[A different approach to the percutaneous nephrostomy by urologists]. / Un abordaje diferente a la nefrostomía percutánea por urólogos.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) tube placement is generally performed in radiologic departments worldwide. However, there are a few urologist-directed studies about PCN performed with ultrasound guidance. Needle direction using a convex abdominal ultrasound probe might be difficult in unexperienced hands. In order to perform this procedure easily, we propose that a probe placed on flank or intercostal region and a long grooved needle director that never allows needle movement would be useful. We considered a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) probe was suitable to resolve this issue. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 2007 to April 2011, a total of 113 percutaneous renal access (PRA) were performed using a TRUS probe in 102 patients, aged 20 to 84 years old. Because of the insufficient imaging capability of the TRUS probe in obese patients whose body mass index (BMI) greater than 30kg/m(2) were excluded. Forty two PRA were performed under local anesthesia and this group was named local anesthesia (LA) group. Seventy one PRA were performed for nephrostomy insertion under local anesthesia supplemented by deep sedation and this cluster was named deep sedation (DS) group. RESULTS: Targeted calyx puncture and guide wire placement was performed in all patients (100%) but success rate of tube insertion in each group was different. Successful PCN insertion rate was 69.1% (29 of 42 cases) in LA group and 95.8% (68 of 71 cases) in DS group. No major vascular injury and/or adjacent organ injury to bowel, liver, spleen or lung was seen in any patient. CONCLUSION: Guidance of TRUS probe, deep sedation, and modified dilators may offer a high success rate to the urologists with little experience in PCN insertion which they would find it difficult to perform.

Whole-body microwave exposure emitted by cellular phones and testicular function of rats.

This study investigated whether there are adverse effects due to microwave exposure emitted by cellular phones in male rats. Eighteen Wistar Albino rats were separated into three groups, a sham group and two experimental groups. The rats were confined in Plexiglas cages and cellular phones were placed 0.5 cm under the cages. In the first experimental group, cellular phones were in standby position for 2 h. In the second experimental group, phones were turned to the speech position three times each for 1 min duration over 2 h. Rats in the first and second experimental groups were exposed to microwaves emitted by phones for 2 h/day for a duration of 1 month. After the last exposure the rats were killed. Brain, eyes, ears, liver, heart, lungs, stomach, kidneys, testes, small and large intestines and skin of the rats were observed histologically. The decrease of epididymal sperm counts in the speech groups were not found to be significant (P > 0.05). Differences in terms of normal and abnormal sperm forms were not observed (P > 0.05). Histological changes were especially observed in the testes of rats of the speech groups. Seminiferous tubular diameter of rat testes in the standby and speech groups was found to be lower than the sham group (P < 0.05). Rectal temperatures of rats in the speech group were found to be higher than the sham and standby groups (P < 0.05). The rectal temperatures of rats before and after exposure were also found to be significantly higher in the speech group (P < 0.05). Specific absorption rate (SAR) was determined as 0.141 W/kg.