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Biomedical subjects

R Calne

Publications and source records attributed to R Calne.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Successful treatment of a primary endodermal sinus tumor of the liver.

A 27-year-old woman had a large hepatic tumor and a markedly increased serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. A diagnosis of endodermal sinus tumor was made after a needle biopsy was performed on the liver. Clinical and radiologic examinations did not show an alternative primary site. Treatment with cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin was started, but, after three cycles, was changed to cisplatin, vincristine, methotrexate, bleomycin, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide because the serum AFP level was decreasing too slowly. After additional chemotherapy was given, the patient was well but had an increased AFP level and a large residual mass in the liver. A right hemihepatectomy was performed, but no viable tumor was present. The patient is alive and disease-free 5 years later. Thus, AFP levels may be misleading in the presence of large necrotic tumors. The authors stress the need to make a diagnosis of these rare tumors early because aggressive treatment with combination chemotherapy may result in cure.

Adult

Effect of hypothermia on pancreatic acinar cells in rats.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of direct pancreatic surface cooling on the exocrine pancreas. We measured the changes in serum amylase levels, pancreatic water, amylase and cathepsin B as a lysosomal enzyme, content, histological changes of acinar cells, and the subcellular distribution of cathepsin B after 1-2- and 3-hours of direct pancreatic cooling in rats. In addition, we evaluated the in-vivo amylase and cathepsin B output stimulated by caerulein, in-vitro lysosomal and mitochondrial fragility as well as the pancreatic adenylate energy metabolism. 2-hours cooling showed slight yet significant changes, but 3-hours cooling caused most significant changes including hyperamylasemia, increased pancreatic amylase content and very mild histological changes. Furthermore, 3-hours cooling caused a remarkable redistribution of cathepsin B activity from the lysosomal fraction to the heavier zymogen fraction, and colocalization of the lysosomal enzyme with the digestive enzyme, the impaired amylase and cathepsin B output into pancreatic juice stimulated by caerulein as well as the accelerated fragility of lysosomes and mitochondria, and impaired pancreatic adenylate energy metabolism. These results indicate the impaired exocrine pancreatic functions induced by direct pancreatic cooling injury induced by cooling as shown in the other models of experimental pancreatitis. Moreover, this cooling model of pancreatitis seems to be useful in understanding the early events in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, and we must take these "cold" injuries of exocrine pancreas into considerations, particularly in the pancreas transplantation and in other major abdominal surgeries where the pancreas is exposed to cooling.

Amylases

Effects of acute pancreatitis on hepatic secretion of lysosomal enzymes into bile and hepatic lysosomal fragility: protective effects of a new synthetic protease inhibitor, ONO 3307.

To evaluate the effects of acute pancreatitis on hepatic function and hepatic cellular and subcellular organellar fragility, we studied 1) the hepatic secretion of lysosomal enzymes (beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase) into bile in the isolated perfused rat liver model; 2) the aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), and lysosomal enzyme levels in the effluent in an isolated liver model; 3) hepatic lysosomal fragility in an in vitro incubation study; and 4) protective effects of a new low molecular weight synthetic protease inhibitor, ONO 3307, against hepatic injury in doses of 2 and 5 mg/kg.h in acute pancreatitis induced by a supramaximal dose of cerulein in rats. Decreased hepatic secretion of lysosomal enzymes into bile and accelerated hepatic lysosomal fragility were observed in acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein. ONO 3307 showed a significant protective effect against this hepatic injury in acute pancreatitis, the dose of 5 mg/kg.h showing a more potent effect than the dose of 2 mg/kg.h. These results suggest that the impaired hepatic function, including depressed hepatic secretion of lysosomal enzymes, seems to be closely related to accelerated hepatic fragility and that some unknown protease, which is present in pancreatitis and is susceptible to inhibition by ONO 3307, plays a crucial pathologic role in the development of this liver injury during acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease

Cadaveric renal transplantation in elderly recipients: is it worthwhile?

The aim of this study is to analyse whether or not old age alone significantly affects the outcome of patient and graft survival in cadaveric renal transplantation, and thus whether it should be a selection criterion for induction into transplant programmes, given the current shortfall in donor organs in the United Kingdom. Data is presented on all 307 solitary cadaveric renal allografts performed at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge between January 1983 and December 1987. Patients are divided into those aged less than 60 years (n = 243) and those aged 60 years and over (n = 45) at the time of transplantation. There is no significant difference in graft survival between the two groups (60.3% and 62.2%) at 18-60 months (mean 42 months) post-transplantation. Patient survival in the two groups is significantly different (83% and 64.4%, P less than 0.01) at the same point. Causes of graft loss, death, and end-stage renal failure are analysed. It is suggested that patients aged 60 years and over may require less immunosuppression but that graft loss from rejection in this group has a high associated mortality. We conclude that cadaveric renal transplantation in the elderly should only be undertaken after careful selection, paying particular attention to evidence of cardiovascular disease and full counselling of the risk of death with these patients.

Adult

Orthotopic liver transplantation at Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge 1968 to 1991.

Liver grafting is now established as the optimal treatment for patients with end-stage parenchymal liver disease. Twenty-three years of experience at a single center is presented. The 1-year actuarial patient survival rate for all cases transplanted in Cambridge has now risen from 10% in 1968 to 1970 to 80% in 1990 to 1991. Increasing numbers of patients are being referred for transplantation with an ever-increasing range of indications being developed. Many inborn errors of metabolism can now be cured by liver grafting. There is still, however, considerable scope for improvement in many areas of patient treatment from operative and postoperative care to long-term immunosuppressive management. Much remains to be done to minimize early sepsis- and rejection-related deaths and late immunosuppression-related morbidity.

Actuarial Analysis

The improved lytic function and in vivo efficacy of monovalent monoclonal CD3 antibodies.

A series of hybrid-hybridomas were derived by the cell fusion of a CD3 antibody-secreting hybridoma with other Ig-producing cell lines. The Ig molecules secreted by these hybrid-hybridomas were fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography, and fractions containing monovalent CD3 antibodies were tested for complement-mediated lysis of T cells. Two monovalent CD3 antibodies with mixed heavy chain isotypes were very poor in lysis but, in contrast, a monovalent antibody possessing two identical rat gamma 2b heavy chains but two non-identical light chains was found to be more lytic with human complement than the parental bivalent CD3 antibody. The difference in lysis was not readily explicable in terms of a difference in complement activation at the level of C1q binding or cell-associated C3. A highly purified batch of this lytic monovalent CD3 antibody was prepared in a form suitable for in vivo therapy. In a preliminary clinical study in one patient with a T lymphoma in leukemic phase this monovalent CD3 antibody was found to be very effective in depleting CD3+ tumor cells in the peripheral blood and bone marrow. The cells in the peripheral blood were completely cleared and there was no evidence for antigenic modulation. In addition the antibody was able to reverse cell-mediated kidney rejection in three kidney graft patients. These results suggest that monovalent antibody may be effective in vivo as well as in vitro and that a fuller clinical evaluation is justified.

Adolescent

Prognosis after liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis.

Timing of transplantation for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) requires identification not only of individual risk factors for the operation but estimation of survival with and without transplantation. To identify those risk factors and develop a prognostic model, 82 patients grafted for PBC since 1980 in the Birmingham and Cambridge/King's College Hospital series have been analyzed. Using logrank tests it was found that treatment with diuretics, hemoglobin above 10 g/dl, prothrombin time less than 5 sec prolonged, serum sodium above 130 mmol/L and serum bilirubin less than 350 mumol/L were all individually associated with a better prognosis. Using Cox regression analysis to identify independent variables, it was found that year of transplant, serum bilirubin, serum urea, and diuretic responsive ascites had a significant association with survival. Using these four variables, it was possible to develop a model to identify those patients with a good and a poor probability of survival after transplantation.

Bilirubin

Pregnancy after combined pancreas-kidney transplantation.

Four successful cases of pregnancy after combined pancreas-kidney transplantation at four different centers are summarized. The techniques used for the pancreas transplantations were duct obstruction in one patient and enteric exocrine diversion in two patients; in all three patients the insulin delivery was to the systemic circulation. In one patient exocrine diversion was to the stomach and the vascular anastomosis to the splenic vessels, thus accomplishing portal insulin delivery. Immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporin and prednisolone in two patients; cyclosporin alone in one patient; and cyclosporin, azathioprine, and prednisolone in one patient. In all a cesarean section was performed, due to deteriorating renal function in two patients, a fall in fetal growth in one patient, and fear of inducing pancreas-graft pancreatitis during normal delivery in one patient. In all four women, perfect metabolic control was retained throughout the pregnancy, and despite the proximity of the pancreas graft to the growing uterus in three of the women, the pancreas grafts did not suffer any damage during the pregnancy. However, in one patient the pancreas graft was lost in acute rejection after delivery. This pancreas had functioned normally for 3 yr before this occasion. Of the offspring, one was completely normal, one had a bilateral cataract, and two were small for date. The latter two subsequently showed normal growth development. At follow-up at 3, 5, 7, and 28 mo, all kidney grafts and three of the pancreas grafts remained functional. We conclude that after combined pancreas-kidney transplantation, successful conception and pregnancy can be obtained. Despite reduced islet mass (segmental grafts), normal metabolic control can be retained throughout the pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Coagulation changes following hepatic revascularization during liver transplantation.

The coagulation changes during liver transplantation have been studied in 14 selected patients. Blood usage in all cases was limited to 8.5 liters, and the preoperative coagulation results were only minimally deranged. Bleeding during the operative procedure was easily managed in all cases. Nonetheless, even in this selected group of "low risk" patients, we have demonstrated that during the anhepatic phase and particularly following hepatic revascularization there is activation of both coagulation and fibrinolysis. These findings imply that if bleeding occurs following revascularization, in addition to the use of replacement blood products, treatment should be directed at reducing the consumptive coagulopathy and inhibiting fibrinolysis. We suggest as a first step antithrombin supplementation to maintain activity above 70%, and an antifibrinolytic agent, such as aprotonin, should be considered as adjuncts to therapy at revascularization.

Age Factors

A new method?

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Adult