Is additional epidural sympathetic block in microvascular surgery contraindicated? A preliminary report

The use of additional epidural sympathetic block during and after microvascular surgery in the lower extremities to prevent vasospasm is generally agreed on. However, a significant fall in the perfusion rate of the transplants was seen after application of bupivacaine (Marcain) via the epidural catheter. This effect has, to our knowledge, not been described before and is probably caused by the sympathectomy effect of this type of analgesia.     

Metabolic and hormonal parameters of humans during long-term hyperbaric exposure (the recompression treatment table)]

Several metabolic and hormonal parameters were evaluated in blood of two human subjects during simulation of an extended saturation dive. Increases in creatine kinase and an upward trend in cholesterol and glucose were observed after decompression. The levels of TTH and thyroxin went up in both subjects during exposure. The significant changes in cortisol, ACTH, insulin and C-peptide were a fingerprint of stress-reaction. After eight days of recovery most of the parameters returned to baseline values. The investigation suggests that the recompression treatment table did not cause pathological changes in the biochemical and hormonal parameters of humans.     

Erosive gastropathy not associated with duodenal ulcer]

There was a study of 422 in-patient subjects of the therapeutic profile. Endoscopy enabled to discover mucous coat erosions of the antral part of the stomach associated with Helicobacter pylori and absence of ulcer in the anamnesis in 8.7% of them (more frequently in women). As many as 81% of such patients belonged to patients with the ischemic heart disease. Erosive gastropathy is accompanied by the activity of the chronic inflammation response in the duodenum mucous coat that is most evident in IHD patients.     

Culturing of human placental macrophages

Cells were isolated by successive dissociation of human placenta in dispase and collagenase solutions and separated by centrifugation in Ficoll-Verografin gradient. Cell suspension was enriched with macrophages by adhesion to plastic followed by washing with RPMI-1640. Isolated placental macrophages can be cultured for a long time. Cell culture homogeniety assessed by various methods was equal or exceeded 95%. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 5, pp. 579–582, May, 1998     

Tuberculous meningitis in children]

Tuberculous meningitis in children is a rare disease and develops in the absence of the current complex of measures aimed at tuberculosis prophylaxis. In 62.7% of children the disease had a gradual course beginning with a prodromal period with infectious-toxic symptoms being predominant over meningeal and encephalitic ones. Basal localization of the process with cranial nerves involvement was diagnosed in 59% of patients. In 31.8% of children the disease took the course of diffuse meningoencephalitis, 9% has signs of leptomeningitis combined with thromboarteritis of the middle cerebral artery. In 63% of patients the course of meningitis proceeded as a progressive undetected and untreated tuberculosis. Five years later 18% of children died and 9% had nervous system affection.