A modified surgical technique for femoral retrograde nailing is described. A tibial skeletal traction in the proximal metaphysis is placed to obtain fracture reduction during surgery. This technique enables fracture control during the procedure, avoiding the need of an assistant.

Femoral Fractures↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Microdeletions of the Y chromosome in cryptorchidism and in idiopathic male infertility].

We investigated the possible role of Y chromosome microdeletions in regions previously shown to be important for male germ cell development in unilateral ex-cryptorchid subjects manifesting important bilateral testiculopathy, in order to clarify whether cryptorchidism could be the expression of an intrinsic congenital testicular abnormality. Microdeletion analysis of the Y chromosome long arm was performed by polymerase chain reaction and confirmed by Southern blot in 40 selected unilateral ex-cryptorchid patients with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia sustained by severe bilateral testiculopathy (Sertoli cell-only syndrome and severe hypospermatogenesis, respectively), 20 unilateral ex-cryptorchid men with moderate oligozoospermia and normal function of the descended testis, 110 patients affected by severe idiopathic primary testiculopathies, 20 patients affected by moderate idiopathic testiculopathy and, as controls, 50 patients affected by known causes of testiculopathy and 50 fertile controls. Eleven out of the 40 (27.5%) unilateral ex-cryptorchid patients affected by bilateral testiculopathy and 28 out of 110 (25.4%) patients affected by severe idiopathic primary testiculopathy showed microdeletions in the Y chromosome long arm, while all other subjects were normal. Male relatives of patients with deletions were also normal. Microdeletions were distributed in different regions of the Y chromosome long arm, including known regions involved in spermatogenesis (DAZ and RBM genes, AZFa, b and c regions) and other still poorly defined loci. No difference in localization of deletions was evident between ex-cryptorchid and idiopathic patients. Microdeletions in the Y chromosome may be responsible for bilateral severe testicular damage: the clinical consequence, other than idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia, may also be unilateral cryptorchidism, probably due to altered testicular responses to mechanisms regulating testicular descent.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Microdeletion of chromosome Y in male infertility: role of the DAZ gene].

Microdeletions of the Y chromosome represent the most frequent cause of male infertility, being responsible for 10-15% of cases of azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia. Such mutations localize in one or more loci named azoospermia factor (AZF) a, b and c. Mutations more frequently involve the DAZ gene in AZFc, and could determine both azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. It is therefore difficult to find a clear relationship between genotype and phenotype. DAZ is present in multiple copies in AZFc, and this causes the gene to be difficult to analyze. In fact, polymerase chain reaction, the principal technique utilized for detection of the deletions, cannot distinguish among the different copies of the gene. Furthermore, it is not clear if all the DAZ copies are expressed in the testis, and other genes, such as CDY1, map in AZFc; therefore their alteration may play a role in determining the phenotype. In this review we report the current knowledge on the function of the Y chromosome in human spermatogenesis. In particular we analyze some of our experimental studies on the role of the DAZ gene family. Expression studies allowed us to clarify that an altered expression of DAZ might cause infertility in patients with severe testiculopathies. Furthermore, we describe for the first time a deletion not involving all the DAZ copies in a patient with severe hypospermatogenesis and we clarify that CDY1 is not involved in the testicular damage observed in patients with deletions of DAZ. These studies elucidate the role of DAZ and have important clinical consequences in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of the infertile patient, above all when he is a candidate for assisted reproduction techniques, due to the possibility of transmitting the genetic alteration to the offspring.

Chromosome Deletion↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Preoperative transhepatic biliary drainage in the jaundiced patient: our experience].

The authors assessed the efficacy of PTBD in a group of 72 patients with obstructive jaundice due to lithiasis or malignant obstruction, that underwent preoperatively PTBD procedure. They analysed the early and late complications and its effectiveness in decreasing the bilirubin levels. The results, in agreement with the most recent reports, suggest the uselessness of the preoperative PTBD in the treatment of the patients with a jaundice due to a biliary lithiasis. Concerning the patients with a neoplastic jaundice, this procedure seems to be more effective in the patients with a biliary obstruction due to pancreatic head or distal choledochus carcinoma: in the patients with a far advanced cancer, the PTBD procedure could be the first step to the insertion of biliary endoprosthesis; on the other hand, in the patients that may undergo a curative treatment, PTBD could be useful preoperatively both to reach an adequate water-electrolyte [correction of hydroelectrolithic] balance and nutritional status both to complete the diagnostic procedure.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Non-invasive diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Study of the DNCB skin test in patients with solid neoplasms].

The DNCB skin test was carried out on 47 patients with solid tumours. Fifteen deaths were noted among subject displaying a negative response and in 1/24 positives. A statistically significant relation was found between negativity and several blood chemistry parameters: increased IgG, positive PCR, inversion of the A/G ratio and the fall in peripheral lymphocytes. The method employed for the test is described.

Dinitrochlorobenzene↗