Annals of surgery
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Comparative Study
Effect of endotoxin on opossum gallbladder motility: a model of acalculous cholecystitis.
To determine whether endotoxin causes histologic changes in the gallbladder consistent with acalculous cholecystitis, and to determine the effects of endotoxin on gallbladder motility. ⋯ Endotoxin causes an ischemic insult to the gallbladder similar to that seen in acalculous cholecystitis. Also, endotoxin may lead to gallbladder stasis by decreasing gallbladder contractile responses to hormonal and neural stimuli.
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To examine whether activated protein C (APC) reduces spinal cord injury in rats by inhibiting neutrophil activation after the transient ischemia. ⋯ APC reduced the ischemia/reperfusion-induced spinal cord injury by inhibiting neutrophil activation. The therapeutic mechanisms of APC might depend on its inhibitory effect on the production of TNF-alpha, which is a potent activator of neutrophils. Although the anticoagulant effects of APC might not be related to its ability to inhibit TNF-alpha production, its serine protease activity appears to be essential in the therapeutic mechanism. APC appears to have potential as a therapeutic agent for prevention of spinal cord injury in patients undergoing aortic aneurysm repair.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of intravenous/oral ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole versus piperacillin/tazobactam in the treatment of complicated intraabdominal infections.
To compare the safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) ciprofloxacin plus IV metronidazole (CIP+MET) with that of IV piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZO) in adults with complicated intraabdominal infections, and to compare the efficacy of sequential IV-to-oral CIP+MET therapy with that of the IV CIP-only regimen. ⋯ CIP+MET, initially administered IV and followed by CIP+MET oral therapy, was clinically more effective than IV PIP/TAZO for the treatment of patients with complicated intraabdominal infections.
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To develop and validate a preoperative risk index for predicting postoperative respiratory failure (PRF). ⋯ The respiratory failure risk index is a validated model for identifying patients at risk for developing PRF and may be useful for guiding perioperative respiratory care.
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To investigate whether transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling is disrupted in human pancreatic cancer cells, and to study the role of TGFbeta receptors and Smad genes. ⋯ Pancreatic cancer cells show loss of TGFbeta responsiveness. Smads 2 and 3 and TGFbeta receptors are not defective in the cell lines studied. Transfection of Smad4 into one of the cell lines restored TGFbeta responsiveness, suggesting an important role for Smad4 in pancreatic cancer. It is likely that other, as yet unidentified genes are important in TGFbeta resistance in pancreatic cancer cells.