Diagnostic accuracy of high resolution MR imaging in local staging of bladder tumors

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution MR imaging done at 1.5T in distinguishing bladder-restricted tumor from non-bladder-restricted tumor and compare the mean short axis dimension of metastatic pelvic lymph nodes with benign pelvic lymph nodes. Analytical study. Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from March 2008 to July 2011. Patients with bladder cancer were enrolled. Based on pathologic T-staging following radical cystectomy, patients were assigned to one of two groups. Patients with stage T1 and T2 disease were assigned to the bladder-restricted tumor [BRT] group and those with stage T3 and T4 disease to the non-bladder-restricted tumor [NBRT]. High-resolution unenhanced MR imaging done prior to cystectomy was reviewed retrospectively [1.5 T MRI unit; GE Healthcare]. Results from MR imaging-based categorization were compared with pathology reports to fulfill the objective. Mean short-axis diameter of largest visible lymph nodes in patients with nodal metastasis was compared with mean short-axis diameter of largest visible lymph nodes in patients with benign lymph nodes. The accuracy of MRI in differentiating distinguishing bladder-restricted tumor from non-bladder-restricted tumor was 67.72%. The mean short axis diameter of metastatic lymph nodes was greater than that of non-metastatic lymph nodes, i.e., 7.4 mm and 5.4 mm respectively. Conventional high resolution 1.5T MRI does not appear to offer advantage over imaging done at low field strength scanners

Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery [vats]; two years experience at thoracic surgery department, combined military hospital Rawalpindi

To review the experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery [VATS] with 202 different cases focusing on indications, operative procedures, side effects and complications. Descriptive Study. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, for 2 years from January 2009 till January 2011. Two hundred and two video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries [VATS] were performed over 2 years. There were 131 [64.9%] males and 71[35.1%] female patients. Total two hundred and two patients were selected who were divided into two groups: diagnostic and therapeutic group. The mean age of the patients was 40.25 years [SD +/- 12.58] with an age range of 13-77 years. There were 131 males [64.9%] and 71 [35.1%] females. The main indications of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were diagnostic in 118 patients and therapeutic in 84 patients. Sixty one patients underwent VATS for indeterminate pleural effusion and a definitive diagnosis was made in 90.2% patients. Definitive diagnosis was made in all sixty six patients who underwent VATS for wedge resection/forceps biopsy of pulmonary nodules, mediastinal masses and interstitial lung disease. VATS thymectomy was performed on 13 patients while 3 patients underwent VATS sympathectomy. Conversion to thoracotomy was required in 8.4% [17/202] of the patients. Adhesions were the most common indication of conversion. There was no operative mortality. The overall median duration of chest tube drainage was 4 days and median postoperative hospital stay was 5 days. Postoperative complications were encountered in 5.9% patients [12/202 patients]. No perioperative mortality was encountered in either group. This review indicates that VATS can be performed with minimal morbidity for therapeutic purposes as a current approach for thoracic surgery. It is a safe procedure in many intrathoracic diseases and is associated with less postoperative pain and hospital stay than open thoracotomy

Klippel-trenaunay syndrome

Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome [KTS] is a rare, congenital, vascular disorder affecting one or more limbs. Originally, it was defined as a triad including port wine stain, varicose veins and bony and soft tissue hypertrophy. We present a case of a 20-year-old female who walked with a limp. Because of swelling of right leg she was sent for Doppler study which picked up dilated arteries and increased blood flow velocity. The impression of KTS was further strengthened by unique nuclear medicine and radiological findings

experimental study of albino rats fed on canola oil supplemented with atherogenic element: determination of tissue lipid profile

Background: Unsaturated fatty acids in diet have lipid lowering effect. Canola oil is frequently being used in the diet. Present study aims at experimental assessment of its lipid lower effect

Methods: Sixty albino rats of eight weeks age with average weight of 150-200 gm each were selected. The rats were divided five groups, on the basis of different diets. Group A animals were fed on synthetic diet while group B animals were fed on diet containing 2.9% canola oil. Group C animals were fed on diet containing 2. 9% canola oil and atherogenic element. Group D animals were fed on diet containing 20 percent canola oil while Group E animals were fed on diet containing 20 percent canola oil and atherogenic element. Tissue lipid profile of albino rats was done

Results: Hepatic, omental and adrenal total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol were higher in groups taking Canola oil and atherogenic diet in comparison with groups taking canola oil only

Conclusion: Use of canola oil diet has lipid lowering effect