Role of certain neurohumoral factors in development of pulmonary hypertonia in patients with interstitial lung diseases

AIM: To ascertain the role of some neurohumoral factors--nitric oxide (NO), ACE, histamine--in development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 32 ILD patients were examined. Of them 14 had idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis (IFA), 6 had exogenous allergic alveolitis (EAA) and 12 patients had ILD in diffuse disease of the connective tissue (ILD-DDCT). In addition to routine tests, those for NO, ACE, histamine, serotonin in plasma were performed; Doppler echocardiography and high-resolution computed tomography were conducted. In 9 patients the diagnosis was verified at thoracoscopic biopsy of the lung. The control group consisted of 16 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The highest mean pressure in the pulmonary artery (PmPA) was registered in IFA vs EAA and ILD-DDCT patients (p < 0.001). NO concentration in plasma was higher in ILD-DDCT than in control patients. In IFA and EAA the level of NO was like in controls. Concentration of NO in plasma of IDL patients correlated with high activity of the process. No correlation was found between ACE in plasma and PmPA, ACE levels were much higher in controls than in the ILD patients (p < 0.05). Histamine levels were higher in ILD patients than in controls being the highest in ILD-DDCT. Serotonin was insignificantly higher in ILD patients than in controls. CONCLUSION: Damage to the endothelium of the pulmonary arteries and imbalance of neurohumoral factors may be considered as a mechanism of development and stabilization of PH in ILD patients.     

PATIENT SATISFACTION IN PROSTHETIC REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

Patient satisfaction is an important outcome measure independent of other outcomes. Its measurement is important to assess the effectiveness of a programme and to gain insight into the patients'' perception of the programme. In this study conducted in a large rehabilitation centre it was found that majority of patients express satisfaction with care inspite of perceived discomfort. Various demographic factors, severity or duration of the disability or the level of rehabilitation do not influence patient satisfaction. Patients express more concern with aspects such as delay in issue of the prosthesis, or hotel component of the hospital services. Patients did not appear too concerned about the level of information provided. Patient satisfaction is an individual reaction to the overall care process and is influenced by the initial expectation level of the patient. Emotional response of the patient appears to be more important determinant of patient satisfaction than the cognitive evaluation. Periodical assessment of patient satisfaction should be an important component of any programme evaluation exercise.KEY WORDS: Amputation, Patient satisfaction, Programme evaluation, Prosthesis, Quality of care, Rehabilitation     

ENDOTHELIAL CELL CULTURE AND SEEDING OF PROSTHETIC VASCULAR GRAFTS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Current synthetic vascular prostheses do not acquire lining of vascular endothelium in humans or dogs. Endothelial seeding of vascular grafts has been proposed as a means of reducing the thrombogenicity of these grafts. We examined feasibility of cultivating endothelial cells (EC) by tissue culture technique and their subsequent seeding onto small diameter polytetra fluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts. Twenty adult dogs underwent common carotid artery interposition with 4 mm PTFE grafts. Ten dogs received seeded and the remaining ten received unseeded grafts. Grafts were removed at 4 and 12 weeks and their gross/morphological features compared. Cumulative patency rates for seeded grafts were 70% as compared to unseeded ones 30%. Seeded grafts were completely surfaced with a mono-layer of endothelium by 4 weeks. Small graft patency appears to be related to the establishment of an endothelial surface, the development of which is clearly facilitated by seeding with autogenous endothelium.KEY WORDS: Endothelial cell seeding, Vascular grafts     

Reactive oxygen species initiate a metabolic collapse in hippocampal slices: potential trigger of cortical spreading depression

Excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) underlies oxidative damage. We find that in hippocampal slices, decreased activity of glucose-based antioxidant system induces a massive, abrupt, and detrimental change in cellular functions. We call this phenomenon metabolic collapse (MC). This collapse manifested in long-lasting silencing of synaptic transmission, abnormal oxidation of NAD(P)H and FADH₂ associated with immense oxygen consumption, and massive neuronal depolarization. MC occurred without any preceding deficiency in neuronal energy supply or disturbances of ionic homeostasis and spread throughout the hippocampus. It was associated with a preceding accumulation of ROS and was largely prevented by application of an efficient antioxidant Tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl). The consequences of MC resemble cortical spreading depression (CSD), a wave of neuronal depolarization that occurs in migraine, brain trauma, and stroke, the cellular initiation mechanisms of which are poorly understood. We suggest that ROS accumulation might also be the primary trigger of CSD. Indeed, we found that Tempol strongly reduced occurrence of CSD in vivo, suggesting that ROS accumulation may be a key mechanism of CSD initiation.     

Laparoscopy in the complex diagnosis abdominal and genital tuberculosis]

Laparoscopy may detect pathognomonic signs of rashes on the visceral peritoneum, enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, a profound commissural process in the small pelvis and Douglas space to identify abdominal and genital tuberculosis. The examinees were also found to have a prior tuberculosis of other sites or a contact with bacillary patients. Laparoscopy shows a 19.7% increases in the diagnostic potentialities by morphologically verifying the diagnosis based on biopsy specimens.     

Changes in the rhythmic structure of haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats after striatectomy

Limited bilateral destructions of the ventral portions of the rat striata result in a breakdown of the temporary structure of haloperidol-induced catalepsy. A clear-cut decrease of the power of fluctuations with a 5-7-minute period should be recognized as a specific indicator of striatal deficit.     

Behavior, adrenocortical activity, and brain monoamines in Norway rats selected for reduced aggressiveness towards man

Wild Norway rats were selected over 20 generations for reduced aggressiveness towards man. Selection for this characteristic was accompanied by many physiological changes. Although neophobia was significantly inhibited, and irritable aggression reduced by selection, no changes were revealed in mouse-killing behavior or in intermale aggression. The mean level of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in the hypothalamus as well as serotonin (5-HT) content in the hypothalamus, the midbrain and the cortices was higher in the 'domesticated' than in aggressive rats. Mean hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) level also tended to be higher in the 'domesticated' animals. The resting corticosterone level and the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis to an emotional stressor or intracerebroventricularly administered 5-HT or NE were decreased in domesticated rats compared to their aggressive counterparts. It is suggested that the diminution of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical function as a result of selection for domesticated types of behavior depends, at least partly, on changes in brain monoaminergic systems.