Emergency open lung biopsy

Twenty-eight patients underwent open lung biopsy on an emergency basis. The clinical course in each case was deteriorating rapidly, and all were in respiratory failure. The correct diagnosis was established in 96% of the biopsies (27 of the 28 patients). The clinical diagnosis prior to biopsy was in error or incomplete in 15 (55%) of the patients. Specific therapy was lifesaving in 12 of the 28 patients. The value of the procedure outweighed the complications. Thrombocytopenia and positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation were not contraindications to biopsy.     

Recto-sigmoid carcinoma after uretero-sigmoidostomy. One case, with a review of the literature (author's transl)

A case of recto-sigmoid adenocarcinoma, developing 25 years after bilateral uretero-sigmo dostomy for extrophia vesicae in a 29 year old man. A study of the literature emphasises the long delay before its appearance, the gastrointestinal nature of the tumour and its grave prognosis. The pathogenesis of this lesion is unknown at present, and consideration should be given to the effects of urine on the digestive mucosa and the role of a possible inflammatory granuloma, but also the possibility of a urinary tract origin, despite the apparent histological contradiction.     

Healing of deep venous thrombosis: venographic findings in a randomized study comparing streptokinase and heparin

Sequential ascending venographic studies were used to assess the healing of deep venous thrombosis in 50 patients randomly assigned to streptokinase or heparin therapy. Various degrees of thrombolysis and/or recanalization were demonstrated by venograms performed on the fourth and tenth days of treatment. Late follow-up studies (mean, 7 months after treatment) showed three basic patterns of resolution: (1) return to normal, (2) complete recanalization, and (3) incomplete recanalization and/or collateralization. Loss of valves or their function was associated with recanalization. The character, speed, and outcome of healing reflected the nature and extent of thrombosis, prior thrombotic disease in the extremity, and the type and timing of treatment. Streptokinase was highly effective and preferable to heparin in patients with deep vein thrombosis when therapy was begun within 4 days of onset of symptoms. In later stages of acute or recurrent deep vein thrombosis, the effectiveness of both drugs was significantly reduced.     

Regulation of nitrogen catabolic enzymes in chick liver -- effects of amino acids

It is well-known that in the chick, dietary protein increases the levels of several hepatic enzymes that are involved in nitrogen metabolism and excretion. However, the biochemical mechanism of this response is essentially unknown. The experiments presented in this paper show that the chick is responding to alpha-amino nitrogen and not to any specific amino acid. Furthermore, it is shown that this system responds to endogenous sources of nitrogen as well as dietary protein and that the xanthine dehydrogenase response involves regulation of enzyme synthesis without changing the rate of degradation.     

Calculation of the volume of the grafted kidney. Value of this measurement by echotomography in renal transplantation

From a necropsy series of 14 kidneys, it is very easy to prove, that there is a quite good correlation between the theorical calculated volume of the kidney and its real volume. It is possible to compare the kidney to an ovoid, and to calculate its volume, knowing the 3 dimensions which are its length, its width, its depth. In this way, by echotomography it is possible to estimate these three parameters at the level of the transplanted and to calculate the volume and if, after two successive examinations of control, the kidney volume is found to be enlarged (over 20%) a reject phenomenon must be diagnozed.     

Primary pericardial mesothelioma

This study reports the results of analysis concerning some chemical characteristics of 63 samples of tomato juice and paste. Copper was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and its average content was 32 ppm. This is not a critical value for human health and results below the upper limit provided by law of several european and not european countries.     

Splinting in pyeloplasty

Over a ten-year period, 129 patients with idiopathic pelviureteric obstruction were randomly selected for splinted or unsplinted pyeloplasties. Of these groups, the patients with splinted pyeloplasties had a lower incidence of postoperative complications. The long-term results were similar in both groups.