Vitamin E and ascorbic acid efficacy on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in experimental dogs

It was reported that ischemia-reperfusion injury [IRI] is a major cause of acute renal damage in both the native and transplanted kidneys. Sixteen clinically healthy male dogs were exposed to 45 minutes renal ischemia followed by reperfusion and unilateral nephrectomy. Those dogs were subdivided equally into 4 groups. Gp.[1] was the positive control, gp.[2] was treated with vitamin E [20mg / kg Bwt/ day], gp.[3] was treated with ascorbic acid [30mg / mg / kg Bwt/ day] and gp. [4] was treated with both drugs. The experimental dogs were sacrificed, 7day after surgery. Specimens were taken from the left kidney in all groups. The serum creatinine, urea nitrogen and potassium levels were significantly increased while the serum sodium and creatinine clearance were reduced in all groups, compared with the basal value. The urine of the positive control group contained protein and blood, besides hyaline and cellular casts. Gps. [2 and 3] showed a weak improvement in the renal function while gp. [4] relieved some of the damage induced by the renal ischemia- reperfusion. Microscopically gp. [1] showed diffuse coagulative necrosis of the renal epitheliurn. Also casts were present inside the lumina of the renal tubules.Gp. [2] showed moderate necrotic or degenerative changes of some tubular epithelium accompanied with contraction of some glomerular tufts and leukocytic infiltration. Gp. [3] showed periglomerular leukocytic aggregations mainly lymphocytes with lobulation of some glomerular tufts and various degenerative or coagulative necrosis. Gp. [4] showed that the majority of renal tubules suffered from hydropic degeneration, cloudy swelling and some of them revealed necrotic changes with absence of nuclei. It could be concluded that the combined vitamin E and ascorbic acid treatment partially ameliorated the renal IRI

Cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan as a predictor of joint damage in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Aggrecan was measured in the sera of 31 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and in the synovial fluid of 10 of them. Patients were evaluated at baseline and 3 months later. Radiographs were repeated also after 1 year. As comparison, 15 apparently healthy children with no disease and 10 children with arthritis due to other collagen vascular diseases were studied. Baseline serum aggrecan was significantly higher in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to controls and other patients. On re-evaluation, a significant drop in serum aggrecan from baseline values coincided with a significant drop in clinical and laboratory indices of active inflammation. Serum aggrecan can help to assess the extent of cartilage destruction and is useful as a prognostic tool to predict joint damage in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage following combined glaucoma-cataract surgery causing total but reversible loss of vision

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage or effusion is a common complication of intraocular surgery. Visual outcome depends on the extent and duration of the detachment, severity of ocular disease and effectiveness of the surgical intervention. We present a case of a middle aged man who regained partial vision, following complete loss of light perception, after tapping of a hemorrhagic choroidal detachment

use of [RTV] silicone in ophthalmic, plastic and reconstructive surgery

The versatility of room temperature vulcanized [RTV] silicone makes it a befitting implant for the an ophthalmic orbit. Eight surgical procedures are described utilizing room temperature vulcanized silicone. RTV silicone conforms to its immediate environment and is particularly useful in excision procedures. The volume injected is critical Positive cosmesis is generally achieved, although more than one surgical procedure may be required. The inert structure of RTV silicone and it diverse surgical applications provide an alternative to other commonly used implants