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Biomedical subjects

S W How

Publications and source records attributed to S W How.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract by autologous pericardial tri-semilunar valve with sinus of Valsalva: report of a case with absent pulmonary valve.

The choice of a valved conduit or a valve in the right ventricular outflow tract remains a problem. We propose to reconstruct the pulmonary valve inside the patient's own pulmonary trunk by autologous pericardium in tri-semilunar fashion with concomitant formation of the sinus of Valsalva and commissure. This operation was carried out on a 7-year-old girl suffering from Fallot's tetralogy with an absent pulmonary valve. The ventricular septal defect was repaired and the pulmonary valve reconstructed as above. The postoperative cross-sectional echocardiogram, color Doppler echocardiogram and angiogram showed a pliable tri-semilunar valve across the pulmonary outflow tract without regurgitation. It is concluded that firstly, the sinus of Valsalva is indispensable for a stentless semilunar valve to be competent; secondly, reconstruction of the semilunar valve inside the pulmonary trunk by autologous pericardium is recommended for the absent pulmonary valve syndrome, but the long-term fate of this pericardial valve awaits further evaluation.

Child

Extrarenal Wilms' tumor--a case report.

Extrarenal Wilms' tumor is extremely rare. To our knowledge, only 22 cases had been reported up to 1984. We treated a 5-year-old girl with an extrarenal Wilms' tumor arising in the right inguinal region. Total excision was performed. Abdominal sonogram, computed tomography (CT) scan, and intravenous pyelogram (IVP) showed normal kidneys, no other mass, and no evidence of metastasis. Postoperative chemotherapy was administered. The patient has been disease-free since first diagnosis 19 months ago.

Child

Carcinoma of the gallbladder from an anomalous connection between the bile duct and the pancreatic duct.

Anomalous connection between the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct has recently been reported to be associated with cancerous changes of the biliary tract. A 52-year-old Chinese man had a fungating tumor in the gallbladder, and a long common channel between the bile duct and the pancreatic duct. The association of these two rare disease entities especially in a Chinese man may imply a close relationship between pancreatobiliary anomalous connection and the gallbladder cancer. It is thus prudent to monitor patients with such an anomalous connection closely by serial ultrasonic examination. More aggressively, prophylactic cholecystectomy and reconstruction of the biliary tract may be indicated.

Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic carcinoma associated with chronic calcifying pancreatitis in Taiwan: a case report and review of the literature.

A 62-year-old Chinese woman suffering from pancreatic carcinoma coexisting with chronic calcifying pancreatitis is reported. Ultrasonography and computed tomography disclosed multiple intraductal calcifications in the pancreatic head and body and a tumor at the tail. Laparotomy revealed cancerous peritonitis in addition to verifying the presence of calcifications at the head and body and a cancer at the tail. Histology confirmed adenocarcinoma. The incidence of pancreatic carcinoma in chronic calcifying pancreatitis varied from 0.8 to 25% in a thorough review of the literature. It is emphasized that patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis should be closely followed for detection of possible coexisting pancreatic malignancies.

Adenocarcinoma

Clinical implications of atrial isomerism.

Right atrial isomerism or left atrial isomerism is frequently diagnosed as situs ambiguous without further discrimination of the specific morbid anatomy. Thirty six cases of right atrial isomerism and seven cases of left atrial isomerism were collected from the records and pathological museum at the National Taiwan University Hospital. There was a necropsy report for 18 cases. In all patients one or more of the following conditions was met: (a) isomeric bronchial anatomy, (b) echocardiographic and angiocardiographic evidence of isomerism, and (c) surgical or necropsy evidence of abnormal atrial anatomy. An anomalous pulmonary venous connection was present in 55% of patients with right atrial isomerism; in left atrial isomerism one case (14%) had a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Forty per cent of cases of anomalous pulmonary venous connection with right atrial isomerism had obstruction. Six (86%) of seven cases with left atrial isomerism had an ambiguous biventricular atrioventricular connection. In contrast, univentricular atrioventricular connection (26 of 36, 72%) was significantly more common in right atrial isomerism. A common atrioventricular valve was the most frequent mode of connection in both forms. Two discrete atrioventricular valves were significantly more common in left atrial isomerism. Atrioventricular valve regurgitation was detected in 14 cases. Double outlet right ventricle was the most common type of ventriculoarterial connection. The most commonly cited causes of death after either palliative or definitive operation were undetected anomalous pulmonary venous connection, pulmonary venous stricture, and uncorrected atrioventricular valve or aortic regurgitation complicated by abnormal coagulation. Although the prognosis is poor, successful operation depends on knowledge of the precise anatomical arrangement associated with atrial isomerism.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Growth of the aortic anastomosis in pigs. Comparison of continuous absorbable suture with nonabsorbable suture.

Growth at the anastomotic site after continuous vascular anastomosis in the pediatric patient remains a problem. Primary end-to-end anastomosis of the infrarenal aorta was performed with absorbable Maxon suture or nonabsorbable Prolene suture in 20 piglets. Ten of the Maxon suture group and nine of the Prolene suture group survived; one pig died of infection. The animals were put to death 6 months after the operation. Each abdominal aorta was removed and a roentgenogram was obtained. The aorta was then burst-tested to 300 mm Hg, measured, and examined both grossly and histologically. All anastomoses were patent and no burst failures were observed in either group. However, Prolene sutures protruded into lumen and were partially embedded in the aortic wall in all animals in the Prolene suture group. Thrombus adhered to the intraluminal Prolene suture in six of nine animals. The growth of the anastomotic area was wider in the Maxon suture group (446.4% +/- 131.8% versus 317.6% +/- 121.5%, p less than 0.05). Stenosis was more common in the Prolene suture group (7/9) than in the Maxon suture group (1/10) (p less than 0.01), but the distal segment was widely patent in both groups. Dilatation at the anastomotic site was present in eight of 10 pigs in the Maxon suture group and in two of nine in the Prolene suture group. Histologic study showed that the area of tissue reaction was more prominent in the Prolene suture group. No sutures were observed in the Maxon suture group. We therefore recommend the use of absorbable Maxon sutures for anastomoses in which the suture line must be able to grow.

Absorption

Preparation of large temporomandibular joint specimens for pathological study.

Ten fresh temporomandibular joint (TMJ) specimens about 5 X 4.5 X 3.5 cm in size were removed at autopsy by 5 cuts according to appropriate anatomical landmarks. After routine formalin fixation, the whole-TMJ specimens were wrapped with a thin layer of self-curing resin and then cut with a low speed bone saw along the parasagittal plane predetermined by x-ray guidance. Each specimen was serially cut into 4 to 5 parallel slices of 3 mm thickness, which were then decalcified with 14% EDTA and embedded in paraffin. Histological sections of 5 microns were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The procedures were accomplished within 20 to 24 days after autopsy. With this technique, the anatomical interrelationships among the various joint components could be maintained and the macroscopic and microscopic topography of the TMJ could be studied in the desired reference plane. Therefore, the corresponding changes among the joint components in a diseased TMJ could be thoroughly examined. This technique was also applicable for the study of large specimens containing both hard and soft tissues.

Adolescent

Systemic penicillin as an experimental model of epilepsy.

Systemic use of high-dose penicillin was studied in rats and cats to establish an experimental model of epilepsy. In rats, intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 to 5.0 million units/kg (MU/kg) penicillin was effective to induce spikes in 45.7 +/- 31.0 min (means +/- SD) and seizure in 71.5 +/- 38.4 min. In cats, intravenous administration of penicillin at 0.5 to 1.0 MU/kg induced spikes in 10.4 +/- 7.8 min and seizure in 32.2 +/- 19.8 min. Intraperitoneal use of penicillin at 1.0 to 2.0 MU/kg caused spikes in 24.0 +/- 18.4 min and seizure in 71.2 +/- 38.3 min. Pretreatment with intravenous isoniazid at 16.3 +/- 10.3 mg/kg significantly delayed the appearance of intravenous penicillin-induced spikes to 63.1 +/- 49.8 min or prevented the appearance of spikes and abolished the occurrence of seizures. Acupuncture at various points increased the penicillin-induced spikes and seizures.

Acupuncture Therapy