Anticoagulation for prosthetic heart valves in pregnancy. Is there an answer?

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the different anticoagulation regimens used in pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves. We reviewed 196 pregnancies in 110 women from 1974 to 2000. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (142 pregnancies) had warfarin throughout pregnancy; and in group 2 (54 pregnancies), warfarin was replaced by subcutaneous heparin during the first trimester and last two weeks of pregnancy.

Mortality and morbidity after aortic root replacement: 10-year experience.

Aortic root reconstruction remains a challenging surgical procedure. This retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the early and long-term outcomes of aortic root replacement over a 10-year period. There were 83 patients with a mean age of 43.

Pain tracker diagnostic instrument: effect on patients' satisfaction with their interactions with the primary care physician.

In a randomized trial, the pain tracker instrument was evaluated as a diagnostic screening tool and for its effect on patients' satisfaction with their interactions with the primary care physician. The instrument form was filled in by the physician after asking the study patients about symptoms. Control (n = 53) and study patients (n = 49) were interviewed and the instrument's effect was analysed from responses to 15 statements.

Protective immunity conferred by attenuated aroA derivatives of Pasteurella multocida B:2 strains in a mouse model of hemorrhagic septicemia.

Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) is a fatal systemic disease of cattle and buffaloes. In South Asia HS is caused by infection with Pasteurella multocida serotype B:2. Some control is achieved with alum-precipitated or oil-adjuvanted killed whole-cell vaccines injected subcutaneously, but these vaccines provide only short-term immunity and require annual administration for effective use.

Nitric oxide production in peritoneal macrophages from peritoneal dialysis patients with bacterial peritonitis.

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by various cell types, and it is an important mediator in many biological processes, including macrophage-mediated cellular host defense. The relevance and amount of NO production in peritonitis during peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment is still not clear. We studied whether human peritoneal macrophages (PMphi) isolated from healthy PD patients or PD patients with peritonitis showed different spontaneous or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)-induced NO production (LPS, 1 ng/mL-10 microg/mL; IFN-gamma, 10-1000 U/mL; incubation between 6-48 hours; measured by Griess reagent).