Smoking cessation in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND, In patients with acute coronary syndrome, smoking cessation rates, demographics, and management strategies havenot been well described. We hypothesized that hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome would have higher smoking cessation rates than other currently available therapies. In-hospital counseling and referral to cardiac rehabilitation may further improve cessation rates. METHODS, We reviewed 1098 consecutive admissions for acute coronary syndrome at the University of Michigan; 254 of thesepatients reported active smoking status on admission. Patients were divided into (i) those who continued smoking and (ii) those who quit smoking based on a 6-month telephonic interview. Clinical variables, management and therapies were com-pared for the two cohorts. RESULTS, The mean age of the 254 patients was 56 years and 65% were male. At six months, 49.2% of patients had quit smok-ing. Significant predictors of smoking cessation were coronary artery bypass grafting, pulmonary artery catheter placement, and need for mechanical ventilation. Patients who underwent cardiac rehabilitation post-discharge had a trendtoward higher cessation rates. Formal counseling during hospitalization did not seem to affect cessation rates. CONCLUSIONS, In this study, patients with acute coronary syndrome had a higher 6-month smoking cessation rate than previously published rates seen in ambulatory practice, and the more severely ill patients had higher cessation rates. Smoking cessation rates were not higher in those who received in-patient smoking counseling.

Evaluation of mosquitocidal activity of Annona squamosa leaves against filarial vector mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say.

Methanolic extract of leaves of A. squamosa was tested for mosquitocidal effect against C. quinquefasciatus. A liquid mosquito insecticide formulation was prepared with the extract (1, 3 and 5 %w/w) using deodorized kerosene as solvent and investigated for its knock-down and 24 hr mortality. The extract formulation produced dose dependent activity, exhibited significantly shorter knock down KD50 and KD90 values and produced significant mortality. The results suggest the potential mosquitocidal effect of A. squamosa on C. quinquefasciatus.

Animal model for liver dysfunction using lomustine in Wistar rats.

AIM: To induce intrahepatic cholestasis in rats using lomustine 1(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-l-nitrosourea (CCNU). METHODS: Doses of 10 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg/Kg body weight of CCNU were injected intraperitoneally in separate groups of animals. RESULTS: With 10 mg/Kg body weight of CCNU, serum bilirubin levels increased for up to 72 hours and then slowly returned to normal. With a dose of 20 mg/Kg body weight of CCNU, serum bilirubin, AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase levels increased for 72 hours and then returned to normal over 4-5 weeks. With a dose of 30 mg/Kg body weight peak levels of serum bilirubin were reached on day 17. Pathological studies were carried out after injection of 30 mg/Kg body weight of CCNU. After 72 hours hepatocytes were normal, with minimal nonspecific inflammation and bile duct proliferation. After 16 days, triaditis was observed with deposition of collagen. Focal fibrosis was also noticed. There was no significant abnormality of hepatocytes. After 75 days, hepatocytes showed focal ballooning. Bile duct proliferation was seen invading the parenchyma. Nodules of hepatocytes separated by irregular fibrous bands indicated cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: An animal model of intrahepatic cholestasis has been developed using CCNU; this model may be used to assess the utility of hepatobiliary radiopharmaceuticals.

Bone scans in neuroblastoma.

Eighty-Six patients of neuroblastoma ranging in age from four months to 15 years were studied with 99m Tc-MDP for total skeletal survey over a period of seven years (1983-1990). The diagnosis of neuroblastoma was based on bone marrow examination, FNAC, lymph node biopsy, histopathology. Bone imaging was performed three hrs. after intravenous administration of 99m Tc-MDP. Out of 86 patients, 45 patients had positive bone scan showing osseous concentration in 122 sites and extraosseous concentration in 34 sites. Seven patients had liver metastases. None of these liver metastases showed concentration of MDP. Fourteen patients underwent surgery for the primary tumour at the time of bone scanning. Ten patients were studied at the time of follow up, of which four patients showed good response as bony metastases were not demonstrated on bone scintigraphy and X-rays. In conclusion, bone scan is an useful test in neuroblastoma in delineating the bony metastases and also in assessing the efficacy of chemotherapy in these patients.