Postoperative bleeding complications after endoscopic inguinal hernia repair in patients receiving anticoagulation agents, antiplatelet agents, or both.

INTRODUCTION: In patients receiving chronic anticoagulation agents, antiplatelet agents, or both, perioperative antithrombotic therapy for inguinal hernia repair requires an understanding of potential side-effects-specifically, the postoperative bleeding risks. In the present study, we evaluated postoperative bleeding complications after transabdominal preperitoneal patch plasty (TAPP) in patients undergoing antithrombotic therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 413 patients who had undergone TAPP between February 2013 and June 2017. Individuals in the antithrombotic group received one of three regimens of perioperative antithrombotic therapy. The clinical indications for chronic anticoagulation agents (ie bridging therapy with unfractionated heparin), antiplatelet agents (ie continuation of aspirin), or both were followed. The antithrombotic group was compared to the control group in terms of surgical outcomes. We primarily focused on the incidence of postoperative bleeding complications. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients received antithrombotic therapy. We observed significant differences between the groups in terms of mean age, ASA physical status, and length of postoperative stay. In contrast, postoperative complications were not significantly different between the antithrombotic and control groups (4.8% vs 5.5%, P = 0.818). In addition, a significantly greater postoperative bleeding rate was not observed in the antithrombotic group than in the control group (1.2% vs 0.6%, P = 0.566). Likewise, other complications were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Antithrombotic therapy is not a risk factor for postoperative bleeding complications in patients who have undergone TAPP, suggesting its safety and efficacy in this patient population. Indeed, this group has the same incidence rates of morbidity and postoperative bleeding complications as patients who have not undergone antithrombotic therapy.

Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha protein predicts survival in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), identified as one of the transcription factors, has been found to play an essential role in oxygen homeostasis. HIF-1 is a heterodimer composed of HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta. Increased levels of HIF-1alpha have been reported during the carcinogenesis and progress of several tumors. We investigated the prognostic importance of HIF-1alpha expression in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. In 127 cases of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract, we examined its expression (using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization), and also its relation to the expression of p53 oncoprotein, as well as to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity, microvessel density, clinicopathologic parameters, and clinical outcome. A positive expression of HIF-1alpha protein was recognized in 55.1% of samples, the expression being apparent within the nucleus in tumor cells. HIF-1alpha protein expression correlated with grade, growth pattern, p53 oncoprotein expression, and PCNA index, but not with stage. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between HIF-1alpha protein expression and both overall and disease-free survival rates in the univariate and multivariate analyses (in all tumors and in invasive tumors). A positive expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA was recognized in 69.6% of 125 samples which were available, the expression being apparent within the cytoplasm in tumor cells. The positive expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA by in situ hybridization correlated significantly with HIF-1alpha protein expression by immunohistochemistry. HIF-1alpha mRNA expression only correlated with pattern of growth (P = 0.0078). In conclusion, the detection of HIF-1alpha protein would seem to be of value in informing the prognosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract.

Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that plays an important role in tumor growth and metastasis by regulating energy metabolism and inducing angiogenesis. Elevated levels of HIF-1alpha, a subunit of HIF-1, are noted in various malignant tumors, but it is unclear whether this is so in esophageal carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implications of HIF-1alpha expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In 215 patients with esophageal carcinoma, we examined immunoreactivity for HIF-1alpha protein, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein and p53 protein. In 38 patients, we examined the expression of HIF-1alpha messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) (using the semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]). A positive HIF-1alpha protein expression was recognized in 95% of the patients, and was strongly apparent within both the nuclei and/or cytoplasm of tumor cells. The proportion of patients in the 'high score' group for HIF-1alpha protein expression increased significantly with increasing VEGF protein expression. Immunoreactivity for HIF-1alpha protein was found to have a significant effect on disease-free survival rate in our univariate analysis, but no effect on overall survival rate. In RT-PCR, HIF-1alpha mRNA scores correlated significantly with scores for HIF-1alpha protein expression, but not with any clinicopathologic factor or either of the survival rates. The detection of HIF-1alpha protein and mRNA would appear to offer limited information as to progression and prognosis in esophageal carcinoma.

Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas eroding the pylorus and duodenal bulb.

A 74-year-old woman presented at the National Defense Medical College Hospital in April 2001 with a chief complaint of upper abdominal pain. She had been diagnosed as having adenocarcinoma on the basis of results of examination of a biopsy specimen taken from an ulcer of the duodenal bulb at a local hospital. On admission, she showed no jaundice, but a hard mass, about 10 cm in diameter, was palpated in the right upper quadrant. Laboratory data showed high levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and angiography demonstrated a giant enhanced mass in a pattern of eccentric gradation extending to the pylorus, duodenal bulb, and pancreatic head. She underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with combined resection of the transverse colon. The histologic diagnosis was acinar cell carcinoma (ACC), originating in the pancreatic head and extending to the stomach, duodenum, and transverse colon, without any lymph node involvement. In most reported cases of ACC, the preoperative diagnosis was a pancreatic mass or endocrine tumor of the pancreas. The correct diagnosis in those cases was made by postoperative or postmortem pathological examination. If criteria for detecting the slight differences between ACC and endocrine tumors on some images were to be established, the diagnostic skill for ACC would improve dramatically.

Usefulness of photocrosslinkable chitosan for endoscopic cancer treatment in alimentary tract.

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), an established treatment for superficial cancer in the stomach, colon, and esophagus, involves extracting the lesion with the aid of high-frequency current (as in snare polypectomy), following saline injection into the submucosal layer. Of interest in this study was the ability of photocrosslinkable chitosan, which is converted to a hydrogel (like a soft rubber) by 30-s ultraviolet irradiation, to expand the submucosal layer when used as an injection material. Photocrosslinkable-chitosan solution or normal saline (0.3 mL) was injected into the submucosal layer of the rat stomach, and the thickness of this layer was measured at various time points thereafter. In these two groups, the values obtained were 3.8 and 2.0 mm, respectively (means; n = 5 each group; p < 0.005), at 30 min after the injection. The cumulative blood loss measured at 20 min after mucosal incision was 113 mg (photocrosslinkable-chitosan solution), versus 1682 mg (saline) (means, n = 10 each group; p < 0.001). Histologic observation revealed that chitosan, which was retained within the submucosal layer, filled the ulcer base and completely surrounded the bleeding focus. Thus, the photocrosslinkable chitosan developed holds promise for use in EMR as a submucosal injection agent that avoids complications.

Influences of thoracic duct blockage on early enteral nutrition for patients who underwent esophageal cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVES: We have previously reported the beneficial effects of immediate enteral nutrition (EN) after esophageal cancer surgery. This randomized control study was conducted to determine whether immediate EN is beneficial or not for patients whose thoracic ducts were ligated, as well as those whose thoracic ducts were preserved. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients who underwent radical resection of the esophageal cancer entered this trial. After stratifying into two groups--patients whose thoracic ducts were preserved [D(+)] and those whose thoracic ducts were ligated [D(-)], they were randomly divided into two groups--the patients who received early EN and those who received parenteral nutrition (PN) followed by delayed enteral feeding. Thus, the number of patients in the D(+)-EN group, D(+)-PN group, D(-)-EN group and D(-)-PN group were 13, 12, 7 and 7, respectively. The mortality and morbidity rates, and several blood chemistries were compared between the EN groups and the PN groups. RESULTS: Total lymphocyte count showed a significant early increase and serum c-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly decreased in the D(+)-EN group compared to the D(+)-PN group. However those differences were not observed between the D(-) groups. Serum total bilirubin was significantly decreased in the both EN groups compared to the PN groups. The mortality and morbidity rates were not different between the EN group and the PN group in the D(+) patients and also in the D(-) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients whose thoracic ducts were ligated did not obtain any other benefit from early enteral feeding except for bilirubin metabolism. Early enteral feeding is not recommended for patients whose thoracic ducts are ligated during radical resection of a cancer in the thoracic esophagus.