Use of small diameter synthetic grafts in carotid bypasses in rats

Vascular prostheses of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene were tested as microvascular synthetic substitutes in a carotid bypass model in rats. Poor patency rates (28%) were obtained with this material when compared with the rates obtained in homologous arterial grafts (100%). It is concluded that expanded polytetrafluoroethylene is unacceptable for use as a 1 mm vascular conduit.     

LDL cholesterol estimation in patients with the metabolic syndrome

Background  

The Friedewald formula (LDL-F) for the estimation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations is the most often used formula in clinical trials and clinical practice. However, much concern has been raised as to whether this formula is applicable in all patient populations such as the presence of chylomicronaemia and/or hypertriglyceridaemia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate various LDL cholesterol calculation formulas as well as LDL cholesterol levels provided by the Lipoprint LDL System (LDL-L) in patients with the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn).     

Diversity of SIRV-like Viruses from a North American Population

A small subset of acidic hot springs sampled in Yellowstone National Park yielded rod-shaped viruses which lysed liquid host cultures and formed clear plaques on lawns of host cells. Three isolates chosen for detailed analysis were found to be genetically related to previously described isolates of the Sulfolobus islandicus rod-shaped virus (SIRV), but distinct from them and from each other. Functional stability of the new isolates was assessed in a series of inactivation experiments. UV-C radiation inactivated one of the isolates somewhat faster than bacteriophage λ, suggesting that encapsidation in the SIRV-like virion did not confer unusual protection of the DNA from UV damage. With respect to high temperature, the new isolates were extremely, but not equally, stable. Several chemical treatments were found to inactivate the virions and, in some cases, to reveal apparent differences in virion stability among the isolates. Screening a larger set of isolates identified greater variation of these stability properties but found few correlations among the resulting profiles. The majority of host cells infected by the new isolates were killed, but survivors exhibited heritable resistance, which could not be attributed to CRISPR spacer acquisition or the loss of the pilus-related genes identified by earlier studies. Virus-resistant host variants arose at high frequency and most were resistant to multiple viral strains; conversely, resistant host clones generated virus-sensitive variants, also at high frequency. Virus-resistant cells lacked the ability of virus-sensitive cells to bind virions in liquid suspensions. Rapid interconversion of sensitive and resistant forms of a host strain suggests the operation of a yet-unidentified mechanism that acts to allow both the lytic virus and its host to propagate in highly localized natural populations, whereas variation of virion-stability phenotypes among the new viral isolates suggests that multiple molecular features contribute to the biological durability of these viruses.     

Effects of two different regimens of continuous hormone replacement therapy on endometrial histopathology and postmenopausal uterine bleeding

Objective: To compare the effects of frequently used two different regimens of combined continuous hormone replacement therapy; 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) + 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and 1 mg 17β estradiol (E2) + 0.5 mg norethindrone acetate (NETA), on endometrial histopathology and postmenopausal uterine bleeding. Materials and methods: Two hundred and forty-six outpatient subjects aged 41–57 years were enrolled in the study conducted at the menopause clinic between November 2003 and November 2004. One hundred and thirty-nine patients were assigned to receive 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen + 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE/MPA), whereas 107 patients were to receive 17β estradiol + 0.5 mg norethindrone acetate (E2/NETA). Inclusion criteria of the study were: normal values of endometrial thickness at basal evaluation, women with intact uterus, at least 12 months of amenorrhea, normal vaginal smear, bilateral mammography and biochemical blood parameters. All women were questioned every 3 months for vaginal bleeding/spotting. Endometrial sampling was performed by Pipelle catheter in the 12th month of therapy. Results: For the first 3 months, vaginal bleeding/spotting rate for the CEE/MPA group was 38.7%, whereas it was higher (45%) in the E2/NETA group. For the second 3-month period, vaginal bleeding/spotting frequencies were 41.1 and 37.8%, respectively. In the third 3-month period 30.6 and 29.6%, and in the fourth 3-month period, 18.5 and 12.5% of the patients reported vaginal bleeding or spotting. None of the results of endometrial sampling have shown findings of cancer histopathology. Conclusion: Compared to CEE/MPA regimen, E2/NETA therapy has not shown more favorable effects on postmenopausal bleeding abnormalities. Irregular endometrial proliferation was seen more with the E2/NETA regimen.     

Behçet's syndrome with left ventricular aneurysm and ruptured renal artery pseudoaneurysm

A 21-year-old man with Beh?et's syndrome presented with both a left ventricular aneurysm and a left renal artery pseudoaneurysm. After successful embolization of the ruptured pseudoaneurysm, the patient underwent successful repair of the left ventricular aneurysm. Although multiple aneurysms have been reported previously, we believe this to be the first reported case of both a ventricular aneurysm and a renal artery pseudoaneurysm afflicting a patient with Beh?et's syndrome.     

Magnetic activated cell sorting: an effective method for reduction of sperm DNA fragmentation in varicocele men prior to assisted reproductive techniques

Semen parameters of varicocele men have been usually suspected to exhibit higher levels of abnormalities including DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic markers. Negative correlation between increased level of DNA fragmentation and assisted reproductive techniques (ART) outcome has been studied by several authors. In the current study, we aim to evaluate the possible value of magnetic activated cell sorting (MACs) technology in reduction of DNA fragmentation in infertile varicocele patients prior to ART. Semen samples, collected from 36 varicocele patients, were prepared by density gradient centrifugation (DGC). Every sample was subsequently divided into two aliquots. One aliquot was kept untouched as pre‐MACs control while the other aliquot was subjected to MACs technique, for depletion of apoptotic spermatozoa, and serves as post‐MACs test. Sperm count, motility and DNA fragmentations were evaluated for both control and test samples. Post‐MACs samples showed no deleterious reduction in total sperm motility (80.64 ± 6.97%) compared with control samples (80.97 ± 7.74%) while sperm DNA fragmentations were significantly reduced in post‐MACs samples (9.61 ± 5.62%) compared with pre‐MACs controls (12.43 ± 6.29%) (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that MACs technique is a simple, noninvasive, technique that can efficiently reduce DNA fragmentation in infertile varicocele patients prior to ART.     

Congenital Right Pulmonary Artery Agenesis with Atrial Septal Defect and Pulmonary Hypertension

Unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly caused by a backward displacement of the conical artery of the truncus arteriosus. It is commonly associated with additional cardiovascular abnormalities. A 7‐year‐old girl was admitted to our clinic with the complaint of shortness of breath upon exertion. Chest radiography revealed a hypoplastic right lung. Absence of the right pulmonary artery with atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension was demonstrated by echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac catheterization. Bosentan is effectively used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.     

A population-based study of the incidence and survival rates in patients with pilocytic astrocytoma

OBJECT: The incidence of pilocytic astrocytomas and the rate of patient survival were analyzed in a population-based study in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland. METHODS: Between 1980 and 1994, 987 astrocytic and oligodendroglial tumors were diagnosed, of which 55 (5.5%) were pilocytic astrocytomas. The incidence rate, adjusted to the World Standard Population, was 4.8 per 1 million per year. The mean age at clinical diagnosis was 19.6 +/- 12.7 years, and the male/female ratio was 1.12. The most frequent tumor sites were the cerebellum (40%), followed by supratentorial locations (35%), the optic pathway and hypothalamus (11%), and the brainstem (9%). The mean follow-up period was 12 years. Observed survival rates were 100% at 5 years and 95.8% at 10 years after diagnosis (relative survival rate at 10 years: 96.8%). Seven patients (13%) received postoperative radiotherapy, but this did not significantly affect survival. In all patients the tumors were histologically classified as WHO Grade I, except in two patients who had anaplastic pilocytic astrocytoma (Grade III), one of whom died after 7 years, whereas the other was still alive after 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study shows that, because of the benign biological behavior of pilocytic astrocytomas and advances in microneurosurgery, the survival rates for patients with these tumors are excellent, regardless of postoperative radiotherapy.