Vasectomy follow-up: clinical significance of rare nonmotile sperm in postoperative semen analysis.

Objectives: To examine patient compliance, complications, and significance of rare nonmotile sperm (RNMS) after no-scalpel vasectomy.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 690 consecutive men who had undergone vasectomy at our institution between 1996 and 2002. All men were instructed to submit two initial semen samples for analysis (3 and 4 months after vasectomy) and additional samples (at 2-month intervals) if sperm were identified on the initial and subsequent analyses.

Role of PPARgamma in macrophage biology and atherosclerosis.

Macrophages carry out key functions by defending a host from microbial invaders and by clearing endogenous cellular debris. Molecules that are essential for the recognition, phagocytosis and clearance of pathogens also mediate the uptake and degradation of pathogenic lipoproteins. During atherogenesis, for example, scavenging trapped lipoproteins leads to the formation of foam cells and subsequently the activation of these lipid-laden macrophages.

MRI of spinal intradural arachnoid cyst formation following tuberculous meningitis.

Secondary intradural arachnoid cyst involving the spine is uncommon. It is usually secondary to trauma, haemorrhage, surgery or inflammation. We present two cases of treated tuberculous meningitis, which presented with gradual onset of quadriplegia and paraplegia, respectively.

Should all urologists performing vasectomy reversals be able to perform vasoepididymostomies if required?

Purpose: While vasectomy reversal is a highly successful procedure 10% to 30% of reversals may fail. Despite the general consensus that an epididymal obstruction may occur following a vasectomy and that some men should undergo vasoepididymostomy (VE) rather than vasovasostomy (VV), the practice of many urologists in our region has been to offer only VV for vasectomy reversal. We examined the potential causes for vasectomy reversal failure in patients who had undergone VV without an attempt at VE.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (100). Migrated pharyngeal fish bone.

A 71-year-old man presented with a suspected swallowed fish bone. The lateral radiograph of the neck showed a curvilinear radio-opaque density in the swollen pre-vertebral soft tissues. The diagnosis of a migrated fish bone was confirmed on computed tomography and during subsequent surgery.

Absenteeism among employees with irritable bowel syndrome.

Patterns of illness or disability-related work absence six months before and six months after a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were assessed from medical claims and absenteeism databases and were compared with a sample of patients with no gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The records of 630 patients with IBS were compared with those of 1,260 persons without GI conditions. Mean monthly IBS-related absences increased by 69% (from 0.

Reversible renal medullary hyperechogenicity in neonatal hypernatremic dehydration.

Three exclusively breastfed term neonates were admitted with lethargy, poor feeding, and oligoanuria. All three babies were severely dehydrated and had a weight loss ranging from 18% to 40%. Serum sodium of more than 180 mEq/l and renal failure were observed in all three.

Unconventional myosin Myo1c promotes membrane fusion in a regulated exocytic pathway.

Glucose homeostasis is controlled in part by regulation of glucose uptake into muscle and adipose tissue. Intracellular membrane vesicles containing the GLUT4 glucose transporter move towards the cell cortex in response to insulin and then fuse with the plasma membrane. Here we show that the fusion step is retarded by the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase.

Imaging features of calvarial tuberculosis: a study of 42 cases.

Background And Purpose: Tuberculosis of the calvaria is a rare entity, and only anecdotal reports describing its imaging features have been previously published in the literature. We report the role of conventional radiography and CT findings on in the evaluation of calvarial tuberculosis in 42 cases.

Methods: Forty-two cases of pathologically verified calvarial tuberculosis were analyzed retrospectively by using conventional radiography and CT imaging.

Female genital tuberculosis: hysterosalpingographic appearances.

Genital tuberculosis is an important cause of infertility in developing countries and hysterosalpingography (HSG) is the initial procedure performed for the evaluation. Reviewing 37 cases of female genital tuberculosis, we encountered various appearances on HSG. Of 579 HSGs performed over a period of 4 years, 492 (85%) were performed as part of infertility work up.

Transcriptional repression of atherogenic inflammation: modulation by PPARdelta.

The formation of an atherosclerotic lesion is mediated by lipid-laden macrophages (foam cells), which also establish chronic inflammation associated with lesion progression. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma promotes lipid uptake and efflux in these atherogenic cells. In contrast, we found that the closely related receptor PPARdelta controls the inflammatory status of the macrophage.

Combined modality therapy for rectal and colon cancer.

Combined modality therapy (CMT) with radiation therapy and chemotherapy plays an important role in the management of rectal cancer. Postoperatively, pelvic irradiation and 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy have been used to improve local control and survival for high-risk patients after local excision, as well as for patients undergoing abdominoperineal or low anterior resection. For patients treated preoperatively, CMT can also be used to facilitate sphincter-sparing surgery for distal rectal tumors.

There is more to anger coping than "in" or "out".

There is growing dissatisfaction with a dichotomized "anger-in" versus "anger-out" view of anger coping. Three studies using student and community adultsamples revealed a broader understanding of the nature of anger coping styles and led to the development of the new Behavioral Anger Response Questionnaire (BARQ). The BARQ is empirically derived and factorially validated and has good psychometrics.

Heat shock protein 70 as a biomarker of heat stress in a simulated hot cockpit.

Background: Fighter pilots are frequently exposed to high temperatures during high-speed low-level flight. Heat strain can result in temporary impairment of cognitive functions and when severe, loss of consciousness and consequent loss of life and equipment. Induction of stress proteins is a highly conserved stress response mechanism from bacteria to humans.

Essential role of Ca2+/calmodulin in Early Endosome Antigen-1 localization.

Ca2+ is an essential requirement in membrane fusion, acting through binding proteins such as calmodulin (CaM). Ca2+/CaM is required for early endosome fusion in vitro, however, the molecular basis for this requirement is unknown. An additional requirement for endosome fusion is the protein Early Endosome Antigen 1 (EEA1), and its recruitment to the endosome depends on phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PI(3)P] and the Rab5 GTPase.

Isolated solitary vertebral body tuberculosis--study of seven cases.

Aim: To describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in isolated solitary vertebral body tuberculosis. Also to emphasize tuberculosis as an important entity, besides neoplasms, in the differential diagnosis of pathologies involving a single vertebral body.

Material And Methods: The clinical and imaging features of seven patients (four men and three women; age range 18-60 years), with proved solitary vertebral body tuberculosis were retrospectively studied.

Conventional kinesin KIF5B mediates insulin-stimulated GLUT4 movements on microtubules.

Insulin stimulates glucose uptake in muscle and adipose cells by mobilizing intracellular membrane vesicles containing GLUT4 glucose transporter proteins to the plasma membrane. Here we show in live cultured adipocytes that intracellular membranes containing GLUT4-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) move along tubulin-cyan fluorescent protein-labeled microtubules in response to insulin by a mechanism that is insensitive to the phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. Insulin increased by several fold the observed frequencies, but not velocities, of long-range movements of GLUT4-YFP on microtubules, both away from and towards the perinuclear region.

Primary ascaridial perforation of the small intestine: sonographic diagnosis.

Ascaris lumbricoides is the most common helminth affecting humans. Ascariasis can result in serious complications, including intestinal obstruction and perforation. Early diagnosis and treatment of such complications reduces the risk of mortality.

MRI in kernicterus.

Kernicterus (bilirubin encephalopathy) is a disease entity with a very high rate of mortality in neonates. The children who survive are left with neurological deficits such as choreoathetosis, sensorineural deafness and mental retardation. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in this condition has specific findings which aid in the accurate diagnosis of the condition, along with clinical and biochemical criteria.

Magnetic resonance arthrography in recurrent anterior shoulder instability as compared to arthroscopy: a prospective comparative study.

Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) arthrographic imaging in the diagnosis of glenoid labral and ligament tears in recurrent shoulder instability.

Settings And Design: Prospective, comparative study at a tertiary care centre.

Material And Methods: Patients with three or more episodes of anterior shoulder dislocation were enrolled in the study.

Beneficial effects of terlipressin in hepatorenal syndrome: a prospective, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background And Aim: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) occurs in about 18% of cirrhotic patients with ascites and is characterized by intense renal vasoconstriction, low glomerular filtration rate and preserved tubular function and normal renal histology. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of terlipressin on renal function, systemic hemodynamics and clinical outcome in patients with HRS.

Methods: The study was a randomized controlled single-blind trial.