Evaluation of pigment epithelium-derived factor concentration in equine amniotic membrane homogenate and its vascular endothelial growth factor inhibition effect in tears of dogs with vascularized ulcerative keratitis.

Background: Corneal neovascularization can result from many pathological processes affecting the ocular surface leading to disturbances and opacifications that reduce corneal clarity and may impact vision. In veterinary medicine, the use of topical corticosteroid is contraindicated in the presence of ulcerative keratitis, and there is sparse research regarding safe medical alternatives to inhibit corneal neovascularization in dogs to improve visual outcome.

Aim: To investigate the pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) concentration in equine amniotic membrane homogenate (EAMH) and its vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibition in tears of dogs with vascularized ulcerative keratitis.

Tear production, intraocular pressure, and central corneal thickness in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

Objective: To evaluate the tear production, intraocular pressure, and central corneal thickness in healthy white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and assess for seasonal variability.

Animals Studied: Nineteen healthy fawns (3-10 days old) and 8 healthy adult white-tailed deer (164-280 days old) were studied.

Procedures: All fawns were manually restrained for the study, while adult animals were immobilized with an intramuscular injection of combined xylazine (2.

Femoral and sciatic nerve block for knee arthroscopy in a patient with acute intermittent porphyria.

Acute intermittent porphyria is an autosomal dominant disorder that results from a partial deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase and that causes very severe symptoms. Attacks may be triggered by a series of drugs and by other factors that the anesthesiologist should be aware of in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. Our objective is to review anesthetic considerations in acute intermittent porphyria.

Prolonged dysphonia as a complication of interscalene block.

The interscalene block (ISB) of the brachial plexus is a common technique for anaesthesia and the treatment of postoperative pain in shoulder surgery. Despite the well-known advantages of this technique, it is not without risks that need to be identified and taken into account. The most frequent complications associated with it are of a neurological nature and most are transient.

An in-service evaluation of hip protector use in residential homes.

Background: The establishment of a hip protector service has allowed us to study eligibility, acceptability and compliance with use, reasons for non-use, and the effect of dementia, confusion, incontinence and risk of falling.

Methods: All residents in all residential homes in Poole were assessed at baseline. All eligible residents were offered 1 week's trial of protectors and those who wished to continue were given a set of protectors.

Stroke rehabilitation after hospital discharge: a randomized trial comparing domiciliary and day-hospital care.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness and costs of a new domiciliary rehabilitation service for elderly stroke patients with geriatric day-hospital care.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Participants: Stroke patients aged 55+ who required further rehabilitation after hospital discharge or after referral to geriatricians from the community.

[Malignant Mediterranean boutonneuse fever. Septic shock of unknown origin?].

Mediterranean Botonous Fever (MBF) is an infectious disease which provokes multisystemic vasculitis due to endothelial proliferation of rickettsia conorii. Its incidence, in our environment, has greatly increased during the last years being endemic in many large cities and their surrounding suburbs. In some cases its evolution is specially malignant resulting in septic shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and multiorgan failure.

Alfa-one antitrypsin phenotypes and inhalatory pulmonary pathology.

One hundred and twenty nine workers in the cork industry, 69 rural workers, 66 carpet makers, 58 workers in a granite quarry and 51 workers in a rice husking factory were studied from an epidemiologic point of view. All were submitted to a standard questionnaire planned to detect respiratory disease due to inhalatory causes. They were submitted to a clinical examination, summary ventilatory function tests, a 70 mm microradiograph, and blood was taken to determine alfa-one antitrypsin and its phenotypes and, in the cork industry workers and rice husking workers, the level of IgA, IgG and IgM.

Prevalence of chronic bronchitis in the children of Lisbon.

Portugal is one of the European countries with the highest mortality from Chronic Bronchitis (CB). This constitutes a severe problem as CB is one of the main causes of absenteeism and incapacity. To determine the prevalence of this disease, an epidemiological study was planned.

Humoral and cellular immunity in extrinsic pulmonary granulomatoses.

In the present study the AA. analyse the immunological behaviour of patients taken from a group of 309 cases of Extrinsic Pulmonary Granulomatoses (E.P.