Duplicated origin of right vertebral artery with rudimentary and accessory left vertebral arteries

Summary We observed a rare cerebrovascular anomaly in a patient with brain-stem infarction. Two right vertebral arteries arose from the subclavian artery and communicated directly with each other under the transverse foramen of the fourth cervical vertebra. The left vertebral artery consisted of a rudimentary artery that arose from the left subclavian artery, ran through the transverse foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra and then tapered down to disappear at the fourth/fifth cervical vertebrae, plus a second, accessory artery that arose from a branch of the left thyrocervical trunk, ran through the transverse foramen of the fifth cervical vertebra and tapered off to disappear at the first/second cervical vertebrae.     

Partially Reversible Chronic Renal Failure Due to Long-term Use of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

A case of partially reversible chronic renal failure due tolong-term NSAID use is discussed. An analysis of this and similarcases recently reported indicates many similarities betweenchronic NSAID nephropathy and analgesic nephropathy.     

CROMAKALIM SUPPRESSES HYPERTONIC SALINE-INDUCED RENAL VASOCONSTRICTION IN ANAESTHETIZED DOGS

1. Intrarenal arterial infusion of hypertonic saline (HS) transiently increased and then gradually reduced renal blood flow (RBF) in anaesthetized dogs. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) but not filtration fraction decreased at the end of the infusion. 2. In the presence of a potassium channel opener cromakalim (0.3 μg/kg per min), HS infusion failed to reduce RBF; the initial increase in RBF was maintained throughout the infusion. Since cromakalim also prevented the decrease in GFR, HS infusion lowered filtration fraction. 3. The results suggest that cromakalim inhibits both pre-and postglomerular vasoconstriction induced by HS infusion.     

Bilateral aberrant cervical internal carotid arteries

Summary A patient with symptomatic bilateral aberrant cervical internal carotid arteries, demonstrated on CT and MRI, is described.     

Dual origin of the left circumflex coronary artery: A case report

We describe a patient with two separate vessels having different origins supplying the circumflex coronary artery distribution. This represents a previously undescribed coronary artery anomaly.     

Acute heart failure and acute renal failure in Kawasaki disease

Acute renal failure and acute heart failure are rare in Kawasaki disease. We experienced two patients with Kawasaki disease who presented acute renal failure and acute heart failure. These two patients gave us an important insight into the understanding of water balance and fluid therapy in Kawasaki disease. One patient showed acute prerenal failure due to fluid exudation from the intravascular to the extravascular space, and subsequent acute heart failure. The other patient showed acute heart failure caused by fluid infusion for the treatment of dehydration. It is suggested that acute renal failure could be caused by a fluid shift from the intravascular to the extravascular space in Kawasaki disease. It is also demonstrated that the reserve of cardiac function could be decreased in patients with Kawasaki disease due to myocarditis even with normal echocardiography and chest X-rays.     

川芎嗪和维拉帕米对缺血性急性肾衰初期保护效应的实验研究

１８只犬切除右肾，钳夹左肾动脉６０分的肾缺血模型，再灌注５小时。将动物随机分成对照组、川芎嗪组及维拉帕米组。观察尿量、菊糖清除率、利钠指数、平均动脉压及心率；再灌注５小时取肾组织作形态学检查。结果显示川芎嗪对肾功能及形态有保护作用，维拉帕米则无此作用，提示在手术中有肾缺血时以川芎嗪作为肾保护药物优于维拉帕米。     

血管重塑对大鼠血管成形术后再狭窄的影响

目的：建立大鼠颈动脉再狭窄模型，原位灌注固定取材。评价PTA后血管重塑（VR）的动态变化规律，定量分析血管重塑在血管再狭窄过程中的变化及作用。方法：制作70只SD雄性大鼠颈总动脉再狭窄模型，分原位灌注实验组、对照组，于术后1h、3、7、14、28和42天原位灌注固定取材，行HE染色、Masson染色，观察标本血管狭窄情况。结果：①血管重塑指数（VRI）在PTA后即刻最大，3天组明显降低，7天组稍有增大，其后不断减小，剩余血管腔面积百分比同VRI的变化曲线基本一致。②FFA后，血管腔面积总体呈逐渐缩小趋势，内弹力板围绕面积（IELA）1h组较对照组明显增大，3天组较1h组明显缩小，14、28、42天组较对照组明显缩小。外弹力板围绕面积（EELA）逐渐缩小。EELA、IELA的变化与血管腔面积变化呈正相关。③VRI与血管腔面积的变化呈正相关，新生内膜面积与剩余狭窄率、血管腔面积无直线相关。结论：再狭窄过程中存在扩张性重塑和收缩性重塑现象，管腔的狭窄与否取决于血管重塑指数的变化，而不是新生内膜的变化，新生内膜的形成是血管重塑过程中的一部分。IELA和EELA可作为判断管腔狭窄及评价血管重塑的指标。