Release of Ofloxacin from silicone gel sheet.

From a drug delivery system using silicone gel, the amount of Ofloxacin (OFLX) released or transferred to a wound and blood was measured over 2 weeks. From three types of silicone gel containing 2, 0.2 and 0.

A simple chemiluminescence method for measuring oxygen-derived free radicals generated in oxygenated rat myocardium.

We have developed a simple and reproducible method employing chemiluminescence to measure oxygen-derived free radicals generated in oxygenated myocardium. Isolated perfused rat hearts were frozen in liquid nitrogen during the control perfusion (non-ischemia), after 30 min of global ischemia (ischemia), or after 20 min of reperfusion following 30-min global ischemia (reperfusion). The frozen hearts were ground to a fine powder and then oxygenated by mixing with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.

Hydration and occlusion treatment for hypertrophic scars and keloids.

In 31 patients with hypertrophic scars or keloids, a side by side test was carried out to check the efficacy of an occlusive dressing technique using cream which did not contain silicone oil, versus a simple application of vaseline, used as a control. In all cases, the cream treated areas of scar and keloid demonstrated a remarkable improvement over that of the vaseline treated area. These findings strongly suggest that the mechanisms of hydration and occlusion are the main basis of the therapeutic action of this method in treating hypertrophic scars and keloids.

Auditory brainstem responses in congenital heart disease.

To evaluate the effect of chronic hypoxemia on brainstem maturation, auditory brainstem responses were examined in 70 children (32 with and 38 without cyanosis) who had congenital heart disease. Ninety-one age-matched normal children served as controls. At 1-3 months of age, the I-V interpeak latencies of cyanotic infants (mean +/- S.

Assessment of left ventricular function in Kawasaki disease by dipyridamole-loading cineventriculography.

Dipyridamole-loading cineventriculography was performed to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function in 76 patients with Kawasaki disease. Forty-five of 76 patients underwent the procedure within 6 months from the onset of illness (group 1A, normal findings on coronary angiogram; group 1B, maximal diameter of coronary lesions less than 4 mm; group 1C, maximal diameter of coronary lesions greater than 4 mm). Thirty-one of 76 patients underwent the procedure greater than 6 months after onset (group 2A, coronary lesions improved to normal or less than 4 mm; group 2B, remaining coronary lesions greater than 4 mm; group 2C, stenosis or obstruction of the coronary artery).

The effect of continuous topical application of heparin on flap survival.

To evaluate the beneficial effects of heparin on flap survival area, an experimental study was carried out on dorsal flaps in rats. Topical applications of heparin, released from a silicone gel sheet onto the critical area (which generally necrosed without treatment), resulted in an increase in the flap survival area and rate as compared to controls (p < 0.01).

The relationship between prostaglandin E1 applied area and flap survival rate.

Using a silicone gel sheet continuous drug delivery system containing Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), the relationship between flap survival rate and the site of drug application was studied. Skin flaps measuring 2 x 9 cm were raised on the dorsum of rats, and divided into 3 areas. Area 1 was within 3 cm of the flap tip, area 2 was between 3-6 cm from the flap tip including the critical zone, and area 3 was the portion within 4 cm of the flap base.

Benefits of silicone cream occlusive dressing for treatment of meshed skin grafts.

A side-by-side evaluation of a silicone cream occlusive dressing technique for grafted meshed skin on the extremities of 10 patients is described. The site treated by silicone cream showed less congestion in the interstices of the mesh, less visible diamond pattern, and less hardness of the skin in all patients compared with the control site, which was treated by application of petroleum jelly ointment. The general appearance of the silicone cream-treated site showed better cosmetic results when compared with the control site.

Beneficial effects of silicone cream on grafted skin.

The clinical effects of silicone cream were compared to vaseline on 27 patients with split (14 cases) and full thickness (13) skin grafts. Silicone cream occlusive treatment resulted in significantly less pigmentation and hardness in 21 out of 27 cases (78%), less marginal scar hypertrophy and redness in 10 and 7 cases respectively (37 and 26%), and in an even narrower marginal scar in 6 cases (22%). In nine cases of the split skin graft, fewer wrinkles resulted in the silicone cream treated lesion.

Cause of closed suction drainage tube obstruction and its prevention using a tube coated on the inside with a silicone gel drug delivery system.

In experimental and clinical studies we showed that obstruction of closed suction drainage tubes is often caused by clots. To prevent this we describe a tube coated on the inside with a silicone gel drug delivery system, which releases anticoagulant drugs. It prevents coagulation and liquefies blood clots present in the tube.

Paradoxical response of growth hormone to peptide histidine methionine in acromegaly: comparison with the effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone and vasoactive intestinal peptide.

We examined whether peptide histidine methionine (PHM) induces a paradoxical rise in plasma GH in patients with acromegaly. PHM (100 micrograms) was given as an iv bolus to eight patients with active acromegaly, and plasma GH levels were measured before and at intervals up to 120 min after the injection. For comparison, the effects of TRH (500 micrograms) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, 100 micrograms), peptides known to paradoxically stimulate GH secretion in acromegalics, were assessed in all of the patients.

Short arm deletion of chromosome 1: del(1)(p13.3 p22.3) in a female infant with an extreme tetralogy of Fallot.

High-resolution chromosome analysis showed the karyotype 46,XX,del(1)(p13.3 p22.3) in a female infant with an extreme tetralogy of Fallot and multiple congenital anomalies.

Treatment of scars and keloids with a cream containing silicone oil.

The clinical effect of silicone cream containing 20% of silicone oil was tested on 47 patients with hypertrophic scars and keloids. A silicone cream/occlusive dressing technique, quite similar in manner to silicone gel treatment, resulted in a remarkable improvement of scars and keloids in 9 of 11 cases (82%) whereas the simple application of the cream onto the scars and keloids of 36 cases resulted in only mild improvement in 8 (22%). Using the chi-square test, a statistically significant difference was seen between these two treatments (p less than 0.

Experiences using silicone gel tie-over dressings following skin grafting.

Twenty-six patients with 27 skin grafts treated with tie-over dressings using silicone gel sheets containing 0.02 per cent Ofloxacin are described. This method ensured direct in-progress inspection of healing of the grafted skin.

Treatment of dermal depth burn wounds with an antimicrobial agent-releasing silicone gel sheet.

Silicone gel sheets containing 0.02 per cent Ofloxacin were used in the treatment of 24 patients with a total of 27 dermal depth burn wounds. The gel provided a continuing drug delivery system from the dressing to the wound.

A new system of treating wounds by a continuous topical application of medication.

A new procedure using a silicone gel sheet that enables the continuous topical application of a drug to a wound, and the effect of this therapeutic procedure on experimental skin flaps of rats, are described. Although a silicone gel sheet without a drug did not augment the flap survival length, silicone gel sheets containing Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and Ofloxacin showed significant elongation of the survival length of the flaps without signs of infection. Similarly, silicone gel sheets containing PGE1 inserted under the flap, like a drain, also showed statistically significant augmentation of the flap survival length.

A silicone gel sheet dressing containing an antimicrobial agent for split thickness donor site wounds.

Treatment of a split thickness donor site wound in 20 patients by means of a silicone gel sheet containing Ofloxacin, an antimicrobial agent, has been tested. For a comparison, each wound was divided into two parts, one for the silicone gel treatment and the other with a collagen sheet (10 cases) or an ointment-impregnated gauze (10 cases). Although Staphylococcus aureus was detected in three wounds treated with the collagen sheet, no wound treated with the silicone gel developed an infection even though the infected wound was adjacent.

Silicone gel including antimicrobial agent.

Silicone gel sheets containing Ofloxacin (OFLX), that provide a continual drug delivery system from a wound dressing to the wound so as to prevent infection and to promote healing, are described. It was found that silicone gel sheets without added medication did not inhibit microbial growth but that gel sheets containing 0.02% and 0.

Augmentation of circulation of pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps by microvascular surgery.

The biggest problem of the TRAM flap for breast reconstruction is distal necrosis or fat lysis due to poor circulation. In order to utilise the entire TRAM flap tissue in extensive tissue defects, the contralateral rectus muscle is used as a pedicled carrier and the ipsilateral superficial or inferior epigastric vessels are anastomosed with appropriate recipient vessels in the axilla. This procedure has been performed in three cases with no necrosis, fat lysis or hardening of the flap tissue, proving adequate circulation in the flap.

[Schizophrenia in half-sisters].

Little is known about identical schizophrenic disorders in half-siblings. In this study, we report on one family with six half-siblings (from 3 different marriages of the mother) three of whom developed schizophrenic disorders. Based on psychodynamic and psychosocial viewpoints, we studied the family environment and premorbid characteristics.

Renal effects of nicardipine in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.

We studied the renal effects of nicardipine, a calcium entry blocker, in seven patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow (RBF) were measured by means of thiosulfate and para-aminohippurate, respectively. Intravenous administration of nicardipine hydrochloride (0.

Microsurgical technique in resection of hemangioma in infants.

A microsurgical dissection technique for residual strawberry marks applied to patients 6 years of age or older (a total of 7 cases) resulted in minimal bleeding during the operations. Therefore, the same technique was used for patients aged 4 months through 3 years and 4 months. The latter 8 patients had a minimal amount of intraoperative bleeding (no tourniquet was applied to the upper arm case), direct skin closure of the wound, and no postoperative complications.