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Biomedical subjects

C J Cahill

Publications and source records attributed to C J Cahill.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Expression of a monoclonal antibody (3G5) defined ganglioside antigen in the renal cortex.

The monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3G5 was found, by indirect immunofluorescence, to bind to renal cortical structures in frozen sections of human, rat and calf kidneys. Double indirect immunofluorescence studies on frozen sections of rat kidneys showed that 3G5 stained only the glomerulus and the distribution of the 3G5 antigen on the glomerulus was more extensive than the staining observed with antibodies to Factor VIII antigen. 3G5 stained the proximal convoluted tubules and collecting tubules in bovine renal sections but glomeruli did not stain with 3G5. The 3G5 mAb did not stain tissue cultured bovine glomerular endothelial cells or mesangial cells, but did stain bovine glomerular epithelial cell cultures. 3G5 did not stain MDCK cell cultures. The binding of mAb 3G5 to glomeruli was investigated by immunoelectron microscopy of rat renal tissue. In contrast to the podocyte specificity on bovine glomerular cells in vitro, it was found that the specificity of 3G5 expression on rat glomerular cells in vivo was broader. No binding of mAb 3G5 was found outside the glomerulus in the rat renal cortex. Podocytes, endothelial cells and capsular epithelial cells expressed the 3G5 antigen most strongly. A lesser amount of binding was found in the glomerular basement membrane. The mesangium showed a little binding of mAb 3G5 and no binding at all was found to other cortical structures. The 3G5 antigen in rat renal tissue was found to be a glycolipid that migrated between the ganglioside markers GM2 and GM1 by immunostaining of thin layer chromatograms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Prevention of postoperative renal dysfunction in patients with obstructive jaundice: a multicentre study of bile salts and lactulose.

The role of preoperative lactulose and bile salts in the prevention of postoperative renal failure in patients with obstructive jaundice has been evaluated in a prospective randomized trial. One hundred and two patients undergoing surgery for obstructive jaundice (bilirubin greater than 100 mumols/l) were randomized into three groups: those receiving preoperative oral lactulose (n = 35), those receiving oral sodium deoxycholate (n = 32) and a control group of patients receiving no specific treatment (n = 35). All patients received intravenous fluids commencing the night before surgery. One patient in the control group and none in the treatment groups developed postoperative renal failure. Postoperative deterioration of renal function in patients with normal preoperative function was significantly more common in the control group than in the treatment groups (chi 2 = 8.1, d.f. = 2, P less than 0.02). The incidence of renal failure and impairment was lower in this control group than that reported in previous studies. This may be due to the introduction of adequate preoperative hydration. Additional protection occurs by the preoperative administration of either lactulose or sodium deoxycholate.

Acute Kidney Injury

Prospective, randomized trial of the biofragmentable anastomosis ring. The BAR Investigational Group.

A randomized trial was undertaken to compare the biofragmental anastomotic ring (BAR) with conventional intraperitoneal colorectal anastomotic techniques. Patients were randomized into one of two schemes: BAR versus sutured or BAR versus stapled anastomosis. There were 782 patients entered into the study and 283 patients (36%) had a sutured anastomosis, 104 patients (13%) had a stapled anastomosis, and 395 (51%) had the BAR. Comparison of the BAR with combined suture and stapled controls revealed no significant differences in wound complication, abscess rate, bleeding, anastomotic leaks, ileus, obstruction, or deaths. There were no differences in return of bowel function, return to normal diet, or hospital stay. Intraoperative difficulties occurred in 46 BAR patients (17%), and this was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than for sutured (3%) but not for stapled anastomoses (11%). The occurrence of these problems did not adversely effect the outcome. The data suggest that the BAR is a safe, satisfactory alternative to sutured or stapled colorectal anastomoses.

Adolescent

The revascularization of healing flexor tendons in the digital sheath. A vascular injection study in dogs.

The role of revascularization in the nutritional support of repair of the flexor tendons is not completely understood. To explore the extent to which intrasynovial flexor tendons revascularize after transection and suture, a vascular injection study was carried out in a canine model. The tendons to the second and fifth digits of the forepaw in twelve adult mongrel dogs were transected and repaired. There were twenty-four experimental tendons and twenty-four normal tendons. The limb was placed in a polyurethane shoulder-spica cast, and the paw was treated with immediate protected passive mobilization. At three, seven, ten, seventeen, and twenty-eight days, the animals were killed and the major arteries supplying both the paw that had been operated on (left) and the contralateral normal paw (right) were injected with 200 milliliters of India ink. Segments of repaired and normal tendons were then clarified by a modified Spalteholz technique. The normal tendons demonstrated a well developed mesotenon that provided vascularization of the proximal portion of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon. A consistent three-cubic-millimeter avascular intrasynovial portion of tendon was noted. Distally, vessels arose from the vinculum breve, supplying the terminal twenty millimeters of tendon substance. In the experimental tendons, longitudinal and transverse clarified sections showed consistent revascularization of the site of repair by proximal vessels in the absence of ingrowth of peripheral adhesions. Vessels in the epitenon progressively extended for a distance of ten millimeters, through normally avascular regions, to reach the site of repair by the seventeenth postoperative day. Intratendinous vessels about the site of repair consistently originated from surface vessels, rather than from extensions of pre-existing intratendinous vessels. New vessels penetrated all areas, including the normally avascular volar segments of tendon, irrespective of previous topical zones of avascularity. Proximal vascular plexi were characterized by large tortuous vessels with frequent circuitous branches. More distal vessels had a longitudinally oriented, feathery appearance.

Animals

Management of cyclical mastalgia.

In order to establish the current treatment of cyclical mastalgia, a postal questionnaire was sent to 276 consultant general surgeons (over 25% of the UK total), randomly selected from the 12 UK regional health authorities. Surgeons were questioned about their choices of treatment for cyclical mastalgia, after initial resassurance, and for persistent pain. Two hundred and forty-five (89%) responded, out of whom 219 saw patients with breast disease. Twenty-three (11%) of these surgeons were identified as having a major interest in breast disease. Danazol, used by 75% of surgeons, was the drug most commonly prescribed. Initial treatments by non-specialist surgeons included danazol (31%), analgesia (19%) and diuretics (17%), and by breast surgeons evening primrose oil (30%), tamoxifen (13%) and vitamin B6 (13%). For persistent pain 46% of non-specialist surgeons prescribed danazol and 18% surgery, whereas 65% of breast surgeons prescribed danazol and 30% bromocriptine. A wide variety of therapies are used, but danazol is the most common. For persistent unresponsive pain, local excision biopsy surgery is frequently considered by non-specialist surgeons. Breast specialist tend initially to use other methods that are associated with fewer side-effects and reserve other treatments such as danazol and bromocriptine for persistent cases.

Breast

Sutureless large bowel anastomosis: European experience with the biofragmentable anastomosis ring.

Sutureless colonic anastomosis using a biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR) has been evaluated in a prospective randomized comparison with sutures and staples for elective colorectal surgery. One hundred and one patients underwent BAR anastomosis, 85 a sutured anastomosis, and 16 a stapled anastomosis. There were two anastomotic leaks in the patients undergoing BAR anastomosis, seven in patients having a sutured anastomosis, and one in a patient who had a stapled anastomosis. Wound infection occurred in ten BAR patients, ten sutured patients and no stapled patient. There was no statistically significant difference in these or in other postoperative complications between the groups. The BAR was easy to use and is a safe alternative to sutures and staples for large bowel anastomosis.

Adolescent

Current practice in biliary surgery.

A questionnaire enquiring about current practices in biliary surgery was sent to over 25 per cent of consultant general surgeons in the UK; 90 per cent replied. Only 56 per cent use antibiotic prophylaxis for elective cholecystectomy, and 84 per cent for emergency cholecystectomy. Duration of use, choice of agent and absence of prophylaxis for high-risk cases were inappropriate in up to 20 per cent of cases. Of the respondents 84 per cent routinely perform operative cholangiography and use T tubes, and 75 per cent routinely place a peritoneal drain after cholecystectomy. Despite controversies in the literature, most UK surgeons still follow traditional practices in biliary surgery.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Bile salts, endotoxin and renal function in obstructive jaundice.

Surgical treatment for the relief of obstructive jaundice is still complicated by postoperative acute renal failure in almost 10 per cent of patients. Renal failure in the patient with jaundice is associated with the presence of bacterial endotoxin in the peripheral blood, and enteric endotoxin absorption is facilitated by the absence of bile salts from the intestine. Oral replacement of bile salts should prevent endotoxemia and renal failure. Forty-six patients with jaundice were studied. Twelve patients received sodium deoxycholate preoperatively, 12 received chenodeoxycholic acid and 22 acted as controls. Endotoxemia was measured by the limulus test and renal function assessed by 24 hour creatinine clearance. No patient given deoxycholate preoperatively had systemic endotoxemia or postoperative impairment of renal function. Endotoxemia was reduced in the chenodeoxycholic acid group, but not significantly, and renal function was not protected. Sodium deoxycholate is undergoing further evaluation in a multicenter randomized prospective study.

Acute Kidney Injury

Management of choledochal cysts in adults.

The management of 7 adults with choledochal cysts is described. Three patients presented with abdominal pain, 3 with jaundice and one with cholangitis. Three patients underwent total or partial cyst excision and the remaining patients underwent cyst drainage into a Roux-en-Y jejunal loop. There was no operative mortality and all patients have remained well for up to 6 years following surgery. It is argued that total cyst excision is the treatment of choice, but where this is not possible a Roux-en-Y choledochocystojejunostomy is the recommended alternative.

Adult

Long term effects of callosal lesions in the auditory cortex of rats of different ages.

The corpus callosum was sectioned in groups of rats 3, 12, and 24 months of age, and the auditory cortex was examined three months later to determine whether there were age-related differences in the morphological response to the partial deafferentation. Material from the three groups of long-term callosally-lesioned rats were compared with three groups of age-matched control animals. Analysis focused on those cortical layers known to receive the heaviest callosal projection (layers II and III) and those neurons known to be postsynaptic to callosal afferents (layer V pyramidal neurons). There were no age-related changes in cortical thickness or in the relative thickness of the cortical layers in the control groups. However, the apical dendrites of layer V pyramidal neurons did lose dendritic spines and became thinner with age. In all three lesion groups, the cortex became thinner without altering the relative thickness of cortical layers; there was a decrease in the relative density of apical dendrite spines in layer III, but an increase in the density of these spines in layer IV. Both effects varied with age. Spine decreases in layer III were greatest in older animals and spine increases in layer IV were greatest in younger animals. The mean diameters of apical dendrites decreased in the youngest group of lesioned animals but increased in the oldest group. The results indicate that the effects of callosal deafferentation are age dependent.

Aging

Prevention of postoperative renal failure in patients with obstructive jaundice--the role of bile salts.

Preoperative administration of the simple bile salt sodium deoxycholate has been shown in this study to prevent postoperative endotoxaemia and renal failure in patients with obstructive jaundice. Fifty-four per cent of jaundiced patients not given the salt were found to have systemic endotoxaemia, associated with renal impairment in two-thirds of the cases. No patient given sodium deoxycholate 500 mg 8 hourly for 48 hours before operation had portal or systemic endotoxaemia, and none had evidence of renal impairment (P less than 0 X 02, X2 with Yates' correction). The incidence of endotoxaemia in untreated jaundiced patients was very significantly greater than in non-jaundiced patients undergoing elective upper abdominal surgery (P less than 0 X 005), but this difference is abolished by the prophylactic administration of the oral bile salt. The mechanism of action of bile salts in preventing endotoxin absorption from the small bowel has been investigated, and the lack of any significant alteration in the small bowel microbial flora in obstructive jaundice suggests that a direct effect on the endotoxin molecule is involved. Nearly 20 per cent of patients with obstructive jaundice still develop postoperative renal insufficiency, but preoperative prophylactic use of sodium deoxycholate should reduce this very significantly.

Acute Kidney Injury