Effects of second-hand smoking on lung functions in athlete and non-athlete school-aged children – observational study

BackgroundSecond-hand smoking or environmental tobacco smoke is a critical health risk. Children are the most vulnerable to second-hand smoking because of their small bronchial ducts, less developed immunity, and low-physical activity.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of second-hand smoking on lung functions in athlete and non-athlete school-aged children.MethodsThis observational study included forty-six school-aged children, their age was 8–15 years, assigned to three groups; 2 study groups and 1 control group (n=15). The study groups comprised of 16 football players, and of 15 cyclists. Lung functions were evaluated recording forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and peak expiratory flow using digital spirometer.ResultsAll measures were recorded in definite values and the children were also classified into second-hand smoking (SH), or non-exposed to tobacco smoking (NE). The findings presented a significant increase (p<0.05) of the study groups in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and peak expiratory flow solely for the non-exposed children. However, there were non-significant differences between the cyclists and football players or between the passive smoking children and non-exposed children in any of the two study groups (p>0.05).ConclusionThe outcomes of this study suggest beneficial influences of the sports activity on the lung functions, without different influences of the cyclists and football players on the lung functions.     

Complete recovery of filler-induced visual loss following subcutaneous hyaluronidase injection

The rise in popularity of hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal filler injection has caused an exceptional increase in the number of cases of reported irreversible blindness. Here, we reported a case of ischemic optic neuropathy and ophthalmoplegia following subcutaneous HA filler injection with complete visual recovery. A 31-year-old Chinese woman presented with sudden onset of right monocular visual impairment associated with diplopia. Patient had received a hyaluronic acid-containing ?ller injection for nasal dorsum augmentation twelve hours prior to presentation. Visual acuity of the right eye was counting finger. A right relative afferent pupillary defect was demonstrated with ophthalmoplegia. Humphrey visual field test disclosed a right inferior altitudinal field defect with impairment of colour vision. Computed tomography of the orbit revealed mild enlargement of the right medial and inferior recti muscles. Our patient showed a tremendous improvement of vision after a subcutaneous hyaluronidase injection with complete visual recovery within 2 weeks.     

Prevention of biochemical changes in gamma-irradiated rats by some metal complexes.

The formation of superoxide partially accounts for the well-known oxygen enhancement of radiation-induced biochemical changes and cell damage. Radioprotective effects of copper (II), manganese (IV) or vanadium (IV) complexes, of superoxide dismutase-mimetic activity, on body weight, survival rate and some biochemical parameters in pre-treated irradiated, untreated irradiated and treated non-irradiated female albino rats have been studied 24 h after whole body gamma-irradiation at a dose level of 6 Gy. Survival time, body weight, red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, percentage of hematocrit (Hct%), reduced glutathione (GSH), serum total protein, albumin, globulin (G), blood urea, creatinine and cholesterol were estimated, as well as the activities of blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutamate-oxaloacetic (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvic (GPT) transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase were assessed. A significant decline was shown in body weight, survival rate, the mean values of RBC and WBC counts, Hb and Hct percentages, and GSH concentration, as well as blood SOD activity, in whole body gamma-irradiated rats compared with the control non-irradiated rat group. The mean activity values of alkaline phosphatase, GOT and GPT, as well as the average values of blood urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, total protein and globulin were significantly elevated, while the average values of albumin and the albumin/globulin ratio were decreased in gamma-irradiated rats compared with the corresponding values of the normal control rat group. Pretreatment of rats with either manganese or vanadium complexes resulted in a significant increase in survival rate and body weight over that of the non-treated irradiated rat group. Pretreatment of rats with copper (II), manganese (IV) or vanadium (IV) complexes caused a significant increase in RBC and WBC counts, Hb concentration, HCt (%), GSH content and SOD activity in blood when compared to the irradiated rat group without treatment. The administration of copper (II), manganese (IV) or vanadium (IV) complexes prior to irradiation exposure resulted in a significant decrease in GOT and GPT activities in addition to blood urea, creatinine, cholesterol, globulin and total protein contents, while each complex exhibited a significant increase in plasma alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and the albumin/globulin ratio compared to the untreated irradiated rat group. Administration of vanadium (IV), manganese (IV) or copper (II) complexes in non-irradiated rats caused a significant increase in SOD activity without changing other biochemical parameters compared with the corresponding values of the normal control rat group. We conclude that these metallo-elements, particularly manganese (IV) and vanadium (IV) complexes of 2-methylaminopyridine, have radiation protection and radiation recovery. Furthermore, these metal complexes offer a new approach to overcome the pathological effects of ionizing radiation and suggest their use as a physiological approach to preventing or perhaps predominantly facilitating recovery from radiation injury.     

Noninvasive tests for arterial structure, function, and compliance: do they identify risk or diagnose disease?

BACKGROUND: Brachial artery reactivity (BAR), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and applanation tonometry for evaluation of total arterial compliance may provide information about preclinical vascular disease. We sought to determine whether these tests could be used to identify patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) without being influenced by their ability to identify those at risk for CAD developing. METHODS: We studied 100 patients and compared 3 groups: 35 patients with known CAD; 34 patients with symptoms and risk factors but no CAD identified by stress echocardiography (risk group); and 31 control subjects. BAR and IMT were measured using standard methods, and total arterial compliance was calculated by the pulse-pressure method from simultaneous radial applanation tonometry and pulsed wave Doppler of the left ventricular outflow. Ischemia was identified as a new or worsening wall-motion abnormality induced by stress. RESULTS: In a comparison between the control subjects and patients either at risk for developing CAD or with CAD, the predictors of risk for CAD were: age (P =.01); smoking history (P =.002); hypercholesterolemia (P =.002); and hypertension (P =.004) (model R = 0.82; P =.0001). The independent predictors of CAD were: IMT (P =.001); BAR (P =.04); sex (P =.005); and hypertension (P =.005) (model R = 0.80; P =.0001). CONCLUSION: IMT, BAR, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors appear to identify patients at risk for CAD developing. However, only IMT was significantly different between patients at risk for developing CAD and those with overt CAD.     

Zero-Order Release Formulation of Oxprenolol Hydrochloride with Swelling and Erosion Control

Zero-order release of oxprenolol hydrochloride was obtained by controlling the swelling and erosion of the matrix. This formulation involves only mixing of drug, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na CMC) at the ratio of 1:0.4:1.6, respectively, and compressing the mixture directly into tablets. The in vitro release pattern from this optimized matrix tablet was reproducible. Accelerated stability studies revealed that the optimized formulation remains stable for an approximately 2-year shelf life. This sustained-release (SR) tablet was evaluated in dogs, and for comparison a conventional (CV) formulation was also given at the same dose level. Plasma oxprenolol levels were monitored by a sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Significant differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters, i.e., lower C _max, higher values of t _max, MRT, AUC, and plasma concentration at 24 hr, and nearly constant plasma levels over 12 hr, indicated that the SR matrix tablet is superior to the CV rapid-releasing formulation. The in vitro release parameters and in vivo pharmacokinetics correlated well.     

Comparison of dobutamine stress echocardiography and technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission tomography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy

Stress echocardiography has been considered an accurate method for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in hypertensive patients and in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. In contrast, the specificity of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in these patients has been questioned. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of these two imaging modalities in conjunction with dobutamine stress test for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy. Dobutamine (up to 40 μg kg^–1min^–1) stress echocardiography in conjunction with sestamibi (MIBI) single-photon emission tomography (SPET) was performed in 84 patients with the diagnosis of systemic hypertension who had been referred for evaluation of myocardial ischaemia. Ischaemia was defined as new or worsened wall motion abnormalities at echocardiography and reversible perfusion defects at SPET. Significant coronary artery disease (≥50% luminal diameter stenosis) was detected in 66 patients (79%). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the ischaemic pattern at echocardiography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease were 73% (CI 63%–82%), 83% (CI 75%–91%) and 75% (CI 66%–84%), those for MIBI were 67% (CI 57%–77%), 83% (CI 75%–91%) and 70% (CI 60%–80%) respectively (P = NS vs echocardiography). Significant stenosis was detected in 123 (49%) of the 252 analysed coronary arteries. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of echocardiography for the regional diagnosis of coronary artery disease were 63% (CI 56%–69%), 90% (CI 86%–94%) and 77% (CI 72%–82%). Those for MIBI were 58% (CI 51%–64%), 91% (CI 87%–94%) and 75% (CI 69%–80) respectively (P = NS vs echocardiography). Left ventricular hypertrophy was detected in 59 patients (70%) by echocardiography and did not influence the overall or regional specificity of echocardiography or MIBI SPET. It is concluded that in hypertensive patients, dobutamine stress echocardiography and MIBI SPET have a comparable accuracy for the overall and regional diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Hypertensive patients with or without left ventricular hypertrophy should not be considered unsuitable candidates for stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. Received 10 July and in revised form 19 September 1997     

Congenital posterior urethral polyps in childhood. A case report.

We describe a 3-year-old boy who presented with dysuria and urinary retention. The diagnostic work-up (USS, MRI, urethrocystoscopy), suggested a polypoid lesion at the bladder base, originating from the verumontanum. Histology showed the lesion to be a fibroepithelial polyp. A rare cause of urinary retention in childhood must be considered in the differential diagnosis.