Calcium antagonist. Effect on adhesion formation

In view of the role of the calcium ion in the inflammatory process, the effect of Diltiazem--a calcium antagonist--on the formation of intraperitoneal adhesions was studied in rats after induced trauma to the uterine serosa. It was found that intraperitoneal application of diltiazem inhibited adhesion formation to some extent, whereas intramuscularly administered Diltiazem did not. A dual effect of calcium antagonists on the formation of adhesions is suggested.     

Unstable diabetes and unstable families: a psychosocial evaluation of diabetic children with recurrent ketoacidosis

To investigate the physical and psychological factors associated with labile diabetic control, 30 children and adolescents with recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis were included in a retrospective longitudinal review covering an 8-year period. The details of the ketoacidosis episodes and the psychosocial characteristics of the patient and his family were summarized from the medical record. Only a minority of the ketoacidosis episodes were overtly and solely related to intercurrent illness or poor compliance. A majority of the subjects studied lived in families with substantial psychosocial dysfunction, including chronic unresolved interpersonal conflict, inadequate parenting, father not in home, financial stress, and lack of family involvement with the diabetes. Many of the children displayed behavioral and personality problems. In most of these 30 cases, there was evidence that these dysfunctions existed prior to the onset of diabetes. These psychosocial problems were not immediately apparent in many instances, thus requiring more comprehensive psychosocial assessment and involvement by a social worker and/or a psychologist. Ongoing emotional support and counseling were instrumental in reversing the pattern of recurrent ketoacidosis, in coordination with care by all members of the diabetes team. The findings from this experience suggest that recurrent ketoacidosis warrants prompt evaluation from a psychosocial as well as a physical perspective.     

Preliminary evidence of improved verbal working memory performance and normalization of task-related frontal lobe activation in schizophrenia following cognitive exercises

OBJECTIVE: The authors' goal was to evaluate the possibility of treating brain and behavioral aspects of verbal memory dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia through cognitive exercises. METHOD: Eight patients did daily verbal memory exercises that became progressively more difficult over a 10-week training period. Memory performance and regional brain activations during a verbal memory task were assessed before and after these exercises. RESULTS: Verbal but not nonverbal memory performance improved after training; three patients made substantial gains, and five showed little change. Performance gains were correlated with increases in task-related activation of the left inferior frontal cortex. One patient given 5 extra weeks of training 6 weeks after the initial training period showed maintenance of initial performance gains 6 weeks after training, further improvement after the second period of training, and normalization of task-related activation of the left inferior frontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Verbal memory deficits can be ameliorated by memory exercises in some patients with schizophrenia. Performance improvements are associated with increased task-related activation of the same brain region that is activated during verbal memory tasks in healthy individuals.     

Gray platelet syndrome: immunoelectron microscopic localization of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor in platelets and megakaryocytes

An immunogold method was used for investigating the subcellular localization of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and fibrinogen (Fg) in platelets and cultured megakaryocytes from normal subjects and from three patients with the gray platelet syndrome (GPS), a rare congenital disorder characterized by the absence of alpha-granules. In normal platelets at rest, vWF was detected exclusively in alpha-granules, with a characteristic distribution: gold particles were localized at one pole of each labeled granule, outlining the inner face of its membrane. vWF was distributed similarly in the alpha-granules of megakaryocytes at day 12 of culture, where it was also found in small vesicles near the Golgi complex. In contrast, Fg was observed in the whole matrix of all platelet alpha-granules but not in the nucleoids. In platelets from three patients with GPS, vWF and Fg were distributed homogeneously in the rare normal alpha-granules, which could be recognized by their size, and also in small granules identified as abnormal alpha-granules, which were similar in size to the small, possibly immature granules present in normal megakaryocytes. In addition, in some unstimulated platelets, Fg labeling was associated with dense material in the lumen of the surface-connected canalicular system (SCCS). At day 12 of culture, megakaryocytes from the patients with GPS contained some small alpha-granules labeled for Fg and vWF identical to those found in mature platelets. The majority of alpha-granules of normal size appeared partially or completely empty. Thus, we conclude that vWF is distributed differently from Fg in normal alpha-granules, and that unstimulated platelets from patients with GPS contain Fg and vWF in a population of small granules identifiable as abnormal alpha-granules only by immunoelectron microscopy. In addition, the presence of Fg in the SCCS of gray platelets suggests a spontaneous release of the alpha- granule content.     

Suction curettage lipectomy

In 1981, we started performing minor suction curettage with the elements available at that time. In the course of surgical practice, we have modified the suction system and devised a new pattern of suction cannulas adapted for this kind of operation, with all possible variants. During this period, we have treated 150 patients, ranging in age from 17 to 63 years. In the light of present knowledge, we consider it time to provide a systematization of this technique.     

Parathyroid carcinoma: high-frequency sonographic features

The authors reviewed the features on high-frequency (10 MHz), realtime sonograms of parathyroid carcinoma in eight patients to identify characteristics that could preoperatively distinguish malignant from benign lesions. The mean diameter of the eight carcinomas was 2.4 cm. They were typically ovoid or round and had a lobulated contour. The carcinomas were predominantly hypoechoic relative to the adjacent thyroid, but two of the eight contained both hypoechoic and hyperechoic regions, and three contained cystic spaces. Two carcinomas were grossly invasive on ultrasonographic (US) examination, although seven were proved histologically to be invasive. High-resolution US provides a noninvasive means to localize primary and locally recurrent parathyroid carcinomas preoperatively but fails to distinguish carcinomas from large adenomas reliably, except in cases with extensive invasion of adjacent structures.     

The effects of intravenous anaesthetic agents on human neutrophil chemiluminescence

Intact neutrophil function is essential for the defence against infection. Any alteration in neutrophil function, which decreases their ability to phagocytose and kill bacteria, might contribute to mortality and morbidity. We investigated the effects of clinical concentrations of thiopentone, Alfathesin, methohexitone, morphine, lidocaine and diazepam on the microbicidal oxidative function of human neutrophils. The oxidative activity was assessed utilizing the technique of chemiluminescence, which is a measure of free radical generation. Thiopentone and Alfathesin produced a significant dose dependent depression in chemiluminescence. There was a 27 per cent reduction in activity with thiopentone 5 micrograms X ml-1, a concentration equivalent to the free plasma concentration achieved following an anaesthetizing dose of thiopentone. There was a 55 per cent reduction in chemiluminescence at an alphaxolone concentration of 1.25 micrograms X ml-1, a concentration equivalent to the free plasma level obtained after induction of Alfathesin anaesthesia. The effect of thiopentone and Alfathesin was reversed by cell washing. Methohexitone, morphine, diazepam, and lidocaine caused no significant reduction in chemiluminescence over the dose ranges studied. These observations indicate that thiopentone and Alfathesin can adversely affect leucocyte function in vitro and, therefore, may contribute to impaired host resistance in the perioperative period and in the intensive care unit.     

Early diagnosis of placenta previa.

Ultrasound was used as a diagnostic tool in 859 patients for the localization of the placenta in the second trimester prior to genetic amniocentesis. A greater incidence of total placenta previa was found in the study group (5.6%) than is reported for the general population (0.25-0.5%). Maternal age greater than 35 years was the indication or co-factor in 59% of the patients studied, which might explain this difference. It was possible to predict total placenta previa at term early in the second trimester. It was demonstrated that if a placenta was located centrally over the cervical os and did not change position with variations in the degree of bladder-filling or changes in uterine position, the risk of having a total placenta previa at term increased from 1/143 to 1/8 pregnancies.