Suspected testicular torsion and ischemia: evaluation with color Doppler sonography

Color Doppler sonography was performed in 32 patients with a painful scrotum in whom testicular ischemia from torsion or postherniorrhaphy was clinically suspected. Surgical correlation was available in 15 patients, and scintigraphic correlation was available in 17 patients. Seven of the 32 patients were diagnosed as having testicular ischemia from torsion. Color Doppler flow imaging demonstrated a lack of intratesticular flow in six of the seven testes with torsion and relatively normal intratesticular flow in one of the patients with acute torsion. Normal or increased intratesticular flow was demonstrated by color Doppler in all 57 of the nonischemic testes. Using the single criterion of presence or absence of identifiable intratesticular flow, the authors found that color Doppler was 86% sensitive, 100% specific, and 97% accurate in the diagnosis of torsion and ischemia in the painful scrotum. Color Doppler sonography is an accurate, noninvasive means of rapidly assessing perfusion of the testis in the painful scrotum.     

The status of rubella immunity among pregnant women in Kuwait: screening in childbearing age should be reintroduced

The objective of this study was to investigate the immunity against rubella in the obstetric population in Kuwait by testing 600 pregnant women at a prenatal clinic, using the haemagglutination inhibition technique. In addition, a comparison was made between this study and one done in 1978 at the same clinic; its relation to the vaccination programme is also discussed. 7.7% of the population under study were non-immune. Statistically significant effect was demonstrated for maternal age but not for parity and nationality. Though it has been almost 20 years since an intense rubella vaccination programme was implemented, the percentage of non-immune pregnant women has not decreased. In Kuwait, termination of pregnancy for congenital rubella syndrome is prohibited. As a result, it is recommended that women be screened and vaccinated at the time of marriage.