Obstructive hyperinflation treated by use of self-expandable stent

A self-expandable metal stent was used in the management of a young woman who developed respiratory failure as a result of obstructive hyperinflation caused by a bronchogenic tumour.     

Isolation of Wolinella recta and Actinomyces viscosus from an actinomycotic chest wall mass.

In this Note we describe a patient with an actinomycotic chest wall mass from which large numbers of Wolinella recta and Actinomyces viscosus organisms were isolated. This is the first reported association of W. recta with extraoral infection and the tenth report of lung infection by A. viscosus.     

Experimentally induced glucose intolerance increases oral ethanol intake in rats

A number of studies have shown a relationship between glucose tolerance and ethanol intake. The present study uses a relatively simple procedure to induce glucose intolerance to test whether this condition is sufficient to produce an increase in chronic ethanol intake in male rats. Subjects were divided equally into four groups where they were given access to one of four solutions: peppermint-flavored sucrose (40%), peppermint-flavored saccharin (0.1%), peppermint in water (0.1%), or water alone presented three times a week, for a period of 11 weeks. After 12 weeks all animals were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test which revealed that the chronically prepared sucrose animals had become glucose intolerant. At the start of week 13 all animals were given access to a 6% ethanol solution flavored with peppermint in place of the previous solutions for a period of 11 weeks. Sucrose animals displayed an immediate preference for ethanol and consumed approximately three times more ethanol than the remaining groups. The results of this study indicate that rats that are made glucose intolerant by long term access to a high concentration of sucrose, when given the opportunity, will subsequently choose to drink more ethanol than control animals.     

Percutaneous Real-Time Ultrasonic Guided Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Deep-Seated,Non-Palpable Intra-abdominal Masses (Initial Experience)

The accuracy of detecting and assessing the nature of deep seated non-palpable lesions by ultrasonically guided biopsy has not been well established. Although various authors have reported the accuracy of this technique in large mass lesions^1,2 the accuracy in non-palpable lesions has not been emphasized. A real-time sector scanner with a biopsy guide attached to a 3 MHz transducer was used for guiding 23 gauge fine needles into 24 patients with deep seated non-palpable masses, detected on ultrasound studies, with a view to diagnose or exclude malignancy, and to establish the exact nature of these lesions, either benign or malignant. Aspiration biopsy accurately diagnosed the lesions in 18 patients (75%). No complications occurred in any case.     

Radiologically guided balloon dilation of gastrointestinal strictures. Part II. Results of long-term follow-up

Balloon dilation catheters were used to treat 94 gastrointestinal strictures in 92 patients over a 6-year period. Long-term follow-up data were obtained for 80 of these patients, with a mean follow-up period of 389 days. Overall, of the patients who underwent a successful dilation procedure, 83% remained symptom free after 1 year, and 69% after 2 years. The location of the stricture did not significantly influence the long-term outcome, nor did procedure characteristics, aside from primary technical failure. Both patients with malignant strictures and those whose strictures were associated with an anastomosis were more likely than other patients to have recurrent symptoms.     

Accessory breast tissue in the axilla: mammographic appearance

Mammographic features of normal accessory axillary breast tissue were analyzed in 13 women, 54% of whom had positive findings on physical examination. Radiographically the accessory tissue resembled the remaining normal glandular tissue but was separate from it. The mean radiographic dimension of the accessory tissue, which was best seen on oblique or exaggerated craniocaudal views, was 3.9 cm. In most cases the accessory tissue was either bilateral or confined to the right side. When found on mammography, accessory axillary breast tissue should be recognized as a normal developmental variant rather than considered a pathologic lesion, although carcinoma can develop in the accessory tissue. A specific, radiography-aided diagnosis of accessory axillary breast tissue can eliminate unnecessary biopsy.