Persistent biliary dilatation and stenosis in postoperative congenital choledochal cyst.

Background/purpose: Cholangitis and intrahepatic stones occur long after total cyst excision in patients with congenital choledochal cyst (CCC). Our study aimed to characterize morphological features of intrahepatic biliary dilatation and stenosis before and after total cyst excision, based on long-term follow-up data.

Methods: Pre- and postoperative morphological features of intrahepatic biliary dilatation were determined in 63 patients with CCC.

Pathophysiology of chronic constipation of the slow transit type from the aspect of the type of rectal movements.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the defecation function, in particular the development of the gastrocolic reflex arising in coordination with the upper gastrointestinal tract, in patients with chronic constipation of the slow transit type (STC).

Methodology: The rectal movement types in adult patients with STC were compared with those in normal subjects as a control. A force transducer was inserted transanally into the rectum of 10 patients with STC (Group A), and the intrarectal pressure waveforms were recorded for 2 hours before and after the ingestion of test diets.

A rare case of multiple duodenal perforations in early infancy.

Duodenal perforation in early infancy is an uncommon condition. We describe a case of duodenal perforation from suspected ulcer. A premature boy was born at the gestational age of 26 weeks with a birth weight of 764 g.

Effect of FTY720 and ex vivo graft irradiation in rat small bowel transplantation: expression of mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1.

Purpose: We performed a semiquantitative analysis of the expression of Mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) and gut-associated tissues (GALT) during small bowel graft rejection in the rat to confirm the effect of FTY720 and ex vivo graft irradiation.

Methods: Small bowel transplantations (SBT) were performed from BN rats to LEW rats. Four groups of SBT animals were studied on days 3, 5, and 7 after operations (untreated, FTY720, ex vivo graft irradiation, FTY720+ex vivo graft irradiation).

Intraoperative radiation therapy for advanced neuroblastoma: the problem of securing the IORT field.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and the problem of securing the IORT field in advanced pediatric neuroblastoma. Between 1996 and 2005, 12 children received IORT for advanced pediatric neuroblastoma patients. Electron beam energies ranged from 10 to 12 MeV and median dose was 10 Gy (8-12 Gy).

Usefulness of color doppler sonography and 99m Tc-RBC scintigraphy for preoperative diagnosis of a venous malformation of the small intestine in a 2-year-old child.

Venous malformations of the small intestine are rare in children, and the preoperative diagnosis of a venous malformation in the small bowel can be very difficult. We report the case of a 2-year-old girl with a solitary cavernous venous malformation of the small intestine that caused gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia and review the usefulness of the combination of color Doppler sonography and 99m Tc-RBC scintigraphy for the diagnosis of venous malformation of the small intestine.

Treatment of fistula-in-ano in infants with a seton.

Anal fistula in infants is a common disease. Although many are recovered by conventional treatment, there are some patients who are not repaired easily. We performed the seton method to an anal fistula and report the good result that we obtained.

Intussusception in children of school age.

Background: There are only a few reports discussing the characteristics of intussusception developing in school-age children. The characteristics of these cases are discussed, with reference to previous literature.

Methods: The present study included eight cases of intussusception in school-age children among 143 intussusception patients treated on an inpatient basis at Nihon University Itabashi Hospital, during the 11 year period from 1993 to 2003.

Study of 24 cases with congenital esophageal atresia: what are the risk factors?

Background: Recovery from esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) has improved markedly over the years. But postoperative complications, however, have remained. This study evaluates recovery, preoperative, and postoperative status of patients with EA/TEF.

Spontaneous localized intestinal perforation and intestinal dilatation in very-low-birthweight infants.

Aim: To elucidate how spontaneous localized intestinal perforation (SLIP) is related to intestinal morphological features such as dilatation in very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants.

Methods: The medical records of 13 VLBW infants (<1500 g) undergoing laparotomy between 1983 and 2003 for presumed SLIP were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical findings including maternal, prenatal and perinatal factors were analysed, and the clinical and surgical findings upon laparotomy were compared.

Pancreatitis after a primary and secondary excision of congenital choledochal cysts.

Purpose: Pancreatitis has been reported long after total choledochal cyst excision. The aim of this study was to determine if the disease process of postoperative pancreatitis differs between a primary and secondary cyst excision in a long-term follow-up.

Methods: Among 53 postoperative patients who underwent a total cyst excision and were followed up, 44 patients underwent a primary cyst excision (primary excision group), while 9 patients underwent a secondary cyst excision after a previous cyst-duodenostomy for internal drainage (secondary excision group).

Pancreatitis complicated with dilated choledochal remnant after congenital choledochal cyst excision.

We describe here three cases of pancreatitis after congenital choledochal cyst excision. In these three cases, the choledochal remnant in the pancreas head was markedly dilated, probably because of an incomplete resection of the cyst at the primary operation, and an increase in intraluminal pressure of the pancreatic duct caused by a dynamic obstruction by a protein plug or a pancreatic calculus. Complete cyst excision, including the choledochal wall in the pancreas, is therefore strongly recommended.

The effect of a novel immunosuppressant, FTY720, in mice without secondary lymphoid organs.

Purpose: FTY720 is a novel immunosuppressive agent that is thought to reduce the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) by directing them toward secondary lymphoid organs such as the lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. We studied the effects of FTY720 on aly/aly mice that do not have either lymph nodes or Peyer's patches, as well as on splenectomized aly/aly mice.

Methods: FTY720 was orally administered by gavage (1 mg/kg) to aly/aly mice as well as to aly/+ mice with and without a splenectomy on 14 consecutive days.