Alteration of Human Placental Vascular Tone by Antiarrhythmic Medications In Vitro

Antiarrhythmic and Placental Vessels. Introduction : Antiarrhythmic medications are commonly used during pregnancy for treatment of maternal or fetal arrhythmias, but little is known about their effect on human placental vascular tone and, consequently, placental blood flow. The objective of this study was to evaluate the tone responses caused by antiarrhythmic medications in human placental vessels from normal term pregnancies in vitro.
Methods and Results : Isolated human placental arteries and veins from uncomplicated term pregnancies incubated in Krebs'-bicarbonate under 5% oxygen/5% carbon dioxide/balance nitrogen (PO₂ 35 to 38 torr) were exposed to cumulative doses of quinidine, procainamide, lidocaine, flecainide, propranolol, amiodarone, verapamil, digoxin, and adenosine after submaximal contraction with 5-hydroxytryptamine. The study was conducted both in the presence and absence of endothelium. The addition of the tested medications caused a significant, dose-dependent relaxation of human placental arteries and veins except for adenosine, which induced a sustained, dose-dependent contraction of human placental vessels regardless of the presence or absence of tone. Removal of the endothelium did not alter these responses.
Conclusions : Based on these results, the medications tested should have no decremental effect on placental blood flow, with the possible exception of adenosine, which causes significant. dosedependent contraction of human placental vessels in vitro. Should similar contraction be present in vivo, it may have an adverse effect on the fetus when administering adenosine to pregnant women at term or during labor.     

Hepatoprotective effects of diethylcarbamazine in acute liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

This research was carried out to determine a potential role of leukotrienes in the acute hepatotoxicity induced by CC14 in rats. An inhibitor of leukotrienes biosynthesis, diethylcarbamazine (DEC, 25 and 50 mg ·kg-1 ip) exerted hepatoprotective effects, decreasing the activity of alanine aminotransfer-ase in serum and the concentration of liver triglycerides. DEC reduced histological damage of liver evidenced by electron microscopy. The hepatoprotective effects of DEC were dose-dependent. The results favor the role of leukotrienes in CC14 hepatotoxicity.     

Cardiac tamponade after intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia

An unusual case of intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia ispresented. Cardiac tamponade occurred in the operating roomsoon after induction of anaesthesia. Surgical removal of theherniated omentum and stomach allowed haemodynamic improvement.The pathophysiology is discussed and patients with cardiac tamponadereviewed.     

Analysis of two methods for occlusal contact registration with the T-Scan system

summary Various authors have studied the reprodcibility of occlusal contact by means of the T-Scan computerized system and obtained contradictory results. In the present work the valve of the T-Scan system as a method for exploring occlusion has been analysed. For this purpose, the same variable, i.e. the number of contacts, was recorded in 31 subjects using the two operation modes enabled by the T-Scan and the respective results were then compared. After an analysis of variance was performed to test the equality of averages of the number of tooth contacts for each patient in the four positions studied (maximum intercuspation, edge to edge protrusion, right laterality and left laterality) in the time and force analysis modes, the results obtained showed that the number of occlusal contacts is significantly different for each patient both in the various mandibular positions and in the force and time analysis modes, being proportionally greater in the latter case.     

My job impacts my sleep: signs and symptoms of insomnia among healthcare workers

Potential insomnia in healthcare workers is a public health concern as it may degrade the quality of patient care. We examined the prevalence of insomnia symptoms in healthcare workers and their perceived need for a sleep intervention. Participants were 62 nurses working full-time at a U.S. hospital. These nurses were asked about background characteristics, perceived stress, sleep concerns, and need for a sleep intervention. They also participated in 14-d ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and actigraphy sleep study. A qualitative analysis showed that the majority (92%) of participants reported at least one sleep concern with insomnia-related concerns being most prevalent (68%). Quantitative analyses indicated that those with insomnia-related concerns had higher perceived stress overall and lower EMA sleep sufficiency and sleep quality. Moreover, participants with insomnia concerns had shorter actigraphy-measured nap duration prior to non-workdays than those without. Nearly all (95%) expressed interest in participating in a sleep intervention; an online format and mindfulness contents were most preferred. Our results suggest a high prevalence of insomnia symptoms and a high interest in a sleep intervention in nurses. Information obtained from this study could be used to deliver a tailored sleep intervention for nurses whose role in public health is essential.     

THE INFLUENCE OF SELECTIVE DOPAMINERGIC AND CHOLINERGIC AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISFS ON PRECIPITATED OPIATE ABSTINENCE

The effects of selective dopaminergic and cholinergic agonistsand antagonists on morphine abstinence were assessed. Morphinedependence in rats was induced by the subcutaneous implantationof morphine pellets, and abstinence was precipitated using thebenzomorphan antagonist Mr-1452. Withdrawal was assessed byscoring and counting behavioural signs; body weight and temperaturechanges were also measured. Atropine, sulpiride and clozapineattenuated certain withdrawal signs, whereas oxotremonne andthe D-1 receptor agonist compound SKF-38393 intensified theoverall abstinence syndrome. In addition, treatment with theD-2 receptor agonist compound LY-141865, although blocking themajority of signs, uncovered other dose-dependent behaviours,e.g. copulatory mounting, stereotyped circling and aggression.Compound LY-141865 also attenuated the cholinergic withdrawalsigns in a similar way to atropine. These results support theconcept of an acetylcholine-dopamine link during opiate abstinence.