Fabrication of a Caliper Device for Interalveolar Dimension Measurement in the Complete Denture Patient

A method is presented for measuring interalveolar dimension (IAD) of existing dentures using a caliper. Directions for construction of an IAD gauge are included. This device is easy to construct and "zeroes out" in the closed position. The measurement is useful for determining occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) in new dentures and for monitoring changes over time. Its dimension is entered in the patient record for future reference.     

Cefodizime (HR221) versus norfloxacin for treatment of urinary tract infections

Cefodizime is a stable new beta-lactamase cephalosporin chemically related to cefotaxime and with a long half-life. Its clinical efficacy and tolerability were compared with those of norfloxacin in patients with intercurrent urinary tract infections plus chronic liver diseases. Cefodizime (2 g, once a day, i.v.) and norfloxacin (400 mg, twice a day, p.o.) were randomly given to two groups of 20 patients each with urinary tract infections caused by organisms sensitive in vitro to these drugs. Cultures of midstream bladder urine, urinalysis and blood biochemical tests were performed before and after each antibiotic treatment. Clinical resolution was observed in 100% of the patients at the end of the treatments, but bacteriological eradication was obtained in 90% of the patients treated with cefodizime and 85% of those treated with norfloxacin, because of the development in five patients of asymptomatic bacteriuria (superinfections).     

An inhibition of the hypothalamic somatostatinergic tone is not the cause of the enhanced growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Animal models of liver cirrhosis (LC) display a reduced hypothalamic somatostatinergic tone. To test whether a similar mechanism could explain the enhanced Growth Hormone (GH) secretory response to GH-Releasing Hormone (GHRH), which is seen in human LC, we studied the effect of the cholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine (PD), which is able to reduce the release of hypothalamic somatostatin (SS), on the GHRH-stimulated GH secretion. We considered that if PD were unable to increase GH secretion, this would constitute evidence of an already inhibited endogenous somatostatinergic tone. If proved, this in turn could explain the enhanced GH response to GHRH seen in LC. Ten LC patients and nine controls were given GHRH (100 microg, intravenously), or PD (120 mg, orally) plus GHRH. After GHRH alone, the GH peak was four times higher in LC than in controls (40.85+/-15.7 ng/ml in LC and 9.35+/-2.5 ng/ml in controls). In LC, PD administration markedly increased the GH response to GHRH (GH peak: 98.0+/-19.7 ng/ml; +240% vs. GHRH alone). The ability of PD to increase the GH response in patients with LC suggests that in this condition the enhanced GH response to GHRH is not due to a completely inhibited endogenous somatostatinergic tone. SS appears instead to maintain its modulator role on GH secretion in human LC, in contrast with what observed in animal models.     

Platelet function and thrombin activity in patients with recent cerebral transient ischemic attacks

Platelet function and thrombin activity were investigated in 12 hospitalized patients (7 men and 5 women, mean age 53 years) who had had transient cerebral ischemic attacks in the previous 2-12 weeks. Each patient was given an extensive clinical and instrumental evaluation, including Doppler sonography of the cervical and lower limb vessels, cerebral angiography, and head computed tomography scan, after which relevant atherosclerotic disease was excluded. The controls consisted of 12 subjects hospitalized for nonvascular neurologic problems and matched for age, sex, and risk factors to the transient ischemic attack patients. Collagen-induced platelet thromboxane B2 production, plasma beta-thromboglobulin, and fibrinopeptide A were significantly higher in the patients than the controls. Platelet aggregability by collagen was the same in the 2 groups. Platelet hyperfunction and enhanced thrombin activity are present in patients some weeks after the acute episode, suggesting that the hemostatic system has a primary pathogenetic role.     

Tubby protein in human lymphocytes from normal weight and obese subjects

OBJECTIVES: The presence of tubby protein in human lymphocytes was investigated and their electrophoretic mobility property between normal weight and obese subjects was compared. DESIGN AND METHODS: 2-DE proteome map of lymphocytes has been generated and western blot analysis was conducted using anti-tub polyclonal antibody. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We found the presence of tubby protein both in normal weight and in obese subjects; however in the latter an isoelectric point shift toward the acidic end was observed.     

Oximetry Alone Versus Portable Polygraphy for Sleep Apnea Screening Before Bariatric Surgery

Background  

Screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is recommended as part of the preoperative assessment of obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgery. The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity of oximetry alone versus portable polygraphy in the preoperative screening for OSA.     

Central antioxidant therapy inhibits parasympathetic baroreflex control in conscious rats

Baroreceptor reflex is an important system for neural control of blood pressure. Recently, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown to play an important role in neuronal activity of central areas related to blood pressure control. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects elicited by ascorbic acid (AAC) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) injections into the 4thV on the parasympathetic component of the baroreflex. Male Wistar rats were implanted with a stainless steel guide cannula into the 4thV. One day prior to the experiments, the femoral artery and vein were cannulated for pulsatile arterial pressure, mean arterial pressure and heart rate measurements and drug administration, respectively. After baseline recordings, the baroreflex was tested with a pressor dose of phenylephrine (PHE, 3 μg/kg, i.v.) and a depressor dose of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 30 μg/kg, i.v.) before (control) and 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after AAC or NAC into the 4thV. Control PHE injection induced baroreflex-mediated bradycardia (-93 ± 13 bpm, n=7). Interestingly, after AAC injection into the 4thV, PHE injection produced a transient tachycardia at 5 (40 ± 23 bpm), 15 (26 ± 22 bpm) and 30 min (59 ± 21 bpm). No changes were observed in baroreflex-mediated tachycardia evoked by SNP after AAC injection on 4thV (control: 151 ± 23bpm vs. 135 ± 18 bpm at 5 min after AAC, n=7). In the NAC treated group, PHE induced a reduction in reflex bradycardia at 5 min when compared to control (-11 ± 17 bpm vs. -83 ± 15 bpm, n=7). No changes were observed in baroreflex-mediated tachycardia evoked by SNP after NAC injection on 4thV. The antioxidants AAC and NAC may act in the central nervous system affecting the parasympathetic component of the cardiac baroreflex.     

Preparation and characterization of alginate/gelatin blend films for cardiac tissue engineering

The aim of this work was the preparation of blends based on alginate and gelatin, with different weight ratio, to combine the advantages of these two natural polymers for application in cardiac tissue engineering. The physicochemical characterization, performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, revealed a good miscibility and the presence of interactions among the functional groups of pure biopolymers. Concerning the swelling and degradation tests, performed in different solutions simulating body fluids, both swelling degree and weight losses were higher in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and for the blends with a higher content of gelatin. These results indicated a better stability of the blends in cell culture medium than in PBS and suggested a mainly hydrolytic degradation process. Cell culture tests, carried out using C2C12 myoblasts, showed a good cell proliferation for all the blends containing more than 60% of gelatin, with the alginate/gelatin 20:80 showing the best response. The same blend was the only one on which cell differentiation was observed. The results obtained in the biological characterization allow to select the alginate/gelatin 20:80 blend as a suitable material to prepare scaffolds for myocardial tissue engineering.