Sodium current in human intestinal interstitial cells of Cajal.

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) generate the electrical slow wave required for normal gastrointestinal motility. The ionic conductances expressed in human intestinal ICC are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine expression of a Na+ current in human intestinal ICC and to determine the effects of the Na+ current on the slow wave.

Pancreatic cancer after surgery for chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Chronic pancreatitis is known to be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

Aims: To identify patients who were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after undergoing surgery for histologically documented chronic pancreatitis.

Patients/methods: Records of 484 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for chronic pancreatitis from 1976 to 1997 were reviewed.

The frequency of respiratory failure in patients with morbid obesity undergoing gastric bypass.

Morbid obesity is associated with multiple metabolic and mechanical abnormalities that increase morbidity and mortality after major abdominal surgery. It is unclear whether patients undergoing bariatric surgery have increased pulmonary complications postoperatively. We performed a retrospective chart review of 207 patients who underwent elective gastric bypass surgery during a recent 2-year period.

Neuronal adrenergic and muscular cholinergic contractile hypersensitivity in canine jejunum after extrinsic denervation.

Extrinsic denervation may be responsible for motor dysfunction after small bowel transplantation. The aim of this study was to examine the role of extrinsic innervation of canine jejunum on contractile activity. An in vitro dose response of cholinergic and adrenergic agonists was evaluated in canine jejunal strips of circular muscle at 0, 2, and 8 weeks in a control group and after jejunoileal extrinsic denervation (EX DEN).

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix. The controversy persists: a review.

Mucinous cystic neoplasms of the appendix continue to engender considerable debate in their diagnosis, management, and role in pseudomyxoma peritonei. This review addresses ongoing controversies with these unique neoplasms. Case reports and institutional series of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma were retrieved from the literature using Medline Search (1985-1996) using the following key words: appendix; mucinous cystadenocarcinoma; pseudomyxoma peritonei.

Role of S-nitrosation of cysteine residues in long-lasting inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on arterial tone.

S-Nitrosation of cysteine residues plays an important role in nitric oxide (NO) signaling and transport. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of S-nitrosothiols as a storage form of NO, which may account for the long-lasting effects in the vasculature. Rat aorta exposed to S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) displayed, even after washout of the drug, a persistent increase in cysteine-NO residues (detected by immunostaining using an antiserum that selectively recognized S-nitrosoproteins) and in NO content (detected by NO spin-trapping), a persistent attenuation of the effect of vasoconstrictors, and a relaxant response upon addition of low molecular weight (LMW) thiols.

The potent somatostatin analogue vapreotide does not decrease pancreas-specific complications after elective pancreatectomy: a prospective, multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Pancreatectomy can be complicated by pancreatic anastomotic leakage, causing major morbidity.

Study Design: Our aim was to determine if vapreotide, a potent long-acting somatostatin analogue, would decrease pancreas-related complications. This prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 275 patients without preexisting chronic pancreatitis undergoing elective proximal, central, or distal pancreatectomy.

Effect of extrinsic denervation on muscarinic neurotransmission in the canine ileocolonic region.

To explore the hypothesis that denervation hypersensitivity increases ileocolonic motor activity after extrinsic denervation, we compared muscarinic neurotransmission in canine ileocolonic loops that were isolated and either extrinsically innervated or extrinsically denervated. We recorded ileal, ileocolonic sphincter (ICS) and colonic pressures, and colonic tone, compliance and relaxation during ileal distention. Muscarinic effects were probed by neostigmine, and minimally effective doses of muscarinic receptor antagonists.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm: did it exist prior to 1980?

Introduction: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas was first reported in 1982. It is not clear whether the appearance of this neoplasm is a new epidemic or an old disease previously overlooked.

Aim: To determine whether IPMN existed as a separate entity before 1982.

Small bowel extrinsic denervation does not alter water and electrolyte absorption from the colon in the fasting or early postprandial state.

Small bowel transplantation (SBT) causes watery diarrhea. The decreases shown previously in absorption of water, electrolytes, and bile salts in the jejunum and ileum, although present, are not dramatic and seem not to be great enough to explain the diarrhea. Our aim was to determine changes in water and electrolyte absorption in the colon during fasting and postprandially in a canine preparation of jejunoileal extrinsic denervation, which serves as a model of jejunoileal autotransplantation.

Ileal resection enhances jejunal absorptive adaptation for water and electrolytes to extrinsic denervation: implications for segmental small bowel transplantation.

Background/purpose: Segmental small bowel transplantation (SBT) may be an alternative to whole jejunoileal SBT. The aim of this study was to evaluate adaptability of extrinsically denervated jejunum after ileectomy.

Methods: Baseline absorption of an isomolar, nonnutrient electrolyte solution was measured in an 80-cm in situ jejunal segment.

Staging strategies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma: what the surgeon really wants to know.

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal disease in spite of new developments in early diagnosis, marked improvements in surgical morbidity and mortality, and introduction of promising adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies. This ongoing poor prognosis can be explained in part by the relatively advanced stage of these malignancies at the time of presentation and diagnosis. The staging process in this disease lacks standardization and differs considerably from center to center.

Barriers to HAART adherence among human immunodeficiency virus-infected adolescents.

Objectives: To investigate the barriers to highly active antiretrovial therapy (HAART) adherence among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adolescents and to explore the association of barriers and nonadherence.

Design: Structured interviews were conducted to determine the barriers associated with adherence; principal component factor analysis was performed on scores of the 19 barrier variables.

Setting: Human immunodeficiency virus-infected adolescents were recruited from 13 US cities into the REACH (Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health) Project, the first large-scale disease progression study of HIV-positive adolescents infected through sexual behavior or injection drug use.

Canine ileal motor activity after a model of jejunoileal autotransplantation.

Objective: To determine mechanisms by which extrinsic innervation to the jejunoileum controls ileal motility.

Summary Background Data: Small bowel transplantation is complicated by diarrhea and delayed gastric emptying, possibly secondary to altered motility. Ileal motility after small bowel transplantation is poorly characterized.

[Peripartum idiopathic myocardiopathy: prospective echocardiographic study].

Still frequent in Africa, the idiopathic peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPC) is the subject of only few prospective studies. The aim of this prospective work was to assess the echocardiographic abnormalities of the PPC and to determine on 26 patients the evolution and the prognostic factors of this disease. Six women had mild to moderate pericardial effusion.

[Intraventricular thrombosis complicating peri-partum idiopathic myocardiopathy].

Ventricular thrombosis can complicate the development and worsen the prognosis in any case of hypokinetic dilated cardiomyopathy. In the present article, a study has been made of 6 reports of ventricular thrombosis selected out of 58 medical files on women with peri-partum idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Patient age ranged from 22 to 55 years.

[Short-term course under beta blockers of clinical and echocardiographic parameters in mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm].

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short-term benefit of a beta-blocker (atenolol) on clinical and echocardiographic parameters of patients presenting isolated or predominant mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm. It is a prospective study performed on 26 patients who have had a clinical and echocardiographic assessment before and 15 days after treatment by atenolol. After 15 days of beta-blocker treatment, there is a significant improvement of dyspnea (57.

Increased proliferation within T lymphocyte subsets of HIV-infected adolescents.

Proliferation within T lymphocyte subsets of HIV-infected adolescents was quantified by detection of Ki-67, a nuclear antigen found in cells in late G(1), S, or G(2) phases of the cell cycle. Median percentages and absolute counts of Ki-67(+) cells for all subsets tested (CD4 naive and memory, CD8 naive and memory) were significantly higher for HIV-infected adolescents compared to uninfected controls. CD8 naive cells of HIV-infected adolescents had the greatest increase in rate of proliferation and number of proliferating cells compared to uninfected controls.

Cytoskeletal modulation of sodium current in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells.

A Na(+) current is present in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of the cytoskeleton in the regulation of the Na(+) current. Whole cell currents were recorded by using standard patch-clamp techniques with Cs(+) in the pipette to block K(+) currents.

Study of recurrence after surgical resection of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas.

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to determine recurrence and long-term survival after resection of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and to correlate recurrence and survival with histology, extent of resection, and duration of follow-up.

Methods: A single pathologist, without knowledge of previous interpretations of histology or clinical data, retrospectively reviewed and classified 113 resected intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms as invasive carcinoma (n = 40) or as noninvasive neoplasms (adenoma, borderline, or carcinoma in situ; n = 73). Data on recurrence (locoregional or metastatic), follow-up, and cause of death were obtained from patient records and/or by contacting patients and their physicians.