Sonographic evaluation of maternal kidneys in normal pregnancy

Background and Objectives: Renal disease can affect the outcome of pregnancy. The renal system undergoes significant physiological and anatomical changes during pregnancy. Ultrasound is the commonest imaging modality used in the evaluation of the abdominal organs in pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to sonographically evaluate the kidneys in normal pregnancy

Methods: A prospective descriptive study in which real time B-mode renal ultrasound was performed on 500 pregnant women attending for a routine obstetric ultrasound scan. Questions about the age, parity and presence of loin pain were asked. Obstetrical ultrasound examination was initially performed followed by examination of maternal kidneys

Results: Renal collecting system dilatation was the main abnormal finding; it was present in 18.2% of cases, [15.2% right side and 3% left side]. Bilateral hydronephrosis was seen in [2.6%] of cases. Rate of hydronephrosis was more in primiparous women. Other findings were renal stones [2.8% right and 1.8% left sides, respectively], ureteric stone [0.2%] and acute pyelonephritis [1%]

Conclusions: This study established the value of renal sonography in the pregnant women, though not a common condition. Renal collecting system dilatation was the main finding. A significant proportion of patients with asymptomatic renal calculi were detected incidentally

EParasite density and morbidity in relation to serum levels of thrombomodulin and E-selectin in the acute phase of plasmodium vivax malaria

Standardized questionnaires, clinical examination and parasitological diagnosis were performed on 40 patients in the acute phase of vivax malaria from the out patient clinics, El Abbassia Fevers Hospital. Serum levels of Thrombomadulin [TM], E-selectin and creatinine were determined in inrolled patients and also in 20 healthy controls. The results, based on multivariable analysis, showed that the clinical diagnosis of malaria including history of fever, rigors, headache, myalgia and palpable spleen was strongly associated with the presence and density of P. vivax malaria even in patients with parasite densities less than l000/micro l of blood and significantly increased the odds of the clinical diagnosis. Results revealed also that the patient's mean +/- SD serum levels of TM and E-selectin were 12.8 +/- 3.67 and 125 +/- 61.4 [u/micro l] respectively, significantly greater than in the controls [TM, P<0.001, E-selectin, P<0.001]. However, no significant differences were identified between patients and controls for serum creatinine values. On the other hand, there was a high significant correlation between levels of parasitemia and serum levels of TM and E-selectin

Cytogenetic analysis in peripheral lymphocytes of operating room personnel

The aim of this work is to study the association between occupational exposure to anesthetic gases and the presence of chromosomal damage as measured by chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges [SCEs]. Twenty personnel [12 anesthesiologists and 8 nurses] were chosen from Ain Shams Speicalized Hospital. Cases were matched by age and sex with 16 controls; 10 of them were working as clerks at the same hospital and 6 were outside the hospital environment. Lymhocytic cultures were set up to and harvested at 48 hrs and 72 hrs for chromosomal aberrations and SCEs respectively. Halothane and Nitrous oxide were below the Maximum Allowable Concentration [MAC] levels. The percentage of chromosomal aberrations among exposed group was 2.2% compared to 1.2% among controls, [P < 0.05]. on excluding gaps the difference became insignificant. Also no difference was observed between inside and outside the hospital control groups. However, the frequency of chromosome type aberration was elevated among exposed group compared to control. Regarding SCEs, no statistical difference was proved, though the exposed smokers showed the highest value. These results suggest that more studies need to be conducted to evaluate health risk among personnel exposed to anesthetic gases