Biomedical subjects

N Kontos

Publications and source records attributed to N Kontos.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Pelvic reconstruction of the retroperitoneum after abdominoperineal resection of the rectum using full-thickness skin grafts.

BACKGROUND: To find a safe and effective method of pelvic reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection in order to prevent small intestine from descending into the pelvis. This allows safe delivery of optimal doses of radiation therapy, which exceed radiation tolerance of the small intestine, in advanced stages of colorectal cancer. MATERIALS: Prospective, ongoing study examining patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection and pelvic reconstruction with full-thickness skin grafts. METHODS: Nine (9) patients underwent abdominoperineal resection of the rectum and pelvic reconstruction with full-thickness skin grafts for colorectal cancer stage C. Subsequently they were referred for adjuvant radiation therapy and followed up regularly for surgical complications and disease recurrence. RESULTS: All patients successfully completed postoperative radiation therapy and there were no serious surgical complications pertaining to the initial operation and the skin homeotransplantation. None of the patients needed reoperation, so the long-term outcome of the transplantation was not surgically evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Reconstruction of the peritoneal gap after abdominoperineal resection of the rectum with full-thickness skin graft is a safe and effective method. The small intestine was effectively excluded from the pelvis allowing successful completion of adjuvant radiation therapy with minimal irradiation of the small intestine and effective prevention of radiation enteritis.

Colectomy↗

PubMed2004

Use of intraluminal stapler device for creation of a permanent colostomy.

We present our experience with the use of the intraluminal stapler device for the purpose of creating of a dermal permanent colostomy, in cases of acute emergency operations and of regular programmed operations. The advantages of this method for those surgeons who use stapling devices are: controlled safety of the colostomy, shorter operation time and the creation of a stable diameter of the colostomy. All patients of this category as well as those having been operated on for colon cancer have been placed on a protocol follow up for three years and are closely monitored. This has allowed us to closely follow these patients in cases of complications.

Cohort Studies↗

PubMed2001

Severe total hepatic ischemia and reperfusion: relationship between very high alpha-tocopherol uptake and lipid peroxidation.

Reperfusion injury of the liver occurs in liver transplantation and in major hepatectomies. It triggers a severe oxidative stress that leads to increased lipid peroxidation. In our study we examined the effect of parenteral supranutritional administration of alpha-tocopherol, a vitamin that plays a key role in the endogenous antioxidant system, to rats subjected to severe ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of the liver. alpha-Tocopherol was administered to the animals at doses of 30 and 300 mg/kg bw, whereas total hepatic ischemia was induced for 60 min followed by 120 min reperfusion. Tissue and blood samples were collected for malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and serum alpha-tocopherol assay, respectively. In the sham operation group, mean MDA level in liver was 1.14 nmole/g wet tissue in the control subgroup, and 1.01 or 0.74 nmole/g wet tissue in the subgroups given 30 or 300 mg/kg alpha-tocopherol. In the I/R group, mean MDA level was 1.57 nmole/g wet tissue in the control subgroup, and 0.97 and 0.77 nmole/g wet tissue in the subgroups given 30 or 300 mg/kg alpha-tocopherol. Mean levels of alpha-tocopherol in serum (mumole/l) were 10.20 and 1.80 in the control subgroups, 25.28 and 11.25 in the subgroups treated with 30 and 300 mg/kg bw of alpha-tocopherol, and 31.00 and 13.02 in the subgroups treated with 30 and 300 mg/kg bw of alpha-tocopherol, within the sham-operation and I/R groups, respectively. A significant decrease of MDA accompanied by a significant increase of serum alpha-tocopherol was documented in the alpha-tocopherol-treated rats within both groups. Ischemia/reperfusion triggered a significant increase of the MDA level in the liver of the rats not treated with alpha-tocopherol as compares with the treated animals.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Implementing assertive community treatment teams.

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health began creating assertive community treatment teams in 1987. The authors describe the approach taken by the department in defining the assertive community treatment model, in creating new assertive community treatment teams, and in monitoring the creation and functioning of these teams to ensure that fidelity to the assertive community treatment model is maintained. Assertive community treatment teams can be created even in the absence of funding for new staff by reconfiguring current community-based staff and by moving staff from state hospitals to the community. Preliminary data from a randomized trial in Connecticut comparing assertive community treatment with high-quality case management in areas with an array of community services indicated that the intended models were replicated, with variations in practice style across programs. Clients in assertive community treatment were in the hospital about half as often as clients in standard services and were also less likely to be without a permanent residence. Training and ongoing monitoring of assertive community treatment teams are necessary to detect practices that diverge from the intervention model so that corrective action can be taken.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Blockade of Kupffer cells by gadolinium chloride reduces lipid peroxidation and protects liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The implication of lipid peroxidation in the inhibitory effect of GdCl3 (gadolinium chloride) on Kupffer cells activation has not been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of GdCl3 inhibition of Kupffer cells activation on lipid peroxidation after severe total hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. METHODOLOGY: Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a control ischemia/reperfusion group, and two ischemia/reperfusion groups pretreated with GdCl3 (10 mg and 20 mg/kg bw intravenously, 48 and 24 h prior to operation). Following 60 min of total hepatic ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion, the rats were sacrificed, and liver samples were taken for determination of malondialdehyde and light microscopy examination. Blood samples were also taken for assay of aspartate and alanine transaminase. Additional animals (n = 60) were followed up for a 7-day survival rate determination. RESULTS: Ischemia/reperfusion decreased the survival rate to 13.3%, increased (p < 0.001) the levels of aspartate and alanine transaminase in serum to 2387 +/- 75 and 2157 +/- 87 IU/L, respectively, and increased (p < 0.001) malondialdehyde levels in liver to 1.609 +/- 0.096 nmoles/g compared with 1.164 +/- 0.060 in the sham operation group. Pretreatment with GdCl3 increased the survival rate to 60%, and decreased (p < 0.001) the levels of aspartate transaminase in serum to 1549 +/- 66 and 1496 +/- 55 IU/L, the levels of alanine transaminase in serum to 1302 +/- 48 and 1305 +/- 63 IU/L, and the levels of malondialdehyde in liver to 1.132 +/- 0.034 and 1.149 +/- 0.57 nmoles/g for the lower and the higher doses of GdCl3, respectively. Histological examination showed protection of liver parenchyma in the animals treated with GdCl3. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental data suggest that GdCl3 inhibition of Kupffer cells activation protects liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury by a mechanism that reduces lipid peroxidation.

Animals↗