Emphysematous pyelonephritis associated with calcium oxalate uroliths detected on computed tomography in an awake dog

An 11-year-old female mixed-breed dog admitted due to anorexia and vomiting. Radiography showed 7.6-mm uroliths in the right proximal ureter and an enlarged kidney. Type 1 emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) was diagnosed using computed tomography (CT) in the awake dog. Right ureteronephrectomy was performed, and Escherichia coli was isolated. The stone was consisted of 80% calcium oxalate. At the 6-month follow-up, no complications were observed. This is the first report of EPN caused by calcium oxalate in a dog. In addition, we suggest performing CT in weak animals to diagnose EPN without anesthesia.

clinical utility of vascular endothelial growth factor as predictive marker for systemic lupus erythematosus activity in children and adolescents

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of collagen diseases. Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] is a potent stimulating factor for angiogenesis and vascular permeability. To asses for changes of VEGF in lupus patients in childhood and adolescents and its relation to lupus activity and to demonstrate the possible correlation between the serum level of VEGF and certain clinical and laboratory parameters and disease activity score. We investigated the serum concentration of VEGF using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] in a group of 35 children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] and 25 healthy controls. All cases were recruited from Kasr El Aini Hospital. VEGF was detectable in all patients with SLE, and in all normal individuals. The level of serum VEGF in lupus patients was higher than control, also its level in active SLE was higher than inactive disease or in controls. We found that serum levels of VEGF was significantly higher in patients with renal involvement than those with no renal involvement [p < 0.003]. It was also higher in SLE patients with moderate to sever skin disease neurological and joint involvement compared with patients with no or mild skin disease, no neurological and no joint involvement respectively but the differences were statistically insignificant. A positive correlation was detected between higher VEGF serum levels and ESR and SLAM score [p < 0.01 and < 0.04 respectively], on the other hand VEGF was negatively correlated to platelets count and complement level [C3] [p < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively]. VEGF serum levels are higher in children and adolescents with SLE patients especially active lupus. Also its level is correlated to many of clinical and laboratory parameter of lupus. So it may be a useful marker of disease activity

Correlation of karyotype and immunophenotype in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia; experience at the national cancer institute, Cairo University, Egypt

To identify chromosomal pattern among the major immunophenotypic subgroups in Egyptian children with ALL, and its correlation with clinical presentation and disease free survival. Cytogenetic and immunophenotypic analysis were done for all patients. Patients received ALL-PNCI-III/98 chemotherapy protocol used at NCI, Cairo University. The frequency of pseudodiploidy and normal karyotype in the whole group was 42.9% and 33.3% respectively. The frequency of pseudodiploidy was 36.8% in CALLA positive early pre B, 30.7% in pre B cases, 71.4% in T cell cases and 100% in mature B cell cases. At 12 months, DFS was 50% for pseudodiploid group having pre B phenotype, compared to 16.6% for pseudodiploid group with CALLA positive early pre B ALL. Sixteen percent of the studied cases showed T cell phenotype, 71.4% of them showed pseudodiploid karyotype, all of them had high risk features. Hyperdiploidy was found in 31.5% of CALLA positive early pre B cases and was associated with favorable prognostic features and DFS of 66.6% at 12 months. Hyperdiploidy of >50 chromosome represented 62.5% of hyperdipoid cases, 80% of them were CALLA positive early pre B ALL carrying good risk features. Fifty percent of normal karyotypic patients showed pre B phenotype, while 42.8% showed CALLA positive early pre B ALL. Their age, TLC, DFS, were almost comparable. CALLA early pre B phenotype has a positive impact on chromosomal pattern having best outcome among patients with hyperdiploidy. The Pseudodiploid karyotype carries a better outcome with pre B phenotype

Interleukin-8 compared to fetal fibronectin for prediction of preterm labor in women with twin pregnancy: a prospective cross sectional study

To investigate the value of measuring IL-8 compared to Fetal Fibronectin [FFN] for predicting preterm labor in twin pregnancy. Prospective controlled trial. Thirty twin pregnant women between 28-34 weeks gestation not in labor were compared to thirty twin pregnancy women having preterm labor. Cervicovaginal fluid was collected from all cases for detection of Fetal fibronectin and Interleukin-8. IL-8 level at a cut off value of 1500pg/ml had a sensitivity 93.3%, a specificity 96.7%, a positive predictive value 96.6% and a negative predictive value 93.3%. These Figures were better than FFN level which had a sensitivity 90.0%, a specificity 86.7%, a positive predictive value 87.1% and a negative predictive value 89.7% in diagnosis of patients with premature labor. In twin pregnancies a biochemical markers such as fetal fibronectin and interleukin-8 could be considered a useful tool in clinical practice for early identification of women at risk of preterm labor