Reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release in rabbits with left ventricular dysfunction.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Neary.
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BACKGROUND: Persistent nonspecific symptoms such as epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, and bilious vomiting are common following cholecystectomy. The etiology of these symptoms is unknown, but abnormal antroduodenal motility associated with duodenogastric reflux (DGR) is a possible cause. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen postcholecystectomy patients and 19 healthy volunteers ("normals") were studied. Ten of the patients were asymptomatic and 6 were symptomatic. The study consisted of a 4-hour 99mTc-DISIDA (diisopropyl imidodiacetic acid) infusion and gastric aspiration, 24-hour intragastric pH monitoring, and 24-hour ambulatory antroduodenal manometry. RESULTS: The postcholecystectomy patients showed increased DGR of the infused 99mTc-DISIDA. The data are given as coulter counts x 10(6)/min. The increase was more marked in symptomatic postcholecystectomy patients (2.54 +/- 0.15) compared to asymptomatic patients (1.21 +/- 0.46) or normals (0.26 +/- 0.15). Postcholecystectomy patients had increased percentage of time with intragastric pH > 3. In the supine period in particular, the pH was > 3 in symptomatic patients 25.4% +/- 7.7% of the time versus 8.1% +/- 4.3% for asymptomatic patients (P < 0.01). The antral phase III frequency after cholecystectomy was 2.5 +/- 0.09 cycles/min compared to 3.2 +/- 0.08 cycles/min in normals (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, propagation of the phase III front in the duodenum was significantly slowed to 0.14 +/- 0.02 cm/s after cholecystectomy compared to 0.27 +/- 0.02 cm/s in normals (P < 0.001). The duration of phase III in the proximal duodenum after cholecystectomy was also decreased to 4.3 +/- 0.27 min compared to 5.9 +/- 0.35 min in normals (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Fasting antroduodenal motility is altered after cholecystectomy. The abnormality is associated with increased DGR, which is more marked in symptomatic patients.
OBJECTIVE: The open Nissen fundoplication is effective therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease. In this study, the outcomes in 198 patients treated with the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication was evaluated for up to 32 months after surgery to ascertain whether similar positive results could be obtained. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: To ensure surgical success, patients were required to have mechanically defective sphincters on manometry and increased esophageal acid exposure on 24-hour pH monitoring. The patients either had severe complications of gastroesophageal reflux disease or had failed medical therapy. These requirements have been found to be necessary to ensure a successful surgical outcome. METHODS: The disease was complicated by ulceration (46), stricture (25) and Barrett's esophagus (33). Patients underwent standard Nissen fundoplications identical in every detail to open procedures except that the procedures were carried out by the laparoscopic route. RESULTS: Perioperative complications included gastric or esophageal perforation (3), pneumothorax (2), bleeding (2), breakdown of crural repair (2) and periesophageal abscess (1). The only mortality occurred from a duodenal perforation. Six patients required conversion to the open procedure. The median hospital stay was 3 days. One hundred patients were observed for follow-up for 6 to 32 months (median 12 months), with outcomes similar to the open Nissen fundoplication. Further surgery was required for two patients who had recurrent gastroesophageal reflux and one who developed an esophageal stricture. Ninety-seven percent are satisfied with their decision to have the operation. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication can be carried out safely and effectively with similar positive results to the open procedure and with all of the advantages of the minimally invasive approach.
Blood pressure, a chronobiological parameter, shows a circadian rhythm which parallels the levels of hormones such as glucocorticoids and catecholamines. This rhythm is lost in excess states like Cushing's syndrome or phaeochromocytoma. We designed a double-blind crossover study to look at the role of physiological doses of glucocorticoids in the circadian rhythm of blood pressure. We found no change in the circadian rhythm when 30 mg hydrocortisone (20 + 10 mg versus 10 + 20 mg, a.m./p.m.) was administered.
Ninety-three consecutive treadmill exercise stress test were performed for the assessment of peripheral vascular function. Thirty-one were for atypical claudication-like symptoms including pain on standing, relief on sitting and back pain. Pedal pulses were palpable in 24 patients. Twenty-five patients (81%) had a negative stress test, suggesting a non-vascular aetiology and this finding was subsequently confirmed in 24 of the 25. The final diagnoses were spinal stenosis 13, [CT = 3, myelogram = 5, neurosurgeon opinion = 4, MRI = 1], myositis 2, restless leg syndrome 2 and osteoarthritis 7. Four patients had symptoms due to a combination of peripheral occlusive arterial disease and spinal stenosis; the latter was considered the predominant disorder in all four. Of the original 31 patients with atypical symptoms, spinal stenosis was present in 13 (42%). Atypia- in the common syndrome of intermittent claudication should alert the surgeon to the possibility of spinal canal disorders. Further investigation may identify significant pathology spinal stenosis in particular.
Advanced nasal skin tumours are not uncommon and can be cured with aggressive wide excision. Nasal defects can be reconstructed using a variety of surgical techniques. The principles of nose reconstruction are the creation of a new nasal lining, skeletal framework and skin cover. This paper discusses some of the procedures used in nasal reconstruction and specifically those used in the management of four patients with nasal tumours who recently had surgery in our unit. The objective in nasal cancer surgery is cure by wide excision as even total amputation can be reconstructed with very satisfactory results.
Taurine is a sulfonated beta amino acid derived from methionine and cysteine metabolism. It is present in high concentrations in most tissues and in particular in proinflammatory cells such as polymorphonuclear phagocytes. Initial investigation into the multifaceted properties of this non-toxic physiologic amino acid revealed a link between retinal dysfunction and dietary deficiency. Since then a role for this amino acid has been found in membrane stabilization, bile salt formation, antioxidation, calcium homeostasis, growth modulation, and osmoregulation. Our own group has demonstrated a key role for taurine in modulation of apoptosis in a variety of cell types. This review summarizes our current knowledge of taurine in nutrition, host proinflammatory cell homeostasis, therapeutic applications, and its potential immunoregulatory properties. It is our belief that taurine, similar to arginine and glutamine, is now more than worthy of critical clinical analysis.
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