Antifungal activity of antimicrobial-impregnated devices

The in-vitro and in-vivo efficacy against Candida albicans and Candida krusei of devices impregnated with chlorhexidine and chloroxylenol was examined. The impregnated devices produced large zones of inhibition against both organisms (mean size, 39 mm and 38 mm, respectively). In a rabbit model in which segments of silicone catheters were placed percutaneously, non-impregnated devices were twice as likely as impregnated devices to become colonised with either C. albicans or C. krusei. Impregnated devices also had significantly lower colony counts of C. albicans (58 vs. 1361 CFU; p 0.008) and C. krusei (19 vs. 764 CFU; p 0.008).     

Involvement of NMDA receptors and voltage-dependent calcium channels on augmentation of long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 area of morphine dependent rats

The involvement of NMDA receptors and voltage-dependent calcium channels on augmentation of long-term potentiation (LTP) was investigated at the Schaffer collateral–CA1 pyramidal cell synapses in hippocampal slices of morphine dependent rats, using primed-bursts tetanic stimulation. The amplitude of population spike was measured as an index of increase in postsynaptic excitability. d,l-AP5 and nifedipine were used as NMDA receptor antagonist and voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker, respectively. The amount of LTP of orthodromic population spike amplitude was higher in slices from dependent rats. Perfusion of slices from control or dependent rats with ACSF containing either d,l-AP5 (25 μM) or nifedipine (10 μM) and delivering tetanic stimulation, showed that d,l-AP5 completely blocked LTP of OPS in slices from both control and dependent rats, while nifedipine attenuated the amount of LTP of OPS in dependent slices and had no effect on control ones. The results suggest that the enhanced LTP of OPS in the CA1 area of hippocampal slices from morphine dependent rats is primarily induced by the NMDA receptors activity and the voltage-dependent calcium channels may also be partially involved in the phenomenon.     

The oculomotor effects of the fractures of the floor of the orbit

PURPOSE: Fractures of the orbit floor have very disabling oculomotor after effects. The objective of this study was to report that close collaboration between the maxillo-facial specialist and ophthalmologist is necessary to avoid oculomotor after effects. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Our study included 10 cases of the fracture of the orbit floor. These cases were recorded between 1992 and 1996. RESULTS: This pathology affected young subjects aged between 20 and 40 years in 70 % of the cases. 80 % of the subjects were males. 90 % of the patients presented a vertical diplopia as a result of a transitory oculomotor deficit. 20 % of the subjects presented a permanent oculomotor deficit at the stage of after effects. All these deficits were of a mechanical origin and, contrary to other authors, we found no deficit with nervous sensory origin. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic success is based on early diagnosis and treatment that requires close collaboration between the maxillo-facial and ophthalmology teams.     

Oculomotor paralyses in the course of diabetes--concerning 12 cases

PURPOSE: Our purpose is to study the clinical features of the oculomotor paralyses in the course of the diabetes, to assess the risk factors and to show the importance of the diagnosis and the cerebral imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report a series of 12 diabetic patients with OMP collected at the department of ophthalmology in UHC Ibn Rochd in Casablanca between 1995 and 1998. RESULT: Our study was about 9 men and 3 women, the mean age was 58 years 6 months. The diabetes was type I in 2 cases and type II in 10 cases. All the patients complained of diplopia with headache. The paralysis of VI has been noticed in 8 cases, it was bilateral in 5 cases. Unilateral Ill palsy occurred in 4 cases. Brain computed tomography was normal in 10 cases and pathologic in 2 cases. Treatment consisted in alternating occlusion in all patients. Concomitance was achieved, after 4 to 6 months of treatment. CONCLUSION: The metabolic abnormalities due to hyperglycemia and the ischemic phenomena due to the diabetic macroangiopathy explain these palsies.     

Comparison of behavioral effects after single and repeated administrations of four benzodiazepines in three mice behavioral models.

The behavioral and clinical profiles of various benzodiazepines after acute and chronic treatment are not well defined and may differ. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavioral profiles of alprazolam, bromazepam, diazepam and lorazepam in mice after single and repeated (every half-life for seven half-lives) administrations using a stimulation-sedation test (actimeter), a myorelaxation test (rotarod), and an anxiolysis test ("four plates"). A dose range from 0.03 to 4 mg/kg was used. A single administration of alprazolam showed stimulating and anxiolytic effects which diminished after repeated administration. Lorezapam's sedative effect diminished but its anxiolytic effect increased upon repeated administration. Except for lorazepam, the myorelaxing effect of all four drugs increased after repeated treatment. These results suggest that the behavioral profile of benzodiazepines may not be identical during acute and chronic treatment. These differences may be present in clinical treatment and warrant investigation in humans.     

The changes in the transmission functioning of the ulnar nerve in a high power magnetic field

INTRODUCTION: The present study aims at exploring the changes in the functioning of the ulnar nerve in a high power magnetic field. METHODS: 12 volunteers with a healthy peripheral nervous system participated in the study. The ulnar nerve was selected from the upper organs as the site for study. The functioning of both the sensory and motor parts of the ulnar nerve in normal conditions was electromyographically tested. Then, using the same setting, the functioning of the nerve was electromyographically tested within a high power magnetic field (0.2 Tesla). With regard to the sensory function, the distal latency and the amplitude were examined. With regard to the motor section, the duration, amplitude of the evoked potentials, and latency from two sites--distal and proximal--were examined. These results of the two readings, taken in normal condition and in a high power magnetic field, as well as the motor neural conduction velocity, were compared. RESULTS: The statistical analyses indicated that the changes in both the distal latency and amplitude of the sensory part of the ulnar nerve were significant. However, the changes in the motor function of the nerve were not significant.