Immediate contralateral amaurosis after retrobulbar anesthesia

Many potential complications associated with retrobulbar anesthesia have been reported. Of these, sudden loss of vision in the contralateral eye is the least expected. We report a case of immediate loss of vision in the fellow eye after retrobulbar anesthesia for cataract extraction. Possible etiology such as emboli thrown during ventricular fibrillation, direct optic nerve anesthetic injection with reflux to the chiasm, cortical stroke, amaurosis fugax, arterial injection of anesthetic material, and hysteric reaction are discussed.     

Cytochemical detection of ABH antigens in human body fluids

Summary The use of the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) technique has been described previously for the detection of cellular antigens and in particular ABO antigens from tissue samples (Pedal and Hülle 1984; Pedal and Baedeker 1985; Pedal et al. 1985). In this survey, the PAP method has been employed to study the detection of ABO antigens in cells from body fluids of particular interest to forensic science, namely buccal cells and vaginal cells. Also tested, but in a limited number, were mixtures of body fluids and semen samples. No false reactions were obtained from buccal cells, all samples corresponding to the ABO blood type of the donor. Preliminary results from vaginal cells, vaginal/buccal cell mixtures, and semen were encouraging but must be treated with caution due to the limited number tested. Vaginal smears contaminated with semen showed varying degrees of nonspecificity.     

A comparison of antifibrillatory drugs in the heart-lung preparation

Quinidine, amethocaine, Trasentin and atropine have been tested for their ability to stop atrial fibrillation produced in the heart-lung preparation of the dog by stimulating the right atrium in the presence of acetylcholine. The results suggest that atropine acts by specifically antagonizing acetylcholine, but that amethocaine and Trasentin act chiefly by virtue of their quinidine-like properties.     

Chronic intragastric administration of gamma-butyrolactone produces physical dependence in baboons

Rationale Abuse of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its precursors is a public health concern. Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) is found in commercially available products and, when ingested, is metabolized to GHB.Objective The goal was to evaluate the physical dependence potential and behavioral effects of GBL.Methods Vehicle and then GBL were administered continuously (24 h per da y) in baboons (Papio anubis, n=5) via intragastric catheters. GBL dosing was initiated at 100 mg/kg/day and then progressively increased stepwise by increments of 100 mg/kg to a final dose of 600 mg/kg. The number of food pellets earned, fine-motor task performance, and observed behaviors were used as dependent measures. Precipitated withdrawal was evaluated after administration of GABA-B and benzodiazepine receptor antagonists during chronic GBL dosing (400–600 mg/kg). Spontaneous withdrawal was evaluated after discontinuation of chronic GBL 600 mg/kg. Blood GHB levels were determined during chronic dosing of each GBL dose by isotope dilution assay.Results Chronic GBL dose-dependently decreased food-maintained behavior, disrupted performance on the fine-motor task, and produced signs of sedation and muscle relaxation. The GABA-B antagonist SGS742 [56 mg/kg, intramuscular (IM)] precipitated a withdrawal syndrome, whereas the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil (5 mg/kg, IM) produced little or no effect. Signs of physical dependence were also demonstrated when chronic GBL dosing was discontinued. Analysis of plasma indicated GBL was metabolized to GHB; levels were 825 to 1,690 μmol l⁻¹ GHB and 2,430 to 3,785 μmol l⁻¹ GHB after week 1 of 400 and 600 mg/kg/day, respectively.Conclusions These data indicate that, like GHB, chronic GBL dosing produced physical dependence that likely involved the GABA-B receptor.     

Tailored education may reduce health literacy disparities in asthma self-management

RATIONALE: Although inadequate health literacy has been associated with lower asthma medication knowledge and worse metered-dose inhaler (MDI) technique, the relationship between health literacy and the capacity to learn asthma self-management skills is unknown. OBJECTIVES: In this prospective cohort study of adults hospitalized for severe asthma exacerbations at two inner-city hospitals, we examined the relationship between inadequate health literacy and difficulties learning and retaining instructions about discharge medications and appropriate MDI technique. METHODS: At hospital discharge, participants received one-on-one, 30-min, guideline-based, written and oral instruction about their asthma discharge regimen as well as appropriate MDI technique. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-three patients were enrolled. Inadequate health literacy was identified in 16 (22%) participants. Before instruction, inadequate health literacy was associated with lower asthma medication knowledge (5.2/10 vs. 7.2/10, p < 0.001) and worse MDI technique (3.2/6 vs. 3.9/6, p = 0.03). However, inadequate health literacy was not associated with difficulty learning (p = 0.33) or retaining (p = 0.35) instructions about the discharge regimen. Similarly, inadequate health literacy was not associated with difficulty learning (p = 0.26) or retaining (p = 0.97) appropriate MDI technique. Results were similar in multivariable models adjusted for demographic characteristics and asthma severity indicators. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that inadequate health literacy is a surmountable barrier to learning and remembering key asthma self-management skills.     

Central neuropeptide Y receptors are involved in 3<Superscript>rd</Superscript> ventricular ghrelin induced alteration of colonic transit time in conscious fed rats

Background  

Feeding related peptides have been shown to be additionally involved in the central autonomic control of gastrointestinal functions. Recent studies have shown that ghrelin, a stomach-derived orexigenic peptide, is involved in the autonomic regulation of GI function besides feeding behavior. Pharmacological evidence indicates that ghrelin effects on food intake are mediated by neuropeptide Y in the central nervous system.