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Biomedical subjects

M Sechas

Publications and source records attributed to M Sechas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The use of isobutylcyanoacrylate as a tissue adhesive in abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: The use of cyanoacrylate substances as tissue adhesives is of valuable aid in surgery, especially in cases of injuries of the intraabdominal organs, where the haemorrhage is very difficult to control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the efficiency of isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate as a tissue adhesive in the haemostasis and adhesion of different types of wounds in solid and hollow organs. Forty-six dogs underwent single-organ (26 dogs) and combined-organ (20 dogs) procedures; cuneiform excisions of the liver and the spleen, as well as incisions of the small intestine were carried out. The wound surfaces were coated with isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate and approximated. RESULTS: The majority (91.3%) of the surgical operations were uncomplicated, in which a very good macroscopical and histological result was achieved. Histological examination of the surgical injuries, performed 4 months later, confirmed complete wound healing. CONCLUSION: Isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate proved to be a very effective tissue adhesive for both solid and hollow organs, even for high risk surgical operations.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The effect of various types of splenectomy on the development of B-16 melanoma in mice.

Two hundred and sixty CB57BL/J6 mice were used in an experimental protocol designed to investigate the effects of four different varieties of splenectomy on the growth rate of subcutaneously implanted GB-16 melanoma. In addition, the mean and absolute survival of the mice, the histopathology of the tumour and the effects of the same procedures on the immunological status of the tumour-bearing animals as assessed by serum IgG levels and immunoelectrophoresis were determined. The effects of timing of splenectomy and the removal of the primary tumour after splenectomy on the above parameters were also annotated. The following were found: 1. Splenectomy performed 8 days after B-16 melanoma tumour implantation in mice i.e. in the early period of oncogenesis, lengthened the survival of the grafted experiments, delayed tumour growth, reduced the "activity" of the tumour and caused pseudoencapsulation of the tumour by fibrous tissue. It increased, but not by a statistically significant degree (p > 0.05), the circulating levels of the IgG immunoglobulin. 2. Splenectomy performed 28 days prior to grafting of the same tumour did not affect the circulating IgG levels nor did it prolong survival; however it reduced the rate of tumour growth and pseudoencapsulation of the tumour was observed. 3. Splenectomy at the early stages of oncogenesis in combination with surgical removal of the primary tumour increased absolute and mean survival, delayed the tumour growth rate, increased the time to relapse and reduced the "activity" of the pseudoencapsulated tumour.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Combined epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid vs no treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a prospective comparative study.

The combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) has demonstrated activity in most gastrointestinal tumors. The addition of epirubicin (EPI) may increase the efficacy of the combination for cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as advanced pancreatic cancer. We examined two groups of patients, explaining the potential benefits and limitations of therapy, and those patients who agreed to undergo chemotherapy formed Group A and the remaining formed Group B. Therefore, the study was a non-randomized prospective comparison between patients receiving chemotherapy and those offered the best supportive care. Group A consisted of 42 patients; 19 underwent Roux-en-Y operation, and 23 were inoperable. Group B consisted of 48 patients who refused chemotherapy; 18 underwent Roux-en-Y operation, and 30 were considered inoperable. Chemotherapy consisted of FA 200 mg/m2/day, 5-FU 600 mg/m2/day both for 5 days, and EPI 35 mg/m2/day before FA-5-FU administration on days 1 and 2, every 28 days. All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Objective tumor responses (partial responses) in Group A were seen in 8 patients (19%) (6 women and 2 men), and 6 (14%) had stable disease. The estimated median survival was 27.6 weeks (mean 27.5) for Group A and 22.5 weeks (mean 24) (p=0.01) for Group B. From the onset of therapy, median duration of response was 16.6 weeks and median time to progression 11.8 weeks in Group A. Toxicity consisted primarily of myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, alopecia, and mucositis. In Group A 12/42 patients became free from pain for a median duration of 10 months, 14/42 had improved appetite, and 15/42 had improved performance status in comparison to Group B, where no patients had improved performance status or symptoms. We conclude that the combination of EPI+FA+5-FU has moderate activity and increased toxicity in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Estimation of the percentage of carotid atheromatous plaque components and investigation of a probable correlation with the neurologic status of the patients.

The aim of this study was to estimate the percentage of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque components using image analysis in 50 cases of carotid endarterectomies as well as the search for a probable correlation with the neurologic status of the patients. According to their preoperational neurologic status, the patients were classified as asymptomatic (Group I), symptomatic-TIA (Group II) and symptomatic-previous stroke (Group III). For the image analysis and the exact estimation of the carotid plaque components, special algorithms were developed. The following plaque components were measured: fibrous component, calcium, cellular infiltrations, cholesterol and hemorrhage. Between the groups I-III, there was not found any statistically significant difference of the mean value of all the estimated parameters. Our results indicate that the morphology of the carotid atheromatous plaque seems not to be correlated with the neurologic status of the patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Changing trends in management of carotid body tumors.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the preoperative diagnostic modalities and aggressive operating management as well as the determination of benefit of preop embolization on the course of carotid body tumor (CBT). Between 1975 and 1993, 14 patients were treated for CBT in our department. The preoperative evaluation included angiography (14/14, 100%), Duplex scanning (6/14, 43%), and CT scanning (9/14, 64%). Five tumors (36%) were type I, four (28%) type II, and five (36%) type III, according to the Shamblin classification. In twelve cases the tumors were successfully excised without ligation of the external carotid artery. One of these patients, who had a very large tumor, underwent preop embolization. In two patients the tumors were found to extend intracranially, and the patients were referred for radiation therapy. There were no deaths or cerebrovascular complications. Temporary cranial nerve injury was noted in two cases. The pathology report revealed paragangliomas without any evidence of malignancy. Follow up of patients (6 months-18 years) showed no recurrence of the tumors in the operated cases and local recurrence in the radiation group. CONCLUSION: 1. Arteriography remains the golden standard for diagnosis of CBT. Tripplex scanning and CT are helpful for postop follow-up. 2. Surgical removal is the ideal treatment. Preoperative embolization is helpful in diminishing intraoperative blood requirements. 3. CBT, although benign, should be treated as soon as it is diagnosed, before difficulty in excision arises.

Carotid Body Tumor↗
PubMed1994

Surgical treatment of extracranial carotid aneurysms.

During the past 23 years, 12 patients with aneurysm of the carotid bifurcation were treated in our department. There were 11 men and one woman between 20 and 68 years (mean age 54.2 years). In as much as 217 patients were operated on for extracranial occlusive carotid disease during the same period, the incidence of these aneurysms in our series has been estimated to be 5%. Eleven patients presented with TIAs ipsilateral to the aneurysm. One patient presented with a painful pulsatile enlarging mass in the neck (ruptured aneurysm) without any neurological complications. Eleven patients underwent surgical repair. Ligation of the common carotid artery was done in one patient, resection of the aneurysm with end-to-end anastomosis was performed in 2 patients, aneurysmorraphy in 4, excision and reconstruction with reversed saphenous vein in one, excision and reconstruction with PTFE graft in one and 2 patients underwent endarterectomy and angioplasty of the carotid bifurcation. One patient with a high internal carotid artery aneurysm (base of the skull) was classified as nonoperable. There were no deaths or strokes postoperatively. Persistent cranial nerve injury was noted in 1 case (8%). Follow-up at 6 months - 10 years (mean 5.5 years) yielded and incidence of post-op TIAs of 8% attributed to intracranial occlusive disease. Surgical correction is the treatment of choice for extracranial carotid aneurysm and can be performed with a very low morbidity and mortality and carries excellent long-term results.

Blindness↗
PubMed1993

Obstructive colonic cancer.

The records of 121 patients with obstructing cancer of the colon were reviewed. About one-third of the patients had metastatic disease at the time of operation. Primary resection and anastomosis of the intestine was performed for most cancers of the ascending or transverse colon. Hartmann's procedure was performed in most patients with cancer of the sigmoid colon and rectum. Wound infection occurred in 20 patients (16.5%) and anastomotic leakage in six (4.9%). The operative mortality rate was 14.9%. The 5-year survival rate was 13.5%. Acute colonic obstruction is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The high incidence of advanced disease, advanced age, delay in tumour excision and unprepared bowel are some of the factors resulting in the poor prognosis of these patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Seasonal variation in the incidence of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

This retrospective study was performed in order to correlate the season with the risk of rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). From December 1968 to December 1990, 224 patients, 203 males (90.63%) and 21 females (9.37%), mean age 71 years, underwent surgery either urgently because of rupture or expansion (group A, 66 patients, 22.46%) or electively (group B, 158 patients, 70.53%) for AAA. Of the 66 patients in group A, 61 were male (92.4%) and five female (7.55%) with a mean age of 73 years. Of the 158 patients in group B, 142 were male (89.8%) and 16 female (10.1%). The frequency distribution of electively admitted and operated cases of AAA was shown to be similar during all seasons but the admissions of ruptured AAA were shown by non-parametric statistical analysis to increase during the autumn (p less than 0.05) with 43.9% of the cases being admitted during September, October and November. The male to female ratio and the ratio of the number of aneurysms ruptured to the total number of aneurysms did not change significantly. The explanation of this phenomenon is obscure and needs further epidemiological investigation to assess the seasonal variability or various parameters such as hypertension.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

HLA antigens in Burger's disease.

The HLA A and B types of 20 Greek patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) were studied and compared with a panel of 400 controls. A nonstatistically significant increase in the frequencies of HLA B5, B7 and A9 antigens was found. These antigens were found to be associated with a relative risk of 3.47, 3.24 and 2.07 respectively. These findings are partially in agreement with those of a joint English-Swiss study which also found a negative association with B12 antigens; in the Greek population, also of European origin, a negative association was observed with the B8 antigen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the gallbladder. Case report and review of the literature.

The case of a 64 year old female who was known to have gallstones is presented. She was admitted to the Hospital following an attack of acute cholecystitis. Ten days after vigorous conservative treatment cholecystectomy was performed. The histological examination showed the presence of the gallbladder leiomyosarcoma. Primary sarcomas of the gallbladder are rare, leiomyosarcoma being the most infrequent type, their preoperative diagnosis almost impossible and their prognosis poor.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Canine capillary formation in vitro.

Microvascular endothelial cells derived from canine subcutaneous adipose tissue formed knob-like and tube-like structures in vitro without tumor-conditioned medium or special substrate. The knob-like structures consisted of acidic and basic glycosaminoglycans arranged in order. Knob-like structures were built from cell extrudates and were responsible for capillary lumen formation in vitro. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the endothelial nature of the cells which expressed extensive phagolysosomal activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Surgery of the adrenal glands in Cushing's syndrome].

Our surgical experience for the Cushing syndrome, reviewed in 23 patients. The accuracy of localizing adrenal lesions increased recently. The present study shows that, adrenal surgery, after accurate diagnosis and localisation, can be performed with low morbidity and mortality.

Adrenalectomy↗