Intra‐arterial embolization of lumbar artery pseudoaneurysm following percutaneous nephrolithotomy

The management of a patient with haematuria following percutaneous nephrolithotomy is described. The patient underwent renal angiography to assess the cause of bleeding. A pseudoaneurysm arising from first left lumbar artery was incidentally discovered, which was then successfully embolized using an indigenously fabricated metallic coil and gel foam particles in the same sitting.     

Primary and adjunctive uses of botulinum toxin type A in the periorbital region

Chemodenervation with botulinum toxin has become an integral part of the facial plastic armamentarium. Although eyebrow and eyelid cosmetic deformities and asymmetries have traditionally been treated by surgical intervention, Botox can now be incorporated effectively into the surgical plan. When the surgeon has a complete understanding of facial anatomy and muscular interactions, Botox can be used as a primary treatment of the periorbital region or as an adjunct to surgical procedures of the periorbital region.     

The effects of wet suits on physiological and biomechanical indices during swimming

The objectives of this study were to verify the effects of wet suits (WS) on the performance during 1500m swimming (V1500), on the velocity corresponding to the anaerobic threshold (VAT) and on the drag force (AD) as well as its coefficient (Cx). 19 swimmers randomly completed the following protocols on different days (with and without WS): 1) maximal performance of 1500m swimming; 2) VAT in field test, with fixed concentration of blood lactate (4 mM) and 3) determination of hydrodynamic indices (AD and Cx). The results demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05) in the VAT (1.27 +/- 0.09; 1.21 +/- 0.06 m.s-1), and in the V1500 (1.21 +/- 0.08; 1.17 +/- 0.08 m.s-1), with and without WS, respectively. However the AD, and its Cx did not present significant differences (p>0.05) for the respective maximal speeds of swimming. In summary, we can conclude that WS allows swimmers to reach greater speeds in both, long- and short-course swims. This improvement can be related to the decrease of the AD, since with higher speeds (with WS) the subjects presented the same resistance, as they did when compared to speeds without a WS. Moreover, these data suggest that the methodology used in this study to determine the Cx is unable to detect the improvement caused by WS.     

Hydrolysis of estrogen conjugates by the lungs of the dog in vivo.

Although hydrolysis of certain estrogen conjugates released into the systemic circulation is now known to occur in the human and in the dog, the site or sites of such hydrolysis remained unidentified. In an attempt to identify such sites, radioactive estrone was infused intravenously into a series of male dogs and serial paired samples of blood were obtained from the right ventricle (RV) and a peripheral artery (A). The samples were analysed for total radioactivity, unconjugated radioactive estrogens, radioactive estrone, estradiol-17beta, estrone sulfate, estrone glucosiduronate and estradiol-17beta glucosiduronate(s). The mean percent extraction across the lungs (see article) was calculated for each radioactive moiety analyzed. There was no significant percent extration of total radioactivity or of estrone sulfate. The mean percent extractions for unconjugated estrogens and for estrone and estradiol-17beta were -24.7, -21 and -34.3 respectively (P less than 0.01), indicating net production by the lungs. The mean percent extractions for estrone glucosiduronate and estradiol-17beta glucosiduronate(s) were +19.8 and +10.0 respectively (P less then 0.01), indicating net uptake of these conjugates by the lungs. Statistical analysis showed that the two processes were related. Our findings support the hypothesis that the lungs are one site, possibly the main site, at which hydrolysis of estrogen glucosiduronates occurs in the dog.     

Extrasplanchnic effect of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) on plasma estrogen levels in the dog.

The effect of the drug sulfobromophthalein (BSP) on plasma estrogens in the dog were studied during intravenous infusions of 3H-labeled estrogens. During [3H]estrone infusion, BSP administration caused a marked increase in arterial plasma levels of the radioactive conjugated estrogens, estrone glucosiduronate, estradiol-17 beta glucosiduronate(s), and estrone sulfate. Levels of the unconjugated estrogens, estrone and estradiol-17 beta, were substantially unaltered. Possible mechanisms were investigated. Splanchnic extraction of the conjugates did not change significantly during BSP administration, and renal excretion rose promptly in proportion to the plasma levels, thus virtually excluding decreased biliary or renal excretion. There was no net discharge of estrogen glucosiduronate radioactivity from adipose tissue or muscle following BSP. During [3H]estrone glucosiduronate infusion, BSP again caused an increase in plasma estrone glucosiduronate, thus excluding increased formation (of this conjugate, at least). BSP caused decreased extraction of estrone glucosiduronate by the hindlimb, indicating that decreased metabolism was the probable cause of the elevated plasma levels. BSP also caused decreased formation of unconjugated estrogens by the lungs, indicating that the decreased metabolism includes decreased hydrolysis of estrogen glucosiduronates.     

The factors controlling stem cell recirculation. i. Migration of hemopoietic stem cells in adrenalectomized mice

The influence of bilateral adrenalectomy on hemopoietic stem cell (CFU) migration in mice has been studied. Formation of endogenous spleen colonies in lethally irradiated, leg-shielded mice was sharply increased by prior adrenalectomy, and this increase was not dependent on the volume of shielded bone marrow. Adrenalectomy was shown to increase endogenous spleen colony formation in sublethally irradiated mice as well. However, it had no affect on formation of spleen colonies in lethally irradiated mice injected with syngeneic bone marrow. The CFU content of murine bone marrow decreased acutely after removal of the adrenals, and this decrease was accompanied by a concomitant increase in the peripheral blood and splenic CFU. Thus, adrenalectomy appeared to have no affect on the splenic plating efficiency or proliferative rate of hemopoietic stem cells, but it did result in increased migration of stem cells from the bone marrow to the blood, and thence to the spleen. It is concluded that the adrenal steroids may be of physiologic importance in the regulation of ehmopoietic stem cell migration.