The anti-lipidemic effect of Minipress

Prazosin (Minipress) monotherapy was given to 152 patients with essential hypertension for one year in a multi-center study involving 13 hospitals and university clinics. In three centers serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were also determined in 32 patients with hypertension and hyper/dys-lipoproteinemia. As a consequence of Minipress monotherapy significant decreases were found in serum level of cholesterol (after three months and also after one year), triglycerides (after one year), while the serum concentration of HDL-cholesterol increased. Atherogenic index (a ratio of total cholesterol over HDL-cholesterol) was significantly decreased by Minipress. As new data showing a causative correlation between hypertension and hyperlipoproteinemia were published in the literature authors, on the basis of their results, suggest to determine lipid profile in every patient with hypertension. They regard Minipress as the first line drug in young patients with "familial dyslipidemic hypertension". When choosing an antihypertensive drug metabolic side effects should be taken into consideration.     

Histopathologic characteristics and clinical behavior of superficial bladder tumors

The authors analyse the histopathological features and clinical behaviour of 325 superficial (Ta, T1) tumours of 232 patients with bladder cancer. Each of the tumours was treated by TUR using differentiating resection technique and multiple cold biopsy was performed in 197 patients. The recurrence and progression of superficial tumours are examined during the 3-192 months follow up time. It is stressed the role of incomplete TUR in the "recurrence" (tumour persistence). The opinion of the authors is, that superficial bladder tumours can not be considered a homogen group, there are significant differences between Ta and T1 stage in recurrence, neoplastic progression and histopathological features as well.     

Reconstruction possibilities in obliterative arterial diseases in diabetics

Authors treated 144 diabetic patients with arterial angiopathy localised to the lower extremities. 114 cases belonged to III. and IV. stages. There was a possibility in 55 (38.2 per cent) for reconstructive surgery, 80 per cent of the reconstructive procedures localised to the femoro-popliteal region. In 20 cases a so-called "high", in 61 a "low" (minor) amputation was performed, 14 patients died. In 113 cases (78.47 per cent) an improvement or a cure could have been achieved, of whom 52 with the complete preservation of the extremity, and in the others after necrectomy or minor amputation. Authors emphasize that, in more than a half of the cases the obstruction localised to the femoropopliteal and iliacal region, so the possibilities of the vascular surgery are given in a considerable number of diabetic patients.     

The income level and life styles: towards a law of inverse prevention?

The study of the determinants of disease-related lifestyles may be relevant for better understanding the potential of health policies. In the present work, results of the analysis of the Elche Healthy Cities Interview Survey prevalence of some disease related lifestyles (physical activity level, cigarette consumption, and alcohol intake) are presented according to economic level as measured by monthly family income, 573 people randomly selected from the town rolls were interviewed at home. No associations were found between economic level and alcohol intake or present smoking status. But, trying to stop smoking and regular exercise were more frequent behaviors in higher economic groups. The ratio of prevalence of regular exercise was 1.73 in favor of the highest economic levels. The gradient found was statistically significant (chi 2 for trend = 17.4, p less than 0.01). The results may be of relevance when implementing health policies to overcome inequalities in health: "unequal interventions" may be more adequate.     

Complications of intraocular lens implantation

The authors analyze the causes of per- and postoperative complications of implantations of intraocular retropupillary lenses. In a group of 132 extracapsular extractions of cataract with implantation of an intraocular lens no marked decentering was found. The most frequent postoperative complication were transitory striae and fibrin exudates in the pupil. Only once the "toxic lens syndrome" was encountered. The fine cilia of the posterior capsule, pigment dispersion and changes in the width of the pupil did not affect markedly the visual functions of the organ. The authors did not observe regenerating cataracts, or fibroses of the posterior capsule (mainly because of the short follow up period).     

Comparison of the effectiveness of a mobile prosthesis created by the implantation of Hydron and cartilage after enucleation of the bulb

The authors submit experience with the use of embedded mobile implants of the eyeball made from hydrogel of methylmetacrylate ("HYDRON" SPOFA) and from costal cartilage of different shapes. From the aspect of cosmetic effectiveness similar results were obtained with the implant "HYDRON" SPOFA and costal cartilge in the shape of a flat cylinder. Spherical implants "HYDRON" SPOFA were expelled in 16.8%, while flat cylindrical implants from costal cartilage were not expelled. Other shapes of implants from costal cartilage are less suitable. Both mentioned implants produce a satisfactory cosmetic effect and ensure a stable mobile base for cosmetic prostheses of the eye.     

Properties of visual evoked potentials to onset of movement on a television screen

In 80 subjects the dependence of movement-onset visual evoked potentials on some measures of stimulation was examined, and these responses were compared with pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials to verify the effectiveness of pattern movement application for visual evoked potential acquisition. Horizontally moving vertical gratings were generated on a television screen. The typical movement-onset reactions were characterized by one marked negative peak only, with a peak time between 140 and 200ms. In all subjects the sufficient stimulus duration for acquisition of movement-onset-related visual evoked potentials was 100ms; in some cases it was only 20ms. Higher velocity (5.6°/s) produced higher amplitudes of movement-onset visual evoked potentials than did the lower velocity (2.8°/s). In 80% of subjects, the more distinct reactions were found in the leads from lateral occipital areas (in 60% from the right hemisphere), with no correlation to handedness of subjects. Unlike pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials, the movement-onset responses tended to be larger to extramacular stimulation (annular target of 5°–9°) than to macular stimulation (circular target of 5° diameter).Abbreviation PREP pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials     

Multiprogrammable pacemakers. Complications. Nursing care

This paper deals with the study of 927 patients of both sexes, with multiprogramable pacemakers implanted during 1987-1988 period, at the "Comandante Manuel Fajardo" Teaching Hospital and the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery. Complications accounted for 14.9% and the most frequent were, in decreasing order, as follows: sepsis of the pocket (46.7%), hematoma of the pocket, increased threshold and, in a lower percentage, aseptic necrosis (5.7%). Emphasis is made in the role of the nurse in front of a patient with pacemaker and of the different complications presented.     

The accompanying male parent in the intensive care unit

A study is made in the Intensive Care Unit of "José L. Miranda" Provincial Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Santa Clara in order to know the sequence with which the father occupies the place of the mother in the care of hospitalized children. With this objective, 54 male companions are surveyed in the first trimester of 1987. The prevailing occupational profile was that of worker. A higher number of the respondents were between 17 and 25 years of age. The school level of secondary school prevailed among patient companions. Most of them reported no economic inconveniences during the child's disease. The desire to remain at the bedside and the inability of the mother to do so were the major reasons for their stay. The advantages recognized by the nursing personnel in male companions are made known.     

Immunization with excretory-secretory molecules of intestinal nematodes induces antigen-specific protective memory Th2 cell responses

Parasitic nematodes infect more than 1 billion people in the global south. The development of effective antihelminthic vaccines is a crucial tool for their future elimination. Protective immune responses to nematodes depend on Gata3⁺ Th2 cells, which can also be induced by nematode-released products. Whether these nematode products induce antigen-specific long-lived memory T cells and thereby confer protection against a challenge infection is not known yet. Hence, we set out to characterize the formation of memory Th2 cells induced by immunization with Heligmosomoides polygyrus excretory-secretory (HES) products, infection-induced versus immunization-induced recall responses to a challenge infection, and whether HES-induced memory T cells show protective properties following adoptive transfer. Our results show that 8 weeks postimmunization, HES induces long-lived functional memory Th2 cells at the site of immunization in the peritoneal cavity. Following a H. polygyrus challenge infection, HES-immunized mice display MHC-II-dependent antigen-specific Th2 cytokine responses in the gut-draining lymph nodes, comparable to those induced by a prior natural infection. Moreover, adoptive transfer of sorted memory CD4⁺ T cells from HES-immunized donors reduces female worm fecundity following a challenge H. polygyrus infection in recipient mice, highlighting a protective role for immunization-induced memory T cells.