PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Mentha

Publications and source records attributed to G Mentha.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effects of abdominal Co2 insufflation on renal and hepatic blood flows during acute hemorrhage in anesthetized pigs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the consequences of laparoscopy during hemorrhage, we studied the respiratory, renal, and hepatic blood flow changes induced by abdominal Co2 insufflation during severe hemorrhage in anesthetized pigs. DESIGN: Prospective animal study. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Anesthetized and ventilated pigs (n = 18). INTERVENTIONS: The right carotid artery was cannulated to measure mean arterial pressure. A pulmonary artery catheter was inserted to measure mean pulmonary arterial pressure and cardiac output. After a midline abdominal incision, three flow probes were positioned around the portal vein, the hepatic artery, and the renal artery to measure portal vein blood flow, hepatic artery blood flow, and renal blood flow. To induce hemorrhage, blood was withdrawn until mean arterial pressure reached 50 mm Hg. Laparoscopy was mimicked by insufflating Co2 until intra-abdominal pressure reached approximately 15 mm Hg. Measurements were collected during hemorrhage, Co2 abdominal insufflation, and the combination of both interventions. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Severe pulmonary hypertension and hypercapnic acidosis occurred during abdominal Co2 insufflation. However, the abdominal Co2 insufflation did not aggravate the cardiac output and total hepatic blood flow changes induced by acute hemorrhage, whereas the combination of hemorrhage and abdominal Co2 insufflation markedly altered renal blood flow. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that renal function must be monitored carefully when performing laparoscopy in trauma patients. In contrast, hepatic perfusion seems well preserved.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Wilson's disease with severe hepatic insufficiency: beneficial effects of early administration of D-penicillamine.

BACKGROUND: Wilson's disease, heralded by severe hepatic insufficiency, is a rare disorder for which emergency liver transplantation is considered to be the only effective therapy. AIMS: To report the features of Wilson's disease with severe hepatic insufficiency in a series of 17 patients and, during the second period of the study, to assess the efficacy of a policy consisting of early administration of D-penicillamine. PATIENTS: Seventeen consecutive patients with Wilson's disease were studied. During the first period of the study (up to 1979), none of the patients received D-penicillamine. During the second period (after 1979), all patients without encephalopathy at admission received D-penicillamine. RESULTS: The four patients observed during the first period who did not have encephalopathy at admission and did not receive D-penicillamine progressed to encephalopathy and died. Among the 13 consecutive patients observed during the second period, two patients with encephalopathy at admission did not receive D-penicillamine and were transplanted. The 11 remaining patients all received D-penicillamine. Ten of these patients survived without the need for transplantation and returned to compensated liver disease without liver insufficiency. In one patient, liver insufficiency progressed and transplantation had to be performed. CONCLUSIONS: In most patients with Wilson's disease heralded by severe hepatic insufficiency and without encephalopathy at admission, early administration of D-penicillamine was associated with survival without transplantation. These results suggest the importance of early diagnosis of this form of Wilson's disease before the onset of encephalopathy, and favour early administration of D-penicillamine which could avoid the need for transplantation in most cases.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2001

Ecstasy ingestion and fulminant hepatic failure: liver transplantation to be considered as a last therapeutic option.

Severe adverse effects due to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) are reported with increasing frequency in the medical literature. The signs of acute toxicity most often seen are fulminant hyperthermia, hyperexcitatory states, acute renal failure and hyponatraemia. In 1992, hepatotoxicity was also described with unexplained jaundice and hepatomegaly after ingestion of MDMA. We report a case of severe toxic hepatitis following ingestion of MDMA with fulminant hepatic failure which required auxiliary liver transplantation. The diagnosis was necrotic toxic hepatitis following ecstasy ingestion. The outcome was successful, and the patient was discharged from ICU 20 d after surgery. Hepatotoxic effects of MDMA seem infrequent, but may be lethal; liver transplantation is the ultimate therapeutic option in some cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Start of an adult living donor liver transplantation program in Switzerland].

The shortage of cadaver organs has prompted transplant centres to seek new sources of grafts. While living-donor left lobe transplantation (segments II and III) is an established procedure for children, living donor right liver transplantation (segments V, VI, VII, VIII), which can provide adequate liver mass for an average-sized adult patient, is technically more demanding and potentially associated with higher risks for the donor. In view of the permanent shortage of organs in Switzerland, we started an adult living donor liver transplantation programme in 1999 with the approval of the Clinical Ethics Committee of Geneva University Hospitals. Donor evaluation was performed only after the recipient had been officially registered for transplantation in the national waiting list. Preoperative evaluation consisted of a preliminary information phase with blood tests and Doppler ultrasonography, a second phase with radiological non invasive investigations (CT scan with volume measurements, magnetic resonance cholangiography) and a third phase including liver biopsy and angiography. A formal psychiatric evaluation was performed in all cases and detailed consent was required. Eight potential donors were investigated, 5 were not retained because of too small right liver or steatosis, and 3 were accepted (wife, son, sister). Living-donor hepatectomy was performed without interrupting the vascular blood flow. The liver graft was perfused ex-situ with University of Wisconsin solution. The grafts were anastomosed to the preserved vena cava of the recipient and the portal and arterial anastomoses were performed without interposition grafts, with short cold ischaemic times in the 3 cases. The graft-to-recipient weight ratio ranged from 1.04 to 1.12%. The grafts worked immediately; the post-operative course in the 3 recipients was unremarkable and no rejection episode occurred. Significant complications were observed in one donor (percutaneously drained bilioma and spontaneously resolved popliteal sensory palsy). Living-donor right liver transplantation is a potentially valuable solution to the increasing shortage of donor organs. The procedure can be performed safely provided stringent criteria for donor selection, for donor-recipient coupling (> 1% graft to body weight ratio) and for centre selection (experience in liver surgery, reduced and split liver transplantation) are applied.

Adenosine↗
PubMed2000

Elevated levels of angiogenic cytokines in the plasma of cancer patients.

Although in the normal healthy organism angiogenesis is a tightly regulated process, under a variety of circumstances it may contribute to disease states. These include the growth of solid tumors, the hematogenous spread of tumor cells and the growth of metastasis. Our aim was to measure the levels of 5 angiogenic cytokines in the plasma of patients with a variety of cancers, to establish a plasmatic angiogenic profile. We prospectively obtained blood samples in citrated tubes from 40 healthy individuals and 75 patients with a variety of solid tumors. Patients who had received any form of treatment in the preceeding 6 months were excluded from the study. Plasma levels of the following 5 cytokines were determined by ELISA: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In some cases, additional samples were taken 4 and 15 days after surgical removal of the tumor. Our findings demonstrate, that firstly, compared to the tumor group VEGF was almost always undetectable or present at very low levels in healthy individuals; secondly, a threshold value for HGF was found to exist between the 2 groups (healthy vs. tumor); and thirdly, there was a clear relationship between plasma levels of VEGF and HGF and extension of disease (i.e., without or with metastases). The timing of blood sampling in the post-operative period was found to be critical, particularly with regard to VEGF and HGF. The existence of a systemic angiogenic profile in the plasma of cancer patients may be useful as a diagnostic and prognostic tool and may help in the future to monitor the responses of individual patients to anti-tumor and, particularly, anti-angiogenic therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Generation and characterization of malaria-specific human CD8(+) lymphocyte clones: effect of natural polymorphism on T cell recognition and endogenous cognate antigen presentationby liver cells.

CD8(+) cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) play a fundamental role in the clearance of malaria parasites from the liver in mouse models. In humans, however, only low levels of parasite-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes have been observed in individuals living in endemic areas. In the present study, we identified high levels of circulating CD8(+) T lymphocytes specific for a previously described HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitope of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium falciparum in an adult living in Burkina Faso, as evidenced by IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay and MHC-tetramer technology. After cloning by limiting dilution culture, T cell recognition of natural CS variants of P. falciparum was studied. The results demonstrate that naturally occurring variations drastically affect residues critical for T cell recognition as only two out of nine sequences analyzed were efficiently recognized by the CTL clones. These clones were also used to analyze T cell recognition of the endogenously presented cognate antigen. We observed efficient antigen recognition of both HLA-A*0201-transfected murine antigen presenting cells and liver cells from HLA-A*0201/K(b)-transgenic mice upon infection with recombinant vaccinia virus encoding the CS protein (WR-CS). More importantly, we demonstrate for the first time efficient recognition of WR-CS-infected human liver cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Polymyalgia rheumatica as a manifestation of a large hepatic cavernous hemangioma.

A 59-year-old woman presented with polymyalgia rheumatica which was refractory to conventional anti-inflammatory and steroid therapy. A full investigation for an underlying occult malignancy showed only the presence of a giant cavernous hepatic hemangioma. To our knowledge, polymyalgia rheumatica has never been described in association with giant cavernous hepatic hemangioma; resection of the latter lesion resulted in complete and, to this date, definite resolution of rheumatologic complaints in our patient.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Hepatocyte steatosis is a cytopathic effect of hepatitis C virus genotype 3.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) often have liver steatosis, suggesting the possibility of a viral cytopathic effect. The aim of this study was to correlate the occurrence and severity of liver steatosis with HCV RNA type, level and sequence of the core-encoding region. METHODS: We scored the liver steatosis in 101 HCV-infected individuals carefully selected to exclude other risk factors of a fatty liver. Results were compared with HCV RNA genotype and level in serum and liver. In selected patients, we assessed the effect of antiviral therapy on steatosis and the relationship between nucleocapsid sequence heterogeneity and fat infiltration. RESULTS: Steatosis was found in 41 (40.6%) patients, irrespective of sex, age or route of infection. HCV genotype 3 was associated with higher steatosis scores than other genotypes. A significant correlation between steatosis score and titer of intrahepatic HCV RNA was found in patients infected with genotype 3, but not in those infected with genotype 1. In selected patients, response to alpha-interferon was associated with the disappearance of steatosis. Analysis of the nucleocapsid of 14 HCV isolates failed to identify a sequence specifically associated with the development of steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: We provide virological and clinical evidence that the steatosis of the liver is the morphological expression of a viral cytopathic effect in patients infected with HCV genotype 3. At variance with published evidence from experimental models, the HCV nucleocapsid protein does not seem to fully explain the lipid accumulation in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Xenogeneic islet re-transplantation in mice triggers an accelerated, species-specific rejection.

Xenogeneic islets could provide an unlimited source of tissue for the treatment of diabetes, and could in theory be transplanted repeatedly in a recipient. However, little is known on the consequences of islet re-transplantation in a recipient who has rejected a first graft. In this study, we investigated the functional consequence of xeno islet re-transplantation in mice sensitized with islets from different species. Sprague-Dawley (SD)-rat islets transplanted in sensitized C57/Bl6 mice that rejected either SD- or Lewis-rat islets underwent accelerated rejection. However, accelerated rejection was not found in mice sensitized with pig or human islets, suggesting that accelerated rejection was species specific. Immunohistochemistry showed increased binding of antibodies and accelerated leucocyte infiltration on re-grafted islets in sensitized mice. In situ apoptosis detection indicated that islet cell apoptosis was correlated with the time of leucocyte infiltration, but not with the time of antibody binding. In vitro experiments with cultured islet cells showed that although antibody binding was increased after incubation with sensitized mouse serum, islet cell cytotoxicity was not increased, suggesting that humoral immunity did not play a direct role in islet destruction. These results indicate that there is a cell-mediated, species-specific accelerated rejection after re-transplantation of xenogeneic islets.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Magnetic resonance imaging and proton spectroscopic alterations correlate with parkinsonian signs in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The relationship between abnormalities found by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton spectroscopy (MRS) and the clinical signs of hepatic encephalopathy is not well characterized. Motor disturbances have been described, suggesting that basal ganglia (BG) are altered. METHODS: We evaluated 19 unselected consecutive patients with biopsy-proven cirrhosis evaluated for liver transplantation for the presence of parkinsonian signs using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Purdue Pegboard test, and correlated these neurologic abnormalities with MRI and MRS studies. Brain MRI intensities were expressed as signal-to-noise ratios. MRS findings obtained from one voxel in the BG and one in the occipital white matter (WM) were expressed as metabolite ratios. Six healthy subjects had normal values. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, patients with subclinical or grade 1 hepatic encephalopathy had hyperintensity in occipital WM and all BG tissues except thalamus and reduced Ino/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios in both voxels. In the BG, MRI intensity was correlated with the UPDRS (P < 0.05, r = 0.56). The Cho/Cr ratio also correlated with both UPDRS (P < 0.02, r = -0.59) and Pegboard scores (P < 0.02, r = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: In cirrhosis, parkinsonian signs correlate with BG alterations detected by MRI and MRS.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Primary liver resection and salvage transplantation or primary liver transplantation in patients with single, small hepatocellular carcinoma and preserved liver function: an outcome-oriented decision analysis.

Two treatments are accepted for patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma </=5 cm in size and with preserved hepatic function: (1) liver resection, which can be performed without delay but has a high recurrence rate, and (2) liver transplantation, which has a better long-term survival, but is not easily available because grafts are scarce. A third possibility is to offer liver resection first and liver transplantation for tumor recurrence or deteriorating liver function ("salvage" transplantation). We investigated the implications of such a strategy with a Markov-based decision analytic model. In a scenario assuming intermediate values for 4 main variables (12-month waiting list; tumor progression outside transplantation criteria: 4% per month; recurrence after resection: 20% per year; recurrences eligible for transplantation: 60%), the life expectancy was 8.8 years for primary transplantation versus 7.8 years for primary resection and salvage transplantation, with a calculated use of grafts at 5 years of 52% for primary transplantation versus 23% for salvage transplantation. This study estimates of the survival and graft-saving of a strategy of primary resection and salvage transplantation according to variables that are to some extent predictable. This strategy may be a rational way to cope with lengthening waiting lists, especially for patients with tumors close to the limit for transplantation criteria, if the results of liver resection are good, if patients with the lowest risks of recurrence can be selected, and if a strict follow-up can detect recurrences when the patients are still transplantable.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2000

Combined midline-transverse surgical approach for severe blunt injuries to the right liver.

BACKGROUND: Although nonoperative treatment has been a major advance in the management of liver trauma, emergency surgery is still required for unstable patients. Severe hepatic lesions located in the right lobe, notably juxtahepatic venous injuries, are difficult to access and still carry a high mortality. METHODS: We describe a surgical approach for severe blunt injury to the right liver by a combined midline-transverse incision. This techniques allows simple, easy, and rapid mobilization and compression of the liver to control bleeding. RESULTS: This technique was used in 10 patients with blunt liver trauma, with grade III (n = 2), IV (n = 5), and V (n = 3) injuries. Mean intraoperative blood transfusion required was 21 units. Six patients underwent mandatory anatomic resection, three patients were treated by hepatic suture, and one patient was treated by packing. This patient developed brain death after surgery and was the only mortality. CONCLUSION: This technique is efficient and less cumbersome than shunting approaches.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Mesenteric cysts. Toward less confusion?

OBJECTIVE: Mesenteric cysts are rare intra-abdominal masses generally omited or briefly reported in textbooks. Their rarity had fostered a lack of information and difficulty in classification. The goal of the study is to present a simple, comprehensive, and reproducible classification of mesenteric cysts. METHODS: A large review of the literature with particular attention to recent series was performed in order to identify and characterize the different groups of mesenteric cysts. RESULTS: Although cysts of lymphatic and mesothelial origin are those most frequently encountered, they were confounded or omitted in previous classifications. However, their distinction is important because their incidence and mode of presentation differ. Lymphangiomas predominate in male children, may cause acute abdominal pain, and frequently require resection of adjacent structures. In contrast, cysts of mesothelial origin such as benign cystic mesothelioma are seen more frequently in young and middle-aged women, usually present with more indolent symptoms, and often recurs. CONCLUSIONS: A new classification based essentially on histopathological features should include the 6 following groups: (1) cysts of lymphatic origin (simple lymphatic cyst and lymphangioma); (2) cysts of mesothelial origin (simple mesothelial cyst, benign cystic mesothelioma, and malignant cystic mesothelioma); (3) cysts of enteric origin (enteric cyst and enteric duplication cyst); (4) cysts of urogenital origin; (5) mature cystic teratoma (dermoid cysts), and (6) pseudocysts (infectious and traumatic cysts).

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1999

[Results of a combined adult-child liver transplantation in Switzerland].

Between July 1987 and August 1998, 173 orthotopic liver transplantations (OLT) were performed in Geneva. We studied a homogeneous group of 114 OLT performed during the 6 years between 1992 and 1997 on 107 patients (89 adults and 18 children; 7 retransplantations). Although Geneva has the largest transplantation programme in Switzerland and is the only centre performing paediatric liver transplantation, the mean number of procedures per year was 19, corresponding to only a small transplantation programme in Europe. It could be reasonably questioned, therefore, whether Swiss patients are not at a disadvantage as compared with patients from European countries with larger liver transplantation centres. Although the perioperative morbidity was still considerable, the results of this series -90% of actuarial patient survival at 1 and 2 years and 84% at 5 years-compare favourably with the results of the European Liver Transplantation Registry: 76% of actuarial patient survival at 1 year and 65% at 5 years. In this series, 95 patients (89%) were alive on January 1, 1998. As no patient was refused on the severity of the liver disease and as more than 10% of OLT were performed as emergencies, a bias due to the selection of the best cases cannot explain the good results. This series demonstrates that a small liver transplantation centre may obtain results that compare favourably with the results of large European centres, and that Swiss patients are not at a disadvantage as compared with patients of other European countries.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Autologous bone marrow transplantation for recurrent malignant lymphoma after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Cancer chemotherapy in chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus is known to promote viral replication, and, when immunosuppressive treatment is stopped, the return of immune competence can be followed by a fulminant hepatitis. Liver transplantation may be required and has been successfully performed for this condition. However, malignancy recurrence after transplantation has not been reported yet. METHODS AND RESULTS: We here report the case of an asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carrier who developed a malignant lymphoma, which was treated by chemotherapy. After cessation of chemotherapy, he developed a fulminant hepatitis, requiring liver transplantation. Three years later, he developed a recurrent malignant lymphoma, which was treated successfully by autologous bone marrow transplantation. In order to prevent viral replication, lamivudine and intermittent administration of fresh-frozen plasma highly concentrated in anti-HBs immunoglobulin was initiated before the bone marrow transplantation. The patient remains well 12 and 56 months after autologous bone marrow and liver transplantation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This experience suggests that all hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients for whom chemotherapy is indicated would benefit from prophylactic antiviral hepatitis B virus therapy. Furthermore, successful autologous bone marrow transplantation is possible after liver transplantation.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1999

Traumatic neuroma with biliary duct obstruction after orthotopic liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic neuromas may develop after injury to nerve fibers encased in Schwann cells. The incidence of symptomatic neural tumors appears to be low after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Only two cases of biliary stricture caused by infiltrating traumatic neuroma have been described previously. METHODS: We report two new cases of biliary tract obstruction after OLT that failed to respond to percutaneous balloon dilatation and were corrected by a resection of the bile duct stricture followed by biliary reconstruction with a Roux-en-Y jejunal loop. RESULTS: The first patient (17 months after OLT) had a traumatic neuroma appearing as a distinct mass with nerve bundles confirmed histologically; the traumatic neuroma in the second patient (5 months after OLT) was a nerve stump with infiltration of nervous elements in the bile duct. Both patients recovered without complications. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic neuromas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of late biliary stricture after OLT, in particular when not responding to percutaneous dilatation or stenting.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y↗