Hand-assisted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in pigs using our original hand device (Lap Disc).

We analyzed the safety and feasibility of a hand-assisted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (HALDP) in pigs. We performed HALDP in five cases using our original hand device (Lap Disc). The procedures in all cases were successfully performed.

Changes in the Activities of H , K -ATPase and Na , K -ATPase in Cultured Cells Derived from Micromeres of Sea Urchin Embryos with Special Reference to Their Roles in Spicule Rod Formation: (sea urchin egg/development/spicule rod/Na , K -ATPase/H , K -ATPase).

In cultured cells derived from micromeres isolated at the 16-cell stage of sea urchin embryos, the activity of H , K -ATPase became detectable after 15 hr of culture, when the cells started to form spicules, and then increased reaching a plateau from 25 hr of culture. The Na , K -ATPase activity of isolated micromeres increased to a maximum at 20 hr of culture and thereafter decreased gradually. Allylisothiocyanate, an inhibitor of H , K -ATPase, caused a decrease in intracellular pH (pHi) accompanied by blockage of Ca deposition in spicule rods in spicule-forming cells at 30 hr of culture.

Inhibitory Effect of Omeprazole, a Specific Inhibitor of H , K -ATPase, on Spicule Formation in Sea Urchin Embryos and in Cultured Micromere-Derived Cells.: (sea urchin/H , K -ATPase/omeprazole/allylisothiocyanate/spicule calcification).

Embryos kept with omeprazole, a specific H , K -ATPase inhibitor, in a period of development between the mesenchyme blastula and the pluteus corresponding stage became abnormal plutei having quite small spicules, somewhat poor pluteus arms and apparently normal archenterons. In micro-mere-derived cells, kept with omeprazole at pH 8.2 in a period between 15 and 40 hr of culture at 20°C, omeprazole strongly inhibited spicule formation but did not block the outgrowth of pseudopodial cables, in which spicule rods were to be formed.

Development of Sea Urchin Embryos in Artificial Sea Water Containing Br in Place of Cl : (sea urchin/spicule formation/Cl -deficient sea water/Br ).

In artificial sea water in which the Cl concentration was reduced to less than 10% of that in normal sea water by its replacement with Br , sea urchin eggs were fertilized and developed into abnormal plutei following almost the same time schedule as in natural sea water. These embryos had poorly developed spicules, short pluteus arms, somewhat jagged embryo-walls and quasi-normal archenterons. Similar embryos were obtained in another artificial sea water in which 90% of the Cl concentration in normal sea water was reduced by Br and 10% by acetate.

Probable Role of Allylisothiocyanate-Sensitive H , K -ATPase in Spicule Calcification in Embryos of the Sea Urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus: (sea urchin/spicule/H , K -ATPase/allylisothiocyanate/H pump).

In embryos of the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, as well as in cultured cells derived from isolated micromeres, spicule formation was inhibited by allylisothiocyanate, an inhibitor of H , K -ATPase, at above 0.5 μM and was almost completely blocked at above 10 μM. Amiloride, an inhibitor of Na , H antiporter, at above 100 μM exerted only slight inhibitory effect, if any, on spicule formation.

Inhibitory Effects of Diltiazem and Verapamil, Calcium Antagonists, on Fertilization-Induced Increase in the Phosphorylase Reaction in Echiuroid Eggs: (diltiazem/verapamil/phosphorylase/glycolysis/echiuroid eggs).

The calcium antagonists diltiazem and verapamil at 100 μM caused considerable inhibition of the glycolysis system in recently fertilized eggs of the echiuroid, Urechis unicinctus. The levels of glycolytic intermediates in eggs were found to be higher 5 min after insemination than before fertilization while the levels of adenine nucleotides and inorganic phosphate were almost the same before and after fertilization. Addition of diltiazem or verapamil 30 sec after insemination did not inhibit fertilization, but resulted in maintenance of as low levels of glycolytic intermediates as in unfertilized eggs.

Inhibitory Effect of Calmodulin Antagonists and Calcium Antagonists on Fertilization-Induced Cyanide-Insensitive Respiration in Sea Urchin Eggs: (fertilization/sea urchin eggs/CN insensitive respiration/calmodulin antagonist/calcium antagonist).

During initial several minutes after fertilization, sea urchin eggs exhibited high rate of respiration which was only slightly inhibited by cyanide. This cyanide-insensitive respiration was inhibited by calcium antagonists, diltiazem and verapamil, and calmodulin antagonists, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalensulfonamide hydrochloride (W-7), N-(6-aminohexyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide hydrochloride (W-5) and chlorpromazine, which were added within 1 min after insemination. The inhibitory effect of W-7 on cyanide-insensitive respiration was higher than that of W-5.