Biomedical subjects

I Papaconstantinou

Publications and source records attributed to I Papaconstantinou.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Laparoscopic liver resection using radio frequency ablation in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of laparoscopic left lateral lobe resection, using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with internally cooled tip electrodes, in a porcine model. METHODS: Eight domestic pigs underwent left lateral hepatic lobectomy. RFA was the sole hemostatic method applied throughout the entire operation. After 0, 7, 30, or 120 days the animals were killed in order to study the macroscopic and microscopic findings on the liver edge. RESULTS: An average of 90 min was enough for the entire operation. No signs of blood loss or infection were observed up to 4 months postoperatively. There was no mortality either during or after surgery. The pathology of the liver revealed the three zone lesions. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that laparoscopic left lateral lobectomy using RFA is technically feasible hi the porcine model and is proved to be highly effective and safe hemostatic method.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

A novel spleen-preserving laparoscopic technique using radiofrequency ablation in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Partial splenectomy is considered to be the optimal management for a variety of diseases. At the same time, laparoscopic procedures are increasingly used because they present certain advantages against their open counterparts. In this study, the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) were evaluated in laparoscopic partial splenectomy performed in a pig model. METHODS: Eight domestic pigs were used. Four abdominal trocars were inserted under general anesthesia and the spleen was stabilized with laparoscopic clamps. A RFA needle electrode was inserted transcutaneously, and coagulative necrosis of a zone of the splenic parenchyma between the body and the lower pole was performed. Bloodless sharp division and removal of the lower pole followed. After 0, 7, 30, or 120 days, the animals were killed and examined. RESULTS: Blood loss and operation time were minimal. Mortality and morbidity were zero. No abnormal findings were encountered during the postmortem abdominal exploration. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of laparoscopic RFA-assisted partial splenectomy. The RFA-assisted laparoscopic partial splenectomy adds a novel technique to the surgeon's armamentarium for the preservation of a part of the spleen.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Pretransplantation prevalence of human herpes virus 8 antibodies in kidney donors and recipients in Athens, Greece.

AIM: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anti-human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) antibodies in a cohort of renal donors and recipients in Athens, Greece. HHV8, the etiological agent of posttransplantation Kaposi's sarcoma, causes significant morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Serum samples from 97 subjects (49 donors and 48 recipients) were tested with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) prior to renal transplantation. RESULTS: Only 2 subjects (both transplant recipients) were found to be anti-HHV8-positive. Both subjects were of Albanian origin. CONCLUSION: Infection with HHV8 appears to be limited in the Greek population. However, in light of significant long-term morbidity with which HHV8 is related in immunocompromized patients, studies on the general population are needed to estimate the prevalence of HHV8 infection in the country and devise clear guidelines for pretransplantation screening and posttransplantation follow-up.

Albania↗

PubMed2004

Video-assisted transcervical thymectomy.

BACKGROUND: The optimal surgical approach for complete removal of the thymus gland has long been debated. In this report, the excision of the entire gland through a transcervical incision using video-assisted techniques is described. METHODS: Ten patients, including one with thymoma and myasthenia gravis, underwent surgery via the transcervical approach. After standard dissection up to the level of the innominate vein and ligation of the thymic vessels, a laparoscope was inserted into the mediastinum. In the patient with thymoma, the operation was completed by a small incision in the third intercostal space. RESULTS: No perioperative mortality or long-term morbitity was observed. The mean hospital stay was 69.6 h. After a mean follow-up period of 63.8 months, eight patients displayed complete remission, whereas one continued to receive minimal medication. The patient with thymoma showed considerable improvement, but remained on same medical regimen No complications were seen throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Video-assisted thymectomy improves effectiveness of the transcervical approach for thymectomy with a minimum of trauma and excellent results.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Polyomavirus BK infection in Greek renal transplant recipients.

BK polyoma virus associated nephropathy is increasingly recognized as an important cause of allograft dysfunction among renal transplant recipients. Herein we present the cases of two renal transplant recipients who developed progressive functional deterioration suspicious for BK polyoma virus involvement. One patient had been treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), cyclosporine (CsA), and prednisolone (P), and the second patient with tacrolimus (Tac), MMF, and (P). Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions for BK virus DNA, we monitored the content of BK virus in the blood to evaluate disease progression. The high BK virus load initially detected in the blood samples from these patients decreased in the patient who received MMF, CsA, and P after the reduction of immunosuppression, but not in the patient who was treated with Tac, MMF and P. In contrast to previous reports, our patients had not received treatment with anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG) or monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody (OKT3) after transplantation. It is concluded that even in the absence of vigorous antirejection treatment, immunosuppressive therapy based on Tac and MMF may carry the risk of BK virus-associated nephropathy. Because BK virus specific antiviral therapy is not available, its course may be monitored by measuring the viral load in blood.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Metastatic melanoma within a transplanted kidney: a case report.

A 57-year-old woman recipient of a cadaveric renal allograft displayed metastatic melanoma within the transplant. The patient, who received imunnosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone, displayed normal renal function for 10 months posttransplantation. She was admitted due to multiple, large, rapidly growing skin nodules over the lower abdomen and to dyspnea. After a diagnostic evaluation, the renal graft was removed, revealing metastatic melanoma within the transplanted kidney and 2 focal points of melanoma within the skin lesions. The patient returned to hemodialysis, received chemotherapy and interferon A, but failed to respond and died 11 days after the nephrectomy.

Fatal Outcome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Human herpesvirus type 8 genotypes in iatrogenic, classic and AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma from Greece.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is consistently found in almost all observed Kaposi's sarcomas (KS), whether AIDS-associated, iatrogenic or classic. To our knowledge no data are available on the genetic polymorphism of HHV-8 from Greece. We report the study of 15 renal transplant recipients with KS, 5 with AIDS-associated KS, 11 with classic KS and 60 healthy individuals from Greece. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out on DNA extracted from peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or KS cutaneous biopsies, using specific primers for the HHV-8, KS330 fragment from ORF-26 (233 bp) and the highly variable region (VR1) from ORF-K1 (363 bp). RESULTS: HHV-8 DNA was detected in 30 out of 31 (97%) KS cases, regardless of their clinico-pathological subtype and in 10 out of 60 (16.7%) healthy individuals. Sequencing of the ORF26 fragment demonstrated that the 40 HHV-8 strains were of the A and C sub-types. Furthermore, sequencing of the ORF-K1 showed that these HHV-8 strains of Greek origin were of the A1, A4, C1 or C3 sub-type. CONCLUSION: Our findings imply a possible link of the C3 subtype of HHV-8 in renal transplant-related KS cases (iatrogenic KS) in Greece, a link of the A4 subtype in AIDS-associated KS cases and a potential involvement of the A1 subtype in Greek classic KS incidences, as HHV-8 strains among healthy individual tested belong to the C1, C3 or A1 subtypes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acute segmental intestinal ischemia: diagnosis with spiral computed tomography.

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness and the validity of spiral computerized tomography (CT) in assessing acute segmental intestinal ischemia. We present the spiral CT imaging findings in surgically proven cases of intestinal ischemia. 46 patients were admitted to our facility over a five-year period with suspicion of acute enteric ischemia. 34 were first examined with spiral CT and underwent surgery. In 24 of the 34 patients (sensitivity 70.6%), at least one imaging finding specific for segmental intestinal ischemia was recognised (true positive examinations). Spiral-CT examination demonstrated non-specific or normal findings in 7 out of 34 patients with proven intestinal ischemia (20.6% false negative studies). In conclusion, spiral CT can be used in the investigation of patients with suspected acute intestinal ischemia to confirm or suggest the diagnosis or exclude other potential diagnoses.

Acute Disease↗