Sauna as a therapeutic option for cardiovascular disease

The physiologic effect of the sauna in human beings has been studied extensively, but only recently have there been studies to suggest sauna can be an effective therapeutic modality for patients with cardiovascular disease, especially for those with congestive heart failure. The data reported to date have been promising, but definitive studies are not possible because sauna treatment would be difficult to evaluate in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.     

Monte Carlo investigations of distance-dependent effects on energy deposition in K-shell x-ray fluorescence bone lead measurement

Radiation energy deposition results are presented from a Monte Carlo code simulating the lower part of a leg during an in vivo 109Cd K-shell x-ray fluorescence (KXRF) bone lead measurement. The simulations were run for a leg phantom model representing an adult subject, assuming concentrations of 10 microg Pb per gram bone mineral and tracing 500 million photons in each simulation. Trials were performed over a range (0.5-6.0 cm) of source-to-sample (S-S) distances. Energies deposited due to Compton and photoelectric processes occurring in the bone and the soft tissue were obtained. The data show an increase in the amount of energy deposited in the bone as the sample is moved closer to the source (from 2.0 cm to 0.5 cm). However, there is a decrease in the amount of energy deposited in the soft tissue as the sample is moved closer to the source over the same distance interval. In decreasing the S-S distance from 2.0 cm to 0.5 cm, the amount of energy deposited in the sample as a whole was found to increase by 11%. By calculating the energy deposition in the bone and in the soft tissue as a fraction of the total energy deposited in the sample, the corresponding changes are quantified as a function of S-S distance. Similarly, the proportions of energy deposited via the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering are presented as a function of S-S distance.     

New saponins from the starfish Certonardoa semiregularis

Ten new saponins designated as certonardosides A-J (1-5, 7-11) and the known halityloside D (6) were isolated from the brine shrimp active fraction of the MeOH extract of the starfish Certonardoa semiregularis. The structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical manipulation. The compounds were evaluated for antiviral activity against HIV, HSV, CoxB, EMCV, and VSV and displayed insignificant activity within the range of noncytotoxic concentrations.     

Cessation of prophylactic antibiotics for managing persistent vesicoureteral reflux

PURPOSE: We reviewed our experience with patients with vesicoureteral reflux treated off prophylactic antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with vesicoureteral reflux treated off prophylactic antibiotics, noting the intervals on and off antibiotics, urinary tract infection, signs and symptoms associated with urinary tract infection, and renal ultrasound and dimercapto-succinic acid scan findings. RESULTS: We identified 196 patients with vesicoureteral reflux treated off prophylactic antibiotics, including 122 who were infection-free while on and 124 who had no urinary tract infection while off prophylactic antibiotics. The infection rate on and off prophylactics was 0.29 and 0.24 urinary tract infections per patient per year, respectively. New scars were identified in 5 patients while on prophylactics and in 7 after antibiotics were discontinued. Comparing different subgroups off prophylactic antibiotics showed that children who presented with scarring had statistically fewer new scars than those with normal initial dimercapto-succinic acid imaging (p <0.043). Girls had significantly more urinary tract infections than boys while off prophylactics (p <0.01) despite the older age at antibiotic cessation. However, after infection occurred while off prophylactic antibiotics, new renal scars developed at about the same rate in boys and girls. Because most patients did not have a urinary tract infection while off prophylactic antibiotics, new renal scars developed in only 2.2% of all boys and 4% of all girls. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings imply that discontinuing antibiotics is reasonable and safe in patients in whom vesicoureteral reflux fails to resolve.     

Atlantoaxial instability treated with transarticular screw fixation

We treated 11 patients with atlantoaxial instability using transarticular posterior screw fixation and lateral bone grafting. A posterior bone graft was added in eight patients. The results showed good reduction and a stable fixation. After 6 months ten patients had regained almost 70% of rotation and did not notice any significant limitation.     

Alterations in Plasma and Tissue Acetylcholinesterase Activity Following Repeated Oral Exposure of Chlorpyrifos Alone and in Conjunction with Fluoride in Wistar Rats

Concurrent exposures of more than one environmental contaminants are commonly encountered by human beings and animals. This study investigated the effect of chlorpyrifos alone and in conjunction with fluoride on plasma and tissue acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in wistar rats. Fluoride at 1 or 10 ppm in drinking water produced significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of AChE activity in a dose dependant manner and inhibition was maximum in brain (26.39 %) and least in heart (10.23 %). Similarly repeated oral administration of chlorpyrifos at 1 or 10 mg/kg produced a significant dose dependant inhibition of AChE activity (P < 0.05) which was observed maximum in brain (28.93 %) and least in heart (12.86 %). Co-exposure of chlorpyrifos and fluoride at higher doses produces more pronounced inhibition as compared to chlorpyrifos or fluoride exposed groups. Co-exposure produces maximum inhibition in erythrocyte (37.54 %) and least in plasma (18.26 %) of exposed animals as compared to control group. Observations from the present study suggested that co-exposure of fluoride and chlorpyrifos produces more pronounced inhibition of AChE than the individual exposure of either toxicant. Therefore the applications of chlorpyrifos as a pesticide should be reduced in areas where fluoride level in soil or ground water is high to avoid AChE inhibition.     

Testicular dislocation: the importance of scrotal examination in a trauma patient

Testicular dislocation after blunt perineal trauma is a rare event and a diagnosis that can be easily overlooked. Careful examination can help facilitate early and appropriate treatment. Timely diagnosis and surgical management are of paramount importance to preserve normal spermatogenic function in the dislocated testicle. We describe a case of testicular dislocation and discuss some of the issues surrounding diagnosis and treatment.