To assess the severity of lung hypoplasia, we have attempted to measure the lung thorax transverse area ratio (L/T) by using ultrasonic echography and to select immediate surgery after delivery by caesarean section. The evaluation of L/T for an index of lung hypoplasia was made by arterial blood gas data and clinical courses. Of 14 fetuses diagnosed, 13 had left sided CDH and one right sided case, from 11 to 38 weeks of pregnancy, 10 cases survived. The L/T in 14 fetuses with CDH was from 0.08 to 0.36 (mean 0.2 +/- 0.073) and was significantly lower than that of the controls. L/T was correlated best with data of arterial pH, PCO2, preductal A-aDO2 before operation and the duration of mechanical ventilation in survivors. Although L/T was also significantly low in the cases with severe grade, diaphragmatic patch closure and ECMO therapy, no significant differences were noted in L/T between survivors and non-survivors. These results indicated that L/T may predict the severity of lung hypoplasia in CDH and that the combination of perinatal management bases on prenatal diagnosis of CDH and ECMO support may improve the outcome of fatal CDH with severe lung hypoplasia.

Cesarean Section↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Surgical treatment for pulmonary metastases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

PURPOSE: As locoregional control of head and neck cancer has improved, distant metastases have become increasingly common problems. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To determine the role of surgical treatment, we reviewed 32 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck who underwent thoracotomy for pulmonary metastases. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 32%. The 5-year survival rate of the patients with SCC of the oral cavity was significantly poorer than that of the patients with other primary site (15.4% v 45.2%; P = .01). In the patients with single nodule, extent of the tumor was a significant prognostic factor (P = .007). Mediastinal lymph node involvement (P = .004) and pleural invasion (P = .04) also correlated with survival. CONCLUSION: TNM classification of the primary tumor did not have an impact on survival in this study. Further studies of a large series should be performed to determine the indications and modalities of the surgical treatment for pulmonary metastases of the SCC of head and neck.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bilateral diaphragmatic hernia followed by fetal ultrasonography. A report of two cases.

Two cases of bilateral congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) followed by fetal ultrasonography were described. Although many cases of CDH are diagnosed by fetal ultrasonography, it is difficult to diagnose bilateral CDH in utero, which is a relatively rare and fatal condition. Two fetuses were diagnosed as having left CDH associated with severe anomalies. However, a retrospective review of fetal ultrasonography indicated elevation of the liver in the right posterior chest. Both patients died shortly after surgical repair for left CDH despite the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Diagnosis of bilateral CDH by fetal ultrasonography and the evaluation of its prognosis were discussed.

Fatal Outcome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical studies on a newly devised amino acid solution for neonates.

In 97 neonates receiving total parenteral nutrition in the postoperative period, clinical assessment was made for a newly devised amino acid solution (PF-I-III) from the standpoint of plasma amino acid profile and nutritional effect. These amino acid solutions prepared are characterized by the high concentration of branched-chain amino acids up to 40%, increased arginine and decreased glycine, phenylalanine and methionine as compared with commercially available solutions. In the PF group, each amino acid was kept within the range of standard value. Correlation between plasma amino acid profiles and the dose of each amino acid administered was obtained, from which minimum, standard, and maximum doses for each amino acid was determined. Based on these values, we proposed new formula for neonates which elicits no abnormal plasma amino acid pattern even when amino acids are administered at the dosage level of 1.5-2.5 g/kg/day.

Amino Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hyperbilirubinemia in neonates associated with total parenteral nutrition.

To identify the factors responsible for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) associated jaundice in the neonate, 77 newborns who had been started on TPN during the past 12 years had their charts reviewed. Forty-four (57%) of these infants developed jaundice during the 1st month of life. The incidence of jaundice was significantly higher in the presence of those diseases which were associated with impaired intestinal passage such as congenital duodenal atresia, jejunal atresia, etc, and those with an abnormal rotation of the gut such as diaphragmatic hernia, gastroschisis, etc. Thirty-two (42%) of these 77 infants had accompanying infectious signs, and 28 (88%) of those 32 infants with infectious signs developed jaundice. This incidence was significantly higher than that (36%) among those who had no infectious signs. Of the possible etiologic factors other than infection, neither the length of intrauterine life nor birth weight showed significant correlation with the incidence of jaundice. The incidence of jaundice tended to be higher in infants started on TPN at a younger age. There was no significant correlation between the incidence of jaundice and the duration of TPN or fasting period. Infants receiving 110 cal/kg/day or more during TPN developed jaundice significantly more frequently than those receiving fewer calories. No definite correlation was obtained between the incidence of jaundice and the amount of amino acids administered.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A newborn rabbit model for total parenteral nutrition: effects of nutritional components on cholestasis.

A newborn rabbit model for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was developed to examine the effects of nutritional components on cholestasis. Thirty-five newborn Japanese white rabbits were divided into five groups. Rabbits in group I received glucose-based TPN solution, Group II received lipid-based solution, group III received larger amounts of amino acids than group I, and group IV received larger amounts of nonprotein calories than groups I and II. Rabbits in group V were given mother's milk freely. After the duration of TPN for 7 days, blood samples and liver were obtained when rabbits were killed. In group IV, the serum level of T-Bil (1.44 +/- 0.68 mg/dliter) was significantly higher than those in other groups (group I: 0.28 +/- 0.04 mg/dl; group II: 0.49 +/- 0.12 mg/dl; group III: 0.21 +/- 0.04 mg/dl; group V: 0.28 +/- 0.07 mg/dl), and serum level of GOT (44.2 +/- 25.2 units) and total bile acid (20.6 +/- 8.9 nmol/ml) were significantly higher than those in groups I, II, and III (group I: 16.8 +/- 7.8 units and 6.7 +/- 3.3 nmol/ml, group II: 21.5 +/- 7.9 units and 12.5 +/- 6.4 nmol/ml, group III: 14.3 +/- 4.2 units and 8.4 +/- 5.0 nmol/ml, respectively). Furthermore, there was histological cholestasis characterized by bile plugs in bile ducts, and bile pigments in Kupffer cells and hepatocytes, whereas there were no, or scarce findings of cholestasis in the other groups. These results indicate that an excessive administration of nonprotein calories in TPN contributes to the occurrence of cholestasis. In addition this animal model may be useful in investigating the etiology of cholestasis.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The dipeptide alanyl-glutamine prevents intestinal mucosal atrophy in parenterally fed rats.

This study was performed to determine whether the addition of alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln) can prevent intestinal mucosal atrophy induced by standard solution of total parenteral nutrition (S-TPN). Forty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 g were randomly divided into four groups: group I was killed after overnight fasting; group II received S-TPN. The other groups received S-TPN supplemented with amino acids other than glutamine (group III) or supplemented with Ala-Gln 2 g/100 mL (group IV); both solutions were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. After 1 week of TPN the rats were killed, and the duodenum, proximal jejunum, mid-small bowel, and distal ileum were obtained for morphologic and functional analysis. Weight gain did not differ significantly among these four groups, and there was no difference in nitrogen balance between groups III and IV. Serum glutamine in group IV (102.8 +/- 13.3 mumol/dL) was significantly increased (p less than .05) compared with groups I, II, and III (66.2 +/- 3.9, 55.7 +/- 7.8, and 61.3 +/- 10.8 mumol/dL, respectively). Mucosal wet weight, protein, RNA, sucrase, and maltase of group IV were significantly increased (p less than .05) compared with groups II and III. Villus height was significantly increased (p less than .05) in the jejunum of group IV rats compared with groups II and III, but not in any other segments of the intestine. No significant changes were observed in crypt depth among all groups. Diamine oxidase in groups II, III, and IV was significantly decreased (p less than .05) compared with group I in all segments except for the ileum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Total parenteral nutrition decreases luminal mucous gel and increases permeability of small intestine.

The distribution of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran 70,000 (FITC-dextran) and mucous gel across the lumen of small intestine was observed as an investigation into the role of mucous gel on permeability in total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into two groups fed with either TPN or oral rat food. On day 4 or 7, FITC-dextran (750 mg/kg body weight) was given through the gastroduodenal tube. After 1 hour, blood samples were taken by aortic puncture to analyze plasma FITC-dextran by fluorescence spectrometry. Samples of small intestine with luminal contents were frozen and sectioned in a cryostat for fluorescence microscopy; the same sections were placed in a 0.2% celloidin solution for 3 minutes to preserve mucous gel and stained by periodic acid-Schiff reaction for light microscopy. The plasma level of FITC-dextran after 1 hour of this marker injection showed a significant increase (p < .01) in the TPN group compared with the rat food group on days 4 and 7. Morphologic findings on days 4 and 7 were similar in both the jejunum and ileum: The mucous gel filled the spaces between villi and FITC-dextran centered in the lumen in the rat food group, whereas the mucous gel decreased and FITC-dextran filled the spaces between villi in the TPN group. FITC-dextran and mucous gel showed complementary distributions in both groups. These data suggest that TPN decreases luminal mucous gel and increases permeability of small intestine in rats.

Animals↗