Fetal heterozygosity for both Hb G-Hsi-Tsou and beta thalassemia: A case report.

Introduction: This case report describes a fetus with compound heterozygosity for Hb G-Hsi-Tsou and beta thalassemia, diagnosed in a healthy pregnancy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of compound heterozygosity and the woman is the second known case of heterozygosity for Hb G-Hsi-Tsou.

Case Presentation: A 34-year-old woman during her first pregnancy underwent hemoglobin electrophoresis which revealed heterozygosity for Hb G-Hsi-Tsou.

Peptide hormone analysis in diagnosis and treatment of Differences of Sex Development: joint position paper of EU COST Action 'DSDnet' and European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions.

Differences of Sex Development (DSD) comprise a variety of congenital conditions characterized by atypical chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex. Diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of patients suspected of DSD conditions include clinical examination, measurement of peptide and steroid hormones, and genetic analysis. This position paper on peptide hormone analyses in the diagnosis and control of patients with DSD was jointly prepared by specialists in the field of DSD and/or peptide hormone analysis from the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action DSDnet (BM1303) and the European Reference Network on rare Endocrine Conditions (Endo-ERN).

Gossypiboma: a rare abdominal lesion of women after cesarean section, usually misdiagnosed as a neoplasm.

The case of a 20-year-old pregnant woman with a history of one previous cesarean section (CS) who developed a tumorous mass in the area of the CS scar is presented. The clinical diagnosis of endometriosis or fibromatosis was made but the histologic findings were confusing and the pathological diagnosis of an inflammatory type of liposarcoma was made. The case was referred to our Laboratory for re-evaluation and the diagnosis of gossypiboma was made based on histopathological features, the patient's age, her medical history and the exact location of the lesion.

Low-grade systemic inflammation profile, unrelated to homocysteinemia, in obese children.

To investigate in prepubertal obese children (POC) the profile of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation (CLGSI) and its relation to homocysteinemia, 72 POC were evaluated for serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and amyloid A (SAA) levels, both markers of CLGSI, and plasma levels of total homocysteine (tHcy), an independent risk factor for adult atherosclerosis, in comparison to 42 prepubertal lean children (PLC). The main observations in POC were higher CRP levels compared to PLC, positive association of SAA levels to CRP levels, no association of CRP or SAA levels to tHcy levels. Thus, in POC, positively interrelated to each other, elevated CRP and unaltered SAA levels reveal a unique profile of the CLGSI, not explaining homocysteinemia-induced risk for future atherosclerosis.

Oxygen availability during orthotopic liver transplantation.

Studies have stressed the role of adequate tissue oxygenation in the light of an optimal patient outcome and allograft viability in liver transplantation. The practice of monitoring conventional hemodynamic parameters during liver transplantation could be complemented by parameters assessing real oxygen availability. In the present prospective study, real arterial available oxygen content (CavlO(2)) and its extraction ratio (O(2)ERavl) were calculated.

Gastric emptying time, not enterogastric reflux, is related to symptoms after upper gastrointestinal/biliary surgery.

Background: It has been suggested that symptoms from bile reflux gastritis are related to the frequency and degree of enterogastric reflux (EGR).

Methods: Patients with history of upper gastrointestinal surgery or cholecystectomy as well as control patients were studied. Presence of EGR, degree of EGR, and gastric bile emptying time were assessed and quantified via 99mTC scintillation imaging and then compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

The impact of new technology on hepatic resection for malignancy.

Hypothesis: Relatively high morbidity rates remain problematic in hepatic resection for malignant neoplasms. Technological innovations coupled with surgical expertise can ameliorate morbidity and mortality rates.

Design: Medical records survey.

Subtotal pancreatoduodenectomy: use of a defunctionalized loop for pancreatic stump drainage.

Background: Since its introduction, pancreaticoduodenal resection for periampullary cancer has undergone numerous modifications. As a result, there has been a dramatic decline in the mortality rate. However, a high morbidity rate, mainly due to pancreatic fistula formation, is still reported.

Surgery in Greece.

The expenditure on health care reached 7.8% of the gross domestic product in Greece in 1991. Almost 9000 specialized surgeons in 11 recognized specialties provide services to more than 10 million people living in Greece and 2 million visitors annually.

Sodium thiosulphate in the treatment of renal tubular acidosis I with nephrocalcinosis.

Nephrocalcinosis is a common feature in renal tubular acidosis I (RTA-I) and contributes to renal insufficiency. We describe a patient, 37 years old, with RTA-I, mild renal failure and extended nephrocalcinosis. His disease was diagnosed in age 28 and patient is under treatment with sodium bicarbonate, potassium gluconate and sodium thiosulphate for 9 years.

Hemodialysis with a new single stable bicarbonate dialysate.

A specified stable bicarbonate/glycylglycine dialysate for hemodialysis (HD) analogous to those introduced by us for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is described. HD with this single dialysate is simple, easy, safe and of reasonable cost. Results obtained from 6 HD patients proved its superiority against acetate dialysate.

Serum changes of Ferroxidases and iron-binding capacity in pregnancy.

Serum changes of Ferroxidase I and II well as the total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) were measured throughout their gestation in 32 normal pregnant women. Significantly higher concentrations for all the above mentioned parameters were found as pregnancy advanced. Moreover, a significant and positive correlation between the weeks of gestation and a) serum Ferroxidase I (r:0.

Enhanced ultrafiltration in rabbits with bicarbonate glycylglycine peritoneal dialysis solution.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate net ultrafiltration (NUF) with a new bicarbonate glycylglycine (BiGG) peritoneal dialysis solution compared to the standard lactate (La) solution.

Design: In six groups of 12 normal rabbits each we measured NUF after a 2-, 4-, and 6-hour peritoneal dialysis with a BiGG solution (pH 7.35) and a standard La solution (pH 5.

Influence of radiation treatment on serum transferrin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

This study deals with the effect of radiation treatment (RT) on serum transferrin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with malignant tumors. In 21 patients who received 36-60 Gy in 20 to 30 sessions of RT, serum transferrin and TNF-alpha were determined pre-RT, after 10 to 15 sessions (middle of RT) and after 20 to 30 sessions (end of RT). The values of serum transferrin pre-RT were significantly higher than those in the middle and at the end of RT (p < 0.

Combined recombinant human erythropoietin-blood letting strategy for treating anemia and iron overload in hemodialysis patients.

We studied the feasibility of treating refractory anemia and post-transfusional serious hemochromatosis in a patient undergoing hemodialysis (3x4 h weekly) for fourteen years, with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) associated with blood-letting. Blood transfusion previously received by the patient at a rate of two units of packed red cells every month for nine years was stopped and r-HuEPO (80 U/kg b.w.

A new stable bicarbonate dialysis solution for peritoneal dialysis: preliminary report.

This paper describes the use of glycylglycine to prepare dialysis solution containing bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium. Bicarbonate with glycylglycine form a buffer with a constant pH of 7.35, which prevents reaction with calcium or magnesium and the formation of insoluble carbonate salts.

Metastatic mixed mullerian tumour of the esophagus.

Involvement of the esophagus by metastatic disease from malignancies of other distant organs is uncommon. A case of malignant mixed mullerian tumour metastatic to the esophagus is reported. Though a variety of malignancies is known to metastasize to the esophagus, metastasis from malignant mixed mullerian tumour has not been reported, as yet.

Hepaticojejunostomy using a mucosal graft in the treatment of carcinoma of the hepatic duct.

In eight patients who had resectable tumor of the common hepatic duct, the nonsuture mucosal graft operation was applied. One patient died of sepsis during the postoperative period. Patency of the new stoma proved to be within normal limits in all seven patients as long as they survived from the disease.

Pancreatic abscess due to infected hydatid disease.

A 35-year-old man sought treatment for acute epigastric pain, mild jaundice, and high fever. The patient was alcoholic and had been treated for a week in another hospital, at which time the clinical findings and indirect laboratory test indicated an attack of acute pancreatitis. At admission to the surgical intensive care unit of Aretaieon Hospital, the patient was in a septic condition; a computed tomographic scan of the upper abdomen revealed an abscess at the head of the pancreas.

Structural changes and variations of uric acid in normal pregnancy.

Fifteen normal pregnant women were studied. Serial measurements of serum total, free and bound uric acid and their clearances were done in early (10-20 weeks), mid- (20-30 weeks) and advanced (30-40 weeks) pregnancy, and after delivery (4-5 weeks). The following was observed.