Control of intraocular inflammation after cataract surgery: New perspectives

Anti-inflammatory treatment is routinely prescribed to all patients after cataract surgery to prevent intraocular inflammation. A review of the literature was conducted to determine the optimal control of postcataract surgery inflammation. Intraocular steroid delivery systems, safer steroids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been found to be beneficial. Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors may circumvent many side effects of the earlier agents. The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article.     

Hapten-protein conjugates prepared by the mixed anhydride method. Cross-reactive antibodies in heterologous antisera

Poly-L-lysine conjugates of three structurally unrelated mycotoxins were made by either a mixed anhydride intermediate (MA) or an activated N-hydroxysuccinimide ester intermediate (AE). Control conjugates, with no mycotoxin, were also prepared by each method. Antisera elicited by mycotoxin-albumin conjugates produced by the MA method bound to the three poly-L-lysine-MA mycotoxin conjugates and the MA control conjugate , but bound only to the poly-L-lysine-AE conjugates of the homologous mycotoxin. Binding of antisera to homologous poly-L-lysine conjugates was always inhibited by free hapten when the conjugate was prepared by the AE method but not by the MA method. The specific inhibition of antibody binding by various synthetic haptens indicated that the cross-reactions associated with the MA method were due to the undesired conjugation of isobutylformate during the mixed anhydride procedure.     

Acute pancreatitis of biliary etiology

A retrospective study has been carried out, comparing 87 patients with acute pancreatitis of biliary etiology and 53 patients with pancreatitis secondary to other causes. The clinical presentation, laboratory data, radiological findings (chest X-rays, radiography of the abdomen and gastrointestinal, echography), morbidity and mortality have been analyzed. In acute pancreatitis related to biliary disease, pain is most frequently located in the right hypochondrium and the levels of amylase, GOT, GPT an alkaline phosphatase were higher, although only the last two parameters showed significant differences. Morbidity (local and general complications) did not show differences in both groups, but mortality was higher in pancreatitis secondary to biliary disease (5.6% compared to 3.7%).     

The effect of verapamil on GABA and dopamine release does not involve voltage-sensitive calcium channels

The effect of verapamil, which belongs to the group of drugs collectively referred to as 'organic Ca2+ channel blockers', was investigated on the basal and stimulated release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and GABA in rat striatum synaptosomes. Verapamil inhibits the Na(+)-dependent release of GABA in response to depolarization with an IC50 of 25 microM, whereas it is unable to modify the Na2(+)-independent, Ca2(+)-dependent fraction of GABA release induced by high K+ depolarization. Verapamil does not modify the basal release of GABA but stimulates the basal release of dopamine in a dose-dependent manner (ED50 5 microM). This verapamil-induced outflow of dopamine is independent of Ca2+ and occurs in the presence of tetrodotoxin, indicating that it is not mediated by voltage-sensitive Ca2+ or Na+ channels of the presynaptic membrane. Dopamine release induced by verapamil is cumulative with that induced by depolarizing agents (high K+ or veratridine). As verapamil, pimozide, a neuroleptic of the diphenylbutylpiperidine type, increases the basal and stimulated release of dopamine. We conclude that the opposite effects of verapamil of GABA and dopamine release are due to differences in the releasable fractions of these 2 types of neurotransmitters. Besides, none of these effects are directly linked with the blockade of voltage-operated Ca2+ channels of the presynaptic membrane.     

Experimental reconstruction of the canine trachea with a free revascularized small bowel graft

Extensive tracheal stenotic lesions caused by tracheomalacia or neoplasms represent a surgical challenge. Segmental tracheal substitution is sometimes required to obtain radical cure. We present an experimental study of 27 dogs undergoing replacement of the cervical trachea using a vascularized small bowel segment as a tubular graft. A silicone stent was placed in the lumen of the intestinal fragment and was removed the second week after operation. Endoscopic and histological examinations were performed between the first week and second month after operation, and rigidity of the graft was assessed in all cases. No evidence of anastomotic stricture or mucous formation was found. Microscopic examination showed the substitution of bowel mucosa by squamous epithelium as well as the development of connective tissue favoring the fixation of the skeletal muscular structures of the neck to the serous layer of the graft, thus avoiding collapse of the new airway.     

Implication of soluble and membrane HLA class I and serum IL-10 in liver graft acceptance.

Membrane HLA class-I expression (mHLA-I), soluble HLA class-I antigens (sHLA-I) and interleukin (IL)-10 are different factors implicated in the special acceptance of liver allograft. In this study, pre- and post-operative levels of mHLA-I in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and serum sHLA-I were analyzed in 86 liver transplants, immunosuppressed with Cyclosporine-A, methylprednisolone and azathioprine, and classified into acute-rejection (AR, n = 28) and non-acute-rejection (NAR, n = 58) groups. Serum IL-10 was studied in 47 recipients (AR-group, n = 16 and NAR-group, n = 31). Pre-transplant values of mHLA-I and sHLA-I showed a bimodal distribution (high/low) in NAR-recipients, but in AR-patients were mainly included in the low expression/secretion zone (mHLA-I, p < 0.02 and sHLA-I, p < 0.05). Consequently, average pre-transplant mHLA-I (868 +/- 109 versus 998 +/- 123, p < 0.05) and sHLA-I (1.3 +/- 0.4 versus 2.02 +/- 0.7 microg/ml, p < 0.01) was lower in the AR- than in the NAR-group. After transplant both parameters decreased in the NAR-group, but increased in AR-recipients previous to and on rejection diagnosis day. Additionally, serum IL-10 levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the NAR than in the AR-group during the first 24 h post-transplant. In conclusion, low pre-transplant mHLA-I and sHLA-I levels pre-dispose liver recipients to acute rejection, whereas early post-transplant increases of serum IL-10 appear to be related to a good liver allograft acceptance.     

A structural equation model for predictors of mental and physical health in women]

OBJECTIVE: To measure the extent to which stress, social support, and self-esteem are predictors of an individual's mental and physical health. Structural equations were integrated with previously-estimated partial models, which simplify the relationships among variables. METHODS: The study sample included 283 women with children. All of the participants resided in the municipality of General Escobedo, state of Nuevo León, Mexico. The surveys were carried out in the second semester of 2003, in the participants homes, using self-evaluation questionnaires to measure each of the variables included in the model. Each participant completed the questionnaire in one sitting. Results were analyzed with AMOS 5.0, employing the maximum likelihood method, often utilized in structural equation models. RESULTS: The results indicate an acceptable adjustment in the proposed model: (chi2/gl=3.03, goodness of fit (GFI)=0.894, adjusted goodness of fit (AGFI)=0.848, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.08, incremental fit index (IFI)=0.910). Variances were 31.9% with regard to stress, 27.4% with regard to physical health, and 72.1% with regard to mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Social support and self-esteem are predictors of stress; age and stress are predictors of physical health; and stress, self-esteem, and physical health are predictors of mental health.