Pharmacokinetics and transplacental distribution of fentanyl in epidural anesthesia for normal pregnant women.

Background: Fentanyl is an opioid drug widely used as a co-adjuvant in abdominal delivery, a fact that justifies its pharmacokinetic study under these conditions.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and placental transfer of fentanyl in parturients whose pregnancies were resolved by cesarian section with epidural anesthesia.

Patients And Methods: Ten clinically normal parturients who delivered at term received 5 ml of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride without a vasoconstrictor for skin and subcutaneous blockade, followed by epidural injection of 2 ml fentanyl citrate (0.

[Functional assessment of the left atrial appendage with transesophageal echocardiography before and after percutaneous valvotomy in the mitral stenosis].

Objective: To assess the effects of the relief of the mitral stenosis by percutaneous ballon valvotomy in the function of the left atrial appendage.

Methods: Twelve patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis, in sinus rhythm, were studied. They were submitted to the transesophageal echocardiogram before and after effective percutaneous ballon valvotomy.

Myocardial performance index in female rats with myocardial infarction: relationship with ventricular function parameters by Doppler echocardiography.

Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the myocardial performance index (MPI), its relationship with the standard variables of systolic and diastolic functions, and the influence of time intervals in an experimental model of female rats with myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Forty-one Wistar female rats were submitted to surgery to induce MI. Six weeks later, Doppler echocardiography was performed to assess infarct size (IS,%), fractional area change (FAC,%), ejection fraction biplane Simpson (EF), E/A ratio of mitral inflow, MPI and its time intervals: isovolumetric contraction (IVCT, ms) and relaxation (IVRT, ms) times, and ejection time (ET, ms); MPI = IVCT + IVRT/ET.

Biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of the bacterial phytochrome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Phytochromes are photochromic biliproteins found in plants as well as in some cyanotrophic, photoautotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria. In many bacteria, their function is largely unknown. Here we describe the biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of recombinant bacterial phytochrome from the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PaBphP).

Renal transplantation in a C-ANCA(+) patient with Behcet disease and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disorder, and the underlying histophatological lesion is vasculitis of unknown cause. Some case reports of BD with positive C-ANCA titers have been reported, but only 2 case reports have documented the association of ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis (GN) and BD, and no renal transplantation cases have been described. We report such a case.

Effect of central hypothyroidism on Doppler-derived myocardial performance index.

Background: Myocardial performance index (MPI) has been used to assess global ventricular function in different types of cardiac disease. Thyroid hormones influence cardiac performance directly and indirectly by changes in peripheral circulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of central hypothyroidism (CH) on MPI.

Role of dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography in prognostic evaluation of 300 women.

Background: Dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography (DASE) is a safe and accurate method to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD), and can identify individuals at high risk for cardiac events such as myocardial infarction and cardiac-related death. The literature is limited regarding the prognostic value of DASE in women.

Objective: The objective was to determine the prognostic value of DASE in 300 women with known or suspected CAD.

High concordance for essential tremor in monozygotic twins of old age.

Objective: To assess the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors for the etiology of essential tremor (ET) and to explore the effect of different diagnostic criteria.

Methods: A total of 2,448 twins of the Danish twin registry aged 70 years or more were screened for ET by an interview and an Archimedes spiral test. All twin pairs (n = 162) with a positive screening test of at least one of the twins were recontacted and 218 individuals (109 pairs) were interviewed and examined by a movement disorder specialist.

Williams-Beuren syndrome: cardiovascular abnormalities in 20 patients diagnosed with fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Objective: To evaluate the cardiovascular findings and clinical follow-up of patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome.

Methods: We studied 20 patients (11 males, mean age at diagnosis: 5.9 years old), assessed for cardiovascular abnormalities with electrocardiography and Doppler echocardiography.

Ca(2+) and frequency dependence of exocytosis in isolated somata of magnocellular supraoptic neurones of the rat hypothalamus.

In addition to action potential-evoked exocytotic release at neurohypophysial nerve terminals, the neurohormones arginine vasopressin (aVP) and oxytocin (OT) undergo Ca(2+)-dependent somatodendritic release within the supraoptic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie this release have not been elucidated. In the present study, the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was utilized in combination with high-time-resolved measurements of membrane capacitance (C(m)) and microfluorometric measurements of cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) to examine the Ca(2+) and stimulus dependence of exocytosis in the somata of magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs) isolated from rat supraoptic nucleus (SON).

Genome scan meta-analysis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, part II: Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a common disorder with high heritability and a 10-fold increase in risk to siblings of probands. Replication has been inconsistent for reports of significant genetic linkage. To assess evidence for linkage across studies, rank-based genome scan meta-analysis (GSMA) was applied to data from 20 schizophrenia genome scans.

Gastrointestinal-projecting neurones in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus exhibit direct and viscerotopically organized sensitivity to orexin.

Orexin (hypocretin)-containing projections from lateral hypothalamus (LH) are thought to play an important role in the regulation of feeding behaviour and energy balance. In rodent studies, central administration of orexin peptides increases food intake, and orexin neurones in the LH are activated by hypoglycaemia during fasting. In addition, administration of orexins into the fourth ventricle or the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) has been shown to stimulate gastric acid secretion and motility, respectively, via vagal efferent pathways.

Evidence for a direct effect of captopril on early steps of insulin action in BC3H-1 myocytes.

Captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, has been reported to improve insulin sensitivity. However, despite extensive investigation, the mechanisms responsible for this effect are not fully understood. Reduction of plasma angiotensin II and inhibition of kininase II have been suggested to contribute to improve insulin sensitivity.

Mildly symptomatic chronic mitral regurgitation. Analysis of left ventricular systolic function and mitral regurgitation fraction under pharmacological influence. Echocardiographic study.

Objective: To study echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic function and valvar regurgitation under pharmacological influence in mildly symptomatic patients with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods: We carried out a double-blind placebo controlled study in 12 patients with MR, mean aged 12.5 years old, who were randomized in 4 phases: A) digoxin; B) enalapril; C) digoxin + enalapril; D) placebo.

Cardiovascular effects of successful renal transplantation: a 1-year sequential study of left ventricular morphology and function, and 24-hour blood pressure profile.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in renal transplant recipients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a successful renal transplantation on left ventricular morphology and function and on the 24-hr blood pressure profile.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with end-stage renal disease were prospectively studied by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and echocardiography before and at 3, 6, and 12 months after renal transplantation.

Prevalence and 7-year incidence of Type II diabetes mellitus in a Japanese-Brazilian population: an alarming public health problem.

Aims/hypothesis: In 1993, the prevalence of glucose intolerance was studied in a sample of 647 first-generation and second-generation Japanese-Brazilians. Their cohort was followed until 2000, when a second survey was conducted, this included the first and second generations, aged 30 or more years. The aims were to estimate the prevalence of glucose intolerance and 7-yr incidence of Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in this population.

Streptococcal exanthem in a blaschkolinear pattern: clinical evidence for genetic mosaicism in hypomelanosis of ito.

Due to the presence of two different clones of cells in early embryogenesis, numerous congenital and acquired dermatoses have a linear distribution following the lines of Blaschko. Acquired inflammatory skin diseases are rarely observed in linear patterns. Our patient was born with macrocephaly, left eye glaucoma, and a left facial and contralateral corporal hemihypertrophy, cerebral dysgenesis, and skeletal abnormalities.

Echocardiographic assessment of the pulmonary venous flow. An indicator of increased pulmonary flow in congenital cardiac malformations.

Objective: To identify the left inferior pulmonary vein as an indirect marker of increased pulmonary flow in congenital heart diseases.

Methods: We carried out a prospective consecutive study on 40 patients divided into 2 groups as follows: G1--20 patients diagnosed with congenital heart disease and increased pulmonary flow; G2 (control group)--20 patients who were either healthy or had congenital heart disease with decreased or normal pulmonary flow. We obtained the velocity-time integral of the left inferior pulmonary vein flow, excluding the "reverse A" wave, with pulsed Doppler echocardiography.

The glial growth factors deficiency and synaptic destabilization hypothesis of schizophrenia.

Background: A systems approach to understanding the etiology of schizophrenia requires a theory which is able to integrate genetic as well as neurodevelopmental factors.

Presentation Of The Hypothesis: Based on a co-localization of loci approach and a large amount of circumstantial evidence, we here propose that a functional deficiency of glial growth factors and of growth factors produced by glial cells are among the distal causes in the genotype-to-phenotype chain leading to the development of schizophrenia. These factors include neuregulin, insulin-like growth factor I, insulin, epidermal growth factor, neurotrophic growth factors, erbB receptors, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, growth arrest specific genes, neuritin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, glutamate, NMDA and cholinergic receptors.