Gallibacterium anatis-secreted metalloproteases degrade chicken IgG.

Gallibacterium anatis (previously named Pasteurella haemolytica-like) is considered a normal inhabitant of genital and upper respiratory tracts of healthy chickens, but it is also associated with different pathological conditions. Secreted metalloproteases from field and reference G. anatis cultures were obtained by methanol precipitation and were characterized. Proteins of molecular mass higher than 100 kDa showing proteolytic activity were observed in 10% polyacrylamide gels copolymerized with 1% bovine casein. They were active at alkaline pH, and inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. Their activity was stable at 50 degrees C, but partially inhibited at 60 degrees C, and totally inhibited at higher temperatures. Secreted proteins were able to degrade chicken IgG after 24 h of incubation, and cross-reacted with a polyclonal antibody against purified protease from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Secreted metalloproteases could play a role in infections caused by G. anatis.     

The efficacy of propafenone in preventing recurrent auricular fibrillation and flutter]

In order to investigate the efficacy of propafenone in the prevention of paroxysmal flutter or fibrillation, we treated 21 patients without left ventricular disfunction. Age was 60 +/- 14 (mean +/- sd) years, left atrial diameter by echocardiography 37 +/- 7 mm, cardiothoracic index 0.48 +/- 0.05 (0.41-0.57) and P wave duration 100 +/- 17 ms. The frequency of recurrences before treatment was: daily in five (23%), weekly or more in eight (38%), monthly-weekly in seven (33%) and quarterly-monthly in one (5%). Propafenone (671 +/- 187 mg/24 h) was given after recurrences were demonstrated under treatment with 1-3 antiarrhythmic drugs per patient. During 8.9 +/- 3.5 months of follow-up (range 6-19) 5 patients (23%) were completely free of recurrences; in seven (33%) the incidence decreased by greater than 50% with a marked decrease in duration. Side effects appeared in 12 cases (57%), leading to its discontinuation in four (19%). Arrhythmogenic effects were observed in 2 cases (9%). Propafenone is effective in greater than 50% of patients with paroxysmal atrial flutter or fibrillation, resistant to other antiarrhythmic agents. The incidence of side effects is high, but they are usually not severe and reversible.     

Use of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate in oral surgery: biological and clinical evaluation

N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate based tissue adhesive, Tisuacryl, was employed as a nonsuture method for closing wounds in oral surgery. One hundred thirty patients were treated with the adhesive and 30 with suture. The surgical procedures were apicectomy, extraction of molars, and mucogingival grafting. The studied product was well tolerated by the tissue and permitted immediate hemostasis and normal healing of incisions. When Tisuacryl was used as dressing material for donor sites and mucosal ulcerations, pain relief was observed.     

Effectiveness of a Cognitive Orientation Program With and Without Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Stopping Smoking in Hospitalised Patients

IntroductionWe have analyzed the effectiveness of high-intensity cognitive-behavioral intervention initiated during hospitalization, compared with minimal intervention. We have also analyzed whether the combination of intervention with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can increase smoking abstinence rates after 12 months of follow-up.MethodsWe studied 2,560 active smokers during their hospital stays. Of these, 717 smokers declined to participate in the study, and after minimal intervention they were asked for permission to telephone them one year later to ask if they continued to smoke. The remaining 1,843 smokers received high-intensity cognitive therapy and were randomized to receive NRT or not. The follow-up after hospital discharge was completed either in the outpatient consultation or by telephone sessions.ResultsOne year later, 7% of the patients who declined to participate in the study maintained smoking abstinence, compared with 27% of those who did participate in the study (p<0.001). There were significant differences between the group that only received behavioral treatment (21% abstinence) compared with the group that also received NRT (33% abstinence; p = 0.002). In this last group, there were significant differences (p = 0.03) between those who attended outpatient consultation (39% abstinence) and those who had telephone sessions (30%). In the multivariate analysis, the predictors for abstinence 12 months later were: having used NRT (OR 12.2; 95% CI, 5.2-32; p = 0.002) and a higher score on the Richmond test (OR 10.1; 95% CI, 3.9-24.2; p = 0.01).ConclusionsCognitive orientation interventions initiated in hospitalized smokers increase 12-month abstinence rates compared with minimal intervention, and said rates increase significantly when NRT is added.     

Versatility of the pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap in soft tissue reconstruction

For the last decades, the latissimus dorsi skin-muscle flap has contributed to the efficient reconstruction of the loss of skin cover (especially in breast surgery) and in long-distance tissue defects. Unfortunately, the nonuse of such an important muscle as the latissimus dorsi for the patient, as well as the resulting thickness of the flap after reconstruction, has turned it into a second choice flap. However, this flap is still indicated in the reconstruction of areas which need a great amount of cutaneous and muscular tissue. The appearance of the perforator flaps and, specifically, thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap, has meant a radical change in relation to lower morbidity of the donor site, thus highly ranking the use of these flaps in the reconstruction for similar defects. The aim of this publication is to present our experience with the pedicled TDAP flap in a series of 17 different cases. Of those, there were 14 cases of mammary reconstruction after sparing surgery, 2 cases of axillary reconstruction following severe recurrent hidradenitis, and a case of extensive substance loss in a patient's upper limb following a severe crush injury.     

Quantification of 5-HT1A receptors in human brain using p-MPPF kinetic modelling and PET

Serotonin-1A (5-HT(1A)) receptors are implicated in neurochemical mechanisms underlying anxiety and depression and their treatment. Animal studies have suggested that 4-(2'-methoxyphenyl)-1-[2'-[ N-(2"-pyridinyl)- p-[(18)F]fluorobenzamido] ethyl] piperazine ( p-MPPF) may be a suitable positron emission tomography (PET) tracer of 5-HT(1A) receptors. To test p-MPPF in humans, we performed 60-min dynamic PET scans in 13 healthy volunteers after single bolus injection. Metabolite quantification revealed a fast decrease in tracer plasma concentration, such that at 5 min post injection about 25% of the total radioactivity in plasma corresponded to p-MPPF. Radioactivity concentration was highest in hippocampus, intermediate in neocortex and lowest in basal ganglia and cerebellum. The interactions between p-MPPF and 5-HT(1A) receptors were described using linear compartmental models with plasma input and reference tissue approaches. The two quantification methods provided similar results which are in agreement with previous reports on 5-HT(1A) receptor brain distribution. In conclusion, our results show that p-MPPF is a suitable PET radioligand for 5-HT(1A) receptor human studies.