Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover.

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale.

[The importance of the timing of surgery in infected severe acute pancreatitis]. / Importanta momentului operator în pancreatita acuta severa infectata.

The management in severe acute pancreatitis evolved in the last two decades. Consulting the literature and the accumulated clinical experience manage to the release of this study based on the comparison of the treatment in PAS between two distinct periods: 1994-1999 (retrospective) and 2000-2007 (prospective). Among the 285 patients whit PAS admitted and treated in the two departments, 224 (78.6%) was submitted to the surgical intervention with various surgical indications. There is an obvious difference between the retrospective and prospective studies concerning the indication of surgery and mostly the timing for surgery. The lots were analyzed concerning the etiology, management of treatments and specific treatments, and the timing of the surgical intervention was analyzed based on the specific etiologic treatment and the period of time between the admission and the first surgical intervention, the mark being the 21 day according with the recommendations of the International Association of Pancreatology. There were analyzed: the period of time between the onset of the disease and the surgical intervention, the status of the patients at the surgical moment, the global mortality based on the timing of surgery, the evolution of the management of PAS along the period of the research, comparisons whit the literature. The registered data were statistically processed using the SPSS test version 17 for Windows.

Clinical spectrum of Anderson Fabry disease in a Romanian family.

Anderson Fabry disease (alpha galactosidase A deficiency) is an X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disorder; alpha galactosidase A deficiency results in accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids, especially globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), in various cell types promoting development of disease with renal, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular involvement. Clinical aspects which usually begin in childhood or adolescence include intermittent pain in the extremities (acroparesthesias), episodic "Fabry crisis" of acute pain lasting hours to days, characteristic skin lesions (angiokeratomas), hypohidrosis, heat and cold intolerance. Classic phenotype conception of the disease has changed within the past decade, recognizing that disease is not limited to the classical full-blown manifestation in affected males, but may also occur in carrier females. The expanding clinical spectrum of Anderson Fabry disease (AFD) is a real challenge to diagnosis, especially in some patients whose exclusive single organ manifestation belongs to the heart or kidney. This paper reviews natural history of three unrecognized cases recently diagnosed by markedly deficient alpha galactosidase A (alpha Gal A) activity in peripheral leucocytes. Case A: A male patient, aged 24 years, experienced recurrent acroparesthesia when he was 9 years-old. His 26 years-old sister has angiokeratomas as the only sign of disease (case B). Case C: the uncle of these two cases (A, B) has a long history of disease including chronic renal failure, bilateral deafness, stroke, aseptic osteonecrosis. The purpose of the presentation is to sharpen physicians' perception of this disease. Early and accurate diagnosis is mandatory considering that this disorder is now, after introduction of the novel enzyme replacement therapy, a treatable disease.

Observations on peripheral microcirculation in young hypertensive patients.

The increase of the peripheral blood flow resistance level is the major hemodynamic parameter in pathophysiology of essential hypertension (HT). The functional and morphological abnormalities of the microcirculation in the early stage, sometimes before the increase of the blood pressure, are intensely explored. Their identification is a proof for the genetical component of the hypertensive disease theory (studies on young male patients). Our purpose is to examine the capillary peripheral bed at the terminal phalanx level using in vivo capillary microscopy on a group of patients that have the risk of developing HT or that already have HT stage I (according to the JNC 7 Report). The nailfold area and the dorsal surface of the phalanx of fingers 3 and 4 were observed, having as a first objective the search for the areas with rare capillaries. Contrary to the data of the existing studies we have not found any case of significant capillary density decrease or of diffuse capillary rarefaction. Seven patients out of the total number of fifteen with HT stage I were identified to have a low vasomotility score. Considering the association of these cases with glucose intolerance (3 cases) and dyslipidemia (4 cases) the capillary functional anomaly could be related to precapillary arteriole modifications (endothelial dysfunction? metabolic status?).

Evolution of a percutaneous fetoscopic access system for single-port tracheal occlusion.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Prenatal tracheal occlusion currently is being assessed as a treatment modality for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The development of a totally percutaneous fetoscopic access system would help avoid the need for maternal laparotomy and reduce the morbidity rate of fetal surgical procedures for the mother. Laparoscopic radial expansion sheaths and Seldinger technique-based vascular catheters both have been advocated as means of achieving amniotic cavity access. The authors have investigated these 2 systems in an attempt to develop a reliable method for achieving safe percutaneous fetoscopic access and present the first successful attempt to deploy an intratracheal balloon using an entirely percutaneous approach through a single port in an ovine model. METHODS: A number of prototype systems were evaluated sequentially over a 3-year period in an ovine model: (1) the radially expanding InnerDyne step port system, (2) a new rigid cannula with a bulbous/sharp end preloaded onto the radially expanding InnerDyne port, (3) a conical removable addition to the rigid cannula in 2, (4) a modified bulbous/sharp ended cannula incorporating a circumferential protective insert, (5) a rigid split sheath with the radially expanding port placed through the lumen of the split sheath, (6) a flexible introducer and dilator with the split sheath (used in the Seldinger placement of central lines), and (7) a 2-needle approach using a superelastic shape-memory alloy Nickel-Titanium wire with the flexible dilator and sheath, incorporating a side perfusion port. For balloon tracheal occlusion, live anaesthetized time-mated pregnant ewes were used at 110 days' gestation. Tracheobronchoscopy was achieved using a 3-mm 0 degrees telescope, and the cutaneotracheal tract was secured by a 3.3-mm sheath incorporating a side-perfusion port. The rigid telescope was replaced by a flexible choledochoscope preloaded with a silicone balloon. The balloon was deployed 2 cm above the carina proximal to the right upper lobe bronchus. RESULTS: The many problems encountered in the evolution of the preferred system related mainly to separation and tenting of the chorioamniotic membranes in the ovine uterus and inconsistent access to the fetal parts of interest. Each resulted in significant modifications to our approach. Furthermore, the use of rigid access devices commonly caused fetal injury. Successful access to the intrauterine cavity and cannulation of the trachea was achieved consistently with minimal trauma, irrespective of fetal position by method 7. Multiple port placement allowed visualization of the entry of all components of the system confirming minimal chorioamniotic membrane separation and tenting. Single port tracheal occlusion was undertaken first on 6 cadavers before being performed successfully on 3 live anaesthetized ewes. Fetoscopic access and cannulation of the trachea was achieved consistently in all live animals irrespective of fetal position. CONCLUSIONS: This modified Seldinger technique using the unique properties of the memory-shaped alloy wire for initial uterine access offers a safe method for the percutaneous placement of fetoscopic ports in the ovine model for prenatal intervention. Successful placement of a tracheal balloon entirely through a single percutaneously placed port represents a further advance in prenatal therapy for CDH.

Relapsing polychondritis with splenic abscess.

A patient aged 42, diagnosed with polycondritis for approximately 14 years is presented; she has undergone urgent surgery for a splenic abscess in imminent fistulization in the left pleural cavity. Her susceptibility to infections is marked in time by surgical interventions for pultaceous amygdalitis, an abscess of the right submandibular salivary gland, a splenic abscess. To be noted the peculiar connection between the illness and the pregnancy, which differs from the data to be found in reference literature that is the association with a tendency to spontaneous abortion and the sudden installation of an evolutionary acute episode during pregnancy, which was followed by deafness. Based on these facts, immunopathogenic observations on recurrent polycondritis are getting into shape.

[Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy: indications, technique, results]. / Rezectia gastrica cu gastrojejunostomie à la Roux-indicatii, tehnica, rezultate.

61 gastrojejunostomies were constructed between 1981-1999 in 58 cases (43 cases were operated between 1991-1999). 30 cases have previously suffered various gastric operations; in 28 cases the Roux-en-Y was the first gastric operation (27 operated on between 1991-1999). Radiologic and endobioptic studies were routine for diagnostic and follow-up evaluation, but various scintigraphic studies were performed in selected cases. The surgical technique was tailored for each case, according to the preoperative strategy. The indications for surgery were the following: 19-reflux disease; 14-severe peptic disease (9-reccurence, 3-postbulbar lesion, 2-juxtacardial ulcer); 8-peptic disease associated to reflux disease; 8-gastric cancer; 8-various early or late complications after gastrectomy; 1-lymphocytic gastritis. There were 4 early reoperations and 3 deceased. In 3 cases late reintervention was mandatory (for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, peptic ulcer secondary to gastrectomy for cancer, Roux-stasis syndrome) and the Roux pattern was preserved; in 2 cases the antireflux effect of the operation was lost after the reoperation.

[Total duodenal diversion in hiatal hernia with pathological duodenoesophageal reflux (preliminary results)]. / Diversie duodenala totala în hernia hiatala cu reflux duodenoesofagian patologic (rezultate preliminare).

For some patients, reflux disease means also duodenogastric, as well as gastroesophageal reflux; they may suffer because of duodenoesophageal reflux. For these patients, a simple surgical restoration of the cardial competence may prove to be insufficient; on the contrary, an indirect approach, using vagotomy and duodenal diversion may be a good therapeutical option in selected cases. In our hands, total duodenal diversion has already proven to be a good technical solution for the surgical treatment of the postoperative reflux disease, so we decided to expand its first choice indications to hiatal hernia cases, in the presence of duodenoesophageal reflux. Therefore, our study presents the results of the first 7 cases, operated on since 1995. No case had been gastric operated before, but 4/7 had already suffered a cholecystectomy. Duodenoesophageal reflux is discussed: etiopathogenesis related to surgical approach, using standard antireflux surgery (failures of the hiatal techniques and their causes) or total duodenal diversion (technical aspects, antireflux efficiency, secondary functional effects, pros and cons, therapeutical indications).

[Primary abdominal parietorrhaphy and the cure of eventrations with the relon monofilament suture (N.I. 2402/76)]. / Parietorafia abdominala primara si în cura eventratiilor cu fir de relon monofilament (N.I. 2402/76).

Primary repair of the abdominal wall and the cure of incisional hernias using the relon mono-filamentous fibres (N.I. 2402/76) Confronted with long lasting parietal suppurations which are entertained by the classic nylon poly-filamentous fibres, suppurations that cannot be avoided unless the above fibres are removed on one hand assuming the risk of a possible subsequent incisional hernias and on the other hand because of the relative elevated price of the mono-filamentous fibres brought from abroad, within the last years (from 1982) we have utilised the relon mono-filamentous fibre (N.I. 2402/76) in abdominal wall reconstruction (initially for the surgical cure of the incisional hernias and there after in primary abdominal wall reconstruction when there were factors predisposing to a possible subsequent parietal for septic contamination, in overweight patients, immune-compromised patients, in patients following steroid therapy, chemotherapy, etc. Our present experience extends over more than 1000 patients who have undertook a surgical procedure.

[Comparative clinico-evolutive and therapeutic aspects in cancer of the right and left colon]. / Aspecte comparative clinico-evolutive si terapeutice în cancerul de colon drept si stîng.

The paper reports on the casuistics of the colon cancer in the Clinic of Surgery of the "Grivita" Clinical Hospital, for 21 years (1966-1986) with emphasis on the situs peculiarities on the right and left colon. Whereas the left colon cancer (LCC) started in 32% of cases with subocclusive and occlusive syndromes having special implications on the treatment and prognosis, in the right colon cancer (RCC) only in 3.5% of cases the diagnosis was established in the stage of subocclusive syndrome. During surgery the metastatic adenopathy was met in 57% in LCC and only in 37% in RCC, and the hepatic metastases in 17.7% in LCC and in 10.9% in the RCC cases. The immediate postsurgery mortality was present in 12% of the LCC cases and in only 9.3% of the RCC cases. In the last 10 years of the period studied, the patients were periodically readmitted into the hospital, reinvestigated, and monochemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil was applied in sequential cures. In this last period, the survival at 5 years was of 25 (45.4%) in the 55 patients operated for RCC and of 41 (37.6%) in the 109 patients operated for LCC.

[Esophageal foreign bodies--their diagnosis and treatment]. / Corpi straini esofagieni--diagnostic si tratament.

The authors present their experience with three patients with inclavated oesophageal foreign bodies, and secondary complications that have raised particular problems of diagnosis and treatment.