DTPA renal scan assessment of renal allograft dysfunction in rats

The precise cause of allograft dysfunction after renal transplantation often cannot be established by non-invasive means. In clinical practice, radionuclide scans form an integral part of the clinician's armamentarium in the assessment of these patients [1, 2]. Unfortunately, in the clinical setting more than one pathological process may be responsible for the impaired function, making it difficult to correlate the scan appearances with the pathology. In this study in rats we compared the renal DTPA scan appearances of the various pathological processes which may cause renal allograft dysfunction in the immediate post-transplant period.     

Orthotopic liver transplantation at Groote Schuur Hospital.

We present data on 10 patients (5 men and 5 women, aged 21-56 yrs) with end-stage liver disease or tumour who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation at Groote Schuur Hospital between October 1988 and June 1991. Standard surgical techniques were used for procuring the donor liver, the recipient hepatectomy and the implantation of the liver. The venovenous bypass method was used in all but 2 patients. Postoperative immunosuppression was usually achieved with cyclosporin, azathioprine and low-dose steroids. Six patients were treated with prophylactic OKT3. Rejection episodes were treated with bolus doses of intravenous steroids. The indications for liver transplantation included chronic active hepatitis progressing to cirrhosis (5), biliary cirrhosis in association with inflammatory bowel disease (1), sclerosing cholangitis (2), alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (1), and tumour (1). All patients with chronic liver disease had experienced at least one complication, examples of which included encephalopathy, bacterial peritonitis, ascites, variceal bleeding and septicaemia. Serious postoperative complications included acute rejection of the transplanted liver, renal and liver failure that responded to intensive care support and medical management. One patient died on the 11th postoperative day with complications of bleeding oesophageal ulcer, shock and fungaemia. The remaining patients are alive and well 1-31 months after transplantation.     

Thioethers as urinary metabolites of thiophene and monobromothiophenes.

1. Thiophene and its two monobromo derivatives were administered to rats and the amounts of thioether excreted in urine were measured by an assay based on Ellman's reagent. This assay, which involves extraction and hydrolysis, was validated by determining extraction and hydrolysis efficiencies for several authentic thioethers including N-acetyl-S-(2-thienyl)-L-cysteine, a previously reported metabolite of thiophene and 2-bromothiophene. 2. The thioethers present in urine of animals dosed with thiophenes have been examined chromatographically. Contrary to previous reports, the present work indicates that S-substituted, N-acetyl-L-cysteines (mercapturic acids) are not important thioether metabolites of thiophene in rats, and the small quantity of such compounds formed does not include either of the two simple S-thienyl derivatives. 3. The two monobromo thiophenes form higher proportions of thioethers than does thiophene, and one of these thioethers, arising from 3-bromothiophene, was identified, chromatographically, as N-acetyl-S-(3-thienyl)-L-cysteine.     

Multi-phase approach to eradicate enzootic mouse coronavirus infection.

Infections with mouse coronavirus (also known as mouse hepatitis virus, MHV) are common and prompt concern because the adverse research effects of infection have been well documented. The animal facility we describe had contained an enzootic infection of mouse coronavirus for more than a decade. Eradication of the virus had been tried with limited success in the past. With an increase in the populations of immune-compromised and transgenic animals elsewhere in the facility, eradication of the virus became a high priority. The affected animals were in multiple breeding colonies comprising more than 4000 mice representing more than 50 site-specific strains, lines, and sublines. A task force designed to ensure representation of all interested parties developed a multi-phase approach which included (a) culling of nonessential animals, (b) cessation of breeding, (c) testing and culling of individual animals, and (d) cross-fostering to clean dams. To date, all of the strains, lines, and sublines manipulated through this multi-phase eradication approach continue to test negative for mouse coronavirus. This multi-phase approach may be useful for other institutions attempting to eradicate mouse coronavirus.     

Case Report: Giant choledochal cyst

We report an adult female with a rare giant choledochal cyst. The patient presented following a normal pregnancy with the classical triad of an abdominal mass associated with jaundice and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. The cyst was excised using an intramural technique and biliary reconstruction achieved with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Our patient has remained well with no evidence of malignancy over a 12 year review period. The aetiology and current management of this condition are discussed.