[Gallbladder cancers discovered fortuitously].

Study Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to report a series of 12 carcinomas of the gallbladder diagnosed on the histological examination of specimens after cholecystectomy.

Patients And Methods: From 1986 to 1996, 784 cholecystectomies were performed in the same center and 12 unexpected carcinomas of the gallbladder were histologically diagnosed (11 adenocarcinomas and one epidermoid carcinoma; one pT1, five pT2 and six pT3). There were nine women and three men (mean age: 72 years) with symptoms in relation with lithiasis.

Intra-operative electron radiotherapy as a conservative treatment for infiltrating bladder cancer.

The intent of this feasibility study was to evaluate the use of intra-operative electron radiotherapy (IOERT), after transurethral resection (TUR), combined with external beam radiation with concurrent chemotherapy for the conservative treatment of infiltrating bladder cancer. From November 1988 to June 1998, 27 patients with histologically proven non-metastatic infiltrating bladder cancer were included in this protocol. The treatment consisted of: TUR, external beam irradiation (x18 MV:48 Grays (Gy)/24 fractions/5 weeks), with concurrent chemotherapy (cisplatin 30 mg/day for 3 days-two cycles during irradiation), followed by control cystoscopy and cystotomy with IOERT (e 9 MeV:15 Gy).

Absorption of carbon dioxide by dry soda lime decreases carbon monoxide formation from isoflurane degradation.

Unlabelled: This study was performed to determine whether the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) influences the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) from degradation of isoflurane in dry soda lime. Isoflurane (0. 5%), CO(2) (5%), a combination of the two in oxygen, and pure oxygen were separately passed through samples of 600 g of completely dried soda lime (duration of exposure, 60 min; flow rate, 5 L/min).

Intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia with mitomycin C for digestive tract cancer patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Background: Most patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of digestive tract origin die within 6 months. Intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia (IPCH) associated with surgery has been reported as a possible new therapeutic approach.

Methods: A prospective Phase II trial was carried out with 83 patients who had digestive tract cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis to evaluate the tolerance and efficacy of IPCH with mitomycin C (MMC) associated with surgery.

Effects of vecuronium and rocuronium in antagonistic laryngeal muscles and the anterior tibial muscle in the cat.

Background: Adequate vocal cord paralysis and full recovery of laryngeal muscle function are important when muscle relaxants are used perioperatively. This study was designed to compare the effects of vecuronium and rocuronium at the vocal cord abductor and adductor muscles and the anterior tibial muscle in cats.

Methods: Twelve adult cats were studied under pentobarbitone-N2O/O2-anesthesia.

Outcome of ileal pouch after secondary diagnosis of Crohn's disease.

Ileal-pouch anal anastomosis is sometimes performed inappropriately in Crohn's disease patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results in this subset. In 54 ileal-pouch anal anastomoses performed between 1985 and 1997 for CUD the patient was eventually diagnosed as having Crohn's disease in seven cases.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis from non-gynecologic malignancies: results of the EVOCAPE 1 multicentric prospective study.

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is a common evolution of digestive cancer, associated with a poor prognosis. Yet it is poorly documented in the literature.

Methods: Three hundred seventy patients with PC from non-gynecologic malignancies were followed prospectively: the PC was of gastric origin in 125 cases, of colorectal origin in 118 cases, of pancreatic origin in 58 cases, of unknown origin in 43 cases, and of miscellaneous origins in 26 cases.

Role of prey-capture experience in the development of the escape response in the squid Loligo opalescens: a physiological correlate in an identified neuron.

Although extensively used for biophysical studies, the squid giant axon system remains largely unexplored in regard to in vivo function and modulation in any biologically relevant context. Here we show that successful establishment of the recruitment pattern for the giant axon in the escape response elicited by a brief electrical stimulus depends on prey-capture experience early in life. Juvenile squid fed only slow-moving, easy-to-capture prey items (Artemia salina) develop deficits in coordinating activity in the giant axon system with that of a parallel set of non-giant motor axons during escape responses.

Effects of temperature on escape jetting in the squid Loligo opalescens.

In Loligo opalescens, a sudden visual stimulus (flash) elicits a stereotyped, short-latency escape response that is controlled primarily by the giant axon system at 15 C. We used this startle response as an assay to examine the effects of acute temperature changes down to 6 C on behavioral and physiological aspects of escape jetting. In free-swimming squid, latency, distance traveled and peak velocity for single escape jets all increased as temperature decreased.

Measuring forces and frequency during active compression decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a device for training, research and real CPR.

Active compression decompression (ACD) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is possibly a superior alternative to standard (STD) CPR, but an optimal compression and decompression pattern has to be ensured. ACD-CPR can be evaluated during CPR training sessions using commercially available manikins; however devices for recording compression and decompression forces or frequency during real CPR are lacking. Using the Ambu CardioPump without changing its mechanical characteristics, two force transducers were integrated into the ACD device.

Chest injuries after active compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ACD-CPR) in cadavers.

In a prospective study of 38 cadavers of patients older than 18 without previous chest injury or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), active compression-decompression (ACD) resuscitation manoeuvres were performed to determine possible factors influencing sternal and/or rib fractures. ACD was performed for 60 s, with compression and decompression forces being continuously recorded. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was applied.

Peritonectomy combined with intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia in abdominal cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis: phase I-II study.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and the tolerance of Peritonectomy Procedure (PP) combined with Intraperitoneal Chemohyperthermia (IPCH) in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, a phase I-II study has been realised from January 1997 to September 1998.

Methods: Eighteen patients were included for peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer (13), ovarian cancer (2), gallbladder cancer (1), gastric cancer (1) and peritoneal mesothelioma (1). Peritoneal carcinomatosis were mainly advanced disease (16 stage 3 and 4, 2 stage 2).

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defenses in cystic fibrosis patients.

Lipid peroxidation biomarkers and antioxidant status were measured in 76 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and compared to 40 control subjects. Univariate and multivariate statistics were performed in this study. Results showed that indicators of lipid peroxidation were higher in CF patients than in controls; thiobarbituric acid reactants and autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoproteins were significantly increased in CF patients.

Intraperitoneal chemo-hyperthermia with mitomycin C for gastric cancer patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Objective: This study evaluates the tolerance and efficacy of Intraperitoneal Chemo-hyperthermia (IPCH) with Mitomycin C (MMC) associated with surgery, in peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastric origin.

Background: Most patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastric origin die within 6 months, and IPCH associated with surgery has been reported as a possible new therapeutic approach.

Methods: A prospective non randomized trial was carried out on 42 patients with gastric cancers and peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Force distribution across the heel of the hand during simulated manual chest compression.

According to most published guidelines of cardiopulmonary resuscitation chest compression is performed on the lower half of the sternum by compressing the sternum with the heel of one hand and the other hand on top of the first. In all guidelines and during CPR training great importance is attributed to exact localisation of the so-called compression point. In a laboratory investigation we assessed the force distribution across the heel of the hand and defined the total breadth in contact with the sternum.

Autoclaving impairs the connector-tube bond of the laryngeal mask airway but not its airtightness.

The general-purpose laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is re-usable when undamaged, and cleaned and autoclaved correctly. We had found weakening of the silicone adhesive that bonds the connector of the LMA to the tube. We report that repeated autoclaving damaged the adhesive such that the connector could be rotated in the tube after the 12th autoclave cycle in almost all of the LMA tested.

Performance of proportional and continuous nitric oxide delivery systems during pressure- and volume-controlled ventilation.

We have evaluated the effect of delivering nitric oxide using a continuous flow system (CFS) or two commercially available proportional gas injection systems (PGIS), Nodomo (Dräger, Lübeck, Germany) and Pulmonox-Mini (Messer Griesheim Austria, Gumpoldskirchen, Austria) on measured and simulated concentrations of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide concentration was measured in a bench test at five sites in the inspiratory breathing system during volume- or pressure-controlled ventilation and mathematically simulated using a mixing chamber model. For a target concentration of 10 parts per million (ppm) at the "Y" piece, simulated nitric oxide concentrations were 1.

Effects of half the tidal volume during cardiopulmonary resuscitation on acid-base balance and haemodynamics in pigs.

The effects of half the tidal volume during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on haemodynamics, acid-base balance, and oxygenation were studied in anaesthetized pigs. The animals were ventilated with a mean tidal volume of 12.5 +/- 0.

Respiratory mechanics during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the effects of the abdominal wall lift.

Unlabelled: The abdominal wall lift (AWL) has been proposed for laparoscopic cholecystectomy to reduce hemodynamic effects caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) and high intraabdominal pressures (IAP). Data concerning effects of AWL on respiratory mechanics are scant. We therefore used a noninvasive method to evaluate whether the AWL could offset these effects.

Prevention of lymphorrhea by means of fibrin glue after axillary lymphadenectomy in breast cancer: prospective randomized trial.

A prospective randomized trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of fibrin glue in preventing lymphorrhea after axillary lymphadenectomy in breast cancer. One hundred and eight breast cancer patients, operated on by two senior surgeons, were randomized into two groups: group 1 (n = 58) without fibrin glue and group 2 (n = 50) with 2 ml of fibrin glue applied to the axillary dissection area at the end of the lymphadenectomy procedure. Early postoperative morbidity was 2/58 and 0/50 in groups 1 and 2, respectively.

[Intraperitoneal chemo-hyperthermia with mitomycin C in cancer of the stomach with peritoneal carcinosis].

We report 42 cases of gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinosis treated with intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia. Intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia was achieved with a closed sterile circuit containing mitomycin C, 10 mg/l producing an input temperature varying from 46 to 49 degrees C for 90 minutes. There were three postoperative deaths: one pulmonary embolism at day 4, one multiple organ failure et day 4, and one septic shock at day 25 due to a colonic fistula.

State-dependent nickel block of a high-voltage-activated neuronal calcium channel.

Effect of nickel ions (Ni2+) on noninactivating calcium channels in squid giant fiber lobe (GFL) neurons were investigated with whole cell voltage clamp. Three different effects of Ni2+ were observed to be associated with distinct Ca2+ channel activation states. 1) Nickel ions appear to stabilize closed channel states and, as a result, slow activation kinetics.