Effect of superoxide dismutase on an arthritis model in the rabbit. A scanning electron microscopy study

The effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was studied in an experimental arthrosis model (fixation arthrosis in rabbits). Out of a total of 40 animals, 20 of which were to be treated with SOD and 20 with placebos, 5 animals each were given padded stiffened bandages to immobilize their right knee joints for 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. After removing the bandage and a two-week recovery period the SOD or placebo treatment respectively was begun. During this period the animals were allowed to move freely. In 20 animals 0.5 mg SOD in 0.2 ml of a 0.5% xylocaine solution were applied intraarticularly in both popliteal spaces once a week for a total of 4 weeks. 20 control animals likewise received 0.2 ml of a 0.5% xylocaine solution (placebo) in both popliteal spaces in the same time intervals. After treatment the animals were killed and examined. A further 5 animals were not given a stiffened bandage, but for 4 weeks they received intraarticular injections once a week of 0.2 ml of a 0.9% saline to act as controls. The evaluation of the changes in the joints was by histological examination and examination by scanning electron microscope. In comparison to the placebo treatment the SOD treatment in this animal experiment did not lead to a significant change in the arthrotic process.     

Chylous ascites after tumor nephrectomy with retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy]

Chylous ascites is a rare postoperative complication in pediatric surgery. Small numbers of cases are reported from abdominal tumor- and vascular surgery. Following a case report about a 2 year old girl with Nephroplastoma, a review about etiology, course and therapy of described cases in the literature is given.     

Respiratory function in the prune-belly syndrome

Respiratory function was evaluated in 11 patients with prune-belly syndrome. Nine had evidence of gas trapping and six of restrictive lung disease. These abnormalities of lung function appear to be secondary to the musculoskeletal disorder associated with prune-belly syndrome rather than parenchymal lung disease.     

Multi-quadrant biopsy technique improves diagnostic ability in large heterogeneous renal masses. Abel EJ,Heckman JE,Hinshaw L,Best S,Lubner M,Jarrard DF,Downs TM,Nakada SY,Lee FT Jr,Huang W,Ziemlewicz T.J Urol. 2015 Oct;194(4):886-91. [Epub 2015 Mar 30]. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2015.03.106.

Purpose

Percutaneous biopsy obtained from a single location is prone to sampling error in large heterogeneous renal masses, leading to nondiagnostic results or failure to detect poor prognostic features. We evaluated the accuracy of percutaneous biopsy for large renal masses using a modified multi-quadrant technique vs. a standard biopsy technique.

Mediastinal lymph node metastases from bronchogenic carcinoma: detection with MR imaging and CT

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) were compared in a prospective study of 48 patients for the detection of metastatic mediastinal lymphadenopathy from bronchogenic carcinoma. The images were interpreted by three experienced radiologists using a five-point rating scale, enabling receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Imaging results were evaluated against "truth" data based on analysis of surgical specimens from mediastinoscopy and thoracotomy. All MR images were cardiac gated to reduce cardiac motion artifacts in the mediastinum. MR and CT both performed well, as indicated by similar areas under the ROC curves of 0.779 +/- 0.039 for MR imaging and 0.781 +/- 0.038 for CT scanning. No strong correlation between nodal size and metastatic involvement could be found for either MR or CT results. As long as nodal size remains the sole criterion in the detection of metastatic mediastinal lymphadenopathy, MR imaging is unlikely to enable better interpretations than CT scanning.