Mivacurium chloride for anesthesia in day surgery

Anesthetic techniques for day surgery must foresee a prompt recovery of alertness, ambulation and alimentation. The aim of our study is to evaluate mivacurium chloride in outpatient general anesthesia. Twenty patients, aged 18–55 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I–II, undergoing surgical procedures were studied. Mivacurium (0.2 mg/kg) was administered to provide neuromuscular relaxation and endotracheal intubation was performed. Additional doses of 0.1 mg/kg mivacurium were given to maintain neuromuscular block, monitored by Relaxograph (Datex). In all patients, mivacurium provided satisfactory conditions for tracheal intubation after a mean time of 120 ± 15 s. Spontaneous recovery after the last dose of mivacurium was obtained in a mean time of 15 min. No side-effects or significant hemodynamic changes were recorded. The incidence of histamine-related side-effects was low. Mivacurium produces spontaneous recovery of neuromuscular block in a short time and shows some ideal properties for anesthesia in day surgery.     

A physiological place-frequency map of the cochlea in the CBA/J mouse

Genetically manipulated mice have gained a prominent role in in vivo research on development and function of the auditory system. A prerequisite for the interpretation of normal and abnormal structural and functional features of the inner ear is the exact knowledge of the cochlear place-frequency map. Using a stereotaxic approach to the projection site of the auditory nerve fibers in the cochlear nucleus, we succeeded in labelling physiologically characterized auditory nerve afferents and determined their peripheral innervation site in the cochlea. From the neuronal characteristic frequency (CF) and the innervation site in the organ of Corti a place-frequency map was established for characteristic frequencies between 7.2 and 61.8 kHz, corresponding to locations between 90% and 10% basilar membrane length (base = 0%, apex = 100%, mean length measured under the inner hair cells 5.13 mm). The relation between normalized distance from the base (d) and frequency (kHz) can be described by a simple logarithmic function: d(%) = 156.5-82.5 x log(f), with a slope of 1.25 mm/octave of frequency. The present map, recorded under physiological conditions, differs from earlier maps determined with different methods. The simple logarithmic place-frequency relation found in the mouse indicates that mice are acoustic generalists rather than specialists.     

Alar Batten Cartilage Graft: Treatment of Internal and External Nasal Valve Collapse

Background  The aim of this study was to describe the efficacy of alar batten graft in correcting internal and external nasal valve collapse (i.n.v. and e.n.v.) and evaluate the functional and aesthetic results. Methods  From July 2006 to September 2008, 80 patients (54 females and 26 males) underwent alar batten cartilage grafting. The patients were divided into three groups: (1) 55 patients with iatrogenic nasal valve collapse (80% i.n.v., 20% e.n.v.), (2) 15 patients with posttraumatic nasal valve collapse (45% i.n.v., 55% e.n.v.), and (3) 10 patients with congenital nasal valve collapse (100% e.n.v.). Patients were evaluated at 6, 12, 24, and some at 36 months after surgery. The final follow-up was at least 24 months. Results  The results of this study revealed a significant increase in the size of the aperture at the internal or external nasal valve after the application of alar batten grafts. All the patients noted improvement in their nasal airway breathing and in their cosmetic appearance. No major complication was observed. Conclusion  The alar batten graft is a simple, versatile technique for long-term reshaping, repositioning, and reconstruction of the nasal valve collapse.     

Probiotic properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus rhamnosus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus paracasei</Emphasis> isolated from human faeces

Background  

The possibility of using microbes to maintain health, and to prevent or treat disease is a topic as old as microbiology. The research of novel probiotic strains is important in order to satisfy the increasing request of the market and to obtain functional products in which the probiotic cultures are more active and with better probiotic characteristics than those already present on the market.     

Role of Vincristine in Immunochemotherapy of Leukemia in Mouse or Human Models

Synergistic antitumor effects between Vincristine (VCR) and allograft responses. have been found in mice bearing allogeneic retrovirus-induced leukemia. In this model VCR depressed weakly allograft reactivity if given before but not after antigen administration. In a parallel human tumor model in vitro using HTLV-1 induced MT-2 leukemia, additive but not synergistic immuno-chemotherapeutic effects were obtained with allogeneic mononuclear cells (MNC) combined with VCR at 0.1 but not at 1 mμg/ml. In this case natural immunity (NI) rather than antigen-dependent immunity (ADI) was involved in the combined effets of VCR + MNC. In the in vitro model pretreatment of effector cells with 1 or 0.1 mμg/ml of VCR depressed natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity (NCMC). However when the drug was added to the effector + target cells during the 4 h cytotoxicity assay, 1 but not 0.1 mμg/ml of the drug was capable of depressing NCMC function. These results would provide valuable information for developing in vitro immuno-chemotherapy studies in human tumor systems, including those characterized by the presence of tumor-associated oncogenic retroviruses, capable of depressing both NI and ADI functions.