Comparative toxicity of physiological and biochemical parameters in Euglena gracilis to short-term exposure to potassium sorbate

Ecotoxicology - Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, is a widespread and efficient antioxidant that has multiple functions in plants, traditionally associated with the reactions...     

Retrograde (reverse) jejunal intussusception might not be such a rare problem: a single group’s experience of 23 cases

BACKGROUND: Retrograde (reverse) intussusception of the jejunum is thought to be a very rare occurrence, having been reported approximately 15 times (21 patients) in medical studies. A review of our own experience of >15,000 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients found 23 cases treated since 1996. This is the largest single-center report to date. METHODS: A chart review dating back to 1996 revealed 23 patients with retrograde intussusception involving the jejunum. Their charts were reviewed. A variety of data was reviewed to identify the risk factors for developing intussusception, as well as the presentation, findings, and treatment. RESULTS: We identified 23 patients with retrograde intussusception involving the jejunum. Of these 23 patients, 22 had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. One patient had undergone Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy. Of the 23 patients, 1 (4%) had a gastrojejunal intussusception and 22 (96%) jejunojejunal intussusceptions. All patients were women, with a median age of 32 years (range 20-50). The mean body mass index at gastric bypass was 45.2 kg/m2 (range 39.4-55). Of the 23 patients, 19 (83%) had undergone open and 4 (17%) laparoscopic gastric bypass. The median duration from gastric bypass to the diagnosis of intussusception was 51 months (range 6-288). Of the 23 patients, 8 (35%) presented with gangrene, perforation, or nonreducable obstruction, 9 (39%) had a spontaneous reduction, and in 6 (26%), the obstruction was successfully reduced at surgery. The treatment was surgical resection in 16 (70%) with 2 recurrences (12.5%), simple reduction in 2 (9%) with 100% recurrence, and plication in 5 patients (22%) with 2 recurrences (40%). CONCLUSION: Retrograde intussusception of the jejunum after gastric bypass is probably more common than previously believed. Although resection and revision of the area of intussusception appears to be effective, more information is needed about the treatment and possible prevention of this disorder.     

Comparison of laparoscopic linear staplers in clinical practice

BACKGROUND: Only one previous study has evaluated the clinical safety of the 2 laparoscopic linear stapling devices available. Our study compared these staplers using laparoscopic gastric bypass as the standard procedure. METHODS: A total of 400 consecutive patients were prospectively studied. Group A (200 patients) underwent gastric bypass with the Endo-GIA Universal 6-row stapler (Autosuture) used, and group B (200 patients) underwent the procedure with the Ethicon 6-row stapler used. The measured parameters included stapler misfires, staple line bleeding, staple line leaks, unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, unexplained intra-abdominal bleeding, total bleeding events, and total adverse events. RESULTS: Both groups were similar in preoperative body mass index, age, and gender. Both groups had a single staple line leak (0.5%; P = 1.0). Three (0.25% of staple firings) misfires occurred in group B. No misfires occurred in group A (P = .25). Gastrointestinal bleeding, staple line bleeding, and unexplained intra-abdominal bleeding occurred in 6 (3%), 2 (1%), and 5 (2.5%) patients in group A and in 1 (0.5%), 0 (0%), and 2 (1%) patients in group B (P = .12, P = .5, and P = .45, respectively). Total bleeding events occurred in 13 patients (6.5%) in group A and in 3 patients (1.5%) in group B (P = 0.019). The total number of patients with an adverse event was 14 (7%) in group A and 7 (3.5%) in group B (P = .18). CONCLUSION: The results of our study have shown that the Ethicon 6-row stapler had more misfires and the Autosuture Endo-GIA 6-row stapler resulted in more bleeding complications. Only the difference in total bleeding events reached statistical significance but the difference in the total number of adverse events was not statistically significant. Therefore, in our experience both devices were equally safe and effective.     

Laparoscopic reversal of gastric bypass with sleeve gastrectomy for treatment of recurrent retrograde intussusception and Roux stasis syndrome

BackgroundWe reported on our experience of 23 patients with retrograde intussusception (RINT) in 2007. That series has increased to 54 patients. Surgical resection of the jejunojejunostomy appears to be the most effective treatment. We treated 8 patients with documented or suspected recurrent RINT despite resection, by reversing their gastric bypass with sleeve gastrectomy to avoid weight regain.MethodsThe medical records of 8 patients who had undergone treatment of suspected recurrent RINT with reversal of their gastric bypass followed by sleeve gastrectomy were reviewed to evaluate the outcomes, complications, weight loss, and relief of symptoms.ResultsAll 8 patients were women, aged 29–56 years. The mean body mass index at reversal was 22.3–36.5 kg/m² (mean 30). The follow-up period was 1–28 months (mean 20.8). The body mass index at the last visit was 21.3–33 kg/m² (mean 26). Complications occurred in 5 patients. Patient 1 developed delayed splenic bleeding that required splenectomy on the second postoperative day. Patient 2 developed a gastric fistula 6 weeks after surgery after dilation. Patient 4 developed a superior mesenteric vein thrombosis at 2 weeks postoperatively. Patient 7 developed a proximal small bowel obstruction. Also, 4 patients required dilation of the gastrogastrostomy. At the last follow-up visit, the patients did not have symptoms of recurrent RINT and had not regained their weight.ConclusionLaparoscopic reversal of gastric bypass with sleeve gastrectomy for recurrent RINT or RINT-like symptoms (Roux stasis symptoms) resulted in a significant risk of complications in this small group of patients but appears to be effective for relieving the symptoms of RINT with minimal risk of weight regain, at least in the medium term.     

Bovine serum albumin nanoparticles improve the antitumour activity of curcumin in a murine melanoma model

Abstract

Curcumin is a natural compound presenting important antitumour activity. However, due to its low aqueous solubility, instability at physiological pH, and low oral bioavailability, its clinical use is limited. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles have been used as drug carriers to improve the drug properties. In this work, curcumin-loaded BSA nanoparticles were developed and the in vitro cytotoxicity over murine melanoma cells and the in vivo antitumour activity in a murine melanoma model were assessed. Nanoparticles presented 150?nm, polydispersity index of 0.16, negative zeta potential, and 45% of curcumin encapsulation efficiency. Curcumin release from nanoparticles was slow and diffusion dependent. In the cytotoxicity assay, free curcumin was more efficient than curcumin-loaded nanoparticles, probably due to the prolonged curcumin release from nanoparticles. However, in a murine melanoma model, curcumin-loaded nanoparticles presented higher antitumour efficiency than free curcumin. BSA nanoparticles are efficient curcumin carriers that may have relevant applications in melanoma treatment.     

Alice Michaud--devotion and glory: the first nurse in Paraná

This study is about a part of Alice Michaud's biography, the first nurse in Parana and the first ABEn-PR's president, majored in 1948, being the third group of the Nursing School in S?o Paulo-USP The facts stated here were obtained from periodicals, recorded interviews with the honored nurse and after her death by documents given by the family. The data permitted to identify the source, the formation, the main work developed, the homages and the public acknowledgment of this nurse. This is the first, out of a series of registers, to be done standing out the life and work of Alice Michaud.     

Beta-carotene concentrations in maternal and cord blood of smokers and non-smokers

BACKGROUND: Smoking in pregnancy can cause a reduction in the transport of beta-carotene across the placenta, consequently reflecting on the concentrations of this micronutrient in the newborn baby. AIMS: This study determined the concentrations of beta-carotene in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood in a group of smokers and non-smokers. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: A total of 215 women and respective newborn babies were selected from a hospital in Joinville city, Brazil, between July and November 2002. Women were divided in two groups according to their smoking habits. beta-Carotene concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The difference between mean concentrations of beta-carotene in maternal blood and cord blood, in smokers and non-smokers, was determined by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Student's t-test compared mean concentrations of beta-carotene in maternal blood and cord blood, and the mean ingestion of foods rich in beta-carotene by smokers and non-smokers. RESULTS: There was a statistical significant difference between the concentrations of beta-carotene in maternal blood (S=0.271 micromol/L, NS=0.450 micromol/L; P=0.001) and cord blood (S=0.028 micromol/L, NS=0.045 micromol/L; P=0.001) in smokers (S) and non-smokers (NS). The mean concentration of beta-carotene was significantly higher in maternal blood (0.398 micromol/L) than in cord blood (0.041 micromol/L) (P<0.001). The intake of foods rich in beta-carotene was lower in smokers, than in non-smokers (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of beta-carotene in maternal blood and cord blood were influenced by the use of tobacco.     

Optimizing conditions for the use of chlorophyll derivatives for photodynamic control of parasites in aquatic ecosystems

Recently, it was demonstrated that mosquito larvae can be killed by means of photodynamic processes after the larvae have incorporated the photosensitizer chlorophyllin or pheophorbid, and were treated with light. The water-soluble substances were applied to and incorporated by the larvae in darkness. With Chaoborus sp. a dark incubation of about 3 h is sufficient to yield mortality of about 90% and ≥6 h resulted in almost 100% mortality during subsequent illumination. Temperature did not influence mortality of the larvae significantly in a treatment of 6 h dark incubation and subsequent 3 h illumination. At 10°C, 20°C, or 30°C, between 80% and 100% of the treated larvae died when the light intensity from a solar simulator was above 30 W/m². Lower irradiances were less effective. The LD₅₀ value of magnesium chlorophyllin was about 22.25 mg/l and for Zn chlorophyll 17.53 mg/l, while Cu chlorophyll (LD₅₀ 0.1 mg/l) was shown to be toxic also without light. Chlorophyllin, which was lyophilized immediately after extraction, was far more lethal to the larvae (LD₅₀ 14.88 mg/l) than air-dried Mg chlorophyllin.