Abdominal computed tomography in lupus mesenteric arteritis.

We report the abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed signs of an acute abdomen secondary to mesenteric arteritis. Initial CT scan demonstrated ascites and wall thickening of the duodenum and jejunum. After treatment with high dose intravenous steroids, follow-up CT scan demonstrated a normal duodenum and small bowel.

Autourethrography.

"Autourethrography," a technique of retrograde urethrography in which the patient injects the contrast material, was used on 22 patients. The results of the study were compared with the results of nonemergency retrograde urethrography performed on 22 patients during an earlier 1-year period. The following observations of the autourethrography group were made.

Biochemical and histopathologic comparison between blood and saline storage of canine veins.

Patency of vein grafts may be influenced by the medium in which they are stored temporarily. We compared saline solution vs blood on prostanoid production and maintenance of endothelium in canine veins after 1 hour of storage at 23 degrees C with 0.2 mg/ml of papaverine.