Transient hypertension after percutaneous transluminal renal artery angioplasty

A retrospective analysis of 128 technically successful percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) procedures was performed. After the procedures, transient systemic hypertension (TSH) developed in 39 patients. The phenomenon usually occurred within 30 minutes of balloon dilation and always within 2 hours of PTRA. TSH lasted less than 5 hours in 35 patients and never persisted for more than 24 hours. TSH is a self-limiting process and should not be confused with the more sustained hypertension that arises from a complication of balloon angioplasty.     

Enteric alimentation: a radiologic approach

A new guide wire-directed enteric feeding tube is described. Clinical trials have shown the tube can be rapidly placed in the small bowel in patients with altered gastric anatomy or decreased peristalsis. Fluoroscopically guided feeding tube placement has proved to be a valuable adjunct in the therapy of patients requiring long-term enteric alimentation.     

Behavioural Surveillance Survey Among Troops in a Large Military Station

A cross sectional survey was carried out among the troops located in a large cantonment using the UNAIDS standard survey questionnaire (UN Best Practice Collection) for Behavioural Surveillance Survey (BSS). A total of 556 randomly selected recruits and soldiers were administered the questionnaire. The median age at first sexual encounter was 25 years for service personnel and 18 years for recruits. 5.5% of the recruits and 1.7% of regular soldiers reported having regular sexual partners other than spouse. Among those who had casual sex 46.3% reported using condoms. 52.3% were aware about the two main preventive indicators. Some incorrect beliefs regarding transmission of HIV/AIDS were also present among some of the respondents. The findings have been discussed in relation to previous studies.Key Words: AIDS, Behavioral Surveillance Survey, HIV, Troops     

Determinants of Smoking Habit among Medical Students

A cross sectional study of smoking habits among medical students was carried out to find out the prevalence of smoking and its association with certain factors such as parental smoking, peer pressure, use of alcohol and other drugs. Prevalence of smoking was 46%. There was significant association of smoking with parental smoking habit, peer pressure, use of alcohol and other drugs. Strategies to counter these social determinants have been discussed.Key Words: Determinants, Medical students, Smoking     

Endotoxic shock and its effects on hepatobiliary scanning in dogs

Hepatobiliary scans were obtained with Tc-99m-disofenin in 15 dogs. Of these, 5 served as controls, 5 were infused with E. coli endotoxin for 4 hours (endotoxic shock group), and 5 were bled to a mean pressure similar to that of the endotoxic shock group (hemorrhagic shock group). Scans of the controls and hemorrhagic shock group were identical. Scans of the endotoxic shock group were markedly abnormal, with a prolonged hepatic phase and little excretion of isotope into the biliary tract, a pattern characteristic of mechanical obstruction of the common bile duct. These results should alert the clinician to the potential danger of abnormal hepatobiliary scans in the septic patient.     

The pseudotransition zone in long segment Hirschsprung's disease

Two cases of Hirschsprung's disease with pseudotransition zones are presented. The location and appearance of the transition zone, transverse contractions proximal to the radiographic transition zone, and a delayed film aid in distinguishing a false transition zone from a true transition zone.     

Altered development of prefrontal neurons in rhesus monkeys with neonatal mesial temporo-limbic lesions: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging study

Focal brain damage occurring early in development can have widespread repercussions throughout the developing brain. In living adult rhesus monkeys, we studied the long-term effects of early mesial temporo- limbic (MTL) lesions on prefrontal cortex (PFC) neurons using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI), an in vivo neurochemical assay technique for measuring signals from metabolites such as N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA, a neuronal marker), choline-containing compounds (CHO) and creatine + phosphocreatine (CRE). Six monkeys (NL) had undergone surgical ablation of MTL structures within 3 weeks of birth, six monkeys received the same lesion at approximately 5 years of age and six monkeys were normal controls. We found significant bilateral reductions of NAA relative signals exclusively in the PFC of the NL group in comparison with either of the other groups. Our results indicate that neonatal MTL damage specifically affects PFC neurons of adult monkeys as indicated by a reduction of NAA. The basis of this effect involves developmental processes as implicated by two arguments: analogous damage during adulthood does not have the same effect; NAA in the healthy brain increases during development. This finding may have implications for understanding developmental aspects of prefrontal- temporolimbic connectivity, and the reduction of NAA levels observed in prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia.      

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of subclavian arteries

The clinical records and procedural details of 30 subclavian angioplasty procedures attempted in 27 patients were reviewed. Long-term follow-up was obtained through referring physician records and direct telephone contact with the patients. Eight patients presented with neurologic symptoms only, six had arm claudication only, nine had both neurologic and arm symptoms, three underwent dilations to provide graft inflow, and one was asymptomatic. Procedural complications included a stroke in the contralateral carotid distribution, occurring during follow-up arch aortography, and an embolus in the fifth digit of the left hand, which was of no clinical significance. Long-term success did not correlate well with degree of stenosis, lesion length, or postangioplasty appearance. The patients with arm and neurologic symptoms who were followed up for 3 years experienced immediate relief and remained symptom free or improved, except for the patient who suffered the stroke and one patient with labyrinthitis.     

Imaging of the Kock continent ileal urinary reservoir

The Kock continent ileal urinary reservoir (Kock pouch) is a new urinary bypass system that can overcome some of the principal complications associated with other forms of urinary diversion. It is important to understand the anatomy and radiology of this new technique since radiologists play an important role in evaluating the function of the Kock pouch as well as assessing its complications. The authors review the clinical and radiographic findings in 193 patients who had undergone Kock pouch urinary diversion. Patients are evaluated radiographically in the immediate postoperative period and at regular postoperative intervals for as long as 3 years. Routine evaluation consists of Kock pouch cystography followed by intravenous urography. When indicated, computed tomography, ultrasound, and interventional radiologic procedures are used. The normal anatomy as well as the radiographic appearance of the Kock pouch is presented. In addition, the radiographic appearance of pouch complications and their frequency are reviewed.