Surgery
-
Patients with both cirrhosis and ascites have a 20% risk of developing umbilical hernia. A retrospective study from our center comparing conservative management of umbilical hernia with elective repair in these patients showed a significant risk of mortality as a result of hernia incarceration in conservatively treated patients. The goal of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of elective umbilical hernia repair in these patients prospectively. ⋯ Elective umbilical hernia repair is safe and the preferred approach in cirrhotic patients with ascites.
-
Clinical trials of therapeutic angiogenesis with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been disappointing, owing likely to endothelial dysfunction. We used a swine model of chronic ischemia and endothelial dysfunction to determine whether resveratrol coadministration would improve the angiogenic response to VEGF therapy. ⋯ Although resveratrol coadministration decreases oxidative stress and improves endothelial function, it abolishes improvements in myocardial perfusion and arteriolar density afforded by VEGF treatment alone. This effect is due likely to inhibition of the oxidative stress-dependent phosphorylation of VE-cadherin, an essential step in the initiation of arteriogenesis.
-
Comparative Study
Efferent vagal nerve stimulation attenuates acute lung injury following burn: The importance of the gut-lung axis.
The purpose of this study was to assess acute lung injury when protection to the gut mucosal barrier offered by vagus nerve stimulation is eliminated by an abdominal vagotomy. ⋯ Vagal nerve stimulation is an effective strategy to protect against acute lung injury following burn. Moreover, the protective effects of vagal nerve stimulation in the prevention of acute lung injury are eliminated by performing an abdominal vagotomy. These results establish the importance of the gut-lung axis after burn in the genesis of acute lung injury.
-
Comparative Study
Endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is superior to resuscitative thoracotomy with aortic clamping in a porcine model of hemorrhagic shock.
Noncompressible torso hemorrhage is the leading cause of potentially preventable death on the modern battlefield. The objective of this study is to characterize resuscitative aortic balloon occlusion (BO) compared to thoracotomy with aortic clamping in a model of hemorrhagic shock. ⋯ Resuscitative aortic BO increases central perfusion pressures with less physiologic disturbance than thoracotomy with aortic clamping in a model of hemorrhagic shock. Endovascular BO of the aorta should be explored further as an option in the management of noncompressible torso hemorrhage.
-
Reversible electroporation has long been used to transfer macromolecules into target cells in the laboratory by using an electric field to induce transient membrane permeability. Recently, the electric field has been modulated to produce permanent membrane permeability and cell death. This novel technique, irreversible electroporation (IRE), is being developed for nonthermal cancer ablation. We hypothesize that outside the central zone of IRE exists a peripheral zone of reversible electroporation where gene transfer may occur. ⋯ IRE is a promising technique not only for operative tissue ablation but also for gene therapy. Because IRE ablation may leave behind intact tumor antigens, these findings encourage clinical studies of tumor ablation with delivery of immunostimulatory plasmids for combined local eradication and systemic immunotherapy.