Importance of timing of magnesium administration in the isolated ischemic-reperfused rat heart: role of K(ATP) channels.

There is a growing interest for the beneficial effect of magnesium (Mg) in cardiovascular disorders. A number of cardiovascular disorders including myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and congestive heart failure have been associated with low extra- cellular or intracellular concentrations of Mg. The efficiency of the preconditioning effect of Mg on cardiac function and infarct size in the globally ischemic-reperfused isolated rat heart was studied together with the role of ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels in protection induced by Mg.

Teratoma within an encephalocele: common etiology or coincidence. Case report.

Encephalocele is a cystic congenital malformation in which central nervous system structures herniate through a defect in the cranium. The coincidence of encephalocele and neoplasm is a very rare condition. The authors present the case of a 5-month-old girl who underwent surgery for encephalocele and whose postoperative histopathological assessment revealed evidence of a mature teratoma inside the lesion.

Antioxidant vitamins preserve superoxide dismutase activities in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Objective: The clinical use of gentamicin (G) is limited due to its known nephrotoxic actions. Generation of reactive oxygen species has been proposed as a causative factor of cell death in G-induced acute renal failure (ARF). Previous studies using superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics have indirectly suggested a role for the superoxide ion in G-induced ARF.

Anti-infectives-induced adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients.

Objectives: To assess the rate and seriousness of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) attributable to anti-infective agents in hospitalized patients; to estimate the likelihood of experiencing anti-infectives-induced ADRs at different length of drug usage in the hospital; to compare different classes of anti-infectives in inducing ADRs; to determine the impact of age and sex on anti-infectives-induced ADRs.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Participants: Patients admitted to the infectious diseases department at a university teaching hospital, on Sunday to Wednesday, over a 9 months period, who received at least one anti-infective agent were eligible to enter the study.

Anti-infarct effect of magnesium is not mediated by adenosine A1 receptors in rat globally ischaemic isolated hearts.

1. The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of magnesium (Mg) on cardiac function and infarct size and to compare it effects with those of adenosine. The mechanism of Mg-mediated cardioprotection was explored by combined use of Mg and a selective adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist.

Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced renal injury in the rat.

1. Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) release and subsequent septic shock is a major cause of death in intensive care units. Lipopolysaccharide has been reported to increase the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the formation of oxygen-derived free radicals (OFR) in different organs.

The role of nitric oxide in iron-induced rat renal injury.

Iron overload and enhanced hydroxyl radical (*OH) formation have been implicated as the causative factors of oxidative stress in different organs. Both pro-oxidant and anti-oxidant properties have been reported for nitric oxide (NO) in iron-mediated tissue injury. To determine the contribution of NO to iron-induced renal injury, eight groups of rats (eight in each group) were studied as follows: control (normal saline), L-Arg (L-arginine as a substrate of NO synthase, 400 mg/kg), L-NAME (an inhibitor of NO synthase, 8 mg/kg), Fe (iron dextran, 600 mg/kg), DFO (deferroxamine as a chelator of iron, 150 mg/kg), Fe+L-Arg, Fe+L-NAME, DFO+L-Arg.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 2-(4-substituted phenyl)-3(2H)-isothiazolones.

Several new and known 2-(4-substituted phenyl)-3(2H)-isothiazolone derivatives with or without chloro substituent at C-5 position were synthesized and their in vitro antibacterial activity against selected Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were evaluated using agar dilution method. Most of compounds exhibited moderate to high activities against tested microorganisms, and in comparison with the reference drugs some compounds showed comparable or higher activities. In contrast to results of the previous studies, some 5-chloro derivatives showed lower or comparable activities against some tested microorganism, in comparison with analogues without C-5 substitution.

Protection of rat renal vitamin E levels by ischemic-preconditioning.

Background: During renal transplantation, the kidney remains without blood flow for a period of time. The following reperfusion of this ischemic kidney causes functional and structural injury. Formation of oxygen-derived free radicals (OFR) and subsequent lipid peroxidation (LP) has been implicated as the causative factors of these injuries.

Evaluation of the effect of acetazolamide on cystoid macular oedema in patients with Behcet's disease.

Aim: To study the effect of acetazolamide on cystoid macular oedema (CMO) in patients with Behcet's disease.

Patients And Methods: A total of 67 eyes of 35 Behcet's patients with chronic, but well-controlled uveitis, and CMO were randomised into a double-masked, crossover trial comparing the effect of acetazolamide vs placebo. The patients received an initial 4-week course of either 250 mg acetazolamide twice daily (b.

Differentiation of hepatic cavernous hemangioma from metastases by rare sequence MR imaging.

In this study, in order to differentiate cavernous hemangioma and hepatic metastases, rapid acquisition relaxation enhanced (RARE) sequence was used. First, in vivo measurements of T1, T2 relaxation times and proton density were obtained using T1, T2 calculation protocol (TOMIKON S50, 0.5T) and multipoint techniques.

Factors associated with preventability, predictability, and severity of adverse drug reactions.

Objective: To determine the rate of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in hospitalized patients in an Iranian hospital and to assess factors associated with preventability, predictability, and severity of ADRs.

Design And Participants: A prospective, randomized study was conducted on 370 patients in a hospital at the Tehran Medical Sciences University, from March to December 1996. Patients who experienced at least one ADR (n = 62) were entered into the database.

Removal of lipid A and Pseudomonas aeruginosa endotoxin from dialysis fluids by high-flux polysulfone ultrafilter (dialyzer).

Ultrafilters (dialysis membranes) are generally considered to be impermeable to bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides) contaminating dialysates used for hemodialysis therapy, due to the self-aggregating properties of its molecules in aqueous media. The aim of the present investigation was to monitor the efficiency of high-flux polysulfone ultrafilters in removing lipid A and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from dialysis fluids. To evaluate the safety of high-flux polysulfone membranes, an in-vitro circulation system (measuring lipopolysaccharide and lipid A penetrate from the ultrafilter to the other side and vice-versa), was utilized.

Adhesion Formation in Patients with Previous Laparotomies.

We evaluated 50 women who had had a previous laparotomy to determine the extent of adhesion formation. Patients were grouped according to previous obstetric and gynecologic surgery. The reason for laparoscopy was generally pelvic pain or infertility, and in some women with no complaint, for evaluation.

Post traumatic tricuspid insufficiency: when to intervene?

Isolated post traumatic tricuspid insufficiency is a rare entity with an increasing incidence. It is associated with insidious yet unequivocal hemodynamic alterations leading to severe incapacity. Early surgery rather than medical treatment is the therapeutic modality of choice.