Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) levels inversely correlate with lung function improvement (delta FEV1) in cystic fibrosis patients receiving ivacaftor treatment

Background

We have recently shown that human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) levels correlate with the severity of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. However, there are no data on how HE4 levels alter in patients receiving CFTR modulating therapy.

Effects of erythromycin on the propulsive motility of upper gastrointestinal tract in rats

The differences between the postprandial mixing or propulsion and the interdigestive motility of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are already known. Earlier studies showed dose-dependent differences in the effects of erythromycin on interdigestive motility. The various GI side-effects (vomiting, diarrhoea) also suggest that there are different effects of erythromycin on the GI motility. The aim of our study was to examine postprandially the propulsive effects of different doses of erythromycin on the movement of intraluminal contents in the upper GI tract of the rat. The animals were fasted for 24 h before the experiments but water was given freely. The rats received 1.5 ml 1.5% methylcellulose painted with 0.05% phenol-red intragastrically (test solution). Erythromycin(E. lactobionate) was given intravenously at doses of 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg 15 min before the administration of a test solution. The animals were sacrificed 20,60 and 120 min after administration of methylcellulose, when the distance between the front of the painted intraluminal contents and the pylorus was measured and expressed as a percentage of the total length of small intestine. The phenol-red content in the stomach and small intestine was measured spectrophotometrically and the gastric emptying was calculated from the ratio of the measured total and intestinal phenol-red content. Our results showed that the small doses of erythromycin (0.1 and 0.25 mg/kg) accelerated gastric emptying after 20 min but did not change significantly the propulsive motility of upper small intestine; however, large doses of erythromycin (1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg) decreased gastric emptying and upper GI motility after 20 and 60 min. In summary, the prokinetic action of small doses of erythromycin was demonstrated, but its effecttime on GI motility is short and the ratio of the stimulating and inhibitory doses is 1:10. This paper was presented at the Section of IUPHAR GI Pharmacology Symposium on ’Biochemical pharmacology as an approach to gastrointestinal disorders (basic science to clinical perspectives)‘, October 12-14, 1995, Pécs, Hungary.     

Coccygectomy has a favorable effect on the intensity, manifestation, and characteristics of pain caused by coccygodynia: a retrospective evaluation of 34 patients followed for 3–18 years

Background  Coccygodynia can cause severe pain and disability in patients. There are contradictions in the literature regarding the final results of coccygectomy for coccygodynia. We evaluated the long-term effects of coccygectomy on the intensity, characteristics, and manifestation of pain caused by coccygodynia to determine the adequacy of operation among treatment modalities. Materials and methods  Thirty-four patients with coccygodynia were treated by coccygectomy. In 22 cases, trauma, and in one case childbirth was the cause. 11 cases were regarded as idiopathic. The intensity, characteristics of pain, and the most painful activities were evaluated at an average of 7.6 (3–18) years of follow-up time. Results  Before the operation, all 34 patients had pain while sitting, moreover, 26 of them had pain during standing, walking, at night or a combination of these. 21 patients had intolerable or very intensive, mainly acute, sharp or burning pain. 11 patients had dyschesia, 2 had dysuria and 6 had dyspareunia. At follow-up, 7 patients were completely free of pain, 15 others had moderate, 11 medium, and only one patient had severe, but none had intolerable pain. Only seven patients had acute, sharp or burning pain postoperatively. The decrease of average pain score from 8.0 to 3.2 was significant (P < 10⁻¹²). The number of the patients with dyschesia and dyspareunia decreased from 11 to 7 and from 6 to 3, respectively. Two patients had dysuria, but their complaints did not change after the operation. One of the two patients who needed reoperation had an excellent final result, while the other remained unchanged. 12 and 16 patients (together 82%) regarded the final result of the operation excellent and good, respectively. The condition of five others did not change, while one became worse. The patients with younger age, smaller body mass index, and less co-morbidities had better final result. There were no serious complications. Conclusion  Coccygectomy for coccygodynia is a safe method to decrease the intensity of pain and other complaints of the patients. The operation can be the choice of treatment if conservative measures fail.     

Efficacy and safety of topical application of human fibrinogen/thrombin-coated collagen patch (TachoComb) for treatment of air leakage after standard lobectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Persisting air leakage after pulmonary resection remains a significant problem. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of air leakage after standard lobectomy and test the efficacy and safety of TachoComb (TC). METHODS: A total of 189 patients undergoing lobectomy were enrolled in a multi-centre, open, randomised, and prospective study to test the efficacy and safety of TachoComb (TC) for air leakage treatment. Air leakage was assessed by water submersion test, and scored as grades 0 if no, 1 if countable, 2 if a stream of and 3 if coalescent bubbles have been observed. Any sites with grade 3 air leakage received further stapling or limited suturing until grade 0, 1 or 2 was obtained. Treatment of air leakage was done with TC or suturing according to randomisation. Air leakage was assessed by further submersion tests. Postoperative air leakage was assessed using the Pleur-Evac system. RESULTS: Overall incidence of air leakage 48+/-6 h after surgery was 34% for TC and 37% for standard treatment (P=0.76). The reduction of intra-operative air leak intensity in the subgroup with grades 1-2 was significantly higher for the TC group (P=0.015). Postoperative air leakage intensity in the subgroup with air leakage grades 1-2 was lower for TC than standard treatment (P=0.047). The mean duration of postoperative air leakage in the subgroup with grades 1-2 was shorter for the TC group than for standard treatment, i.e. 1.9+/-1.4 vs. 2.7+/-2.2 days (P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: TC could be proven as well-tolerated and safe. In the subgroup of patients with established air leakage, TC showed superior potential in reduction of intra-operative air leakage as well as in reduction of intensity and duration of postoperative air leakage.     

Die operative Behandlung von Außenknöchelfrakturen mit der Krallenplatte

Ohne Zusammenfassung      

Development and results of valve replacement surgery at the Városmajor Clinic 1976-1990 (retorospective clinical analysis)]

In Hungary valve replacement is still a major indication for heart surgery in adults. In the Cardiovascular Surgical Clinic of Semmelweis Medical University of Budapest from 1976 to 1990 2435 patients were operated for valve disease. Majority of the cases had single (aortic n = 856, mitral n = 912) or double (aortic + mitral n = 513) valve replacement. Over this 15 years period there have been many alterations in patients characteristics and surgical technique as well. In spite of the increasing mean age of patients the operative mortality has decreased (in the last 5 years period it was 2.7%, 5.5% and 7.9% in the three groups respectively). At the same time the number of patients requiring valve re-replacement or combined valve + coronary procedure has increased. The use of bioprosthetic valves has fallen below 10 percent from the 60--80 percent observed between 1976--1980. The analysis showes excellent surgical results in the field of valve replacement in Hungary.     

Iodine-125 Brachytherapy of Brain Stem Tumors

PURPOSE: To report on iodine-125 ((125)I) interstitial irradiation in the treatment of brain stem tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two patients with brain stem tumors were treated with CT- and image fusion-guided (125)I stereotactic brachytherapy. RESULTS: By March 2003, the patients had been followed up for 47 and 13 months, respectively. In case 1, the tumor volume was 1.98 cm(3) on the control CT, indicating a 65.5% shrinkage as compared to a target volume of 5.73 cm3 at the time of brachytherapy. In case 2, shrinkage was more distinct. After irradiation, the cyst volume was 0.16 cm(3) on the control MRI, indicating a 97.4% shrinkage as compared to a target volume of 6.05 cm(3) at the time of brachytherapy, i. e., the metastasis had virtually disappeared. CONCLUSION: CT- and image fusion-guided (125)I stereotactic brachytherapy can be performed during the biopsy session. The procedure can be well planned dosimetrically and is surgically precise.     

Antibodies to viruses of the herpes group in glomerulonephritis of membranous,membranoproliferative and IgA types

Sera of 25 patients with membraneous glomerulonephritis (MGN), 16 with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and 54 with IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA GN) were studied for complement-binding antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and antibodies to various Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated antigens, as also for the titres of these antibodies. The sera of 220 normal individuals served as controls, 120 controls being used for each case. Anti-HSV titres of ≧1∶64 were found to occur in the sera of all three GN groups in a higher proportion than in those of the controls. This was also valid for the complement-binding antibodies to CM, although here the differences were not invariably significant. IgA antibodies reacting with EBV capside antigen (EBVCA) were likewise of statistically increased frequency in IgA GN, as also in MPGN, and in these two groups the geometric mean of the reciprocal value of the IgA antibody titres was also higher than either in the controls or in MGN. The results of the studies carried out within 6 months after onset of renal disease point to an EBV infection, either fresh or having taken place in the recent past, in 20 cases. These data are compatible with a direct or indirect role of EBV in the production and/or persistence of certain types of GN. The high anti-HSV and CMV titres suggest that in a number of patients with renal disease the immune responses to certain types of the HSV group may be abnormal.