Effects of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and milk yield in Nili-Ravi buffaloes.

Rumen Yeast® (RY; Saccharomyces cerevisiae), a live yeast strain, improves milk yield and composition and nutrients digestibility through balancing rumen ecosystem and increasing ruminal cellulolytic bacteria numbers in cattle. To examine the effects of dietary supplementation of RY in Nili-Ravi buffaloes, 16 buffaloes with 8 L average daily milk production were randomly divided into two groups, and investigated for a 60-day period. Group I (control) was offered maize silage ad libitum as sole forage plus 3 kg of concentrate/head per day (16% crude protein (CP) and 72% total digestible nutrients (TDN)), while group II was given the same diet as control supplemented with RY (14 g/head per day). Feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation and milk production of each animal were recorded. Average dry matter (DM) intake was not affected (P>0.05) in buffaloes with or without RY (14.7 and 14.3 kg/day, respectively). Digestibility of DM, CP, and ruminal pH were similar (P>0.05) between the groups, but the digestibility coefficients of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were greater (P<0.05) for the animals that received RY. Milk production (9.60 vs. 9.15 L/day) and 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) (11.32 vs. 11.85 L/day) were significantly (P<0.05) greater in the buffaloes fed with RY than the control group. Milk composition was similar between the experimental groups, however, milk somatic cell count (SCC) was significantly (P<0.01) lower in RY supplemented buffaloes than the control animals. In conclusion, feeding RY had positive effects on milk production, fibre digestibility and SCC in buffaloes fed maize silage-concentrate based diet.

Outcome of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure in women with stress urinary incontinence--patients' perspective.

This was a subjective review of the success of the tension-free vaginal tape procedure in women with stress urinary incontinence. It was a retrospective study using a postal questionnaire for pre-and postoperative evaluation of symptoms. Ninety-six patients were sent the questionnaire and 71% (n=68) patients filled in the questionnaire. They were asked about pre- and postoperative symptoms. The enquiry was about their satisfaction with the procedure and its cure rate. A visual analogue scale was used to assess results at least 3 months postoperatively. Eighty-three per cent (n = 56) of patients considered their surgery to be successful and were cured without complications; 7% (n = 5) claimed partial success and 10% (n = 7) reported failure. The majority of patients found the TVT procedure to be simple and effective. Hospital stay was short. Their convalescence was short with early return to work. These observations show clear benefit to the patients' health and Health Service economy.

Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord: a report of two cases.

Liposarcoma of the spermatic cord usually occurs as a painless slow growing scrotal swelling and can present with sudden enlargement of the mass. Recurrences are frequent, owing to incomplete surgical removal of the tumour.

Benign polyps with prostatic-type epithelium of the urethra and the urinary bladder.

The clinico-pathological features of nine urethral and urinary bladder polyps with prostate-type epithelium are described. The average age of the patients was 46 years. Three patients previously had cystoscopy and the lesion was not noticed on the initial examination. The commonest presentation in this series was haematuria, dysuria and frequency of micturition. One patient presented with postmicturition dribble and another with haemospermia. The polyps contained acini and papillae lined by prostate-type epithelium which was confirmed by immunohistochemical tests for prostate specific antigen and prostate acid phosphatase. In this series no age versus location relationship could be established. Symptoms resolved following resection or initial biopsy followed by fulguration. Recurrence is extremely rare.

Long-term clinical results and quality of life after insertion of a self-expanding flexible endourethral prosthesis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Urolume self-expanding flexible endourethral stent, based on a long-term follow-up, and to determine its role amongst the various modalities of treatment available for the relief of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) arising from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1991 to April 1992, the Urolume wallstent (American Medical Systems, USA) was placed successfully in each of 62 patients (aged 50-89 years) who had significant subjective and objective evidence of BOO. The stent was placed as a daycase procedure under general anaesthesia. Pre-operatively, each patient was assessed fully in an out-patient clinic by symptoms, a flow rate measurement and a rectal examination. Post-operatively, patients were assessed using transrectal ultrasonography, cystoscopy, symptoms and flow rate measurement, and after 5 years, the International Prostate Symptom Score and satisfaction score were obtained. RESULTS: After 5 years, 27 (39%) patients survived and 10 (14%) died with their Urolume stent intact; 22 (32%) completed the follow-up and five refused or were lost to follow-up. Day and night-time frequencies and flow rates improved continuously. Complete epithelialization occurred in 16 of the 22 patients assessed. Of those in whom the Urolume was removed, 20 are alive and five dead. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of the Urolume in improving symptoms and flow rates in patients with BPH was confirmed. However, the high failure rate arose largely from inexperience in selection and deployment. There are no absolute criteria to predict a successful outcome. This study confirms the Urolume as a safe device. Most patients whose symptoms settled in the first year maintained a good flow rate and a significant improvement in symptoms for 5 years; their quality of life at the last follow-up was good.

Interstitial cystitis in men.

Interstitial cystitis is an uncommon disease reported predominantly in females. Recently we were involved in the management of 4 men who had the clinical, endoscopic and pathological features consistent with the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. The rarity of occurrence of the disease in males prompted us to report these cases.

Pelvic haematoma following trucut biopsy of the prostate.

A case is described of a patient who developed a large pelvic haematoma after trucut biopsy of the prostate. He stopped bleeding following selective arterial embolization. No subsequent surgical intervention was required to drain the massive haematoma. The clinical features and management of these patients as well as the role of transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy are discussed.