Preliminary pharmacological study on a "magnetic" drug complex

Standard therapy requires high amounts of drugs, with subsequent risks of harmful effects on normal tissues. A treatment method that possible can avoid these risks is based on magnetic carriers (the method is designated also as magnetic carrier technique). The method consists in the selective attachment on a micro particle (permanent or reversible bonds), with strong magnetic moment, of an entity with no intrinsic magnetic properties (cells, microorganisms, antibody, antigens or chemicals), followed by external magnetic field targeting of the complexes ("active targeting"). The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the acute toxicity of two original ferro-fluid (ammonium oleate and sodium oleate-based ferro-fluid) and (2) to assess the diclofenac (non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, NSAIDS)--sodium oleate-based ferro-fluid efficiency in an acute inflammation model. We founded ammonium oleate-based ferro-fluid to have a strong dose-dependent toxicity, possible trough in vivo ammonium ions release; sodium oleate based-ferro-fluid seems to have a less toxicity. Diclofenac, diclofenac-ferro-fluid complex and ferro-fluid alone, each blocks the 6 hours inflammatory peak and the first two block also the 72 hours inflammatory peak. We conclude that the diclofenac-ferro-fluid complex is probably concentrated in the area of external magnetic field application, leading to a stronger effect of the antiinflammatory drug. Taking in consider our results we cannot exclude a possible summation of the individual effects of diclofenac, ferro-fluid, and external magnetic field on the inflammatory phenomenon.     

Oral manifestations during herpes virus infection. Case report

The infections due to herpes viruses are widely spread, people being every day at high risk of contamination starting early age. The characteristic of the herpes virus infection consists of a symptom less evolution following the prime infection. As for any other herpetic infection, episodes infection exacerbation is due to some determining factors. Clinical symptom in herpes virus infection varies according to the virus type, age of the patient and site. Oral signs and symptoms are numerous, extremely intense and often, difficult to diagnose. Progressing in so many ways and being diagnosed and treated by so many medical specialties it is difficult to evaluate the actual number of cases. Consequently it is mandatory to train dentists in order to be able to accurately diagnose and treat the herpetic infection and to prevent nosocomial cross infections in dental office.     

Post-traumatic acute appendicitis in hernia's sac

The paper presents two unusual pathological aspects of a hernia and an appendicitis. It is about a massive old inguinal hernia, with strangulation and an intra-saccular congestive acute appendicitis that occurred after a traumatic injury of the region. The presumptive diagnosis through a dynamic monitoring of the patient, clinical and biological analysis has made possible a favorable solution of the case.     

Ambulatory treatment of anal fissure

Not a long time ago, the standard treatment for anal fissure was surgical, inpatient care; this concept failed in the last years, ambulatory treatment becoming the rule and the inpatient care the exception. We wish to present here our results in 125 ambulatory patients, who were referred to our proctologic office with anal fissure. We used two methods: a conservative one, by applying topical 0.2% nitroglycerine, similar to other proctology practitioners, and one method of our own which is a minimal surgical procedure consisting of sphincterotomy. The average follow-up period was 6 months. Symptom-free and anatomic-free states were obtained in 61.2% for conservative treated patients and in 91.4% for operated patients, respectively. We had no postoperative complications, rebounds or sequelae. We consider the results at least equal in effectiveness to those of standard surgical treatment. This is why we underline that ambulatory treatment for anal fissure reaches the goal to be of a first line option.     

Laparoscopic appendectomy--considerations in about 1000 cases

Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is a well spread method today, but not as largely accepted as cholecystectomy, the cure of gastro-esophageal reflux and some other procedures (relatively small in number) for which the laparoscopic approach is the golden standard. Otherwise it is improbable that LA will gain such a status, at least in the near future. On the other hand it is obvious that LA offers important advantages for some special situations: the right iliac area syndrome, obesity, professional sportsmen, abnormal localization of the appendix, as well for the cases when localized and especially diffuse peritonitis is associated. Our paper analyses the experience of General Surgery Department at the "St.John" Emergency Hospital Bucharest on laparoscopic appendectomy. The retrospective study includes 996 cases that were treated laparoscopic between 1996-2004. Of these 745 cases were catarrhal, 166 cases were phlegmonous and 76 gangrenous appendicitis. In 93 cases localized or diffuse peritonitis was associated. There were recorded also 3 cases of each of the following: chronic appendicitis, appendicular mass and mucocele. The number of conversions was 28 (2.81%). There were also 10 reinterventions (1.004%), 7 because of intraperitoneal abscess and we also recorded one death.     

Endosalpingiosis of the axillary lymph nodes--primary or metastatic tumour?

The involvement of extra-abdominal sites by serous ovarian tumours of low malignant potential is extremely rare. In this paper we present the case of a 33 years old woman, diagnosed with atypical endosalpingiosis in the axillary lymph nodes before the diagnosis of a bilaterally ovarian serous tumour of low malignant potential. The occurrence of axillary lymph nodes involvement associated with serous tumours of the ovary could be explained by the presence of circulating serous cells that remained dormant for a period of time or by the development of an independent primary tumour from glandular inclusions in axillary lymph nodes. The recognition of the occurrence of axillary atypical endosalpingiosis in association with serous tumours of the ovary is important to avoid misdiagnosis. It is better to define these lesions as secondary serous papillary involvement.     

Needle catheter jejunostomy versus "Witzel" tube jejunostomy for early postoperative enteral nutrition in surgical patients. Prospective randomized study

Malnutrition in surgical patients can be present since their admission into hospital or can appear in the postoperative period. Early postoperative enteral nutrition (EPEN) is recommended to these patients as often as possible. In cases where the patients are severely malnourished with major digestive surgical interventions which we estimate that will be unable to feed orally efficient minimum 7-10 days postoperatively, we recommend EPEN on jejunostomy. Prospective randomized evaluation of 37 patients (75.6% severely malnourished): 19 with needle catheter jejunostomy (NCJ), group A, respectively 18 with standard "Witzel" tube jejunostomy (STJ), group B. 22 patients presented malignant tumors and 15 serious benign problems. On 7 patients the jejunostomy was done at the reoperation. Postoperative major complications were observed on 54.05% of the patients (independent of the jejunostomy) and the postoperative mortality rate was of 13.33% on the patients that had jejunostomy and EPEN on their first operation, and 57.14 respectively on the patients where jejunostomy was done at the reoperation. The two groups were similar with respect to age, sex, length of EPEN and hospital stay, presence of malnutrition, complications and mortality. Postoperative complications were statistically more frequent in anemic patients (68.8%) respectively anemic and severely malnourished (76.47). Minor complication related to the jejunostomy occurred in 5.6% of the group A and 22.2% of the group B. NCJ was done rapidly the same as STJ (7 min vs. 15 min). In conclusion, EPEN on jejunostomy on surgically malnourished patients, who have suffered major superior digestive interventions is beneficial. Postoperative complications have been more frequent on anemic and severely malnourished. NCJ is easier to perform and safer.     

Treatment outcome using prednisone in corticosteroid-responsive primary nephrotic syndrome in children

In children, the nephrotic syndrome is usually corticoid-responsive; approximately 70% of patients experience relapses, frequently triggered by infections. Our paper presents the results obtained using a 4 month prednisone regimen. This retrospective study included 83 children afflicted with nephrotic syndrome over a 10 year span. We analyzed: age at diagnosis, boys/girls ratio, response to corticoid treatment - after one month of prednisone and at the completion of the treatment course, number of relapses and their frequency, complications of prednisone treatment. The median age at diagnosis was 4.8 years, males predominating M:F = 1.5:1. Complete response after 4 weeks of prednisone therapy was noted in 98.79% of cases. We had 116 episodes of relapses during the first year of follow-up, occurring in 67.4% of children (27.9% were frequent relapsers, 11.62% subsequently became corticoid-dependent). Late relapses, after the first year, occurred in 32.55% of cases. We noted mostly mild adverse effects of the prednisone treatment: occurrence of infections during therapy (16.27%), cushingoid facies (37.2%), hirsutism (4.6%), high blood pressure (4.65%), stretch marks (2.32%). In conclusion, the 4 month prednisone treatment regimen is efficient in inducing and maintaining a remission. The incidence of relapses is 32.55%, comparable to the figure cited in larger studies. Serious adverse effects are significantly lower with this regimen compared to other corticoid treatment schemes. Key wo     

Phytochemical and microbiological characterization of two Allium cepa L. extracts in order to include in dermo-cosmetics

We have obtained two Allium cepa extracts (C1 and C2) which were characterized from chemical and microbiological point of view. The C1 extract is the richest concerning the content in flavonoids, triterpenic acids, amino acids, compounds recognized for their beneficial effects in wound healing. All this data shows us the possibility of using the Allium cepa extracts in the treatment of wounds, scars. As well, the antimicrobial activity of the two extracts was evaluated. The C2 extract was efficient as antimicrobial agent, but there are necessary special preserving conditions.     

Synthesis and toxicity of some new (sulfon-amidophenyl)-amide derivatives of N-(m-nitrobenzoil)-D,L-asparagine

In order to obtain new compounds with potential antibacterial activity some new (sulfonamidophenyl)-amide derivatives of N-(m-nitrobenzoil)-D,L-asparagine have been synthesized. The compounds have been obtained by decyclization reaction of 2-(m-nitrophenyl)-4-(beta-amidomethyl)-delta2-oxazolinone with various sulfonamides. A toxicity study with determination of DL50 value has also been realized.