Does ventricular dysfunction occur during liver transplantation?

In conclusion, we believe that ventricular dysfunction occurs infrequently during liver transplantation, except for the very short period of "cardioplegia" of the heart on reperfusion in some patients. There is no evidence that prolonged cardiac dysfunction is a common problem during liver transplantation. Understanding the physiologic changes that occur during liver transplantation should allow the anesthesiologist to correct many factors that might otherwise cause hemodynamic instability.     

Experimental cryptorchidism in the adult mouse. III. Qualitative and quantitative electron microscopic morphology of Leydig cells.

The morphology of Leydig cells of control and 28-day-old cryptorchid mice was studied by electron microscopy and stereologic techniques. Leydig cell profiles of control mice were larger in section when compared to cryptorchid mice, but no differences were observed in the distribution of organelles in Leydig cells in the two groups. Quantitatively, the absolute volumes of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), mitochondria, lysosomes, multivesicular bodies, peroxisomes, cytoplasmic matrix, nucleus, lipid droplets, membrane whorls, ribosomal aggregates, and annulate lamellae per Leydig cell were reduced significantly after 28 days of cryptorchidism. However, the absolute volumes of these organelles per testis were not significantly different between control and cryptorchid mice, due to the increase in Leydig cell number per testis in the cryptorchid testis, compared to the controls, except that the absolute volume of Golgi per Leydig cell was not significantly different between control and cryptorchid rats, but the absolute volume of Leydig cell Golgi was significantly lower in control rats. Based on these results, we conclude that, morphologically, a 28-day cryptorchid mouse Leydig cell clearly approximates a "half unit" of a control Leydig cell.     

Nutritional assessment of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients: an international study

We examined the nutritional status of 224 patients from six centers in Europe and North America to assess the incidence of protein-energy malnutrition. A "subjective nutritional assessment" was made, using 21 variables derived from history and clinical examination, or anthropometry and biochemistry. Eighteen patients (8%) were severely malnourished, 73 (32.6%) were mildly to moderately malnourished, and 133 (59.4%) did not show evidence for malnutrition. There was a higher incidence of mild to moderate malnutrition in diabetics than in nondiabetics. A statistical analysis identified 12 variables, seven objective and five subjective, that correlated with subjective nutritional assessment. Actual intercenter differences for the incidence of malnutrition were related to patient age, nutritional status at the commencement of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), the length of time on CAPD, and residual renal function. Variables that were most frequently correlated with subjective nutritional assessment and with one another included plasma albumin, mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), weight loss, and the clinical judgement of muscle wasting and loss of subcutaneous fat. Loss of residual renal function correlated with muscle wasting and months on CAPD. Our data identified differences between the two sexes. In women there was a trend for more anorexia, greater weight loss from muscle wasting, and a larger decrease in albumin, whereas in men there was a more gradual decrease in nutritional status. Loss of residual renal function contributed to anorexia and symptoms of severe malnutrition.     

Incidence of the morphological aspect on the rate of implantation of embryos obtained by fertilization in vitro]

1350 embryos obtained by In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) have been examined with the reverse microscope before their transfer in utero. Some embryos are "morphologically normal" (34.7%); some others are atypical. It is difficult to determinate the implantation rate by embryo according to morphological aspect because, most of the time we transfer several embryos to only one patient and we do not know, in case of pregnancy, which one or which ones have developed. Nevertheless, we have tried to appreciate, for 500 embryos transfers after IVF, the incidence of morphological aspect according to the presence or absence of "morphologically normal" embryos. The implantation rate is significantly higher in the groups in which you find "morphological normal" embryos than in the group where they are missing. (19.7% and 19.2% vs 10.2%). It seems that the aspect of the embryo when it is transferred, has an incidence on its future development.     

Surgery for colorectal cancer guided by radiodetecting probe. Clinical evaluation using monoclonal antibody B72.3.

Radioactive antibodies that react with tumour-associated antigens to "tag" antigen-positive tumour cell deposits were given to 20 patients with primary or recurrent colorectal cancer. The tumour associated antigen TAG 72-specific monoclonal antibody B72.3 labelled with 125-Iodine was used, and the radioactivity in the tumour was sought during operation with a hand-held gamma detecting probe. Tumour was detected by the probe in 7 of 15 patients with primary cancer, with a mean tumour: normal tissue ratio of 3.9, and in 4 of 5 patients with recurrent disease, with a mean tumour: normal tissue ratio of 2.0. Immunohistochemical analysis of surgical specimens confirmed the results of the intraoperative detection. The incidence of TAG 72-positive tumours (11/20, 55%), detected by immunohistochemistry, was lower than the 80% in the other series, possibly because of sampling errors or because the cases studied were uncomplicated with small primary tumours. Results obtained with the probe were instrumental in modifying the operation in two of the four "positive" patients with recurrences, allowing the removal of tumour masses that would otherwise have been overlooked.     

"Silent" myocardial ischemia and the activity of the sympathetic-adrenal system in hypertension patients

The aim of the study was to assess the sympathoadrenal activity at the time of silent ischemia event in hypertensive patients. In 15 hospitalized hypertensive patients having silent ischemia event during Holter ECG monitoring while walking, blood samples for catecholamines were taken at the time of silent ischemia event, pointed with alarm by the real time ECG "Q Med" monitor (USA). Control blood samples were taken under the same conditions without ST-segment depression. Plasma noradrenaline (NA) during silent ischemia was significantly higher than the control level without ischemia (458 +/- 71 ng/l vs 717 +/- 95 ng/l) (p less than 0.01). The changes in plasma NA correlated with left ventricular mass assessed by echocardiography (r = 0.70, p less than 0.01). The role of sympathoadrenal hyperactivity in the genesis of silent myocardial ischemia in patients with essential hypertension is discussed.     

Gigantic diverticulum of the colon. A complication of diverticulosis?]

We present a patient affected of diverticular disease of the colon, with diverticulosis and two giant diverticula of the sigma, both located at the mesenteric edge. We would like to stress the low incidence of reports about this entity in the medical literature, its uncommon location and the fact of a double lesion coinciding in a single patient. We discuss the most important nosocomial aspects and the different diagnoses. Finally, we support the idea of distinguishing three different entities that in the medical literature are usually unified as a single "giant diverticulum of the colon". We reaffirm ourselves on the importance of an early diagnosis and a correct indication for surgery.     

Lasthénie de Ferjol syndrome. Apropos of a case]

After a brief review of literature, the authors report a case of the "Lasthénie de Ferjol" syndrome. From clinical observations, they establish theoretical landmarks and underline the necessity for searching the meaning.     

Influence of (E)-5-(2-Bromovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine on corneal epithelium healing

When applied as 0.1% or 0.5% eye drops 9 times a day at hourly intervals, BVDU [(E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2-deoxy-uridine] did not retard the regeneration of rabbit corneal epithelium. Nor did it exert any toxic effects on the cells. Likewise, IDU (5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine) 0.1% eye drops did not significantly reduce the rate of epithelium wound closure. However, IDU produced toxic alterations in the cells.     

Pterygium excision with or without postoperative irradiation,a double-blind study

A double-blind study (covering 40 months) of 40 eyes with a pterygium which had not previously been operated on, was carried out to study the effect of postoperative irradiation. Nineteen eyes were treated by the bare sclera operation technique only and in 13 cases (68%) a recurrence occurred within 4 months. In 18 eyes from the group of patients treated with Sr 90 irradiation on the 1st, 7th and 14th postoperative day (maximum 3×1000 rad) no recurrences were seen.Patients with a recurrent pterygium and diplopia, symblepharon, visual disturbances (growth over the pupil or severe astigmatism) or many previous operations, were treated by lamellar keratoplasty (Dake, 1980). The recurrences without these complications were treated with success by the bare sclera technique and postoperative irradiation.Complications did not occur in any of the series.