Non-ionic surfactant vesicles, niosomes, as a delivery system for the anti-leishmanial drug, sodium stibogluconate

Liver and serum concentrations of antimony in the mouse have been determined after administration of sodium stibogluconate in the free, liposomal and niosomal form. High liver and low serum values were attained by the use of both vesicular formulations. Niosomal sodium stibogluconate was shown to be more active than free drug against experimental murine visceral leishmaniasis, an effect apparently dependent on maintaining high drug levels in the infected reticuloendothelial system.     

Magnetic resonance imaging for ineffectual tarsal tunnel surgical treatment

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an entrapment neuropathy caused by compression of the posterior tibial nerve beneath the ankle flexor retinaculum. Treatment of TTS consists of surgical release of the retinaculum. The failure rate is 10%-20%. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used to evaluate a patient with an unsatisfactory response. MR imaging demonstrated incompleteness of the surgical release of the flexor retinaculum.     

Synovitis associated with serum IgM rheumatoid factor arising spontaneously in ''Old English'' rabbits.

This paper reports the spontaneous development of synovitis in 'Old English' rabbits concurrent with serum IgM rheumatoid factor. Female rabbits developed lesions at a higher incidence than males (42% compared with 17%) and the pathology was of a more severe nature. In the female rabbits synovitis was associated with concurrent high serum IgM rheumatoid factor and high serum antibody levels to Pasteurella multocida. There was no histological evidence that the joints were directly infected.     

Alcohol use and alcoholism in Latin America: changing patterns and sociocultural explanations

Alcoholism and alcohol-related problems in Latin America constitute a serious problem that may be increasing despite variations by ethnicity, country, and other variables. Ethnographic studies since 1940 suggest that heavy, convivial drinking among adult males for recreational reasons is common and has been for some time. Epidemiological surveys and ethnographic research since 1960 suggest that social changes accompanying urbanization and modernization are introducing escapist/utilitarian motives for drinking that interact with traditional recreational motives to cause increasing alcohol use and alcoholism. A resource table on use patterns in Latin America is provided.     

Forskolin's effect on transient K current in nudibranch neurons is not reproduced by cAMP

Forskolin, a diterpene extracted from Coleus forskolii, stimulates the production of cAMP in a variety of cells and is potentially an important tool for studying the role of cAMP in the modulation of neuronal excitability. We studied the effects of forskolin on neurons of nudibranch molluscs and found that it caused characteristic, reversible changes in the amplitude and waveform of the transient K current, IA, and also activated an inward current similar to the cAMP-dependent inward current previously described in molluscan neurons. Forskolin altered the time course of IA activation and inactivation but did not affect the voltage dependence or the reversal potential of the current. IA normally inactivates exponentially, but in forskolin the time course of inactivation can be fit by the sum of 2 exponentials with an initial rate that is faster than the control and a final rate that is much slower. On depolarization in forskolin, IA begins to activate at the normal rate, but a slower component of activation is also seen. The changes in IA in the nudibranch cells were qualitatively different than the changes caused by forskolin in Aplysia bag cell neurons (Strong, 1984). Experiments were performed to determine whether these effects of forskolin require cAMP. Intracellular injection of cAMP, application of membrane-permeable analogs of cAMP, application of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and intracellular injection of the active catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not affect the amplitude or waveform of IA. Also, the changes in IA that are caused by forskolin were not prevented or reversed by intracellular injection of an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Cyclic AMP did, however, activate inward current at voltages near the resting potential. We conclude that the changes in IA and the activation of inward current represent separate affects of forskolin. The inward current appears to depend on an increase in intracellular cAMP, while the changes in IA do not. These experiments show that, in addition to activating adenylate cyclase, forskolin may have a separate direct affect on the transient K current.     

Arteriovenous fistula between the hepatic artery and the hepatic vein

A patient is presented with multiple vascular anomalies in the branches of the celiac axis as well as in the portal vein and its branches. Apparently, unique in the literature is the presence of a large arteriovenous fistula between the hepatic artery and one of the hepatic veins. The anomalies are presumed to be congenital in origin.     

Major surgery in von Willebrand's disease

Two patients with von Willebrand's disease underwent major surgery, the first had aortic valve replacement and the second a total hip replacement. Clinically, the best practical test for monitoring the dose of cryoprecipitate necessary to maintain haemostasis was the bleeding time. The response to coagulation factor replacement in von Willebrand's disease is extremely variable, and it is necessary to maintain close coagulation monitoring until the patient's surgical condition is satisfactory for discharge from hospital.