Comparison betweell auditory findings in early and late rheumatoid arthritis

The present study was undertaken in an attempt to clarify a debate regarding the nature and extent of hearing impairment in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The study group included forty subjects suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Ten normal adult subjects acted as controls. The study group was subdivided according to duration of disease into early and late cases. The results showed that rheumatoid arthritis could result in sensorineural hearing loss. Prolonged duration of rheumatoid arthritis affected outer hair cell function; which was reflected on transient evoked otoacoustic emissions. Also, the prevalence of distortion product otoacoustic emissions at lower frequencies was less than that at higher frequencies

Comparison of epidural analgesia with 0.125% ropivacaine with fentanyl versus 0.125% bupivacaine with fentanyl during labour

Fifty labouring women were randomized to receive either 0.125% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 ug/ml or an equivalent concentration of bupivacaine / fentanyl using patient controlled epidural analgesia [PCEA] with settings of :6ml/h basal rate , 5ml bolus, lO.rnin lockout, 30ml/h dose limit.Analgesia, local anaesthetic use, motor block, patient satisfaction and side effects were assessed until the time of delivery. No differences in verbal pain scores, local anesthetic use , patient satisfaction or side effects between groups were observed. Hourly local anesthetic use was similar and did not differ between groups . the mean total volume of ropivacaine /fentanyl administered from epidural catheter placement until delivery was 85.3 +/- 30.6ml ropivacaine and 170.6 +/- 61.2 ug . fentanyl versus 88.2 +/- 25.2ml bupivacaine. and 176.4 +/- 50.4 ug fentanyl PCEA demands and delivered doses were similar between groups however patients administered ropivacaine / fentanyl developed significantly less motor block than an equivalent concentration of bupivacaine / fentanyl.. this statistical significant reduction in motor block decreased the incidence of instrumental delivery in ropivacaine/fentanyl group . Neonatal assessment included APGAR scores umbilical cord blood gas analysis and neurobehavioral testing at delivery,2 and 24h of life using the neurologic and adaptive capacity score [NACS] were reported . Neonatal condition was good and generally similar in all groups. In summary, by using a patient controlled epidural analgesia technique, ropivacaine 0.125% with fentanyl 2ug/ml produces similar analgesia with significantly less motor block than similar concentration of bupivacaine with fentanyl during labour without detrimental effects to the foetus

Impairment of neuromuscular transmission in experimental animal by labetalol

Labetalol is an adrenoceptor antagonist which blocks competitively both, alpha 1 and beta adrenoceptors. It was chosen in the present research to study its effect on neuromuscular transmission in experimental animals. Labetalol was found to produce a dose dependent inhibition of acetyl choline induced contraction of the rectus abdominis muscle of the frog with reversal of this inhibitory action by neostigmine. In the isolated rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparation, labetalol did not affect muscle contraction in response to direct muscle stimulation, but reduced significantly muscle contraction in response to indirect [phrenic nerve] stimulation. In the cat gastrocnemius-sciatic nerve preparation, labetalol in doses of 400 and 800 micro g/kg l.V. did not affect the muscle, but larger doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg l.V. caused a significant reduction in the muscle contraction in response to sciatic nerve stimulation. However, the reduction in muscle contraction in response to sciatic nerve stimulation by tubocurarine was markedly potentiated by prior administration of labetalol in the dose which did not affect the muscle [400 micro g/kg]. Moreover, the reduction in the muscle contraction after labetalol administration in response to phrenic nerve stimulation in the rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparation or sciatic nerve stimulation in the gastronomies sciatic nerve preparation was found to be partially antagonized by neostigmine, calcium chloride and adrenaline

Effect of two acoustic stimuli on the biophyilscal profile and deppler velocimetry changes in nearterm fetuses

The ability to evaluate fetal condition is of major importance to those who provide health care to pregnant women. Several testing methods such as non- stress test, contraction stress test and fetal biophysical profile, are presently used in antepartum assessment of fetal well - being [Divon el al., 1985]. The effects of two types of standardized external sound stimuli [500 Hz and 1000 Hz each at 110 dB] were studied on the fetal wellbeing. Electronic fetal monitoring, biophysical profile and flow wave velocimetry were recorded before and after both stimuli. The present study showed no significant changes in basal fetal heart rate with both types. However there was a marked rise in amplitude of fetal heart beats after 500 Hz and a marked drop after 1000 Hz. Also there was significant decrease of frequency of heart beats after 1000 Hz more than that after 500 Hz. Loss of acceleration was also reported after 1000 Hz. Study of biophysical profile showed that there was a marked increase of breathing movements and fetal movements after 500 Hz, while axial fetal movement was markedly diminished after 1000 Hz stimulation. Doppler study recorded insignificant increase in S/D ratio after both types of sound stimulation