Mechanisms of pulmonary dysfunction after on-pump and off-pump cardiac surgery: a prospective cohort study

Background  

Pulmonary dysfunction following cardiac surgery is believed to be caused, at least in part, by a lung vascular injury and/or atelectasis following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) perfusion and collapse of non-ventilated lungs.     

Granulomatous jellyfish dermatitis

The induction of a granulomatous inflammation by jellyfish toxins is rare. More typically, acute toxic and urticarial reactions are seen. An 11-year-old boy developed a striated urticarial erythema on the left cheek after contact with a gelatinous mass while swimming in the sea in Croatia. After initial erosion, a striated induration developed in the area of contact. Histological examination revealed a granulomatous inflammation with some eosinophils. While topical steroid-based antiinflammatory and antibacterial therapy over several weeks was not effective, topical therapy with tacrolimus 0.1% for two two-week treatment periods led to healing of the skin changes with a slight scar. There was no clinical recurrence after 5 month of follow-up.     

Treatment of myofascial trigger points in common shoulder disorders by physical therapy: A randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN75722066]

Background  

Shoulder disorders are a common health problem in western societies. Several treatment protocols have been developed for the clinical management of persons with shoulder pain. However available evidence does not support any protocol as being superior over others. Systematic reviews provide some evidence that certain physical therapy interventions (i.e. supervised exercises and mobilisation) are effective in particular shoulder disorders (i.e. rotator cuff disorders, mixed shoulder disorders and adhesive capsulitis), but there is an ongoing need for high quality trials of physical therapy interventions. Usually, physical therapy consists of active exercises intended to strengthen the shoulder muscles as stabilizers of the glenohumeral joint or perform mobilisations to improve restricted mobility of the glenohumeral or adjacent joints (shoulder girdle). It is generally accepted that a-traumatic shoulder problems are the result of impingement of the subacromial structures, such as the bursa or rotator cuff tendons. Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in shoulder muscles may also lead to a complex of symptoms that are often seen in patients diagnosed with subacromial impingement or rotator cuff tendinopathy. Little is known about the treatment of MTrPs in patients with shoulder disorders.     

Pharmacokinetics and haemodynamic effects of ISDN following different dosage forms and routes of administration

The pharmacokinetics and haemodynamic effects of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) have been investigated following administration of single doses as a sublingual (SL) spray (2.5 mg), sublingual tablet (5 mg) and peroral tablet (10 mg) in a randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over trial in 16 healthy volunteers.After the sublingual spray C_max was higher (39.0 ng·ml^-1) and t_max was shorter (3.9 min) than after the sublingual (22.8 ng·ml^-1 and 13.8 min) and peroral (16.9 ng·ml^-1 and 25.6 min) tablets. The AUC of ISDN did not differ following any of the three formulations (1031; 879; 997 ng·ml^-1·min, for the spray, SL tablet and PO-tablet, respectively). Mononitrate metabolites of ISDN (IS-2-MN and IS-5-MN) and total nitrates in plasma increased in proportion to the administered dose. This indicates that the fraction of the dose absorbed was the same for all the formulations but that the extent of first-pass metabolism increased in the order sublingual spray < sublingual tablet < peroral tablet. Thus, compared to the spray, the relative bioavailability of ISDN was 48% and 28% from the sublingual and peroral tablets, respectively.The haemodynamic effects were quantified using the a/b ratio of the finger pulse wave and the systolic blood pressure and heart rate under orthostatic conditions. For the a/b ratio of the finger pulse, the maximal effect was higher (e_max=130%) and the time to e_max (t_emax) shorter (16.6 min) after the spray than the sublingual tablet (84.4% and 25.5 min) or peroral tablet (90.2 and 31.3 min). The onset of effect was within 3, 5 and 7.5 min after the spray, sublingual and peroral tablets, respectively. A larger change in the orthostatically-induced decrease in systolic blood pressure and increase in heart rate was obtained following peroral than sublingual administration despite the similar plasma concentrations of ISDN. This probably reflects the larger amount of pharmacodynamically active mononitrate metabolites formed after oral dosing. The integrated effect following administration of 2.5 mg ISDN as spray was similar to that of a sublingual tablet of 5 mg.     

Implantation of posterior chamber lenses in eyes with phakodonesis and lens subluxation

Unilateral posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation was performed after phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction in ten of 11 patients with phakodonesis or lens subluxation, which was bilateral in two cases. To facilitate placement of the IOL, the anterior capsule was opened with a YAG laser in nine patients. Intraoperative vitrectomy was performed in two patients, and posterior chamber IOL implantation was accomplished with fixation in the ciliary sulcus. Postoperative follow-up studies failed to demonstrate significant decentration or dislocation of the IOLs. Phakodonesis and lens subluxation are no longer considered absolute contraindications to implantation of posterior chamber IOLs.     

A Comparison of the Periodontal Health of Patients during Treatment with the Invisalign? System and with Fixed Orthodontic Appliances

Objective:   

Evaluation of the periodontal health in patients during treatment with either fixed orthodontic appliances or the Invisalign^® system.