Late antinociception and lower untoward effects of concomitant intrathecal morphine and intravenous buprenorphine in humans

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perioperative antinociceptive effect of intrathecal morphine (a pure mu agonist), intravenous (IV) buprenorphine (a partial mu agonist) or their combination. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. SETTINGS: Anesthesiology department of a university-affiliated public hospital. PATIENTS: 45 ASA physical status I, II, and III patients undergoing hysterectomy with general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Preoperative and postoperative regimens consisted of intrathecal morphine 4.3 microg.kg(-1) plus IV 0.9% saline (Group 1), IV buprenorphine 1.3 microg.kg(-1) plus intrathecal saline (Group 2), and intrathecal morphine 4.3 microg.kg(-1) plus IV buprenorphine 1.3 microg.kg(-1) (Group 3; postoperative supplements consisting of IV buprenorphine 1.3 microg.kg(-1) plus intrathecal saline). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Group 2 and 3 patients were given three analgesic dosings compared with two dosings in Group 1 (p < 0.001). The duration of action in Group 2 was significantly shorter (p = 0.001) than in the other two groups. The 12-hour postoperative pain intensity and sedation in Group 3 was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in the other groups. Side effects (mainly pruritus and nausea and vomiting) were significantly fewer (p < 0.05) in Groups 2 and 3 (26% and 28%, respectively) than in Group 1 (46%). CONCLUSIONS: The concomitant administration of intrathecal morphine and IV buprenorphine alleviates pain sensation and minimizes sedation more effectively than when given after the administration of either drug separately. In addition, IV buprenorphine affords a reduction in side effects.     

Podocyte number in normotensive type 1 diabetic patients with albuminuria

We estimated glomerular cell number in 50 normotensive type 1 diabetic patients with raised albumin excretion rate (AER) and investigated any change after 3 years in a subgroup of 16 placebo-treated patients. Biopsies from 10 normal kidney donors were used as controls. Mesangial and endothelial cell number was increased in the 50 diabetic patients at the start of the study compared with control subjects. There was no difference in podocyte number. Glomerular volume was increased in diabetic patients, but surface area of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) underlying the podocytes did not differ between groups. AER correlated positively with mesangial cell number in microalbuminuric patients (r = 0.44, P = 0.012) and negatively with podocyte number in proteinuric patients (r = -0.48, P = 0.040). In the 16 placebo-treated patients, glomerular volume increased after 3 years owing to matrix accumulation and increased GBM surface area. Although overall cell number did not differ significantly from baseline, the decrease in podocyte number during follow-up correlated with AER at follow-up (r = -0.72, P = 0.002). In conclusion, cross-sectional analysis of podocyte number in type 1 diabetic patients with raised AER but normal blood pressure shows no significant reduction compared with nondiabetic control subjects. Longitudinal data provide evidence for an association between podocyte loss and AER, but whether cellular changes are a response to, a cause of, or concomitant with the progression of nephropathy remains uncertain.     

Intrabiliary rupture of hepatic hydatid cyst

Spontaneous hepatic hydatid cyst rupture into the biliary tract is unusual. The authors describe a case of a 62-year-old man with a hepatic hydatid cyst, showing that it is possible to confirm rupture into the biliary system with cholangiography-MRI. Surgical treatment remains the best form of management. Endoscopic management is a therapeutic possibility in all cases in which surgery is contraindicated. In the case observed endoscopic sphinctererotomy resolved the biliary obstruction, while the hydatid cyst was treated by transbiliary irrigation with scolicidal solutions and pharmacological therapy. The treatment permitted complete clinical resolution of the hepatic hydatosis.     

Emergency surgical treatment of complicated acute diverticulitis

Twenty-five percent of patients undergoing surgery for acute complicated diverticulitis represent emergencies. This condition is currently treated by colonic resection with primary anastomosis with or without colostomy, or by a Hartmann operation. We report on our experience with 52 consecutive patients with generalized peritonitis (8 cases), peri- and paracolonic abscesses (19 cases), severe pelvic abscesses (12 cases) and multiple abscesses with visceral fistulas (13 cases). All patients had emergency surgery. In 50/52 patients (96.2%) we performed a colonic resection with primary anastomosis using a mechanical stapler and in 2/52 a Hartmann operation. The overall mortality rate was 5.8%. The morbidity rate was 22% with 9 anastomotic leakages. A diverting colostomy was constructed in 16 patients and opened in only 8 patients. In 4 cases a parastomal hernia occurred after late closure and reduction of the colostomy. This data suggest that colonic resection with primary anastomosis, even without colostomy, is a safe procedure for the emergency treatment of acute complicated diverticulitis.     

Three‐dimensional parametric modeling of bicuspid aortopathy and comparison with computational flow predictions

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)‐associated ascending aneurysmal aortopathy (namely “bicuspid aortopathy”) is a heterogeneous disease making surgeon predictions particularly challenging. Computational flow analysis can be used to evaluate the BAV‐related hemodynamic disturbances, which likely lead to aneurysm enlargement and progression. However, the anatomic reconstruction process is time consuming so that predicting hemodynamic and structural evolution by computational modeling is unfeasible in routine clinical practice. The aim of the study was to design and develop a parametric program for three‐dimensional (3D) representations of aneurysmal aorta and different BAV phenotypes starting from several measures derived by computed‐tomography angiography (CTA). Assuming that wall shear stress (WSS) has an important implication on bicuspid aortopathy, computational flow analyses were then performed to estimate how different would such an important parameter be, if a parametric aortic geometry was used as compared to standard geometric reconstructions obtained by CTA scans. Morphologic parameters here documented can be used to rapidly model the aorta and any phenotypes of BAV. t‐test and Bland–Altman plot demonstrated that WSS obtained by flow analysis of parametric aortic geometries was in good agreement with that obtained from the flow analysis of CTA‐related geometries. The proposed program offers a rapid and automated tool for 3D anatomic representations of bicuspid aortopathy with promising application in routine clinical practice by reducing the amount of time for anatomic reconstructions.     

The usefulness of antibiotic prophylaxis in invasive urodynamics in postmenopausal female subjects

This study aims to define the usefulness of antibiotic prophylaxis of urinary tract infection (UTI) in postmenopausal female undergoing invasive urodynamics (IU). Two hundred sixty-two postmenopausal females underwent IU. Before urodynamics, all females were double blindly randomized in two age stratified groups. Group 1 (130 patients) received oral antibiotic prophylaxis with a single 400-mg dose of norfloxacin. Group 2 (132 patients) received norfloxacin placebo. Statistical analysis was performed by a chi (2) test to evaluate differences between groups for UTI incidence rate. Fifty-four patients of 262 (20.6%) resulted affected by UTI [24 of 130 subjects who received antibiotic prophylaxis (18.4%) and 30 of 132 subjects who received placebo (22.7%)]. There was no statically significant difference (P = 0.242) regarding UTI incidence rate between patients who received and those who did not received antibiotic prophylaxis. UTI incidence rate in postmenopausal women undergoing urodynamics is not affected by administration of antibiotic prophylaxis at the desired level of efficacy.     

Neurofibromatosis type 1 with external genitalia involvement presentation of 4 patients

Genitourinary neurofibromas with clitoral involvement in neurofibromatosis type 1 are rare, and even more infrequent are the neurofibromas involving genitalia in males. The most frequent presenting sign of neurofibroma in females is clitoromegaly with pseudopenis, and enlarged penis is the most common sign in males. Labium majus neurofibroma not associated with clitoral involvement is extremely rare. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstration of the neurofibromas has seldom been reported. We report 4 children, 3 girls and 1 boy, with plexiform neurofibromas involving the external genitalia. Three of the 4 patients had histologic confirmation of neurofibroma. Two girls with clitoral hypertrophy had a neurofibroma that infiltrated the clitoris and extended unilaterally to the lower bladder wall. One girl had a plexiform neurofibroma that affected a labium. One boy with asymmetric penile hypertrophy since 2 years of age and ipsilateral gluteal hypertrophy had plexiform neurofibromas that extended between the left lumbogluteal and penile regions, infiltrating the left rectum wall and bladder with compression of both structures, the left prostate, and the left half of the cavernous corpi with hypertrophy of this part and asymmetry of the penis. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated in all patients that external genitalia and plexiform neurofibroma formed images of nondetachable structures. However, hermaphroditism was discarded by chromosomal study in all 3 girls before ratifying the diagnosis of external genitalia neurofibroma.     

Inhibition of tyrosine-kinase-mediated cellular signaling by tyrphostins AG 126 and AG556 modulates murine experimental acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: The effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tyrphostin AG126 and AG556 in a murine model of acute pancreatitis are investigated. METHODS: Intraperitoneal injection of cerulein in mice resulted in a severe, acute pancreatitis, which was characterized by edema, neutrophil infiltration, tissue hemorrhage, and cell necrosis as well as elevation in the serum activities of amylase or lipase. RESULTS: Infiltration of the pancreatic tissue of these animals with neutrophils (measured as increase in myeloperoxidase activity) was associated with signs of enhanced lipid peroxidation (increased tissue levels of malondialdehyde). Immunohistochemical examination showed a marked increase in immunoreactivity for nitrotyrosine and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in the pancreas of cerulein-treated mice. Pretreatment or posttreatment with tyrphostin AG126 and AG556, 2 different tyrosine kinase inhibitors, significantly reduced the degree of pancreatic inflammation and tissue injury (histologic score). In particular, the treatment with the 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors reduced the cerulein-induced nitrotyrosine formation and PARP activation in the pancreas as well as the systemic release of tumor necrosis factor alpha. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first evidence that (1) prevention of the activation of protein tyrosine kinases reduces the development of acute pancreatitis, and (2) inhibition of the activity of certain tyrosine kinases may represent a novel approach for the therapy of acute pancreatitis.