileus after laparoscopic sigmoid resection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether perioperative epidural analgesia had any effect on the duration of postoperative ileus after laparoscopic sigmoid resection. METHODS: Twenty patients were randomized to surgery either with (group 1; n = 10) or without (group 2; n = 10) thoracic epidural analgesia. The major endpoint of the study was the time to the first postoperative bowel movement. Secondary endpoints were the interval until oral feeding was tolerated, incidence of postoperative vomiting, postoperative analgesic consumption use of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) until the fourth day after operation, subjective pain perception and the incidence of epidural-related side-effects. RESULTS: Age, sex and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification were similar in the two groups. The first bowel movement was documented after a median of 54 (95 per cent confidence interval 32-127) h in group 1 and 77 (31-99) h in group 2 (P = 0.8). Oral feeding without additional parenteral therapy was tolerated after 48 (40-64) h in group 1 and after 56 (48-64) h in group 2 (P = 0.6). Postoperative vomiting occurred in two patients from each group. During epidural therapy the use of PCA was lower in group 1 (0.30 (0.19-0.96) mg morphine per kg) than in group 2 (0.56 (0.37-0. 80) mg/kg) (P < 0.05). Postoperative pain perception during rest and while coughing was similar in both groups. Three patients experienced reversible side-effects of epidural therapy (motor deficit, two patients; bladder dysfunction, one). CONCLUSION: Perioperative thoracic epidural analgesia did not have a clinically relevant effect on the duration of postoperative ileus after laparoscopic sigmoid resection.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Tube thoracostomy complicates unrecognized diaphragmatic rupture.

A case of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is reported in which herniated stomach mimicked a tension pneumothorax. Tube thoracostomy by trocar caused insertion of the pleural drain into the intrathoracic stomach. CT scan of the thorax after oral administration of contrast material revealed the correct diagnosis. After removal of the drain and retraction of the stomach into the abdomen the gastric perforation and diaphragmatic defect could be closed by suture. The further course of the patient was uneventful. This case report underlines the importance of differential diagnosis of symptoms in a case with a history of blunt chest trauma and shows the risks of unnecessary use of a trocar.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Repeated boluses of local anaesthetic for pain relief after inguinal hernia repair.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of repeated boluses of local anaesthetics with an oral analgesic for pain management after tension-free inguinal hernia repair. DESIGN: Prospective randomised study. SETTING: University hospital, Germany. SUBJECTS: 104 patients undergoing elective hernia repair. INTERVENTIONS: 52 patients were given boluses of 0.5% bupivacaine 10 ml through a subcutaneous catheter and 52 dipyrone 500 mg orally 6, 12 and 24 hours after operation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative pain measured on a visual analogue scale, complications, systemic side effects, supplementary analgesics, costs, and time taken to give the analgesics. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups in absolute pain scores, course of pain, and the effects of analgesics. Thirteen patients [5 in the bupivacaine group and 8 in the dipyrone group] required additional dipyrone [mean (range) 2000 mg (500-5000) and 2500 mg (500-4000) respectively]. There were no systemic side effects of either treatment. There were 5 wound haematomas in the bupivacaine group (10%), and 2 wound haematomas and 1 superficial wound infection in the dipyrone group (6%). Mean costs of material and time taken to give the analgesics were pound sterling 104.70 and 47 minutes in the bupivacaine group compared with pound sterling 3.40 and 6 minutes in the dipyrone group. The median (range) hospital stay was 2 (1-3) days in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated boluses of local anaesthetic did not result in better or cheaper pain control than oral analgesics after tension-free inguinal hernia repair.

Analgesics↗

PubMed1999

Impact of laparoscopy with carbon dioxide versus helium on local and systemic inflammation in an animal model of peritonitis.

Increased intraperitoneal pressure and insufflation of carbon dioxide during laparoscopy may cause sepsis by promoting systemic inflammation in patients with intra-abdominal inflammatory diseases. The influence of carbon dioxide and helium during laparoscopy on bacteremia, endotoxemia, the plasma concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-alpha secretion ex vivo by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and intraperitoneal abscess formation was investigated in an animal model. A standardized fecal inoculum was injected intraperitoneally, and rats underwent laparoscopy with either carbon dioxide (N = 20) or helium (N = 20) or no further manipulation (control group; N = 20). Bacteremia was significantly more common 1 hour after laparoscopy with CO2 than in animals receiving helium or the control group. Furthermore, helium use led to a significant decrease of bacteremia 1 week after intervention. Fecal inoculation caused significant leukocytopenia in all groups within 1 hour after intervention, with complete recovery only in the helium-treated group (p < 0.05). The TNF-alpha plasma concentration was significantly lower in the helium-treated group, and suppression of ex vivo production recovered only in the animals undergoing laparoscopy with helium (p < 0.05). The number of intraperitoneal abscesses was significantly lower after laparoscopy with helium (2+/-1.5) than after CO2 laparoscopy (6.3+/-5.1) or in the control group (5.2+/-4.8). Laparoscopy with CO2 increased systemic inflammation only slightly, while helium use was associated with a significant lower incidence of bacteremia and local and systemic inflammation compared with the control group.

Abscess↗

PubMed1999

Does dietary alpha-linolenic acid promote liver metastases in pancreatic carcinoma initiated by BOP in Syrian hamster?

BACKGROUND: alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA) has been shown to have a promoting effect on pancreatic carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of ALA on liver metastases in a model of BOP-induced pancreatic ductular carcinoma in the Syrian golden hamster. METHODS: While the control group (group V) received a standard diet low in fat (soya oil, 3 w/v) without ALA, groups I-IV were fed a diet high in fat (soya oil 25 w/v) with increasing percentages of ALA (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%) for 16 weeks. RESULTS: No significant differences in mean body weight and pancreas weight were found between the groups. But significant differences (p = 0.0001) were observed in the mean weight of the resected liver. Treatment with BOP alone resulted in the induction of well-differentiated ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 91%, while all groups treated with different amounts of ALA had induction of 100%. The incidence of liver metastases differed significantly between the groups. The incidence of liver metastases in group I (2.5% ALA) was 18%, in group II (5% ALA) 27%, in group III (7.5% ALA) 50%, and in group IV (10% ALA) 91%. Moreover, the diameter of liver metastases increased significantly according to ALA supplementation (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that dietary ALA increases liver metastases in BOP-initiated pancreatic cancer.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

New therapeutic strategies to avoid intra- and extraperitoneal metastases during laparoscopy: results of a tumor model in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic strategies to prevent port site recurrences in laparoscopy surgery of malignancies have not been investigated until now. METHODS: The effects of taurolidine, heparin, and povidone iodine on the growth of rat and human colon adenocarcinoma as well as gallbladder carcinoma were investigated in vitro. Furthermore, cytokine release of growth-stimulating IL-1beta by peritoneal macrophages was measured after incubation with carbon dioxide and additional incubation with the different agents. In the third experiment, prevention of intra- and extraperitoneal metastases by intraperitoneal instillation of the different agents during laparoscopy was investigated in a colon carcinoma model in the rat. Tumor cells were administered intraperitoneally in 100 rats, and pneumoperitoneum (8 mm Hg) was established over 30 min with carbon dioxide. Rats received either tumor cells, cells + heparin, cells + povidone iodine, cells + taurolidine, or cells + taurolidine + heparin. RESULTS: In vitro, tumor cell growth decreased after incubation with taurolidine, taurolidine/heparin, and povidone iodine. Cytokine release was stimulated by incubation with carbon dioxide and could only be suppressed by incubation with taurolidine in vitro. In vivo, intraperitoneal tumor weight was lower in rats receiving heparin (251 +/- 153 mg) and povidone iodine (134 +/- 117 mg) compared to the control group (541 +/- 291 mg), but even less when taurolidine (79 +/- 82 mg) or taurolidine/heparin (18.3 +/- 30 mg) were instilled. CONCLUSION: Heparin slightly inhibits intraperitoneal tumor growth in vivo, while povidone iodine and taurolidine cause a significant decrease in tumor cell growth in vitro as well as intraperitoneal tumor growth in vivo. Cytokine release of peritoneal macrophages is only suppressed by taurolidine. Total tumor take and trocar metastases are only suppressed by taurolidine and taurolidine/heparin.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

[The influence of alanyl-glutamine on immunologic functions and morbidity in postoperative total parenteral nutrition. Preliminary results of a prospective randomized trial].

Glutamine seems to play an important role in metabolism and function of immunologic cells and therefore could also influence postoperative immunosuppression in surgical patients. Nevertheless, the influence of glutamine substitution in postoperative total parenteral nutrition on immunologic function and postoperative morbidity of patients is still unknown. Therefore, the impact of glutamine substitution on postoperative immunosuppression and incidence of complications was investigated in patients with surgical interventions on esophagus or stomach and total parenteral nutrition in a prospective randomized trial. To analyse the immunologic competence of the patients, the expression of CD-3, CD-4, and CD-8 on lymphocytes as well as the expression of HLA-DR and CD-14 on monocytes were evaluated before, 1, 2, 4, 7 days after surgery. Furthermore, plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were analysed during the perioperative course. Actually, 34 patients have been included (with glutamine: n = 18 vs. without glutamine: n = 16) in the study. Patients with glutamine substitution showed non significantly decreased systemic inflammation (IL-6-plasma levels, leucocytosis) and significantly faster compensation of postoperative immunosuppression (HLA-DR-monocytes). Incidence of postoperative complications was decreased after glutamine substitution compared with the control group. Patients without postoperative complications showed no significant difference in postoperative immunosuppression. Although additional substitution of the amino acid glutamine might possibly decrease incidence of postoperative complications in patients with total parenteral nutrition a general advantage in postoperative immune function could not be demonstrated.

Adult↗