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.     

Effect of o,p-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane and perthane in vitro on glutathione reductase activity in the adrenals of dogs and guinea pigs

o,p-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (o,p-DDD) and Perthane, when added in a concentration of 312 M to homogenate and cytoplasmic fraction of dog adrenals, activate glutathione reductase. In a concentration of 156 M, o,p-DDD and Perthane do not affect glutathione reductase activity of the dog adrenals. When given in vitro, o,p-DDD and Perthane activate glutathione reductase of the guinea pig adrenals. o,p-DDD has no effect on glutathione reductase activity of the cytoplasmic fraction of dog liver and kidney, thus confirming the high specificity of its effect on the adrenal cortex.Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kiev. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 2, pp. 159–161, February, 1978.     

肝硬化患者肾脏血液动力学的研究

目的 研究肝硬化患者肾脏血液动力学的改变。方法 应用多普勒超声测定４２例肝硬化患者肾脏血液动力学指标。并分析这些指标与肝功能及平均动脉压之间的关系。结果 不同阶段的肝硬化患者肾内血管收缩程度有明显的差异。结论 肝硬化早期即有肾血管的收缩,肝功越差肾血管收缩越明显。肾血管的收缩是全身血液动力学改变的一部分。     

Duplex ultrasound evaluation of cavernosal peak systolic velocity and waveform acceleration in the penile flaccid state: clinical significance in the assessment of the arterial supply in patients with erectile dysfunction

The aim of this paper was to establish if duplex ultrasound parameters obtained for assessment of the patency of cavernosal arteries in the penile flaccid state can give sufficient clinical information without the use of intracavernosal injection of vasodilatory drugs. We assessed mean cavernosal peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the penile flaccid state (basal PSV), and after PGE1 injection (dynamic PSV) in 339 unselected patients with erectile dysfunction. In 55 of these patients the waveform acceleration in the flaccid state was also assessed. The results of the study can be summarized as follows: (1) a significant relationship was found between basal and dynamic PSV in the 339 patients (r=0.477; p < 0.0001); (2) a basal PSV >12.5 cm/sec was predictive of a dynamic PSV >/=30 cm/sec in 129/139 (92.8%) of the patients, whereas in patients with a basal PSV or <30 cm/sec could be found; and (3) an acceleration >1 m/sec2 in the flaccid state was coupled to a dynamic PSV >30 cm/sec in 43/46 (93.5%) of the patients independent of the basal PSV. In conclusion, these results suggest that the combined duplex ultrasound assessment of PSV and waveform acceleration in the penile flaccid state can predict arterial dynamic inflow in the majority (51/55; 92.7%) of patients with erectile dysfunction, with less time and expense and less discomfort for the patient.     

An infant case of bilateral small kidneys with both proximal and distal tubular dysfunction

Abstract A male infant with bilateral small kidneys associated with both proximal and distal tubular dysfunction, who showed chronic renal failure soon after birth, is reported. He was also noted to have both proximal and distal type of renal tubular acidosis. The small kidneys were thought to be due to renal hypodysplasia associated with bilateral severe vesicoureteral reflux, by radiological findings. An alkalization therapy with chemo-prophylaxis seemed to be of benefit in slowing the progression of renal failure in this case.     

猪肾中砷的氢化物发生原子荧光测定法

目的研究氢化物发生—原子荧光法测定猪肾中砷的适宜条件。方法试验酸介质和还原剂用量对测定砷的影响;选择仪器的最佳工作条件及氢化物发生条件;试验样品中常见元素对砷测定的干扰情况及消除方法。结果在测定条件下,砷的线性范围为0~200μg/L,相关系数达0.999 3以上;检出限为0.14μg/L,回收率在95.5%~101.0%之间,相对标准差(n=7)小于2.7%。结论该试验选用5.0%HCl为介质;样品测定原子化观察高度8 mm;5%硫脲 5%抗坏血酸混合溶液掩弊干扰效果最好。在该工作条件下测定猪肾中的砷,方法灵敏度高,准确度、精密度好。     

经腹腹腔镜半肾切除术治疗成人重复肾畸形(附12例报告)

目的:探讨经腹腹腔镜半肾切除术治疗成人重复肾畸形的方法、可行性和临床疗效。方法:回顾我院2010年6月~2014年1月采用经腹腹腔镜行重复肾畸形上半肾切除术治疗12例患者,其中男4例,女8例,年龄18~56岁,平均36岁。左侧9例,右侧3例,12例重复肾畸形患者均为上半肾病变。结果:12例手术均获成功,无中转开放手术。手术时间60~120min,平均90min;术中出血量20~150ml,平均50ml;术后肠道功能恢复时间1~3d,平均2d;术后24~72h进流食,3~4d拔除引流管;术后住院时间7~9d,平均8d;术后随诊6~15个月,平均9个月;术后3、6个月内均行IVU检查,下半肾功能均正常,原发症状消失。结论:经腹腹腔镜半肾切除术治疗成人重复肾畸形具有手术视野开阔、住院时间短、创伤小、恢复快等优点,是治疗成人重复肾畸形安全有效的手术方法。     

20 years of arterial switch operation for simple TGA

Background : Arterial switch operation became the golden treatment for simple transposition of the great arteries (sTGA). We describe our experience with the arterial switch operation regarding long-term outcome and the need for re-intervention. Nevertheless, supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (SPS) remains a concern in the long run. We assess the evolution of SPS over time and evaluate the effect of technical modifications on SPS during our experience. Methods : We performed a retrospective study on 133 patients operated with ASO for TGA between October 1991 and November 2009. Last report method was used. We reviewed our pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery database to examine the echocardiography data and electrocardiograms. A mean follow-up of 9.2 years (± 5.83 SD) was reached. Results : One (0.8%) patient deceased postoperatively due to cardiogenic shock. The overall actuarial freedom from reoperation (open and percutaneous) was 88.1%, 78.5% and 76.9% at 1, 5 and 10 years. SPS needed to be treated in 17 patients. Valve regurgitation at final investigation was maximal moderate in 5 patients for the aortic valve, 10 for pulmonary valve and 3 in tricuspid valve.

Conclusions : ASO shows excellent long-term results in sTGA with a very low morbidity and mortality and is therefore the procedure of choice. Re-intervention rate is determined by SPS. Since the extensive mobilization of the pulmonary arteries and the creation of a longer neo-pulmonary root, reduction in SPS was seen with no re-interventions in the second half of the group. To obtain a final comparison with the atrial switch operation, a longer Follow-up is necessary.     

Adding Blood to Agitated Saline Significantly Improves Detection of Right-to-Left Shunt by Contrast-Transcranial Color-Coded Duplex Sonography

Contrast-transcranial Doppler and contrast-transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (c-TCCD) have been reported to have high sensitivity in detecting patent foramen ovale as compared with transesophageal echocardiography. An international consensus meeting (Jauss and Zanette 2000) recommended that the contrast agent for right-to left-shunt (RLS) detection using contrast-transcranial Doppler be prepared by mixing 9 mL of isotonic saline solution and 1 mL of air. The aim of our study was to determine whether adding blood to the contrast agent results in improved detection of RLS. We enrolled all consecutive patients admitted to our neurosonology laboratory for RLS diagnosis. For each patient, we performed c-TCCD both at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver using two different contrast agents: ANSs (1 mL of air mixed with 9 mL of normal saline) and ANSHBs (1 mL of air mixed with 8 mL of normal saline and 1 mL of the patient's blood). To classify RLS, we used a four-level visual categorization: (i) no occurrence of micro-embolic signals; (ii) grade I, 1–10 signals; (iii) grade II, >10 signals but no curtain; grade III, curtain pattern. We included 80 patients, 33 men and 47 women. RLS was detected in 18.8% at rest and in 35% during the Valsalva maneuver using ANSs, and in 31.3% and in 46.3% using ANSHBs, respectively (p < 0.0001). There was a statistically significant increase in the number of micro-embolic signals with the use of ANSHBs. The use of blood mixed with saline solution and air as a c-TCCD contrast agent produced an increase in positive tests and a higher grade of RLS compared with normal saline and air alone, either with or without the Valsalva maneuver.