Living donor liver transplantation for hepatitis B cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has particular advantages for Turkey where hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most common cause of cirrhosis, both because LDLT circumvents the difficulties encountered in the emerging world in providing deceased donor organs, and because it allows preemptive antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to review one institution's experience with LDLT in patients with chronic HBV infection. METHODS: A total of 109 patients with chronic HBV infection underwent LDLT between September 1999 and June 2005, of whom 40 were coinfected with hepatitis D virus and 23 had hepatocellular carcinoma. Antiviral prophylaxis was attempted in all, beginning prior to transplantation with lamivudine or adefovir, and continuing after transplantation with low dose intramuscular hyperimmune B immunoglobulin (HBIg) plus lamivudine or adefovir. RESULTS: In a median follow up of 20 months (range 1-66 months), there was no donor mortality. One-year recipient survival was 90%, and in total 16 recipients died. None of the deaths was related to HBV. Recurrence of HBV infection was detected by reappearance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen in six patients (5.5%) at 5, 8, 12, 17, 34 and 46 months after transplantation, respectively. There was no influence of donor hepatitis B core antibody status on the likelihood of recurrence of HBV in the allograft. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that LDLT with antiviral treatment and low dose HBIg provides excellent results for donors and recipients.     

Adverse relationships of adiposity and gait parameters: A survey of stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation

Poor adiposities are risk factors for major morbidities, but reports on how these relate with gait function of stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation is sparse and need further investigation. A convenience sample of 94 ambulatory stroke survivors and 94 matched apparently healthy individuals were assessed for adiposity markers (body mass index, waist circumference, thigh girth, waist-hip ratio, and percent body fat) and gait parameters (cadence, step length, stride length, stride width, gait velocity, and cycle). Mean age of the stroke and apparently healthy participants were 57 ± 5.2 years and 56.9 ± 4.8 years, respectively. We found significant (p < 0.05) relationships between waist circumference and each of gait cycle (r = 0.67) namely, cadence (r = −0.68), stride length (−0.62), step length (−0.61), and gait velocity (−0.75). Fairly similar correlations existed between body mass index, waist-hip ratio, percent body fat, thigh girth, and each of gait parameters, with only the thigh girth significantly correlating with stride width (r = 0.79). Obesity more than triples the odds of low gait velocities (odds ratio: 3.28; 95% confidence interval: 1.60–6.74). Findings provide clinicians with likely influence of adiposities on gait parameters of stroke patients. This may inform treatment decision and help to prioritize interventions through adiposity management for stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation.     

Incidence of the retroaortic left renal vein in patients with varicocele.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of the retroaortic left renal vein (RLRV) in patients with varicocele. METHODS: The left renal vein was ultrasonographically investigated for the presence of the RLRV in 140 patients with varicocele and a control group of 137 age-matched patients. The main diagnostic criteria for varicocele were the presence of a varicose vein with a diameter of 3 mm or larger at rest and with a reflux lasting more than 2 seconds during the Valsalva maneuver. The RLRV was defined as a posterior course of the left renal vein to the aorta at the level of the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. RESULTS: The RLRV was observed in 13 (9.3%) of the 140 patients with varicocele and 3 (2.2%) of the control patients. The incidence of the RLRV was found to be significantly higher in patients with varicocele compared with the control patients (P = .018, Fisher exact test). In 13 patients with the RLRV, left varicocele and bilateral varicocele were detected in 10 and 3 cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the incidence of the RLRV was found to be significantly higher in patients with varicocele compared with control patients. Thus, we suggest that the presence of the RLRV may be considered one of the etiologic factors in the development of varicocele.     

Superior vena cava, right pulmonary artery or both: real time two- and three-dimensional transthoracic contrast echocardiographic identification of the echo-free space posterior to the ascending aorta

We describe the usefulness of contrast echocardiography and live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in characterizing the normal structures imaged posterior to the proximal ascending aorta as superior vena cava, right pulmonary artery, or both.     

The effects of rosiglitazone and metformin on inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Diabetic patients have a markedly increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared with non-diabetics. Two drug groups today target insulin resistance; biguanides and thiazolidinediones. In addition, these may have other effects on cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of metformin and rosiglitazone on non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Forty type 2 diabetic patients were randomized into metformin and rosiglitazone groups. After receiving the optimal doses, the patients were monitored for 12 weeks. Biochemical parameters, lipid parameters, CRP, insulin, c-peptide, and HbA1c levels were analyzed. VWF, PAI-1, ICAM-1, TNF-α, IL-6, E-selectin, and fibrinogen levels were measured in order to assess coagulation status and endothelial dysfunction. In the metformin group, body mass index, PPG, HbA1c, IL-6, ICAM-1, and TNF-α levels were significantly decreased after 12 weeks compared with the basal levels. IL-6 levels decreased from 75 pg/ml ± 20 to 42 pg/ml ± 9 (P 0.023) and TNF- α levels from 61 pg/ml ± 31 to 39 pg/ml ± 10 (P 0.018). In the rosiglitazone group, FPG, PPG, HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, IL-6, and TNF-α levels decreased significantly after 12 weeks compared with the basal levels. IL-6 levels decreased from 78 pg/ml ± 21 to 41 pg/ml ± 9 (P 0.028) and TNF-α levels from 62 pg/ml ± 19 to 37 pg/ml ± 10 (P 0.012). At the end of the study, no significant differences were determined between groups. Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are strongly associated with low grade inflammation. Both metformin and rosiglitazone were effective in controlling inflammatory markers in addition to metabolic parameters.     

Efficacy of melatonin, mercaptoethylguanidine and 1400W in doxorubicin- and trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX) and Trastuzumab (TRAST) are effective agents for the treatment of many neoplastic diseases. Cardiotoxicity is a major side effect of these drugs and limit their use. In this study, the possible protective effects of melatonin (MEL), mercaptoethylguanidine (MEG), or N-(3-(aminomethyl) benzyl) acetamidine (1400W) against the cardiotoxicity of DOX and TRAST were tested. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received an injection of DOX (20 mg/kg) alone or in combination with TRAST (10 mg/kg) to induce cardiotoxicity; daily treatments with MEL (10 mg/kg × 2), MEG (10 mg/kg × 2), or 1400W (10 mg/kg × 2) were begun 36 hr before and continued for 72 hr after DOX and TRAST administration. Oxidant/antioxidant indices of the cardiac tissue, namely, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), as well as serum levels of creatine phosphokinase (CK-MB) were measured. Additionally, the injury scores were evaluated histopathologically. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher, while SOD and GSH-Px activities were significantly reduced in rats with DOX- or DOX+TRAST-induced cardiotoxicity compared to normal values. All three treatment agents significantly reversed oxidative stress markers. Serum CK-MB levels were significantly increased after treatment with DOX and DOX+TRAST; these changes were also reversed by each of the treatments and resulted in near normal levels. Both the DOX- and DOX+TRAST-treated rats presented similar histopathologic injuries; in the animals treated with the protective agents, histologic protection of the cardiac tissue was apparent. These results suggested that MEL, MEG, as well as 1400 W are effective in preventing DOX- or DOX+TRAST-induced cardiotoxicity.     

Epinephrine-secreting cystic pheochromocytoma presenting with an incidental adrenal mass: a case report and a review of the literature

Cystic adrenal masses are a relatively rare condition, and are usually nonfunctioning and asymptomatic. Differential diagnosis includes pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and adrenal carcinoma; 8-10% of patients with PHEO may be completely asymptomatic. Moreover, fewer than 10% of PHEOs secrete pure epinephrine. We report a case of a E-secreting pure cystic PHEO presenting with an incidental adrenal mass. A 49-year-old Turkish woman was hospitalized at Farabi Hospital for further examinations of a right adrenal cystic mass with a thick wall that was incidentally discovered by abdominal ultrasonography during examination for nausea, vomiting, headache, and angina-like chest pain in another hospital. On admission, her blood pressure was 100/60 mmHg. Tension Holter monitoring revealed paroximal hypertension (178/136 mmHg) and hypotension (78/54 mmHg) attacks. Of urinary catecholamines and its metabolites, only urine metanephrine was markedly increased, despite a urine epinephrine level near the upper limit of normal ranges. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed a cystic round tumor approx 5 cm in diameter, located in the right adrenal gland. Right adrenalectomy was performed; the surgical specimen revealed pure cystic PHEO. Postoperatively, the urine metanephrine level returned to normal range and urine epineprine level was decreased approx 60%. In conclusion, a diagnosis of E-secreting PHEO should be considered in patients with nonspecific symptoms, presenting with an incidental cystic adrenal mass, even in the absence of hypertension.     

Reference interval of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in healthy men and non-pregnant women

ObjectiveThe serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) concentration is a predictor of ischemic cardiac events and renal impairment. However, the reference interval of PAPP-A has not been determined. This study determined the reference interval of PAPP-A in men and non-pregnant women.MethodsThe study enrolled 126 apparently healthy individuals (52 males and 74 females). The mean age of the men and women was 34.7 (range 20–66) years and 34.6 (range 18–65) years, respectively. Serum PAPP-A concentrations were determined using an ultrasensitive enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. Reference intervals were calculated using the bootstrap method.ResultsThe results for three subjects were outliers, so the reference interval of PAPP-A was calculated using the data for 123 subjects. PAPP-A was undetectable in 26 subjects. The reference interval of PAPP-A for men and women (with the 90% confidence interval) was <22.9 ng/mL (19.7–23.3) and <33.6 ng/mL (25.2–36.7), respectively. In male subjects, serum PAPP-A levels of smokers [3.10 (UD, 7.30) ng/mL] were significantly lower than that of non-smokers [11.00 (UD, 24.4) ng/mL] (p < 0.001) and there was a positive correlation between serum PAPP-A levels and subjects’ age (r = 0.439; p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe reference interval of PAPP-A differed for men and non-pregnant women. In clinical practice, <22.9 ng/mL for men and <33.6 ng/mL for non-pregnant women may be used as reference intervals for PAPP-A.     

Patent Foramen Ovale among Patients with Mild Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Unexplained Hypoxia

Purpose: To evaluate whether patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a contributing factor to hypoxia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Twenty‐one patients over 40 years of age with mild COPD (Forced expiratory volume (FEV1)/Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): > 50%) who had hypoxia (PO₂ < 80 mmHg, SaO₂ < 95%) that could not be explained by COPD alone were included in this study. Arterial oxygen pressures (PO₂) and arterial oxygen saturations (SaO₂) were recorded from laboratory evaluations of arterial blood gases. Respiratory function tests were performed to analyze the degree of COPD. Standard and contrast echocardiography was used to calculate pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) levels and to determine patients with a PFO. Results: The mean age of the patients was 64 ± 12 years. Four patients (19%) had a PFO. The mean PO₂, mean SaO₂, and mean PAP levels were 57.4 ± 6.8 mmHg, 90 ± 3.2%, and 33.8 ± 5.4 mmHg, respectively, in patients without PFO. The mean PO₂, mean SaO₂, and mean PAP levels were 46.5 ± 13.7 mmHg, 79.3 ± 12.8%, and 42.5 ± 6.5 mmHg, respectively, in patients with PFO. There were no statistically significant differences noted between the two groups in the PO₂ levels (P = 0.172) and SaO₂ levels (P = 0.065). A comparison of the PAP levels revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups, with values that were more elevated in the PFO group than in the non‐PFO group (P = 0.031). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that PFO is not a contributing factor to deep hypoxia in COPD patients with lower PO₂ and SaO₂ levels; however, higher PAP levels were detected in patients with a PFO. Further studies involving a larger number of patients are needed to be conclusive. (Echocardiography 2010;27:687‐690)     

The development of dysphagia and dysphonia due to anterior cervical osteophytes

Cervical osteophytes may cause dysphagia by compressing the esophagus and may cause dysphonia by compressing the larynx and inferior laryngeal nerve. The occurrence of dysphagia and dysphonia due to cervical osteophytes has rarely been reported in literature. In this article, a case, in which the multiple cervical osteophytes were found to be the cause of dysphagia and dysphonia, was evaluated by imaging methods and electrophysiological evaluation of swallowing and the case was discussed in the light of relevant literatures.