Journal of investigative surgery : the official journal of the Academy of Surgical Research
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Mesenteric ischemia is a devastating disease process that frequently challenges clinicians. To enhance the early diagnosis of gut ischemia and judgment of its severity, it may be helpful to detect the unusual existence or increase in biomarkers in the body fluid. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation of plasma nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels to mesenteric ischemia using an animal model. ⋯ In addition, ischemic intestinal injury was confirmed by the significantly elevated histological scores in the AMI group after 60 min of ischemia (p < .001). Our preliminary results suggest the possibility of important insights regarding NO and ET-1 changes into the mechanism of pathogenesis in AMI in rats. The increases in plasma NO and ET-1 levels may potentially be noninvasive biomarkers for the early detection of this disease.
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1954 marked the most important year for modern transplantation. It represented the date in which the first successful live kidney transplant was performed by the devoted group of Joseph Murray, Hartwell Harrison, and their Peter Bent Brigham associates in Boston. Intense preparation and careful analysis was required for a long time to arrive at the resounding success manifested in the case of the Herrick twin brothers. ⋯ The latter part of the 1960s witnessed the maturation of the Minnesota program with the arrival of John Najarian from California. The 1970s introduced different morbidity and mortality associated with immunosuppressive treatment, and required adjustments in patient management were necessary. New advances were to come in years ahead.
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Biography Historical Article
Alfred Blalock. Surgeon, educator, and pioneer in shock and cardiac research.
Alfred Blalock (1899-1964) was a pioneer American surgeon who made significant advances in the knowledge and treatment of hemorrhagic and traumatic shock as well as in the palliative treatment of congenital heart disease, particularly tetralogy of Fallot. This historical note reviews highlights in the life and accomplishments of Alfred Blalock, noted academic surgeon and researcher. Blalock originated from Culloden, Georgia and attended Georgia Military College, the University of Georgia, and Johns Hopkins Medical School. ⋯ Hundreds of operations followed. He educated and trained an incredible cadre of cardiovascular surgeons. He passed away in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 15, 1964.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Thoracotomy is associated with significantly more profound suppression in lymphocytes and natural killer cells than video-assisted thoracic surgery following major lung resections for cancer.
Major surgery is immunosuppressive, and this could have an impact on postoperative tumor immunosurveillance and, therefore, long-term survival in cancer patients. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung resection is a new alternative surgical approach to thoracotomy for patients with early lung cancer. This is a pilot study to examine the postoperative changes in leukocytes, lymphocyte subsets, B cells, T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing lung resection with VATS versus thoracotomy approaches. ⋯ No significant differences in survival or disease-free survival were found between the two groups. Thus, VATS major lung resection for NSCLC is associated with less, as well as quicker recovery from, postoperative immunosuppression compared with the thoracotomy approach. The clinical relevance of better preserved cellular immunity in the early postoperative period warrants confirmation from large randomized trials.