Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) nephrostogram: utility and accuracy as an alternative to fluoroscopic imaging of the urinary tract.

AIM: To establish the feasibility and accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) nephrostogram in comparison to the reference standard, fluoroscopic nephrostogram, in providing alternative imaging of the urinary tract post-nephrostomy insertion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was approved by the institutional and national ethics committee. All patients for whom a fluoroscopic nephrostogram was requested were included. Fluoroscopic and CEUS nephrostograms were performed within 24 hours. Image analysis (nephrostomy position, opacification of pelvicalyceal system, ureter, and bladder) was performed by two reviewers, and the diagnostic accuracy of the CEUS nephrostograms was compared to fluoroscopic nephrostograms. RESULTS: Sixty-two nephrostograms were performed in 48 patients from June 2011 to April 2016, (male: 25/48, 52.1%; mean age 65 years, range 28-90 years). Indications for nephrostomy were: malignancy (29/62; 46.8%), benign ureteric stricture (14/62; 22.6%), urinary diversion (8/62; 12.9%), renal calculus (5/62; 8.1%), haematoma (3/62; 4.8%) or pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (3/62; 4.8%). Two nephrostomies were identified as displaced by both techniques. The pelvicalyceal system was visualised in 60/60 (100%) examinations in both fluoroscopic and CEUS nephrostograms. The entire ureter was visualised in 30/60 (50%) with CEUS compared to 32/60 (53.3%) fluoroscopically. The distal ureter was the least well-visualised segment for both techniques with no significant difference (p=0.815). Both CEUS and fluoroscopy could be used to correctly identify complications including entero-ureteric fistula or urine leak. Fluoroscopic nephrostogram demonstrated drainage into the bladder in 33/60 (55%), CEUS confirmed drainage in 34/60 (56.7%) cases (p=0.317). CONCLUSIONS: CEUS nephrostogram can determine the correct positioning of a nephrostomy and assess drainage into the bladder with statistically comparable results to fluoroscopy.

Clinical, hematologic, and biochemical findings in cattle infected with lumpy skin disease during an outbreak in southwest Iran.

This study was performed to determine the clinical, hematologic, and biochemical findings in animals affected with lumpy skin disease (LSD) in southwest Iran. Sixty cattle with LSD were included in this study and compared with 20 healthy ones as the control group. The disease was diagnosed based on clinical examination and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of the blood samples. The major observed clinical signs included skin nodules, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and edema. In hematologic assessment, the average numbers of leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, erythrocytes, and platelets, as well as the average level of hemoglobin in the infected animals were significantly lower than in the control group. Biochemical experiments showed that the serum glucose, total and direct bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine phosphokinase activities in the infected group were significantly elevated. LSD also caused a significant reduction in the levels of serum creatinine, albumin, and iron. In total, LSD was associated with an overall decline in different blood cell types and significant changes in serum biochemical profile. These alterations could be related to the inflammatory disease processes and injuries in various organs, especially the liver. Hematologic and biochemical profiles can be utilized to better understand different aspects of LSD pathogenesis and ultimately improve its prognostic, management, and treatment methods.

Simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol at gold nanoparticles mesoporous silica modified carbon paste electrode.

A new electrochemical sensor based on gold nanoparticles mesoporous silica modified carbon paste electrode (AuNPs-MPS) was developed for simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol. Morphology and structure of the AuNPs-MPS were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The electrochemical behavior of hydroquinone and catechol were investigated using square wave voltammetry and the results indicate that the electrochemical responses are improved significantly at the modified electrode. The observed oxidative peaks separation of about 120mV made possible the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol in their binary-mixture. Under the optimized condition, a linear dynamic range of 10.0µM-1.0mM range for hydroquinone with the detection limit of 1.2µM and from 30.0µM-1.0mM for catechol with the detection limit of 1.1µM were obtained. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by the recovery studies of hydroquinone and catechol in spiked tap water samples.

Simultaneous determination of tyrosine and tryptophan by mesoporous silica nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode using H-point standard addition method.

A simple, selective and sensitive sensor based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode (MSNs/CPE) is introduced for electrochemical determination of tyrosine (Tyr) and tryptophan (Trp). Compared with the unmodified electrode and commercial SiO2 modified electrode (SiO2/CPE), the oxidation peak current significantly improved for both amino acids. Under optimized experimental conditions, the oxidation peak current of Trp was linear over a concentration range of 5.0 × 10(-8) to 4.0 × 10(-4) M with a detection limit of 3.4 × 10(-8) M. The oxidation peak current of Tyr was linear over a concentration range from 5.0 × 10(-7) to 6.0 × 10(-4) M with a detection limit of 1.5 × 10(-7) M. For simultaneous determination Trp and Tyr, H-point standard addition method was applied to resolve the overlapping of differential pulse voltammetric peaks of Trp and Tyr. The results showed that the method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of Trp and Tyr in some synthetic samples. Moreover, the applicability of the method was demonstrated by the recovery tests of Trp and Tyr in artificial urine.