Colonic varices ruptured via drainage catheter after extended right hepatectomy.

Extended right hepatectomy was performed on a 69-year-old woman with bile duct carcinoma of the hepatic hilum. Three weeks after the operation, an abscess was detected at the resected surface and a drainage catheter was inserted. The patient was discharged with the drainage catheter in place and followed-up at a local hospital.

Experience with intraarterial infusion of styrene maleic acid neocarzinostatin (SMANCS)-lipiodol in pancreatic cancer.

A 54 year-old man was admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with inoperable cancer in the body and tail of the pancreas. The spleen was embolized at its hilum with a coil to infuse an anti-tumor agent selectively into the pancreatic parenchyma and transcatheter intraarterial infusion (TAI) of styrene maleic acid neocarzinostatin (SMANCS)-Lipiodol, 3 mg, was performed. The computed tomography (CT) scan taken immediately after TAI revealed the incorporation of SMANCS-Lipiodol into the site of the pancreatic tail.

New methods of control against postoperative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.

The incidence of postoperative infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Japan has been increasing dramatically. In March 1990, we assigned special doctors in infection control (infection control doctor, ICD), and defined comprehensive controls against MRSA infection. A total of 3536 cases of digestive tract surgery performed at our department were studied during the period between September 1987 and August 1997.

New techniques: splenic artery embolization followed by intraarterial infusion chemotherapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

We present a new intraarterial infusion chemotherapy technique for the treatment of inoperable cancer in the body and tail of the pancreas. The spleen was embolized at its hilum with coils to infuse an anti-tumor agent selectively into the pancreatic parenchyma and a catheter was placed into the splenic artery and connected to the reservoir. 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin+diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (MAA+DTPA) was injected into the reservoir and the body and tail of the pancreas were visualized on the image.

Beta-thujaplicin zinc chelate induces apoptosis in mouse high metastatic melanoma B16BL6 cells.

The cytotoxic effects of beta-thujaplicin and five kinds of metal chelates were examined on mouse melanoma B16BL6 cells by cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Beta-thujaplicin-zinc chelate and beta-thujaplicin-copper chelate had higher cytotoxic effects than beta-thujaplicin, and the 50% effective doses (ED50) of these metal chelates were 12.5 and 25 microM, respectively.

Thujaplicin-copper chelates inhibit replication of human influenza viruses.

The effects of alpha-, beta- and gamma-thujaplicins and six of their metal chelates on human influenza virus-induced apoptosis in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were examined by DNA fragmentation and flow cytometry. Among the compounds tested, thujaplicin copper chelates inhibited apoptosis induced in the infected MDCK cells with influenza A/PR/8/34(H1N1), A/Shingapol/1/57(H2N2), A/Aichi/2/68(H3N2) and B/Lee/40 viruses, at concentrations of more than 5 microM. These results indicate that the copper chelates inhibit influenza virus-induced apoptosis and that the inhibitory effects may be independent of influenza virus subtype or types.

Clinicopathological studies on association of gallbladder carcinoma and pancreaticobiliary maljunction.

During the past 17 years, 1,722 of 4,832 consecutive patients investigated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were assessed by the radiological criteria of the Japanese Study Group of Pancreaticobiliary Maljunction (PBM). Out of these 1,722 patients, PBM was found in a total of 52, representing 3.0%, of which gallbladder carcinoma was associated with 14.

Inhibitory effect of beta-thujaplicin on ultraviolet B-induced apoptosis in mouse keratinocytes.

Sunburn cells are thought to represent ultraviolet B-induced apoptotic keratinocytes. It has been demonstrated that enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants effectively suppress sunburn cell formation, indicating that reactive oxygen species may play a role in the progression of ultraviolet B-induced apoptosis. Metallothionein, a cytosol protein, has antioxidant activity, and overexpression of metallothionein has been reported to reduce the number of sunburn cells in mouse skin.

[Effects of neoadjuvant intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in patients with stage III breast carcinoma].

From 1991 to 1996, we performed neoadjuvant intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in 5 eligible patients among 21 patients with Stage III breast carcinoma. The treatment regimen for neoadjuvant chemotherapy was intra-arterial Epirubicin (EPR) on Day 1, 3, 5, 7 combined with endocrine therapy (MPA 1,200 mg). The effects of the treatment were compared among 8 patients given adjuvant intravenous chemotherapy.

Successful long-term xenoperfusion of the pig liver: continuous administration of prostaglandin E1 and insulin.

For clinical utilization of extracorporeal liver perfusion as an artificial liver assist device, we examined the possibility of long-term xenoperfusion of the pig liver by the continuous administration of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and insulin. After a 3-hr perfusion period, pig livers that were xenoperfused with human blood exhibited a drastic decrease in the perfusate volume, a progressive elevation of the hepatic artery pressure, a gradual deterioration of bile production, and a marked increase in the release of creatine kinase-BB component. The continuous administration of PGE1 (25 microg/hr) and insulin (1 U/hr) significantly improved these derangements (P<0.

[Neoadjuvant intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in over stage III and inflammatory carcinoma of the breast].

From 1991 to 1996, 11 eligible patients (median age 50.4 years, range 33-71 years) with over Stage III and inflammatory breast carcinoma have been treated with neoadjuvant intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy. There were three Stage III a, one III b, three IV and four inflammatory carcinoma.

Long-duration xenogeneic extracorporeal pig liver perfusion with human blood.

Hepatic xenografts can tolerate hyperacute rejection owing to their lower susceptibility to humorally mediated injury. We investigated the possibility of long-duration xenoperfusion without immunologically controlling natural antibodies or complements. Pig livers were perfused for 9 h with human blood (Group 1) or pig blood (Group 2).

[Two cases of improved quality of life with intra-arterial infusion of CDDP or unresectable gallbladder and pancreatic cancer].

The prognosis of patients with advanced gallbladder and pancreatic cancers is poor. Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with CDDP was imported in patients with unresectable gallbladder cancer (First case) and pancreatic cancer (Second case). The values of CEA and CA 19-9 were reduced after chemotherapy in the first case, but the CA 19-9 level was not reduced in the second case.

Induction of topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage by the plant naphthoquinones plumbagin and shikonin.

Plumbagin and shikonin, plant metabolites which have naphthoquinone structures, induced mammalian topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage in vitro. Treatment of a reaction mixture containing these naphthoquinones and topoisomerase II at an elevated temperature (65 degrees C) resulted in a great reduction in DNA cleavage, suggesting that the mechanism of the topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage induced by these naphthoquinones is through formation of a cleavable complex, as seen with antitumor agents such as 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide and demethylepipodophyllotoxin ethylidene-beta-glucoside. Lawson and lapacol, which are structurally related plant metabolites with naphthoquinone moieties, could not induce topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage.

Pigmented contact dermatitis due to musk moskene.

Musk moskene is a soft, sweet fragrance resembling musk ambrette which introduces a very desirable creamy powder note for cosmetic fragrance. Because of its advantages, which include low cost, oil solubility, and less sensitive to sunlight, musk moskene has recently increased its share of the market. In this paper, we reported a case with pigmented contact dermatitis from musk moskene in cheek rouges.