ABSTRACT
Secondary pneumothorax represents a challenging problem in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, due to their compromised health status. In this case, an endobronchial one-way valve was inserted in the left lower lobe by flexible bronchoscopy, resulting in a complete resolution of air leak and lung reexpansion. Endobronchial valve could represent a new option for the management of persistent air leak in patients not suitable for surgical procedures.
Subject(s)
Bronchoscopy , Myocardial Infarction/complications , Pneumothorax/surgery , Prostheses and Implants , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications , Subcutaneous Emphysema/surgery , Aged , Bronchi/surgery , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Male , Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures , Pneumothorax/diagnosis , Recurrence , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Subcutaneous Emphysema/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Electrosurgical devices are largely employed in thoracic surgery but their use is burdened by extensive necrosis and second intention healing. METHODS: A rat model of thoracotomy was performed on 46 adult male rats using a standard electrocautery or a new quantum molecular resonance (QMR) instrument called Vesalius. Skin, muscle and lung specimens were obtained immediately and 2 weeks after surgery to evaluate acute and late effects. RESULTS: Both in the short- and long-term study, Vesalius produced less severe tissue damage than that of standard electrocautery. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the QMR device may provide an alternative to gold-standard electrosurgical devices in thoracic surgery.
Subject(s)
Electrocoagulation/instrumentation , Lung/pathology , Lung/surgery , Thoracic Surgical Procedures/instrumentation , Animals , Apoptosis , Electrocoagulation/adverse effects , Intraoperative Complications/pathology , Male , Models, Animal , Myositis/pathology , Pneumonia/pathology , Postoperative Complications/pathology , Rats , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The spleen is frequently involved in systemic amyloidosis; however, the computed tomographic (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) pattern of splenic amyloidosis is not sufficiently described in the literature. This study evaluated the contrast-enhanced CT and MR findings of the spleen in patients with systemic amyloidosis. METHODS: Data were extracted by reviewing pathology and radiology department records of the teaching hospital of Naples over 10 years, from 1 January 1993 to 31 December 2002. Thirty-three patients with amyloidosis were identified, 10 of whom had a CT scan and two of whom had an MR study. The population-based study was composed of 12 patients with histologically proved amyloidosis who underwent contrast-enhanced CT or MR scan of the abdomen. The spleen and liver were evaluated for organ size and perfusion. RESULTS: The spleen was hypoperfused in nine of 12 patients. Mild splenomegaly was present in only one case. Hepatomegaly was associated with markedly acute left lobe margin in nine patients and with rounded anterior profile of segments 3 and 4 in four patients. Moreover, a large area of low attenuation with indefinite geographic margins involving the right hepatic lobe was observed in three patients. CONCLUSION: The finding of splenic hypoperfusion may be a marker of systemic amyloidosis, which represents a useful clue when clinical findings fail to suggest the proper diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Amyloidosis/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Spleen/blood supply , Splenic Diseases/diagnosis , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Adult , Aged , Amyloidosis/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
p-Nitrophenyl 6-O-acetyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5a) was used as the glycosyl donor in a beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase-catalysed (from Penicillium brasilianum) glycosylation of GlcNAc yielding 6'-O,N,N'-triacetylchitobiose (6), while 6-O-acetyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose (3a) served as a selectively protected acceptor in a transglycosylation reaction catalysed by the same enzyme to yield 6-O,N,N'-triacetylchitobiose (4).
Subject(s)
Disaccharides/chemical synthesis , beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases/metabolism , Aspergillus oryzae/enzymology , Disaccharides/chemistry , Glycosylation , Molecular Structure , Penicillium/enzymology , beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases/chemistry , beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
The paper reports the case of a newborn affected by malformations of the middle parts of the face. The patient was described as cebophalus according to Kundrat's classification because he had a single nostril, hypotelorism and severe brain malformations. Prosencephalia is present in 0.5% of all aborted fetuses but is very rare in live births (0.006%). Survival is extremely short and in this case the patient lived for 12 months. A description of the malformations is given using CT scans.