Anti-inflammatory and varicocele treatment in nonobstructive azoospermia.

A 34-year-old male patient with nonobstructive azoospermia and childlessness for more than 2 years is presented. As even severely damaged testes often harbour cryptic areas with remaining spermatogenesis, such cases might be suitable for spermatid extraction from bilateral testicular biopsies. Taking into account that testicular biopsies bear the risk of permanent testosterone insufficiency, less invasive andrological treatment modalities were considered.

Preclinical evaluation of inducible nitric oxide synthase lipoplex gene therapy for inhibition of stent-induced vascular neointimal lesion formation.

Several reports have established the concept of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) gene transfer for inhibiting smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation after vascular injury. To minimize potential risks associated with viral gene transfer, we developed a liposome-based gene transfer approach employing inducible NOS (iNOS) overexpression for inhibition of stent-induced neointimal lesion formation. Therapeutic lipoplexes were transferred to femoral or coronary arteries of Goettingen minipigs, using the Infiltrator local drug delivery device.

Noninvasive investigation for renal artery stenosis: contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography and color Doppler sonography as compared to digital subtraction angiography.

Introduction: The question about the most appropriate non-invasive method for detecting a renal artery stenosis (RAS) when comparing contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and color Doppler sonography (CDS) is still under discussion. Therefore we conducted a prospective study in order to evaluate both methods as compared to digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Patients/methods: Thirtysix consecutive patients (53,9 +/- 13,7 years) with suspected RAS were investigated.

Post-transplant distal-limb bone-marrow oedema: MR imaging and therapeutic considerations.

Background: In recent years a previously unrecognized pain syndrome of the distal lower limbs after organ transplantation has been noted. A relationship to cyclosporin A was suspected, but no clear aetiology and pathogenesis have been established.

Methods: During the last 30 months we diagnosed the pain syndrome in 10 patients after renal transplantation.

Effect of acute intravenous ace-inhibition on the intrarenal doppler flow characteristics in hypertensive patients with and without unilateral renal artery stenosis.

Assessment of intrarenal doppler signals is of particular importance in screening for renal artery stenosis. We studied the effect of acute ACE-inhibition (1,25 mg enalaprilate i.v.