Perception of the role of spirituality and religiosity in the addiction treatment program among the Italian health professionals: a pilot study.

In this pilot study, 69 health professionals working in public and private programs treating drug users and alcohol misusers in Italy were interviewed during 2012 using the Vederhus and Laudet questionnaire as a framework to explore the importance of the concepts of spirituality and religiosity and their possible roles in the treatment through patient's referral to mutual-help groups. The study's limitations are noted.

Production and characterization of a novel human recombinant alpha-1-antitrypsin in PER.C6 cells.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1PI) is a proteinase inhibitor of the serpin superfamily and circulates in plasma at about 1-2 g/L. A1PI deficiency in humans often results in organ damage, particularly to the lungs and liver. Current augmentation therapies rely entirely on A1PI isolated from human plasma, thus prompting an evaluation of alternate sources.

Safety evaluation of a recombinant plasmin derivative lacking kringles 2-5 and rt-PA in a rat model of transient ischemic stroke.

Background: Tissue type plasminogen activator is the only approved thrombolytic agent for the treatment of ischemic stroke. However, it carries the disadvantage of a 10-fold increase in symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. A safer thrombolytic agent may improve patient prognosis and increase patient participation in thrombolytic treatment.

Intra-arterial administration of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) causes more intracranial bleeding than does intravenous rt-PA in a transient rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model.

Background: Intra-arterial (IA) administration of rt-PA for ischemic stroke has the potential for greater thrombolytic efficacy, especially for a large thrombus in the M1 or M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a concern with IA or intravenous (IV) administration especially as the therapeutic window is extended. However, because IA administration delivers a higher local concentration of agent, the incidence and severity of ICH may be greater than with similar doses IV.

Haemostatic safety of a unique recombinant plasmin molecule lacking kringles 2-5.

We previously demonstrated a significant margin of haemostatic safety for full-length plasmin in comparison with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). We now report studies that compare haemostatic safety of full-length plasmin with a novel recombinant plasmin derivative, (Δ K2-5) plasmin, consisting of kringle 1 linked to the serine protease domain of plasmin. Agent was administered intravenously in a randomised, blinded manner in a rabbit model of fibrinolytic haemorrhage.

Simplified recombinant plasmin: production and functional comparison of a novel thrombolytic molecule with plasma-derived plasmin.

A simplified and fully functional deletion mutant of plasminogen was created in which the middle portion of the molecule was removed, resulting in kringle 1 attachment to the serine protease domain. This recombinant plasminogen deletion mutant, Delta(K2-K5)Pg, was produced in the form of inclusion bodies at the yield of up to 200 mg/l in an Escherichia coli T7 expression system. Following protein refolding and purification on lysine-Sepharose, the conversion of the recombinant molecule Delta(K2-K5)Pg to the active enzyme mutant Delta(K2-K5)Pm by plasminogen activators was evaluated, and functional characteristics of the simplified plasmin were studied.

Effect of preemptive retrobulbar analgesia on perioperative hemodynamics and postoperative pain after enucleation.

Purpose: To determine the preemptive pain and hemodynamic effects of preincisional retrobulbar analgesia in enucleation.

Methods: This double-blinded, placebo-controlled study enrolled 69 patients scheduled for enucleation. Patients were stratified into two groups: those who used daily analgesics before surgery and those who did not.

Comparison of a prototype esophageal oximetry probe with two conventional digital pulse oximetry monitors in aortocoronary bypass patients.

Objective: Pulse oximetry (SpO2) is the non-invasive standard for monitoring arterial oxygen saturation in patients undergoing anesthesia, but is subject to external interference by motion artifact, peripheral vasoconstriction, and low cardiac output. We hypothesized that oximetry signals could be acquired from the esophagus when peripheral pulse oximetry is unobtainable. Therefore, we tested an esophageal stethoscope which incorporates transverse oximetry photodetectors and emitters in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery.

The incidence of venous disease in Brazil based on the CEAP classification.

Background: Venous disease presents an extremely complex problem with various clinical manifestations. This is an epidemiological study of venous disease as it occurs in an area of Brazil. For the first time in Brazil the CEAP classification is used.

Less isoflurane is required after than before cardiopulmonary bypass to maintain a constant bispectral index value.

Objective: To test whether patients require less volatile anesthetic after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Design: Prospective, observational clinical study.

Setting: Cardiovascular operating rooms of a large teaching hospital.

The use of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation for preventing nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic surgery.

Unlabelled: Nonpharmacologic techniques may be effective in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). This sham-controlled, double-blinded study was designed to examine the antiemetic efficacy of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) in a surgical population at high risk of developing PONV. We studied 221 outpatients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a standardized general anesthetic technique in this randomized, multicenter trial.

Multimodal antiemetic management prevents early postoperative vomiting after outpatient laparoscopy.

Because no completely effective antiemetic exists for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), we hypothesize that a multimodal approach to management of PONV may reduce both vomiting and the need for rescue antiemetics in high-risk patients. After IRB approval, women undergoing outpatient laparoscopy were randomized to one of three groups. Group I (n = 60) was managed by using a predefined multimodal clinical care algorithm.

Substance P (Neurokinin-1) antagonist prevents postoperative vomiting after abdominal hysterectomy procedures.

Background: The safety and antiemetic efficacy of CP-122,721, a novel neurokinin-1 antagonist, was evaluated when administered alone or in combination with ondansetron.

Methods: Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design, CP-122,721 was initially compared with placebo and subsequently to ondansetron alone and in combination for prophylaxis against postoperative nausea and vomiting in 243 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. In the dose-ranging studies (n = 86), patients received either CP-122,721 100 mg (vs.