Detection and treatment of perioperative corneal abrasions.

Corneal abrasion is the most common ocular injury occurring in the perioperative period. Corneal abrasion may occur during general anesthesia, monitored anesthesia care, regional anesthesia, or in the immediate recovery period. This injury is not usually apparent until the patient is in the PACU, and the perianesthesia nurse may be the first clinician to detect this complication. Preventive measures and vigilant care can help reduce the incidence of corneal abrasion in susceptible patients. Early detection and prompt intervention may help reduce the incidence of ocular morbidity. The purpose of this article is to explore the incidence, mechanism of injury, prevention, recognition, and treatment of perioperative corneal abrasion.     

Attitudes of College Football Officials Regarding NCAA Mouthguard Regulations and Player Compliance

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) mandates the use of brightly colored, intraoral mouth- guards by football players to reduce the frequency and severity of craniofacial and intraoral morbidity and mortality, and to enhance the ability of officials to observe player compliance. The purpose of this 12-question mail survey was to determine the attitudes of on-Held game officials regarding current NCAA mouthguard regulations and patterns of utilization by college football players. The sample consisted of all 50 Big East Football Conference officials; a response rate of 100 percent was achieved. Only 42 percent of the officials reported observing all players in compliance, and quarterbacks were identified by others as the least compliant group (52%). The majority (88%) indicated that the 1990 rule for brightly colored mouthguards had been beneficial to them in determining player compliance, and 52 percent reported that this rule had resulted in more frequent use by these athletes. Nearly all officials (96%) indicated that they would issue a warning for noncompliance to the player or coach, rather than charging a timeout for a violation as prescribed by NCAA regulations. The majority (70%) believe current enforcement is appropriate, but expressed the opinion that coaches should be held more accountable for player compliance.     

Analysis of human T-cell receptor α-chain cDNAs isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells

T-cell receptor α-chain cDNA were generated from unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a DR2,3,52a individual using a modified anchor PCR method. Fifty-six cDNA clones were identified representing 47 distinct T-cell receptor clonotypes and 26 VA loci. This analysis identified a new VA gene family VA30, and aew member of the VA6 gene family.     

The effect of carbon dioxide in the airways and alveoli on ventilation; a vagal reflex studied in the dog

1. The inhalation of CO(2) produces a tachypnoea only in the presence of intact vagus nerves; the present study was designed to examine the mechanism of this phenomenon in the dog.2. Closed-chest cardiopulmonary bypass was established in dogs weighing 16-24 kg, anaesthetized with chloralose. When the ;bypass' was established pulmonary blood flow ceased, P(A, CO2) was reduced and the respiratory rate slowed. 3-10% CO(2) in O(2) could then be inhaled without change in the level of P(a, CO2) set at the oxygenator.3. The addition of CO(2) in these concentrations to the inspired oxygen resulted in an increase in respiratory frequency, maximal at the first breath and sustained for the 1 min period of exposure. The increase in respiratory frequency was due to a shortening of expiratory duration. Inspiratory duration did not change. The response was absent after vagotomy.4. Inert gases in O(2), given as a control, had no effect on breathing.5. The effect of raising P(a, CO2) (by increasing the concentration of CO(2) in the gas equilibrating the blood in the oxygenator), was primarily to increase tidal volume.6. The ventilatory effect of inspiring CO(2)/O(2) mixtures was shown to be additive to the effect of raising P(a, CO2).7. These experiments show that an afferent vagal reflex originating from the lungs causes tachypnoea, when a dog, on ;bypass', inhales low concentrations of CO(2) in O(2).     

The pharmacological stimulation of NMDA receptors via co-agonist site: an fMRI study in the rat brain

d-Serine has been proposed as an endogenous modulator at the co-agonist glycine-binding site of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. There is still some debate as to whether this site is saturated in vivo, but it seems likely that this depends on regional differences in local glycine or d-serine concentrations. In order to identify areas where the co-agonist site was not fully activated in vivo, we studied the effect of intraperitoneal d-serine administration in the rat brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Using contrast agent injection, the variations in the relative cerebral blood volume (CBVrel) in several regions of interest were evaluated. d-Serine (50 mg/kg) elicited a significant statistical increase in the CBVrel in the hippocampus. This effect was inhibited by the specific full antagonist of the co-agonist glycine site L-701,324 indicating that the hippocampal activation occurred through the binding of the agonist d-serine to the glycine-binding site of NMDA receptors. This result demonstrates that in the hippocampus, the co-agonist sites of NMDA receptors are not endogenously saturated under our experimental conditions, suggesting an important role of d-serine in the modulation of receptor function in the hippocampus.     

Determination of immunoglobulin A against Gardnerella vaginalis hemolysin,sialidase, and prolidase activities in vaginal fluid: implications for adverse pregnancy outcomes

A nested case-control study of low birth weight and preterm delivery was performed with singleton women. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) against the Gardnerella vaginalis hemolysin (anti-Gvh IgA) and sialidase and prolidase activities were determined in vaginal fluid at 17 weeks of gestation. Sialidase positivity and bacterial vaginosis with high prolidase activity were associated with 2- and 11-fold increased risks for low birth weight, respectively. No woman with bacterial vaginosis plus a strong anti-Gvh IgA response had an adverse outcome.     

Acid phosphatases.

Acid phosphatases (APs) are a family of enzymes that are widespread in nature, and can be found in many animal and plant species. Mystery surrounds the precise functional role of these molecular facilitators, despite much research. Yet, paradoxically, human APs have had considerable impact as tools of clinical investigation and intervention. One particular example is tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, which is detected in the serum in raised amounts accompanying pathological bone resorption. This article seeks to explore the identity and diversity of APs, and to demonstrate the relation between APs, human disease, and clinical diagnosis.