Far-Infrared Irradiation Decreases Proliferation in Basal and PDGFStimulated VSMCs Through AMPKMediated Inhibition of mTOR/p70S6K Signaling Axis

Background@#Far-infrared (FIR) irradiation has been reported to improve diverse cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. The dysregulated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is well established to contribute to developing occlusive vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and in-stent restenosis. However, the effects of FIR irradiation on VSMC proliferation and the underlying mechanism are unclear. This study investigated the molecular mechanism through which FIR irradiation inhibited VSMC proliferation. @*Methods@#We performed cell proliferation and cell death assay, adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) assay, inhibitor studies, transfection of dominant negative (dn)-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α1 gene, and western blot analyses. We also conducted confocal microscopic image analyses and ex vivo studies using isolated rat aortas. @*Results@#FIR irradiation for 30 minutes decreased VSMC proliferation without altering the cell death. Furthermore, FIR irradiation accompanied decreases in phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) at Ser2448 (p-mTOR-Ser2448 ) and p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) at Thr389 (p-p70S6K-Thr389 ). The phosphorylation of AMPK at Thr172 (p-AMPKThr172 ) was increased in FIR-irradiated VSMCs, which was accompanied by a decreased cellular ATP level. Similar to in vitro results, FIR irradiation increased p-AMPK-Thr172 and decreased p-mTOR-Ser 2448 and p-p70S6K-Thr389 in isolated rat aortas. Pre-treatment with compound C, a specific AMPK inhibitor, or ectopic expression of dn-AMPKα1 gene, significantly reversed FIR irradiation-decreased VSMC proliferation, p-mTOR-Ser2448 , and p-p70S6K-Thr389 . On the other hand, hyperthermal stimulus (39°C) did not alter VSMC proliferation, cellular ATP level, and AMPK/mTOR/p70S6K phosphorylation. Finally, FIR irradiation attenuated plateletderived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated VSMC proliferation by increasing p-AMPK-Thr172 , and decreasing p-mTOR-Ser2448 and p-p70S6K-Thr389 in PDGF-induced in vitro atherosclerosis model. @*Conclusion@#These results show that FIR irradiation decreases the basal and PDGF-stimulated VSMC proliferation, at least in part, by the AMPK-mediated inhibition of mTOR/p70S6K signaling axis irrespective of its hyperthermal effect. These observations suggest that FIR therapy can be used to treat arterial narrowing diseases, including atherosclerosis and in-stent restenosis.

Activation of AMPK by Telmisartan Decreases Basal and PDGF-stimulated VSMC Proliferation via Inhibiting the mTOR/p70S6K Signaling Axis

Background@#Telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), is widely used to treat hypertension by blocking the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Although abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a well-established contributor to the development of various vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, the effect of telmisartan on VSMC proliferation and its mechanism of action have not been fully revealed. Herein, we investigated the molecular mechanism whereby telmisartan inhibits rat VSMC proliferation. @*Methods@#We measured VSMC proliferation by MTT assay, and performed inhibitor studies and western blot analyses using basal and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated rat VSMCs. To elucidate the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), we introduced dominant-negative (dn)-AMPKα1 gene into VSMCs. @*Results@#Telmisartan decreased VSMC proliferation, which was accompanied by decreased phosphorylations of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) at Ser2448 (p-mTOR-Ser2448 ) and p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) at Thr389 (p-p70S6K-Thr389 ) in dose- and time-dependent manners. Telmisartan dose- and time-dependently increased phosphorylation of AMPK at Thr172 (p-AMPK-Thr172 ). Co-treatment with compound C, a specific AMPK inhibitor, or ectopic expression of the dn-AMPKα1 gene, significantly reversed telmisartan-inhibited VSMC proliferation, p-mTOR-Ser2448 and p-p70S6K-Thr389 levels. Among the ARBs tested (including losartan and fimasartan), only telmisartan increased p-AMPK-Thr172 and decreased p-mTOR-Ser2448 , p-p70S6K-Thr389 , and VSMC proliferation. Furthermore, GW9662, a specific and irreversible peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) antagonist, did not affect any of the telmisartan-induced changes. Finally, telmisartan also exhibited inhibitory effects on VSMC proliferation by increasing p-AMPK-Thr172 and decreasing p-mTOR-Ser2448 and p-p70S6K-Thr389 in a PDGF-induced in vitro atherosclerosis model. @*Conclusion@#These results demonstrated that telmisartan-activated AMPK inhibited basal and PDGF-stimulated VSMC proliferation, at least in part, by downregulating the mTOR/p70S6K signaling axis in a PPARγ-independent manner. These observations suggest that telmisartan could be used to treat arterial narrowing diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis.

Activation of ATM/Akt/CREB/eNOS Signaling Axis by Aphidicolin Increases NO Production and Vessel Relaxation in Endothelial Cells and Rat Aortas

Although DNA damage responses (DDRs) are reported to be involved in nitric oxide (NO) production in response to genotoxic stresses, the precise mechanism of DDR-mediated NO production has not been fully understood. Using a genotoxic agent aphidicolin, we investigated how DDRs regulate NO production in bovine aortic endothelial cells. Prolonged (over 24 h) treatment with aphidicolin increased NO production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) protein expression, which was accompanied by increased eNOS dimer/monomer ratio, tetrahydrobiopterin levels, and eNOS mRNA expression. A promoter assay using 5’-serially deleted eNOS promoters revealed that Tax-responsive element site, located at −962 to −873 of the eNOS promoter, was respon-sible for aphidicolin-stimulated eNOS gene expression. Aphidicolin increased CREB activity and ectopic expression of dominantnegative inhibitor of CREB, A-CREB, repressed the stimulatory effects of aphidicolin on eNOS gene expression and its promoter activity. Co-treatment with LY294002 decreased the aphidicolin-stimulated increase in p-CREB-Ser133 level, eNOS expression, and NO production. Furthermore, ectopic expression of dominant-negative Akt construct attenuated aphidicolin-stimulated NO production. Aphidicolin increased p-ATM-Ser1981 and the knockdown of ATM using siRNA attenuated all stimulatory effects of aphidicolin on p-Akt-Ser473 , p-CREB-Ser133 , eNOS expression, and NO production. Additionally, these stimulatory effects of aphidicolin were similarly observed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Lastly, aphidicolin increased acetylcholine-induced vessel relaxation in rat aortas, which was accompanied by increased p-ATM-Ser1981 , p-Akt-Ser473 , p-CREB-Ser 133 , and eNOS expression. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that in response to aphidicolin, activation of ATM/Akt/CREB/eNOS signaling cascade mediates increase of NO production and vessel relaxation in endothelial cells and rat aortas.

Effect of end-to-side inverted mattress pancreaticojejunostomy following central pancreatectomy on the prevention of pancreatic fistula

PURPOSE: Central pancreatectomy (CP) may be indicated for the treatment of benign or low-grade malignant tumor in the neck and proximal body of the pancreas. Pancreatic fistula is one of the most common complications after CP. In this study, we suggested an inverted mattress pancreaticojejunostomy (IM-PJ) technique to decrease the risk of pancreatic fistula. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2015, CP was performed with IM-PJ for 10 consecutive patients with a benign or low-grade malignant tumor in the neck and proximal body of the pancreas. All clinical and pathological data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Median age was 56.4 years (range, 17–75 years). Median surgery duration was 286 minutes (range, 205–410 minutes). In all cases, the distal stump was reconstructed using the IM-PJ method. Median duration of hospital stay was 23.8 days (range, 9–53 days). No patient mortality occurred. Pancreatic fistula developed in 9 cases (90%); however, all fistulas were grade A and resolved without surgical or radiological intervention. Nine patients remain well with no recurrence or new endocrine or exocrine dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the outcomes of CP with IM-PJ are reasonable for prevention of pancreatic fistula following CP.

Deceased donor liver transplantation performed one week after small bowel resection for complicated umbilical hernia: a case report

Emergent abdominal surgery in cirrhotic patients with ascites can result in dismal postoperative outcomes such as sepsis and hepatic failure. In the present case, small bowel resection followed by anastomosis by the hand-sewn method was performed for small bowel strangulation caused by an umbilical hernia; deceased donor liver transplantation was performed one week after the bowel resection because of deterioration of hepatic function. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of liver transplantation performed at only one week after small bowel resection; and although we obtained a good result, the optimal time to perform liver transplantation in this situation requires further evaluation.

Clinical Analysis of Traumatic Pancreatic Injury

PURPOSE: Althoughpancreas injury is rare in abdominal trauma,it posesa challengeto the surgeon because its clinicalfeaturesare not prominentand the presence of main duct injurycannot be easily identified by imaging studies. Furthermore, severe pancreas injuries require a distal pancreatectomy or a pancreaticoduodnectomy which are associated considerable morbidity and mortality. We reviewed the clinical features of and outcomes for patients with pancreas injury. METHODS: For 10 years from Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2010, thirty-four patients were diagnosedas having pancreas injury by using an explo-laparotomy. Patients successfully treated bynon-operative management were excluded. Patients were divided into early (n=18) and delayed surgery groups (n=11) based on an interval of 24hours between injury and surgery. The clinical features of and the outcomes for the patients in both groups were compared. RESULTS: Males were more commonly injured (82.4% vs.17.6%). The mean age was 37.2 years. The injury mechanisms included vehicle accidents (62.9%, 22/34), assaults (20%, 7/34), and falls (11.4%, 3/34)). The head and neck of the pancreas was most commonly injured, followed by the body and the tail (16, 12, and 6 cases). Of the 34 patients, 26 (76.5%) patients had accompanying injuries. Grade 1 and 2 occurred in 14 (5 and 9) patients, and grade 3, 4, and 5 occurred in 20 (16, 3, and 1) patients. The early and delayed surgery groups showed no difference in surgical outcomes. Two patients with grade 3 in the early surgery group died after surgery,one due tomassive hemorrhage and the other due to septic shock. Of the five patients initially managed non-operatively,three developed peripancreatic necrosis and two developed pseudocyst. All five patients were successfully cured by surgery. CONCLUSION: All cases of pancreas injury in this study involved blunt injury, and accompanying injury to major vessels or the bowel was the major cause of mortality. Surgery delayed for longer than 24 hours after was not associated with adverseoutcomes.

Investigation of osseointegration according to the healing time after having iatrogenic mobility of implant fixtures / 대한치과보철학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the change in re-osseointegration over time and bone reaction at the interface between implant fixture and the surface of the bone, after destroying re-osseointegration by distorting the bone-implant interface artificially. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Experimental implant fixtures (cp titanium, small ef, Cyrillic3.75 mm x 4 mm) which didn't have surface treatment were produced. Two or three fixtures were implanted on both tibias of twelve female rabbits (New Zealand white, more than 3.5 kg). Then after six weeks, removal torque (RT) was measured and the results were recorded as the first measurement values. The fixtures were submerged again to get reosseointegration between the bone and fixture. To identify the change in re-osseointegration of submerged fixtures over time, six groups had the healing time for four days (group I), one week (group II), two weeks (group III), three weeks (group IV), four weeks (group V) and five weeks (group VI), and then the secondary removal torque was measured for each group. To identify the bone formation under fluorescent light, tetracycline (15 mg/kg, IM) were treated on the rabbits of each group. After the second measurement, the rabbits were sacrificed, and 16 slides were made, two or three for each group. The slides were observed under the fluorescent light with light microscope. To find out the change in the secondary removal torque over the primary removal torque in progress of time, the averages of the increase rate of the primary and secondary torque removal force were calculated. Then, to find out if there were any critical differences between the primary removal torque and the secondary removal torque in each group and among the groups, the results were analyzed statistically by paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Duncan's Multiple Range Test. RESULTS: In group I and II, secondary removal torque decreased, especially in group I. In group III, IV, V, and VI, secondary removal torque increased critically. Comparing the differences among the groups, the critical difference was shown between group I, II and group III, IV, V, VI. Mineralization at the interface between the bone and implant fixture was identified from the first week, and bone formation was shown more clearly from the second week. CONCLUSION: If the implant fixture remains unforced for a certain period of time after the fixture has had iatrogenic mobility, re-osseointegration occurs at the surface of the fixture, and for tibias of rabbits, higher re-osseointegration was obtained within two weeks.

The Risk Factors for Intrahepatic Early Recurrence after Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to comprehend the prognosis and risk factors for the early recurrence after resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Between 1997 and 2005, 237 patients underwent curative resection for HCC at Kyungpook National University Hospital. The patients were followed up regularly to detect any recurrences of HCC by performing imaging studies and AFP. Early recurrence was defined as recurrence that occurred within one year after resection. The patients were divided into the early recurrence group and the others, which included both patients without recurrence and with recurrence that occurred later than 1 year after resection. The clinicopathologic factors of both group were compared to identify the prognosis and the risk factors by performing univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Seventy three patients (30.8%, 73/238) had early recurrence after resection and 164 patients (69.2%, 164/238) didn`t have recurrence in the first year. The survival rate was significantly better in the without early recurrence group than that in the early recurrence group (96.3% vs 60.3% and 85.1% vs 23.4%, 62.8% vs 7.3% 1, 3, 5 years). The risk factors for early recurrence in the HCC patients were a tumor size greater than 5 cm (P=0.011; odds ratio=2.304) and vascular invasion (P=<0.001; odds ratio=6.342). CONCLUSION: Since a large tumor size and vascular invasion are the risk factors for early recurrence, the patients who have these risk factors should be followed up with caution and possible postoperative adjuvant therapeutic trials should be considered.

Analysis of the Surgical Outcome and Quality of Life after Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Nonneoplastic Disease

PURPOSE: Pancreaticoduodenectomy for mass-like lesions that are suspicious of malignancy sometimes reveals only nonneoplastic disease, especially in those cases where adequate tissues for biopsy are unavailable. In this study, we evaluated the outcomes and quality of life (QOL) after pancreaticoduodenectomy for treating nonneoplastic disease. METHODS: The clinical data of 28 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for nonneoplatic disease and trauma from Jan. 1992 to Feb. 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. The QOL was evaluated using the FACT-Hep questionnaire. The patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease were utilized as the control group. RESULTS: 13.8% (28/203) of all the pancreaticoduodenectomized patients had nonneoplatic disease and trauma. Male patients were predominant (25/28) and all the trauma patients were male. The mean age was 48 (23~72) years old. The indications for surgery included lesions suspicious for malignancy (16 cases), pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm (1 case), and pancreatoduodenal injury (11 cases). The histologic findings of the nonneoplastic lesions revealed benign inflammation of the bile duct (6 cases), chronic pancreatitis (8 cases), pancreatic pseudocyst (1 case), and fibrosis of the Ampulla of Vater (1 case). No surgical mortality occurred. However, the trauma patients group had higher morbidity (72.7% Vs 23.5%, respectively, P=0.01) and a longer hospital stay (68.0 days Vs 32.6 days, respectively, P=0.02) after surgery compared to the nonneoplastic disease patient group. The QOL of the patient who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for nonneoplatic disease was not different from that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Since pancreaticoduodenectomy for nonneoplastic disease was safe and the QOL of the patients was acceptable, it should be performed more often when malignancies can not be excluded from the differential diagnosis.

Gallbladder Carcinomas found after a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

PURPOSE: An laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is being increasingly performed for benign gallbladder disease. Accordingly, gallbladder carcinomas have been increasingly reported in patients after undergoing an LC. This study aims to reveal the clinicopathological features and prognosis of gallbladder carcinomas found after an LC. METHODS: Between April 1994 and March 2007, 2714 patients underwent an LC and 1.5% of the patients were diagnosed histologically as having a gallbladder carcinoma. We retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathological features and long-term survival of the patients. RESULTS: There were 19 male patients and 21 female patients, with a mean age of 60.7 degrees+/-12.3 years. The indications for LC included acute calculous cholecystitis, chronic calculous cholecystitis and polypoid lesions of the gallbladder (PLGs). An LC only was performed in 26 patients (13 pT1a, 7 pT1b and 6 pT2 cases) while additional surgery including gallbladder bed resection and lymph node dissection was performed in 14 patients (2 pT1a, 2 pT1b, 8 pT2 and 2 pT3 cases). The patients with a carcinoma associated with PLGs were younger, had more incidence of pT1a and had well differentiated carcinomas and a better 5-year survival rate as compared to patients with a non-polypoid carcinoma. Whereas no recurrences or deaths occurred for the 24 pT1 patients, two of the 14 pT2 patients had a recurrence. Both pT3 patients had a recurrence despite additional surgery. In patients with pT2 or more, additional surgery did not improve survival (p = 0.82). CONCLUSION: The polypoid morphology of gallbladder carcinoma, but not additional surgery, favorably affects survival of gallbladder carcinoma patients following an LC. However, a further multi-institutional study may be needed to determine the benefit of additional surgery.

Comparison between Laparoscopic Unroofing and Open Surgery for Nonparasitic Hepatic Cyst

PURPOSE: Nonparasitic hepatic cyst is being increasingly found due to the frequent application of diagnostic imaging. The treatment for nonparasitic hepatic cysts varies according to the nature of the lesion. Many authors have recently reported the benefit of performing laparoscopic unroofing for nonparasitic hepatic cyst. In this study, we reviewed the indications and the results of open surgery and laparoscopic unroofing for nonparasitic hepatic cyst. METHODS: From May 1992 until May 2005, 28 patients underwent an operation for nonparasitic hepatic cyst in our hospital. 12 patients had open surgery and 16 patients had laparoscopic unroofing. The indications and outcomes for open surgery and laparoscopic unroofing were compared. RESULTS: 25 patients were female and 3 patients were male, and the mean age was 59.7 (range: 35~80) years. Non- specific abdominal pain was the most common symptom in 74.4% (20/28) of the patients. The indications for open surgery included suspicious neoplastic cyst (3), hemorrhagic cyst (1), infected cysts (2), a huge cyst involving one lobe (1), cysts in segment 7 (2), and simple cysts that had been operated on before 1996 (2). Three suspicious neoplastic hepatic cysts turned out to be simple cysts on the pathology report. Laparoscopic unroofing was performed for 15 simple nonparasitic hepatic cysts and for one infected cyst. The mean hospital stay was 4.7 days (mean stay: 2~11) for the laparoscopic surgery patients compared to 16.2 days (mean tay: 7~38) for the open surgery patients (p< 0.0005). No morbidity or mortality was present in both groups. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic unroofing for nonparasitic hepatic cyst is less invasive and it required a shorter hospital stay. Thus, laparoscopic unroofing is favored for the nonparasitic hepatic cyst unless it is complicated by neoplastic cysts.

Surgical Outcomes and Risk Factors for Gallbladder Carcinoma of Polypoid Lesions of Gallbladder

PURPOSE: Most polypoid lesions of the gallbladder (PLGs) are benign, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice unless the suspicion of malignancy is high. PLGs were reviewed to identify risk factors for neoplastic polypoid lesions. METHODS: Between March 1992 and February 2005, 205 cases of PLGs, including 67 neoplastic and 138 nonneoplastic PLGs, were evaluated. Risk factors for neoplastic PLGs and gallbladder carcinomas were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to obtain a cut-off value of the tumor size and age of patients for predicting neoplastic PLGs and gallbladder carcinomas. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients, and the size, number and type of polyp were statistically different between 67 neoplastic (47 adenomas, 20 adenocarcinomas) and 138 nonneoplastic PLGs (104 cholesterol polyps, 22 hyperplastic polyps, 11 adenomyomas, and 1 xanthogranulomatous polyp). A multiple regression analysis showed that the size, number and type of polyp were significant risk factors for neoplastic PLGs. Of the 67 neoplastic PLGs, the age of the patient, and the size and type of polyp were significant risk factors of carcinomas. The sizes of tumors for predicting neoplastic PLGs and carcinomas were 0.85 and 1.1 cm, respectively, while the age for predicting a carcinoma was 55 years. In 5 carcinoma patients, an additional curative resection was performed. No recurrence or carcinoma related death were observed in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) only (15 cases) and additional surgery groups (5 cases). CONCLUSION: Risk factors of a carcinoma in PLGs include the age of the patients, and the size and sessile type of the PLG. The ROC curve showed that the appropriate size of the tumor and the age of the patient for predicting gallbladder cancer in PLGs were 1.1 cm and 55 years, respectively. Additional curative surgery immediately after an LC seems to increase the survival of gallbladder carcinoma patients, but its role should be determined through long term follow-up.

Nonoperative Treatment for Grade IV Liver Injury / 한국간담췌외과학회지

PURPOSE: Though the nonoperative management of liver injury (NOMLI) has frequently been employed for traumatic liver injuries, the indications for NOMLI for grade IV liver injuries are still controversial. To determine the usefulness of the NOMLI in grade IV liver injuries, the clinical features of an operative management (n=26) and a NOMLI group (n=20) were compared. METHODS: For the 10 years up until Feb. 2004, 46 grade IV liver injury cases, according to the AAST liver injury scale, at the Kyung Pook National University Hospital, were selected for this study. The clinical features, grade of liver injury and outcomes of treatments were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 46 cases 40 (87%) and 6 (13%) were male and female, respectively. The mean ages of the male and female cases were 37.6 (15.2 and 34.5 (16.7 years, respectively. The causes of liver trauma were vehicle accident (71.7%, 33/46), industry accident (26.1%, 12/46) and violence (2.2%, 1/46). The accompanying abdominal injury was not present in the NOMLI group compared to 30.8% (8/26) in the operative management group. NOMLI was more than 2 times more frequently indicated after Feb. 1999. The mortality in operative management group was 11.5% (3/26) compared with none in the NOMLI group. 20% (4/20) of NOMLI group failed due to delayed bleeding and eventually had to undergo operations and the 80% (16/20) of NOMLI group was successful. The morbidity in successful NOMLI group was bile collection (6.25%, 1/16) and empyema (6.25%, 1/16). CONCLUSION: Nonoperative management for grade IV liver injury in hemodynamically stable patients without accompanying abdominal injury was successful. However, continuous monitoring and immediate operative management should be prepared for the delayed bleeding.

Idiosyncratic Portal Collateral Circulation during Hepatic Inflow Occlusion / 한국간담췌외과학회지

PURPOSE: Acute ligation of the portal vein in animals results in the pooling of blood in the splanchnic bed, and this is followed by rapid cardiovascular collapse and death. However, humans can withstand portal inflow occlusion because of portal collateral circulation. We tried to prove the development of portal collateral circulation for acute portal inflow occlusion through serial measurements of the portal pressure. METHODS: Our study was done on 187 patients who under went liver resection using portal triad clamping (PTC). We inserted a catheter into the right gastroepiploic vein and we measured the portal pressure before PTC, after PTC and just before the reperfusion of the last clamping. RESULTS: During liver resection, the portal pressure gradually decreased by 61.8 mmH2O in the normal liver group, 71.1 mmH2O in the chronic hepatitis group and 43.0 mmH2O in the cirrhosis group because of the development of collateral circulation. The differences among the three groups had no statistical significance. Moreover, there was no difference in the portal pressure decrease between the intermittent and continuous clamping groups. However, the decrease of portal pressure in the 21 patients with varices was much less than the decrease of portal pressure in those patients without varices (10 mmH2O vs. 62.7 mmH2O, p=0.008). In the more recent 20 cases, we additionally measured the portal pressure 15 minutes and 30 minutes after PTC. The pressure dereased rapidly for the first 15 minutes and the degree of pressure decrease after 15 minutes was minimal. CONCLUSION: The gradual decrease of portal pressure during PTC suggests the development of portal collateral circulation. This enables the patients to better tolerate liver ischemia during liver resection or transplantation. Most of the collateral circulations seemed to develop within the first 15 minutes of PTC.

Clinical analysis of surgical management for cystic neoplasms of pancreas / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Cystic neoplasms of pancreas comprise pathologically heterogeneous groups of tumors with many shared clinical features. Although relatively uncommon, they have a very important place in the surgical pathology of the pancreas because of their high cure rate and their potential confusion with far more common pancreatic pseudocysts. METHODS: We analysed clinical features of 23 patients with pancreatic cystic neoplasm that we treated within 8-years` period (13 women, 10 men, mean age; 47.2 years old) The cystic neoplasms of pancreas comprise 5 serous cystadenoma, 3 benign mucinous cystic tumor, 3 borderline malignancy of mucinous cystic tumor and 4 mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, 4 papillary cystic tumor, 1 cystic teratoma, 1 cystic mesothelioma, 1 lymphoepithelial cyst. 1 mucinous ductal ectasia. RESULTS: Mean tumor size was 6.8cm(3 to 15cm). 73.9 percent had abdominal pain and 26.1 percent had abdominal mass. Computed tomography, ultrasonography and MRI were useful in detecting cystic mass in all cases but was not reliable to distinguish serous from mucinous tumor, benign from malignant. For the treatment of the tumor, 17 distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy, 1 distal pancreatectomy with spleen preserving, 1 proximal pancreatic resection, 2 local excision of pancreas and 1 PPPD were performed. During the period of follow up (mean: 29 months) after surgical resection, 1 recurrence occurred in the patient who underwent local excision for mucinous cystic tumor showing borderline malignancy on histologic finding. All the patients are alive except 2 patients who were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic cystic neoplasms are rare and their prognosis are acceptable when they are treated early and properly. So early detection and surgical treatment is the mainstay of management of cystic neoplasm of pancreas.