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Background/Aims: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) is defined as an abnormal heart structure and function in cirrhotic patients. CCM includes systolic and diastolic dysfunction, electrophysiological abnormalities, and structural changes, both microscopic and macroscopic. Currently, there is no one diagnostic test that can identify patients with CCM. Evaluation of the validity of galactin-3 and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) as biomarkers in the early detection of CCM in comparison to conventional echocardiography. Materials and Methods: A case control study was carried out in the Departments of internal medicine and tropical Medicine, Assuit University, Egypt. Seventy-one subjects were divided into the following three groups: 26 cirrhotic patients without ascites, 25 cirrhotic patients with ascites, and 20 healthy controls. All groups underwent clinical examination, and laboratory investigation including BNP, galactin-3, and echocardiography. Results: There was a significant difference between the three groups (p0.001) with regard to corrected QT (cQT), BNP and galactin-3. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with different grades was the most recorded cardiac abnormality in the patient group I and II (88.5% and 96%; respectively) with significantly increased frequency and severity in ascetic patients and with the advancement of liver cirrhosis. BNP and galactin-3 were sensitive and specific biomarkers for the detection of diastolic dysfunction in cirrhotic patients (77.6%, 95.5%, 89.9% and 86.4%; respectively). Conclusion: Diastolic dysfunction is a common cardiac abnormality in cirrhotic patients that worsens with the advancement of cirrhosis. BNP and galactin-3 had higher sensitivity and specificity in the early detection of CCM compared with those of conventional echocardiography.

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Introduction: Psychic anuria is an old term, referring to a very rare psycho-urological event that has scarcely been studied so far. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of the patients with psychic anuria presented to Assiut Urology and Nephrology Hospital during the period July 1991–June 2016 was done. Psychic anuria was defined, and the demographic and clinical characteristics including the methods of diagnosis and management were studied. Results: Of more than 3,800 cases of anuria, 9 female patients (0.24%) experienced psychic anuria in the age range of 17–43 years. Cardinal clinical findings included anuria for 36–72 h with absence of organic causes and normal renal function tests. Psychosocial risk factors were reported in the 9 cases. Anuria was documented by reliable history (56%) or observable urine collection (44%). Diagnosis was done by exclusion, where the investigations revealed no organic causes. Seven cases responded to the placebo intervention and 2 cases were self-limiting and resolved spontaneously. Conclusions: Psychic anuria is an extremely rare urological emergency that presents, mainly, in young adult females with unknown mechanisms. Renal vasoconstriction following psychosocial stressors is suggested. It is diagnosed by exclusion and resolves spontaneously or responds to placebo intervention as a mental distraction technique.

Introduction: Psychic anuria is an old term, referring to a very rare psycho-urological event that has scarcely been studied so far. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of the patients with psychic anuria presented to Assiut Urology and Nephrology Hospital during the period July 1991–June 2016 was done. Psychic anuria was defined, and the demographic and clinical characteristics including the methods of diagnosis and management were studied. Results: Of more than 3,800 cases of anuria, 9 female patients (0.24%) experienced psychic anuria in the age range of 17–43 years. Cardinal clinical findings included anuria for 36–72 h with absence of organic causes and normal renal function tests. Psychosocial risk factors were reported in the 9 cases. Anuria was documented by reliable history (56%) or observable urine collection (44%). Diagnosis was done by exclusion, where the investigations revealed no organic causes. Seven cases responded to the placebo intervention and 2 cases were self-limiting and resolved spontaneously. Conclusions: Psychic anuria is an extremely rare urological emergency that presents, mainly, in young adult females with unknown mechanisms. Renal vasoconstriction following psychosocial stressors is suggested. It is diagnosed by exclusion and resolves spontaneously or responds to placebo intervention as a mental distraction technique.

Introduction: Psychic anuria is an old term, referring to a very rare psycho-urological event that has scarcely been studied so far. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of the patients with psychic anuria presented to Assiut Urology and Nephrology Hospital during the period July 1991–June 2016 was done. Psychic anuria was defined, and the demographic and clinical characteristics including the methods of diagnosis and management were studied. Results: Of more than 3,800 cases of anuria, 9 female patients (0.24%) experienced psychic anuria in the age range of 17–43 years. Cardinal clinical findings included anuria for 36–72 h with absence of organic causes and normal renal function tests. Psychosocial risk factors were reported in the 9 cases. Anuria was documented by reliable history (56%) or observable urine collection (44%). Diagnosis was done by exclusion, where the investigations revealed no organic causes. Seven cases responded to the placebo intervention and 2 cases were self-limiting and resolved spontaneously. Conclusions: Psychic anuria is an extremely rare urological emergency that presents, mainly, in young adult females with unknown mechanisms. Renal vasoconstriction following psychosocial stressors is suggested. It is diagnosed by exclusion and resolves spontaneously or responds to placebo intervention as a mental distraction technique.