Red blood cell omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with heart failure.

Background: Epidemiological studies support the protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids on sudden cardiac death. However, patients with structural heart disease and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) showed no effect or even a proarrhythmic response to fish oil supplementation. Animal studies suggest different electrophysiologic effects of circulating and incorporated omega-3 fatty acids.

HES 130/0.42 shows less alteration of pharmacokinetics than HES 200/0.5 when dosed repeatedly.

Background: Hydroxyethyl starches (HES) accumulate in the circulation when administered repeatedly. Accumulation is thought to be partly responsible for undesirable effects (tissue storage, blood coagulation impairment, and itching). HES 130/0.

[Severe adverse event following iv administration of 10 ml 6% Dextran60 (0.6 g) in a healthy volunteer].

We describe the case of a 24-year-old healthy volunteer who underwent a dextran-induced anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction (DIAR) type III after administration of 10 ml 6% Dextran60 (0.6 g) during a preliminary examination. There were no specific incidents in the medical history or any infusions of any colloids.

[Wound management with coconut oil in Indonesian folk medicine].

The medical plants which are used to treat wounds and injuries by the ethnic group of Ngada on Flores, an Eastern Indonesian island, will be presented. Additionally, the coconut oil used to treat wounds and to conserve medicinal plants will be analysed biochemically. The people of Ngada use the following plants for wound treatment: seeds of the betel nut (Areca catechu L.

[Thrombelastographic coagulation analysis following in vitro and in vivo haemodilution with hydroxyethyl starch (HES)].

In the study presented the effects of in vitro hemodilution with HES on coagulation are compared with the effects of in vivo hemodilution using thrombelastography (TEG). The in vivo hemodilution was performed by the i. v.

[The in vivo molecular weight and renal threshold of hydroxyethyl starch in the example of molar substituted HES70/0/5].

The intravascular changes of the in vivo molecular weight of HES 70/0.5 were investigated on healthy volunteers. A repeated daily infusion of 835 ml of 6% HES solution (50 g HES 70/0.

[Acetyl starch as volume substitute, a possible alternative to HES].

Objectives: Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of acetyl starch (ACS) in comparison to hydroxyethyl starch (HES) were investigated after repeated intravenous infusions. METHODS AND COHORTS: A 500 ml solution of ACS (n = 8) or HES (n = 9) was infused to male volunteers (Age 25-42 Years) over four hours on five consecutive days.

Results: Comparing the pharmacokinetic parameters, marked differences were found between ACS and HES.

Pharmacodynamics and tolerability of acetyl starch as a new plasma volume expander in patients undergoing elective surgery.

Objective: Acetyl starch (ACS) is a new synthetic colloid solution for plasma volume expansion and is now undergoing phase II clinical trials. We compared the pharmacodynamics and tolerability of ACS with those ofhydroxyethyl starch (HES) in 32 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II) undergoing elective surgery.

Subjects, Material And Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind trial patients received either 15 ml/kg ACS 6% (average molecular weight (Mw) 200,000/molar substitution (MS) 0.

[The use of lithium hydroxide for carbon dioxide absorption prevents formation of compound A during sevoflurane anesthesia].

Unlabelled: Aim of the study was the clinical investigation of sevoflurane degradation when using water-free lithiumhydroxide versus moist Drägersorb 800 for carbon dioxide absorption.

Methods: Concentrations of Compound A in the inspiratory gas mix and serum fluoride levels were measured in two groups of 8 patients each.

Results: When water-free lithiumhydroxide was used for carbon dioxide absorption, concentration of Compound A in the inspiratory gas mix was ca.

[The accumulation of different substituted hydroxyethyl starches (HES) following repeated infusions in healthy volunteers].

Aim Of The Study: Accumulation of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) after repeated applications of starches with different molar substitution and similar molecular weight was investigated.

Methods: Treatment with five consecutive infusions of hydroxyethyl starch was carried out using two medium molecular weight hydroxyethyl starches with a molar substitution of 0.5 and 0.

Lipid and lipoprotein profiles in children with familial hypercholesterolaemia: effects of therapy.

Unlabelled: In 71 children with familial hypercholesterolaemia the effect of dietary and/or medical treatment was evaluated. Initial total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in children who were consecutively treated by diet (Step-One-Diet) than in those who received additional medication. By dietary treatment, the median total cholesterol level (236.

The pharmacokinetics of acetyl starch as a plasma volume expander in patients undergoing elective surgery.

Unlabelled: Acetyl starch (ACS) is a new synthetic colloid solution for plasma volume expansion and is now undergoing phase 2 clinical trials. We compared the pharmacokinetics of ACS with those of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) in 32 patients (ASA physical status I and II) undergoing elective surgery. In this randomized, double-blind trial, patients received either 15 mL/kg ACS 6% (average molecular weight [Mw] 200,000/molar substitution [MS] 0.

[Various reactions of sevoflurane with the individual components of soda lime].

The various components of commercial soda lime (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide) were studied in terms of their reactivity with sevoflurane at its boiling point (59 degrees C). A simple closed system, a reflux cooler, served as a model. Analyses were performed by GC/MS.

[Addition of fentanyl to bupivacaine--peridural analgesia in cesarean section].

Unlabelled: Epidural anaesthesia for elective caesarean section can have advantages over general anaesthesia. The anaesthesiologist can avoid endotracheal intubation as well as fetal depression following placental transfer of systemic anaesthetics. However, despite reaching an effective blockade preoperatively, intraoperative discomfort and pain may occur during epidural anaesthesia with local anaesthetics alone, necessitating supplemental systemic analgesics or even conversion to general anaesthesia [21].

[Repeated addition of fentanyl to bupivacaine peridural analgesia in labor. Clinical action and fentanyl plasma level].

A combination of epidural opioids with local anaesthetics has been used to improve pain relief during labor and to reduce side effects, such as muscle weakness, usually seen when local anaesthetics are used alone. The addition of epidural fentanyl (F) produces highly effective analgesia, the only side effect being mild itching. Initial trials investigated the improvement in analgesia after a single administration of F during first- but not during second-stage labor.

Midazolam does not antagonize fentanyl-mediated analgesia in surgical patients.

Study Objective: To determine whether midazolam possesses a clinically significant antianalgesic action in surgical patients.

Design: Randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Inpatient anesthesia at a university department of neurosurgery.

[Effectiveness of preventing hypotension with H1/H2 antagonists before protamine administration].

Background: This prospective randomized study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of prophylactic administration of H1/H2 receptor blockers on histamine release and hemodynamic changes after administration of protamine in two groups of patients (n = 20) undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Patients And Methods: Group 1 (n = 10) patients were pretreated intravenously with 1 mg/kg ranitidine and 0.1 mg/kg dimetinden 15 min before termination of the extracorporeal circulation; group 2 patients (n = 10) received no medication.

[Repeated perioperative administration of fructose and sorbitol in a female patient with hereditary fructose intolerance [HFI)].

The present paper reports on an adult female patient whose hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) was at first not diagnosed and who, within the space of 2 years after repeated elective surgery and the perioperative administration of fructose and sorbitol, developed "hepatic and renal failure of unclear origin." At a later stage we were able to establish the diagnosis of HFI by means of a fructose tolerance test in both she and her brother, for whom intolerance to fruit and desserts had been known since early childhood. In addition, literature references to fatalities following the parenteral application of fructose and sorbitol were analyzed.

[Metabolic changes in a patient in the early phase of acute pancreatitis].

The present paper reports on the perioperative metabolic changes in a 70-year-old female patient in whom an acute (oedematous) pancreatitis occurred during the transduodenal excision of a villous adenoma of the duodenal papilla. Since blood was taken for metabolic investigations before, during and after surgery, data on the changes in the intermediary metabolism during the early phase of acute pancreatitis in humans was recorded. Raised activity of the pancreatic enzymes amylase and lipase was demonstrable just minutes after extirpation of the papillary tumour after intraoperative cholangiography had been performed via a choledochotomy.

[Metabolic changes in patients with hereditary fructose intolerance. A contribution to the topic of fructose administration for parenteral feeding].

The literature contains a number of reports of death following the intravenous administration of fructose in patients with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI). The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the metabolic changes occurring during intravenous administration of fructose to patients with HFI, with the aim of identifying metabolic parameters that would permit the early diagnosis of HFI. Also, the deaths reported in the literature were analyzed.

[Thiamine deficiency as a cause of life threatening lactic acidosis in total parenteral nutrition].

Two patients aged 37 and 44 years developed life-threatening lactic acidosis following abdominal surgery and a period of about 3 weeks of total parenteral nutrition. Septicaemia and hypoxia were excluded as possible causes. Conventional treatment including high doses of buffer agents was unsuccessful.

[The metabolism of panthenol in patients with postoperative intestinal atony].

The aim of this study was the examination of the metabolism and mechanism of action of D-pantothenyl alcohol in patients with postoperative intestinal atony. Seven metabolically healthy patients were examined on the 4th day following colorectal surgery, before bowel activity had started. Increased urinary excretion of the vitamin pantothenic acid was noted following the intravenous application of 2 gm of D-pantothenyl alcohol.

[Life-threatening lactic acidosis during total parenteral nutrition. Successful therapy with thiamine].

Two patients, 37 and 44 years old, respectively, developed severe metabolic acidosis after abdominal surgery which was followed by three weeks of total parenteral nutrition. Septicaemia, peritonitis or hypoxia were excluded as possible causes. Both patients had very high serum lactate concentrations (24.

[Metabolic changes and infusion therapy in ileus].

The aim of the investigation was to determine the changes in intermediary metabolism that occur in cases of ileus, and to develop a concept for parenteral perioperative nutrition on a pathophysiological basis. Seventeen metabolically healthy patients, suffering from mechanical ileus, have been evaluated. Besides the nonspecific metabolic changes characteristic of the postaggressive metabolism (abnormalities in peripheral glucose utilization, gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, proteolysis) we were able to demonstrate elevated serum levels of albumin, lactate and arachidonic acid preoperatively in these patients.