Prevention of postspinal shivering by using nefopam in comparison with clonidine

Postspinal shivering is a frequent complication following spinal anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of nefopam with clonidine and placebo in the prevention of postspinal shivering. We studied 60 patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Patients were located to one of three groups. Group A [n = 20] received 0.2mg.kg[-1] nefopam. Group B [n = 20] 1.5 ug.kg[-1] clonidine and group C [n = 20] saline 0.9% as placebo. We found a significant reduction in the incidence of shivering in group A compared to other groups. Both groups A and B showed reduction in the incidence and the seventy of shivering compared to placebo. At 5 minutes postoperatively clonidine treated patients showed a significant decrease in MAP. No haemodynamic or sedative adverse events were observed in the nefopam treated patients. The results of our study showed that nefopam [0.2 mg. kg[-1]] is superior to clonidine [1.5 ug.kg[-1]] in the prophylaxis of postanaesthetic shivering and not accompanied by sedative or haemodynamic side effects

Estimation of postmortem interval based on the third component of complement [C3] cleavage in the blood of albino rats

To estimate postmortem interval [PMI], the spontaneous conversion of the native third component of complement [C3] to its derived fragments in whole blood was studied by immunodiffusion method. Thirty adult albino rats with average weight ranging from 380-400 g were used in this experiment. Immediately after death by decapitation, the collected blood samples were incubated at 37°C, 23°C and 14°C. Sera from each sample were removed every 12 h at 37°C until 60 h, every day at 23°C until the fifth day, and every two days at 14°C until tenth days. The percent age of cleavage of the third component of complement [C3] were assayed. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the incubation of whole blood at a higher temperature led to a faster conversion of beta IC [native C3] to beta IA [C], the cleavage% age at 37°C was about 3 times as that at 14°C [360 mg%. 258 mg% respectively]. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between the percent ages of C3 cleavage and PMI, at the temperatures of [37, 23, 14°C], the correlation coefficients [r] were 01981, m 01.99436, 0.9549 respectively. Therefore, the percent age of C3 cleavage could be used as a marker for estimation of the time passed since death, and this unusual approach could be a step towards the development of an accurate method for determining PMI

Serum thyroglobulin, catecholamines and phospholipids in violent asphyxia, an experimental study on rats

Elevation of serum thyroglobulin [Tg], catecholamines, and phospholipids concentrations in the blood are regarded as vital reactions in asphyxial deaths which leave few or no external signs in the body. In this study, these vital reactions were tested under strict experimental conditions, employing rapid asphyxia. Forty adult albino rats of both sexes, of average weight 200 g., were used. Ten animals were used as a control group, the remaining animals were anaesthetized and strangled with a rope, 2 mm thick, tightened around the neck. At the moment of death, which was determined when the heart beat had faded about 3-4 minutes from the start of strangulation, blood samples were taken, centrifuged, and the serum thyroglobulin, catecholamines, and phospholipids were measured. The lungs were also investigated histologically to study the general microscopic structure of the asphyxiated lung. The results showed a significant increase in the concentration of thyroglobulin as compared to control [Tg = 14.44 ng/ml versus 2.97 ng/ml, P < 0.001]. The mean serum adrenaline [A] and noradrenaline [NA] concentrations were significantly higher in strangulation group as compared to control, [A = 8.07 ng/ml. vs. 3.18 ng/ml, P < 0.001]. The mean serum phospholipids concentration in the strangulated rats was 1.76 g/L versus 1.03 g/L in the controls, P < 0.001. Concerning the histological investigation, the lung showed emphysematous changes with collapse and tiny haemorrhages. The alveoli were distended and ruptured. The alveolar epithelium was thin, desquamated and over folded with increase of mucoid secretion. High levels of thyroglobulin, catecholamines, and phospholipids in the blood upon suffocation could thus be taken as indicators of hypoxia, and therefore can be included in the diagnosis of mechanical asphyxia