Early myocardial dysfunction is not caused by mitochondrial abnormalities in a rat model of peritonitis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections are prone to develop multiple organ failure, including myocardial dysfunction. We hypothesized that early dysfunction during sepsis is associated with inflammation, mitochondrial injury, impaired mitochondrial function, and activation of mitochondrial biogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats received lipopolysaccharide (LPS, n = 11) intraperitoneally. Healthy rats (n = 6) served as controls. Myocardial function was measured ex vivo in an isolated Langendorff-perfused heart set-up. Myocardial vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression was determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Cytochrome c release and cytochrome c oxidase (COX IV) activity were measured by immunohistochemistry and enzyme histochemistry, respectively. Protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ cofactor 1α (PGC-1α), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) were analyzed by Western blot technique. Mitochondria were studied by electron microscopy. RESULTS: Two hours after LPS injection, developed pressure had decreased and after 4 h myocardial contractility (+dP/dt) and relaxation (-dP/dt) also had decreased. TNF-α protein expression was increased after 2 h and returned to normal at 4 h, whereas after 4 h VCAM-1 expression was higher in LPS-treated animals. At 2 h a substrate-dependent increase in COXIV-activity was seen, but no mitochondrial damage occurred as cytochrome c release, COX IV activity and Bcl-2, PGC-1α or TFAM expression were not changed. Electron microscopy did not reveal differences in myocardial mitochondrial characteristics between LPS-treated and control rats. CONCLUSIONS: Early myocardial dysfunction in sepsis is associated with myocardial inflammation but not with mitochondrial injury, impaired mitochondrial function, or activated mitochondrial biogenesis.

Comparison of closure of subcutaneous tissue versus non-closure in relation to wound disruption after abdominal hysterectomy in obese patients.

AIMS: To evaluate the role of subcutaneous tissue closure in relation to wound disruption after abdominal hysterectomy in obese patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective study at a tertiary referral centre in Mumbai, India, 60 obese patients with subcutaneous fat more than 2.5 cms were included in the study. In 30 patients, subcutaneous tissue was closed using synthetic suture (dexon) while in 30 control patients subcutaneous tissue was not closed. Average weight in the study and control groups were 69 -/+ 9.2 kg and 63.3 -/+ 11.2 kg respectively. RESULTS: The wound disruption occurred in 5 patients in non-closure group as compared to only one in the closure group. Incidence of seroma, haematoma formation and other wound complications were higher in the non-closure group. CONCLUSIONS: Closure of the subcutaneous tissue after abdominal hysterectomy of women with at least 2.5 cms of subcutaneous tissue lowers the overall rate of complications leading to disruption of the incision.

Systematic sextant biopsies in the prediction of extracapsular extension at radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical utility of transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic sextant needle biopsies in the prediction of extracapsular extension (ECE) at radical prostatectomy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 104 men who underwent systematic biopsy and radical prostatectomy at our institution was performed. All patients underwent preoperative staging by transrectal ultrasound and transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic sextant biopsy. The presence of pathologic ECE was correlated to the number of positive core biopsies on each side of the prostate by chi-square analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and likelihood ratios (LRs) were calculated for both positive (two or three biopsies positive per side) and negative (no or one positive biopsy per side) test results. RESULTS: Forty-two (20.2%) of 208 sides demonstrated evidence of ECE at radical prostatectomy. Chi-square analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the number of positive biopsies and the presence of ECE at radical prostatectomy (P = 0.001). Overall, the finding of multiple positive core biopsies (two or three per side) had predictive value with regard to the presence of ECE (sensitivity 62%, specificity 77%, positive predictive value 40%, negative predictive value 89%). The corresponding LRs were 2.5 for a positive and 0.5 for a negative test result. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of ECE at radical prostatectomy can be more accurately assessed preoperatively by the combined use of transrectal ultrasound and systematic sextant needle biopsies.

Impact of prostate size on the outcome of transurethral laser evaporation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of transurethral evaporation of the prostate (TUEP) using neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser in prostate glands of various sizes. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate volumes less than 40 cc (group I, n = 41), 41 to 80 cc (group II, n = 39), and more than 80 cc (group III, n = 20), who had preoperative prostate volume estimation by transrectal ultrasound and had completed a minimum of 3 months' follow-up, underwent TUEP. At baseline, and at 3 and 6 months, American Urological Association (AUA) score, peak flow rate (PFR), postvoid residual urine (PVR), and complications, if any, were documented. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in failure rates, complications, or ability to improve symptom score, PFR, and PVR between patients with prostate glands of various sizes. The mean improvement in PFR at 6 months was: group I, 9.9 cc/s (116%); group II, 7.4 cc/s (81%); and group III, 9.2 cc/s (107%). Reduction in AUA score was: group I, 14.6 (63%); group II, 17.7 (71%); and group III, 16.2 (70%). PVR was: group I, 62.5 cc (51%); group II, 31.4 cc (16%), and group III, 71 cc (83%) (differences not significant). The patients in urinary retention were separately analyzed (group I, 9, group II, 12, and group III, 5) and mean PFR at 6 months was: group I, 18.5 cc/s, group II, 15 cc/s, and group III, 17.1 cc/s. Mean AUA score at 6 months was: group I, 25.8; group II, 21; and group III, 23.6. Mean PVR score was: group I, 370 cc, group II, 439 cc; and group III, 400 cc (differences not significant). Mean postoperative catheterization time was higher in patients with glands larger than 80 cc (2.2 versus 2.9 versus 4.7 days in groups I, II, and III, respectively, P < 0.009 between groups II and III). Incidence of urinary tract infection (10 versus 0%) was greater in patients receiving only 48-hour as opposed to 10-day postoperative antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: TUEP appears to be a safe and effective treatment for relief of symptoms of BPH and improvement of PFR in patients with all sizes of prostate glands.