Influence of haematological parameters before coronary angioplasty on subsequent restenosis

OBJECTIVES: Restenosis is the major limitation of coronary interventions occurring in nearly a third of the patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with no single, definite predictor demonstrated in an individual patient. Platelets are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of subsequent restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective study, follow-up coronary angiographies were performed in 102 consecutive patients with stable angina who underwent a successful PTCA for single-vessel coronary artery disease. Demographics, baseline lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides) and haematological parameters (red cell, white cell and platelet counts, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrite %, mean platelet volume, platelet mass and fibrinogen levels) were compared between patients with and without restenosis. In the restenosis group, mean platelet volume (8.82 +/- 0.78 fl vs. 8.13 +/- 0.64 fl, p < 0.001), white cell count (8673 +/- 322 x 10(3)/microl vs. 7513 +/- 232 x 10(3)/microl, p < 0.01) and fibrinogen level (4.2 +/- 1.4 g/l vs 3.6 +/- 1.1 g/l) were significantly higher. The relative odds for developing angiographically defined restenosis were 2.49 times greater in diabetics (p = 0.11) and 2.54 times greater in men (p = 0.13). It is 1.43 times greater in patients with higher fibrinogen levels (p = 0.16). But, the relative odds for developing restenosis were 10.43 times greater in patients with larger pre-procedural mean platelet volumes (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive correlation between mean platelets volume and loss in luminal diameter between post-angioplasty and follow-up angiographies (r = +2.345, p = 0.01). There was no association between restenosis and haemoglobin, haematocrit, red cell count, white cell count, platelet count, platelet mass and plasma fibrinogen level. The development of restenosis after successful coronary angioplasty may be mainly influenced by the platelet size.     

Managerial implications of medical sales representative perceptions of job duties, job qualifications, and other performance-related issues

This study examined the perceptions of medical sales representatives of job related duties, job qualifications needed, and motivating factors and tested for differences based on gender, age, years of experience and education using prior research as a base. This study also explored issues that may arise between sales people and physicians. The authors surveyed 132 medical sales representatives from pharmaceutical firms located in Ankara, Turkey. The authors' findings highlight the need in Turkey for developing in-service training programs for medical sales representatives, especially in the areas related to technical aspects of the product, effective marketing and personal selling strategies, and consumer relations. Training in these areas will help salespeople to better manage the problems typically encountered in physician-sales representative relations. While the study was conducted in Turkey, the results are similar to findings in prior research conducted in other countries and therefore may be of interest to all sales managers.     

The effects of topical agents of fluticasone propionate, oxymetazoline, and 3% and 0.9% sodium chloride solutions on mucociliary clearance in the therapy of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in vivo

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to determine: 1) how mucociliary activity in acute bacterial rhinosinusitis is affected; 2) how this activity is changed by therapy; 3) the effects of topical agents on mucociliary clearance, and 4) the most appropriate topical agent(s) to be used in the therapy of sinusitis. STUDY DESIGN: Five groups of patients with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis were studied prospectively. METHODS: All patients had 500 mg oral amoxicillin and 125 mg oral clavulanic acid preparations given three times daily for 3 weeks. According to the topical agent applications, these groups included: group I (n = 12), no topical treatment was given; group II (n = 14), two puffs for each nostril once daily of 50 microg/100 mL fluticasone propionate was given; group III (n = 9), one puff for each nostril three times daily of 0.05% oxymetazoline was given; group IV (n =12), 3% sodium chloride (NaCl) (buffered to pH 6.5-7 at room temperature) was given; and group V (n =13), 10-mL solutions of 0.9% NaCl (buffered to pH 6.5--7 at room temperature) were given for nasal irrigations three times daily. All patients had medication for 3 weeks and were controlled each week. The saccharin method was used to measure nasal mucociliary clearance. To investigate the early effects of the topical agents for groups II to V, an additional test was repeated 20 minutes after the basal mucociliary clearance recordings. The test was repeated in the first, second, and third weeks of the treatment. RESULTS: The mucociliary clearance was significantly slower in the acute bacterial rhinosinusitis group than in the control group. There was no significant difference between the basal mucociliary clearance and the 20th minute mucociliary clearance of the fluticasone propionate and 0.9% NaCl solution groups. The mean values of the basal and the 20 minute's mucociliary clearance of the oxymetazoline group were 24.72 +/- 6.16 and 15.5 +/- 7.45 minutes, respectively, which were statistically significant. The mean values of the basal and the 20th minute mucociliary clearance of the 3% NaCl solution groups were 19.45 +/- 9.35 and 15.45 +/- 8.20 minutes, respectively, which were also statistically significant. In the first group (without topical treatment), the basal mucociliary clearance became significantly shorter after the second week of treatment. In the first and second weeks of the treatment of the oxymetazoline group, the mucociliary clearance did not change significantly, but after the third week the mucociliary clearance was significantly shorter. In the 3% NaCl solution group, significant improvement began from the first week and continued through the third week. Comparing the basal and the third weeks' mucociliary clearance values among the groups, the oxymetazoline and 3% NaCl solution groups revealed more significant improvement than the other groups, but this improvement was not different from the improvement of group I. There was still a statistically significant difference in the mucociliary clearance of the post-treatment sinusitis groups from the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The oxymetazoline and 3% NaCl solution groups seemed to be more effective in mucociliary clearance, but there was no significant difference in improvement among the groups. The improvement of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis takes more than 3 weeks, according to the mucociliary clearance values of the groups.     

Carbon coating of stents has no effect on inflammatory response to primary stent deployment

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of stent carbon coating on inflammatory response. The authors serially measured plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and several cytokines (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin [IL]-1-beta, IL-6, and IL-8) in patients with single-vessel coronary stenosis who underwent primary stent implantation. None of the subjects had inflammatory or infectious disease at the time of the procedure. Forty-six patients (38 males; mean age 55 +/-9 years) were studied. Blood samples were collected before and at 2, 4, 6, 24, and 48 hours after stent implantation. Patients were randomly assigned 1 of 2 different stent types, an uncoated MAC (AMG Raesfeld-Erle, Germany) (UC-MAC) or a carbon-coated MAC (CC-MAC) stent. Implantations were performed without predilatation, and stents were deployed at a maximum pressure of 6 atmospheres for 90 seconds. Of the 46 patients, 14 had stable, 27 had unstable, and 5 had atypical angina. According to ACC/AHA classification, 35 lesions (76.1%) were type A, 10 (21.7%) were type B, and 1 (2.2%) was type C. Single stenosis of 28 left anterior descending, 12 circumflex, and 6 right coronary arteries were treated. Serum IL-6 increased in both the UC-MAC and CC-MAC groups, with concentrations significantly elevated above baseline at 6 hours, and then decreasing after 24 hours (baseline, 6-hour, and 24-hour values = 3.1 +/-2.3, 5.7 +/-3.8, and 6.3 +/-4.6 pg/mL, respectively, in UC-MAC; 3.7 +/-2.6, 6.2 +/-6.0, and 4.6 +/-3.7 pg/mL, respectively, in CC-MAC [p=0.002]). Plasma fibrinogen, CRP, and leukocyte concentrations also increased in both groups over the 24 hours (p < 0.05). The elevations of IL-6, CRP, and fibrinogen were similar in the 2 groups. The percent increases in IL-6, fibrinogen, and CRP were not associated with stent length, size, or clinical presentation (all p > 0.05). The results showed that stent implantation increases plasma IL-6, fibrinogen, and CRP concentrations, but carbon coating of the stent does not seem to affect this inflammatory response.     

Isolation and culture of adult and fetal rabbit bladder smooth muscle cells and their interaction with biopolymers

Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of isolation and culture of adult and fetal rabbit bladder smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and comparison of their interactions with different types of biodegradable biopolymers in cell culture. Methods: Bladder SMCs isolated from adult and fetus rabbits were identified by immunostaining for smooth muscle [alpha ]-actin and myosin. Growth kinetics of SMCs were estimated using population doubling time (PDT) and thymidine labeling index (TLI). Poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide; PLGA) copolymers were synthesized at 85:15 and 75:25 monomer ratios. The porous scaffolds prepared from these polymers were seeded with SMCs. The study compared the effectiveness of adsorbing fibronectin and fetal calf serum (FCS) on these biopolymers. The cells grown on these polymers were quantified using a neutral red uptake assay. Results: Over 90% of the 2 cell populations stained positive for SMC marker proteins. Fetal SMCs were seen to emerge from the tissue after 3 to 4 days, whereas adult SMCs were seen after 5 to 6 days. However, estimated PDT of fetal and adult SMCs was 85.2 and 54.5 hours, respectively, and TLI of adult SMCs was also higher than with fetal SMCs. Proliferation on 75:25 PLGA was better than for 85:15 and for both biopolymers; adsorption of FCS significantly affected cell attachment relative to fibronectin. Conclusions: Although fetal SMCs were shown to emerge from explants early after seeding onto dishes, doubling time and S-phase fraction of adult bladder SMCs were markedly higher than of fetal derived cells. Adsorption of serum proteins significantly enhances the attachment of both fetal and adult SMCs to biopolymers. J Pediatr Surg 38:21-24.     

The effect of immunonutrition on bacterial translocation,and intestinal villus atrophy in experimental obstructive jaundice

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Spontaneous bacterial infection and septicemia due to increased bacterial translocation (BT) in patients with obstructive jaundice result in significant morbidity and mortality. The present study evaluates the effects of enteral nutrition with immune enhancing feeds on BT and intestinal villus histopathology promoted by obstructive jaundice. METHODS: Fifty male Wistar-albino rats weighing 250-300g were assigned into five equal groups of 10. Animals in Groups I, II, and III were fed with standard chow, those in Group IV were given glutamine 1g/kg/day and the remaining 10 animals in Group V were fed with an arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and RNA-supplemented enteral diet for (1g/kg/day amino acid and 230 kcal/kg) 7 days preoperatively. Group I underwent sham operation and the remaining animals in all other groups underwent common bile duct ligation. After operation, Group I had standard chow, Groups II and IV had glutamine, Groups III and V had an arginine omega-3 fatty acids, and RNA-supplemented enteral diet for 7 days. All animals were sacrificed on the 8th postoperative day and evaluated both biochemically and histopathologically. Samples from blood, liver, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen were cultured under aerobic conditions. RESULTS: Significantly less BT was observed in groups fed with an arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and RNA-supplemented enteral diet or glutamine in pre-and postoperative periods as compared to others (P<0.001). Histologic evaluation also showed significant reduction in villus atrophy in these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Enteral immunonutrition using glutamine or arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and RNA-supplemented enteral diet during both pre-and postoperative periods seems to reduce BT and decrease atrophy of intestinal mucosal villi in rats with obstructive jaundice.     

ESR detection and dosimetric properties of irradiated naproxen sodium

In the present work, the electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetric properties of naproxen sodium (NS) was investigated in the dose range of (2.5-25 kGy). Irradiated NS exhibited a very simple ESR spectrum consisting of a broadened antisymmetric single resonance line not saturating up to 2 mW microwave power at room temperature. The sum of two exponential increasing functions associated with two different radicals of different spectroscopic features and relative weights were found best describing experimental dose-response curve. Radiation induced radicals were observed to be very stable at room temperature but the increase in storage temperature increased very appreciably the decay of the contributing radicals. The results of the simulation calculation based on a model of two radicals showed that two carbon dioxide ionic free radicals (*CO(2))(-) of different orientational and environmental features produced by preferential rupture of carboxyl group from the rest of NS molecules in the crystalline matrix, were, likely at the origin of the experimentally observed ESR spectrum. Features such as good time stability of the signal intensity and relatively high radiation yield (G=0.13) were considered providing NS with potential use as dosimetric material in measuring radiation dose in the range of 2.5-25 kGy by ESR technique.     

Outcome of orthoses intervention in the rheumatoid foot

This study was carried out to determine the effect of foot orthoses on pain, gait, and energy expenditure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Eighteen patients were evaluated for these parameters. Each patient was given a foot insert or shoe modification suitable for his or her foot deformity. Following 3 months of orthosis use, a significant difference was found in regards to pain (p < .05), step length and stride length (p < .05), and physiological cost index (p < .05). The results suggest that foot orthoses are an important feature in the rehabilitation of the rheumatoid foot.     

Cross ectopic multicystic dysplastic kidney with ureterocele in nonectopic site

Crossed renal ectopy (CRE) is the second most common fusion anomaly of the kidney, with an incidence of 1 in 7000 autopsies; it comes in second after horseshoe kidney. Crossed renal ectopy is associated with an ectopic ureter and generally an ectopic kidney fused with a normal kidney. A 7-month-old boy who had left-to-right crossed non-fused renal ectopy and multicystic renal dysplasia with ureterocele in nonectopic kidney was reported in English language literature. In this article, we present the first case of CRE where surgical intervention has been performed.