Prenatal diagnosis of a rare form of congenital mid-ureteral stricture: a case report and literature revisited

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

The role of routine post-natal abdominal ultrasound for newborns in a resource-poor setting: a longitudinal study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background-</p> <p>Neonatal abdominal ultrasound is usually performed in Nigeria to investigate neonatal symptoms rather than as a follow up to evaluate fetal abnormalities which were detected on prenatal ultrasound. The role of routine obstetric ultrasonography in the monitoring of pregnancy and identification of fetal malformations has partly contributed to lowering of fetal mortality rates. In Nigeria which has a high maternal and fetal mortality rate, many pregnant women do not have ante-natal care and not infrequently, women also deliver their babies at home and only bring the newborns to the clinics for immunization. Even when performed, most routine obstetric scans are not targeted towards the detection of fetal abnormalities.</p> <p>The aim of the present study is to evaluate the benefit of routinely performing abdominal scans on newborns with a view to detecting possible abnormalities which may have been missed ante-natally.</p> <p>Methods-</p> <p>This was a longitudinal study of 202 consecutive, apparently normal newborns. Routine clinical examination and abdominal ultrasound scans were performed on the babies by their mother's bedside, before discharge. Neonates with abnormal initial scans had follow-up scans.</p> <p>Results-</p> <p>There were 108 males and 94 females. There were 12 (5.9%) abnormal scans seen in five male and seven female neonates. Eleven of the twelve abnormalities were in the kidneys, six on the left and five on the right. Three of the four major renal anomalies- absent kidney, ectopic/pelvic kidney and two cases of severe hydronephrosis were however on the left side. There was one suprarenal abnormality on the right suspected to be a possible infected adrenal haemorrage. Nine of the abnormal cases reported for follow- up and of these, two cases had persistent severe abnormalities.</p> <p>Conclusions-</p> <p>This study demonstrated a 5.9% incidence of genito urinary anomalies on routine neonatal abdominal ultrasound in this small population. Routine obstetric USS is very useful but inadequate availability of skilled personnel and cost implications create great challenges in poor resource settings like Nigeria. However, awareness should be created so that parents who can afford such investigations can make informed decisions.</p

Early marginal ulcer following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass under proton pump inhibitor treatment: prospective multicentric study Úlcera perianastomótica após derivação gástrica em Y-de-Roux mesmo em uso de inibidor de bomba de prótons: estudo prospectivo multicêntrico

CONTEXT: Causal factors of gastrojejunal ulcers after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass include peptic acid secretion from the gastric pouch. Esomeprazole is a potent inhibitor of acid secretion. OBJECTIVE: To assess the occurrence of dyspepsia and gastrojejunal ulcers within the first 2 months after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass during the use of esomeprazole. METHODS: One hundred eighteen morbid obese subjects were submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Preoperative upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy was negative for H. pylori. All subjects received esomeprazole for 60 days after surgery. RESULTS: Two weeks after surgery only 13 mild symptoms were reported. After 2 months, 17 also moderate complaints were registered. Endoscopy around the 60th day showed esophagitis in 10 (8.5%), hiatal hernia in 2 (1.7%), foreign body in the anastomotic line in 12 (10.2%) and gastrojejunal ulcers was observed in 9 (7.6%) subjects, 2 of which had a suture material or metallic staple granuloma in the gastrojejunostomy. Ten subjects took nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at least once during study, but none of them developed ulcer. None of the subjects with ulcer had dyspeptic symptoms. CONCLUSION: The incidence of ulcer in the gastrojejunal anastomosis within the first 2 months following Rouxen-Y gastric bypass under proton pump inhibitors is considerable. It was not related to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, highlighting the possibility of ischemia and foreign body as causal factors. The ulcers were asymptomatic, and all post-surgical dyspeptic symptoms were moderate in severity.<br>CONTEXTO: Sintomas dispépticos são comuns após derivação gástrica em Y-de-Roux. Podem decorrer de úlceras de boca anastomótica, cujos possíveis fatores causais incluem a secreção cloridropéptica da bolsa gástrica, isquemia, efeito de corpo estranho dos materiais de sutura e uso de antiinflamatórios não-esteróides. O esomeprazol é um redutor potente da secreção ácida, capaz de diminuir sintomas pépticos e evitar lesões mucosas, mesmo em pacientes usuários de antiinflamatórios não-esteróides. OBJETIVOS: Estudo prospectivo não-randomizado procura avaliar a ocorrência de dispepsia e úlceras perianastomóticas nos 2 primeiros meses após derivação gástrica em Y-de-Roux. MÉTODOS: Cento e dezoito obesos mórbidos foram operados em quatro centros de cirurgia bariátrica pela técnica de derivação gástrica em Y-de-Roux por laparotomia ou laparoscopia. À endoscopia digestiva alta, H. pylori estava ausente. Todos os operados tomaram 20 mg de esomeprazol por dia do 3º ao 60º pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: Entre o 10º e o 15º dia, nenhum paciente referiu epigastralgia ou pirose, um referiu vômitos moderados, quatro dor abdominal e oito náuseas. Entre o 55º e o 65º dia, três referiram epigastralgia leve, seis vômitos, um dor abdominal, dois náuseas e seis pirose. O exame endoscópico neste período revelou esofagite em 10 pacientes (8,5%), hérnia hiatal em 2 (1,7%) e corpo estranho nas linhas de sutura em 12 (10,2%). Em nove pacientes (7,6%) encontrou-se úlcera de boca anastomótica ou adjacente a ela, em dois incluindo granuloma de fio de sutura ou de grampo metálico. Dez pacientes utilizaram alguma vez antiinflamatórios não-esteróides nos 2 meses de estudo, nenhum deles apresentando úlcera. CONCLUSÕES: A ocorrência de úlcera de boca anastomótica 2 meses após derivação gástrica em Y-de-Roux, é considerável, mesmo em uso de esomeprazol. Não houve relação com ingestão de antiinflamatórios não-esteróides, o que realça as possibilidades dos fatores isquemia e corpo estranho na gênese das lesões

Speed of sound ultrasound: comparison with proton density fat fraction assessed with Dixon MRI for fat content quantification of the lower extremity

OBJECTIVES To compare speed of sound (SoS) ultrasound (US) of the calves with Dixon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for fat content quantification. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was approved by the local ethics committee. Fifty calf muscles of 35 women (age range 22-81 years) prospectively underwent an US and subsequent MRI (Dixon sequence) examination as well as body weight and impedance fat measurements. SoS (in m/s) was calculated positioning a reflector on the opposite side of a conventional US machine probe with the calf in between. Fiducial nitroglycerin markers were placed on the calf at the reflector and US probe end positions for later registration of the US sonification volumetric section. An automatic segmentation algorithm separated MRI adipose tissue, muscle and bone regions. MRI fat fraction of the entire leg slice (total) and intramuscular and adipose tissue fat fraction were calculated and correlation analysis and correlation coefficient comparison were performed. RESULTS Median SoS demonstrated a very strong (r = - 0.83 (95% CI - 0.90; - 0.72); p < 0.001) correlation with MRI total fat fraction, a strong (r = - 0.61 (95% CI - 0.76; - 0.40); p < 0.001) correlation with MRI adipose tissue fat fraction and a moderate (r = - 0.54 (95% CI - 0.71; - 0.31); p < 0.001) correlation with MRI intramuscular fat fraction. Impedance body fat percentage correlated strongly with SoS (r = - 0.72 (95% CI - 0.85; - 0.51); p < 0.001) and MRI total fat fraction (r = 0.61 (95% CI 0.34; 0.78); p < 0.001). For electrical impedance, significantly lower correlations (p = 0.033) were found for MRI total fat fraction compared with SoS. CONCLUSIONS Correlations of SoS with Dixon MRI fat fraction measurements were very strong to moderate. KEY POINTS • Correlations of speed of sound with Dixon MRI fat fraction measurements of the same body location were very strong to moderate. • Speed of sound measurements showed a high repeatability. • Speed of sound provides a sufficient discrimination range for fat fraction estimates