Prophylactic use of chlorpromazine to improve survival of random skin flaps in pigs

On the basis of earlier success in rat studies, chlorpromazine was evaluated as a probable agent for improving survival of random skin flaps in pigs. The aim was to exclude the possibility that the effect of the chlorpromazine is species specific and to find out if it is dose dependent. One hundred and five dorsally-based 12×4 cm flaps were raised unilaterally on the backs of 15 pigs. The animals were divided into three groups using 15 mg/kg chlorpromazine, 7.5 mg/kg chlorpromazine, and a saline-treated control group. Flaps in the control group averaged 40.57±3.17% necrosis, while flaps in the 15 mg/kg and 7.5 mg/kg chlorpromazine-treated groups averaged 31.53±4.77% and 11.47±2.22% necrosis respectively. These results demonstrate dose dependent beneficial affects of chlorpromazine and the survival of random skin flaps in the pig. Although ideal dose levels are still to be determined, flap survival improved with the prophylactic use of chlorpromazine at the lower 7.5 mg/kg dosage.     

Comparison of positive allergy skin tests among asthmatic children from rural and urban areas living within small geographic area.

BACKGROUND: Evidence of increased asthma and allergic response among urban versus rural residents has been reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of allergic response among asthmatic children from urban and rural areas living within close proximity. METHODS: In all, 448 asthmatic children from urban (363) and rural (85) areas were studied. The study group consisted of 234 9-year-olds and 214 12-year-olds. A health questionnaire was completed on each child who subsequently underwent allergic skin prick tests (SPTs). RESULTS: There was significantly more positive SPT response to house-dust mite, mold, cat, and cypress among asthmatic children from urban areas compared with children living in rural areas: 58.3% versus 37.6%, 46.1% versus 31.8%, 17.45 versus 5.9%, and 26.2% versus 15.3%, respectively. Positive SPT for indoor allergens were significantly greater among asthmatic urban residents than asthmatic rural residents: 63.3% versus 45.5%, respectively (P < 0.02). Positive SPT response to all the allergens checked was higher among the 12-year-old age group when compared with the 9-year-olds, 34.6% versus 22.7%, respectively (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Allergic response measured by SPT is significantly more common among asthmatic children from urban areas as opposed to rural, even though both areas are within small distance of one another. Further, asthmatic children living in urban areas demonstrated more allergic response to both indoor and outdoor allergens. The allergic response tends to increase with increased age in both urban and rural asthmatic children.     

Measurement of post-operative pain and narcotic administration in infants using a new clinical scoring system

We developed a clinical neurologic and behavioral scoring system composed of 10 items to measure the post-operative pain levels in infants: (1) sleep during preceeding hour, (2) facial expression of pain, (3) quality of cry, (4) spontaneous motor activity, (5) Spontaneous excitability, (6) flexion of fingers and toes, (7) sucking, (8) global evaluation of tone, (9) consolability and (10) sociability. Using this system, a group of infants ranging from one to seven months in age and undergoing minor surgical procedures was studied. The infants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group I received Fentanyl intravenously (3 g/kg) prior to surgery, and Group II received a placebo. The infants then were studied post-operatively in the recovery room at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min intervals. Over the entire post-operative observation period, 54% of the infants in Group I had satisfactory analgesia compared to 18% in Group II. There were no significant differences in Group I and Group II in oxygenation, carbon dioxide elimination, blood pressure, heart rate or temperature.     

Kindling and electrode effects on the benzodiazepine receptors density of olfactory bulb and hippocampus after olfactory bulb kindling.

The olfactory bulb (OB) kindling is a model of limbic secondary generalized epilepsy. Ten days after the completion of OB kindling, we have studied the long term effects of both electrode insertion and kindling on the binding of [3H]diazepam to crude mitochondrial fractions. On the one hand, we have shown that electrode implantation in sham-operated controls induced an obvious increase in benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor density (Bmax) only at the site of the electrode in comparison to sham-unoperated rats. These results might indicate an additional mechanism extending earlier observations reported by others, who have shown that prolonged electrode implantation induced changes in sham-operated and kindled rats. On the other hand, the long lasting effect of OB kindling on the binding parameters of [3H]diazepam was examined in the focus and in the hippocampus. The results indicate a bilateral increase of BZD receptors in the OB and an ipsilateral increase in the hippocampus. These changes might be a regulation phenomenon in response to a hyperexcitability state and to focal stimulations.     

Thermal pleasantness sensation: an indicator of thermal stress

Summary The degree of pleasantness or unpleasantness of thermal sensation aroused by a particular peripheral thermal stimulus has been shown to be an indicator of thermal state of the body in relation to the thermoregulatory set point. This phenomenon is known as thermal alliesthesia. The quantification of thermal alliesthesia was possible using two methods: (1) A set of temperature stimuli (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 38 C) was applied, by means of a Peltier thermode 5.5×2.7 cm², on the back of the hand, the forehead, and the back of the neck. When each stimulus had been applied for 5 s the subjects voted their degree of thermal pleasantness/unpleasantness on a psychophysical scale ranging from +2.0 for very pleasant to –2.0 for very unpleasant. (2) The subjects were also asked to adjust the Peltier thermode temperature, without looking at the temperature scale, such that the temperature (on the back of the neck) was maintained at the level the subjects considered most pleasant. The subjects also rated their general thermal comfort sensation on a five point scale ranging from +2.0 for very comfortable to –2.0 for very uncomfortable. Rectal temperature and skin temperature at eight locations were continuously recorded. Passive thermal exposures (54) were made with nine passive subjects and 42 exposures were done with working (50 watt) subjects. All exposures were carried out in a climatic chamber at a constant temperature, relative humidity (45%), and air speed (0.3 m/s). Each subject underwent 6 exposures at six room temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 C. The results of work exposures confirmed the findings of previous studies; namely, the effect of core temperature change overrides any effect due to mean skin temperature on alliesthesial response. A mathematical function to predict the mean slope of the thermal pleasantness rating/stimulus line (a measure of the alliesthesial response) was derived using the data obtained from the passive thermal exposures. The results indicate that alliesthesial response can be used as a quantitative indicator of thermal stress.Supported by the European Coal and Steel Community, Luxembourg