Does the septic shock interfere experimental acute pancreatitis in rats?

INTRODUCTION: Acute pancreatitis is a disease involving pro-inflammatory mediators. Two complex and multifactorial pathogenetic ways lead to edematous or necrotizing pancreatitis. The course of the disease is thought to be the consequence of an acute inflammatory response. AIM: The authors examined the impact of Escherichia coli LPS on the acute cerulein pancreatitis in rats. METHODS: The study was performed on rats using the ceruleine pancreatitis model. The activation status of polymorphonuclear cells, blood IL-6 concentration, oxidative stress parameters, pancreatic enzymes concentration and microscopic alterations were determined at 5th and 9th h observations. RESULTS: In acute pancreatitis and acute pancreatitis with LPS groups, the peripheral polymorphonuclear cells activity was lower than in control one. Authors noticed the same neutrophil activation in acute pancreatitis after lipopolysaccharide administration although the peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells count was significantly higher at the 9th h observation. LPS neither changed the oxidative stress within pancreatic gland, nor amylase or serum lipase activity. LPS given to acute pancreatitis animals resulted in significant increase of serum IL-6 concentration at 5th observation turning normal after 9th h. CONCLUSIONS: Collected data supports thesis of early polymorphonuclear cells involvement in acute pancreatitis and oxidative stress evidence in pancreatic parenchyma. However, results did not reveal that administration of LPS amplified inflammatory response during the course of acute pancreatitis.

One hundred and ten consecutive uncomplicated retroperitoneal videoscopic adrenalectomies--Polish multicentre study.

AIM: The authors evaluate the effectiveness of videoscopic adrenalectomy (VA) for a variety of endocrine disorders. METHODS: One hundred and ten consecutive videoscopic adrenalectomies performed from October 1995 till December 2000 were reviewed and followed up for adequacy of surgical treatment in 2 surgical departments. There were 79 females and 31 males included in the study. The mean age was 48.0 years (range 23-71 years). Indications for the operations were: phaeochromocytomas (n=5), aldosterone-producing adenomas (n=19), cortisol-producing adenomas (n=10), Cushing's disease (n=3) and non-secreting tumours (n=72). RESULTS: There was no mortality and no morbidity both intraoperatively and in the postoperative course. In 8 cases conversion to open surgery was instituted - in 4 cases due to an unintended lesion of pertioneum without damage to the intraperitoneal organs. Mean operative time was 156 min (range 52-280 min), and estimated blood loss was 73 ml (range 20-300 ml). The average length of hospital stay was 2.9 days (range 2-7 days). None of the patients revealed either recurrence of hormonal hypersecretion or tumour mass in imaging studies during the follow-up period (range 1-34 months). CONCLUSION: 1. VA is recommended in patients with hormonally active tumours and in patients with benign adrenal masses of a diameter up to 6 cm. 2. VA is a safe and feasible procedure if performed by a team experienced in endocrine and endoscopic surgery. 3. VA is a procedure better than open adrenalectomy in management of small, non-malignant tumours because of the reduction of operative trauma.

Clinical and histopathological evaluation of the adrenal incidentaloma.

Clinically silent adrenal masses (incidentaloma) are incidentally discovered lesions, when noninvasive imaging methods (USG, CT, MRI) are performed for reasons other than known or suspected adrenal disease. Most studies report on a prevalence of adrenal incidentaloma range between 1% and 10% in radiological series. Between 1994 and 1999 we observed in our Department 57 patients with incidentalomas of adrenal glands. After endocrinological evaluation silent Cushing's syndrome was found in 2 cases (3.5%). Fifty two patients were qualified for surgery. Adrenocortical adenoma was diagnosed in 73.1%; adrenocortical carcinoma in 7.7%; pheochromocytoma in 7.7% and less frequent adrenal lesions in 11.5%. All adrenal carcinomas and malignant pheochromocytomas (11.5%) were found in tumors with diameter over 4 cm.

Protein oxidation in male Syrian hamster kidney during estrogen-induced carcinogenesis.

Chronic administration of estradiol leads to generation of estrogen-dependent renal cancer in male Syrian hamsters within 9-12 months. The pathogenesis of this tumour is associated with oxygen free radicals, however, it is still not clear which metabolic pathway of estrogens is responsible for the generation of the radicals, and which part of the cell is mostly affected by it. The paper presents an experiment in which the protein oxidation measured by carbonyl groups level in 9-month estrogenization scheme. The level of carbonyl groups was significantly elevated starting from the 1st month of estrogenization until the 9th. The weight of the kidneys reflecting possible tumuorigenesis was also significantly increased in estrogenized group starting at the 2nd month of the experiment. The weight of the testes, a sign of adequate estrogenicity, was decreased dramatically in the estrogenized group from the first to the last month of experiment. The results suggest that the kidney of estrogenized male Syrian hamster suffers from oxidative stress affecting proteins.

[Appendico-ileo-caecal intussusception as a cause of mechanical ileus]. / Wglobienie wyrostkowo-kretniczo-katnicze jako przyczyna niedroznosci mechanicznej.

The authors present a case of 34 years old male operated on for mechanical ileus caused by intussusception of unchanged appendix, cecum and terminal part of ileum. The paper presents possible mechanism of intussusception, diagnostic difficulties determined by non-characteristic symptoms and imaging examination results.

[Simultaneous laparoscopic splenectomy and cholecystectomy]. / Jednoczasowe laparoskopowe wyciecie sledziony i pecherzyka zólciowego.

Paper presents the patient with hereditary spherocytosis, in whom simultaneous laparoscopic splenectomy and cholecystectomy with satisfactory result were performed.

[Laparoscopic adrenalectomy from the lateral retroperitoneal approach]. / Adrenalektomia laparoskopowa z dostepu pozaotrzewnowego.

From April to November 1998 eleven patients (8 female and 3 male, mean age 48.5; range 23-69) with adrenal gland tumor underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy from the lateral retroperitoneal approach. Authors report their primary experience; introduce their own material and describe the operative technique of laparoscopic adrenalectomy from lateral retroperitoneal approach. Besides one case of Conn syndrome, all tumors were hormonally non-active. In 10 patients the adrenal masses were incidentally discovered during such imaging examination as abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography. All tumors were benign in postoperative histopathological examination. The localization was unilateral and suprarenal in all cases (7 right, 4 left). Both operation and postoperative course in all patients were uncomplicated. One conversion to "open" procedure had been performed due to laparoscopic equipment damage.

[Laparoscopic splenectomy with a postero-lateral approach in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]. / Splenektomia laparoskopowa z dostepu tylno-bocznego u chorych z maloplytkowoscia samoistna.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study is presentation of operative technique and early results of laparoscopic splenectomy in 15 cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients resistant to typical steroid therapy. There were 7 women and 8 men in age 16-58 years (mean 32.6 years). Preoperative investigations revealed accessory spleens in two patients. Platelets count at the time of qualifying patients to splenectomy varied from 7-35 g/L and after preoperative treatment (prednisone 1 mg/kg--6 patients, methylprednisone 25 mg/kg--5 patients, immunoglobulins 2.0/kg--2 patients, immunoglobulins and methylprednisone--2 patients) varied from 36-205 g/L. Splenic length was from 8-17 cm. The lateral approach and 4-5 ports were utilized in all cases. Pneumoperitoneum with value of 12-14 mmHg of carbon dioxide was created using an open technique. First step of the procedure was to free spleno-colic ligament, then spleno-reno attachment. In all cases the hilus artery, vein and short gastric vessels were clipped and divided by Endo GIA stapler 30 or 60 mm and clips. Spleens were removed from the abdomen cavity in the plastic bag after manual/forceps crushing inside the bag. Intraoperative bleeding occurred in 2 patients (20%). Blood loss was about 800 and 1000 ml respectively. The mean operative time was 170 min (140-300 min). Spleen weight was 210 g average. In 3 cases conversion to open approach was needed because of injury of splenic vessels (2 pts.) and difficulty in removing spleen--in 1 patient. Post operative course was uneventful in every 10 patients. Mean hospital stay was 5.8 days. Increase in platelet count was observed in 14 patients on the second postoperative day to 60-291 g/L. One patient did not response as expected. No early postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic splenectomy may be considered as a safe and feasible procedure in selected patients with ITP without long-term improvement after typical conservative treatment.

[Management of postoperative pancreatic fistula resistant to octreotide therapy]. / Postepowanie z pooperacyjnymi przetokami trzustkowymi opornymi na leczenie oktreotydem.

Pancreatic fistula is a rare postoperative complication, usually occurring after pancreatic surgery. Majority of them heal spontaneously, some patients require somatostatin/octreotide treatment. The authors have presented 11 patients with postoperative pancreatic fistula, in whom octreotide therapy in dose of 0.1 mg t.i.d./10 days has been ineffective. The causes of pancreatic fistula have been as follows: necrosectomy of the infected pancreatic necrosis--5 patients, distal pancreatic resection--2 patients, insulinoma enucleation--2 patients, gastrectomy with partial pancreatectomy--2 patients. In 9 patients endoscopic stenting of the main pancreatic duct has been performed. In remained 2 patients after Roux-en-Y gastrectomy the endoscopic access to Vater papilla has been impossible and the patients have received one intramuscular injection of long acting somatostatin analogue. In 8 of 9 patients with pancreatic stenting and in two patients after gastrectomy the fistula has been closed within the period of 6-17 days. In one patient after the necrosectomy the prosthesis implacement has been ineffective. This patient has been successfully treated with two additional injections of long acting somatostatin analogue (one injection/14 days). Authors have concluded that endoscopic pancreatic stenting has been an effective method of treatment of the postoperative pancreatic fistula, resistant to octreotide therapy. In some cases, additional administration of long acting somatostatin analogue has been necessary.

[Surgical treatment of cancer of the stomach]. / Operacyjne leczenie raka zoladka.

Patients operated on for gastric carcinoma in the years 1949-1963 were compared with those treated in 1975-1982.