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Biomedical subjects

F Sofras

Publications and source records attributed to F Sofras.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effect of drugs on crystal adhesion to injured urothelium.

The normal urothelium is covered by a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer which acts as a barrier to the adhesion of crystals. Destruction of the GAG layer increases the number of adhered crystals, and it is therefore assumed that it promotes crystal growth and stone formation. Intravesical instillation of pentosanpolysulfate, an exogenous glycosaminoglycan, after destruction of this layer reduces the adhesion of crystals to the urothelium. Intramuscular administration of carbenoxolone sodium following the experimental destruction of the GAG layer increases the rate of healing of the layer and reduces the number of adhered crystals.

Adhesiveness

Ureterolithotripsy: report of 1000 cases.

A series of 1000 patients with calculi of the ureter at various levels were treated by ureteroscopy and lithotripsy over a period of 27 months. The overall success rate was 88.8%. Stones in the upper third of the ureter were removed in 15 of 39 patients. Calculi in the middle third were successfully removed in 52 of 102 patients. A success rate of 95.5% was achieved for calculi of the lower ureter. Per-operative complications included 10 ureteric perforations, 4 of which were treated surgically and 6 conservatively. Urography, performed in 520 patients 3 months post-operatively, showed 12 ureteric strictures; 9 of these were treated by insertion of a self-retaining pig-tail catheter and 3 required an operation. Ureterolithotripsy appears to be the method of choice in the management of ureteric calculi.

Adolescent

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the testis.

A case of pure rhabdomyosarcoma of the testis is reported. The origin of these tumors is discussed and it is believed that they are teratomas with rhabdomyoblastic overgrowth of the cells. Prophylactic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is recommended at the time of the orchiectomy, in those cases where there is no evidence of lymph node metastases.

Adolescent

Corynebacterium-induced cystitis with mucosal incrustations.

Alkaline-incrusted cystitis is a rare condition that was first described more than 70 years ago. Since then few cases have been reported. To our knowledge, we report the second such case in the literature in which Corynebacterium D2 was considered as the causative factor of incrusted cystitis.

Adult

Methodology, results and complications in 2000 extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy procedures.

Since the installation of an extracorporeal shock wave lithotriptor (ESWL) unit 12 months ago, 2000 lithotripsy procedures have been performed. Overall, 68.4% of patients were stone-free by the end of the first month. Residual lithiasis (fragments less than 0.5 cm) was seen in 19.7% of patients and significant lithiasis (fragments greater than 0.5 cm) was observed in 10.1%. Complications were obstruction, infection, headache due to the epidural anaesthesia, anuria, renal failure, perirenal haematoma and cardiac arrest. A number of patients required additional operative treatment; this was always endoscopic and no open procedures were performed. Hospitalisation averaged 1 day.

Female

The effect of pentosanpolysulphate and carbenoxolone on bacterial adherence to the injured urothelium.

The effect of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer on the adherence of Escherichia coli to the bladder urothelium of rats has been studied. The study was performed by destroying the GAG layer and the changes were observed using the electron microscope. Bacterial adherence to the bladder with a destroyed GAG layer was much higher than to the normal bladder. Following the destruction of the GAG layer, the instillation of sodium pentosanpolysulphate significantly reduced the adhesion of bacteria. Prophylactic intramuscular administration of carbenoxolone increased the speed of regeneration of the destroyed GAG layer.

Animals

The operation of lithotomy in ancient Greece.

Opening the bladder via the perineum in order to remove a bladder stone was practised by the ancient Greek surgeons in very early times, probably from the days of Homer. The technique of lithotomy was described for the first time by Celsus in the first century AD and has come to be known as the lesser operation or 'apparatus parvus', so called because only to instruments are needed for it, a knife and a hook. Two fingers of the surgeon's left hand were introduced into the patient's rectum while an assistant pressed on the lower abdomen to encourage descent of the stone near the neck of the bladder. A slightly curved incision was made in the skin near the anus and a second transverse incision was made through or immediately above the prostate, opening the bladder neck. The calculus was extracted from the wound by the fingers or by a hook. This ancient method of lithotomy as described by Celsus was the only one performed until the middle of the 16th century, and many surgeons advised the apparatus parvus as the operation of choice in young patients until the middle of the 18th century.

Greece, Ancient

Renal hilus lipomatosis simulating carcinoma of the kidney.

We report a case of lipomatosis of the renal hilus which presented with macroscopic painless haematuria. The appearance of the pyelocalyceal system on the intravenous urogram set the diagnosis of renal carcinoma, a diagnosis that both ultrasound and computed tomography did not refute. Final diagnosis was established histologically.

Aged

Massive incrustation on silicone ureteral stent: a severe complication.

We report the first case of unilateral, upper tract obstruction secondary to incrustation and stone formation on a silicone double-J ureteral stent. We believe that the main cause of this complication was the neurological bladder dysfunction of the patient coupled with urinary tract infection.

Adult

Interstitial cystitis.

Twenty histologically proven cases of interstitial cystitis were investigated in an attempt to find evidence of a possible autoimmune mechanism in its aetiology. HLA tissue typing was performed, autoantibody profiles were obtained, and a questionnaire of the patients' past history completed, especially with respect to other autoimmune conditions. An experiment was designed to test the effect of sodium cromoglycate on rat bladders. The results are discussed in relation to the management of patients with interstitial cystitis.

Aged