Passive expansion of sub-maximally dilated transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts and assessment of clinical outcomes.

Aim: To assess for passive expansion of sub-maximally dilated transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) and compare outcomes with maximally dilated TIPS.

Methods: Polytetrafluoroethylene covered TIPS (Viatorr) from July 2002 to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed at two hospitals in a single institution. Two hundred and thirty patients had TIPS maximally dilated to 10 mm (mTIPS), while 43 patients who were at increased risk for hepatic encephalopathy (HE), based on clinical evaluation or low pre-TIPS portosystemic gradient (PSG), had 10 mm TIPS sub-maximally dilated to 8 mm (smTIPS).

Lymphatic Anatomy.

Recent development of new lymphatic imaging and intervention techniques, such as intranodal lymphangiogram, dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography and lymphatic embolization, have resulted in the resurgence of interest in the lymphatic anatomy. The lymphatic system is a continuous maze of interlacing vessels and lymph nodes and is extremely complex and variable. This presents a significant challenge for interpretation of imaging and performance of interventions on this system.

Lung Injury Prediction Score in Hospitalized Patients at Risk of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Objective: The Lung Injury Prediction Score identifies patients at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome in the emergency department, but it has not been validated in non-emergency department hospitalized patients. We aimed to evaluate whether Lung Injury Prediction Score identifies non-emergency department hospitalized patients at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome at the time of critical care contact.

Design: Retrospective study.

Thermal Changes during Rheolytic Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Purpose: To characterize thermal changes induced by rheolytic thrombectomy (RT) within an ex vivo venous model and evaluate resultant changes of endothelial and vessel wall injury.

Materials And Methods: Patent human saphenous vein segments without thrombus were mounted in an ex vivo perfusion system with a temperature probe apposed to the adventitial surface. RT was performed over a guide wire to facilitate device centering.

The venous drainage of the corpora cavernosa in the human penis.

Objective: To study the drainage proportions from the corpora cavernosa in defrosted human cadavers, as the veins related to penile erection were recently depicted to comprise the deep dorsal vein (DDV), a pair of cavernous veins (CVs) and two pairs of para-arterial veins (PAVs), as opposed to a single DDV between Buck's fascia and the tunica albuginea of the human penis.

Materials And Methods: With no formalin fixation, 10 defrosted male human cadavers were used for this study. After injecting a 10% solution of colloid, and with the intracavernous pressure (ICP) fixed at 90 mmHg, the perfusion rate was recorded before and after the DDV, CVs and PAVs were removed, respectively.

Sustained pain reduction through affective self-awareness in fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objective: Affect and how it is regulated plays a role in pain perception, maintenance of pain, and its resolution. This randomized, controlled trial evaluated an innovative affective self-awareness (ASA) intervention, which was designed to reduce pain and improve functioning in individuals with fibromyalgia.

Participants And Methods: Forty-five women with fibromyalgia were randomized to a manualized ASA intervention (n = 24) or wait-list control (n = 21).

Recovery from chronic musculoskeletal pain with psychodynamic consultation and brief intervention: a report of three illustrative cases.

Objective: Most physicians are unaware of the potential for complete remission from chronic musculoskeletal pain through a purely psychological approach. We report three cases in which various types of chronic musculoskeletal pain were successfully treated using a small-group psychological workshop combined with a single consultative session.

Design: Case report.

No consistent difference in gray matter volume between individuals with fibromyalgia and age-matched healthy subjects when controlling for affective disorder.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is thought to involve abnormalities in central pain processing. Recent studies involving small samples have suggested alterations in gray matter volume (GMV) in brains of FM patients. Our objective was to verify these findings in a somewhat larger sample using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), while controlling for the presence of affective disorders (AD).