The effect of ATP-MgCl2 on lipid peroxidation in ischemic and reperfused rabbit kidney.

Oxygen metabolites formed during reperfusion of ischemic kidneys prevent recovery of renal function after short periods of renal ischemia. The administration of ATP-MgCl2 is beneficial to the survival of animals after hemorrhagic shock, severe burns, septicemia-peritonitis, post-ischemic hepatic failure, bowel ischemia, and endotoxic shock. In this study, the effect of ATP-MgCl2 on lipid peroxidation and its curative effect were evaluated by measuring the decomposition products of lipid peroxidation, detected as thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances in homogenized kidney tissues in ischemic and reperfused rabbit kidneys. Ischemia was performed by clamping the right renal artery for 60 minutes followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. Thirty-six rabbits were classified into 6 groups containing 6 rabbits in each. In the first group, no renal ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) was designed (Sham group), the right kidney was removed 90 minutes later. In the second group, I-R was established but nothing given. Saline 0.25 cc/kg was given into the right renal artery in group 3 two minutes before ischemia, and in group 4 two minutes before reperfusion. ATP-MgCl2 17.5 mumol/kg (0.25 cc/kg) was given two minutes before ischemia in group 5, and before reperfusion in group 6. The right kidneys of the rabbits were removed and thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances in the homogenates were measured. In addition, histopathological evaluation was performed. High lipid peroxidation products were recorded in groups 2-5, whereas in group 6, these levels were low similar to those obtained in Sham group (76.72 +/- 1.01 nmol/g tissue). On histopathological evaluation, a considerable cell damage resulting from I-R trauma especially in proximal tubules was observed. In groups which were under saline effect, no histopathological damage was found. Histophatological preservation was better in group 6 rather than in group 5. The results of this study indicate that ATP-MgCl2 is remarkably effective for preventing the lipid peroxidation if given before reperfusion but not before ischemia in experimental I-R injury in rabbit kidneys.

Significance of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S in acute mesenteric ischemia patients.

It is well established that a condition of hypercoagulation due to deficiencies of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S may result in thrombo-embolism. To evaluate the possibility of hypercoagulation in acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI); clinical features, ECG changes, drug history, the length of intestine remaining after the resection and mortality of 15 consecutive patients were recorded and plasma levels of antithrombin III, Protein C and protein S were measured. Antihypertensive, antidiabetic and digitalis were the main drugs used by the patients. Atrial fibrillation was the main ECG finding (60%). AMI was attributed to thrombo-embolic phenomena because of atrial fibrillation in these patients. Levels of antithrombin III and protein S were lower in patients without atrial fibrillation compared to those with the condition (mean values 16.18 vs. 18.04 and 87.33 vs. 94.22 respectively) but the difference was not statistically significant. Levels of Protein C were lower and the length of intestine remaining after resection was shorter in patients without, compared to those with, atrial fibrillation (mean values 77.00 vs. 88.66, and 52.5 cm vs. 86.11 cm respectively). The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Postoperative mortality rate was 33.3% (5 patients) and the length of intestine remaining after resection was the main determining factor in the prognosis of the patients. We conclude that a condition of hypercoagulation due to a deficiency of protein C has a significant role in the pathogenesis of AMI especially in patients without atrial fibrillation.

Intensive pulmonary care after liver surgery: a retrospective survey from a single center.

BACKGROUND: Prevention from postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) has been an important topic. The aims of this study were to determine the risk factors for PPC after liver surgery and to analyze the efficacy of postoperative pulmonary care on PPC prevention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed variables of 81 patients who underwent hepatectomy and 4 transplantations between January 2007 and March 2012. RESULTS: Nineteen patients suffered PPCs (22.4%). Bivariate analysis identified four risk factors: preoperative anemia (odds ratio [OR] = 5.69), the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 3 or 4 (OR = 5.36), blood transfusion (OR = 2.81), and prolonged operative time (OR = 1.01). Upon multivariate analysis, only prolonged operative time was an independent risk factor for PPC (OR = 1.01). Pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed for 22 of 41 patients with an ASA score ≥ 2 (53.7%); there was no significant relationship between abnormal PFTs (n = 13) and the development of PPCs (P = .12). CONCLUSIONS: The elimination of risk factors may reduce the incidence of PPCs. Postoperative intensive pulmonary care should be given to all patients after liver surgery but particularly to patients with high ASA scores and those with abnormal PFTs irrespective of age.

Acalculous cholecystitis caused by Salmonella paratyphi B infection in a child with acute pre-B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AC) rarely occurs in children with acute leukemia. The principal treatment modality of AC is emergency surgery. Medical treatment of AC is not a good therapeutic approach. The mortality rate of AC is approximately 100% for medical treatment and 10-15% for emergency surgery. A 9-year-old boy with acute pre-B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and AC caused by Salmonella paratyphi B infection is presented. He was successfully treated with cefepime, amikacin, and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). These treatment combinations led to uneventful recovery after 21 days. It appears that AC in children with acute leukemia may be treated with appropriate intravenous antibiotics. This may be the first case of AC caused by Salmonella paratyphi B infection reported in a child with acute pre-B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia.

Biliary ascariasis associated with cholangiocarcinoma: ultrasonographic and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiographic findings.

The combination of biliary ascariasis and cholangiocarcinoma is rare. A 56-year-old female presented with progressive jaundice. Ultrasonography revealed a curvilinear structure with anechoic center consistent with ascariasis within the dilated common bile duct. Ultrasonography also demonstrated that a slightly echogenic soft tissue mass projecting into the mid segment of the common bile duct proved to be coexistent cholangiocarcinoma. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography did not confirm the presence of worm. In this report ultrasonographic and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiographic findings of the case are described and the relative merits of these two techniques are discussed.

Surgical treatment of hydatid cysts of the liver.

BACKGROUND: Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease that occurs throughout the world. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical features and results of surgical treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts. METHODS: One hundred and two patients operated on between 1991 and 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients' demographic data, location, number and size of cysts, type of surgical procedure performed, morbidity, recurrences and duration of hospital stay were recorded. RESULTS: There were 74 male and 28 female patients with ages ranging from 15 to over 60 years. The most frequent symptom was abdominal pain. From the total of 136 hepatic cysts, 54 (39.7 per cent) were managed by cystostomy and drainage, 40 (29.4 per cent) by cystostomy and capitonnage, 16 (11.8 per cent) by cystostomy and omentoplasty, 24 (17.6 per cent) by cystectomy and two (1.5 per cent) by left lateral hepatic resection. Postoperative complications were more frequent following cystostomy with omentoplasty (six of 16 patients) compared with cystectomy (none of 18) (P = 0.005). Choledochotomy increased the length of hospital stay in patients having cystostomy and drainage (P = 0.021) and in those having cystostomy with omentoplasty (P = 0.028). Two recurrences were observed. CONCLUSION: Surgery combined with medical treatment by albendazole is effective in the eradication of hepatic hydatid disease and in the prevention of local recurrence.