Surgery
Background. A growing concern among university surgeons is a perceived threat to the traditional academician role. Factors that have led to this concern include (1) changes in reimbursement and patient referral patterns, both of which have resulted in reduced income; (2) mounting external pressure from the departmental chairperson/dean to generate professional fees; (3) pervasive ambiguity in the...
Background. Histamine H 2 antagonists (e.g., ranitidine) are generally thought to specifically reduce gastric acid secretion and are commonly used for stress ulcer prophylaxis in critically ill patients because of their efficacy and safety profile. A few reports suggest that ranitidine might also bind to extragastric sites and/or act as an immunomodulator. The potential effects on posttraumatic...
Background. Hepatolithiasis with intrahepatic biliary strictures, more common in Southeast Asia than elsewhere, remains a difficult problem to manage. Hepatic resection has recently been advocated as one of the treatment modalities for hepatolithiasis; however, this procedure is not without risk. This study was designed to achieve complete clearance of the stones, eliminate bile stasis, and avoid...
Background. Gallium nitrate and the bisphosphonates pamidronate and its dimethylated derivative comprise antihypercalcemic drugs with actions on bone. This study examines the in vitro effects of these compounds on human parathyroid cells.Methods. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) release and the concentration of cytoplasmic calcium ion (Ca 2+ ) of dispersed cells from parathyroid glands of 27 patients...
Background. Primary hyperparathyroidism today is diagnosed in the asymptomatic phase because of the inclusion of serum calcium in sequential multichannel analysis. The purpose of present study was to test for neuromuscular abnormalities in asymptomatic patients and to test the improvement of neuromuscular performance after parathyroidectomy.Methods. Nine patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and...
Background. A prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 33 Italian surgical departments with the aim of evaluating the efficacy of octreotide in the prevention of pancreatic fistula after elective pancreatic resections.Methods. Between July 1990 and May 1992, 278 patients were enrolled in the study. Fifty-four dropped out because of unresectable disease and six were excluded...
Background. Three cases of islet cell tumors of the pancreas with hypercalcemia were studied, and 16 similar cases have been found in a 25-year review of the English-language literature. The purpose of the study was to review the cause of the hypercalcemia and the clinical characteristics of the tumors.Methods. Tumor tissue retrieved from paraffin-embedded blocks was studied immunohistochemically...
Background. Acid aspiration leads to lung polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) sequestration and an associated increase in permeability. Although it is known that the neutrophil adhesion receptor (CD18) plays no role in determining PMN accumulations in the region aspirated, we postulated that this PMN adhesion receptor and its endothelial ligand, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), mediate remote...
Background. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the indication of aggressive surgery for panceatic head carcinoma.Methods. Laparatomy was performed in 153 patients with carcinoma, 101 of whom underwent resection of the carcinoma. With histologic examination the degree of carcinoma invasion into the portal vein was classified into grades 0, I, or II according to the depth of invasion by...
Background. Integrins are transmembrane receptors that modulate cell adhesion. Each is a heterodimer of varying α and β subunits. In malignancy, loss of integrin expression may result in less adhesive cells more likely to metastasize. Our aim was to characterize the integrins in human breast tissue and to examine the relationship between integrin expression and nodal metastasis in breast cancer.Methods...
Background. The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term results of Dacron and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) aortic bifurcation grafts in a prospective randomized manner.Methods. Sixty patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease were randomized to receive Dacron or PTFE bifurcation grafts. Preoperative risk factors, perioperative blood loss and fluid requirements, and postoperative complications...
Background. Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins have been shown to bind bacterial endotoxin and inhibit its activity in vitro and to protect animals from death when administered before a lethal injection of endotoxin. We now demonstrate that triglyceride-rich lipoproteins can neutralize the toxic effects of endotoxin already in circulation.Methods. Rats were infused with a lethal dose of endotoxin, followed...
Background. With the ex vivo perfused canine pancreas preparation, the infusion of acetaldehyde, the primary metabolite of ethanol oxidation, plus a short period of ischemia to convert xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase, results in the physiologic injury response of acute pancreatitis (edema, weight gain, hyperamylasemia). The free radical scavengers superoxide dismutase and catalase and a...