In SLE patients, there is an association of BMI with dyslipidemia and decreased QoL. Its role in disease activity is not clear and obesity was associated with SLE damage accrual, especially lupus nephritis among other risk factors, including age, disease duration and increased steroid use. Increased waist circumference increases the risk of atherosclerosis.

Varicocele has been identified as an important cause of male infertility where its influence on men's reproductive capacity is due to its markedly diverse effects on the testicles. This study aimed to assess the value of ultrasonographic parameters of the spermatic veins at the inguinal and scrotal levels in varicocele diagnosis and post-operative evaluation. Forty-five infertile men associated with varicocele and 15 fertile men were subjected to history taking, genital examination and semen analysis. In addition, inguinal and scrotal ultrasonography was carried out pre-varicocelectomy and 3 months post-varicocelectomy. At both the scrotal or inguinal levels, the mean spermatic vein diameter demonstrated significant post-operative decrease compared with the pre-operative resting condition and on Valsalva' manoeuvre. The mean diameters of the pampiniform plexus of veins also demonstrated significant decreases post-operatively compared with the pre-operative resting condition or on Valsalva' manoeuvre. It is concluded that colour Doppler ultrasound is a reliable and noninvasive method that is useful not only for diagnosis but also for post-varicocele repair follow-up.

Background: Atherosclerosis has been extensively studied in thalassemia major (TM) and sickle cell disease but not yet in β thalassemia intermedia (TI). Previous studies concerned with TM were performed in children. TI patients usually live longer and, thus, are more prone to complications of atherosclerosis. Aim: In our study, we applied color Doppler for the determination of arterial conduit and flow velocities in β TI patients. Methods: For central circulation, we measured right and left middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) and basilar artery (BA) mean flow velocity (MFV), pulsatility index (PI), and peak systolic velocity (PSV) as well as carotid intimal media thickness, and to assess peripheral circulation, we studied ankle/brachial index and posterior and anterior tibial arteries' (ATA, PTA) pressure and PSV. This was applied for 30 adult TI patients and 20 age-, sex-, and ethnic group-matched controls. Results: Transcranial Doppler findings among cases and controls showed that the MFV, PSV of MCAs, and PSV, PI, and MFV of the BA were statistically higher in cases than controls. A comparison between splenectomized and non-splenectomized patients showed that total leukocyte count, platelet count, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, PSV and MFV of the left MCA were all statistically higher in splenectomized cases. Differences between males and females with TI with respect to laboratory and Doppler findings were all statistically insignificant except for intima media thickness, PTA pressure, ATA pressure, and PSV. Conclusion: More than one parameter should be applied to assess atherosclerosis in TI. There is evidence of an increased risk of central ischemia rather than peripheral ischemia in these patients.

Background Hepatorenal syndrome is a potentially fatal complication of advanced liver disease. Markers for early diagnosis and identification of high-risk patients are lacking. Our aim was to evaluate the role of renal Duplex ultrasonography in the diagnosis and early prediction of hepatorenal syndrome. This study included 50 patients. Clinical assessment, liver function tests, hepatitis C virus antibody, kidney function tests, and abdominal and renal color Duplex ultrasound were done to all subjects. Results Univariate regression analysis for hepatorenal syndrome showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the Model For End-Stage Liver Disease score (p-value <0.0001) and renal artery hilum resistivity index (p-value = 0.0017). Logistic multivariable regression analysis proved that the renal artery hilum resistivity index was an independent predictor of hepatorenal syndrome. Renal artery hilum resistivity index can be used as a predictor of hepatorenal syndrome with 100% sensitivity and 66.7% specificity with a cut-off value > 0.77. Conclusion The renal resistive index could be a good predictor of hepatorenal syndrome.

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