Venous hemangioma of the gallbladder

An 11-year-old girl presenting with right upper quadrant abdominal pain was found to have a venous hemangioma of the posterior wall of the gallbladder. Radiographic, ultrasonographic, and angiographic findings of this entity, along with a review of the literature, are presented.     

Mobilization and evolutionary history of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) in Beta vulgaris L.

We have identified three families of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (VulMITEs) in the genome of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), evidently derived from a member of the Vulmar family of mariner transposons. While VulMITEs I are typical stowaway-like MITEs, VulMITEs II and VulMITEs III are rearranged stowaway elements of increased size. The integration of divergent moderately and highly repetitive sequences into VulMITEs II and, in particular in VulMITEs III, respectively, shows that amplification of repetitive DNA by MITEs contribute to the increase of genome size with possible implications for plant genome evolution. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH), for the first time visualizing stowaway MITE distribution on plant chromosomes, revealed a dispersed localization of VulMITEs along all B. vulgaris chromosomes. Analysis of the flanking sequences identified a dispersed repeat as target site for the integration of the stowaway element VulMITE I. Recent transposition of VulMITE I, which most likely occurred during the domestication of cultivated beets, was concluded from insertional polymorphisms between different B. vulgaris cultivars and species. ^†Sequence data from this article have been deposited in the EMBL/GenBank Data Library under the accession nos. AM231630-AM231653 and AM259123-AM259125.     

Granulomatous interstitial nephritis after nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Electrolyte and renal hemodynamic imbalance, acute interstitial nephritis with nephrotic-range proteinuria, papillary necrosis, tubular necrosis, and vasculitis are complications after intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). We report on 2 cases of biopsy-proven granulomatous interstitial nephritis with rapidly progressing renal insufficiency. Patient 1 was on ketoprofen for 7 months and indomethacin for 10 weeks before admission to hospital. The medication was not discontinued and renal insufficiency progressed to end-stage renal failure. Renal function did not respond to steroid and tuberculostatic treatment. Patient 2 was on diclofenac for 6 months and indomethacin for 7 weeks before admission to hospital. These drugs were withdrawn at diagnosis and renal function rapidly improved. We conclude that granulomatous interstitial nephritis may be a complication of NSAID medication indicating a cell-mediated immunologic disorder. False diagnosis (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis) may lead to end-stage renal disease (case 1). Discontinuation of medication obviates further therapy (case 2).     

Renal transplant hypertension caused by iliac artery stenosis.

A captopril renal study performed with both radiohippuran and 99mTc-MAG3 demonstrated the typical changes of a hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis in a hypertensive renal allograft recipient. Arteriography demonstrated high grade stenosis not of the renal artery but of the iliac artery. After successful angioplasty, the patient's hypertension resolved.     

Sex-dependence of the relative number of elastic fibres in human heart valves.

The aim of the current study was to find out whether there are sex-dependent differences in the relative number of elastic fibres in human heart valves. Twenty-six aortic valves, 26 mitral valves, 33 pulmonary valves and 28 tricuspid valves of both sexes were obtained at autopsy from newborn to 89-year-old patients who died of noncardiac diseases. The quantitatively morphometric investigations were carried out on conventionally stained (Resorcinfuchsin) histological sections. The results were qualitatively examined with immuno-histochemically marked (anti-elastin antibodies) histological sections. Earlier examinations by Leutert [1976. Z. Gesamte Inn. Med. 31, 97-104] showed that the atrioventricular valves have the following layers: endothelium, atrial fibroelastic tissue (S1), fibrous tissue, ventricular fibroelastic tissue (S2) and endothelium. In our study, the ventricular side of the semilunar valves corresponds to side S1, whereas the vessel side corresponds to side S2. Three regions of interest were examined on each side of the valves: base, mid and tip. The number of elastic fibres per measuring area for all four human heart valves was significantly higher (p < 0,001) in fibroelastic tissue of side S1 than in fibroelastic tissue of side S2. Neither on side S1 nor on side S2 were there significant gender-related differences in the relative number of elastic fibres per measuring area. The results suggest a characteristic distribution of the elastic fibre system which is not sex-dependent but closely related to the function of the heart valves.     

Coronary artery disease in the geriatric population

The elderly represent an increasingly important and challenging subset of the population of patients with ischemic heart disease. They are more likely to have comorbid conditions, atypical presentations, and unfavorable outcomes than their younger counterparts. Some of these findings are undoubtedly related to the structural and functional changes in the cardiovascular system associated with aging. The available data suggest that standard pharmacologic, thrombolytic, and definitive revascularization techniques have important roles in the therapy of geriatric patients but have been underused.     

The medical aspects of soccer injury epidemiology

In this article, the six major studies of soccer injury epidemiology are reviewed. Strengths and weaknesses of each epidemiologic design are critiqued and the crucial importance of the definition of injury is emphasized. The effect of age, sex, and intensity of play on injury rates is discussed. Our present knowledge of injury rate by anatomical site, player position, and the type of playing surface are reviewed. We examined the importance of player factors such as flexibility, joint laxity, weakness, and incomplete rehabilitation from other injuries. In addition, we reviewed the role played by inadequate equipment, field conditions, and rule violations. A successful program for soccer injury prevention is described, and guidelines for future soccer injury epidemiology research are proposed.