Urolithiasis associated with the protease inhibitor indinavir.

OBJECTIVES: To report the association between the protease inhibitor indinavir and the development of urolithiasis. METHODS: Case reports of three adult patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus who developed surgical renal stones while being treated with indinavir are presented. RESULTS: Of the 3 patients requiring surgical intervention, stone analyses were available in 2. One stone revealed an inner core of an unidentifiable crystal surrounded by calcium oxalate, and another was found to have indinavir components as determined by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metabolic evaluation of all 3 patients identified significant hypocitraturia as an isolated finding. CONCLUSIONS: The widely used protease inhibitor indinavir is associated with the development of urolithiasis and may act as a nidus for heterogeneous nucleation leading to the development of mixed urinary stones. Surgical intervention may be necessary in some cases. Underlying metabolic abnormalities may contribute to the increased incidence of stone formation. Urologists and other health care providers should be aware of this association, as combined medical and surgical intervention may be necessary.

Preservation of the inner retina in retinitis pigmentosa. A morphometric analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of preservation in the inner retina in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHODS: We analyzed sectioned maculae of 21 postmortem eyes with RP and 19 age-matched, normal, postmortem eyes. Eyes were divided into 2 groups: severe and moderate RP. Cell nuclei were counted in the outer nuclear, inner nuclear, and ganglion cell layers within thirty 100-microns intervals from the foveola to 1500-microns eccentricity. RESULTS: Statistically significant (P < or = .05) loss of both the outer nuclear and ganglion cell layers was present in the groups with moderate and severe RP when compared with the control groups. However, even in the group with severe RP, 30% of the ganglion cells were histologically intact. Similarly, 78% and 88% of the inner nuclear layer cells were preserved in the groups with severe and moderate RP, respectively. Different inheritance modes showed no statistically significant differences in any of the retinal layers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a statistically significant (P < or = .05) loss of cells found in all retinal layers, a large percentage of the inner retinal neurons remained histologically intact. Current experimental therapies, such as photoreceptor transplantation and implantation of a visual prosthesis, are based on the premise that some inner retinal neurons are preserved after death of photoreceptors in RP. Our observations support this assumption.

Differentiating subtypes (hypoalbuminemic vs marasmic) of protein-calorie malnutrition: incidence and clinical significance in a university hospital setting.

Clinical nutrition assessment has identified two types of protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM), a stress-induced hypoalbuminemic form (HAF-PCM) and a marasmic form (MF-PCM) generated by adaptation to starvation. This study evaluated the differences between these two patterns of PCM with regard to precipitating factors and the clinical sequelae of mortality, cost of total parenteral nutrition, length of hospitalization, and rate of sepsis and nosocomial infection. Of 220 patients receiving total parenteral nutrition over a 12-month period (0.7% of 30, 127 admissions), 180 were included in this study. HAF-PCM was diagnosed in 45% and MF-PCM in 25% of study patients. HAF-PCM was more common in older age groups. Women had PCM less often than did men (57% vs 83%), but whereas men developed both forms of PCM equally, women were more likely to develop HAF-PCM. Prolonged mechanical ventilation increased the likelihood of both patterns, whereas the presence of malignancy, concomitant organ failure, trauma, burns, or surgery did not increase the likelihood of developing either pattern of PCM. HAF-PCM increased the length of hospitalization by 29% and the cost of total parenteral nutrition by 42%. The presence of HAF-PCM increased four-fold the odds of dying, and the odds of developing nosocomial infection and sepsis almost 2.5 times above that seen in its absence. MF-PCM had no clinical effect of its own on any of the outcome parameters, but instead exerted only an interactive synergistic effect with HAF-PCM on length of hospitalization and cost of total parenteral nutrition.

REM sleep and the analytic process: a psychophysiologic bridge.

Recent research on the physiology of REM sleep has supported the hypothesis that it serves processes of psychologic adaptation. This study examines the relationship between physiologic parameters of REM sleep and evidence in analytic material of the need for adaptation. Significant correlations were found between defensive strain before sleep and REM latency, and between change in defensive strain from evening to morning and total REM time.