[Evaluation of Body Temperature during Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Cancer in Elderly Patients Aged over 75 Years Old].

Background: Body temperatures in elderly patients undergoing a pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD)for treatment of pancreatic cancer have not been fully evaluated. We aimed to compare body temperature during a PD between elderly(75 years old)and non-elderly patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent PD between April 2012 and April 2014 at the Kanasgawa Cancer Center.

Vitamin E supplementation increases polyunsaturated fatty acids of RBC membrane in HCV-infected patients.

Objective: We investigated the effects of vitamin E supplementation on the fatty acid composition of red blood cell membrane phospholipids and on the clinical observations in patients with hepatitis C virus.

Method: Eight patients and control subjects were administered 500 mg/d of d-alpha-tocopherol for 12 wk. The alpha-tocopherol and fatty acid composition of phospholipids in red blood cells were analyzed before, at 4, 8, and 12 wk, and after 4 wk of washout of vitamin E administration.

Arachidonic acid in mononuclear cells and its clinical significance in HCV cirrhotic patients.

Objectives: An abnormal fatty acid pattern in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis (LC) has been reported in plasma phospholipids and some other tissues. To elucidate the significance of arachidonic acid deficiency on the clinical pathophysiology of LC and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we analyzed the fatty acid compositions of mononuclear cell phospholipids, plasma alpha-tocopherol, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in cirrhotic patients infected with the hepatitis C virus with and without HCC.

Methods: Twelve cirrhotic patients without HCC (LC patients) and 11 with HCC (HCC patients) were enrolled.

Habitual food intake and polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency in liver cirrhosis.

Objective: We compared the habitual food intake and plasma fatty acid composition in cirrhotic patients living in two different regions in Japan, Okayama and Toyama, and evaluated the effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid and alpha-tocopherol intake on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity.

Method: A quantitative food-frequency questionnaire method was used.

Results: The significantly higher intake of fish in the patients living in Toyama resulted in higher plasma levels of docosahexaenoic acid and lower levels of arachidonic acid.