Dissecting aneurysm of the hepatic artery caused by an isolated spontaneous celiac trunk dissection.

Dissecting hepatic artery aneurysm caused by an isolated spontaneous celiac artery dissection is a life-threatening condition with only 5 cases reported previously. We report a successful resection and revascularization of all affected arteries with an inferior mesenteric vein graft in a 59-year-old asymptomatic man with a large dissecting common and proper hepatic artery aneurysm (diameter, 4.2 cm) due to a spontaneous dissection from the celiac trunk to the proximal splenic artery and the right hepatic artery.

Natto (fermented soybean) extract extends the adult lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans.

We investigated the effects of a water extract of natto on the aging of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The water extract significantly prolonged the adult lifespan of the wild-type worms and rendered them resistant to oxidative and thermal stress. In addition, treatment with natto extract significantly delayed the accumulation of lipofuscin, a characteristic of aging cells.

Open surgical repair using a reimplantation technique for a large celiac artery aneurysm anomalously arising from the celiomesenteric trunk.

Celiac artery aneurysms anomalously arising from the celiomesenteric trunk (hepatosplenomesenteric trunk) are rare, with only four patients reported thus far. Surgical intervention for this condition is challenging, particularly when the aneurysm is large and in a retropancreatic location. We report an open repair surgery in a 54-year-old asymptomatic man who presented with a saccular calcified aneurysm (diameter, 4.

[Multicenter comparative study of the recurrence-inhibitory effect of oral fluoropyrimidine drugs in patients with colorectal cancer following curative resection].

HCFU and UFT were reported effective in adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. This investigation was planned as a randomized study to compare the usefulness of combination therapies with mitomycin C (MMC)+HCFU and MMC+UFT as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer following curative resection, in terms of survival rate, recurrence rate, and adverse drug reactions. A total of 501 patients consisting of 252 patients with stage III/IV colon cancer (Colorectal Cancer Handling Rules, 4th Ed.

Tumor thrombus in the splenic vein originated from gastric carcinoma that produced alpha-fetoprotein.

A 72-year-old man was referred with an endoscopic diagnosis of Borrmann 2 type advanced gastric cancer. Further examination revealed tumor thrombus in the splenic vein and high serum level of alpha-fetoprotein without liver disease. Intraoperative ultrasonography revealed that tumor thrombus originated from gastric cancer extended to the splenic vein through the left gastric vein.

Prediction of pancreatic fistula by amylase levels of drainage fluid on the first day after pancreatectomy.

Background/aims: We investigated whether it would be useful to monitor amylase levels of drainage fluid after pancreatic surgery for prediction of pancreatic fistula.

Methodology: Twenty-six cases in which amylase levels of drainage fluid were determined after pancreatic surgery, were divided into 14 cases who did not develop pancreatic fistula and 12 cases who developed pancreatic fistula. Changes in amylase levels of sera and urine as well as drainage fluid were monitored.

Insulin gene transfer with adenovirus vector via the spleen safely and effectively improves posthepatectomized conditions in diabetic rats.

Background: We examined administration methods of adenovirus vector carrying human insulin gene (AxCAIns), which could safely and effectively enhance liver regeneration in diabetic rats after hepatectomy.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were made diabetic with streptozotocin and subjected to 70% partial hepatectomy. AxCAIns was administrated into the spleen, the portal vein, the peritoneal cavity, or the femoral muscle.

[Complete remission of esophageal undifferentiated carcinoma with nedaplatin and 5-FU chemotherapy and endoesophageal brachytherapy].

The patient was a 74-year-old female. Type 1 undifferentiated carcinoma (non-small cell type) was detected in the middle of the thoracic esophagus in August 1999. Although the lesion was diagnosed as T2, N0, and Stage II, the patient was judged to be a poor risk, inoperable case because of a complex past history of renal and respiratory dysfunctions, and dysbasia.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with acromegaly and high serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I: report of a case.

A 64-year-old woman with high serum levels of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and alpha-fetoprotein resulting from partially treated acromegaly was found to have a tumor under the left diaphragm. The patient also had a history of type C viral hepatitis. Laparotomy revealed that the tumor was fixed to the diaphragm and connected to the liver and spleen.

[Assessing liver function by magnetic resonance imaging two-dimensional phase-shift flow measurement of portal venous blood flow after oral intake of glucose].

We have already reported that the ratio of portal venous flow 30 min after oral intake of glucose 75 g to that before intake (PVFR30), measured using pulsed-Doppler ultrasonography (US), correlated significantly with other indicators of liver function and that it could be used to estimate hepatic function before surgery, including liver resection. In this study, to assess the disadvantages of pulsed-Doppler ultrasonography, PVFR30 was measured using two-dimensional (2D) phase-shift (PS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PVFR30 was measured in 17 patients and 7 volunteers: 13 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 11 without LC (non-LC).