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Biomedical subjects

H Nagami

Publications and source records attributed to H Nagami.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Experimental investigation of the role of the splenic vein in gastric venous obstruction after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy in the dog.

CONCLUSION: This study showed that the splenic vein (SV) plays a major role in maintaining gastric blood flow after ligature of peripyloric vessels in the dog. Therefore, SV preservation or alternative venous drainage may be recommended to maintain sufficient gastric blood flow in pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD). BACKGROUND: In PPPD, we often encounter the problem of gastric venous drainage obstruction, if the splenic-portal vein confluence needs to be resected. This study investigated significance of venous drainage via the left gastric and splenic veins in gastric tissue blood flow. METHODS: In seven mongrel dogs, gastric tissue blood flow was measured by both laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in the antrum and hydrogen gas clearance (HGC) in the antrum and body. Blood flow was measured after the following treatments: 1. No treatment; 2. Duodenal transection; 3. Ligature of the right gastric and gastroepiploic arteries and veins; 4. Transient obstruction of the left gastric vein (LGV); 5. Transient obstruction of the SV with the LGV open; and 6. Obstruction of both the LGV and the SV. RESULTS: As judged by LDF, treatments 2, 3, and 4 did not decrease blood flow, but treatments 5 and 6 significantly decreased it compared with both treatments 1 and 3. By HGC, changes in the antrum and the body were parallel. Duodenal transection did not, but treatments 3 and 4 did decrease blood flow compared with no treatment. Obstruction of the left gastric vein did not, but treatments 5 and 6 did significantly decrease it compared with treatment 3.

Animals

Long-term follow-up (8 to 17 years) after thromboexclusion operation for thoracic aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that the thromboexclusion operation is a good method for managing certain difficult thoracic aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Forty-four patients underwent graft replacement (group 1) and 14, the thromboexclusion operation (group 2). We reviewed the long-term results of the thromboexclusion operation and compared them with those of graft replacement in our institutions. RESULTS: The hospital mortality rate in groups 1 and 2 was 29.5% (13 patients) and 35.7% (4 patients), respectively. In group 1, the one late death (2.3%) was due to heart failure and in group 2, three of the four late deaths (28.6%) were due to rupture of the excluded thoracic aorta, and one late death was due to heart failure. Long-term follow-up was possible for 23 patients in group 1 and 5 patients in group 2. Survival 3 years after operation was significantly better in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.05). Long-term follow-up with blood pressure measurements, chest roentgenograms, electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms showed no significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative findings. However, in group 2, left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension, which had not been present preoperatively, were found in all of the patients. Also, 1 patient has had persistent hemoptysis. CONCLUSIONS: The thromboexclusion operation has introduced unanticipated problems that were recognized at long-term follow-up.

Adult

Immunohistochemical analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, p53 protein and nm23 protein, and nuclear DNA content in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

BACKGROUND: Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder displays an unpredictable biologic behavior and the morphologic methods of grading tumor malignancy are often insufficient to predict the clinical outcome of patients with TCC of the bladder. Thus, the new indicator should reliably reflect prognosis. In this study, the authors determined the prognostic significance of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 protein, and nm23 protein, as well as nuclear DNA content in specimens with TCC of the bladder. METHODS: Paraffin embedded materials taken from 77 patients with nonmetastatic untreated TCC of the bladder (classified as pTa-3b, NO, MO) treated with total cystectomy were employed in this study. PCNA expression, p53 protein and nm23 protein immunoreactivities, and the parameters for nuclear DNA content such as 2c deviation index (2cDI) and 5c exceeding rate (5cER) were evaluated using a computer-assisted image analyzer, and the results were compared with histologic findings and clinical outcome. RESULTS: PCNA expression positively correlated with p53 protein and nm23 protein immunoreactivities, 2cDI value, and 5cER. In addition, histologic grade positively correlated with all of these five parameters. Similarly, pT category and disease progression positively correlated with all of the five parameters, except for nm23 protein immunoreactivity. In tumors with high genetic instability as judged by 2cDI and 5cER, both PCNA expression and p53 protein immunoreactivity were elevated, whereas nm23 protein immunoreactivity was not. However, the percent coefficient of variation in PCNA expression was smaller than that observed in p53 protein immunoreactivity in each group of genetic instabilities. In univariate analysis, prognostic potential was found with histologic grade, pT category, PCNA expression, p53 protein immunoreactivity, 2cDI value, and 5cER, but was not noted in nm23 protein immunoreactivity. Multivariate analysis indicated that quantity and intensity of PCNA expression (chi 2 = 8; P = 0.0047 for quantity and chi 2 = 8.71; P = 0.0032 for intensity) and 2cDI value (chi 2 = 5.52; P = 0.0019) were independent variables of histologic grade and pT category when predicting survival. However, p53 protein and nm23 protein immunoreactivities and 5cER were not of independent significance. CONCLUSIONS: The tumor growth fraction as assessed by PCNA immunostaining is an independently significant predictor for survival of patients with TCC of the bladder.

Adult

Effect of chronic vanadate administration in partially depancreatized rats.

The effects of vanadate on B-cell function and replication in rats after 90% partial pancreatectomy (Px) were compared with insulin therapy. At the age of 4 weeks, male Wistar rats were subjected to sham operation or Px. Vanadate (0.2 mg/ml) was given in drinking water for 3 weeks starting at 2 weeks after surgery. Regular insulin (2.4 units/day) was administered as a continuous subcutaneous infusion through an osmotic pump. Plasma glucose levels were significantly higher in the Px rats than in the sham rats from 1 week after surgery. Vanadate lowered plasma glucose levels to near normal values in the Px rats as early as 2 days. The effect was sustained throughout the experiment. The hypoglycemic effect of insulin was less than that of vanadate. During an i.p. glucose tolerance test, plasma glucose levels were decreased in the Px rats treated with vanadate or insulin, while plasma insulin levels were not affected. The insulin content in the Px rats treated with vanadate was significantly (P < 0.01) greater than in the insulin-treated Px rats. Histological examination showed fibrotic degeneration in the enlarged islets of Px rats, whereas the normal structure was retained in most islets of the Px rats treated with vanadate and insulin. In addition, B-cell areas within the islet were restored to normal levels not only in the insulin-treated Px rats but in the vanadate-treated Px rats. However, both vanadate and insulin failed to stimulate proliferative activity of the B-cells. These data suggest that vanadate is a new therapeutic option to ameliorate the diabetic state after Px.

Analysis of Variance

Heterotopic autotransplantation of a pancreas segment with enteric drainage after total or subtotal pancreatectomy for chronic pancreatitis.

Four patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and one patient with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, who had total or subtotal distal pancreatectomies for persistent pain, underwent simultaneous autotransplantation of a pancreas segment to preserve the pancreatic function. The segment was autotransplanted heterotopically to the iliac fossa with anastomosis of the splenic vessels to the iliac vessels to prevent reinnervation, and the pancreatic duct was anastomosed to the intestine to preserve exocrine function. Postoperatively, the patency of the graft vessels was confirmed by angiography in every patient. Complete pain relief has been obtained in all patients with a followup duration of 4-89 mo. Except for one patient who had been treated preoperatively with insulin injections for diabetes, the patients remained normoglycemic without exogenous insulin administration and demonstrated satisfactory insulin secretion during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. An exocrine pancreatic diagnostant test using p-aminobenzoic acid yielded nearly similar levels to the preoperative value for all patients. Heterotopic autotransplantation of the pancreas segment appears to be effective for preserving pancreatic function, as well as providing permanent pain relief for patients with chronic pancreatitis who require extensive resection of the pancreas.

Adult

Heterotopic autotransplantation of the distal pancreas segment after total pancreatectomy for cancer of the head of the pancreas.

Autotransplantation of the distal pancreas segment with pancreaticojejunostomy was performed in four patients with cancer of the head of the pancreas to preserve endocrine pancreatic function after extended total pancreatectomy. All patients had tumor involvement of both the celiac axis and the portal vein. The pancreatic graft was determined to be cancer-free by frozen section histologic and pancreatic juice cytologic examinations. The distal pancreas segment was autotransplanted to the iliac vessels heterotopically and placed in the extraperitoneal pocket to avoid untoward effects of any local recurrence or pancreatic leakage. This procedure, in the form of reconstruction, might be called modified subtotal pancreatoduodenectomy. Postoperatively, all patients remained normoglycemic without exogenous insulin administration, and their quality of life was considered satisfactory.

Aged

[Factors affecting activity of daily living (ADL) in stroke patients at home].

To examine the effects of housing conditions, health care, age, functional status and other demographic factors on the Activity of Daily Living (ADL), an interview survey of the caregivers of 68 cerebral stroke patients was performed. All patients received care at home for 6-128 (mean 40) months after discharge from hospitals and were 56-91 (mean 79) years old at the time of the survey. During the home care, ADL improved in 28 patients (improved ADL group), and did not change or deteriorated in 26 patients (unchanged/deteriorated ADL group). Three variables, i.e. reconstruction of bathroom (bathing facility and not toilet) in the patient's house after starting the home care, the patient whose main caregiver was his or her spouse, and consultation with a physician at a hospital (not a clinic), were significantly more frequent in the improved ADL group than in the unchanged/deteriorated ADL group. Similarly, the ADL level at the start of home care and age at the time of survey were significantly lower in the improved ADL group. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis indicates that the level of ADL when home care was started (p less than 0.01) and reconstruction of the bathroom (p less than 0.05) were major factors affecting the improvement in ADL.

Activities of Daily Living

[Operative results in cancer of the pancreas, especially complicated with large vascular involvement].

Surgical treatment has been performed in 25 cases of cancer of the pancreas. Localized large vascular involvements of portal vein, celiac axis, common hepatic artery and/or superior mesenteric artery by the pancreatic cancer were observed in 11 cases, which necessitated total or subtotal pancreatectomy associated with segmental resection of the vessels with vascular reconstruction in 7 cases but in remaining 4 cases resectional procedure was not performed. Curative pancreaticoduodenectomy was carried out in 5 cases without large vascular involvement and non-curative pancreatectomy in one case. Exploratory laparotomy or only anastomosis for the bile duct or the intestine was done in 8 cases. The operative resectability rate was 52% and the curative one was 44%. The regional pancreatectomy seemed to contribute to improvement of resectability. However, one year survival rate was only 42% (2 year, 0%) in the curatively resected cases with large vascular involvement, while 5 year survival rate was 67% in those without vascular involvement. The quality of life after extended total pancreatectomy was distressful. On the other hand, two extended totally pancreatectomized cases with successful autotransplantation of distal pancreas are living at one year and 3 months after operation respectively, and enjoying the common social life at present.

Aged