All currently used measurements of recirculation in blood access by chemical methods are flawed due to intradialytic disequilibrium or recirculation at low flow

Blood flows and recirculations with standard and reversed direction of lines were measured by chemical (urea and creatinine) and ultrasound dilution (saline) methods in 47 chronic hemodialysis patients. Thirty-seven patients had 47 dual-lumen, central vein (CV) catheters: 32 were PermCath (Quinton Instruments Company, Seattle, WA), 6 were Access Cath (MEDCOMP, Harleysville, PA), 3 were Soft Cell PC (Vas Cath, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) and 6 were SNIJ (experimental catheters). Three of these last catheters had the tip staggered 7 mm, and three had flush tips; PermCath, Access Cath, and Soft Cell PC catheters have the tips staggered 23 to 25 mm. Forty-six catheters were implanted into the superior vena cava/right atrium, and one catheter was implanted through the left saphenous vein into the left iliac vein. The catheters were studied 1 to 31 months after implantation (median, 3.0 months). Ten patients with arteriovenous (AV) graft access were also studied. The stop-flow method was used in catheter dialysis, and the slow-flow method was used to calculate recirculations in AV access dialysis with samples for systemic blood concentrations taken from arterial line both before and after samples from the arterial and venous lines. At 500 mL/min pump speed, actual blood flow was 436+/-18 mL/min (mean+/-SD; range, 407 to 464 mL/min) with standard direction of catheter lines. At 500 mL/min pump speed, the arterial chamber pressure was -330+/-48 mm Hg (mean+/-SD; range, -380 to -225 mm Hg, and the venous chamber pressure was 259+/-48 mm Hg (mean+/-SD; range, 140 to 310 mm Hg). Arterial chamber pressure was less negative, and venous chamber pressure was less positive with SNIJ catheters, which had larger internal diameter (2.1 mm) compared with the other catheters (2.0 mm). Recirculation varied with the catheter design and the location of the catheter tip. In the catheters with tip staggered more than 20 mm and with standard line connection at pump speeds of 50 mL/min and 500 mL/min, recirculations were approximately 1 % and 5%, respectively, when measured by the chemical method. In the same catheters with reversed lines, the recirculations were approximately 5% and 27%, respectively. Inflow failure catheters with reversed lines had similar recirculation values to those of well-functioning catheters with reversed lines. In catheters with tips staggered 7 mm, and with standard connection of lines, recirculations were approximately 3% and 8%, respectively, at pump speeds of 50 and 500 mL/min. With reversed lines, at the same pump speeds, the values were 7% and 12%, respectively. In flush-tip catheters, the recirculation was higher at a 50 mL/min pump speed (approximately 17%) than at a pump speed of 500 mL/min (approximately 13%). The ultrasound dilution method usually gave lower values than the chemical methods, most likely because of overestimation of recirculation by chemical methods. At least triplicate measurements are needed because single measurements by the ultrasound dilution method are associated with substantial variation. We conclude that both currently used methods (stop flow and slow flow) of taking systemic samples for measurements of recirculation by chemical methods are flawed because of disequilibrium and recirculation at low flow.     

Common bile duct calculi: updated experience with dissolution with methyl tertiary butyl ether

The authors describe their experience with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in a larger series of patients than previously reported in order to acquaint physicians with both its effectiveness for dissolution of common bile duct calculi and the limitations of its use. Ten patients with 13 biliary calculi underwent percutaneous stone dissolution treatment with the experimental cholesterol solvent, MTBE. Three stones completely dissolved within 30 minutes, seven were reduced in size, and three were visibly unaffected. All stones not completely dissolved were easily extracted by means of a stone basket except for one in a patient taken to surgery. Although MTBE perfusion is an effective technique for management of biliary calculi, practitioners should be aware that its use is quite time consuming and its odor difficult to control.     

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses in moderate and severe COVID-19 inpatients: A cross-sectional study at a referral center in Mexico

Introduction and ObjectivesThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused a great impact on healthcare systems worldwide, including hepatitis B and C viruses screening and elimination programs. The high number of COVID-19 hospitalizations represent a great opportunity to screen patients for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), which was the aim of this study.Material and MethodsCross-sectional, retrospective study performed between April 2020 and 20201 at a referral center in Mexico dedicated to the care of adults with severe/critical COVID-19. We retrieved clinical, demographic, and laboratory results from each patient´s medical records, including antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV), HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies against the HBV core antigen (anti-HBcAg), and antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBsAg).ResultsOut of 3620 patients that were admitted to the hospital, 24 (0.66%), 4 (0.11%), and 72 (1.99%) tested positive for anti-HCV, HBsAg, and anti-HBcAg, respectively. Of all seronegative patients, 954 (27%) had undetectable anti-HBsAg and 401 (12%) had anti-HBsAg at protective levels. Blood transfusion was the most relevant risk factor. Only 9.7% of the anti-HBc positive, 25% of the HBsAg positive, and 52% of the anti-HCV positive were aware of their serological status.ConclusionsIn this study we found a prevalence of anti-HCV of 0.66%, HBsAg in 0.11%, and isolated anti-HBcAg in 1.99%. We also found that HBV vaccination coverage has been suboptimal and needs to be reinforced. This study gave us a trustworthy insight of the actual seroprevalence in Mexico, which can help provide feedback to the Hepatitis National Elimination Plan.     

Ongoing pregnancies after intracytoplasmic injection using cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa

We report two clinical pregnancies occurring after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using cryopreserved spermatozoa obtained from testicular biopsy, made in two different infertility situations in our clinic. The first patient showed a secretory azoospermia associated with elevated serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) level and spermiogenesis maturation arrest. The second patient was affected by azoospermia resulting from bilateral epididymal obstruction. Spermatozoa present in the wet preparation of testicular biopsy made on the day of scrotal exploration were cryopreserved within the testicular tissue for both men. Intracytoplasmic injections were performed at a later date, using spermatozoa prepared from frozen-thawed tissues. In each case, three embryos were obtained and transferred in utero. The transfers resulted in a twin pregnancy for the first case, and in a singleton pregnancy for the second. Living foetuses were seen in the ultrasound scan at the 7th week and both pregnancies are proceeding to date beyond 30 weeks without complications.      

Volumetric rendering of MR images

The authors developed new techniques for three-dimensional display of magnetic resonance (MR) images that preserve soft-tissue definition, are fully automatic, and work with routinely used section thicknesses. MR images are segmented, selectively enhanced, and displayed by means of a volumetric rendering algorithm. These techniques were used to illustrate normal anatomy of the brain, knee, and liver. Three-dimensional rendering of balanced spin-echo images shows the ventricles and extracerebral veins and of T1-weighted images, the sulci and gyri. The large hepatic and portal vessels can be seen with these enhancement techniques. Three-dimensional views of the knee reveal articular surfaces of the tibia and clearly depict menisci and posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments. These techniques make it possible to image multiple soft tissues simultaneously while preserving the detail contained in the original images. Three-dimensional presentation of complex, overlapping anatomic regions is helpful in surgical planning and should lead to improved diagnosis.     

Digital beam attenuator technique for compensated chest radiography

The feasibility of producing patient-specific beam attenuators for chest radiography has been investigated using an anthropomorphic phantom and a human volunteer. A low-dose test exposure is digitized, processed, and used to print a small cerium filter, which is placed in the x-ray beam near the collimator. The final radiograph is recorded on film. The technique results in relatively uniform film exposure, so that structures in all regions of the chest are simultaneously displayed with optimal film contrast. The equalized exposure improves image quality in the normally underpenetrated regions and reduces the role of cross-scatter from the lungs. The image is analogous to optical or computer-processed unsharp masking techniques, but the processing is accomplished in the x-ray beam and results in an improved exposure distribution, giving advantages that cannot be achieved with image processing techniques alone.     

Body dysmorphic disorder and dermatologists

The aim  of this study was to determine the frequency of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) identified by Polish dermatologists and to evaluate the treatment modalities applied by them.
Methods  A specially designed questionnaire was distributed to 172 dermatologists. A total of 118 doctors responded (68.6%). The dermatologists were asked regarding demographic data, frequency of BDD in their everyday practice and methods of treatment they used in managing BDD patients.
Results  During the whole working period, over the half of dermatologists (64%) had observed at least one BDD patient in their practice. One fifth (20%) of the respondents observed 1 or 2 BDD cases during the past 5 years, 14% observed 3 to 5 such patients, 7% observed 5 to 10 BDD cases, and 5% of the doctors reported seeing more than 10 BDD patients within this period. Almost 18% of dermatologists were currently treating a BDD patient. Our data show that 40.7% of the respondents always ask and 28.8% often ask for a psychiatric opinion. More experienced dermatologists statistically more frequently ( P < 0.05) obtained a psychiatric opinion about their patients. Only a small group of dermatologists (15.3%) use their own pharmacological treatment. If they do so, they first use anxiety-relieving drugs and placebo.
Conclusion  BDD is a quite common disorder; however, not all dermatologists are sufficiently prepared to treat it. There is an urgent need for training of dermatologists on the effective approach to psychodermatoses.