Woodinine and its Stereomers - Absolute Configuration

The synthesis of all the four stereomers of the alkaloid woodinine ( 12a )¹⁾ is described and the stereochemical conclusions of Païs³⁾ and Still⁶⁾ are discussed. The absol. configurations of woodinine ( 12a ) and its diastereomer 8b are unequivocally deduced from the pertinent piperazinediones 16 and 17 .     

Management of the injured colon: evolving practice at an urban trauma center

The records of 239 patients surviving more than 24 hours with full-thickness intraperitoneal colonic injuries over a 7-year period were reviewed. During the first 3 years, 29% (31/106) of the patients were managed by primary repair without colostomy. In the next 4 years, almost twice as many patients, 56% (75/133), with similar colonic trauma were treated without fecal diversion (p less than 0.05). Although there was no difference in the mean Trauma Score in the patients with primary repair in the two time periods, the Injury Severity Score (mean +/- sd) in the patients without colostomy in the later periods was significantly higher (17.8 +/- 2.1 vs. 20.2 +/- 5.1) (p less than 0.001). No patient suffered because of the increased incidence of primary repairs. These patients had five abdominal abscesses and only one leak, whereas the patients with colostomy had 15 intraperitoneal abscesses. Because of the safety when primary repair is performed, more liberal use of primary colonic repair following penetrating trauma is warranted.     

Cyclosporin A upregulates prostaglandin E2 production in human gingival fibroblasts challenged with tumor necrosis factor alpha in vitro

The effect of Cyclosporin A (CsA) on prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in human gingival fibroblasts challenged with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was studied. TNF-α (1-100 ng/ml) dose-dependently stimulated PGE₂; formation in 24 h cultures. CsA (1-100 ng/ml) did not induce PGE₂; formation itself but potentiated TNF-α induced PGE; formation in gingival fibroblasts in a manner dependent on the concentrations of both CsA and TNF-α. TNF-α (10 ng/ml) stimulated the release of [³H]-arachidonic acid (A.A) from prelabelled fibroblasts that was potentiated by CsA (100 ng/ml). Addition of exogenous unlabelled AA (5-20 μM/ml) to the cells resulted in enhanced PGE₂: formation that was not potentiated by CsA (100 ng/mi). Furthermore. CsA (100 ng/ml) did not further increase the level of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA induced by TNF-α (10 ng/ml). although PGE₂ formation was enhanced. The results indicate that CsA and TNF-α act in concert on PGE₂ formation in gingival fibroblasts. which may be of importance in the pathogenesis of gingival overgrowth induced by the drug.     

Assessment of sexual abuse and trauma: Clinical measures

Examined are several measures currently used in the assessment of child abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma. These measures include structured clinical interviews, self report measures, screening inventory, symptom checklist, and some measures that include decision making properties. Issues and implications for clinical practice are explored.     

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta diagnosed by transoesophageal echocardiography.

Transoesophageal echocardiography is a safe and rapid means of obtaining anatomical and dynamic information about the descending aorta. It was used to confirm a suspected diagnosis of ruptured descending aorta.