Dynamic cavernosography in the evaluation of impotence

Dynamic carvernosography before and after papaverine injection into the corpus cavernosum of 6 sexually normal volunteers and 44 impotent patients was performed with digital subtracting angiography technique. The average infusion rates in 26 patients with venous leakage were 325.5 ml/min for induction of erection and 161 ml/min for maintenance. The results for the remaining 18 impotent patients without venous leakage were 128.8 ml/min for induction and 56.9 ml/min for maintenance. Similarly, the control group had average infusion rates of 128.3 ml/min for induction and 58.3 ml/min for maintenance. After papaverine injection the average infusion rates decreased to 131 ml/min (induction) and 59 ml/min (maintenance) in patients with venous leakage, 38.4 ml/min and 14.6 ml/min in the impotent patients without venous leakage and 35 ml/min and 14.1 ml/min in the control group, respectively. It was also noticed that in the control group filling of the superficial and deep veins may occur during the flaccid phase which disappeared with induced erection. Therefore we suggest intracavernous papaverine injection with dynamic cavernosography. The digital subtracting technique eliminates unnecessary images, providing a more accurate diagnosis of venius incompetence.     

Effect of blood donation-mediated volume reduction on regional right ventricular deformation in healthy subjects

Strain (S) and strain rate (SR) are known to be altered in diseases associated with right ventricular (RV) pressure/volume overload and RV myocardial dysfunction; however determinants of S/SR are incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of blood donation-mediated volume reduction on regional RV deformation in healthy young adults. Study population was composed of 61 consecutive healthy subjects who were volunteers for blood donation. All underwent standard echocardiography and two-dimensional S and SR imaging by speckle tracking before and after 450 mL blood donation. We found no change in RV lateral wall SR in all three segments. However, the S in the apical and mid segments of the RV lateral wall immediately decreased after blood donation [?26.2 ± 3.3 vs. ?23.2 ± 3.3 % (p < 0.0001) and ?28.2 ± 3.4 vs. ?27.1 ± 3.2 % (p = 0.009), respectively], whereas no change was observed in the basal segment. Moreover, changes in systolic S on the apical segment of the RV lateral wall before and after blood donation were significantly correlated with the changes in the RV size [end-diastolic area index, r = ? 0.369 (p = 0.003) and end-systolic area index, r = ? 0.319 (p = 0.012)] and changes in the stroke volume index [r = ? 0.436 (p < 0.001)]. Blood donation-mediated volume reduction in healthy subjects caused a regional difference in RV longitudinal deformation with the lower mid and apical S that was related to parameters of volume load severity. However, RV systolic SR was found to be resistant to the effects of volume depletion.     

Prevalence of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures and related factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background Osteoporosis and vertebral factures are well recognized features in patients with ankylosing spondylitis （AS）.The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in patients with AS.Methods Fifty-nine AS patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled.Bone mineral density （BMD） was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry （DEXA） at posterior-anterior （PA） lumbar,lateral lumbar and hip regions.Thoracic and lumbar X-rays were obtained for morphometric measurements.Clinical,biological and radiological statuses were evaluated with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index （BASDAI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index （BASMI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index （BASFI）,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index-total （BASRI-t）,erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR） and the C-reactive protein levels.Results Osteoporosis was present in 32% of patients and 5% of controls according to lateral vertebral BMD measurements.Fracture was present in 31% of patients.The effect of some clinical and laboratory parameters on BMD status and vertebral fractures was analyzed in the patient group.Osteoporosis in lateral lumbar DEXA was associated with higher BASMI,BASFI,BASRI-t scores and ESR level.Low hip BMD was associated with low BMI and high BASFI and BASRI-t scores.Vertebral fractures were associated with advanced age,longer disease duration,longer duration since diagnosis,higher BASMI and BASRI-t scores,higher ESR level,reduced femoral and lateral lumbar BMD.Logistic regression analysis revealed that only BASRI-t score was significantly associated with low lateral spinal BMD and BMI and BASFI score were independently associated with low hip BMD.The presence of compression fractures was independently associated with BASRI-t score and low lateral lumbar BMD.Conclusions Osteoporosis and vertebral fractures in AS seem to be related to the extent of radiological involvement.A low lateral lumbar BMD     

Relationship between serum leptin level and disease activity in patients with systemic sclerosis

To determine the relationship between serum leptin levels and disease activity in systemic sclerosis (SSc). A total of 60 subjects (30 controls and 30 patients) were included. The inflammatory markers and leptin levels were evaluated and body mass index (BMI) was measured for both groups. The assessment of the skin involvement was performed based on the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). Disease activity was evaluated according to the Valentini scleroderma disease activity index. There was a significant difference between the patient and control groups in terms of BMI (p?<?0.05); however there was no difference with regards to age and gender (p?>?0.05). Valentini scores and mRSS were determined to be significantly higher in active patients (n?=?14) than in inactive patients (n?=?16) (p?<?0.05). No significant difference was determined between groups in terms of leptin levels (p?>?0.05). However, leptin levels were significantly lower in active patients than in inactive patients (p?<?0.05). We found a significant positive correlation between serum leptin and BMI (p?<?0.05), and leptin and serum C3 levels (p?<?0.05); no relationship was detected between leptin and other parameters. Leptin can be used as an activity marker in SSc. Further studies, including larger series, should be carried out to clarify this relationship.     

Higher expression of the novel gene upregulated gene 4 in two acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with poor prednisolone response

Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of leukemogenesis is important for a better understanding of the prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Studies have shown that the expression of upregulated gene 4 (URG4), which promotes cell growth and survival, is increased in different types of carcinomas including hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer and osteosarcoma. Similarly, higher expression of URG4 and cyclin D1 gene might promote proliferation of the blast cells by causing escape from the G1 checkpoint and entry into the S phase. This study reports the high expression level of URG4 in 2 high-risk ALL patients for the first time in the literature. In conclusion, the higher expression of URG4 in our 2 patients suggests that URG4 might be involved in leukemogenesis. Future studies with a large number of high-risk ALL patients and cell culture studies are needed to demonstrate the exact role of URG4 in leukemogenesis.     

Loop Ileostomy Closure After Restorative Proctocolectomy: Outcome in 1,504 Patients

PURPOSE Routine use of a temporary loop ileostomy for diversion after restorative proctocolectomy is controversial because of reported morbidity associated with its creation and closure. This study intended to review our experience with loop ileostomy closure after restorative proctocolectomy and determine the complication rates. In addition, complication rates between handsewn and stapled closures were compared.METHODS Our Department Pelvic Pouch Database was queried and charts reviewed for all patients who had ileostomy closure after restorative proctocolectomy from August 1983 to March 2002.RESULTS A total of 1,504 patients underwent ileostomy closure after restorative proctocolectomy during a 19-year period. The median length of hospitalization was three (range, 1–40) days and the overall complication rate was 11.4 percent. Complications included small-bowel obstruction (6.4 percent), wound infection (1.5 percent), abdominal septic complications (1 percent), and enterocutaneous fistulas (0.6 percent). Handsewn closure was performed in 1,278 patients (85 percent) and stapled closure in 226 (15 percent). No significant differences in complication rates and length of hospitalization were found between handsewn and stapled closure techniques.CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that ileostomy closure after restorative proctocolectomy can be achieved with a low morbidity and a short hospitalization stay. In addition, we found that complication rates and length of hospitalization were similar between handsewn and stapled closures.Published online: 28 January.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 21 to 26, 2003.