Applications of 3-D ultrasound in female infertility.

3D ultrasound is an emerging technology with great promise to further this role. This overview describes and illustrates the applications of three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound in female infertility. The authors illustrate their cases where 3D ultrasound was beneficial for infertile patients.

The expanded pharmacological profile of histamine H2 receptor (H2R) species isoforms with respect to the interaction with new squaramide H2R ligands, in the GTP-ASE assay.

Unlabelled: We comprehensively characterized the human (h), guinea pig (gp), canine (c) and rat (r) H2R species isoforms on Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cell membranes expressing H2R-G(Salpha) with respect to the interaction with new ligands derived from squaramide.

Material And Method: Antagonist potencies were determined in the GTPase assay. Non-linear curve fitting was performed using the computer program Prism 4.

Antibacterial activity of some Artemisia species extract.

The antimicrobial activities of ethanol, methanol and hexane extracts from Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia annua and Artemisia vulgaris were studied. Plant extracts were tested against five Gram-positive bacteria, two Gram-negative bacteria and one fungal strain. The results indicated that Artemisia annua alcoholic extracts are more effective against tested microorganisms.

Beneficial dexa-related effects of natural polyphenols on experimentally-induced diabetes mellitus complications.

Unlabelled: The benefits of the proanthocyanidins, polyphenols extracted from black grapes seeds, have been shown by using as experimental model, namely streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus on Wistar white rats.

Material And Method: Streptozotocin was administered in a single intraperitoneal dose of 60 mg/Kg body mass. Vegetal polyphenols were administered as water solution, in a dose of 0.

Training on a virtual reality simulator--is it really possible a correct evaluation of the surgeons' experience?

Unlabelled: Laparoscopic simulators provide a safe and efficient means of acquiring surgical skills. It is well known that virtual reality training improves the performance of young surgeons. Most of the virtual reality simulators have construct validity and can differentiate between novice and expert surgeons.

Adalimumab therapy in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: To evaluate efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA), a monoclonal anti-TNFalpha antibody, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Material And Method: 5 years retrospective observational study on 70 active RA (ARA 1987 modified criteria; 48 women; mean age 52.6 +/- 11.

13C-urea breath test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in bleeding duodenal ulcer.

Unlabelled: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main etiologic factor for duodenal ulcer (DU). Bleeding is still a frequent and sometimes severe complication, with unacceptable mortality despite modern therapeutic modalities.

Zinc--essential micronutrient for child health and nutrition.

Ubicuity of zinc in nature has generally lead to the idea that human zinc deficiency is hardly to appear; however, the last 40 years of research studies showed clear correlation between zinc deficiency and several clinic manifestations: growth retardation, predisposal to infections, delay of wound healing, hypogonadism in boys. Zinc plays multiple roles, especially in pregnant women and children. Although the issue of micronutrient malnutrition has been pointed out in developing countries, it has been remarked also in developed ones, due to unbalanced nutrition and diets.

The histopathologic type of the periampullary tumors. Is it important for survival?

Background: The ampulla of Vater is a junction with four histologic epithelial types: ampullary, duodenal, pancreatic and biliary. The tumors of this region are named periampullary adenocarcinomas, but the histologic type of these malignancies seems to have an important significance for survival.

Aim: Our purpose is to determine whether the histologic type of the resectable vaterian adenocarcinomas is a prognostic factor.

Reducing mortality for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: role of statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

Evaluation of: Mortensen EM, Copeland LA, Pugh MJ et al. Impact of statins and ACE-inhibitors on mortality after COPD exacerbations. Respir.

Effects of inhaled therapy on biomarkers of systemic inflammation in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) airways inflammation is associated in more advanced stages with systemic inflammation. COPD-associated systemic inflammation syndrome is defined currently with rather non-specific biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) but there are also other 'organ-specific' biomarkers such as surfactant protein-D which are still not well characterized but might represent more appropriate and reliable alternatives to the non-specific biomarkers. Inhaled therapies are the mainstay in stable COPD and they were demonstrated to reduce airway inflammation and more recently in the case of inhaled corticosteroids alone or combined with long-acting beta-2 agonists to reduce systemic inflammation as well.

Discontinued drugs 2008: pulmonary and allergy.

This is the annual perspectives paper on discontinued drugs in the field of pulmonary disease and allergy. It is part of a series of papers discussing drugs dropped from clinical development in the previous year and presented according to therapeutic indication. Specifically, this paper presents the six pulmonary and five allergy drugs discontinued in 2008.

Update on models of pulmonary fibrosis therapy for preclinical drug research.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease with high morbidity and mortality for which current medications are not effective. Therefore, identification of potential therapies is of paramount importance. The preclinical evaluation of novel compounds in animal models represents a critical step in drug development.

Antibiotics and reduced risk of COPD re-exacerbations.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive disease of the airways in which respiratory symptoms aggravate transitorily during disease exacerbations. The treatment of the disease in its stable state is the most important factor in reducing related morbidity, but exacerbation therapy might also impact on subsequent re-exacerbation. The effects of adding antibiotics to oral corticosteroids at the first exacerbation are analyzed in the discussed paper and it is demonstrated that such a regimen might be associated with a lower risk of re-exacerbation and with a potential reduction of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease morbidity and mortality.

Total antioxidant status in the blood serum of rats after biogenic amines administration.

Unlabelled: The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of biogenic amines on rat blood levels of total antioxidant status (TAS). Total antioxidant species refers to all circulating species in plasma including vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, uric acid, bilirubin, albumin as well as metal-binding proteins (e.g.

Atrial fibrillation in elderly: particularities of management.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common and serious cardiac rhythm disturbance, is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality in the population. Currently about 2.3 million people in the US are diagnosed with AF and, based of the US census, this number is expected to rise to 5.

A psycho-verbal stimulation interface for the cognitive evoked potentials acquisition.

Unlabelled: The psycho-verbal stimulation interface, created by us, represents an IT extension of an EEG / EMG device dedicated for the human brain Evoked Potentials acquisitions (EPs).

Methods: The psycho-verbal stimulation interface was created as a .NET application and was written in the C# language with respect to the OOP paradigm.

MIDAS intelligent platform for medical services, support for decision optimization in virtual medical communities.

The paper describes the implementation of a open multifunctional platform--MIDAS--for heterogeneous medical data management--support for optimization of clinical decision in virtual medical communities. The objectives of this intelligent environment are: diagnostic easier by access to heterogeneous medical data, a virtual support for medical personal in order to reduce medical errors, fast access to resources for education and improvement of medical education for physicians and students. The structure of the platform is based on a core module and a number of dedicated modules that give an important advantage as re-configurable platform depending on necessities.

Characterization of some extractive fractions isolated from raw Allium cepa L. bulbs.

Unlabelled: Many recent studies have showed that onion (Allium cepa L.) has antioxidant effect which could be of great importance for prevention and treatment of different diseases: diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity of two extracts isolated from fresh onion bulbs: an hydroalcoholic extract (codified EC1) and an aqueous extract (codified EC2).

Aesthetic goals in porcelain fused to metal prosthetic appliances.

Unlabelled: The ultimate goal for ceramic fused to metal restoration is the creation of a perfect aesthetic integration of the restoration with healthy tissues.

Material And Method: The study included a group of twenty-one patients. Sixteen of them were partial edentulous patients and five presented dental lesions or chromatic modifications of the dental tissues.

Oral rehabilitation between reality and paradigm.

The oral rehabilitation represents the integrative concept which re-establishes every segment of the dental-jaw system that is affected by edentation in different clinical forms, without eluding the induced complications and the influence of general status within the chosen therapy algorithm. Despite the significant development of knowledge and techniques, it is still controversial to which degree the therapy solutions of oral rehabilitation approach the therapy's ideal, and also the way in which particular aspects of the prosthetic treatment, the general status and socioeconomic criterion influence the clinical result. The implant-prosthetic therapy represents the state of art in modern treatment of edentulous patients, starting from the simplest cases and ending up with complex situations.

Adenosine involvement on bronchial reactivity modulation by diesel exhaust.

Unlabelled: In recent decades, epidemiologic investigations have suggested a strong relationship between air pollution and an increase in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Aim: To investigate the possible involvement of adenosine (AD) in bronchomotor effects of diesel exhaust (DE).

Material And Method: Isolated bronchi from ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized rats were challenged in presence or absence of diesel exhaust extract (DEE).

Discontinued drugs, 2007: pulmonary-allergy, dermatological, gastrointestinal and arthritis drugs.

This perspective is part of an annual series of papers discussing drugs dropped from clinical development in the previous year. Specifically, this paper focuses on the 17 pulmonary-allergy, dermatological, gastrointestinal and arthritis drugs discontinued in 2007. Information for this perspective was derived from a search of the Pharmaprojects database for drugs discontinued after reaching Phase I - III clinical trials.

Partial infection of the aorto-uni(bi)femoral graft partial conservation and replacement with autologous material. Is it a reality?

Unlabelled: The infection of the aorto-uni(bi)femoral graft is a serious complication, associated with high morbidity and mortality rates - severe implications on the vital prognosis (haemorrhage, sepsis) or of the peripheral vascularisation. Frequently, the infections of aorto-uni (bi) femoral grafts first appear at the level of the distal anastomosis, in Scarpa's triangle.

Material And Methods: We are going to discuss a number of 6 cases of localised unilateral infection, situated in Scarpa's triangle.

Serum zinc and copper levels in some dermatological diseases.

Unlabelled: Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential metals for biochemical processes in the body. Many researchers have main interest in these two metals because it was establish that they are involved in immunological and inflammatory reactions.

Material And Methods: The study comprised 49 patients of Dermatology Clinic from Iaşi with different skin diseases (21 with psoriasis and 28 with varicose ulcer), during January - May 2006.