Anatomic variations of the spermatic vein and endovascular treatment of left varicoceles: a pediatric series]

OBJECTIVE: To report on the high incidence of anatomical variants of the origin and course of the internal spermatic vein (ISV) discovered at the time of percutaneous embolization of left varicoceles in a pediatric population. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the 65 cases of left varicocele treated by percutaneous embolization (grade II and III) in our institution between 1990 and 2000. The course of the left renal vein (LRV), the origin of the ISV, and the number of ISVs and their pathway were recorded in all cases, according to the B?hren classification. RESULTS: In 37/65 (57%), the ISV was single and arose from a normal LRV (type I). The following variants were encountered: type V--circumaortic LRV 9/65 (14%); type IVb--intrarenal origin of ISV 8/65 (12%); type II--multiple ISV 5/65 (8%); and pelvic collaterals 6/65 (9%). CONCLUSION: Venous anatomical variants are frequently encountered (43%) at the time of left varicocele embolization in children. Such variants often impose some adjustments to the technique of embolization and, at times, hamper the procedure.     

Pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered 125I-labelled human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein

The volumes of distribution of many acidic drugs have been shown to be close to that of their binding protein, i.e. serum albumin. The distribution of basic drugs mainly bound to alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) can be questioned with respect to its dependency upon the distribution of this plasma protein. So, a pharmacokinetic study was performed in 7 subjects with human 125I-labelled alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. The steady-state volume of distribution was found to be 5.37 +/- 0.82L. The central volume was 3.23 +/- 0.33L, close to that of plasma volume and the peripheral volume was 2.14 +/- 0.63L. These data allowed the establishment of an equation giving access to the volume of distribution of a basic drug by relating its unbound fraction to physiological distribution of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. The values yielded by this equation show that the actual and calculated volumes of distribution of basic drugs mainly bound to AAG are discrepant. This protein is thus not the main factor controlling the distribution of basic drugs within the body.     

Medical abortion in the first trimester: the use of serum hCG and endometrial thickness as markers of completeness.

OBJECTIVE: The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is an established method for induction of early first trimester abortion, but there is no consensus about the best evaluation of treatment outcome. We assessed endometrial thickness, determined by ultrasound and serum-human chorionic gonadotropin (s-hCG) as markers of successful management. METHODS: Prospective trial involving 255 women, with a gestation of 62 days or less, who were to undergo medical abortion. In addition to our established routines of performing clinical and ultrasound examinations, we also determined the s-hCG level prior to treatment and at follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 255 subjects treated during the study, 20 (7.8%) were lost to follow-up. The overall complete abortion rate was 94.0%. Fourteen subjects required vacuum aspiration, nine of them prior to the scheduled follow-up and five thereafter. None of the pregnancies were ongoing. A decrease of 99% in s-hCG levels was noted in 99% of the women, when levels determined prior to mifepristone intake and those measured 15-71 days post-abortion were compared. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that s-hCG levels drop sharply after medical abortion. To assess the completeness of medical abortion, we recommend that clinical examination to be combined with determination of s-hCG. Ultrasonography should be carried out only when indicated.     

Laparoscopic findings in serosal eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Report of two cases

This report describes the laparoscopic features of two patients with serosal eosinophilic gastroenteritis. In one case only hyperemia of the peritoneal serosa was found. In the other the laparoscopic picture resembled peritoneal carcinomatosis. We show that laparoscopy and peritoneal biopsy may permit diagnosis of the disease without the need for laparotomy.     

Liver metabolic effects of intestinal shock and naloxone treatment in the rat

The liver metabolic response of rats following a standardized intestinal shock, induced by applying a pressure of 120 cm water on the mesenteric vessels for 60 min, was studied. Immediately prior to the release of the pressure on the vessels saline or naloxone was given either as a single injection or as a continuous infusion. After the reperfusion of the intestine no early disturbances in liver metabolism were found as evidenced from the ATP, glucose and lactate levels in liver biopsies taken 15 min following reflow. Within 60 min of reflow reduction of ATP and increases of glucose and lactate levels occurred. There were no major hemodynamic or liver metabolic differences between saline- and naloxone-treated shocked rats. When saline or naloxone was given as a continuous infusion, the changes in liver metabolism were, however, less severe than those observed in the single injection situation pointing toward a non-specific effect of volume replacement rather than a blockade of opioid receptors. Hepatic hypoxia and/or cellular effects of "shock factors" could be mechanisms of pathophysiologic importance for the disturbed liver metabolism in this shock model.     

A Biotin–Avidin-Based Enzyme Immunoassay for βh-Endorphin

An avidin–biotin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is described for ent/h1v517777n768x1l/xxlarge946.gif" alt="beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">_h-endorphin (ent/h1v517777n768x1l/xxlarge946.gif" alt="beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">_h-EP). Microtiter plates coated with commercially available antibodies were used together with ent/h1v517777n768x1l/xxlarge946.gif" alt="beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">_h-EP tracer derivatives that were biotinylated in positions 24, 28, and 29 via a C₆ spacer arm. Nonspecific binding of biotinylated derivatives to the microtiter plates was blocked with a mixture of 1% casein and 10% ethanolamine in 0.1 M NaHCO₃. A sequential saturation procedure using a high-affinity antiserum in combination with an avidin–alkaline phosphatase complex matched the sensitivity of reported radioimmunoassays (RIAs), with a detection limit of 0.5 fmol/assay. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 5 and 12%, respectively. Results obtained by ELISA and RIA showed good correlations (r = 0.95). The ent/h1v517777n768x1l/xxlarge946.gif" alt="beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">-EP concentration in extracted rat plasma after high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) fractionation was determined by this method to be 1600 fmol/ml.     

Effects of muscimol inactivation of the cerebellar nuclei on precision grip

A single monkey was trained to perform a grasp, lift, and hold task in which a stationary hand- held object was sometimes subjected to brief, predictable force-pulse perturbations. The displacement, grip, and lifting forces were measured as well the three-dimensional forces and torques to quantify specific motor deficits after reversible inactivation of the cerebellar nuclei. A prior single-cell recording study in the same monkey provided the stereotaxic coordinates used to guide intranuclear injections of muscimol. In total, 34 penetrations were performed at 28 different loci throughout the cerebellar nuclei. On each penetration, two 1.0-microl injections of 5 microg/microl muscimol, were made 1.0 mm apart either within the nuclei or in the white matter just lateral or posterior to the dentate nucleus. Injections in the region corresponding to the anterior interpositus nucleus produced pronounced dynamic tremor and dysmetric movements of the ipsilateral arm when the animal performed unrestrained reaching and grasping movements. In contrast, no relatively short-latency (15-20 min.) deficits were observed after injection in the dentate nucleus, although some effects were observed after several hours. When tested in a primate chair with the forearm supported and restrained at the wrist and elbow, the monkey performed the lift and hold task without tremor or dysmetria. However, with the restraint removed, the forces and torques applied to the manipulandum were poorly controlled and erratic. The monkey's arm was ataxic and a 5-Hz intention tremor was clearly visible. In addition, the animal was generally unable to compensate for the predictable perturbations and the anticipatory grip force increases were absent. However, overall the results suggest that reversible cerebellar nuclear inactivation with muscimol has little effect on isolated distal movements of the wrist and fingers.     

miRNPs: a novel class of ribonucleoproteins containing numerous microRNAs

Gemin3 is a DEAD-box RNA helicase that binds to the Survival of Motor Neurons (SMN) protein and is a component of the SMN complex, which also comprises SMN, Gemin2, Gemin4, Gemin5, and Gemin6. Reduction in SMN protein results in Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a common neurodegenerative disease. The SMN complex has critical functions in the assembly/restructuring of diverse ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. Here we report that Gemin3 and Gemin4 are also in a separate complex that contains eIF2C2, a member of the Argonaute protein family. This novel complex is a large approximately 15S RNP that contains numerous microRNAs (miRNAs). We describe 40 miRNAs, a few of which are identical to recently described human miRNAs, a class of small endogenous RNAs. The genomic sequences predict that miRNAs are likely to be derived from larger precursors that have the capacity to form stem-loop structures.