G. Schimpl

OK-432 therapy of lymphangiomas in children

Between April 1988 and July 1995, 11 children with a lymphangioma were treated with intralesional OK-432 injection. In 7 patients it was the primary therapy and total shrinkage of the lesion was obtained in 5 of them. Two patients did not respond and the children underwent surgery. Following incomplete surgical removal or recurrence of the lymphangioma, intralesional OK-432 injection was used as secondary therapy in 4 patients. Total regression was observed in 2 cases and marked regression in the 2 others. No serious side-effects except fever lasting for 2–3 days and slight tenderness with swelling of the lymphangioma for 3–4 days after the injection was noted. Local inflammatory reaction did not cause any damage to the overlying skin and did not lead to scar formation. Depending on the size, location, and anatomical relationship to the airway, intralesional injections of the lymphangiomas were performed under general anaesthesia and the children were observed for 24 h. There was no recurrence after follow up periods ranging from 2 months to 7 years.

Allopurinol reduces bacterial translocation, intestinal mucosal lipid peroxidation, and neutrophil-derived myeloperoxidase activity in chronic portal hypertensive and common bile duct-ligated growing rats.

Bacterial translocation (BT) from the gastrointestinal tract has been thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of septic complications in patients with chronic portal hypertension (PH) and obstructive jaundice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of BT and to assess the role of intestinal mucosal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as an indicator of lipid peroxidation and polymorphonuclear neutrophil-derived myeloperoxidase (MPO) in chronic portal hypertensive and common bile duct-ligated rats. Twenty male rats were subjected to sham laparotomy (SL), 20 rats to calibrated portal vein constriction (PH), 20 rats to common bile duct ligation (CBDL), and 10 rats served as a nonoperated control group (NOP). After 4 wk, 10 animals of each operated group received 50 mg/kg allopurinol intraperitoneally, at 24 h, and again 2 h prior to estimation of BT, intestinal mucosal MDA, and MPO activities. In the NOP and SL groups, BT to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and spleen was present. In PH and in CBDL rats, BT to liver, portal vein, peritoneum, and caval vein occurred. Allopurinol treatment attenuated the frequence of BT in PH and decreased BT in CBDL rats significantly (p< 0.05). Ileal mucosal MDA levels (nanomoles/g) in untreated rats increased from 45,1 ± 7.9 in SL to 98.2 ± 9.1 in PH and to 102.2 ± 11 in CBDL rats (p < 0.01). In the allopurinol groups the increase of MDA to 49.1 ± 1.3 in PH, and 66.2 ± 2.2 in CBDL was significantly lower (p < 0.01). MPO activity (units/g) in the ileal mucosa increased in untreated rats from 319 ± 129 after SL to 866± 104 after PH and to 1016 ± 104 after CBDL (p < 0.01). Allopurinol significantly attenuated MPO activity to 369 ± 44 in PH, and to 372 ± 60 in CBDL animals (p < 0.01). In PH and CBDL rats significant BT, intestinal mucosal lipid peroxidation, and polymorphonuclear neutrophil-derived MPO activity occurred. Allopurinol reduced BT and improved intestinal mucosal MDA and MPO activities, suggesting that there might be an association between BT and intestinal mucosal lipid peroxidation.

Ascent of the testis in children

Among 460 children who had an orchiopexy (ORP), we identified 72 children who had attended our institution 1–12 years earlier and in whom the testicular position had been specified. Of the 72 boys 19 were had ascended testes (26%). The age at ORP of the children with ascent of the testes was 7.0 years (1.8–14.0 years). Light and electron microscopy of 13 testicular biopsies taken at ORP, showed alterations of germ cells and sertoli cells, similar but less pronounced than alterations seen in congenital undescended testes.ConclusionA normally positioned testis may ascend into the inguinal region or upper scrotum and remain there fixed. This secondary cryptorchidism does not usually respond to human chorionic gonadotropin treatment and must be corrected by orchiopexy.

Late intestinal strictures following successful treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis

Between 1975 and 1992, in 16 infants (14%) out of 113 neonates with previous necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) a total of 25 intestinal strictures had to be treated. Four (16%) were found in the ileum and 21 (84%) in the colon, and in 50% multiple strictures were present. In these 16 patients initial treatment for acute NEC included conservative treatment in 5, primary resection and enterostomies in 6 and proximal diverting enterostomies in 5. Therefore, the incidence of late strictures was 11% after conservative therapy, 11% after primary resection and 55% after primary proximal diverting enterostomies. An average of 49 days elapses between the recovery from NEC and the diagnosis of late strictures in conservatively treated patients. After initial surgical treatment, late strictures were detected on contrast studies on an average of 80 days. In pathologic specimens, marked fibrosis in the submucosa was consistently present in all strictures, whereas inflammatory changes in the mucosa, disruption or hypertrophy of the muscle layers or absence of ganglion cells were seen less frequently. All strictures were resected and primary end‐to‐end anastomosis was performed. But despite the development of late intestinal strictures, bowel preservation was improved after initial restrictive surgical therapy and aggressive medical treatment.

Choledochocele: Importance of histological evaluation

Choledochocele is a rare abnormality of unknown etiology that consists of cystic or diverticular dilatations of the intramural part of the common bile duct. The authors present a case of choledochocele with a common channel in a 15-year-old boy who had a 5-year history of intermittent right upper abdominal pain. In a review of the literature, macroscopic variations were noted as well as different types of epithelial lining inside the choledochocele. Whereas in young children mostly duodenal mucosa is described, biliary tract epithelium and undifferentiated epithelium are predominant later on. Etiologically, congenital intraluminal duodenal diverticulum should be suggested in relation to the pathogenesis of choledochocele. Treatment is total excision and reinsertion of both ducts in cases of biliary or undifferentiated epithelium; endoscopic sphincterotomy or marsupialization is indicated only when duodenal mucosa covers both sides of the choledochocele.

Ovary in hernia sac: Prolapsed or a descended gonad?☆

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE The ligament that lies in the inguinal hernia sac of girls is known to be the round ligament and is described as homologous to the male gubernaculum. An ovary in a hernia sac might be assumed to mimic descent of the testis. The aim of this study is to determine whether this ligament has a role in final ovarian position. METHODS Samples of peritoneal tissues containing the ligament were obtained from 15 female infants and children who underwent inguinal hernia repair. Tissue specimens were evaluated through histopathologic and immunohistological analyses. RESULTS The ligament consists of striated and smooth muscle fibers, abundant nerves, and vessels. Estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) were identified in submesothelial stromal and smooth muscle cells. No androgen receptors (AR) were found. CONCLUSIONS Although its termination in the processus vaginalis is not found to be consistent with the classical description of the round ligament, localization of ERs and PRs prove that the ligament is a target organ influenced by hormones. Because the round ligament is supposed to be the female gubernaculum that has an altered anatomy and localization because of absence of androgen responsiveness, its modified presentation in a processus vaginalis raises the suspicion that the ovary in a hernia sac may not simply be prolapsed, but is a descended gonad.

Comparison of hepaticoantrostomy and hepaticojejunostomy for biliary reconstruction after resection of a choledochal cyst

Twelve infants operated upon for choledochal cyst (CC) are reviewed with emphasis on the operative technique of biliary tract reconstruction, incidence of cholangitis, postoperative hypergastrinemia, biliary excretion, and upper gastrointestinal (GI) motility in a follow-up of 24 to 35 months. In 7 patients biliary reconstruction was performed with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ), and in 5 with a hepaticoantrostomy (HAST). In the HJ group 4 patients had recurrent episodes of cholangitis and intermittent diarrhea and serum gastrin levels were significantly elevated in 5. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy showed unobstructed excretion of labelled bile through bile ducts into the Roux-en-Y loop, but with significantly delayed emptying of bile into the distal jejunum in all patients. Gastric emptying and upper intestinal passage were normal. In the HAST group no episode of cholangitis occurred and serum gastrin levels were within the normal range. Scintigraphically, hepatobiliary excretion, and duodenojejunal passage of labelled bile was normal, except in 1 patient who developed a postoperative stenosis of the left hepatic duct. Upper GI contrast studies demonstrated normal gastric emptying without reflux into the biliary system. These results suggest that biliary reconstruction with HAST can be performed safely with a low incidence of complications HAST offers a more physiologic method of biliary reconstruction after resection of a CC that allows bile to drain directly into the duodenum.

Effect of portojugular shunt and allopurinol on bacterial translocation induced by temporary portal-vein occlusion

Bacterial translocation (BT) after ischemia and reperfusion of the gut has been reported. This study was performed to document BT after temporary portal-vein occlusion (PVO) and reperfusion. Male piglets (15–20 kg) were assigned to a control group (n = 6), a bio-pump group (n = 6), and an allopurinol group (n = 5). The portal vein was occluded in all animals for 30 min. The control group received no treatment. In the bio-pump group, during PVO a motor-driven portojugular shunt was used. In the allopurinol group, animals received 200 mg/m2 allopurinol IV before PVO. Portal and peripheral venous cultures and mesentric lymph-node cultures were taken before PVO and after 30 min of reperfusion. Blood samples for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) were taken before laparotomy, before PVO, and after 5, 25, and 60 min of portal reperfusion. After 30 min of portal reperfusion, in the control group significant BT to the portal vein, peripheral veins, and liver occurred when compared with the bio-pump and allopurinol groups (P <0.05). Allopurinol pretreatment attenuated BT, but was not significant when compared with the control group. MDA, an indicator of oxygen-derived free radical-induced lipid peroxidation, increased significantly in the control and bio-pump groups (P <0.05) after 60 min of portal reperfusion and remained unchanged in the allopurinol group. These data suggest that significant BT and significant generation of oxygen-derived free radicals with subsequent lipid peroxidation occur after temporary PVO and reperfusion. A motor-driven portojugular shunt prevents BT but not be increase of lipid peroxidation. Pretreatment with allopurinol attenuates BT and lipid peroxidation.

The impact of hepatic xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase activities on liver function in chronic cholestasis

Abstract Activities of hepatic xanthine oxidase (XO) and xanthine dehydrogenase (XD), serum liver enzymes, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were determined in livers of chronic cholestatic rats. The common bile duct was ligated (CBDL) and rats were randomized to either an untreated group or to treatment with allopurinol, a competitive XO inhibitor, or received a tungsten-supplemented diet to inactivate XO and XD, or received antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E. One group underwent only sham laparotomy. After 4 weeks, in untreated CBDL animals serum aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin concentrations were significantly elevated and hepatic GSH was significantly decreased when compared with the sham-operated group. Histochemical and enzymatic determinations of XD and XO showed a significant increase in hepatic XO activity after CBDL. Treatment with allopurinol and a tungsten-supplemented, molybdenum-free diet significantly attenuated serum liver enzymes, hepatic XO activity, and improved hepatic GSH levels, whereas vitamins C and E had a positive effect only on hepatic GSH levels. Our results support the hypothesis that cholestasis-induced hepatocellular injury is partially triggered by oxidative processes derived from increased hepatic XO activity. Inhibition and inactivation of XO exerts a hepatocellular protective effect in chronic cholestasis.

Semen quality and gonadotropin levels in patients operated upon for cryptorchidism

In a long-term follow-up study we compared preoperative testicular position, age at orchiopexy, and morphology of testicular biopsies investigated at orchiopexy to sperm analysis results, testicular volume, and serum follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels at follow-up in 46 men with a history of surgical correction of cryptorchidism in childhood. They had undergone orchiopexy at age 1.5–12.0 years, 24 for unilateral and 22 for bilateral cryptorchidism. Eleven (46%) of the 24 patients with unilateral and 7 (32%) of the 22 with bilateral undescended testes had a normal sperm analysis, whereas in men with impaired spermiogenesis oligo-asthenozoospermia was the predominant feature. Three (13.6%) patients with bilateral cryptorchidism showed azoospermia, but none of the patients with unilateral cryptorchidism did. Neither the age at orchiopexy nor the average germ-cell count per cross-sectioned seminiferous tubule of testicular biopsies examined at orchiopexy correlated significantly with subsequent sperm analysis results or gonadotropin levels at follow-up. The pretreatment testicular position (“testicular position value”) has a high prognostic value for prediction of subsequent sperm analysis results and serum gonadotropin levels.