Nutcracker syndrome may be an important cause of orthostatic proteinuria in children. Doppler sonography of the left renal vein may be a useful screening tool in patients with suspected orthostatic proteinuria to evaluate whether the cause is nutcracker syndrome.

Ovarian vein embolization using coils is a safe and effective therapeutic method for treatment of PCS. It is thought that surgical treatment should be considered in cases where embolization proves ineffective.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of transrectal ultrasonographically guided needle aspiration in the treatment of prostatic abscess. Fourteen patients with prostatic abscess were evaluated with this technique and treated with sonographically guided needle aspiration. Using this technique, all cases (100%) had one or more hypoechoic areas within the prostate that contained inhomogeneous materials; in 10 patients (71.0%), the lesion showed internal septa or solid portion. The margins of the hypoechoic area were well defined and thick in 11 patients (79.0%) and poorly defined in 3 patients (21.0%). The estimated volume of the prostatic abscess ranged between 2 and 28 ml (mean, 12.0 ml). The presence of a pus collection within the prostate was confirmed by transrectal ultrasonographically guided aspiration in all patients. However, successful treatment of prostatic abscess with transrectal needle aspiration was done in 12 (86.0%) of 14 patients; the treatment failed in 2 (14.0%) of 14 patients. One patient was treated with perineal incision and drainage and the other with transurethral resection. The amount of pus drained ranged between 1 and 39 ml (mean, 12.0 ml). On follow-up transrectal ultrasonographic examination, no remaining abscess pocket was found within the prostate in any of the cases. One year later, the prostatic abscess recurred in one case. In conclusion, transrectal ultrasonographic guidance is useful in the diagnosis of prostatic abscess as well as in the guidance for aspiration and the drainage of such abscesses. Transrectal ultrasonographically guided needle aspiration could be an effective method for treating prostatic abscess.

Acetic acid was an effective and safe sclerosing agent for renal cysts, tending to induce faster and more complete regression than ethanol.

Using conducting tip atomic force microscopy (c-AFM), we have measured the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of individual submicron islands of TiSi2 on Si(100) surfaces, and we have developed an imaging approach that distinguishes the electrical properties of the islands. The Schottky barrier height (SBH) of the submicron TiSi2 islands was deduced from the I–V measurements. The results indicate that there is a significant variation of SBH among the islands on the same surface. The measurements employ a conventional AFM with a heavily B-doped diamond tip to obtain the current–voltage relations. In contact mode AFM, electrical signals are extracted independently from the topographic image. In addition, we have modified the imaging method to probe the local electrical properties of a surface with regions of different conductivity. Using a lock-in technique both phase and amplitude images were obtained, and the resultant image is essentially a map of the differential surface conductivity. Using this method, TiSi2 islands on a Si(100) surface were imaged. This approach can be readily extended to other materials systems.

Gastrointestinal (GI) fistulas are frequently very serious complications that are associated with high morbidity and mortality. GI fistulas can cause a wide array of pathophysiological effects by allowing abnormal diversion of the GI contents, including digestive fluid, water, electrolytes, and nutrients, from either one intestine to another or from the intestine to the skin. As an alternative to surgery, recent technical advances in interventional radiology and percutaneous techniques have been shown as advantageous to lower the morbidity and mortality rate, and allow for superior accessibility to the fistulous tracts via the use of fistulography. In addition, new interventional management techniques continue to emerge. We describe the clinical and imaging features of GI fistulas and outline the interventional management of GI fistulas.

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