Imaging in secondary tumors of the ovary

Abdominal Radiology - Metastatic involvement of the ovaries is not rare. The most common tumor types metastasizing to the ovaries, from non-gynecological organs, are breast, colorectal, gastric,...     

Effects of glucose homeostasis on protein metabolism in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Insulin deficiency is known to be associated with a state of increased muscle protein breakdown; this process is mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Convincing in vitro data are further supported by extensive studies in humans with insulin deprivation and are further substantiated by reversal of muscle protein breakdown with insulin treatment. In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and diabetes mellitus (DM), muscle protein breakdown is enhanced in both acute and chronic conditions. Recent data also point to the potential protein catabolic effects of insulin resistance combined with insulin deficiency. Because ESRD is associated with a state of insulin resistance, uremic muscle wasting may also be mediated by this pathway.     

Duration of action of antispasmodic agents: novel use of a mouse model as an in vivo pharmacological assay.

OBJECTIVE: Radial arteries are increasingly used as conduits for coronary artery bypass grafts, but perioperative graft vasospasm remains a concern. In vitro testing has demonstrated the efficacy of phenoxybenzamine and verapamil/nitroglycerin as topical antispasmodic agents, but their duration of action in vivo is unknown. Using an in vivo mouse model, we measured their duration of action in functioning vascular grafts, and compared this to their in vitro duration of action in ungrafted vascular segments. METHODS: Two millimetre mouse aortic segments (C57/BL6) were incubated with phenoxybenzamine, verapamil/nitroglycerin, or buffer (controls) for 15 min in organ chambers. Isometric tension responses to phenylephrine and prostaglandin F2alpha were measured at 0, 2, 6 and 12 h post-incubation. In parallel, 36 murine infrarenal aortic interposition grafts (2 mm) were performed. Twelve grafts were pre-treated (15 min) with phenoxybenzamine, 12 with verapamil/nitroglycerin and 12 remained untreated (controls). Isometric tension responses to the same agonists were measured in grafts harvested 2, 6, 13 and 23 h after surgery. RESULTS: Phenoxybenzamine prevented alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction for up to 16 h in vivo (grafts), and 12h in vitro (ungrafted segments). Verapamil/nitroglycerin was effective for at least 2 h in vitro, but did not prevent vasoconstriction after 2 h in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: The mouse model appears to be a useful technique for assessing the pharmacological properties of antispasmodic agents in vivo. Phenoxybenzamine has an extended action in arterial grafts in vivo. Verapamil/nitroglycerin is short-lived in vivo but lasts longer in vitro. Measurements of antispasmodic duration of action in vitro should be interpreted with caution.     

Physical activity patterns in chronic hemodialysis patients: comparison of dialysis and nondialysis days.

OBJECTIVE: To determine physical activity patterns in chronic hemodialysis patients with a specific emphasis on the difference between dialysis and nondialysis days. Design A cross-sectional single-center study. SETTING: Vanderbilt University Outpatient Dialysis Unit. PATIENTS: Twenty current chronic hemodialysis patients: 10 male, 10 female; 15 black, 5 white; mean age, 50.1 +/- 9.9 years; height, 164.5 +/- 10.9 cm; weight, 82.5 +/- 15.4 kg; length on dialysis, 57.3 +/- 45.3 months. METHODS: Minute-by-minute physical activity was assessed over a 7-day period using a triaxial accelerometer, which consists of raw numbers or counts calculated by the 3 axes of the accelerometer (PA counts). PA counts were extrapolated on a daily and hourly basis. Physical functioning tests included: sit-to-stand, 6-minute walk, and 1-repetition maximal leg press exercise. Laboratory values for serum concentrations of albumin, prealbumin, C-reactive protein, and cholesterol were also collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: PA counts. RESULTS: Total PA counts were significantly lower on dialysis days when compared with nondialysis days (128,279 +/- 74,009 versus 168,744 +/- 95,168, respectively, P = .025). The average PA counts during the 4-hour dialysis time period were significantly lower on dialysis days when compared with nondialysis days (3,086 +/- 3,749 versus 11,070 +/- 7,695, respectively, P = .001). At postdialysis hours 1 and 2, PA counts on dialysis days were significantly higher than on nondialysis days (11,410 +/- 5,340 versus 9,082 +/- 6,646, P = .008, and 14,048 +/- 9,728 versus 8,662 +/- 6,433, P = .016, respectively). By postdialysis hour 4, PA counts on dialysis days had significantly decreased when compared with nondialysis days (6,068 +/- 6,268 versus 10,512 +/- 7,420 PA counts, P = .01, respectively). From postdialysis hours 5 to 20, there was no significant difference in PA counts between dialysis and nondialysis days. CONCLUSION: This study shows that physical activity is lower on dialysis days when compared with nondialysis days, and this decrease is caused by the lack of activity during the 4-hour hemodialysis procedure. New behavior modification strategies involving physical activity, both during hemodialysis and on nondialysis days, must be examined in this patient population.     

Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy of lumbar spinal facets: The results of 46 cases

The results of percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy of lumbar spinal facets in 46 patients followed at least three months (mean 15 months) are reported and compared with those reported previously. Satisfactory pain relief three months after the procedure was achieved in 36.4 percent of patients without operations and in 41.7 percent of patients with operations other than fusion.No patient had previously undergone fusion.Treatment of low-back pain by using radio-frequency thermocoagulation of spinal facets is a simple, safe, and well-tolerated procedure. It can be used to relief of pain in spite of decreasing rates of success within the follow-up period.     

The effects of verapamil on left ventricular function in the presence of beta-adrenergic blockade

Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias frequently complicate myocardial revascularization. Intravenous administration of verapamil has been effective in terminating these arrhythmias. To determine the effects of verapamil on left ventricular systolic function, we implanted ultrasonic dimension transducers in dogs and, after they had recovered from the operation, studied them while they were awake and unsedated. Intravenous administration of verapamil (0.2 mg/kg) resulted in an elevation of cardiac output above baseline because of reflex-induced tachycardia. Contractility, as measured by the load-independent end-systolic pressure-volume relationship, remained unchanged. When the animals were pretreated with atropine and propranolol, verapamil resulted in a fall in cardiac output and contractility. The intact animal responded to the vasodilatory effect of verapamil by releasing catecholamines to maintain cardiac output and hemodynamic stability. Only when this compensatory mechanism was blocked by a beta-adrenergic blocker do the inherently negative inotropic and chronotropic effects of verapamil become apparent. The clinical ramifications of this finding are of greater importance to the surgeon as more patients receive beta-adrenergic blocking agents up to the time of the immediate preoperative period. We conclude that verapamil should be administered with caution to patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias who have been receiving beta-adrenergic blocking agents.     

Sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia on antipsychotic medication.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia under antipsychotic therapy and to investigate the effect of various parameters on sexual dysfunction. METHOD: A total of 827 stabilized outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, were recruited in the study. Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) and the subscale on sexual function of the UKU Side Effects Rating Scale were applied at a single interview. RESULTS: In total, 52.6% of the patients had sexual dysfunction, 54.2% reported a low sexual desire and 41.7% reported problems in having an orgasm. Erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems were seen in 48.1% and 64.2% of the men, respectively; amenorrhea was seen in 24.9% of the women. ASEX score and severity of disease were found to be correlated (p=0.02). Higher ASEX scores were observed in patients who smoked (p=0.01). Men receiving atypical monotherapy had lower ASEX scores than those receiving a combination of atypical and conventional antipsychotics (p=0.017). Patients on combination therapy had more ejaculation problems than the atypical group (p=0.001). Low sexual desire was more prevalent among women using conventional drugs than those on atypical drugs (p=0.004). In linear regression analyses, ASEX was affected significantly and independently by the severity of the disease only in men (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Our results show that sexual dysfunction is widespread among patients with schizophrenia on antipsychotic medications.