Intravenous leiomyomatosis with massive ascites

A case of intravenous leiomyomatosis with massive ascites is reported. This is the first such recorded case. The patient was treated with a subtotal abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-onphorectomy, pathological examination established a vessel wall origin. There is no evidence of recurrence up to 20 months after initial treatment.(AU)

Relationship between vasa vasorum and blood flow to vein bypass endothelial morphology

In order to define the respective roles of the vasa vasorum blood supply and intraluminal arterial blood flow in maintaining the endothelial integrity of in situ vein bypasses, we have carried out two separate but interrelated experiments in a canine model. In vivo studies on eight dogs demonstrated that even in the absence of intraluminal blood flow the vasa vasorum maintained endothelial integrity and also showed that the endothelium was very sensitive to the loss of the vasa vasorum blood supply. In a second group of experiments on 14 in situ vein by passes we studied the effect of division of the vasa vasorum immediately after arterialization of the bypass. This experiment showed that arterialization of the vein maintained endothelial integrity despite division of the vasa vasorum.(AU)

An experimental comparison of techinques of vein preparation for bypass grafting - abstract

Avoidance of vein endothelial injury is the sine qua non of successful bypass grafting. Both early and late thrombotic events may have their origin in the surgeon's failure to preserve the structure and function of the endothelium, especially in veins less than 4mm diameter. During vein preparation, the pressure of distension, temperature and choice of solution are all important in minimising endothelial damage. Because perfluorochemicals have been successfully used as a blood substitute, we investigated their value in vein graft preparation. Forty-eight canine veins were distended and stored in either oxygenated blood, normal saline or a perfluorochemical, Fluosol DA 20 percent (FDA). Veins were distended at either 250 or 500 mm Hg for 15 minutes and stored at 4§C or 37§C for 45 minutes. Oxygen was bubbled through all solutions. Samples were fixed and examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Distension in warm saline at 500 mm Hg produced the most endothelial damage while at 250 or 500 mm pressure, cold saline and warm and cold blood resulted in lesser degrees of injury. The least damage was produced by distension at 250 mm Hg and storage, using cold FDA. In the preparation of canine veins, FDA preserves endothelial structure better than either blood or saline (AU)

The dangers in the use of intravascular contrast media during radiological investigations

The complications and dangers encountered when contrast media are injected into the vascular system are discussed. Suggestions are given in an effort to reduce the incidence of these complications, thereby making these radiological investigations safer for the patient (AU)

Haematological investigations of population samples in Jamaica

Haematological investigations have been carried out in Jamaican population samples of about 1,000 adults aged 35 to 64 years in an inland rural area, and about 500 adults of the same age in a suburban district. These formed 85 per cent. of random samples chosen from each area. The mean haemoglobin levels of women in the two areas were similar and only slightly lower than those reported in recent surveys in the United Kingdom. Men in the rural area had lower mean haemoglobin levels than in the suburban area and their mean values were more than 1 g./100 ml. lower than those in United Kingdom urban populations. Much of the anaemia detected was hypochromic and confirmed by low serum iron measurements, and hookworm is probably an important contributing factor in rural men, but as the difference in haemoglobin levels between men in the rural and suburban populations and in the United Kingdom were not accompanied by comparable differences in MCHC, factors other than iron-deficiency may contribute to them. Haemoglobin electrophoresis was carried out on 1,520 blood specimens and gene frequencies for haemoglobins, A, S, C, and G(Accra) have been calculated. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency was detected in 13.5 per cent. of men and 4.1 per cent of women in the rural area.(Summary)