Methylene blue prevents post-surgical adhesion formation in the rabbit

Peritoneal adhesions are challenging in abdominal surgery. In spite of different kinds of treatments still no definitive and effective treatment is suggested. To determine the prevention effects of intraperitoneal [ip] methylene blue in post surgical adhesion formation 44 rabbits were randomly divided in two groups of equal number. Group I received an intra peritoneal injection of a 1% suspension of methylene blue diluted with Talc powder, and group II received ip injection of diluted Talc powder. Five months later both rabbits of groups were evaluated for severity of adhesion. The mean scores for adhesions for groups I was 0.9 +/- 0.88 which was significantly lower than 3.72 +/- 1.32 for group II [p<0.05]. It is therefore, concluded that intraperitoneal administration of methylene blue decreases the rate of post surgical adhesion formation in the rabbit

Does the appendix location change during pregnancy?

Early diagnosis of appendicitis is important during pregnancy. Unlike omentom, cecum and appendix are not likely to be displaced by the growing uterus, so the concept of position change of the appendix during pregnancy is questionable. To determine the anatomical location of appendix during pregnancy. In a prospective study from October 1995 to March 1999, 291 women of reproductive age were evaluated for the location of appendix. They were divided into 3 groups, A: 165 pregnant women [37-40 weeks of gestation] who underwent elective cesarean section, B: 26 pregnant women [19-39 weeks of gestation] with acute appendicitis, who underwent appendectomy, and C: 100 non-pregnant women with acute appendicitis who underwent appendectomy serving as the comparison group. The location of appendix was considered as normal if it fell within ' 2 cm variation from McBurney's point, otherwise, it was considered as a position change. In group A, 26 out of 165 [15%] and in group B, 6 out of 26 [23%] women had change in the position of appendix. In the control group, 17% had change in position. There were no significant differences between group A and B as compared with the control group [group C]. In group B, there was no relation between the height of the fundus and the point of tenderness. The location of appendix does not change significantly during the pregnancy in most women

Testicular Patch as lymphatic conduit in canine hind limb

Management of lymphedema is a challenging issue in surgery. A variety of operations have been used, albeit with little success. To investigate the efficacy of testicular patch as a lymphatic conduit. An incision was made on the inguinal area of 10 dogs and all lymph nodes of inguinal area were excised. The tunica albuginea and parenchyma near the hilum of testes were taken and transferred to the site of excised lymph nodes. Microscopic study showed neovascularization of lymphatic duct in 80% of samples. Testicular patch graft can be used as a lymphatic conduit and implemented in the management of lymphedema

Myasthenia gravis and thymectomy: a 10-year study in Shiraz

A retrospective comparative study was performed on 54 patients treated medically or surgically [thymectomy] for myasthenia gravis [MG] from 1979-1989 in three Shiraz University Hospitals. Each surgical patient was compared with a medical patient on the basis of age, sex, severity and duration of disease. Complete remission was noted in 3 out of 27 thymectomized patients but in none of the medically treated patients. Improvements occurred in 15 of 27 surgical patients and 4 out of 27 medically treated patients during 4 years of follow-up. Patients undergoing thymectomy had a significantly better chance of long survival- Three patients in the medically treated group had died because of myasthenia gravis as compared to 1 in the surgically treated group. Concerning survival in relation to sex, duration of symptoms and age, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Until more effective treatment becomes available for myasthenia gravis, thymectomy deserves consideration for all patients with chronic symptoms

Report of a family with two cases of MEN-IIa and one case of MEN-IIb

The multiple endocrine neoplasia MEN-IIb syndrome has been differentiated from MEN-IIa by the presence of various phenotypic features such as skeletal anomalies, Marfanoid habitus and mucosal neuromas, as well as the lack of parathyroid involvement. We report three members of a family [2 sisters and 1 brother] with characteristics of both syndromes. It tends to unify the MEN-11 syndromes as a single disorder with variable expressivity. All three cases had pheochromocytoma and thyroid carcinoma. Only one case had a Marfan-like appearance, mucosal neuromas and a parathyroid adenoma. Their mother expired with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid and another sister expired during parturition due to severe hypertension

Pure gonadal dysgenesis, report of a case and review of the literature

We report a 16 year old phenotypic female who presented with delayed puberty. The patient had a eunuchoid habitus, no breast development and little pubic hair. External genitalia were normal. Serum gonadotropin levels were elevated but the plasma testosterone level was normal for a prepubertal woman. Karyotype of the peripheral blood showed a 46XY pattern- At laparotomy the patient was found to have an infantile uterus, normal fallopian tubes and bilateral streak gonads. Histological examination revealed bilateral small streak gonads with fibrofatty tissue

Giant localized benign mesothelioma of the pleura associated with hypoglycemic episodes: case report and review of the literature

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm that is usually highly malignant, although benign forms do occur. We report a 68 year old man who had severe hypoglycemic episodes with a mass occupying about two thirds of the right hemithorax. The tumor, later proven to be a benign mesothelioma, was successfully resected. Complete reexpansion of the lung occurred postoperatively and hypoglycemic symptoms disappeared

Thymolipoma in association with myasthenia gravis: a case report and literature review

A 55 year old man with symptoms of my asthenia gravis was found to have a 65 gram thymolipoma. The patient experienced marked improvements in neuromuscular symptoms following removal of the tumor. A literature review showed that ten other cases of thymolipoma have been found in association with myasthenia gravis. The clinical improvement after removal of the tumor in these cases including our case, suggests that thymolipoma may possibly play a role similar to that of thymoma in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis