Extravesical versus Leadbetter-Politano ureteroneocystostomy: a comparison of urological complications in 320 renal transplants

The urological complications of 320 consecutive renal transplants performed at our institution between October 17, 1985 and November 10, 1989 are reviewed. The Leadbetter-Politano technique of ureteroneocystostomy was used in the first 160 patients (group 1) and an anterior extravesical technique modified from the methods of Witzel, Sampson and Lich was performed in the second 160 patients (group 2). Urological complications occurred in 15 patients (9.4%) in group 1 and 6 (3.7%) in group 2 (p = 0.04). Ureterovesical junction obstruction occurred in 6 patients (3.7%) in group 1 and 1 (0.6%) in group 2 (p = 0.05). Complications of leakage, ureteral necrosis and ureteral stricture were comparable in the 2 groups. Therefore, we advocate the use of the anterior extravesical technique over Leadbetter-Politano ureteral reimplantation based on the lower incidence of urological complications and various technical advantages, including less operative time, avoidance of a separate cystotomy, less hematuria and ability to use short donor ureters.     

Instrumentation and patient characteristics that influence postoperative haemorrhage rates following tonsil and adenoid surgery

Objectives: To investigate the effect of the type instrumentation used and the age and gender characteristics of patients on postoperative haemorrhage rates following tonsil and adenoid surgery. Design: A retrospective analysis of 13 593 procedures was performed from The Patient Episode Database for Wales between 1 January 1999 and 31 March 2004. Setting: National health policy changes created four periods of different instrument usage (reusable, single‐use with diathermy, single‐use alone, specified single‐use with diathermy). These and the age and gender distribution of the patients were examined against four categories of postoperative haemorrhage. Main outcome measures: Postoperative haemorrhage rates were expressed as the number of complications per operations performed. Primary postoperative haemorrhage that occurred during the initial admission either required a return to theatre [R1] or was managed conservatively [N1]; secondary postoperative haemorrhage that required a return to hospital either returned to theatre [R2] or was managed conservatively [N2], were compared. Results: Primary haemorrhage with return to theatre doubled, from the baseline rate with reusable instruments, from 0.6% (CI 0.5–0.8) to 1.2% (CI 0.7–1.9) when single‐use instruments were introduced and remained high at 1.4% (CI 0.9–2.1) after the withdrawal of single‐use diathermy. This haemorrhage rate returned to the baseline rate (0.6% CI 0.3–1.0) when specified single‐use instruments were introduced. None of the other haemorrhage rates changed significantly throughout the four observation periods. Adenotonsillectomy and tonsillectomy patients have different age and gender patterns. In a univariate analysis, males over the age of 12 years were twice as likely to have haemorrhage with return to theatre than girls of the same age, 3.8% (CI 3.0–4.7) versus 1.7% (CI 1.4–2.1). Conclusions: A significant rise in serious postoperative primary haemorrhage but not secondary haemorrhage was seen following the initial introduction of single‐use instruments that reverted to baseline with the introduction of specified single‐use instruments. Diathermy does not appear to have affected the haemorrhage rates. There is a distinct age and gender pattern for tonsil and adenoid surgery and risk of postoperative haemorrhage. The use of arbitrary divisions of age may be misleading in studies that examine post‐tonsillectomy haemorrhage.     

Antimitotic agents: ring analogues and derivatives of ethyl [(S)-5-amino-1,2-dihydro-2-methyl-3-phenylpyrido[3,4-b]pyrazin-7- yl]carbamate.

The synthesis of ring analogues and derivatives of the S isomer of ethyl [5-amino-1,2-dihydro-2-methyl-3-phenylpyrido[3,4-b]pyrazin-7 - yl[carbamate, (S)-1, a potent antimitotic agent with anticancer activity, was directed toward the determination of the contribution of several structural features of this compound to biological activity. Replacement of the 5-amino with a 5(6H)-oxo group and either transposing the 6-ring nitrogen to or incorporation of a ring nitrogen at the 8-position caused a significant decrease in in vitro activity and destroyed in vivo activity. Although in vivo cytotoxicity was reduced, in vitro activity at higher doses relative to (S)-1 was retained by replacement of the 5-amino group with hydrogen and by expansion of the 1,2-dihydropyrazine to give a dihydro-1,4-diazepine ring.     

Arm function after axillary dissection for breast cancer: a pilot study to provide parameter estimates.

Sixty-three women participated in a study in Calgary, Alberta to assess the rate of arm recovery and factors affecting it up to one year after axillary node dissection for breast cancer. Outcomes included objective measures of swelling, mobility, and strength, and subjective assessments of pain (at rest and with movement) and stiffness. Approximately 42% of women had residual impairment of at least one type one year after surgery, the most common problems being pain (16%) and reduced grip strength (16%). Except for lymphedema, measurements one year after surgery showed little change from measurements at 6 months, suggesting that the shorter follow-up may be appropriate for assessing the long term effects of axillary dissection. Lymphedema was the only sequela which increased over time. The results provide parameter estimates for designing studies to evaluate the role of physiotherapy after axillary dissection.     

A comparison study of human papillomavirus prevalence by the polymerase chain reaction in low risk women and in a gynaecology referral group at elevated risk for cervical cancer.

The reported prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 in the genital tracts of women with various gynaecological conditions is highly variable. In particular, some results with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique have suggested that HPV-16 is a ubiquitous or very common virus. We undertook this study to help clarify the current confusion. PCR with HPV consensus L1 primers and specific E6 primers was used to study 89 women attending two gynaecology referral clinics, as well as 99 women attending a health maintenance organization (HMO) clinic; 70 of these latter women had no current or prior history of genital HPV disease. HPV-16 was detected in less than 5% of cytologically normal women from either group and in 17% (6/36) and 31% (9/29) of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) from the referral clinic and the HMO, respectively. The other high-risk or intermediate-risk HPVs (types 18, 31, 33 or 35) were less prevalent than HPV 16 in all groups of women. A majority of the HPV types detected by the L1 primers in normal women were uncharacterized HPVs. Overall these uncharacterized HPVs were detected in 37% (46/123) of the normal women and in 48% (31/65) of the women with CIN. Using the most sensitive PCR product detection method employed in the study, HPV DNA was detected in 36% (4/11) of swab specimens obtained from the external abdomen.     

Reasons students give for limiting drinking: a factor analysis with implications for research and practice

Dimensions of cognitions associated with self-regulation of alcohol consumption were studied using a 22-item Reasons for Limiting Drinking (RLD) scale in a student survey of nine universities. Data on 2,482 drinkers were factor analyzed using several methods in split halves and the total sample. Four interpretable factors accounting for 39% of the common variance were consistently found. Based on core content, these subjective motivational factors were labeled self-control, upbringing, self-reform and performance. Reliability analysis was used to construct subscales to assess these factors. Subscales had adequate internal reliability (alphas = .66-.73) for brief research scales. Relationships between the RLD subscales and between these subscales and selected demographic, alcohol-consumption and problem indicators are summarized. Based on these results and an application in a prevention experiment with heavily drinking students, the niche for such "reasons" measures in participant screening and program evaluation is discussed.     

Identification of mutations in TCOF1: use of molecular analysis in the pre- and postnatal diagnosis of Treacher Collins syndrome

Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is an autosomal dominant disorder of facial development, which results from mutations in TCOF1. TCS comprises conductive hearing loss, hypoplasia of the mandible and maxilla, downward sloping palpebral fissures and cleft palate. Although, there is usually a reasonable degree of bilateral symmetry, a high degree of both inter- and intrafamilial variability is characteristic of TCS. The wide variation in the clinical presentation of different patients, together with the fact that more than 60% of cases arise de novo, can complicate the diagnosis of mild cases and genetic counselling. In the current study, we describe how molecular techniques have been used to facilitate pre- and postnatal disease diagnoses in 13 TCS families.     

Acute health effects of the Sea Empress oil spill

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether residents in the vicinity of the Sea Empress tanker spill suffered an increase in self reported physical and psychological symptoms, which might be attributable to exposure to crude oil. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study; postal questionnaire including demographic details, a symptom checklist, beliefs about health effects of oil and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression and SF-36 mental health scales. SETTING: Populations living in four coastal towns on the exposed south Pembrokeshire coast and two control towns on the unexposed north coast. PATIENTS: 539 exposed and 550 unexposed people sampled at random from the family health services authority age-sex register who completed questionnaires. MAIN RESULTS: Adjusted odds ratios for self reported physical symptoms; scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression and SF-36 mental health scales, in 1089 people who responded out of a possible 1585 (69%). CONCLUSIONS: Living in areas exposed to the crude oil spillage was significantly associated with higher anxiety and depression scores, worse mental health; and self reported headache (odds ratio = 2.35, 95% CI 1.56, 3.55), sore eyes (odds ratio = 1.96, 95% CI 1.06, 3.62), and sore throat (odds ratio = 1.70, 95% CI 1.12, 2.60) after adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, anxiety, and the belief that oil had affected health. People living in exposed areas reported higher rates of physical and psychological symptoms than control areas. Symptoms significantly associated with exposure after adjustment for anxiety and health beliefs were those expected from the known toxicological effect of oil, suggesting a direct health effect on the exposed population.