Superiority of Intestinal Adaptation by Hepatocyte Growth Factor in the Jejunum: An Experimental Study in a Short-Bowel Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effect of recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (rh-HGF) on intestinal adaptation in a rat model of short-bowel syndrome (SBS). METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent jugular vein catheterization for continuous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and 90 % small bowel resection. The animals were divided into 3 groups: TPN/SBS (control group, n = 7), TPN/SBS/intravenous recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (0.3 mg/kg/day) (HGF group, n = 7), and TPN/SBS/intravenous c-Met inhibitor (0.3 mg/kg/day) (anti-HGF group, n = 5). On day 7, rats were euthanized and histologically evaluated. Serum diamine oxidase (S-DAO) levels were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The nutrient transporter and glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) receptor expression were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The jejunal and ileal villus heights were higher and the S-DAO concentrations significantly higher (p = 0.04) in the HGF group than in the control and anti-HGF groups. The sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 expression in the HGF group was significantly higher than in the control group and significantly suppressed in the anti-HGF group (p < 0.01). The peptide transporter 1 expression in the jejunum was higher in the HGF group than in the other groups and significantly suppressed in the anti-HGF group (p < 0.01). The GLP-2 receptor expression in the jejunum was higher in the HGF group than the other groups, and it was significantly suppressed in the anti-HGF group (p < 0.01). These jejunal results regarding nutrient transporter an GLP-2 receptor were not found in the ileum. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of rh-HGF appears to be more effective in the jejunum than in the ileum. TYPE OF STUDY: Experimental Research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

The evaluation of eye gaze using an eye tracking system in simulation training of real-time ultrasound-guided venipuncture.

PURPOSE: Real-time ultrasound (RTUS)-guided central venipuncture using the short-axis approach is complicated and likely to result in losing sight of the needle tip. Therefore, we focused on the eye gaze in our evaluation of the differences in eye gaze between medical students and experienced participants using an eye tracking system. METHODS: Ten medical students (MS group), five residents (R group) and six pediatric surgeon fellows (F group) performed short-axis RTUS-guided venipuncture simulation using a modified vessel training system. The eye gaze was captured by the tracking system (Tobii Eye Tacker 4C) and recorded. The evaluation endpoints were the task completion time, total time and number of occurrences of the eye tracking marker outside US monitor and success rate of venipuncture. RESULT: There were no significant differences in the task completion time and total time of the tracking marker outside the US monitor. The number of occurrences of the eye tracking marker outside US monitor in the MS group was significantly higher than in the F group (MS group: 9.5 ± 3.4, R group: 6.0 ± 2.9, F group: 5.2 ± 1.6; p = 0.04). The success rate of venipuncture in the R group tended to be better than in the F group. CONCLUSION: More experienced operators let their eye fall outside the US monitor fewer times than less experienced ones. The eye gaze was associated with the success rate of RTUS-guided venipuncture. Repeated training while considering the eye gaze seems to be pivotal for mastering RTUS-guided venipuncture.