ABSTRACT
Rubella is now an uncommon disease, and its neurological complications are rarely encountered. One complication, acute transverse myelitis, has been described in a few case reports and usually has an unfavourable outcome. The case is presented of an elite swimmer who developed transverse myelitis after rubella, which was treated with methylprednisolone. The recovery was so rapid and complete that two months after the acute event she broke a national swimming record.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Methylprednisolone/therapeutic use , Myelitis, Transverse/drug therapy , Swimming , Adult , Female , Humans , Myelitis, Transverse/etiology , Rubella/complications , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Fluoxetine is an antidepressant drug, only recently discovered to be a QT interval prolonging agent. The first case is presented of an infant of a mother treated with fluoxetine during pregnancy who had a transiently prolonged QTc interval, concluded to be drug induced. Clinical and electrocardiographic monitoring of newborns of antidepressant treated mothers is needed.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation/adverse effects , Fluoxetine/adverse effects , Long QT Syndrome/chemically induced , Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects , Depressive Disorder/drug therapy , Electrocardiography , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Maternal-Fetal Exchange , PregnancyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diet restriction (DR) has been shown to extend the life spans of various laboratory animals, the mechanism may involve a decrease in oxidative stress. When determining if the total tissue defense has been altered, it is important to observe the overall direct antioxidant capacity, which consists of low molecular weight antioxidants (LMWA) and enzymes. AIM: To determine DR induced changes in total reducing power and overall direct antioxidant capacity of various mouse tissues. METHODS: Young female Sabra mice were fed a 60% food restricted diet for 40 days (DR group). Organs of the DR group and of ad libitum (AL) fed controls were then dissected and examined. A cyclic voltammetry method was used to quantify the total reducing power, which correlates with the overall LMWA activity. Specific LMWA were identified by HPLC-ECD. Superoxide dismutase activity and H2O2 degrading ability were measured in order to include the enzymatic antioxidant component. RESULTS: Short-term DR caused alterations in the total reducing power of various mouse tissues, indicating changes in the total scavenging ability of these tissues. Overall direct antioxidant capacity of heart, kidney and muscle was enhanced; liver and small intestine deteriorated; brain did not differ between DR and AL groups; lung and spleen exhibited a mixed response. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown for the first time that DR causes changes in the total reducing power of different mouse tissues, thus, affecting the overall direct antioxidant capacity. These findings support the suggestion that there may be a biological regulation of the antioxidant system.
