Sexual dysfunction after elective endovascular or hand-assisted laparoscopic abdominal aneurysm repair.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of sexual dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation after elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Methods: A total of 100 patients eligible for elective repair of infrarenal AAAs were randomised in two groups: EVAR and HALS. The quality of sexual function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), a 15-item questionnaire.

HPLC analysis of HbA1c in dried blood spot samples (DBS): a reliable future for diabetes monitoring.

To simplify collection and transport of blood for HbA1c measuring, we have studied the use of a special paper that absorbs a defined volume of capillary blood and quickly dries it (dried blood-spot, DBS). The DBS can be sent to a central laboratory using regular postal service and without temperature control. This system differs greatly from other proposed DBS methods for HbA1c because it overcomes the haemoglobin alterations during the drying and storing processes, that otherwise make this analysis unreliable.

A new and safe device for minimally invasive saphenous vein harvesting: results after 100 cases.

Purpose: : The saphenous vein is the most commonly used bypass conduit for coronary surgery. Endoscopic harvesting techniques are associated with significant reduction of wound complications but are time-consuming and expensive. The authors developed a device to perform minimally invasive harvesting of the saphenous vein-rapidly, inexpensively, and safely.

Isolated local recurrence of renal neoplasm with caval involvement 16 years after radical nephrectomy.

Objective: To report a case of local recurrence 16 years after radical nephrectomy; to analyse literature data concerning, treatment and prognosis.

Methods/results: We report a case of local recurence associated with caval trombosis who was underwent an en-bloc resection of vena cava along with pericaval lesion and caval replacement with PTFE prosthesis. The Authors reviewed and analysed literature data.

"Method-specific" stability of serum C-peptide in a multicenter clinical study.

A Central laboratory that participates in multicenter clinical studies must consider and study the parameters that condition the in vitro stability of the analytes. We evaluated the effect of temperature on serum C-peptide storage during transport from clinical research centers to the Central laboratory. In particular, the stability for storage lengths from 0 to 24-48 hours at temperatures of between -20 degrees C and +37 degrees C were studied: the C-peptide assay was performed by means of a chemiluminescence and a RIA method.