Thromboembolic and inflammatory complications of knee joint alloplasty with cemented endoprostheses]

In the presented paper the authors evaluate the long-term results of treatment for inflammatory and thromboembolic complications in knee joint alloplasty with cemented endoprostheses. The clinical material spanning the years 1998-2003 are 15 patients with analysed complications, it determine 9% of all operated. They have evaluated achieved results using the HSS knee rating scale in their own modification. As far as the authors are concerned, venographic examination is a prerequisite for appropriate care of the patients following knee joint alloplasty who might have deep venous thrombosis. It is necessary to provide similar treatment when developing infections are suspected in the perioperative period and in cases of late infections. Consequently, antibiotic therapy and a possible quick bacteriological checkup for healing a postoperative wound is a prerequisite for successful treatment. Achieved results induce statement, that thromboembolic and inflammatory complications caused at most operated chronic vein insufficiency, deficit of range of motion at operated joint and gait insufficiency. Thromboembolic complications was always related with inflammation of knee joint alloplasty in our own material.     

The first record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirocerca lupi</Emphasis> (Rudolphi, 1809) (Spirocercidae,Nematoda) from Poland based on faecal analysis of wolf (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Canis lupus</Emphasis> L.)

Summary During studies on the helminth fauna of wolves inhabiting natural ecosystems of Poland, 86 scats were examined. All the samples were collected in the autumn of 2005. Spirocerca lupi was detected with decantation and flotation techniques. The prevalence was 2.32 %. This is the first record of the parasite from Poland and the third case of its occurrence in the wolf (Canis lupus L.) within its distribution range.     

Anatomical considerations of selective pudendal neurectomy

The pudendal nerve was examined in 100 cadavers of both sexes. Because of the variable number of trunks of the pudendal nerve, 5 types were distinguished: one-trunked; two-trunked, rectopudendal; two-trunked, pudendo-penile (or-clitoridal); three-trunked, recto-perineo-penile (or-clitoridal); four-trunked, recto-perineo-perineopenile (or-clitoridal). The authors' suggestions make it possible to perform selective pudendectomy, consisting in denervation of the sphincter urethrae muscle by neurectomy of the perineal branches of the pudendal nerve.     

beta-Amyloid deposits within the cerebellum of persons older than 80 years of age.

The cerebellum, frontal cortex, hippocampal and parahippocampal regions of 100 patients older than 80 years, most of whom had died of stroke, were examined. Eighteen percent were diagnosed as clinically demented. On the specimens labeled previously with Thioflavin S and Bielschowsky method, immunohistochemical studies were performed with Fab (antigen-binding fragment) of the anti beta-amyloid antibody 4G8. Positive amyloid immunoreactivity was observed in the cerebrum in 71 of 100 cases, Cerebella of 31 subjects of 71 with cerebral amyloidosis also revealed amyloid deposits. They appeared in various morphological forms, such as diffuse plaques and focal subpial deposits, as well as classical and primitive neuritic plaques. Cases with amyloid in the cerebellum alone were not observed. Beta-amyloid deposits in the cerebellum were associated with a significant number of beta-amyloid plaques in the cerebrum, which showed other Alzheimer-type pathology, also in individuals without clinical symptoms of dementia. There was no correlation either between cerebellar amyloid deposits and clinical cerebellar symptoms or between the presence of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and neuropathological changes. A clear association of microglial cells with amyloid deposits in the cerebellum was demonstrated. In our experience, LN-1 and RCA-1 were not as suitable for formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, as was anti-ferritin. Negative staining for tau-1 and positive staining for anti-ubiquitin characterized neurites within primitive and classical plaques. No neurofibrillary pathology was detected in the cytoplasm of cerebellar neurons when we used anti tau-1 labeling.     

The role of dopamine in the facilitatory effect of angiotensin II on impaired learning in rats chronically treated with ethanol

Rats with impaired active avoidance induced by chronic (9 weeks) administration of ethanol were studied. Angiotensin II (ANG II) administered (ICV, 2.0 g) 12 h after the withdrawal of the alcohol not only neutralized the toxic effect of ethanol but also improved learning. When administered on the 5th day after ethanol withdrawal, the effect of ANG II was weaker. Tests of stereotypy and catalepsy were used to study the possible role of the dopaminergic system in this action of ANG II. It was shown that both chronic alcohol treatment and ANG II alone increased apomorphine (1 mg/kg) and amphetamine (7.5 mg/kg) stereotypy but the effects of ANG II were greater. ANG II did not change the stereotypy induced by amphetamine but increased the stereotypy induced by apomorphine in the group of animals chronically treated with alcohol. Haloperidol — induced catalepsy was reduced in these rats. ANG II alone intensified catalepsy and eliminated the effect of ethanol. Both ANG II and alcohol increased striatal dopamine (DA) concentration. This effect of ANG II was significantly greater in the animals chronically treated with alcohol. The above changes were not observed after the DA level had been reduced by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (250 mg/kg), nor were changes observed in the striatal DOPAC. The results suggest involvement of the central dopaminergic system in the effect of ANG II on the ethanol — induced impairment of acquisition of active avoidance but, however, the results of the biochemical determinations of DA turnover do not provide an explanation of these changes.     

Examinations on contribution of bradykinin in the action of dopamine in circulatory system of rats. I. Influence of bradykinin in the action of dopamine on arterial blood pressure of rats

The influence of different doses of bradykinin (2.5 micrograms, 5 micrograms/kg i.v.) and dopamine (0.5 micrograms - a small dose and 25 micrograms, 250 micrograms/kg i.v. - a big dose) administered into the rat femoral artery on the blood pressure was estimated. Dopamine evoked hypotension (the small dose) or hypertension (the big dose). Bradykinin evoked dose-dependent decrease of the blood pressure. Bradykinin (2.5 micrograms/kg i.v.) administered in the 45th sec of the dopamine action enhanced the hypertensive effect and decreased the hypotensive effect of dopamine. Dopamine administered in the big dose after phentolamine and propranolol evoked hypotension. This effect was stronger after administration of dopamine (25 micrograms/kg i.v.). The hypotensive action of bradykinin persisted in spite of phentolamine and propranolol application but this peptide did not change the hypotensive effect of dopamine under these conditions. The authors discuss hypothetical mechanism of action of the observed influence of bradykinin on the effect of dopamine in the circulatory system.