Spinal alpha(2)-adrenoceptors are involved in the MACbar-sparing effect of systemic clonidine in rats

We evaluated the central or spinal mechanism involved in the MACbar-sparing effect of systemic clonidine by using intrathecal alpha-adrenergic antagonist administration. The minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane that blocks cardiovascular response to a noxious stimulus (MACbar(sevo)) was determined in rats after treatment with IV saline, IV clonidine 10 micro g/kg, intrathecal (IT) or IV phentolamine 50 micro g, IT or IV yohimbine 200 micro g, IT or IV prazosin 30 micro g, or the combination of IV clonidine and the different IT or IV alpha-adrenergic antagonists. In the studied model, the MACbar(sevo) of saline-treated controls was 2.10 +/- 0.8. After clonidine administration, it decreased to 1.07 +/- 0.4. The IT administration of phentolamine and yohimbine did not modify the MACbar(sevo) of na?ve rats, whereas in IV clonidine-treated animals, it totally suppressed the MAC-sparing effect of this drug (phentolamine) or even significantly increased (yohimbine) the MACbar(sevo) (2.78 +/- 1) when compared with controls (P < 0.05). IT prazosin alone significantly reduced the MACbar(sevo) (0.35 +/- 0.3; P< 0.05) and suppressed any hemodynamic reaction when combined with IV clonidine. The IV administration of the different alpha-adrenergic antagonists had no significant effect on the MACbar(sevo) of controls or IV clonidine-treated animals. These results argue for a spinal mechanism of action involved in the MACbar-sparing effect of systemic clonidine. Moreover, the spinally administered alpha-antagonists displayed different effects in rats under sevoflurane anesthesia than those reported in awake animals. IMPLICATIONS: Using intrathecal alpha-adrenergic antagonist administration, we demonstrated that a spinal mechanism is involved in the MACbar-sparing effect of systemic clonidine in rats.     

Efficacy and tolerability of valerian extract LI 156 compared with oxazepam in the treatment of non-organic insomnia--a randomized,double-blind,comparative clinical study

Patients aged 18 to 73 years and diagnosed with non-organic insomnia according to ICD-10 (F 51.0) were treated in a multicentre, double-blind, randomised parallel group comparison with either 600 mg/die valerian extract LI 156 (Sedonium) or 10 mg/die oxazepam taken for 6 weeks. A total of 202 outpatients with a mean duration of insomnia of 3.5 months at baseline were included at 24 study centres (general practices) in Germany. - Sleep quality (SQ) after 6 weeks measured by the Sleep Questionnaire B (SF-B; CIPS 1996) showed that 600 mg/die valerian extract LI 156 was at least as efficacious as a treatment with 10 mg/die oxazepam. Both treatments markedly increased sleep quality compared with baseline (p <0.01). The other SF-B subscales, i.e. feeling of refreshment after sleep (GES), psychic stability in the evening (PSYA), psychic exhaustion in the evening (PSYE), psychosomatic symptoms in the sleep phase (PSS), dream recall (TRME), and duration of sleep confirmed similar effects of both treatments. Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI) and Global Assessment of Efficacy by investigator and patient, again, showed similar effects of both treatments. Adverse events occurred in 29 patients (28.4%) receiving valerian extract LI 156 and 36 patients (36.0%) under oxazepam, and were all rated mild to moderate. No serious adverse drug reactions were reported in either group. Most patients assessed their respective treatment as very good (82.8% in the valerian group, 73.4% in the oxazepam group). During the 6 week treatment phase Valerian extract LI 156 (Sedonium) 600 mg/die showed a comparable efficacy to 10 mg/die oxazepam in the therapy of non-organic insomnia.     

Tattooing and risk for transfusion-transmitted diseases: the role of the type, number and design of the tattoos, and the conditions in which they were performed

Tattoos have been shown to be associated with transfusion-transmitted diseases (TTDs), particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Very little is known about the association between different categories of tattoos and TTDs. In a cross-sectional study in Brazil, we studied 182 individuals with tattoos and assessed the odds of testing positive for a TTD according to tattoo type, number, design and performance conditions. Major findings were significant associations between an increasing number of tattoos and HBV infection (odds ratio (OR) of 2.04 for two tattoos and 3.48 for > or = 3 tattoos), having a non-professional tattoo and testing positive for at least one TTD (OR = 3.25), and having > or = 3 tattoos and testing positive for at least one TTD (OR = 2.98). We suggest that non-professional tattoos and number of tattoos should be assessed as potential deferral criteria in screening blood donors.     

The prognostic impact of the extent of lymph node dissection in patients with stage III melanoma.

AIMS: To analyse disease-free and overall survival in 67 melanoma patients who underwent dissection for clinically apparent regional lymph node metastases, taking into account the total number of excised lymph nodes. METHODS: After a median follow-up time of 16 months, 47 recurrences were observed and 43 patients died. The median disease-free and overall survival intervals were 14 and 24 months respectively. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses revealed that the number of excised lymph nodes had a significant impact on overall survival (P=0.036) but not on disease-free survival (P=0.97). Extranodal growth was the only statistically significant prognostic factor both for disease-free (P=0.005) and overall (P=0.038) survival. Age, nodal basin, primary tumor ulceration, tumor thickness and number of positive lymph nodes were not significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the total number of lymph nodes excised in the dissection has impact on overall survival of stage III melanoma patients and should be considered in clinical assays.     

Modulation of expression of mouse macrophage surface antigens by monoclonal antibodies.

Mouse macrophages from peritoneal cavity were exposed to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against cell surface antigens and the effect on antigen expression was investigated. The two Mabs used, 3A33 and 3A35, were produced by cell fusion between a mouse plasmacytoma and rat lymphocytes immunized against mouse macrophages. The binding of the MAbs to cell surface was measured by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry or by a radioimmunological technique. When injected i.p. the MAbs diminished the expression of the corresponding antigens but did not alter it when added to cultures of adherent macrophages. Antigenic modulation, however, could be produced in vitro either by inhibiting macrophage adherence during incubation with MAbs or by using a second antibody layer. MAb 3A33 (IgG2a) was more effective than 3A35 (IgM) in provoking modulation. The appearance of re-synthesized antigens on cell surface was not affected by macrophage adherence. The modulated antigens were found to internalize into cytoplasmic vacuoles.