Lung Dysfunction and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Complex Network of Multiple Interactions.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disease that affects > 10% of the total population worldwide or >800 million people. CKD poses a particularly heavy burden in low- and middle-income countries, which are least able to cope with its consequences. It has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is one of the few non-communicable diseases where the number of related deaths has increased over the last two decades. The high number of people affected, and the significant negative impact of CKD should be a reason to increase efforts to improve prevention and treatment. The interaction of lung and kidney leads to highly complex and difficult clinical scenarios. CKD significantly affects the physiology of the lung by altering fluid homeostasis, acid-base balance and vascular tone. In the lung, haemodynamic disturbances lead to the development of alterations in ventilatory control, pulmonary congestion, capillary stress failure and pulmonary vascular disease. In the kidney, haemodynamic disturbances lead to sodium and water retention and the deterioration of renal function. In this article, we would like to draw attention to the importance of harmonising the definitions of clinical events in pneumology and renal medicine. We would also like to highlight the need for pulmonary function tests in routine clinical practise for the management of patients with CKD, in order to find new concepts for pathophysiological based disease-specific management strategies.

Retrograde sclerotherapy of male varicocele with veno-venous shunts - incidence and management: a single-centre experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to compare the incidence of veno-venous shunts in male varicocele and evaluate the possibility to exclude them with manual compression or/and scrotal ligation in order to carry out the procedure of retrograde sclero-embolization. METHODS: In our retrospective study, all patients undergone retrograde sclerotherapy for varicocele in our Interventional Radiology Unit in the last four years were evaluated. Collaterals toward other venous shunts were identified and how many and which patients would be able to complete the procedure safely were considered. RESULTS: Of the 91 patients, as many as 22 (i.e., 24.17%) patients presented anatomical variants, consisting on shunting into left iliac vein (9 [9.89%]), lumbar left veins (3 [3.29%]), right iliac vein (1 [1.09%]), both iliac veins (1 [1.09%]), left femoral vein (1 [1.09%]) or a more proximal portion of the ISV itself without shunting (3 [3.29%]). Patients with duplication could benefit from a more distal injection in order to prevent back-flow; of the 19 left, nine successfully underwent sclerotherapy with manual compression or/and scrotal ligation, whereas in 10 flow through the collaterals could not be interrupted and patients were demanded for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with abnormal communications between the internal spermatic vein and the iliac veins (that is, shunts towards the iliac veins) may as well undergo retrograde sclerotherapy safely if compression/ligation is applied. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: No large previous study highlighted the impact of veno-venous shunts in technical feasibility of retrograde sclerotherapy of varicocele.

The use of cyanoacrylate in the treatment of angiodysplasias: A safe and cheap alternative to coils.

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia (GIAD) represents one of the most frequent causes of recurrent lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the elder population. Clinical manifestations are highly variable, diagnosis is done with colonoscopy or CT and management consists of either endoscopic or, more conservatively, endovascular approach. Trans-arterial embolization (TAE) reduces blood flow into the lesion and may complicate with perforation, dissection, vasospasm and bowel ischaemia. To date, coils and Gelfoam represent the most employed embolizing agents, followed by PVA and onyx. We report the successful embolization of GIADs in four patients with n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and Lipiodol Ultra-Fluid (LUF): despite the reported higher risk of bowel infarction when compared with the other agents, no major complication or short-term recurrence occurred in our series.

Dual-energy CT quantification of fractional extracellular space in cirrhotic patients: comparison between early and delayed equilibrium phases and correlation with oesophageal varices.

OBJECTIVE: Fractional extracellular space has been validated as a marker of hepatic fibrotic in cirrhotic patients at CT-scan as well as on dual-energy CT, which takes advantage from iodine uptake. Since no consensus still exists between equilibrium phases performed at 3 or 10 min, the first aim of this work is to evaluate performances at the two different time points. Moreover, correlation between fractional extracellular space and oesophageal varices, directly related to liver fibrosis, has been assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dual-Energy equilibrium phases at 3 and 10 min were performed within a follow-up CT-protocol scan in cirrhotic patients. Oesophageal varices were endoscopically assessed according to their size. At the two different time points, correlation between iodine density of the right and left liver lobes and correlation between the fractional extracellular space values were assessed. Correlation between fractional extracellular space and endoscopic grade of oesophageal varices was calculated. RESULTS: No statistical differences were found between the iodine density values from the two liver lobes at the two time points (p = 0.8 at 3'; p = 0.5 at 10'). No statistical difference about fractional extracellular space estimation was found between the two time points (p = 0.17). Correlation between fractional extracellular space values and oesophageal varices was moderate (ρ = 0.45, IC 0.08-0.71, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Fractional extracellular space assessed on dual-energy CT at equilibrium phases with different timing was substantially similar. The moderate correlation found between fractional extracellular space and endoscopic grade of oesophageal varices confirms that CT-scan is not currently reliable as endoscopy.

Percutaneous microwave ablation of uterine fibroids: correlation between shrinkage and trend symptoms.

PURPOSE: To assess a correlation between the shrinkage of the fibroid and the course of the symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas (mean fibroid volume: 111.45 cm3) underwent percutaneous microwave ablation. Contrast-enhanced MRI follow-up was performed before and after treatment to evaluate the volume shrinkage. Two scores obtained from the Uterine Fibroids Symptom and Quality of Life questionnaire were used to perform a clinical follow-up to evaluate the symptoms and the quality of life at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: All patients were treated, no complications occurred. During a mean MR follow-up of 8.1 months we observed shrinkage of the fibroids in all patients (mean 70.3 cm3). During 12 months clinical follow-up, we observed a significant improvement of symptoms and an excellent improvement of quality of life (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Uterine fibroids percutaneous microwave ablation is a safe tool to obtain a significant improvement in quality of life for all the patients of our cohort.

Percutaneous cervical discectomy: retrospective comparison of two different techniques.

AIM: To compare clinical success and patient satisfaction of percutaneous cervical nucleoplasty (PCN) and percutaneous cervical discectomy (PCD) in contained cervical disc herniation treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 50 consecutive patients in our institution: 24 underwent the PCD treatment and 26 patients were treated by the PCN procedure. All patients complained of radicular pain with or without neck pain; diagnosis of contained cervical disc herniation was obtained by MRI; all patients had received conservative therapy which did not result in symptom improvement. Exclusion from our series consisted of patients who had undergone previous surgery at the indicated level, or those with myelopathy, or those in whom more than a sole herniation was treated in the same session. Overall procedure time, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose and complications were recorded. The MacNab scale score was used to assess clinical success in terms of pain relief at 2- and 6-month follow-up. After 4-6 months, a cervical MRI was obtained in 24 patients. RESULTS: Neither major nor minor complications were reported. Regarding patient satisfaction, overall median modified MacNab score was excellent both at 2 and 6 months after treatment. No significant statistical difference was found in mean modified MacNab score at 2 and 6 months among patients grouped by treatment choice (p = 0.319 and 0.847, respectively); radiation dose was inferior in PCN group than in PCD, with no significant statistical difference. CONCLUSION: PCD and PCN were found to be safe and effective in terms of pain relief in contained cervical herniation treatment.

Feasibility Study of MRI Muscles Molecular Imaging in Evaluation of Early Post-Mortem Interval.

Estimating early postmortem interval (EPI) is a difficult task in daily forensic activity due to limitations of accurate and reliable methods. The aim of the present work is to describe a novel approach in the estimation of EPI based on quantitative magnetic resonance molecular imaging (qMRMI) using a pig phantom since post-mortem degradation of pig meat is similar to that of human muscles. On a pig phantom maintained at 20° degree, using a 1.5 T MRI scanner we performed 10 scans (every 4 hours) monitoring apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA) magnetization transfer ration (MTR), tractography and susceptibility weighted changes in muscles until 36 hours after death. Cooling of the phantom during the experiment was recorded. Histology was also obtained. Pearson's Test was carried out for time correlation between post-mortem interval and MRI data. We found a significative inverse correlation between ADC, FA, MT values and PMI. Our preliminary data shows that post-mortem qMRMI is a potential powerful tool in accurately determining EPI and is worth of further investigation.

Dual-source dual-energy CT in the evaluation of hepatic fractional extracellular space in cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: One of the main features of liver fibrosis is the expansion of the interstitial space. All water-soluble CT contrast agents remain confined in the vascular and interstitial space constituting the fractional extracellular space (fECS). Indirect measure of its expansion can be quantified during equilibrium phase with CT. The goal of this prospective study was to assess the feasibility of dual-energy CT (DECT) with iodine quantification at equilibrium phase in the evaluation of significant fibrosis or cirrhosis. METHODS: Thirty-eight cirrhotic patients (according to Child-Pugh and MELD scores), scheduled for liver CT, were enrolled in the study group. Twenty-four patients undergoing CT urography with a 10-min excretory phase were included in the control group. fECS was calculated as the ratio of the iodine concentration of liver parenchyma to that of the aorta, multiplied by 1 minus hematocrit. RESULTS: Final study and control group were, respectively, composed of 22 and 20 patients. Mean hepatic fECS value was statistically greater in study group (P < 0.05). Positive correlation was observed between hepatic fECS value and MELD score (r = 0.64, P < 0.05). Analysis of variance showed statistical differences between control group and the Child-Pugh grades and between Child-Pugh A and B patients and Child-Pugh C patients (P < 0.05). ROC curves analysis yielded an optimum fECS cutoff value of 26.3% for differentiation of control group and cirrhotic patients (AUC 0.88; 86% sensitivity, 85% specificity). CONCLUSIONS: Dual-source DECT is a feasible, noninvasive method for the assessment of significant liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.

Bilio-cutaneous fistula obliteration with NBCA.

Biliary fistula and bile leakage are complications that can occur during hepato-biliary surgery (both open and laparoscopic) and percutaneous biliary intervention. In some cases, spontaneous resolution is documented but more often re-intervention (surgical or percutaneous) is necessary. We present the case of a male patient who underwent right hepatectomy with bilio-digestive anastomosis for a cholangiocarcinoma which developed a bilo-cutaneous fistula through the path of a previously inserted percutaneous transhepatic drainage. Sealing of bilo-cutaneous fistula was obtained using N-butil-Cyanoacrylate. This technique has already been reported in some papers as a useful tool for biliary tree obliteration; however, to our knowledge, no cases describing the use of glue to seal a sub-cutaneous route are available in literature.

Anatomic variations: a rare variant of formation of the portal vein.

The portal vein derives from the vitelline veins, a component of the extraembryonic venous system, and is normally formed by the confluence of the superior mesenteric and splenic vein. The knowledge of the anatomy of the portal vein and its abnormalities is important for interventional and surgical procedures. Variant portal architecture is a common finding during imaging studies. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance are non-invasive methods for studying and understanding portal vein's anatomy and abnormalities. We describe a rare case of variation in the formation and course of the portal vein. To the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence of this kind of abnormality in literature.

Use of a mixture of Lipiodol and Cyanoacrylate in percutaneous embolization treatment of symptomatic renal Angiomyolipomas: Our experience.

Purpose of this report is to describe safety and effectiveness of selective artery embolization in the treatment of bleeding angiomyolipomas (AMLs) of the kidney using a mixture of Lipiodol and Cyanoacrylate. Two patients with bleeding AMLs underwent to superselective embolization of the lesions using microcatheter and Lipiodol mixed with Cyanoacrylate in the ratio 3:1. Primary bleeding control rate was 100% with no major complications. Follow-up CT (mean time 18 months) demonstrated a significant reduction in size (about 50%) of the lesions. In conclusion, selective artery embolization with Lipiodol and Cyanoacrylate appear to be safe and effective in the treatment of bleeding AMLs.

A new variant of cholecystohepatic duct: MR cholangiography demonstration.

Magnetic resonance cholangiography used before laparoscopic cholecystectomy may reduce the incidence of post-operative complications related to the high anatomic variability of the biliary system. A number of anatomic variants of the biliary tree have been reported. We present a rare case in which magnetic resonance cholangiography demonstrated a new variant of the cholecystohepatic bile duct acting as a communication between the gallbladder fundus and an intrahepatic biliary duct.