Removal of surface bacteria by irrigation

We examined the efficacy of various irrigation solutions delivered through a power irrigator to remove bacteria from three different surfaces. Titanium, stainless-steel, and cortical bone surfaces were coated with three different bacterial species: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. They were then irrigated with 1 L of fluid delivered by jet lavage. The fluids tested were normal saline and solutions of bacitracin, neomycin, and soap. One set of specimens was not irrigated, as a control. After irrigation, the specimens were sonicated to remove residual bacteria, and the sonicate was quantitatively cultured to allow evaluation of the amount of residual bacteria on the surface. The results showed that removal of bacteria reflects an interaction between bacterial species, surface characteristics, and irrigation solution. Fewer bacteria were present in all the irrigation groups than in the control. Soap solution was as good as or better than any other solution at removing all three types of bacteria from all three surfaces, although not all of the pairwise comparisons were statistically significant. There was a significant advantage to soap solution over antibiotic irrigant or saline alone in removing Staphylococcus epidermidis from metallic surfaces. The use of a soap solution for irrigation seems to improve the removal of some bacteria from some surfaces in this experimental model and may represent a better type of irrigation additive.     

Measurements of Blood Pressure, Oedema and Proteinuria in a Pregnant Population of New Zealand

Summary: This is the first report of the largest study of blood pressure measurement in pregnancy in a New Zealand population using standardized definitions and methodology. Over 3,800 women who delivered in an 8-month period in the Wellington region were included in the study. Blood pressure measurement and the presence of oedema and proteinuria were recorded from booking until delivery and in the puerperium. Only 2.7% of women were unable to be contacted after delivery for details on outcomes. The results established normal ranges for blood pressure throughout pregnancy. The data show that Mood pressure greater than 140/90 until 35 weeks' gestation is outside 2 standard deviations at all gestations and justifies using these measurements as the definition of hypertension in pregnancy. The fall in blood pressure in the 2nd trimester was less than 1 mm Ffg per week in both the systolic and diastolic pressures. This fall was smaller than previously recorded in other studies. Gestational hypertension was the commonest blood pressure abnormality occurring in 15.2% of the population. This represented 69% of the pregnant women with a hypertensive disorder. The overall incidence of both gestational hypertension and preeclampsia was 18.5% which is higher than reported in other parts of the world. In this study obesity was significantly associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. An arm circumference of >33 cm, one of the measurements of obesity, was found in 6.8% of the study population. Even after the effect of arm circumference was taken into account, hypertensive disorders were also more common in Pacific Island women. Ankle oedema was significantly associated with the development of both gestational hypertension and preeclampsia but the incidence of oedema was noted in only 11.9% of the subjects.     

Studies on Propafenone-type Modulators of Multidrug-Resistance IV: Synthesis and Pharmacological Activity of 5-Hydroxy and 5-Benzyloxy Derivatives

A series of 5-hydroxy and 5-benzyloxy analogs of the antiarrhythmic and multidrug resistance (MDR) modulating drug propafenone was synthesized and the MDR-modulating activity of the compounds was evaluated using a daunomycin efflux assay system. The key step of the synthesis is the selective reduction of the double bond in 1 without cleavage of the benzyl group thus leading to the phenol 3 . Alkylation with epichlorohydrine followed by nucleophilic epoxide ring opening gave the benzylated target compounds 5a–d . Subsequent cleavage of the benzyl group gave the 5-hydroxy analogs 6a–d . Structure activity relationship studies showed, that the 5-hydroxy derivates 6a–d fit the log P/log potency correlation line previously established for a series of propafenone analogs. In contrast, all four 5-benzyloxy analogs 5a–d showed almost identical EC₅₀ values, independent of their log P value.     

Ketoprofen Versus Paracetamol in the Treatment of Acute Migraine

The efficacy and safety of ketoprofen and paracetamol were compared for the treatment of acute migraine in a randomized, double-blind study of 64 patients. Thirty-four patients received ketoprofen 100 mg intramuscularly, and 30 patients received paracetamol 500 mg intramuscularly. Partial or complete relief of pain and other symptoms was achieved 15 to 20 minutes after administration in the ketoprofen group and within 35 minutes in the paracetamol group. Complete relief of pain was achieved within 30 to 40 minutes after ketoprofen in 28 patients (82.5%) compared to 5 patients (17.5%) in the paracetamol group. Six of the patients treated with ketoprofen needed a second dose for complete relief of pain during the 4-hour follow-up period. Side effects were rare and minimal. Our findings suggest that ketoprofen produced statistically significant benefit in the treatment of acute migraine.     

Techniques of lumpectomy and axillary dissection

Preservation of the breast with a good or excellent cosmetic appearance is achievable in most patients. Careful attention to the details of surgical technique allows these procedures to be carried out easily and comfortably for the patient and the surgeon alike.