A filtration-based protocol to isolate human plasma membrane-derived vesicles and exosomes from blood plasma.

The methods of Plasma Membrane-derived Vesicle (PMV) isolation and quantification vary considerably in the literature and a new standard needs to be defined. This study describes a novel filtration method to isolate PMVs in plasma, which avoids high speed centrifugation, and to quantify them using a Becton Dickinson (BD) FACS Calibur™ flow cytometer, as annexin V-positive vesicles, larger than 0.2 μm in diameter.

Comparison of a novel surgical approach for radical hysterectomy: robotic assistance versus open surgery.

To report the learning curve and perioperative outcomes for robotic radical hysterectomy using a unilateral surgical approach transferred directly from one surgeon's open radical hysterectomy experience, thirty-two consecutive robotic radical hysterectomy cases (10/2006-1/2009) were contrasted to a cohort of 20 consecutive open radical hysterectomies (2/2005-2/2008). Perioperative characteristics compared included operative time, number of nodes, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, and complications. Robotic operative times were significantly longer than for open (122.

Improving diabetic control in adverse social conditions. A home blood glucose monitoring study in Soweto, South Africa.

In order to explore the feasibility of home blood glucose monitoring (HBGM) in Type 1 diabetics in developing countries, we introduced the technique to Type 1 patients below the age of 30 yr attending the Diabetic Clinic serving Soweto in South Africa. Despite initial problems, HBGM with visually-read strips was applied to 45 of the 64 young Type 1 diabetics identified ("HBGM group"). The remaining 19 were continued on urine glucose monitoring only ("HUGM group"), usually because of attendance and compliance problems.

Intensive health screening of young black diabetics.

Black-insulin-dependent diabetics under the age of 30 years attending a busy South African diabetic clinic were intensively screened for a 4-month period. In the 66 patients studied, the following previously undiagnosed conditions were discovered: cataract (1), peripheral neuropathy (16), retinopathy (8), tuberculosis (4) and anaemia (3). In addition, 29 (43,9%) were on insulin regimens that were not ideal.

The use of technetium-99m-di-isopropyl-iminodiacetic acid imaging in the demonstration of a biliary-bronchial fistula.

A case is described in which technetium-99m-di-isopropyl-iminodiacetic acid imaging was used to trace the passage of bile from its site of leakage into an amoebic liver abscess, through a fistulous tract connecting the liver abscess with an abscess in the right lower lobe of the lung, and into the upper respiratory tract.

Pitfalls in the diagnosis of gestational choriocarcinoma. A case report.

Gestational choriocarcinoma frequently presents diagnostic difficulties as the first symptoms are often due to distant metastases, particularly to the lung. A case of choriocarcinoma is described; the main features were thyrotoxicosis and a solitary metastasis in the lung arising from a clinically normal uterus. It is emphasized that clinical evaluation of the uterus is unreliable in the diagnosis of choriocarcinoma, a disease which must always be suspected in females with atypical thyrotoxicosis.

Pulmonary hydatid disease: a four-year experience in an urban black hospital.

Intrathoracic hydatid disease is rarely seen in black patients hospitalized in the Johannesburg area. Eleven patients with pulmonary hydatid disease were treated during 4 years at a major referral center for black patients. The clinical features and management of these patients are described.

Pointers to preventing hyperglycaemic emergencies in Soweto.

Sixty people with hyperglycaemia were admitted to Baragwanath Hospital as emergency patients during an 8-week study period in 1981, and one-quarter of them died in hospital. Many of these hyperglycaemic emergencies could have been prevented; 88% of the patients were known diabetics, one-third of whom required only oral hypoglycaemic agents for diabetic control. Sixty-one per cent of the patients had concomitant diseases, primarily infections.

Limited joint mobility in Black patients with type I diabetes mellitus.

Eighteen of 66 Black patients with type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus had limited joint mobility (LJM). The presence of LJM was related to the duration of diabetes but not to the total daily insulin dose or to the glycosylated haemoglobin percentage. The incidence of diabetic retinopathy was not increased in those patients with LJM, but this was probably because of the relatively small study population and the relatively short duration of diabetes in this group.

Rhabdomyolysis and renal failure--unusual complications of drug abuse. A case report.

We report a case of acute rhabdomyolysis following the abuse of opiates injected intravenously. The patient also developed mild renal failure as well as transient myocarditis. The pathogenesis and management of the condition are discussed.

Overdiagnosis of tuberculosis. Case reports.

Six cases are presented in which tuberculosis (TB) was wrongly diagnosed. The patients were all Blacks from areas of high TB prevalence, and treatment for presumed TB was instituted without bacteriological confirmation. There were delays of up to 2 years before the correct diagnosis was made, involving much morbidity and unnecessary treatment.

Massive hemoptysis. Review of 123 cases.

Case histories of 123 patients with massive hemoptysis were reviewed. The causes of hemorrhage were active pulmonary tuberculosis (47), bronchiectasis (37), chronic necrotizing pneumonia (11), lung abscess (six), lung cancer (six), bronchovascular fistula (five), primary pulmonary fungal infection (four), and miscellaneous (seven). Conservative management was used in 66 patients, with 21 deaths (31.

Fibrocavitating pulmonary lesions in ankylosing spondylitis.

Two patients with ankylosing spondylitis and fibrocavitating pulmonary disease are described. This rare extra-articular complication of spondylitis is briefly discussed.