Effect of a novel NSAID derivative with antioxidant moiety on oxidative damage caused by liver and cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion in rats.

Tissue ischaemia-reperfusion evokes toxic and harmful biochemical processes such as oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of this study is to investigate the indices of tissue damage in rat liver and brain after ischaemia-reperfusion injury of these organs, and to study prospective cytoprotection of molecules such as the novel anti-inflammatory N-(2-thiolethyl)-2-(2-[N'-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino] phenyl)acetamide (compound 1) and alpha-tocopherol. Two experimental models were studied: firstly, 30 min liver ischaemia via hepatoduodenal ligament clamping followed by 60 min reperfusion; and secondly, 45 min cerebral ischaemia via bilateral common carotid artery occlusion followed by 90 min reperfusion.

Virtual endodontics: three-dimensional tooth volume representations and their pulp cavity access.

The purpose of this study was the application of both digital three-dimensional image processing and virtual reality techniques in endodontics. Three-dimensional volume representations of 2 teeth from each tooth category, 16 teeth in total, have been reconstructed. All teeth were embedded in polyester resin, and serial cross-sections 0.

Computer aided prediction of biological activity spectra: evaluating versus known and predicting of new activities for thiazole derivatives.

Computer aided prediction of biological activity spectra by the computer program PASS was applied to a set of 89 new thiazole derivatives. Experimentally tested activities (NSAID, local anaesthetic and antioxidant) coincide with the experiment in 70.8% cases, that exceeds significantly the random guess-work (approximately 0.

The use of three different mesh materials in the treatment of abdominal wall defects.

Various prosthetic materials have been proposed for the repair of abdominal wall defects. These materials offer tension-free repair and significantly lower recurrence rate. Their respective properties are related to such complications as seroma, infection, fistula formation, intestinal adhesions and removal.

Genetic detection and isolation of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Kosovo, Yugoslavia.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (C-CHFV) strains were isolated from a fatal case and the attending physician in Kosovo, Yugoslavia. Early, rapid diagnosis of the disease was achieved by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The physician was successfully treated with oral ribavirin.

Prevalence of Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia typhi infections in the population of northern Greece.

Seroepidemical surveys concerning the prevalence of Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia typhi have never been studied in northern Greece. We examined 1,584 sera samples from residents of northern Greece for the detection of antibodies to R. conorii and to R.

Clinical evaluation and changes of the respiratory epithelium function after administration of Pidotimod in Greek children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.

Background: Several studies have been conducted on young children with recurrent respiratory infections using several compounds (synthetic derivates or lyophilized bacterial extracts) causing improvement in the clinical process.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized study comparing the clinical results and the changes of the respiratory epithelium function after the administration of immunostimulating drug (Pidotimod) to children with respiratory infections over a 9 month period. A total of 32 children (group A) were randomly assigned to receive Pidotimod therapy while a second group of 18 children (group B) weren't.

Synthesis of new azulene derivatives and study of their effect on lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase activity.

The relationship between free radicals and acute or chronic inflammation has been well established. We have previously reported the significant antioxidant activity of the natural azulene derivatives chamazulene and guaiazulene. Furthermore, some synthetic azulene analogues have been found to possess anti-inflammatory activity.

Facial electroneurography on the contralateral side in unilateral Bell's palsy.

In this study, ten patients who exhibited severe unilateral Bell's palsy of the House-Brackmann grade V underwent facial electroneurography (ENoG) on the contralateral, healthy side. Serial ENoG was conducted in seven consecutive sessions within 6 months at a given current intensity level of stimulation. According to our results, all the patients presented a rise in the maximum compound-action potential (MCAP) amplitude on the healthy side within 20 to 45 days from the onset of the palsy and shortly after the onset of the recovery of the facial function.

Current trends in QSAR on NO donors and inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)*.

This article evaluates the quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) of nitric oxide (NO) radical donors and nitric oxide synthases (NOS) inhibitors, using the C-QSAR program of Biobyte. Furoxans, triazines, amidoximes, tetrazoles, imidazoles and N(omega)-2-nitroarylamino acid analogues were included in this survey. In nine out of seventeen cases, the clog P plays a significant part in the QSAR of the NO radical donors and of the NOS inhibition.

Phantom smelling.

A case of phantom smelling (phantosmia) is described in a 28-yr.-old man who developed permanent bilateral anosmia after a serious injury to olfaction-related brain structures at the age of 25 years. The findings indicate that, even years after loss of input from olfactory receptors, the neural representation of olfactory perception can still recreate olfactory sensations without any conscious recall of them.

Genetic variation of the protease and reverse transcriptase genes in HIV-1 CRF04_cpx strains.

To gain information about the genetic variation of the protease and reverse transcriptase gene-coding regions in HIV-1 strains belonging to CRF04_cpx, genotyping and drug susceptibility testing were performed on serum samples derived from seven patients carrying sequences belonging to this circulating recombinant form. Substitutions classically associated with resistance to antiretroviral drugs were observed in six of seven samples, including G48V, V82A, L90M, M46I in the protease protein, and K70R, D69D/N, M184V, T215F, K103N in the reverse transcriptase protein. Genotypic resistance patterns of CRF04_cpx samples were found to be similar to those identified in subtype B viruses, suggesting that the drug-selective pressure has similar effects on both subtype B and CRF04_cpx.

Acute renal failure caused by leptospirosis and Hantavirus infection in an urban hospital.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis (LS) and Hantavirus (HV) infection have many common clinical manifestations, including acute renal failure. In as much as clinical experience with these diseases is quite limited in urban centers, we identified cases of Leptospira and HV-induced acute renal failure and compared the clinical course and evolution of these diseases. METHODS: Patients hospitalized with acute renal failure, suspected to be caused by infection, were retrospectively studied over a 13-year period (1985-1998).

Beneficial effect of a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent with basic character and antioxidant properties on experimental colitis in rats.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disorder of unknown etiology. Conservative treatment remains empirical, even today. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent [5-(2-hydroxy-ethylamino)-1-cyclohexyl-2-pentanone] (compound A), with basic character and antioxidant properties on an experimental model of ulcerative colitis in rats.

Excess of mixed-footedness among professional soccer players.

This study concerns the distribution of footedness among professional soccer players (n=415) and nonsporting university students (n=430). Chi-squared showed that there were statistically significant differences between the proportion of mixed-footedness in the two groups (p<.0001).

Heart failure accompanied by sick euthyroid syndrome and exercise training.

Sick euthyroid syndrome is defined as the decrease of serum free triiodothyronine with normal free L-thyroxin and thyrotropin. Its appearance in patients with chronic heart failure is an indicator of severity. Exercise training through a wide variety of mechanisms reverses sick euthyroid syndrome (normalization of free triiodothyronine levels) and improves the ability to exercise.

The endoscopic management of persistent bile leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Bile leakage after laparoscopic biliary surgery is a surgical challenge in which endoscopy can play an important role.

Methods: A total of 26 patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in our department. Patients with evidence of major ductal injury were treated surgically.

Interaction of blood flow and oxygen delivery affects peak VO2 and fatigue in canine muscle in situ.

This investigation was designed to examine the interactive effects of blood flow (Q) and oxygen delivery (QO2) on peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and fatigue in the gastrocnemius-plantaris dog muscle in situ. Arterial oxygen content (CaO2) was manipulated by varying the fraction of inspired O2 to create a high- and a low-QO2 treatment at each of three levels of Q (approximately/=800, 1100 and 1500 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)). Isometric contraction was achieved by stimulation with one tetanic contraction per second (200 ms at 70 Hz) at supramaximal voltage for 10 min to achieve VO2peak under each condition.

Nitric oxide release from coumarin 4-carboxamidoximes in the presence of thiols.

Coumarin 4-carboxamides with potent anti-inflammatory activity were studied for nitric oxide release in the presence of thiol cofactors in vitro. It was found that NO2- release was dependent on the nature of thiol.

Annular pancreas in adults: embryological development, morphology and clinical significance.

Three cases (two male, one female) of annular pancreas are presented, which were found and operated on within the last three decades. Diagnosis was made using imaging techniques, especially ultrasonography and computed tomography. In two cases there was incomplete obstruction, while in the other obstruction was complete.

Cytochrome P450 modification by a new oxazine derivative with hypolipidemic activity.

Plasma lipoprotein levels, related to atheromatosis, are influenced by liver function. Microsomal enzyme inducers are reported to modify serum lipoproteins and triglycerides. In this study, the effects of subchronic and acute treatment of rats with 3-(4-biphenyl)-3-n-propoxy-octahydro-1,4-pyrido[2,1-c]oxazine, a novel compound with hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities, on rat hepatic microsomal protein and total cytochrome P450, as well as on p-nitrophenol hydroxylase (CYP2E) and erythromycin N-demethylase (CYP3A) activities are examined.

HIV-1 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) in Northern Greece.

In order to understand the genetic diversity of virus isolates associated with the human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) epidemic in Northern Greece, 51 specimens from HIV-1 infected individuals were classified into subtypes by sequence-based phylogenetic analysis of the polymerase (pol) region of the viral genome. Forty two (82.3%) specimens were identified as pol subtype B, three (5.

Post-ERCP pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia: patient-related and operative risk factors.

Background And Study Aims: Previous studies on the development of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (post-ERCP) hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis have focused on different risk factors, either procedure- or patient-related, and also prognostic factors, such as amylase levels together with the occurrence of pancreatic-type pain, which might be implicated. The aim of this study is to identify possible predictive risk factors and also prognostic factors in order to better organize the treatment strategy.

Patients And Methods: During a 5-year period, 556 ERCP procedures were performed by the same operator.

The role of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula in biliary stone disease.

Background: Duodenal diverticula are acquired lesions found more often in older patients; when located near the major duodenal papilla they are called juxtapapillary. The prevalence of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula (JDD) in the general population is around 20%; they are often associated with biliary lithiasis. This study assessed the association between JDD and biliary stone disease, particularly choledocholithiasis.

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agents.

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly used for inflammation therapy. The major drawback in using the NSAIDs is in their tendency to cause gastrointestinal toxicity. Since the roles of arachidonic acid (A.