Radiology interventions in patients receiving low molecular weight heparin: timing is critical.

Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of venous thromboembolism have been associated with increasing use of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) for treatment and prophylaxis of this disease. Despite this trend for more widespread use of LMWH, little is known of their safety in patients undergoing radiology interventions. Differences between LMWH and unfractionated heparin and the implications of these differences on use of LMWH in the setting of radiological interventions are outlined.

Human myeloid dendritic cells transduced with an adenoviral interleukin-10 gene construct inhibit human skin graft rejection in humanized NOD-scid chimeric mice.

Human myeloid DC were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by monocyte adhesion and subsequent culture with rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4. We transduced immature (day 5 of culture) myeloid DC with an E1-deleted replication-deficient adenoviral vector encoding the cytokine IL-10 (AdV IL-10) and a control adenovirus MX-17 (AdV MX 17). Human DC transduced with AdV IL-10 showed inhibition of the mixed leukocyte culture, reduced cell surface expression of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80/CD86) and were unable to produce the potent allo-stimulatory cytokine, interleukin-12.

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection for coagulation of post-traumatic pseudoaneurysms.

Most peripheral pseudoaneurysms are iatrogenic or, less commonly, post-traumatic. Pseudoaneurysms are associated with characteristic findings of a pulsatile palpable mass and an audible to and fro murmur. The diagnosis can be easily confirmed using colour duplex ultrasound.

Transperitoneal guide-wire or drainage catheter placement for guidance of laparoscopic marsupialization of lymphocoeles post renal transplantation.

Background: Lymphocoeles post renal transplantation can be difficult to see laparoscopically. The objective of this study was to report a new technique of catheter or guide-wire placement for the guidance of laparoscopic marsupialization of symptomatic post renal transplant lymphocoeles, refractory to conservative therapy.

Methods: Conventional aseptic technique under local anaesthesia was used for guide-wire or catheter insertion, with the difference being the use of a transperitoneal approach.

Serum interleukin-6 and thyroid hormones in rheumatoid arthritis.

Using rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a model, we have investigated whether the activation of the cytokine system, in particular, activation of interleukin (IL)-6 production, is a major cause of the depressed serum T(3) seen frequently in the nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS). RA was chosen because it is a chronic autoimmune disease leading to increased serum IL-6 concentrations. We studied 16 untreated RA and 35 treated RA patients.

Cutaneous necrosis from calcific uremic arteriolopathy.

Calcific uremic arteriolopathy (calciphylaxis) is an uncommon complication of chronic renal failure that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We report 16 patients (13 female) who presented between 1985 and 1996. All patients developed painful livido reticularis that progressed to cutaneous necrosis and ulceration (11 cases on the proximal extremities and five cases on the distal extremities).