Search

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of kaolin feeding on health status, body weight gain (BWG), course of diarrhoeal infections caused by enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli (ETEC) and the level of mycobacterial contamination in weaned piglets. The testing was performed in two experiments involving 40 weaned piglets at the age of 28 days. In the infection-free experiment, piglets were fed a diet without (C0) or with 1% content of kaolin (K0) for 20 days. Subsequently, all of them were fed the same diet without kaolin supplementation for 39 days. Identical diets were fed during the infection experiment, and moreover, both groups (CI and KI) were orally infected with ETEC (O141:F18ac, STa+) on Day 1 of experiment. The short-term feeding of kaolin to weaned piglets had a significant positive effect on their BWG. During the period of feeding the kaolin-containing diets, BWG in C0 and K0 were 0.20 and 0.29 kg, respectively (P < 0.05), and in CI and KI 0.13 and 0.19 kg, respectively (P < 0.05). There was no evidence of side effects to their health, neither was there any change in biochemical and haematological profiles. In the infection experiment, a protective effect of kaolin on the course of ETEC infection was evident. Colonization and shedding of ETEC by piglets fed the kaolin diet were milder and had a shorter duration in comparison with control piglets. The culture examination of pure kaolin and kaolin containing diets for mycobacteria were negative. Potentially pathogenic mycobacteria occurring in the environment were isolated from faeces and tissues of pigs. According to these results, supplementation of diets with 1% kaolin to prevent diarrhoea in piglets and to support their growth in the critical post-weaning period could be recommended.

To determine the effect of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on the developing immune system of immature rats, newborn animals received different concentrations (0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/day) of B[a]P in the first 14 days after birth. These rats were euthanised on day 23 of the experiment and it was found that the decreasing numbers of erythrocytes were in direct correlation to the dose of B[a]P. In subject animals, the overall counts of T cells in the spleen and the mitogenic activity increased. A decrease in the production of both IFN-γ and IL-4 (measured at the mRNA level) as well as the decreasing IFN-γ /IL-4 ratio in rat splenocytes were dependent on the dose of B[a]P. From this we may deduce that exposure to B[a]P in immature animals may modulate the immune response to infection and/or vaccination.

The objective of this study was to test whether silymarin induces changes indicative of estrogenic effects in gonadal organs of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Silymarin was administered in two experimental groups of OVX rats (n = 7 + 7) for 30 days at the doses of 25 or 50 mg per animal per day. OVX rats (n = 7) receiving 5 µg of 17b-estradiol (E2) for the last three days before killing and untreated OVX rats (n = 7) were used as the positive and the negative controls, respectively. Uterine and blood samples were collected immediately after killing. Compared with the negative controls, total and normalized uterine weights were significantly higher in the two experimental groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Uterotrophic effects of silymarin were also evident from increased heights of the luminal epithelium (P < 0.01) and the endometrium (P < 0.05). The response was dose-independent within the tested range. The strongest uterine response was observed in the OVX rats treated with E2. A highly significant decrease in mean density of estrogen receptor (ERa) immunostaining in the luminal and the glandular endometrial epithelia (P < 0.01) and a stronger ERa immunostaining in stromal cells were observed in the two experimental and the positive control groups. The activities of alkaline and acid phosphatases were significantly increased in the luminal (P < 0.05) and the glandular (P < 0.01) epithelia only in the rats treated with E2. Both silymarin and E2 induced an increase in thyroid hormone concentrations in blood serum. The rises of free T3 and T4 were significant (P < 0.05) in the group receiving 50 mg of silymarin per day. Hepatic oxidative metabolism of steroids was assumed to be another target of the action of silymarin. The mitochondrial cytochrome P450-dependent testosterone hydroxylase activity and the cytochrome P4501A-dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the group receiving 50 mg of silymarin per day and in the E2-treated control group, respectively. However, the modulations of the CYP enzymes played only a minor role in the overall estrogenic effect of silymarin. Histological and functional alterations in the OVX rats treated orally with silymarin for 30 days were consistent with those seen in E2-treated rats and were indicative of estrogenic effects of silymarin.

Background and Aims: Despite the high prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and available effective lipid-lowering therapy, most of the individuals with this disorder remain undiagnosed and undertreated. The aim of the PLANET registry was to assess the real-life attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) therapeutic target level in patients with heterozygous FH, to characterize prescribed lipid-lowering therapy with assessment of its efficiency according to the attainment of the target LDL-C level, and to characterize cardiovascular events observed in this patient population again in relation to LDL-C target level attainment., Methods: PLANET registry was designed as a non-interventional, retrospective, cross-sectional, multicentre disease registry for adult patients with heterozygous FH in the Czech Republic and Slovakia., Results: Overall, 1755 patients were enrolled at 32 sites specialized in FH treatment. 15.4% of patients attained the target LDL-C value. The proportion of patients with LDL-C goal achievement increased to 17.3% in the subgroup of patients receiving high-intensity statin therapy (54.6% of study population). Out of 55 patients receiving inhibitors of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), 61.8% reached the LDL-C treatment goal. Of all cardiovascular events reported, 14.0% occurred in patients attaining the LDL-C goal, while it was 86.0% in the not-at-target group. It was documented (p=0.004) that the longer is the patient in care at the specialized FH centre, the higher is the probability that he/she will attain the target LDL-C level., Conclusions: Although target LDL-C level attainment remains relatively low, the likelihood of LDL-C goal attainment increases with duration of specialized care., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a common therapeutic option for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. Pseudoaneurysm at the puncture site is a well-documented complication in patients., Case Presentation: This case report describes a patient who presented to hospital several days following a left superficial femoral and popliteal artery PTA with lower limb pain and swelling. The working diagnosis included a deep vein thrombosis based on the Wells criteria. However, a combination of a duplex scan and computed tomography angiography confirmed a clinically rare occurrence of pseudoaneurysm of the sural artery, a branch of the popliteal artery. This was managed successfully with a thrombin injection, leading to complete resolution of the patient's symptoms., Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of the technical aspects of performing a PTA. We believe that the guide-wire position was not confirmed to be completely in the popliteal artery upon inflation of the balloon.

The virulence factors EAST1 and AIDA are often detected in ETEC/VTEC strains isolated from pigs and their role in diarrhoeal infections is discussed. In order to elucidate the pathogenesis of AIDA, the colonisation patterns of F4 positive and AIDA positive strains were investigated. Two wild-type Escherichia coli strains AIDA/EAST1 and F4/EAST1 isolated from diarrhoeal piglets were used for animal experiment to evaluate the ability of the EAST1 toxin to be involved in induction of diarrhoea. Gnotobiotic piglets were supplemented with normal porcine serum and orally inoculated with the strains. Faecal bacterial shedding of the challenge strains was observed during the experiment. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to detect the colonisation pattern of both challenge strains. Although bacterial isolation demonstrated shedding of the challenge strains until the end of the experiment, diarrhoea did not develop in any piglet. Based on histological examination, piglets were more heavily colonised in the case of infection with E. coli O149/F4/EAST1 strain. Scanning electron microscopy showed bacterial cells of F4/EAST1 E. coli adhering to enterocytes, in contrast to AIDA/EAST1 which were poorly present on the intestinal surface. The EAST1 toxin alone was not able to induce diarrhoea in animals. Therefore our results demonstrate that the function/role of EAST1 and AIDA in colibacillosis of pigs remains to be elucidated., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Congenital abnormalities of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are infrequent and can be associated with aberrations of the Circle of Willis. A 47-year-old gentleman presented with transient neurological symptoms and cerebral infarction and carotid Doppler showed a stenotic right ICA. Subsequent computed tomographic angiography showed a hypoplastic ICA with a low-lying bifurcation at the C6 level and aplasia of the anterior communicating artery. This patient was commenced on aggressive medical therapy and at 7-month follow-up was symptom-free. This case report highlights the need for a centralized registry with long-term follow-up data in order to identify optimal management., (Copyright © 2012 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To compare outcomes of two different types of occlusive therapy of uterine fibroids., Methods: Women with fibroid(s) unsuitable for laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) were treated with uterine artery embolization (UAE) or laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion (LUAO)., Results: Before the procedure, patients treated with UAE (n = 100) had a dominant fibroid greater in size (68 vs. 48 mm) and a mean age lower (33.1 vs. 34.9 years) than surgically treated patients (n = 100). After 6 months, mean shrinkage of fibroid volume was 53 % after UAE and 39 % after LUAO (p = 0.063); 82 % of women after UAE, but only 23 % after LUAO, had complete myoma infarction (p = 0.001). Women treated with UAE had more complications (31 vs. 11 cases, p = 0.006) and greater incidence of hysteroscopically verified intrauterine necrosis (31 vs. 3 %, p = 0.001). Both groups were comparable in markers of ovarian functions and number of nonelective reinterventions. The groups did not differ in pregnancy (69 % after UAE vs. 67 % after LUAO), delivery (50 vs. 46 %), or abortion (34 vs. 33 %) rates. The mean birth weight of neonates was greater (3270 vs. 2768 g, p = 0.013) and the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction lower (13 vs. 38 %, p = 0.046) in post-UAE patients., Conclusion: Both methods are effective in the treatment of women with future reproductive plans and fibroids not suitable for LM. UAE is more effective in causing complete ischemia of fibroids, but it is associated with greater risk of intrauterine necrosis. Both methods have low rate of serious complications (except for a high abortion rate).

Introduction: Using balloon-expandable stents (BES) for treatment of intracranial stenoses, high inflation pressures and rigidity of the device are regarded as major drawbacks limiting feasibility and safety of the procedure. Self-expanding stents (SES) were developed to facilitate lesion access and to allow for less aggressive dilatation. We analyzed data of the INTRASTENT multicentric registry to assess whether self-expanding stents significantly reduced peri-interventional complication rates., Methods: Records of intracranial stent procedures were entered consecutively into the registry. Datasets were divided into two groups according to the type of stent used. For outcome measurement, we chose three categories: TIA/minor stroke [modified Rankin score (mRS) <2], disabling stroke, and patient death. Clinical outcome was compared between BES and SES. We analyzed types of adverse events occurring in each group in addition., Results: Of 409 atherosclerotic lesions, 254 were treated with BES and 155 with SES. Technical success rates were 97.6% and 98.7%, respectively. Adverse event rates were 4.9%, 3.7%, and 0.8% for TIA/nondisabling stroke, disabling stroke, and death in the BES group compared with 5.3%, 6.0%, and 4.0% in the SES group. The differences were not statistically significant. We observed more perforator strokes after use of BES, but thromboembolic events occurred more often in the SES treatment group., Conclusion: Data of the INTRASTENT registry do not support the hypothesis that introduction of SES lowered the overall complication rate of intracranial stent procedures. There might be an advantage using self-expanding stents in vessel segments with important perforating arteries.

Although Pasteurella multocida serogroup F has been described as an avian-adapted serogroup, it was recently found in rabbit nests in the Czech Republic. Therefore, the ability of 2 avian P. multocida serogroup F strains to induce disease in rabbits was investigated. Two groups of 18 Pasteurella-free rabbits were intranasally challenged with strains isolated from chickens and turkeys. Half of the animals in each challenge group were immunosuppressed using dexamethasone. All of the challenged rabbits exhibited clinical signs of peracute septicemic disease, ending with shock, and died or were euthanized in the terminal stages of the disease 1 to 2 d post-infection. Gross pathological changes included systemic vascular collapse and vascular leak syndrome. Hyperemia, hemorrhage, edema, inflammatory cell infiltrates, focal necrosis, and degenerative changes were observed histologically in parenchymatous organs. This is the first study directly demonstrating that avian P. multocida serogroup F strains are highly virulent in rabbits and that avian hosts cannot be excluded as a possible source of rabbit infection with serogroup F.

Hysteroscopic examination of the uterine cavity revealed that patients previously treated for intramural myoma(s) by uterine artery embolization had a significantly higher incidence of abnormal findings compared with patients treated by laparoscopic occlusion of uterine arteries (59.5% vs. 2.7%). In particular, there was a higher incidence of necrosis in the uterine cavity of patients subjected to uterine artery embolization (43.2%) compared with patients after surgical uterine artery occlusion (2.7%)., (Copyright © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is an obligate intracellular pathogen that has a wide host distribution, but primarily affects rabbits. The aim of this study was to characterize both the cell-mediated and the antibody response in rabbits after experimental infection using 2 different infection routes: oral and ocular. SPF rabbits were infected with low (10³ spores) and high (10⁷ spores) infection doses. Monitored parameters included clinical signs, detection of spores in urine, antibody response detected with ELISA, and cell-mediated immunity detected by antigen-driven lymphocyte proliferation. At week 13 post-infection, half of the rabbits in each group were suppressed by intramuscular administration of dexamethasone. At week 18 post-infection, animals were euthanized. Clinical signs were mild with exacerbation after immunosuppression. Spores in urine and antigen-specific cell-mediated immunity were detected from weeks 5 and 4 post-infection, respectively. Specific IgM was detected 1 week after infection, and IgG antibodies followed 1 week later in rabbits infected with the high dose. Immunological responses were dose dependent. The authors can conclude that both oral and ocular experimental infection with E. cuniculi resulted in an immune response of the infected animals. Rabbits could be used as an experimental model for the study of ocular microsporidiosis.

Background and Purpose: Stenting is increasingly used as an adjunct to medical therapy in symptomatic intracranial stenoses. High periprocedural adverse event rates are one of the limitations of endovascular treatment. Data from the INTRASTENT multicentric registry should demonstrate in-hospital complications at the current stage of clinical development of the stent procedure., Methods: Participating centers entered the records of all their consecutive intracranial stent procedures into the database. To determine the clinical outcome in the acute phase, we distinguished transient ischemic attack/nondisabling stroke (modified Rankin Scale <2), disabling stroke, death, and intracranial hemorrhage as clinical complications and analyzed whether they were associated with patient- or stenosis-related risk factors., Results: Data from 372 patients with 388 stenoses proved 4.8% disabling strokes and 2.2% deaths. Transient or minor events were detected in 5.4% of the cases. Hemorrhagic events (3.5%) occurred more frequently after treatment of middle cerebral artery stenoses (P=0.004) and were associated with significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates. Ischemic strokes by compromise of perforating branches were detected mainly in the posterior circulation. However, the overall rate of severe adverse events was not dependent from location, degree, and morphology of the stenosis or from patient's age, gender, vascular risk factors, or type of qualifying event., Conclusions: The complication rates within the registry are within the limits of previously published data. Severe adverse events were equally distributed between potential risk groups with similar rates but different types of main complications in the anterior and posterior circulation.

Objective: To assess the reproductive outcomes after laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion (LUAO) and uterine artery embolization (UAE) in women with symptomatic fibroids., Design: Prospective, clinical multicentric study., Setting: Endoscopic center in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at a hospital in the Czech Republic., Patient(s): Thirty-eight pregnant women after LUAO and 20 pregnant women after UAE., Intervention(s): Laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion and UAE., Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy, abortion, preterm delivery, and live-birth rates., Result(s): Pregnancies after uterine embolization had a statistically significantly higher rate for spontaneous abortion (56%) than did pregnancies after surgical uterine artery occlusion (10.5%). The risk of malpresentation (20%) and the rate for cesarean section (80%) after UAE similarly were higher than was the risk after laparoscopic occlusion; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Also, there were no significant differences between the groups in preterm deliveries (15.3% in the LUAO group vs. 20% in the UAE group)., Conclusion(s): Pregnancies of women who were treated with uterine embolization were at significantly increased risk for spontaneous abortion when compared with pregnancies of women treated with LUAO.

Shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC) strains that produce Shiga toxin Stx2e cause oedema disease in weaned piglets. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of Stx2e released in mesenteric lymph nodes on disease pathogenesis. Colistin and ampicillin were intramuscularly administered to piglets of the experimental group simultaneously challenged with STEC strain, type O139:F18ab, Stx2e+. Piglets of the control group were challenged with STEC only. The strain was naturally resistant to ampicillin and susceptible to colistin. After the challenge, colonisation of the intestines was observed in both antibiotic-treated piglets and control piglets without antibiotic treatment. Histochemistry and scanning electron microscopy revealed sporadic colonisation of the small intestine in the piglets. STEC was detected in the mesenteric lymph nodes of untreated piglets. The clinical manifestations of oedema disease were observed in both groups. In the antibiotic-treated group (11 piglets), oedema disease developed in 10 piglets, eight of which died or were euthanized ante finem. In the untreated group (11 piglets), oedema disease developed in five piglets, four of which died or were euthanized ante finem. We therefore propose that the STEC lysed by colistin suddenly released the toxin from bacterial cells immediately after their passage through the intestinal wall. That could explain a more severe course of oedema disease in the treated piglets. Even though high amounts of STEC were present in the lymph nodes of untreated piglets, the toxin was not released abruptly because the bacterial cells were not damaged.

The role of Pasteurella multocida serogroup F in inducing disease in rabbits was investigated in this study. Three groups of 12 Pasteurella-free rabbits each were intranasally (i.n.), subcutaneously (s.c.), and perorally (p.o.) challenged, respectively. Six rabbits of each group were immunosuppressed using dexamethasone. Eight rabbits (four of them immunosuppressed) inoculated i.n. showed symptoms of respiratory distress resulting in respiratory failure and died or were euthanized in the terminal stage of the disease 3-6 days post-infection (p.i.). The main pathological findings were fibrinopurulent pleuropneumonia (immunocompetent rabbits) or diffuse haemorrhagic pneumonia (immunosuppressed rabbits). Septicemic syndrome ending with shock occurred in 11 rabbits (6 of them immunosuppressed) inoculated s.c., which died or were euthanized in the terminal stage of the disease 2-3 days p.i. The most significant pathological findings were extensive cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions. All of the p.o. inoculated rabbits survived the challenge showing no clinical signs of the disease and no macroscopic lesions. The observations in this study indicate that in addition to serogroups A and D of P. multocida, serogroup F also can be highly pathogenic for rabbits and therefore might be a cause of considerable economic loss in commercial rabbit production.

The purpose of this study was to compare the midterm results of a radiological and surgical approach to uterine fibroids. One hundred twenty-one women with reproductive plans who presented with an intramural fibroid(s) larger than 4 cm were randomly selected for either uterine artery embolization (UAE) or myomectomy. We compared the efficacy and safety of the two procedures and their impact on patient fertility. Fifty-eight embolizations and 63 myomectomies (42 laparoscopic, 21 open) were performed. One hundred eighteen patients have finished at least a 12-month follow-up; the mean follow-up in the entire study population was 24.9 months. Embolized patients underwent a significantly shorter procedure and required a shorter hospital stay and recovery period. They also presented with a lower CRP concentration on the second day after the procedure (p < 0.0001 for all parameters). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the rate of technical success, symptomatic effectiveness, postprocedural follicle stimulating hormone levels, number of reinterventions for fibroid recurrence or regrowth, or complication rates. Forty women after myomectomy and 26 after UAE have tried to conceive, and of these we registered 50 gestations in 45 women. There were more pregnancies (33) and labors (19) and fewer abortions (6) after surgery than after embolization (17 pregnancies, 5 labors, 9 abortions) (p < 0.05). Obstetrical and perinatal results were similar in both groups, possibly due to the low number of labors after UAE to date. We conclude that UAE is less invasive and as symptomatically effective and safe as myomectomy, but myomectomy appears to have superior reproductive outcomes in the first 2 years after treatment.

We have used selected rabbit anti-human polyclonal antibodies as an example of useful and easily available tools for studies on immune system structure and development in important veterinary species, many of which also represent animal models in biomedicine. The cocktail of anti-human Igkappa-FITC/anti-Iglambda-RPE F(ab')(2) fragments was used for two-colour and, in combination with the cross-reactive anti-CD79alpha monoclonal antibody HM-57, for three-colour flow cytometry of canine, feline, bovine and porcine peripheral B-cells. A possible application of such immunoreagents in studies on primary B-cell differentiation has been suggested in pigs; the same approach can be used in other species of interest. Rabbit anti-human lactoferrin-FITC F(ab')(2) fragment was used for visualizing neutrophils in dogs, pigs and cattle and an application for two-colour immunophenotyping of canine granulocyte subsets has been designed. Affinity isolated rabbit anti-human CD3 and anti-human TdT have been shown to represent a ready-to-use tool for in situ studies on primary T-lymphopoiesis in pigs with possible extensions both to the B-lineage development in pigs and other animal models. Altogether, our study show that carefully selected polyclonal antibodies available on the market may possess broad cross-reactivity with important applications in veterinary research.

Aim: Uterine artery embolization for fibroids is a controversial issue for women with incomplete reproductive plans. Ovarian failure and uterine infection are the most dreaded complications of this procedure. The purpose of the present study was to assess the types and the frequency of intrauterine abnormalities and the histological features of the endometrium after embolization., Methods: Uterine artery embolization was performed on 51 women (average age 34.5 years) with intramural fibroid/s larger than 4 cm. Hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy was performed from 3 to 9 months later in the luteal phase of the cycle., Results: Despite all women having no major symptoms prior to hysteroscopy, only 19 (37%) had completely normal hysteroscopic findings. There was intrauterine protrusion of fibroid/s in 19 cases (37%), yellowish coloration of the endometrium in 14 (28%), intrauterine or cervical adhesions in seven (14%), and communication between the myoma and the uterine cavity in five cases (10%). A normal, functional endometrium was histologically verified in 44 women of 49 (90%) who could be evaluated. Regressive changes (necrosis or hyalinization) of leiomyoma or of indefinite origin were found in 17 patients and embolization particles in five, including one patient with microspheres inside the endometrial vessel. No case of Asherman syndrome or endometrial atrophy was observed., Conclusion: The frequency of abnormal hysteroscopic findings after embolization is surprisingly high. The clinical significance, reversibility, and impact on fertility of abnormal hysteroscopic findings after embolization remain unclear. Regardless, hysteroscopy should be strongly recommended to all patients after uterine fibroid embolization, prior to conception.

Objective: To compare the clinical results of surgical and endovascular treatment of uterine myomas in young women., Study Design: In a university-affiliated, tertiary care center a prospective trial was conducted. Sixty-three women, wishing to retain fertility, with intramural fibroid(s) larger than 4 cm, were randomly selected either for uterine artery embolization or myomectomy. Invasiveness, efficacy, and complications of both procedures were compared., Results: Thirty embolizations and 33 myomectomies (15 laparoscopic, 18 open) were performed. The mean follow-up was 17 months. In embolized patients, there was a significantly shorter procedure length (p<0.0001), hospital stay (p<0.001) and disability period (p<0.0001), lower CRP (p<0.001) and higher hemoglobin (p<0.0001) concentrations the 2nd day after procedure. But there was a higher incidence of re-interventions (p<0.01) and a lower rate of total symptomatic relief (p<0.1). The groups did not significantly differ in: technical success rate, febrile morbidity, FSH levels 6 months after the procedure, and complication rates., Conclusions: Although the reproductive outcomes of uterine artery embolization and myomectomy cannot be evaluated at the moment, our first results indicate that both methods are clinically successful in the majority of cases and are not connected with significant number of serious complications.

The case is presented of a patient with stenosis of the intrahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava and the terminal part of hepatic veins, a state manifesting itself in ascites resistant to treatment. The case was originally seen as decompensated cirrhosis of the liver. Once properly diagnosed, it was successfully treated with angioplasty and subsequent anticoagulation. After all the relevant hypercoagulation states potentially leading to IVC and hepatic vein stenosis were ruled out, the cause of the patient's stenosis could be traced to: 1. secondary polycythemia concomitant to severe pulmonary obstruction disease and 2. simultaneous corticosteroid therapy. This cause has not been described in literature before.

Background: Ischemic steal syndrome is an infrequent, but potentially disabling complication of hemodialysis (HD) access creation. We analyzed the ability of duplex Doppler ultrasonography to reveal potential causes of ischemic steal syndrome in antebrachial accesses., Methods: We performed 212 examinations on 121 patients. Ten patients suffered from ischemic steal syndrome. Complete length access evaluation was performed by a linear array 7.5 MHz ultrasound probe., Results: Hand ischemia was explained by inflow artery stenosis in five cases. Excessive fistula flow due to large arteriovenous anastomosis was the suspected cause in two cases. The remaining two cases were characterized by high-resistant minimal flow in the ulnar artery with bi-directional flow in the distal part of the radial artery, suggesting stenoses located in the arcus palmaris. Duplex Doppler ultrasound had not revealed the etiology of clinically apparent hand ischemia in one case. Isolated inflow artery stenoses were treated successfully by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Patients with ischemic steal syndrome and high fistula flow were treated successfully by outflow vein banding., Conclusions: Duplex Doppler ultrasonography is a valuable tool for diagnosing the cause of ischemic steal syndrome and can probably replace angiography in some cases.

Background: Stenoses of vascular accesses are leading factors limiting access survival. Besides physical examination, screening of access stenoses is based mainly on the "dysfunction hypothesis", which states that progressive stenosis causes graft dysfunction, such as decreased flow. We tested whether Doppler ultrasonography could detect a number of clinically hidden access stenoses in otherwise well-managed patients. Indications from clinical evaluation regarding the presence of stenosis were compared with ultrasound findings., Methods: We made 258 examinations in 193 patients. Whole-length morphological ultrasound examinations of vascular access were done with a 7.5 MHz linear array transducer. The combination of > 50% stenosis in B-mode and at least doubling of peak systolic velocity was the criterion for significant stenosis. We compared the specificity and sensitivity of clinical diagnosis or ultrasound., Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the clinical diagnosis of stenosis were 35.8% and 92.8%, respectively., Conclusions: A considerable number of otherwise appropriately managed hemodialysis patients suffer from significant access stenosis. Wider use of Doppler ultrasonography would increase the proportion of clinically hidden stenoses diagnosed in time and thus might prolong access patency. Clinical suspicion of access stenosis is highly specific and such patients should be examined directly by angiography.