Interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are increased in minimal change disease but do not alter albumin permeability

AIMS: Minimal change disease (MCD) is the most common primary nephrotic syndrome in children. Some suggested that interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are involved in the pathogenesis of MCD. This study was done to see changes of plasma and urinary IL-8, TNF-alpha, and their effects on determination of permeability of glomerular basement membrane (BM) contributed by heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG). METHODS: Study patients consisted of 19 biopsy-proven MCD children aged 2-15 years old. Both plasma, urinary IL-8 and TNF-alpha were measured. Employing the Millicell system, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were screened for the permeability factors. We examined whether IL-8 and TNF-alpha regulated BM HSPG gene expression and HS synthesis in the glomerular epithelial cells (GECs). RESULTS: Urinary IL-8 during relapse was significantly increased when compared with that of during remission or controls (13,996 +/- 2,811 vs. 2,941 +/- 373, 5,331 +/- 640 ng/mg.cr) (p < 0.05). Urinary TNF-alpha during relapse was also significantly increased (364.4 +/- 51.2 vs. 155.3 +/- 20.8, 36.0 +/- 4.5 ng/mg.cr) (p < 0.05). Plasma IL-8 during relapse was significantly increased compared to that during remission(1.19 +/- 0.62 vs. 0.51 +/- 0.42 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). However, the negative results were obtained in the permeability assay using the Millicell system. No difference was seen in BM HSPG gene expression and HS synthesis in the GECs. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it seems that both IL-8 and TNF-alpha may not play a disease-specific role in the pathogenesis of MCD.     

The selection of the regional anaesthesia in the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) operation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to compare the three different regional anaesthesia methods in patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and to determine the ideal anaesthesia method for TURP operation. METHODS: Totally 77 ASA II-III patients were preloaded with 500 ml 0.9% NaCl solution before regional anaesthesia. In group E (n:27) epidural anaesthesia were achieved by applying 75 mg bupivacaine heavy + 50 microg fentanyl in the L3-L4 intervertebral space. In group SP (n:28) 15 mg bupivacaine heavy + 50 microg fentanyl were used for spinal anaesthesia (L3-L4 intervertebral space) while in group SA (n:30) 10 mg bupivacaine heavy + 50 microg fentanyl were used with saddle blockade. Systolic arterial pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), serum sodium measurement was recorded before and after hydration and during operation. The motor block and sensory level have been measured. RESULTS: Intraoperative SAP values were more stable than the other groups in group SA. The decrease in HR values were significant 15 minutes after prehydration in three groups (p < 0.05). SpO2 values of the groups were stable during the operation. The time to reach the maximum block was very short in patients in Group SA (p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of motor block values (p < 0.0001). No fully paralysed sample was seen in Group SA even though there was a sufficient surgical anaesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Saddle block has some advantages compared to spinal and epidural anaesthesia methods such as achieving adequate anaesthesia, stable haemodynami, the lower degree of motor blockage and no full blockage in patients. Saddle block is an the most optimal anaesthesia method for TURP operation.     

Identification of baseline clinical factors which predict medical treatment failure of benign prostatic hyperplasia: an observational cohort study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical baseline factors that affect the long-term treatment failure of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: 437 men over 50 years of age with BPH were enrolled for this analysis. Patients were allocated to a medication and a surgical treatment (following medication) group. We initially examined the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflow rate, prostate volume, postvoid residual volume, and the serum prostate specific antigen level as clinical baseline factors and analyzed differences between the two groups. RESULTS: 337 patients (77.1%) were given maintenance medical treatment during follow-up, and 100 patients (22.9%) had surgical treatment following medication. Statistically significant differences were found in IPSS and prostate volume between the surgical and medication groups (IPSS: 22.6+/-6.4 vs. 18.7+/-5.8, prostate volume (cm(3)): 36.3+/-14.4 vs. 30.1+/-11.0, respectively). According to the ROC curve-based prediction of the failure for medical therapy, the best cutoff values of IPSS and prostate volume were 21 (area under ROC curve: 0.67) and 32cm(3) (area under ROC curve: 0.65), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that BPH patients with more severe IPSS and larger prostate volume have a higher risk of medical treatment failure, and suggest that the IPSS and prostate volume may be useful predictors of medical treatment maintenance.     

Delayed diagnosis of esophageal perforation following intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography during valvular replacement--a case report

A 62 year-old man sustained esophageal perforation following intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in a valvular replacement surgery. Septic shock developed on the 12th postoperative day (POD) and the esophageal perforation was diagnosed with chest CT. Emergent operation together with intensive care saved the patient's life. We speculate that the mechanism of perforation was not due to manipulation of the probe, but rather due to ischemia of the esophagus resulting from the combination of probe compression, non-pulsatile flow and the distension of the atria during a lengthy procedure. It is advisable that in patients with operative risk factors, such as distension of atria, long cardiac procedure and likely ischemia of organs due to cardiopulmonary bypass, the monitoring probe of TEE should not constantly rest in the esophagus and be withdrawn when it is idle or not in actual use. In addition, if resistance has been met during the intraoperative manipulation of the probe in a patient without previous history of esophageal disease, perforation might suspected if he or she sustains postoperative fever with positive chest X-ray findings.     

Carnitine supplementation improves apolipoprotein B levels in pediatric peritoneal dialysis patients

There have been conflicting reports concerning the effect of carnitine supplementation on lipid metabolism in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). We investigated several parameters of lipid metabolism in pediatric PD patients supplemented with carnitine. The study included 20 patients receiving PD (treatment group) aged 2–18 years and a matched healthy control group. In the treatment group, baseline triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B levels were higher than in the control group. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acid, phospholipids, and apolipoprotein A-I levels were not different from those in the control group. The baseline plasma free carnitine level was lower and acyl-carnitine level was higher in the treatment group. No difference was found between the groups with respect to plasma total carnitine levels. Oral l-carnitine supplementation (50 mg/kg per day for 30 days) led to a significant decrease (from a baseline value of 146.6±51.8 mg/dl to 63.6±22.2 mg/dl, P<0.001) in apolipoprotein B levels, and no significant change in the other lipid parameters of the treatment group. Oral l-carnitine supplementation does not ameliorate the lipid profile in pediatric PD patients, but it causes a significant decrease in apolipoprotein B levels. Hence, carnitine supplementation may be recommended for decreasing apolipoprotein B levels in this patient population.     

Role of alcohol and genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 in breast cancer development

OBJECTIVE: We examined the potential association between alcohol consumption and genetic polymorphisms in the alcohol metabolizing enzymes, CYP2E1 and ALDH2, in individual susceptibility to breast cancer in a Korean study population. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-six histologically confirmed breast cancer patients and 377 controls with no present or previous history of cancer were recruited from several teaching hospitals in Seoul during 1995-2001. The CYP2E1 RsaI polymorphism was determined by a real time PCR method, and the ALDH2 Glu487 Lys polymorphism was determined by a PCR method with confronting two-pair primers (PCR-CTPP). RESULTS: The drinking women had a 1.4-fold risk for breast cancer (95% CI = 0.99-2.11) compared to never drinkers after adjustment for age and family history of breast cancer. No statistically significant overall differences were seen in the genotype frequencies between breast cancer cases and controls. However, the "ever"-drinking women with the CYP2E1 c2 allele containing genotypes had a 1.9-fold risk (95% CI = 0.99-3.83) for developing breast cancer compared to non-drinkers with the CYP2E1 c1/c1 genotype (P for interaction = 0.043). CONCLUSION: This study therefore suggests that the CYP2E1 c2 allele may influence the individual susceptibility to breast cancer in alcohol-consuming women.     

Sub-retinal hemorrhage during internal limiting membrane peeling for a macular hole

PURPOSE: To report the occurrence of sub-retinal hemorrhage during peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM). CASE REPORTS: In case 1, a three-port pars plana vitrectomy was performed on a 57-year-old woman with a macular hole. Following the staining of the ILM with indocyanine green, the ILM was peeled with forceps, and a sub-retinal and vitreous hemorrhage resulted from a vein during the peeling. The bleeding was stopped by elevating the intraocular pressure. The final visual acuity was 20/30. In case 2, similar procedures were performed on a 68-year-old woman with a macular hole. A sub-retinal hemorrhage occurred while peeling the ILM. The pre-operative visual acuity was 20/300, and final visual acuity was 20/200. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should be aware that sub-retinal and vitreous hemorrhage can be a complication of ILM peeling.     

Is it possible to differentiate early-onset accommodative esotropia from early-onset essential esotropia?

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of > or =2.50 diopter (D) hyperopia in infantile esotropia with onset up to the age of 6 months and by evaluating the treatment results of these cases retrospectively, to find the factors that may help to differentiate early-onset accommodative esotropia from early-onset essential esotropia. METHODS: The charts of 256 patients with infantile esotropia were reviewed. Thirtyseven cases, with hyperopia of > or =2.50 D, no other systemic and neurologic disease, and at least 1 year of follow-up, were included in this study. The age at the start of therapy, refractive error, deviation angle, type of therapy (antiaccommodative therapy, surgery) and the presence of amblyopia, latent nystagmus, inferior oblique overaction, dissociated vertical deviation and cross-fixation were recorded for each case. RESULTS: The prevalence of high hyperopia was found to be 14.4% (37/256) in infantile esotropia. In 18 of the cases (48.6%), antiaccommodative therapy alone was found to be adequate (Group I). In the remaining 19, although antiaccommodative therapy was found to decrease the deviation angle significantly (P<0.001), surgery was also required (Group II). Groups were compared with respect to age at the initial examination, refractive error, deviation angle, presence of amblyopia, anisometropia, and inferior oblique overaction, but no factor could be determined to predict the pure refractive ones (P>0.05). Essential infantile esotropia-associated findings did not help because they are rarely evident at the time of initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Half of the high hyperopic infantile esotropes could be corrected fully by antiaccommodative therapy alone, while the remaining ones could also benefit significantly. It is strongly recommended to try spectacles at first in the treatment of infantile esotropia with hyperopia > or =2.5 D.     

Management of free floating iris cysts in the anterior chamber: a case report

PURPOSE: To present a case with free iris cysts in the anterior chamber and its management with YAG laser. CASE REPORT: A 14-year-old boy presenting with the complaint of seeing a small ball-like moving mass in his left eye. RESULTS: Slit-lamp examination revealed a pair of free-floating iris cysts located inferiorly in the anterior chamber. After YAG laser application both the cysts collapsed. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of a case with multiple free iris cysts in the anterior chamber. Considering the possibility of endothelial damage in the long-term, it is worth noting the favorable response to YAG laser treatment.