Massive bladder inguinal hernia leading to acute urinary retention.

Bladder inguinal hernias are infrequently encountered in clinical practice. When present, the patient's main concern may be urinary difficulties such as retention. Careful history and physical examination will reveal the diagnosis in most cases, however, advanced imaging may be required. Emergent surgical consultation is required and urological consultation may be needed for preoperative planning and assistance. We present a case of a patient with almost complete herniation of bladder into left inguinal canal into the left hemiscrotum.

Ethanol- and/or Taurine-Induced Oxidative Stress in Chick Embryos.

Because taurine alleviates ethanol- (EtOH-) induced lipid peroxidation and liver damage in rats, we asked whether exogenous taurine could alleviate EtOH-induced oxidative stress in chick embryos. Exogenous EtOH (1.5 mmol/Kg egg or 3 mmol/Kg egg), taurine (4 µmol/Kg egg), or EtOH and taurine (1.5 mmol EtOH and 4 µmol taurine/Kg egg or 3 mmol EtOH and 4 µmol taurine/Kg egg) were injected into fertile chicken eggs during the first three days of embryonic development (E0-2). At 11 days of development (midembryogenesis), serum taurine levels and brain caspase-3 activities, homocysteine (HoCys) levels, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, membrane fatty acid composition, and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) levels were measured. Early embryonic EtOH exposure caused increased brain apoptosis rates (caspase-3 activities); increased brain HoCys levels; increased oxidative-stress, as measured by decreased brain GSH levels; decreased brain long-chain polyunsaturated levels; and increased brain LPO levels. Although taurine is reported to be an antioxidant, exogenous taurine was embryopathic and caused increased apoptosis rates (caspase-3 activities); increased brain HoCys levels; increased oxidative-stress (decreased brain GSH levels); decreased brain long-chain polyunsaturated levels; and increased brain LPO levels. Combined EtOH and taurine treatments also caused increased apoptosis rates and oxidative stress.