OBJECTIVE: To obtain mean angulation values for renal hila in relation to the horizontal plane traced over the right and left spinal erector muscles, considering the center of the lumbar vertebral spine as a parameter for measuring the renal hila angles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors have analyzed 250 abdominal computed tomography studies of both male and female healthy individuals (128 men with mean age 52.45 ± 17.42 years, and 122 women with mean age 54.39 ± 18.27 years), corresponding to 500 renal hila evaluated. The mean angulation of each hilum in relation to the horizontal plane was obtained taking acute angles into consideration. RESULTS: The comparative study have not found any statistically significant difference in acute angles of renal hila between male and female individuals. The statistical analysis demonstrated limits of 40.40° and 44.54° for mean right hilum angulation and 39.91° and 43.23° for mean left hilum angulation, with a confidence interval of 95%. CONCLUSION: Renal hila present similar angulation independently of sex. Higher angulation values correspond to hyper-rotation or excessive rotation, and lower angulation values, to incomplete or reverse rotation.

Keywords: Congenital anomalies, Renal pelvis, Urinary tract, Helical computed tomography

OBJECTIVE: Comparative study of receptiveness (cooperation) and sensitivity of upper gastrointestinal series and intraabdominal esophagus ultrasonography in patients with suspicion of gastroesophageal reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study included 42 pediatric patients (26 male, with mean age of 33.64 ± 34.33 months, and 16 female, with mean age of 31.02 ± 35.56 months) with suspicion of gastroesophageal reflux, who were initially submitted to upper gastrointestinal series and subsequently to intraabdominal esophagus ultrasonography. RESULTS: The statistical comparative analysis covering sexes and ages suggests no evidence of association with cooperation, both for the upper gastrointestinal series and the intraabdominal esophagus ultrasonography. However, in the classification of the patients' cooperation, the technique of upper gastrointestinal series presented less than 50% of cooperation, while 80.49% of patients cooperated in the intraabdominal esophagus ultrasonography examinations. As regards the methods sensitivity for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux, the technique of intraabdominal esophagus ultrasonography was significantly superior (85.7%) to the upper gastrointestinal series (47.6%). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that an intraabdominal esophagus ultrasonography should be performed even if gastroesophageal reflux even if it is not detected at the upper gastrointestinal series.

Keywords: Gastroesophageal reflux, Intraabdominal esophagus, Ultrasonography, Contrast-enhanced study

OBJECTIVE: To utilize ultrasonography for evaluating the esophageal transit time as well as the esophagus capability of differentiating among non-solid substances ingested (water and yoghurt). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two young adults of both sexes with no gastric or esophageal complaint were evaluated, with a B-mode 3.5 MHz, convex transducer placed over the epigastric area. The esophageal transit time was determined by means of a chronometer activated when the deglutition was initiated (glottic movement), and stopped upon visualization of the bolus through the intra-abdominal esophagus. RESULTS: The mean esophageal transit time for water was 6.64 ± 1.83 sec, and 8.59 ± 2.70 sec for yoghurt. The comparative statistical analysis by a t-paired test has demonstrated statistically significant differences between the mean esophageal transit times for the two substances. CONCLUSION: This new experimental method for evaluating the esophageal transit time by ultrasonography demonstrates significant differences in the time required for a determined liquid or pasty food passing through the esophagus, elucidating clinical suspicions and allowing a more precise indication for further, more complex clinical studies.

Keywords: Ultrasonography, Esophageal transit time, Abdominal esophagus

OBJECTIVE: The present study had as its objective to compare the findings of voiding cystourethrography with those of duplex color Doppler in patients with suspected vesicoureteral reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was developed through the study of ureterovesical jet angles, both in axial and longitudinal planes. Also, the distance (in cm) between ureteral meatuses was analyzed. RESULTS: From a total sample of 32 patients (mean age of five years and two months), 18 presented with vesicoureteral reflux (10 with unilateral reflux - 4 right-sided and 6 left-sided -, and 8 with bilateral reflux) and 14 patients did not presented with reflux. The angles of ureterovesical jet and distances between the ureteral meatuses were measured in all patients, and mean values, standard deviation and coefficient of variance were calculated. CONCLUSION: Data showed that a trend towards meatus lateralization is a sign of predisposition to vesicoureteral reflux. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney statistical analysis did not show significant differences (p > 0.05) between groups (inclination angles of ureterovesical jet and distance between urinary meatuses).

Keywords: Vesicoureteral reflux, Ureterovesical jet, Color Doppler ultrasound, Voiding cystourethrography

Objective: To utilize intra-abdominal esophagus ultrasonography to evaluate esophageal transit time for water and yogurt in orthostatic position, and to evaluate the influence of gender and body mass index. Materials and Methods: The present study included 89 young adults [40 women (mean age, 20.13 ± 1.62 years) and 49 men (mean age, 20.43 ± 2.17 years)] who did not show upper gastrointestinal tract disorder. Esophageal transit time was measured with the patient in orthostatic position during water and yogurt swallowing. Results: Esophageal transit time for women and men was, respectively, 5.84 ± 1.60 seconds versus 6.66 ± 1.68 seconds with water, and 9.12 ± 1.96 seconds versus 9.28 ± 1.70 seconds with yogurt. No difference between genders was observed in spite of the lower body mass index in women. Conclusion: Data regarding esophageal transit time for liquid (water) and pasty (yogurt) food swallowed by young adults in the orthostatic position did not demonstrate any difference between genders even in women with lower body mass index as compared with men.

Keywords: Ultrasonography; Intra-abdominal esophagus; Body mass index.