Supraclavicular block during elbow joint surgeries in children

The regional methods of analgesia are the "golden standard" of choice during trauma surgeries. The supraclavicular block of the bracheal plexus is the method of choice during the cubital joint surgeries. The purpose of the study is to improve the effectiveness of anesthesia and postoperative analgesia for surgical interventions on the cubital joint in children by developing and implementing the clinical practice of peripheral blockade of the brachial plexus by the supraclavicular access. The study included 40 children aged 5 to 12 years. The children rated as ASA I, came to the clinic on an emergency basis with cubital joint bones injuries. All the children were had surgeries on the cubital joint (closed and open repositions with osteosynthesis) with balanced regional anesthesia, the main analgesic component of which was supraclavicular brachial plexus block (by Kulenkampf-Fursaev technique). The supraclavicular block was performed in conditions of psychological comfort of the child. For the means of premedication age appropriate doses of seduxen or midazolam were intravenously administered. Intraoperative sedation was conducted by the re-introduction of benzodiazepines, and ketamine (up to 1 mg/kg/h). During the study period, the effective intraoperative analgesia, provided by supraclavicular blockade of peripheral nerves, was observed in 31 children. In 9 patients the blockade could be found to be incomplete at the second stage of the surgery (reposition). For this reason, it took the additional administration of tramal in a dose of 2 mg/kg and deepening of sedation with ketamine up to the dose of 2 mg/kg/h. The duration of effective postoperative analgesia due to long-acting local anesthetic (0.5% solution of naropin) was 8-9 hours. There were no complications registered as a result of supraclavicular. Thus, this study proves that the supraclavicular brachial plexus block provides effective intra and postoperative analgesia in trauma operations on the cubital joint in children.     

Anti-arrhythmic therapy: diagnostic possibilities of signal-averaged electrocardiography and heart rate variability

Effects of monotherapy with class IC, II and III antiarrhythmic drugs on parameters of signal averaged (SA) ECG and heart rate variability were studied in 88 patients (mean age 45.6+/-7.8 years). Class IC drugs (ethacizine, disopyramide) caused worsening of qualitative parameters of SA ECG and appearance of ventricular late potentials. Therapy with beta-adrenoblockers, amiodarone and sotalol in patients with ventricular arrhythmias was associated with improvement of parameters of SA ECG, lowering of sympathetic and augmentation of parasympathetic activity without sings of arrhrythmogenic and negative inotropic effects. Combination of noninvasive diagnostic methods including SA ECG, temporal and spectral analysis of heart rate variability, Holter ECG monitoring can facilitate selection of appropriate antiarrhythmic therapy and control of its efficacy.     

An experience of the use of angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan in patients with metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease

Aim of the study--to assess efficacy and safety of one of angiotensin II receptor blockers in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and I-V stage chronic kidney disease. We studied cardiodynamic and renal effects of losartan in average daily dose 50 +/- 13.06 mg in 20 patients (9 men and 11 women aged 32-79 years) with MS and I-V stage chronic kidney disease. Cardiodynamic effects of losartan were assessed by office blood pressure (BP) measurements, 24-hour BP monitoring (24-HBPM), echocardiography. Laboratory investigations included biochemical analysis of the blood with measurement of creatinine levels, lipid blood composition, fasting glucose, and glucose under conditions of oral glucose tolerance test. Renal function was assessed by glomerular filtration rate and microalbuminuria (MAU). Parameters of quality of life were analyzed with the use of questionnaires "Quality of life of patients with hypertensive disease" and EuroQol EQ-5D VAS thermometer. Duration of follow up was 12 weeks. 24-HBPM revealed significant lowering of systolic and diastolic BP in all temporal intervals, significant decrease of elevated diurnal systolic and diastolic BP burden, tendency to lowering of variability and normalization of 24-hour BP profile. We also noted tendency to lowering of MAU from 5.60 mg/dl (median) (3.50; 9.20 [25th and 75th percentile]) to 3.25 mg/dl (0.40; 7.83); significant lowering of levels of triglycerides and glucose under conditions of glucose tolerance test; improvement of parameters characterizing quality of life namely reduction of integral assessment by the "Quality of life of patients with hypertensive disease" questionnaire and improvement of EQ-5D VAS (thermometer) score related to arterial hypertension. We conclude that losartan in patients with MS and early signs of impairment of kidney function in addition to antihypertensive action exerts favorable effect on parameters of 24-hour BP profile, has good safety profile, causes favorable metabolic effects, lowers level of MAU and improves parameters of quality of life.     

The effect of ibuprofen on the hemodynamics of the lesser circulation in patients with pulmonary hypertension

The effect of ibuprofen on pulmonary circulation hemodynamics, pulmonary ventilation and blood gaseous metabolism was studied under conditions of cardiac venous catheterization in 8 patients with pulmonary hypertension caused by chronic inflammatory diseases of the lungs. After oral use of ibuprofen in a dose of 0.4 g, there was (in 7 out of the 8 patients) an increase in the right ventricle systolic pressure at an average by 5.9 +/- 2.39 mm Hg (p less than 0.05). The time course of the echocardiographic indices in the majority of the patients was evident of an increase in the right ventricle postload. No definite tendencies in changing of pulmonary ventilation and blood gaseous metabolism were observed. Inhibition of synthesis of prostacyclin and type E prostaglandin having a vasodilating action is the most likely mechanism of the ibuprofen vasoconstrictive effect.     

Expression of tissue factor and factor VIIa/tissue factor inhibitor activity in endotoxin or phorbol ester stimulated U937 monocyte-like cells

Previously, unstimulated cells of the human monocytic tumor cell line U937 have been shown to possess a negligible cell-surface tissue factor (TF) activity, and to secrete a small amount of factor VIIa/tissue factor (VIIa/TF) inhibitor activity. On stimulation with endotoxin or with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), TF of these cells is known to be increased approximately fourfold. In this report, we demonstrate that VIIa/TF inhibitor is also increased on stimulation of U937 cells with endotoxin (approximately equal to threefold) or with PMA (approximately equal to 20-fold). Notably, the secretion of the inhibitor persisted after the cell surface TF had started to decline. Further, when serum- free media from PMA stimulated cells was electrophoresed on a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel, we eluted two inhibitor activity peaks corresponding to Mr approximately equal to 47,000 and Mr approximately equal to 36,000. The molecular weights of these peaks are similar to those obtained earlier from human plasma for this inhibitor(s).