Correlation of activity of 2-(X-benzyloxy)-4,6-dimethoxyacetophenones with topological indices and with the Hansch equation.

The antispasmodic activities of the 2-(X-benzyloxy)-4,6-dimethoxyacetophenones (X = H, 4'-F, 4'-NO2, 4'-CH3, 4'-Cl, 3',4'-(CH3)2, 4'-OCH3, 4'-Br, 4'-C(CH3)3, 4'-OCH2C6H5) against acetylcholine-induced contraction of the guinea pig ileum were correlated with different topological indices. Good correlations were obtained through a simple regression equation with electrotopological state indices (Si) for the carbon atoms S(C1) and S(C6). Using multiple linear regression with two variables the best correlations were obtained with carbons in the 6- and 1-positions with sigma. Such results indicate that the corresponding carbon atoms play an important role in the biological activity. The equation of Hansch showed that the activity of these compounds increases when the ring substituent in the benzyloxy group are more highly electron-releasing and hydrophobic.     

Post-parotitis myocarditis: case report

In November, 1993,M.G., a 6 year and 11 month-old girl, was admitted at Hospital Infantil Joana de Gusm?o--Florianópolis, SC, Brazil--with post-parotitis myocarditis and congestive heart failure. Three days after admission it was evidenced, on an echocardiogram, a thrombus in the left ventricle apex which, despite of correct treatment, embolized to iliac and small mesenteric arteries. Epidemic parotitis (mumps) is very common, being endemic around the world. Complications are rare and myocarditis, one of them, is more common than diagnosed because of its poor and benign manifestations, generally transient abnormalities of cardiac rhythm and conduction. This case was astonishing because of its rare subsequent event, that is, the formation of a ventricular mural thrombus during an acute myocarditis.     

Bronchodilators in asthma: bypassing controversies

Inhaled bronchodilators are used in acute asthma for relief of airway obstruction. Continuous monotherapy with beta 2 adrenergic can increase hyperresponsiveness because these drugs do not control inflammation. Asthma mortality and morbidity have been related to an increased beta 2-agonists use. Epidemiologic data however do not show a cause/effect relationship. Until controversies are cleared on, beta 2-agonists should be used for relieving acute asthma attacks, for preventing exercise-induced bronchospasm and eventually on an as needed basis. Long acting beta 2-agonists can be effective in moderate/severe asthma. Daily short acting beta 2 use by inhalation, a partial clinical response and its overuse in acute asthma suggest the need for antiinflammatory treatment.     

Myrcene mimics the peripheral analgesic activity of lemongrass tea.

Oral administration of an infusion of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) fresh leaves to rats produced a dose-dependent analgesia for the hyperalgesia induced by subplantar injections of either carrageenin or prostaglandin E2, but did not affect that induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. These results indicate a peripheral site of action which was confirmed with the essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves. Silica gel column fractionation of the essential oil allowed the identification of myrcene as the major analgesic component in the oil. Identification of the components was made by thin-layer chromatography and checked by mass spectrometry. The peripheral analgesic effect of myrcene was confirmed by testing a standard commercial preparation on the hyperalgesia induced by prostaglandin in the rat paw test and upon the contortions induced by intraperitoneal injections of iloprost in mice. In contrast to the central analgesic effect of morphine, myrcene did not cause tolerance on repeated injection in rats. This analgesic activity supports the use of lemongrass tea as a "sedative" in folk medicine. Terpenes such as myrcene may constitute a lead for the development of new peripheral analgesics with a profile of action different from that of the aspirin-like drugs.     

Rapid maxillary expansion in the primary and mixed dentitions: a cephalometric evaluation

The present study evaluated the skeletal alterations induced by rapid maxillary expansion procedures in 30 patients in the primary and mixed dentitions. The results were obtained with the use of lateral cephalometrics before and immediately after the active phase of expansion. The time span between these two cephalometric films ranged from 14 to 21 days; therefore the "growth factor" was not considered. Based on the differences in the cephalometric measurements studied on the first and second tracings, it seems that anterior displacement of the maxilla with significant changes in the SNA angle should not be expected, although point B was repositioned more posteriorly (SNB) because of the mandibular downward and backward rotation, with subsequent increase of the inclination of the mandibular plane. The alterations in the A-P position of the mandible was reflected in the increase of ANB and NAP angles. The maxilla always dislocates downward, displaying a downward and backward rotation in the palatine plane, significantly altering the following measurements: N-ANS, PNS-PNS', A-A', SN.PP. The anchoring molars also follow the downward maxillary displacement (M-M') and, as a direct consequence of the vertical displacement of the maxilla and upper molars (N-ANS, A-A', ANS-Me, N-Me, PNS-PNS'), the facial heights increase.     

Diagnosis of cerebellum-pontine angle tumors using artificial intelligence techniques

We are concerned in this paper with learning classification procedures from known cases. More precisely, we provide a diagnostic model that discriminate between cerebellum-pontine angle (CPA) tumors and otorhinolaryngological (ENT) disorders. Usually, in order to distinguish between CPA tumors and ENT disorders one must perform clinical-neurological examination together with expensive radiological imagery (CT and MRI). The proposed model was obtained through artificial intelligence methods and presented a good accuracy level (88.4%) when tested against new cases, considering only clinical examination without radiological imagery results.     

Inhibition of hemorrhagic and edematogenic activities of snake venoms by a broad-spectrum protease inhibitor, murinoglobulin; the effect on venoms from five different genera in Viperidae family.

In order to obtain basic data on the effect of broad-spectrum protease inhibitor against local symptoms of Viperidae snake envenomation, inhibitory capacity of rat murinoglobulin on local hemorrhagic and edematogenic activities of venoms from Crotalus atrox, Bothrops jararaca, Lachesis muta muta, Trimeresurus flavoviridis and Echis carinatus sochureki were examined. Murinoglobulin, pre-incubated with the crude venoms at 37 degrees C for 15 min, inhibited hemorrhagic activity of all five venoms to various extents. The activity of C. atrox was almost completely inhibited at the murinoglobulin/venom ratio (w/w) of 20. The activity of B. jararaca, Lachesis muta muta and T. flavoviridis venoms was considerably inhibited at the ratio of 20 (77.2, 80.0 and 86.2% inhibition, respectively), however some of the activity still remained even at the ratio of 40 (84.2, 79.8 and 86.2% inhibition, respectively). Among the five venoms, E. c. sochureki venom is quite resistant to murinoglobulin treatment and statistically significant inhibition was only found at the ratio of 40 (64.1% inhibition). Fibrinolytic and gelatinase activities were more susceptible to murinoglobulin inhibition. The treatment at the ratios of 10 and 20 almost completely inhibited respectively the fibrinolytic and the gelatinase activities of all the venoms. Murinoglobulin treatment also significantly inhibited the edematogenic activity of L. muta muta, T. flavoviridis and Echis carinatus sochureki. The treatment of murinoglobulin at the ratio of 40 considerably suppressed the swelling up to 60 min after subcutaneous injection of L. muta muta and E. c. sochureki venoms, and up to 30 min after T. flavoviridis venom injection. Murinoglobulin is a potent inhibitor against local effects of multiple snake venoms in Viperidae family.     

An assessment of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent in sepsis.

Tissue lesion mechanisms provoked by sepsis include the infectious process, inflammation, and cellular energy deficit. We chose to test fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) because of its possible anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions. Wistar rats were used and divided into three experimental groups: a control group (n=10), in which a capsule was introduced into the peritoneum of the animals; a septic group (n=10), in which a capsule containing non-sterile fecal matter was introduced together with Escherichia coli (1.5 x 10(9)CFU); and a septic group treated with FBP 500 mg/kg (n=10). The blood cell tests revealed that levels of leukocytes increased significantly in the septic group when compared to both the septic group treated with FBP and the control group. The blood cultures were 100% positive in both the septic group and the septic group treated with bisphosphorylated sugar. The antibiogram only revealed an inhibitory halo in the case of the antibiotic ampicillin, there was no such indication for FBP. The anti-inflammatory power of FBP remained at 60% for 5 h in the rats that received the carrageenan injection. What is more, the sugar reduced the levels of ionic calcium in relation to the control group. This data proves the validity of using FBP in the treatment of sepsis, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory rather than antimicrobial action.     

Infants born to narcotic dependent mothers: Physical growth patterns in the first 12 months of life

Objectives: To describe the physical growth patterns of infants born to narcotic dependent mothers (INDM) over a 12 months period and, if possible, to relate the growth to drug taking patterns during pregnancy.
Methodology: The growth of a cohort of 43 INDM was measured during the first 12 months of life. Weight and length measurements were compared with percentile charts and converted to Z scores. Questionnaire data about drug taking practices, demographic variables and the neonatal period (including withdrawal scores) were obtained.
Results: Twenty-four (55.8%) of INDM had evidence of neonatal drug withdrawal requiring treatment with phenobarbitone. At birth, Z scores for weight and length indicated relative intrauterine growth retardation. By 12 months, there had been some catch up growth, but Z scores for weight and length were still below zero. Persistent weight retardation at 12 months was correlated with methadone dosage during pregnancy, but not the need for phenobarbitone therapy.
Conclusions: The growth patterns of INDM in the first 12 months of life indicated that at birth there was evidence of intrauterine growth retardation, but by 12 months the growth was little different from the rest of the community. There appears to be some influence of narcotic agents taken while pregnant on subsequent growth of INDM.     

Are boys better than girls at building a tower or a bridge at 2 years of age?

This study was designed to look at the differences in visuospatial abilities between boys and girls before they can speak fluently. At the mandatory two year follow up visit, children were given the opportunity to build a tower and a bridge. In children whose birth weight was > or = 2500 g, the capacity for erecting a tower was the same in both sexes, but for building a bridge striking differences were noted according to their sex. Among the 376 children of this category, 41 out of 199 boys (21%) were able to build a bridge in comparison with 15 out of 177 girls (8%). This difference is highly significant. In children whose birth weight was < or = 2500 g, no differences were noted either for building a tower or a bridge. By showing that boys outnumber girls among the most skilled toddlers in spatial abilities, this work confirmed the action of a male related factor on cerebral lateralisation.