Primary end-to-side anastomoses between the left upper pulmonary vein and left atrium performed in 21 puppies with continuous 5-0 polydioxanone (PDS) or polypropylene (PRO). Animals were sacrificed at 1, 7 and 28 days after operation. Stenosis occurred in one of 5 animals of the PDS group at 7 days and 28 days respectively, and one of 5 animals of the PRO group at 28 days. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of anastomosis patency. Histological examination showed slight tissue reaction and fibrosis surrounding the sutures in both groups. This study suggests that the absorbable monofilament suture material, in particular PDS, is useful for the repair of low pressure circulatory system and will not cause the stenosis of the anastomotic site.

OBJECTIVESWe evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a disinfectant newly developed by our laboratories for use against influenza viruses.

METHODSThe effectiveness of our new disinfectant against avian, swine and human influenza viruses was tested in ovo. The acute toxicity of this disinfectant to two different cultured cell lines was investigated.

RESULTSThis new disinfectant showed very strong anti-influenza viral activity in the in ovo tests. All of the influenza viruses tested were inactivated very quickly. Following exposure to the disinfectant, the infectivity of all viral strains tested had been eliminated within ≤10 min. The infectant showed a weak acute toxicity in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThis new disinfectant is expected to be useful for preventing viral infection during a new influenza pandemic.

Enterovesical fistula is a relatively uncommon complication of colorectal and pelvic malignancies, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, radiotherapy, and trauma in Asian countries. A case of vesico-ileosigmoidal fistula and a literature review of this disease in Japan are presented. A 70-yr-old male was referred with complaints of urinary pain and pneumaturia. On admission, urinary tract infection and pneumaturia were presented. A barium enema demonstrated multiple diverticulum in his sigmoid colon and the passage of contrast medium into the bladder and ileum. Under the diagnosis of vesico-ileosigmoidal fistula due to suspected diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon, sigmoidectomy and partial resection of the ileum with partial cystectomy were performed. The histopathology revealed diverticulosis of the sigmoid colon with diverticulitis and development of a vesico-ileosigmoidal fistula. No malignant findings were observed. Until the year 2000, a total of 173 cases of vesico-sigmoidal fistula caused by diverticulitis had been reported in Japan. Pneumaturia and fecaluria are the most common types, presenting symptoms in 63% of the cases. Computed tomography, with a sensitivity of 40% to 100%, is the most commonly used diagnostic study. For patients with vesico-sigmoidal fistula, resection of the diseased sigmoid colon and partial cystectomy with primary anastomosis are the safest and most acceptable procedures, leading to the best results.
Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Bladder Fistula/*etiology/*pathology/surgery ; Colon, Sigmoid/pathology ; Cystectomy ; Diverticulitis/*complications/*pathology/surgery ; Human ; Ileum/pathology ; Male

Background: Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy requires a lot of disposable products. So we compared the cost between laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy and open surgery.Patients and methods: For comparison we used five cases each of open distal gastrectomy (ODG), laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG), open total gastrectomy (OTG) and laparoscopy assisted total gastrectomy (LATG). In this study, we defined the profit of gastrectomy as below and we used the list price for all products. Profit of gastrectomy=Fee for gastrectomy-(Costs of all single use products-Demandable fee for single-use products)Results: Mean profits of ODG and LADG were 278,756.2 yen and 190,292.8 yen. The difference was 88,463.4 yen. Mean profits of OTG and LATG were 395,922.6 yen and 330,653.6 yen. The difference was 65,269 yen. Mean hospital charges, mean length of hospital stay, mean hospital charges per day of ODG, LADG, OTG and LATG were 1,390,464 yen, 21.4 days, 65,140.0 yen and 1,484,254.0 yen, 18.8 days, 80,805.4 yen and 1,956,664.0 yen, 24.4 days, 82,397.1 yen and 1,686,936.0 yen, 18.4 days, 91,894.8 yen, respectively.Conclusion: The turnover of laparoscopic gastrectomy was higher than open gastrectomy, but, the profit was lower because of high costs of disposable products. Hospital charges were not higher but the charge per day was higher because of a shorter hospital stay.
Gastrectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Hospitals ; Mean ; Financial cost

BACKGROUND: Focusing on the respiratory function for health effect indices, we conducted a cross-sectional study on workers who did and did not handle toner to compare the longitudinal changes. METHODS: Among 116 individuals who worked for a Japanese business equipment manufacturer and participated in the study, the analysis included 69 male workers who we were able to follow up for 4 years. We categorized the 40 workers engaged in toner-handling work as the exposed group and the 29 workers not engaged in these tasks as the referent group, and compared their respiratory function test results: peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), vital capacity (VC), predicted vital capacity (%VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a percent of forced vital capacity (FEV1%). RESULTS: The cross-sectional study of the respiratory function test results at the baseline and at the 5th year showed no statistically significant differences in PEFR, VC, %VC, FEV1, and FEV1% between the exposed and referent workers. Also, respiratory function time-course for 4 years was calculated and compared between the groups. No statistically significant differences were shown. CONCLUSION: Our study does not suggest any toner exposure effects on respiratory function. However, the number of subjects was small in our study; studies of larger populations will be desired in the future.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cohort Studies* ; Commerce ; Copying Processes ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Vital Capacity

Objective: The benefits of combining cancer screenings with clinical surveys have become increasingly obvious as cancer morbidity and mortality have steadily increased. This paper discusses a study on the current status of and issues surrounding breast cancer screening in a clinical survey. The study also investigated the patients' awareness of the benefits of breast cancer screening. A secondary aim of the study was to promote mammographic screening.;Subjects and Methods: During the 72 months between April 1999 and March 2005, a total of 36,505 women underwent clinical surveys in our hospital. In October 2002, mammographic examination was included as an optional part of the routine physical examination. We evaluated the results of breast cancer screening with or without mammographic examination and used a questionnaire to investigate the patients' awareness of the benefits of breast cancer screening.;Results: Compared with the pre-2001 results, the detection rate of breast cancer significantly increased after 2003 when physical examination was combined with mammographic examination. Our study also found that both elderly patients and those residing in the suburbs of Sapporo City tended to choose physical examination alone rather than combining it with mammographic examination. An analysis of the questionnaires collected from these patients indicates they had a poor understanding of and lacked awareness of the benefits of mammographic examinations during breast cancer screenings.;Conclusions: The inclusion of mammographic screenings with clinical surveys was found to be significantly useful in the detection of breast cancer. Further continued education is needed for women, particularly the elderly and residents in the suburbs, so they understand the benefits of breast cancer screening by mammographic examination for the early detection of breast cancer and, consequently, decreased mortality of the disease.
Breast neoplasm screen NOS ; Clinical ; benefits ; Awareness ; Surveys