Assessment of myocardial viability in rats: Evaluation of a new method using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and Gd-DOTA at high magnetic field.

The aim of this study was to detect salvageable peri-infarction myocardium by MRI in rats after infarction, using with a double contrast agent (CA) protocol at 7 Tesla. Intravascular superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and an extracellular paramagnetic CA (Gd-DOTA) were used to characterize the peri-infarction zone, which may recover function after reperfusion occurs. Infarcted areas measured from T1-weighted (T1-w) images post Gd-DOTA administration were overestimated compared to histological TTC staining (52% +/- 3% of LV surface area vs. 40% +/- 3%, P=0.03) or to T2-w images post SPIO administration (41% +/- 4%, P=0.04), whereas areas measured from T2-w images post SPIO administration were not significantly different from those measured histologically (P=0.7). Viable and nonviable myocardium portions of ischemically injured myocardium were enhanced after diffusive Gd-DOTA injection. The subsequent injection of vascular SPIO nanoparticles enables the discrimination of viable peri-infarction regions by specifically altering the signal of the still-vascularized myocardium.     

Polymères thiocarboxyliques, 5. Synthèse de poly(oxyéthylène)s à fonction dithioester terminale. Application au traitement de cellules d'électrophorèse

Poly(oxyethylene)s with dithioster end groups were obtained from mono- and dihydroxyl terminated commercial polymers by reaction with dimethyl chloroacetamide, subsequent thionation of the amide group, and usual conversion of the thioamides into the dithioesters 14, 15 and 20, 21 . The best results were obtained in the syntheses of the S-carboxymethyl dithioesters ( 15 and 21 ). The resulting reactive poly(oxyethylene)s were grafted upon silica tubes and electrophoresis cells, previously activated by aminopropylsilanization. These graftings result in lowering of the surface potential of the tubes and in suppression of the electro-osmosis flow in an electrophoresis cell tested with a TiO₂ standard sample.     

Assessment of sublingual immunotherapy efficacy in children with house dust mite-induced allergic asthma optimally controlled by pharmacologic treatment and mite-avoidance measures

Although several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy in allergic asthma, few have shown the same benefit using sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in asthmatic patients. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of house dust mite (HDM) SLIT in addition to allergen avoidance and standard pharmacologic treatment. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 111 children (aged 5-15 yr) with HDM-induced mild-to-moderate asthma. After a 4-week baseline phase, patients were randomly assigned to receive SLIT with tablets of HDM extract (n = 55) or placebo (n = 56) for 18 months. Pharmacologic treatment was adjusted every 3 months following a step-down approach. Asthma symptom scores, reduction in use of inhaled corticosteroids and inhaled beta(2)-agonists, rhinitis symptoms, lung function tests, skin sensitivity to HDM, dust mite-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IgG(4), and quality of life (QoL) were assessed during the study. After 18 months of treatment, diurnal and nocturnal asthma symptoms scores did not show significant differences between SLIT and placebo groups. Inhaled corticosteroids and inhaled beta(2)-agonists use was reduced in both groups without significant differences between groups. There were no significant differences in lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s and peak flow rate variations) between groups. Rhinitis symptom score decreased in both groups, with no difference between the two groups. The severity dimension of QoL was significantly improved in the SLIT group (age 6-12 yr). SLIT induced a significant reduction of skin sensitivity to HDM (p < 0.01) and a significant increase in HDM-specific IgE and IgG(4) antibodies (p < 0.001) in the SLIT group compared with the placebo group. SLIT was well tolerated with mild/moderate local adverse events. No severe systemic reactions were reported. This study indicates that, when mild-moderate asthmatic children are optimally controlled by pharmacologic treatment and HDM avoidance, SLIT does not provide additional benefit, despite a significant reduction in allergic response to HDM. Under such conditions, only a complete, but ethically unfeasible, discontinuation of inhaled corticosteroid would have demonstrated a possible benefit of SLIT.     

Unrealistic Weight-Loss Goals among Obese Patients Are Associated with Age and Causal Attributions

Unrealistic weight-loss goals may impede the success of weight-loss attempts. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of unrealistic goals and their association with other patient characteristics at the start of a weight-loss program. For patients with a body mass index (calculated as kg/m²) of 30 to 35, 35 to 40, or 40 to 50, medically advised weight-loss goals were set at 10%, 15%, and 20% of current weight, respectively. Personal weight-loss goals exceeding the medically advised goal by >50% were considered unrealistic. Obesity-related beliefs were measured by the “Obesity Cognition Questionnaire” and the eating-behavior self-efficacy scale of the “Obesity Psychosocial State Questionnaire.” From September 2003 until March 2006, 90 patients were enrolled in the study, 26 men and 64 women, with a mean age of 43 years (range=18 to 68 years) and body mass indexes ranging from 30 to 50. Unrealistic goals were observed in 49% of the patients and were more frequent in younger patients (P=0.03), in patients attributing their obesity to physical causes (r=0.35, P=0.001), and in patients not attributing their obesity to behavioral causes (r=−0.28, P=0.008). This study confirms that discrepancies in weight-loss goals between obese patients and professionals occur frequently. Because unrealistic goals can hamper long-term outcomes of weight-loss programs, better outcomes could possibly be achieved by addressing unrealistic weight-loss goals before treatment.     

Tacrolimus Pharmacokinetics and Dose Monitoring After Lung Transplantation for Cystic Fibrosis and Other Conditions

In cystic fibrosis (CF), absorption of tacrolimus through the gastrointestinal tract may be impaired due to fat malabsorption. The aim of this pilot study was to compare tacrolimus pharmacokinetics and inter- and intrasubject variability of exposure in stable lung transplant recipients with and without CF, and to determine the best single-time predictors of exposure. The study included 11 lung transplant recipients with CF and 11 without CF who received tacrolimus twice daily. Blood samples were obtained predose and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 12 h postdose on 3 separate days within 1 week. Tacrolimus pharmacokinetics and inter- and intrasubject variability of exposure were similar in the two groups, though exposure-per-milligram-dose was approximately 50% lower in CF patients. Tacrolimus trough concentration did not accurately predict the area under the concentration curve (AUC(0-12)), but the concentration measured 3 h postdose (C(3)) was tightly correlated with the AUC(0-12) in both CF (r(2)= 0.86) and non-CF (r(2)= 0.92) patients. In summary, patients with CF have a higher tacrolimus oral clearance, but nonsignificant differences in short-term inter- and intrasubject variability of exposure compared to patients without CF. C(3) is tightly correlated with AUC(0-12) in lung transplant recipients with and without CF.     

Complications associated with the Esophageal-Tracheal Combitube® in the pre-hospital setting

PURPOSE: The Esophageal-Tracheal Combitube (Combitube) is widely used for the management of the airway during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the pre-hospital setting. Although serious complications have been reported with the Combitube, there is a paucity of data relative to the frequency and nature of such complications. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the incidence and the nature of complications associated to the Combitube in the pre-hospital setting. METHODS: Since 1993, in the Quebec City Health Region, the basic life support treatment algorithm for emergency medical technicians has included the use of a Combitube as the primary airway device for management of all patients presenting with cardiac or respiratory arrest. The database of the emergency coordination services was searched for the period between 1993 and 2003 (2,981 patients). Only those patients who survived at least 12 hr were included. Medical records of these patients were reviewed to identify complications related to the use of the Combitube. RESULTS: Two-hundred-eighty (280) patients were identified. Fifty-eight (58) patients (20.7%, confidence interval (CI)95%=16.0%-25.4%) presented 69 complications: aspiration pneumonitis (n=31), pulmonary aspiration (n=16), pneumothorax (n=6), upper airway bleeding (n=4), esophageal laceration (n=3), sc emphysema (n=2), esophageal perforation and mediastinitis (n=2), tongue edema (n=2), vocal cord injury (n=1), tracheal injury (n=1), and pneumomediastinum (n=1). Thirteen of these complications (12 patients, 4.3%, CI95%=2.0%-6.3%) were judged as most likely resulting from trauma associated with insertion of the Combitube. CONCLUSION: The use of the Combitube in the pre-hospital setting is associated with a notable incidence of serious complications.