Neuroprotective effects of ketorolac tromethamine after spinal cord injury in rats: an ultrastructural study

Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrathecally administered ketorolac tromethamine on ultrastructural changes of the spinal cord in spinal cord-traumatised rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were used and divided into three groups for this study. The rats in Group S (n=6) were control animals and received 10 μl of saline. Groups K50 (n=6) and K400 (n=6) received intrathecally 50 μg and 400 μg of ketorolac tromethamine, respectively, immediately after trauma was induced. All rats underwent laminectomy and the spinal cord was traumatised using the clip-compression technique. Electron microscopic examination of the cord samples was carried out 3 days after spinal cord injury. Results Ultrastructural findings showed severe injury with extensive axoplasmic and cytoplasmic oedema in Group S. Minor neural damage occurred in Group K50 and increased ultrastructural protection was observed in the Group K400. Conclusion This study demonstrates that intrathecal administration of ketorolac tromethamine protects the spinal cord following injury in rats.     

Management of bladder stones with pneumatic lithotripsy using a ureteroscope in children

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pneumatic lithotripsy by using a ureteroscope to treat bladder stones in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven boys presenting with bladder stones underwent transurethral cystolithotripsy. The indication for transurethral cystolithotripsy was stone size 相似文献   

Strength of Esophageal Closure Techniques With and Without Tissue Reinforcement

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of esophagotomy closure techniques on the esophageal bursting pressure. Materials and methods Altogether, 122 freshly dead sheep esophagi received from the local slaughterhouse were prepared for manual closure. After esophagotomy, the specimens were divided into four groups. An interrupted mucosal suture pattern (n = 30), an interrupted mucosal-submucosal suture pattern (n = 30), an interrupted mucosal-submucosal + over-over continuous muscular suture pattern (n = 32), and an interrupted mucosal-submucosal + reinforcement with a diaphragmatic part with full-thickness interrupted U suture pattern (n = 30) were used for esophagotomy closure; 4-0 silk was used in all specimens. Bursting pressures were measured with a sphygmomanometer. Results We found a statistically significant difference among the bursting pressures of all groups (p < 0.001). The bursting pressure values gradually increased from group 1 to group 4 (47.6 ± 22.7, 86.2 ± 49.5, 185.4 ± 53.5, and 226.8 ± 62.4 mmHg, respectively). Reinforcing the esophageal suture line with tissue significantly increased the bursting pressure compared to the other groups. Conclusions Each layer of the esophagus significantly contributes to strengthening esophageal wall tension with primary esophageal closure, and reinforcement of the esophageal suture with tissue provides an additional significant increase in the bursting pressure of the esophagus.     

Enhancement effects of nicotine on neurogenic contractile responses in rabbit gastric fundus

Nicotine, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, plays a role in the modulation of neurotransmitter release following nerve stimulation in both the central and the peripheral nervous system. Nitric oxide and prostaglandins modulate the release of various neurotransmitters in different tissues. We aimed to investigate the effects of nicotine on neurogenic contractile responses via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and, if a change occurred, to investigate the effects of N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and indomethacin on this change in rabbit gastric fundus. Electrical field stimulation (EFS)-evoked contractile responses were recorded from gastric fundus strips obtained from rabbits with an isometric force displacement transducer. Nicotine was applied to preparations at varying concentrations. Then, the effects of hexamethonium, cadmium (Cd(2+)), indomethacin, and L-NAME were tested on the EFS-evoked contractions in the presence of nicotine. Nicotine-induced transient neurogenic contractions in a dose-dependent manner. Cd(2+) and hexamethonium inhibited nicotine-induced transient neurogenic contractions, but indomethacin and L-NAME produced no effect. In conclusion, nicotine increased EFS-evoked contractile responses, possibly by facilitating neurotransmitter release from nerve terminals by a mechanism dependent on the influx of Ca(2+) from voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels via activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in isolated rabbit gastric fundus. Endogenous nitric oxide and prostaglandins do not play a physiological role in the regulation of this neurotransmitter release.     

Minimization of dead-periods in MRI pulse sequences for imaging oblique planes

With the advent of breath-hold MR cardiac imaging techniques, the minimization of TR and TE for oblique planes has become a critical issue. The slew rates and maximum currents of gradient amplifiers limit the minimum possible TR and TE by adding dead-periods to the pulse sequences. We propose a method of designing gradient waveforms that will be applied to the amplifiers instead of the slice, readout, and phase encoding waveforms. Because this method ensures that the gradient amplifiers will always switch at their maximum slew rate, it results in the minimum possible dead-period for given imaging parameters and scan plane position. A GRASS pulse sequence has been designed and ultra-short TR and TE values have been obtained with standard gradient amplifiers and coils. For some oblique slices, we have achieved shorter TR and TE values than those for nonoblique slices.