Standardized quick en bloc technique for procurement of cadaveric liver grafts for pediatric liver transplantation

This paper describes a quick procedure for cadaveric liver graft retrieval during multiple organ harvesting. The technique is based on minimal preliminary dissection, absence of in situ direct portal perfusion, and en bloc removal of the liver and pancreas, with an aortic patch encompassing the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. The results of 110 pediatric liver transplantations with 109 organs harvested using this technique are reported. There were no graft harvesting injuries. The liver graft primary nonfunction rate was 4.5% (5/110). The 3-month retransplantation rate was 10%. The actual patient survival rates were 93% at 3 months and 90% at 1 year; actual graft survival rates were 85.5% and 78%, respectively. The technique described was at least as safe as conventional procedures. A major advantage of the procedure is its flexibility, which allows for the easily combined procurement of other organs (whole pancreas and intestine).     

Localizing and photosensitizing mechanism by tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphin in vivo on human malignant melanoma xenografts in athymic nude mice

Observations on time-dependent localization of tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphin (3-THPP) in human malignant melanoma transplanted to athymic nude mice from 1 to 120 h after intraperitoneal (i.p.) 10 mg kg^–1 b.w. administration were made by means of fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence was found on the membrane of the melanoma cells and in the cytoplasm with a peak fluorescence intensity at 24 h post-injection of 3-THPP. The growth of the tumour cells was obviously inhibited at an early stage after PCT. Morphological changes of the tumour at various intervals after treatment by PCT with 3-THPP were also observed. Diffuse degeneration of the tumour cells with swelling of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, heterochromatin aggregation and margination, etc., and subsequently diffuse necrosis with little or no the background of tumorous vascular response were found at an early stage after PCT. On the other hand, it was also observed that the necrosis of the melanoma areas was caused as a consequence of tumorous vascular injury at a later stage after PCT. Thus, two tumoricidal processes caused by PCT with 3-THPP were seen: a direct phototoxic action on tumour cells at an early stage after PCT and an indirect effect secondary to tumorous vascular injury at a later period after PCT.     

Hypophyseal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma presenting with clinical panhypopituitarism successfully treated with chemotherapy

Summary A patient is described with a testicular Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) presenting with panhypopituitarism caused by a hypophyseal localization. A⁶⁷Gallium scintigraphy showed avid uptake in the hypophyseal region. Obviously⁶⁷Gallium could reach the tumor, by the intravenous route, which was the reason to treat the patient with intravenous chemotherapy. A complete remission was induced, which seems to be lasting (+ 25 months). As far as we know this is the first report of panhypopituitarism caused by a hypophyseal NHL in the hypophysis and successfully treated by intravenous chemotherapy.     

Polymerization of lactams, 88. Copolymers poly(ϵ-caprolactam)-block-polybutadiene prepared by anionic polymerization,part III. Model polymerizations initiated with potassium salt of ϵ-caprolactam and accelerated with isocyanates and their derivatives

Anionic polymerization of ?-caprolactam was initiated with the potassium salt of ?-caprolactam and accelerated with phenyl isocyanate, toluylene diisocyanate, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, some derivatives of these isocyanates (urethanes, ureas, and allophanates), or combinations of phenyl isocyanate with its derivatives at 150°C. The effect of individual structures on the polymerization kinetics and their contribution to the preparation of block copolymers of ?-caprolactam with hydroxy-terminated prepolymers, in-situ functionalized with diisocyanates, are discussed on the basis of a detailed analysis of time functions of polymer yield and degree of polymerization.     

Fas receptor expression on B-lineage cells

Mice homozygous for the lpr mutation have B and T cell defects and develop autoantibodies, suggesting that lpr plays a role in their genesis. The lpr defect has been identified as a mutation in the apoptosis-associated Fas receptor (FasR) gene. To begin to define the role of FasR in B cells, we have surveyed FasR expression on B-lineage cells from early progenitors in the bone marrow through their maturation in the periphery. Contrary to some reports, we found that FasR is expressed on B cells at all stages of their development and is highest on germinal center B cells. FasR is not expressed on lpr/lpr-derived cells. These data are consistent with the idea that lpr/lpr mice have an intrinsic B cell defect that may be manifested in developing as well as peripheral B cells. An unexpected finding is that B-1 (CD5) B cells do not constitutively express FasR: FasR becomes detectable on B-1 B cells only after activation.     

Development of the histaminergic neurons and expression of histidine decarboxylase mRNA in the zebrafish brain in the absence of all peripheral histaminergic systems

The histamine-storing neural system in adult and developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) was studied with immunocytochemical and chromatographical methods. Furthermore, the gene for histidine decarboxylase was partially cloned and its expression mapped with in situ hybridization. The histamine-storing neurons were only seen in the caudal hypothalamus, around the posterior recess of the diencephalic ventricle. Almost all parts of the brain, except the cerebellum, contained at least some histamine-immunoreactive fibres. The ascending projections had the rostral part of the dorsal telencephalon as a major target. Descending projections terminated in the torus semicircularis, central grey and inferior olive. A prominent innervation of the optic tectum, which has not been reported in other fish, was seen. The in situ hybridization gave a strong signal in cells with the same anatomical position as the histamine-immunoreactive neurons. The first histamine-immunoreactive neurons appeared in the ventral hypothalamus at about 85 h post-fertilization, and at 90 h, immunoreactive fibres terminated in the dorsal telencephalon. The embryonic histamine production described in mammals was lacking in this species. Both immunocytochemical and chromatographical studies indicated that histamine is absent in all other parts of the zebrafish body, and no specific hybridization was seen in any other part of the fish than the hypothalamus. The zebrafish could therefore be a very useful model for pharmacological in vivo studies of the histaminergic system of the brain, since the powerful peripheral actions of histamine should be lacking in this species.     

Interstitial and vascular pancreas rejection in relation to graft survival

To examine the incidence of interstitial and vascular rejection in pancreas allografts and its impact on graft survival, we studied 36 percutaneous pancreas biopsies and 10 pancreas transplantectomy specimens from 32 patients who had undergone simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Interstitial rejection (IR) was predominantly found in the biopsies, while vascular rejection (VR) was most prominent in the transplantectomies. Pancreas graft survival was significantly decreased for pancreas grafts that had suffered from vascular rejection when compared to those with only interstitial rejection. Potential rejection markers, i. e., serum amylase, glucose, creatinine, and urinary amylase, did not correlate with histological signs of rejection, although increased levels of serum amylase were, in all but one case, associated with rejection.We conclude that a percutaneous pancreas biopsy remains the most reliable method to determine pancreas rejection, and that by distinguishing between IR andVR, a pancreas biopsy may provide important diagnostic as well as prognostic information. Received: 6 March 1997 Received after revision: 5 June 1997 Accepted: 30 June 1997     

Biocompatibility of Hemoglobin Solutions. II. The Inflammatory Reaction of Human Monocytes and Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages

This study explored the inflammatory mechanism of toxicity of hemoglobin solutions (Hb-S). Human monocytes and mouse activated peritoneal macrophages were incubated with seven different solutions. The first four consisted of non-cross-linked bovine Hb. Of these, Hb-SI was incompletely purified of stromal phospholipids, Hb-SII was contaminated with environmental bacterial endotoxins, Hb-SIII was pure hemoglobin, and Hb-SIV was pure Hb with the addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and mannitol (M). The other three solutions were made of pure bovine Hb cross-linked with different agents: Hb-SV, reacted with glutaraldehyde; Hb-SVI reacted with bis-3,5-dibromosalicyl fumarate (DBSF); and Hb-SVII reacted with a ring-opened dialdehyde derivative of 5'(pyro)-phosphate of adenosine (ATP) (o-ATP). The reaction of monocytes and macrophages was studied in terms of (a) O2-derived radicals, as determined by the measurement of H2O2 and lipid peroxides; (b) complement factor C3a desArg; (c) 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (stable metabolite of prostacyclin); and (d) TxB2 (stable metabolite of thromboxane) released into the culture supernatants. The most significant reactions were obtained with the solutions contaminated with stromal phospholipids or bacterial endotoxins. Pure Hb was less reactive. Further reduction in proinflammatory activity was achieved by the addition of oxygen radical-scavengers (SOD, CAT, and M), or by the cross-linking of Hb with DBSF or o-ATP.