Evaluation of Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 in the vein wall of males with varicocele.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate potential differences in the presence of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1 (TGF-ß1) between the vein walls of patients with varicocele and those of healthy individuals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised a total of 40 participants, divided into two groups. The control group (Group 1) consisted of 20 patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery, while the varicocele group (Group 2) included 20 patients scheduled for varicocelectomy. The cytoplasmic and nuclear staining patterns of TGF-ß1 immunohistochemistry were assessed in tissue samples under light microscopy, identifying any differences in TGF-ß1 presence between varicocele patient vein walls and normal (saphenous) veins. RESULTS: The varicocele group demonstrated lower nuclear and cytoplasmic TGF-ß1 staining rates compared to the control group. After controlling for the independent factor of age, significantly lower nuclear and cytoplasmic staining was still observed in the varicocele group. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first of its kind to compare TGF-ß1 staining in the vein walls of varicocele patients and healthy individuals. Previous studies focusing on varicose veins reported elevated TGF-ß1 expression. Contrarily, our study observed lower TGF-ß1 expression in varicocele patient veins, marking a unique contribution to the field.

Indications for emergency intravenous pyelography (IVP) in blunt abdominal trauma: a reappraisal.

Renal imaging in the diagnostic evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma is a valuable adjunct, but its indications remain controversial. Classic indications for the use of emergency intravenous pyelography (IVP) have been liberal, but more recently the medical need, cost effectiveness, and potential risks of this approach have been questioned in favor of a more selective approach. This retrospective study was undertaken to reassess the value of emergency IVP in blunt abdominal trauma and to test the hypothesis that post-traumatic microscopic hematuria, without other physical or laboratory findings, can safely be managed by observation alone. With the aid of the computerized Trauma Registry at the University of Virginia Medical Center, 50 consecutive patients undergoing emergency IVP for blunt abdominal trauma were identified over a 1-year period. A significantly abnormal IVP was found in six of seven patients with gross hematuria (86%). No patient of 43 with microscopic hematuria had a clinically significant abnormality (p less than 0.001, Chi-square). Three patients in the latter group (7%) had IVP findings which were anatomically abnormal but clinically insignificant, while an equal number (7%) had IVP's which were inadequate or misleading. Emergency IVP is useful in patients with specific indications and gross hematuria, but patients with post-traumatic microscopic hematuria alone may be safely followed by observation. Abdominal CT scanning is emerging as a more useful study than IVP for renal imaging in the stable patient with blunt abdominal trauma.