AIM： To explore the feasibility of performing gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS： A total of 7 178 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis...AIM： To explore the feasibility of performing gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS： A total of 7 178 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis from January 1993 to December 2003. We reviewed the records of 142 patients who were diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and gastric adenocarcinoma during the same period. Gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for carcinoma of the stomach was performed in 94 patients with histologically proven hepatic cirrhosis. RESULTS： All but 12 patients were dassified as Child＇s class A. Only 35 patients （37.2%） were diagnosed with cirrhosis before operation. Seventy-three patients underwent a subtotal gastrectomy （77.7%） and 21 patients （22.3%） underwent a total gastrectomy, each with D2 or more lymph node dissection. Two patients （3.8%） who had prophylactic intra-operative drain placement, died of postoperative complications from hepatorenal failure with intractable ascites. Thirty-seven patients （39.4%） experienced postoperative complications. The extent of gastric resection did not influence the morbidity whereas serum aspartate aminotransferase level （P = 0.011） and transfusion did （P = 0.008）. The most common postoperative complication was ascites （13.9%） followed by wound infection （10.6%）. CONCLUSION： We concluded that the presence of compensated cirrhosis, i.e. Child class A, is not a contraindication against gastrectomy with D2 or more lymph node dissection, when curative resection for gastric cancer is possible. Hepatic reserve and meticulous hemostasis are the likely determinants of operative prognosis.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the biopathologic features and clinical significance of nodal micrometastasis(MI) in early gastric cancer(EGC).METHODS: Among 1022 EGC patients who underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy of D1 + ...AIM: To evaluate the biopathologic features and clinical significance of nodal micrometastasis(MI) in early gastric cancer(EGC).METHODS: Among 1022 EGC patients who underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy of D1 + β or more from March 2001 to December 2005 at the Korean National Cancer Center, available nodal metastasis was found in 90 p T1N1 patients. Nodal metastasis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry(IHC) with cytokeratin and patients were classified into MI and macrometastasis(MA) groups based on the main tumor burden according to the 6th International Union Against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system; the main tumor burden with a diameter of greater than 0.2 mm but no greater than 2 mm as MI, and greater than 2 mm as MA of the representative metastatic node. Proliferative and apoptotic activities of the primary tumor and the nodal metastasis were measured by IHC with Ki-67 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling, respectively. Biopathologic and clinical features of the patients were analyzed and compared between MI and MA groups. Patients with recurrence were compared with those without recurrence to identify risk factors for recurrence.RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients showed MI and the other 53 patients revealed MA in the lymph node; the incidence of patients with MI and MA was 41.1% and 58.9%. The main tumor burden was 0.9 and 4.6 mm in the representative metastatic node, respectively. Japanese N2 stations were more frequently involved in MA group(20.9%) than in MI group(10.3%) butthe difference was not statistically different(P = 0.338). Proliferative and apoptotic activities of MI were decreased than those of MA(26.7% vs 40.5%, P = 0.004 and 1.0% vs 3.0%, P < 0.001, respectively). However, nodal MI in the current study showed a relatively high proliferative activity and an equivalent apoptotic activity compared to other cancers in the previously published studies. Recurrence was observed in 6 patients during the mean follow up period of 87.6 ± 26.2 mo. The recurrence was significantly associated with the presence of MA(P = 0.041) and lymphovascular invasion of the primary tumor(P = 0.032).CONCLUSION: Lymphadenectomy of D1 + β or more might be necessary in patients with MI in sentinel node to prevent recurrence by clearing MI involving Japanese N2 station.展开更多
We report a case of gastric choriocarcinoma admixed with an α-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing adeno-carcinoma. A 70-year-old man was hospitalized for gastric cancer that was detected during screening by esophagogastroduo...We report a case of gastric choriocarcinoma admixed with an α-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing adeno-carcinoma. A 70-year-old man was hospitalized for gastric cancer that was detected during screening by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Initial laboratory data showed the increased serum level of AFP and EGD revealed a 5-cm ulcerofungating mass in the greater curvature of the gastric antrum. The patient underwent radical subtotal gastrectomywith D2 lymph node dissection and Billroth gastrojejunostomy. Histopathological evaluation confirmed double primary gastric cancer: gastric choriocarcinoma admixed with an AFP-producing adenocarcinoma and separated adenocarcinoma. At 2 wk postoperatively, his human chorionic gonadotropin and AFP levels had reduced and six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy were initiated. No recurrence or distant metastasis was observed at 4 years postoperatively.展开更多
Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of simultaneous cholecystectomy on the short-term postoperative outcomes and nutritional status in patients with gastric cancer.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from...Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of simultaneous cholecystectomy on the short-term postoperative outcomes and nutritional status in patients with gastric cancer.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 4,820 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy from January 2011 to December 2016. Patients who underwent only gastrectomy(N=4,578) were matched to those who underwent simultaneous cholecystectomy during gastrectomy(N=242) at a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching analysis. The nutritional status and inflammatory responses preoperatively and postoperatively and postoperative outcomes were compared between the groups.Results: The simultaneous cholecystectomy group showed more intraoperative blood loss and a longer operative time than the gastrectomy only group [150.0(100.0, 200.0) m L vs. 100.0(100.0, 200.0) m L, P=0.006;176.0(150.0,210.0) min vs. 155.0(128.0, 188.0) min, P<0.001, respectively]. Intraoperative event rate, postoperative complication rate, and postoperative recovery did not differ between the groups. All parameters including body weight, the hemoglobin level, absolute lymphocyte count, total protein level, albumin level, fasting glucose level,and prognostic nutritional index excluding the cholesterol level were not significantly different between the groups,and their changing patterns were similar. Although the cholesterol level was significantly lower in the simultaneous cholecystectomy group than in the gastrectomy only group at all follow-up points, the mean value of the decreased cholesterol level was within normal range.Conclusions: In gastric cancer patients with gallbladder disease, simultaneous cholecystectomy is safe and not associated with additional nutritional loss.展开更多
BACKGROUND Breast cancer in young women has been shown to have an aggressive behavior and poor prognosis.AIM To evaluate the outcomes of young hormone receptor(HR)-positive patients with breast cancer treated with neo...BACKGROUND Breast cancer in young women has been shown to have an aggressive behavior and poor prognosis.AIM To evaluate the outcomes of young hormone receptor(HR)-positive patients with breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC),and the oncologic efficacy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)agonists.METHODS This retrospective study involved a prospectively enrolled cohort.We included patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer who were treated with NAC followed by curative surgery at the Samsung Medical Center and Samsung Changwon Hospital between January 2006 and December 2017.Among patients with HR-positive and human epidermal grow factor 2(HER2)-negative breast cancer,we analyzed the characteristics and oncology outcomes between the patients equal to or younger than 35 years and the patients older than 35 years.RESULTS Among 431 patients with NAC and HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer,78 were 35 years old or younger,and 353 patients were older than 35 years.The median follow-up was 71.0 months.There was no statistically significant difference in disease free survival(DFS,P=0.565)and overall survival(P=0.820)between the patients equal to or younger than 35 years and the patients older than 35 years.The two groups differed in that the GnRH agonist was used more frequently in the group of patients equal to or younger than 35 years than in the other group(52.4%vs 11.2%,P<0.001).Interestingly,for the DFS according to the GnRH agonist in the group of patients equal to or younger than 35 years,patients treated with the GnRH agonist had better DFS(P=0.037).CONCLUSION Administration of GnRH agonists might improve the DFS rate of HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer in the equal to or younger than 35 years group of patients with NAC.展开更多
AIM： To identify patients with a high-risk of having a synchronous cancer among gastric cancer patients. METHODS： We retrospectively analyzed the prospective gastric cancer database at the National Cancer Center, Ko...AIM： To identify patients with a high-risk of having a synchronous cancer among gastric cancer patients. METHODS： We retrospectively analyzed the prospective gastric cancer database at the National Cancer Center, Korea from December 2000 to December 2004. The clinicopathological characteristics of patients with synchronous cancers and those of patients without synchronous cancers were compared. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for the presence of a synchronous cancer in gastric cancer patients. RESULTS： 111 of 3291 gastric cancer patients （3.4%） registered in the database had a synchronous cancer. Among these 111 patients, 109 had a single synchronous cancer and 2 patients had two synchronous cancers. The most common form of synchronous cancer was colorectal cancer （42 patients, 37.2%） followed by lung cancer （21 patients, 18.6%）. Multivariate analyses revealed that elderly patients with differentiated early gastric cancer have a higher probability of a synchronous cancer. CONCLUSION： Synchronous cancers in gastric cancer patients are not infrequent. The physicians should try to find synchronous cancers in gastric cancer patients, especially in the elderly with a differentiated early gastric展开更多
Objective： Ultrasonically activated shears （UAS） have been applied in open gastric surgeries with no or little evidence. It was previously reported about the surgical outcome and effectiveness of UAS based on a ran...Objective： Ultrasonically activated shears （UAS） have been applied in open gastric surgeries with no or little evidence. It was previously reported about the surgical outcome and effectiveness of UAS based on a randomized controlled trial of 256 patients with gastric cancer. We aimed to clarify the long-term oncological safety of the use of UAS in the aspect of overall survival and recurrence.Methods： Gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the conventional surgery group （n=125） or the UAS group （n=128）. Survival, recurrence and long-term postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The median follow-up period was 56 months.Results： Gastric cancer-related death was higher in patients of the UAS group compared with the conventional group （P=0.019）. Overall survival rates stratified by stage were not significantly different between the two groups （P=0.170）. Disease-free survival rates stratified by stage and recurrence-free survival rates of gastric cancer were similar between the conventional group and the UAS group （P=0.313 and 0.199, respectively）. The postoperative complication rate was not significantly different between the groups （P=1.000）. Conclusions： It is suggested that the use of UAS in gastrectomy for gastric cancer showed oncologically acceptable safety compared with conventional electric instruments even in long-term period.展开更多
It is well known that the increase of necrotic core in previous atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is one of the conditions of vulnerable plaque. However, it is not known how fast necrotic core could decrease in ...It is well known that the increase of necrotic core in previous atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is one of the conditions of vulnerable plaque. However, it is not known how fast necrotic core could decrease in a vulnerable plaque. We had 2 patients who had suffered from acute myocardial infarction and had large amount of necrotic core in their culprit lesions at baseline, which decreased markedly within 7 days. Also, they were clinically stable and asymptomatic over 1 year follow-up. It is first report to show mar-kedly decrease of necrotic core amount within only 7 days in culprit lesions of 2 cases of acute myocardial infarction with angiographically minimal lesions.展开更多
AIM: To investigate whether the combined methods of unilateral thyroparathyroidectomy (TPX) and subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (VAX) can be adapted for rats and used as a reliable method to produce a rat model of long-term...AIM: To investigate whether the combined methods of unilateral thyroparathyroidectomy (TPX) and subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (VAX) can be adapted for rats and used as a reliable method to produce a rat model of long-term reduction of gastrointestinal (GI) motor function. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, normal, sham-operated and unilateral TPX plus VAX. The TPX plus VAX rats received VAX 7 d after application of TPX, and dietary intake and fecal output were then measured daily for 1 wk.After completion of the experiments, gastric emptying and small bowel transit were measured in vivo, and the contractile responses of colonic strips to excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters were estimated using isometric force transducers in vitro. RESULTS: In comparison with normal and sham-operated rats, rats which received unilateral TPX plus VAX showed a significant decrease in body weight and in fecal pellet number and weight throughout the entire week. Application of TPX plus VAX to rats markedly delayed gastric emptying and small bowel transit. In TPX plus VAX rats, the longitudinal muscles of the proximal colon showed a significant reduction in contractile responses to acetylcholine (5 × 10-6 mol/L), and a dramatic attenuation of contractile responses was also observed in both the longitudinal and circular muscles of the distal colon. However, the spontaneous contractility of the colonic strips from TPX plus VAX rats was not significantly affected by treatment with N-nitro-Larginine-methyl ester (0.1 mol/L). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that unilateral TPX plus VAX reduced the motor function of the GI tract in rats, and the reduced gut motility is likely mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of the excitatory neurotransmitter system.展开更多
文摘AIM： To explore the feasibility of performing gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS： A total of 7 178 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis from January 1993 to December 2003. We reviewed the records of 142 patients who were diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and gastric adenocarcinoma during the same period. Gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for carcinoma of the stomach was performed in 94 patients with histologically proven hepatic cirrhosis. RESULTS： All but 12 patients were dassified as Child＇s class A. Only 35 patients （37.2%） were diagnosed with cirrhosis before operation. Seventy-three patients underwent a subtotal gastrectomy （77.7%） and 21 patients （22.3%） underwent a total gastrectomy, each with D2 or more lymph node dissection. Two patients （3.8%） who had prophylactic intra-operative drain placement, died of postoperative complications from hepatorenal failure with intractable ascites. Thirty-seven patients （39.4%） experienced postoperative complications. The extent of gastric resection did not influence the morbidity whereas serum aspartate aminotransferase level （P = 0.011） and transfusion did （P = 0.008）. The most common postoperative complication was ascites （13.9%） followed by wound infection （10.6%）. CONCLUSION： We concluded that the presence of compensated cirrhosis, i.e. Child class A, is not a contraindication against gastrectomy with D2 or more lymph node dissection, when curative resection for gastric cancer is possible. Hepatic reserve and meticulous hemostasis are the likely determinants of operative prognosis.
基金Supported by Grants from the National Cancer Center,Republic of Korea,Grant No.0910560-1 and No.1010490-1
文摘AIM: To evaluate the biopathologic features and clinical significance of nodal micrometastasis(MI) in early gastric cancer(EGC).METHODS: Among 1022 EGC patients who underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy of D1 + β or more from March 2001 to December 2005 at the Korean National Cancer Center, available nodal metastasis was found in 90 p T1N1 patients. Nodal metastasis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry(IHC) with cytokeratin and patients were classified into MI and macrometastasis(MA) groups based on the main tumor burden according to the 6th International Union Against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system; the main tumor burden with a diameter of greater than 0.2 mm but no greater than 2 mm as MI, and greater than 2 mm as MA of the representative metastatic node. Proliferative and apoptotic activities of the primary tumor and the nodal metastasis were measured by IHC with Ki-67 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d UTP nick end labeling, respectively. Biopathologic and clinical features of the patients were analyzed and compared between MI and MA groups. Patients with recurrence were compared with those without recurrence to identify risk factors for recurrence.RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients showed MI and the other 53 patients revealed MA in the lymph node; the incidence of patients with MI and MA was 41.1% and 58.9%. The main tumor burden was 0.9 and 4.6 mm in the representative metastatic node, respectively. Japanese N2 stations were more frequently involved in MA group(20.9%) than in MI group(10.3%) butthe difference was not statistically different(P = 0.338). Proliferative and apoptotic activities of MI were decreased than those of MA(26.7% vs 40.5%, P = 0.004 and 1.0% vs 3.0%, P < 0.001, respectively). However, nodal MI in the current study showed a relatively high proliferative activity and an equivalent apoptotic activity compared to other cancers in the previously published studies. Recurrence was observed in 6 patients during the mean follow up period of 87.6 ± 26.2 mo. The recurrence was significantly associated with the presence of MA(P = 0.041) and lymphovascular invasion of the primary tumor(P = 0.032).CONCLUSION: Lymphadenectomy of D1 + β or more might be necessary in patients with MI in sentinel node to prevent recurrence by clearing MI involving Japanese N2 station.
文摘We report a case of gastric choriocarcinoma admixed with an α-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing adeno-carcinoma. A 70-year-old man was hospitalized for gastric cancer that was detected during screening by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Initial laboratory data showed the increased serum level of AFP and EGD revealed a 5-cm ulcerofungating mass in the greater curvature of the gastric antrum. The patient underwent radical subtotal gastrectomywith D2 lymph node dissection and Billroth gastrojejunostomy. Histopathological evaluation confirmed double primary gastric cancer: gastric choriocarcinoma admixed with an AFP-producing adenocarcinoma and separated adenocarcinoma. At 2 wk postoperatively, his human chorionic gonadotropin and AFP levels had reduced and six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy were initiated. No recurrence or distant metastasis was observed at 4 years postoperatively.
文摘Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effect of simultaneous cholecystectomy on the short-term postoperative outcomes and nutritional status in patients with gastric cancer.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 4,820 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy from January 2011 to December 2016. Patients who underwent only gastrectomy(N=4,578) were matched to those who underwent simultaneous cholecystectomy during gastrectomy(N=242) at a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching analysis. The nutritional status and inflammatory responses preoperatively and postoperatively and postoperative outcomes were compared between the groups.Results: The simultaneous cholecystectomy group showed more intraoperative blood loss and a longer operative time than the gastrectomy only group [150.0(100.0, 200.0) m L vs. 100.0(100.0, 200.0) m L, P=0.006;176.0(150.0,210.0) min vs. 155.0(128.0, 188.0) min, P<0.001, respectively]. Intraoperative event rate, postoperative complication rate, and postoperative recovery did not differ between the groups. All parameters including body weight, the hemoglobin level, absolute lymphocyte count, total protein level, albumin level, fasting glucose level,and prognostic nutritional index excluding the cholesterol level were not significantly different between the groups,and their changing patterns were similar. Although the cholesterol level was significantly lower in the simultaneous cholecystectomy group than in the gastrectomy only group at all follow-up points, the mean value of the decreased cholesterol level was within normal range.Conclusions: In gastric cancer patients with gallbladder disease, simultaneous cholecystectomy is safe and not associated with additional nutritional loss.
文摘BACKGROUND Breast cancer in young women has been shown to have an aggressive behavior and poor prognosis.AIM To evaluate the outcomes of young hormone receptor(HR)-positive patients with breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC),and the oncologic efficacy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)agonists.METHODS This retrospective study involved a prospectively enrolled cohort.We included patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer who were treated with NAC followed by curative surgery at the Samsung Medical Center and Samsung Changwon Hospital between January 2006 and December 2017.Among patients with HR-positive and human epidermal grow factor 2(HER2)-negative breast cancer,we analyzed the characteristics and oncology outcomes between the patients equal to or younger than 35 years and the patients older than 35 years.RESULTS Among 431 patients with NAC and HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer,78 were 35 years old or younger,and 353 patients were older than 35 years.The median follow-up was 71.0 months.There was no statistically significant difference in disease free survival(DFS,P=0.565)and overall survival(P=0.820)between the patients equal to or younger than 35 years and the patients older than 35 years.The two groups differed in that the GnRH agonist was used more frequently in the group of patients equal to or younger than 35 years than in the other group(52.4%vs 11.2%,P<0.001).Interestingly,for the DFS according to the GnRH agonist in the group of patients equal to or younger than 35 years,patients treated with the GnRH agonist had better DFS(P=0.037).CONCLUSION Administration of GnRH agonists might improve the DFS rate of HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer in the equal to or younger than 35 years group of patients with NAC.
文摘AIM： To identify patients with a high-risk of having a synchronous cancer among gastric cancer patients. METHODS： We retrospectively analyzed the prospective gastric cancer database at the National Cancer Center, Korea from December 2000 to December 2004. The clinicopathological characteristics of patients with synchronous cancers and those of patients without synchronous cancers were compared. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for the presence of a synchronous cancer in gastric cancer patients. RESULTS： 111 of 3291 gastric cancer patients （3.4%） registered in the database had a synchronous cancer. Among these 111 patients, 109 had a single synchronous cancer and 2 patients had two synchronous cancers. The most common form of synchronous cancer was colorectal cancer （42 patients, 37.2%） followed by lung cancer （21 patients, 18.6%）. Multivariate analyses revealed that elderly patients with differentiated early gastric cancer have a higher probability of a synchronous cancer. CONCLUSION： Synchronous cancers in gastric cancer patients are not infrequent. The physicians should try to find synchronous cancers in gastric cancer patients, especially in the elderly with a differentiated early gastric
文摘Objective： Ultrasonically activated shears （UAS） have been applied in open gastric surgeries with no or little evidence. It was previously reported about the surgical outcome and effectiveness of UAS based on a randomized controlled trial of 256 patients with gastric cancer. We aimed to clarify the long-term oncological safety of the use of UAS in the aspect of overall survival and recurrence.Methods： Gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the conventional surgery group （n=125） or the UAS group （n=128）. Survival, recurrence and long-term postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The median follow-up period was 56 months.Results： Gastric cancer-related death was higher in patients of the UAS group compared with the conventional group （P=0.019）. Overall survival rates stratified by stage were not significantly different between the two groups （P=0.170）. Disease-free survival rates stratified by stage and recurrence-free survival rates of gastric cancer were similar between the conventional group and the UAS group （P=0.313 and 0.199, respectively）. The postoperative complication rate was not significantly different between the groups （P=1.000）. Conclusions： It is suggested that the use of UAS in gastrectomy for gastric cancer showed oncologically acceptable safety compared with conventional electric instruments even in long-term period.
文摘It is well known that the increase of necrotic core in previous atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is one of the conditions of vulnerable plaque. However, it is not known how fast necrotic core could decrease in a vulnerable plaque. We had 2 patients who had suffered from acute myocardial infarction and had large amount of necrotic core in their culprit lesions at baseline, which decreased markedly within 7 days. Also, they were clinically stable and asymptomatic over 1 year follow-up. It is first report to show mar-kedly decrease of necrotic core amount within only 7 days in culprit lesions of 2 cases of acute myocardial infarction with angiographically minimal lesions.
基金Grants of the Korea Healthcare Technology Rand D Project, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family AffairsA090216the National Research Foundation of Korea2011-0014777
文摘AIM: To investigate whether the combined methods of unilateral thyroparathyroidectomy (TPX) and subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (VAX) can be adapted for rats and used as a reliable method to produce a rat model of long-term reduction of gastrointestinal (GI) motor function. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, normal, sham-operated and unilateral TPX plus VAX. The TPX plus VAX rats received VAX 7 d after application of TPX, and dietary intake and fecal output were then measured daily for 1 wk.After completion of the experiments, gastric emptying and small bowel transit were measured in vivo, and the contractile responses of colonic strips to excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters were estimated using isometric force transducers in vitro. RESULTS: In comparison with normal and sham-operated rats, rats which received unilateral TPX plus VAX showed a significant decrease in body weight and in fecal pellet number and weight throughout the entire week. Application of TPX plus VAX to rats markedly delayed gastric emptying and small bowel transit. In TPX plus VAX rats, the longitudinal muscles of the proximal colon showed a significant reduction in contractile responses to acetylcholine (5 × 10-6 mol/L), and a dramatic attenuation of contractile responses was also observed in both the longitudinal and circular muscles of the distal colon. However, the spontaneous contractility of the colonic strips from TPX plus VAX rats was not significantly affected by treatment with N-nitro-Larginine-methyl ester (0.1 mol/L). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that unilateral TPX plus VAX reduced the motor function of the GI tract in rats, and the reduced gut motility is likely mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of the excitatory neurotransmitter system.
