Prevention of biochemical changes in gamma-irradiated rats by some metal complexes.

The formation of superoxide partially accounts for the well-known oxygen enhancement of radiation-induced biochemical changes and cell damage. Radioprotective effects of copper (II), manganese (IV) or vanadium (IV) complexes, of superoxide dismutase-mimetic activity, on body weight, survival rate and some biochemical parameters in pre-treated irradiated, untreated irradiated and treated non-irradiated female albino rats have been studied 24 h after whole body gamma-irradiation at a dose level of 6 Gy. Survival time, body weight, red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, percentage of hematocrit (Hct%), reduced glutathione (GSH), serum total protein, albumin, globulin (G), blood urea, creatinine and cholesterol were estimated, as well as the activities of blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutamate-oxaloacetic (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvic (GPT) transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase were assessed. A significant decline was shown in body weight, survival rate, the mean values of RBC and WBC counts, Hb and Hct percentages, and GSH concentration, as well as blood SOD activity, in whole body gamma-irradiated rats compared with the control non-irradiated rat group. The mean activity values of alkaline phosphatase, GOT and GPT, as well as the average values of blood urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, total protein and globulin were significantly elevated, while the average values of albumin and the albumin/globulin ratio were decreased in gamma-irradiated rats compared with the corresponding values of the normal control rat group. Pretreatment of rats with either manganese or vanadium complexes resulted in a significant increase in survival rate and body weight over that of the non-treated irradiated rat group. Pretreatment of rats with copper (II), manganese (IV) or vanadium (IV) complexes caused a significant increase in RBC and WBC counts, Hb concentration, HCt (%), GSH content and SOD activity in blood when compared to the irradiated rat group without treatment. The administration of copper (II), manganese (IV) or vanadium (IV) complexes prior to irradiation exposure resulted in a significant decrease in GOT and GPT activities in addition to blood urea, creatinine, cholesterol, globulin and total protein contents, while each complex exhibited a significant increase in plasma alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and the albumin/globulin ratio compared to the untreated irradiated rat group. Administration of vanadium (IV), manganese (IV) or copper (II) complexes in non-irradiated rats caused a significant increase in SOD activity without changing other biochemical parameters compared with the corresponding values of the normal control rat group. We conclude that these metallo-elements, particularly manganese (IV) and vanadium (IV) complexes of 2-methylaminopyridine, have radiation protection and radiation recovery. Furthermore, these metal complexes offer a new approach to overcome the pathological effects of ionizing radiation and suggest their use as a physiological approach to preventing or perhaps predominantly facilitating recovery from radiation injury.     

Dinitrochlorobenzene therapy in alopecia areata

With topical therapy using dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), 36 (72%) out of 50 patients having alopecia areata showed regrowth of hair in 3 to 6 months time. Five (10%) patients experienced marked vesiculation and severe contact dermatitis requiring cessation of therapy. In 7 (14%) patients there was no response at all and 4 (8%) presented with other side-effects.     

Preliminary outcomes and efficacy of the first 360 consecutive kyphoplasties for the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Osteoporosis is a major cause of morbidity in worldwide elderly populations. Patients may become susceptible to vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) from low-impact situations. For patients who have failed conventional, palliative medical therapy, kyphoplasty not only reduces pain associated with vertebral fractures, but also offers a minimally invasive procedure with the potential to address fracture reduction and spinal sagittal alignment. Kyphoplasty involves expanding an inflatable balloon tamp to create a cavity within a vertebral body before cement deposition. PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of kyphoplasty to reduce and fix painful osteoporotic VCFs. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective, single-arm cohort study of consecutive kyphoplasty patients treated at a single center. PATIENT SAMPLE: Three hundred sixty VCFs were treated during 254 kyphoplasty procedures on 222 osteoporotic patients (mean age, 76 years [range, 28-98]; 28% male and 72% female). OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient-reported pain ratings were examined. Cement extravasation was monitored by intraoperative fluoroscopy and on postoperative radiographs. Anterior and midline vertebral height were assessed from standing, lateral radiographs obtained preoperatively and postoperatively. The number of patients who returned with symptomatic, new fractures was monitored. Perioperative complications were recorded. Mean follow-up occurred 21 months after kyphoplasty (range, 6 months through 36 months). RESULTS: Immediate pain relief was reported by 89% of patients by the first follow-up visit. One patient experienced postoperative pain as a result of radiculopathy related to bone filler leakage into the foramen. The remaining patients had persistent pain and were diagnosed with either a new fracture or underlying degenerative disc disease. Greater than or equal to 20% restoration of lost vertebral height (anterior) was observed in 63% of fractures with an overall mean restoration of 30%, and > or = 20% restoration of lost vertebral height (midline) was detected in 69% of fractures with an overall mean restoration of 50%. In this cohort, 12% (30/254) of the patients required additional kyphoplasty procedures to treat 36 symptomatic, new adjacent and remote fractures. No device-related complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Kyphoplasty is a safe and effective, minimally invasive procedure for relief of pain associated with VCF. In our series we also demonstrated some restoration of vertebral height and partial correction of sagittal alignment.     

Comparison between true and partial hemifacial hypertrophy.

Hemifacial hypertrophy (HFH) is rare and characterized by unilateral enlargement of the head and teeth. Hemifacial hypertrophy is classified as true HFH (THFH) with unilateral enlargement of the viscerocranium, and partial HFH (PHFH) in which not all structures are enlarged. We present a case of THFH and compare and contrast it with a case of PHFH. Hemifacial hypertrophy may cover a wide spectrum of defects or may involve only muscle or bone. Myohyperplasia, reported previously as a separate syndrome, may actually represent a forme fruste of PHFH or THFH. The PHFH patient lead a healthy, normal life without significant psychosocial problems and was reluctant to accept his deformity. Contrastingly, the THFH patient had significant social stigma and compromised health together with major aesthetic morbidity. Treatment planning in THFH is arduous and involves multiple modalities. Therefore, it is imperative to differentiate THFH and PHFH for better understanding and management of the condition.     

The association between seated immobility and local lower-limb venous coagulability in healthy adult volunteers: a simulation of prolonged travel immobility.

This is the first study to examine the hypothesis that prolonged sitting is associated with procoagulant changes in the local lower-limb venous system. A comparison was made with upper-limb venous changes. Changes in markers of thrombin generation, fibrinolysis, endothelial perturbation and haemoconcentration were analysed as 10 healthy adult male participants sat for 8 h. The change in foot volume was estimated. Subjective venous thromboembolism assessment was undertaken hourly, along with 2-week and 4-week safety follow-up for clinical events.Expected increases in median prothrombin fragments 1 and 2, thrombin-antithrombin complex and D-dimer were not observed in either limb. An increase greater than 45% in the median tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator-1 molar ratio (t-PA/PAI-1), and a decrease greater than 15% in median soluble thrombomodulin were noted in both limbs. Median haematocrit decreased minimally (1%) in the lower limbs, while the foot volume increased by 4%. Subjects experienced vague symptoms after 6 h of sitting, but none developed symptomatic venous thromboembolism. Upper and lower-limb changes in biomarkers did not correlate, except those in t-PA/PAI-1 ratio and plasminogen activator-1. Significant correlation was found between changes in the lower-limb t-PA/PAI-1 ratio and right foot volume.This study originally reveals that even in the lower limbs, prolonged daytime cramped sitting is not associated with significant procoagulant changes in healthy adult male volunteers, and confirms a previous observation that local lower-limb venous changes are not identically reflected in the upper limbs.