Hematologic changes occurring with cardiac catheterization

The composition of the blood influences rheology and therefore might affect hemodynamics. During cardiac catheterization and angiography, blood is sampled and contrast media, fluid, and heparin are administered. To determine the effects of these perturbations on the blood cell count and coagulation, femoral vein samples were obtained at the beginning of cardiac catheterization, before heparin, 4,000 U; at the end, before protamine reversal; and after protamine, 40 mg, was administered. At the end of catheterization, 41 +/- 3 min after heparin administration, all cellular constituents were significantly lower than control: White (W) blood cells (BC) were 8.1 +/- 2.7% lower (P less than 0.05), red (R) BC, 10 +/- 1.8% (P less than 0.05), and platelets (P) 10.9 +/- 1.5% (P less than 0.05). Protamine lowered further WBC by 23 +/- 4% (P less than 0.05 and P) by 14 +/- 2% (P less than 0.05), but did not change RBC (4.13 +/- 0.20 x 10(6) to 4.25 +/- 0.23 x 10(6]. Before protamine administration, all patients had a partial thromboplastin time (PTT) 1.5 times the control value and ten of 13 patients had a value greater than 100 sec. Although four of 13 patients had an incomplete reversal of PTT after protamine, none suffered an untoward event. In conclusion, cardiac catheterization produces changes in the cellular composition of the blood, and such changes might influence hemodynamic measurements.     

Chronic atrophic polychondritis. A case report

Chronic atrophic polychondritis is a rare systemic disease characterized by recurring inflammation of cartilage of the ear, nose, larynx and of the tracheobronchial tree. Nowadays, it is considered to be an autoimmune disease. The case of a 25-year-old female patient hospitalized in our department for treatment of a dyspnea is herein presented. ORL laryngoscopic examination revealed a small sized larynx with a pronounced narrowing of its lumen and very "floppy" cartilage. Bronchoscopic findings were a circumferential stenosis along the entire trachea and the right major bronchi. Results from biopsies performed on the trachea and thyroid cartilage were in favor of chronic atrophic polychondritis. The course of the disease was characterized by an aggravation of the dyspnea with episodes of asphyxia resulting in a tracheotomy. The tracheotomy has not been closed to this day, due to the underlined disease of the patient.     

Characterization of Borrelia lusitaniae isolates collected in Tunisia and Morocco

Borrelia lusitaniae is a species within the complex Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and is infrequently isolated in Europe. In contrast, this species is by far the most predominant in North Africa and in Portugal. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity, at several loci, of a large population of isolates from free-living Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Tunisia and Morocco. We found a moderate diversity of the whole genome by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis as well as in the ospA gene sequences, compared to a high level of strain homogeneity in the small noncoding ribosomal spacer. In contrast, a high diversity of this locus has been previously reported for Portuguese isolates. We hypothesize that B. lusitaniae strains isolated in North Africa constitute a clone of Portuguese origin.     

Synthesis and antimycobacterial activity of a series of ferrocenyl derivatives

In this work we reported the synthesis and evaluation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis activities in vitro of a series of twenty five ferrocenyl derivatives: ferrocenyl amides derived from nicotinamide and pyrazinamide, ferrocenyl pyridinyl, quinolyl and acridinylhydrazones. In particular ferrocenyl acylhydrazones 7 and 8 and ferrocenylquinoxaline amide 57 showed interesting antimycobacterial activities.     

Intrathoracic textiloma caused by transdiaphragmatic migration after biliary surgery. Report of a case

Intrathoracic textiloma is very rare and the transdiaphragmatic migration after abdominal surgery is exceptional. The diagnosis was suspected by history of surgery and radiology (CT), the treatment is only surgical. We report a case of intrathoracic textiloma after biliary surgery 30 years before and we describe the clinical, radiological features and treatment of this severe complication including clinical and medico-legal consequences.