BACKGROUND: The accurate information about the volume of pericardial effusion can assist in clinical decisions and has impartant prognostic value. In addition, accurate quantification of serial change in effusion volume is necessary in assessing pericardial disease and making a decision of immediate drainage. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of 2-D echocardiographic quantification of pericardial effusion. METHOD: The study populations are 22 patients with large pericardial effusion whose volume of effusion is confirmed by paracentesis or surgical drainage. Through the echocardiographic reviw, the volume of pericardial sac and heart was calculated by method of D'cruz and then, the effusion volume was derived as the difference of two volumes. Each echocardiographically calculated volume of pericardial effusion was compared with the measured volume drained percutaneously or surgically. RESULTS: The volume of pericardial effusion calculated echocardiographically was excellently correlated with the drained volume(r=0.90, p < 0.01). The echo-free space was well correlated with the volume of pericardial effusion in the anterior aspect of the heart(r=0.71, p < 0.01), but not in the posterior aspect. CONCLUSION: 2-D echocardiographic Quantification of pericardial effusion is simple and reliable method, and its clinical efficacy may be great.
Drainage ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Humans ; Methods ; Paracentesis ; Pericardial Effusion ; Treatment Outcome

Equipment Design ; Humans ; Needles ; standards ; Paracentesis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Pleural Effusion ; therapy ; Pneumothorax ; therapy ; Punctures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

With the new-style thoracentesis needles with spring-loaded valve designed by ourselves, thoracentesis were carried out in 60 patients with ages ranging from 2 to 74 years. The successful rate for the operation was 100% (198/198), without any major complications such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, pleural shock or infection. The results show that this kind of puncture needle is multi-purpose and easy to operate, with high safety and reliability.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Paracentesis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Pleural Effusion ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Young Adult

AIMTo evaluate whether inhibin-B can predict the outcome of a microsurgical epidymal sperm aspiration (MESA) procedure in patients with suspected primary obstructive azoospermia (OA) and if inhibin-B can replace testicular biopsy in the diagnostic work-up of these patients.

METHODSInhibin-B levels and testicular biopsy scores were related to the outcome of MESA in 43 patients with suspected primary OA. MESA was considered to be successful when epididymal sperm could be identified during the procedure.

RESULTSSpermatozoa were present in the epididymal aspirate in 28 out of the 43 patients (65%). Inhibin-B values were not significantly different in patients with successful or unsuccessful MESA. The modified Johnsen score, however, was significantly lower in patients with unsuccessful MESA (P = 0.003). A rete testis obstruction or epididymal malfunctioning was found in 15% of patients with suspected primary OA, reflected by unsuccessful MESA despite normal inhibin-B levels and normal testicular histology.

CONCLUSIONInhibin-B cannot replace testicular biopsy as a diagnostic tool in the work-up of patients with suspected primary OA. Testicular biopsy is useful in identifying patients with spermatogenic arrest, who might have normal inhibin-B values.

Azoospermia ; blood ; diagnosis ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Biopsy ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Paracentesis ; methods ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; Testis ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of ultrasound guided percutaneous aspiration and sclerotherapy for peripelvic cysts and investigate the clinical effect.

METHODSA total of 169 cases of peripelvic cyst patients were evaluated, of whom 36 cases (21.3%) had hydronephrosis secondary to peripelvic cysts, 8 cases (4.7%) had renal calculus. All patients underwent ultrasound and intravenous phelography (IVP) examination, 59 patients also had CT scan. Hydatid fluid was analyzed by amine test. Percutaneous aspiration was guided by ultrasound, 95% alcohol was used to sclerosis the peripelvic cysts when amine test was negative or positive but did not have communication with pelvis through opacification. Ultrasound were done at 1, 3, 6 months and every 1 year thereafter, follow-up period were 6 months to 5 years.

RESULTSOne hundred and sixty-five peripelvic cysts (97.6%) were cured by once sclerotherapy, the diameter of another 4 cases (2.4%) diminished to less than 1.5 cm by once sclerotherapy. Thirty-six cases of hydronephrosis were all resolved after sclerotherapy. Eight cases had renal calculus, of whom 4 cases underwent extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, 2 cases underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and 2 cases did not treat the stone. Five patients had gross hematuria after aspiration, but all diminished in 3-5 d.

CONCLUSIONUltrasound guided percutaneous aspiration and sclerotherapy for peripelvic cysts had the superiority of safety, effectiveness micro-invasion and low complication.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Ethanol ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Kidney Pelvis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paracentesis ; methods ; Sclerosing Solutions ; administration & dosage ; Sclerotherapy ; methods ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Large volume paracentesis (LVP) associated with plasma volume expansion is known to be an effective and safe therapy for tense or refractory ascites in cirrhosis. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the frequent infections in patients with cirrhosis. We conducted a study to assess the efficacy and safety of large volume paracentesis in cirrhotic patients with SBP. METHODS: We randomly assigned 40 patients with cirrhosis and SBP to either treatment with LVP (21 patients) or general management (19 patients). LVP was defined as drainage of ascitic fluid of more than 4 liters in a single tap or loss of shifting dullness after paracentesis. LVP was performed within 48 hours after the diagnosis of SBP in the LVP group. Cefotaxime was given daily in doses that varied according to the serum creatinine level in both groups. Albumin was given at a dose of 6-8 g per 1 liter of removed ascites in the LVP group. RESULTS: After seven days of treatments, the blood chemistry test, and WBC (PMN) counts and protein concentration in the ascitic fluid were not different between the two groups. Among them, the WBC (PMN) counts were decreased significantly in both groups and protein concentrations tended to increase. Durations of abdominal tenderness and pain were shorter in the LVP group but the differences were statistically not significant. Admission periods, resolution rates of SBP after seven days of treatment, complication rates and in-hospital mortality rates were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS:: The two treatment methods demonstrated almost the same effectiveness and safety. The symptoms were improved slightly faster in the LVP group. We concluded that large volume paracentesis is not an absolute contraindication and can be a tolerable and safe therapy in some selected cirrhotic patients with tense ascites and SBP.
Adult ; Aged ; Ascites/etiology/*therapy ; Bacterial Infections/*complications ; English Abstract ; Female ; Human ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Paracentesis/methods ; Peritonitis/complications/microbiology/*therapy ; Plasma Substitutes/administration & dosage ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of absolute alcohol treatment for renal cyst with percutaneous puncture and catheterization.

METHODSThis report presented 64 cases of renal cysts, 34 cases were treated with percutaneous puncture (A group) and 30 cases with percutaneous catheterization (B group). According to the size, the cysts were divided into 2 groups, more than 6 cm in diameter and less than 6 cm in diameter.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 3 - 12 months by CT or B ultrasonography. Striking difference of the therapeutic results were existed when cystS were more than 6 cm in diameter.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous catheterization is applicable to the sclerosing treatment of renal cyst whose diameter is more than 6 cm.

Adult ; Aged ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Ethanol ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paracentesis ; methods ; Sclerosing Solutions ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

A microsporidian parasite Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microorganism recognized in AIDS patients, and slow scientific progress is attributed to our inability to propagate the parasite. We report upon the development of a system of propagation using the pig biliary system. The parasite spores were continuously detected in the bile samples post onset of spore shedding in the gall bladder, which suggests that this organism maintain persistent infection in the biliary system and that the hepatobiliary tree may represent a reservoir of infection. In conclusion the biliary tree is an adequate niche for the propagation of E. bieneusi. This work has also resulted in the development of a procedure of ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis for aspirating biles. This is a simple and non-surgical procedure, and creates no signs of clinical complications in the livers and the gall bladders after dozens of separate attempts. Thus, this is a very useful and safe technique for the aspiration of bile from live animals.
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*parasitology ; Animals ; Bile/parasitology ; Biliary Tract/*parasitology ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enterocytozoon/*growth & development/physiology ; Feces/parasitology ; Gallbladder/parasitology/ultrasonography ; Immunosuppression/veterinary ; Microsporidiosis/*parasitology ; Paracentesis/methods/veterinary ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Specimen Handling/methods/veterinary ; Spores, Protozoan/isolation & purification/physiology ; Swine