Takehiro Kato

Beneficial Effects of Verapamil on Intestinal Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury: Pretreatment versus Postischemic Treatment

We studied the effect of verapamil on intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. Intestinal ischemia was induced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed as a marker of the changes in the energy metabolism. Further, histological changes and the changes of water contents were evaluated. Recovery rates of energy metabolism after intestinal I/R were improved by verapamil, administered before and after ischemia, and tissue edema was significantly reduced with verapamil. These findings suggest that verapamil results in an improved recovery of the energy metabolism and cellular preservation, presumably by reducing the intracellular calcium influx.

Comparison of Short and Continuous Hydration Regimen in Chemotherapy Containing Intermediate- to High-Dose Cisplatin

Aim. The efficacy of the short hydration regimen was reported in chemotherapy containing intermediate- to high-dose cisplatin, and the use of outpatient chemotherapy containing cisplatin with short hydration has been widespread in recent years. Methods. We compared patients with gastric cancer, lung cancer, and urothelial cancer who received outpatient chemotherapy containing cisplatin (≥60 mg/m2/cycle) with the short hydration regimen since April 2012 (n = 13) with those who received hospital chemotherapy with continuous hydration between April 2011 and March 2013 (n = 17) in our hospital. Results. Grade 2 or higher acute kidney injury occurred in 2 patients in the continuous hydration group and in no patient in the short hydration group; 1 patient discontinued treatment on account of nephrotoxicity. There was no difference between the 2 groups in maximum creatinine increment and maximum clearance decrement. Relative dose intensity in the short hydration group was higher than that in the continuous hydration group (89.5% versus 80.3%; P < 0.01). Conclusions. The short hydration regimen in outpatient chemotherapy containing intermediate- to high-dose cisplatin is as safe as the continuous hydration regimen and increased the efficacy of chemotherapy.