Giant hydronephrosis presenting as unilateral iliofemoral vein thrombosis

We report a case of left iliofemoral vein thrombosis with extension to the inferior vena cava associated with giant right hydronephrosis secondary to ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Surgery revealed marked infrarenal vena caval compression and deviation to the left side caused by the dilated right renal pelvis, with resultant kinking of the origin of the left iliac vein. It is postulated that the reduction in blood flow caused by this compression and distortion predisposed this patient to venous thrombosis.     

Corneal endothelial cell loss following trephination

The amount of endothelial cell loss that occurs to the donor cornea during the trephination process was evaluated in 40 porcine eyes. A vital staining technique (alizarin red S and acid violet 19) was used to quantify the extent of endothelial damage and removal. Two types of corneal punches (Weck and H&I0 were used for trephination. The average amount of endothelial loss from the peripheral cornea was 7.9%, accounting for only a 3% loss of endothelial cells over the total surface area of the corneal button. a comparison of the Weck and H&I corneal punches showed no significant difference (P greater than 0.1) by Student's test for both endothelial cell damage and removal.     

The acting or interim leadership position: expectations, perceptions, realities

The acting or interim leadership position has been neglected in terms of selection, role identification, and status. Individuals, programs, and organizations are paying a price for this inattention.     

ACETALDEHYDE ADDUCTS WITH HAEMOGLOBIN: DETERMINATION OF ACETALDEHYDE RELEASED FROM HAEMOGLOBIN BY ACID HYDROLYSIS

Acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol, reacts with haemoglobinin vitro to produce acetaldehyde—haemoglobin adducts.Some clinical studies on the minor haemoglobins have suggestedthat these adducts may be formed in people abusing alcohol.Under hydrolysis of haemoglobin, with oxalic acid at 100°Cin sealed vials, some acetaldehyde was released and then specificallydetermined by HPLC. The kinetics of hydrolysis were studiedusing haemoglobin previously labelled with ¹⁴[C] acetaldehyde.The maximum liberation of ¹⁴[C] acetaldehyde was obtained after3 hr 30 min hydrolysis and this time factor was then utilizedin the analysis of alcoholic and control haemoglobin. Thus,we have confirmed the formation of acetaldehyde haemoglobinadducts in vivo. It must be noted that the released acetaldehydecorresponds only to an index of the stable adducts. The levelswere higher in alcoholics than in controls (1.417±0.171and 1.295±0.139 nmol/mg Hb, respectively, P<0.001).In conclusion, this marker is not a convenient tool for themonitoring of alcohol exposure levels because of the low differencesbetween alcoholic and control haemoglobins.     

The effect of psychosocial factors on lung cancer mortality at one year

In this study newly diagnosed male and female lung cancer patients admitted to two Ontario Cancer Foundation treatment clinics were interviewed. Information was obtained on demographic variables, presence of other chronic illness and the following psychosocial attributes: locus of control, social support and personality traits. From the clinic charts, information on stage of disease and pathological diagnosis was obtained. After controlling for the effects of stage and pathological diagnosis, the following psychological variables were found to increase the odds of death from lung cancer among males and females combined at one year after diagnosis: a high need for one aspect of social support, a reserved personality and the extremes of the personality trait soberness vs enthusiasm.     

Comparison of blood glucose and insulin responses in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Studies with spaghetti and potato taken alone and as part of a mixed meal

Recently, we demonstrated that spaghetti caused significantly lower glycaemic response than rice and potato in insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) subjects and that this difference was also present when spaghetti and potato were taken as part of a mixed meal. We have now compared the blood glucose and insulin responses to 50 g of carbohydrate in the form of white bread, potato and white spaghetti in 6 non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients. The blood glucose response after white spaghetti observed over a 3-h period was only 60 +/- 10 per cent (P less than 0.02) of that seen in response to potato (395 +/- 116 mmol/l x 180 min vs 641 +/- 108 mmol/l x 180 min) and 47 +/- 9 per cent (P less than 0.01) of that seen in response to white bread (395 +/- 116 mmol/l x 180 min vs 805 +/- 93 mmol/l x 180 min). Insulin responses showed an identical pattern reflecting the glycaemic responses. To see if the difference in the glucose responses in NIDDM patients is preserved if these carbohydrate-rich foods are taken as part of a mixed meal we looked at the blood glucose and insulin responses to 50 g of carbohydrate in the form of potato and white spaghetti when ingested together with bolognese sauce (167 g) in 7 NIDDM patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)