Bioactive phenolic derivatives from Acaena splendens methanol extract.

Acaena splendens H. et A. has been used in Chilean folk medicine for the treatment of fever and inflammation. A description of the in vivo reduction of bacterial pyrogen-induced fever in rabbits and carrageenan-induced paw oedema in guinea pigs is presented. The methanol extract named ME-1, obtained after succesive extractions with petroleum ether and dichloromethane, showed a strong antipyretic action (45.7% of effect), though the antiinflammatory activity was only observed after submitting this extract to column fractionation, giving a crude mixture of flavonoids named C4 with both activities (55.7% and 98.9% of antiinflammatory and antipyretic effect respectively at a dose of 600 mg/kg). The bioassay-guided fractionation by column chromatography afforded the active fraction, which contained (-,-)-epicatechin, tiliroside, 7-O-acetyl-3-O-beta-D-glucosyl-kaempferol and 7-beta-D-glucosyloxy-5-hydroxy-chromone.

Síndrome de Hughes-Stovin: relato de um caso / Hughes-Stovin syndrome: a case report

Relata caso de paciente que desenvolveu hipertensäo intracraniana por trombose do seio digital. Evolui, meses depois, com embolia pulmonar e trombose venosa profunda do membro inferior direito. Ocorreu óbito por hemoptise maciça. Na avaliaçäo radiológica do tórax, realizada por meio de telerradiografias, tomografia linear, tomografia computadorizada e arteriografia pulmonar, ficou caracterizada a presença de aneurismas das artérias pulmonares, bilateralmente

Synthesis, antitumoral and antiviral evaluation of halo- and demethyl-yatein derivatives.

Several chloro- and iodo-lignanolides have been obtained by direct halogenation of aromatic rings from yatein and 4'-O-demethylyatein. They were assayed as antineoplastics, in order to check the influence in the activity of substitution in both aromatic rings. Although these compounds show a modest antineoplastic activity, it is far from that displayed by yatein and podophyllotoxin. These results confirm that demethylation and the introduction of halo substituents diminish the activity of lignans of the dibenzylbutyrolactone type.

Ross-Konno procedure: a case study of a newborn.

The objective is to present a case study of a 2-day-old infant who undergoes a Ross-Konno procedure for correction of severe congenital aortic stenosis. This procedure involves replacing the stenosed aortic valve with a pulmonary autograft. The perinatal history, diagnostic data, and the operative procedure are described. Preoperative and postoperative nursing management is addressed including normal pediatric intensive care protocols. The infant's postoperative hospital course was 37 days. Mitral regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension are being managed with lisinopril.

Inhaled furosemide is not effective in acute asthma.

As previous studies have suggested that inhaled furosemide may have a protective effect against certain types of provocative challenges in asthmatic subjects, we investigated the role of furosemide in treating acute asthma exacerbations. Twenty-four patients (n = 24) with acute asthma were entered into the study on presenting to the emergency department. They were blindly randomized to receive one of three drug regimens: (1) inhaled furosemide (40 mg) (n = 8); (2) inhaled metaproterenol (15 mg) (n = 7); or (3) the combination of furosemide (40 mg) and metaproterenol (15 mg) (n = 9). We measured FEV1 at entry (time 0) and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after inhalation of the individual drugs or the combination from a face mask nebulizer. At entry, the three groups did not differ significantly in age (mean +/- SEM = 37.6 +/- 3.6, 38.5 +/- 3.6, and 41.0 years, respectively; p = 0.770), baseline FEV1 (1.01 +/- 0.27, 1.04 +/- 0.27, and 1.25 +/- 0.14 L, respectively; p = 0.620), or theophylline levels (2.87 +/- 1.8, 7.39 +/- 2.8, and 5.29 +/- 2.6 micrograms/ml, respectively; p = 0.498). Pretreatment and posttreatment potassium levels were similar among the three groups. Inhalation of furosemide alone resulted in a 14.9 +/- 10.5 percent change in FEV1 percent from baseline, which was not statistically significant. In contrast, metaproterenol alone resulted in a 42.9 +/- 15.2 percent increase in FEV1 percent (F ratio = 6.226; p = 0.0028). The combination of furosemide and metaproterenol resulted in a change in FEV1 percent that was not statistically different compared with metaproterenol alone (FEV1 percent = 41.9 +/- 12 percent). No significant adverse effects occurred in any of the groups.

Case study: infant transplantation: a change of heart.

The majority of infant heart transplants are for the correction of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). This article will describe the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care for perioperative and pediatric intensive care areas implemented for HLHS infant heart transplantation at Medical Center Hospital, San Antonio, TX. The surgical procedure is given. Dimensions of psychosocial care and education of the parents are briefly described.

[Filling materials in the repair and esthetic surgery of the breast. Historical notes]. / I materiali di riempimento nella chirurgia riparatrice ed estetica della mammella. Cenni storici.

The biological and synthetic materials employed over the years for filling breasts after mastectomy or for congenital malformations are reviewed. At the start of the century, breast shape and volume were changed by adipose tissue grafts. In the 50s and 60s dermo-fibro-adipose grafts and later auto-grafts and grafts of the large epiploon were used. Synthetic materials have also developed, from early century attempts using paraffin injections to the discovery for industrial use of plastics. Following the first polyvinyl prostheses, Cronin developed silicon prostheses for medical purposes and in later years these went through numerous changes in form, volume and design up to the recent skin expanders. Polyurethane has also been used in attempts to reduce capsular retraction.

[Conservative surgery and esthetic rehabilitation of carcinoma of the breast]. / Chirurgia conservativa e riabilitazione estetica nel carcinoma mammario.

A careful review of the literature stimulated these comments on current developments in conservative surgery as an alternative to radical mastectomy in stage I and II breast cancer with particular reference to their implications for cosmetic rehabilitation. It is emphasised that the data so far available indicate comparable results in terms of locoregional recurrences, metastases and survival. It is also pointed out that the efficacy of the conservative techniques reflects new concepts of the natural history of breast cancer. The hope is expressed that these encouraging data will be confirmed by more extensive and systematic clinical experiment in order to minimise the indications to more radical surgery which notoriously has such devastating physical and psychological effects that it takes extremely complex and demanding plastic surgery to reshape the patient to psychological sexual and social health.

[Reconstruction of the breast after radical mastectomy in cancer. Reconstruction of the breast volume]. / La ricostruzione della mammella dopo mastectomia radicale per cancro. Ricostruzione del volume mammario.

After underlining the serious psychological consequences of radical mastectomy for carcinoma and the importance of breast reconstruction for the patient's complete recovery, the paper briefly reviews the main reconstruction techniques employed in restoring breast volume which is essentially achieved by inserting an artificial prosthesis below a myocutaneous skin flap often taken from the great dorsal. Some mention is also made of recently developed alternative techniques.

[Development of the surgical technics in abdominoplasty]. / L'evoluzione delle tecniche chirurgiche nelle addominoplastiche.

The entire literature on abdominoplasty is reviewed with a description of the various techniques developed since the introduction of the operation.

[Treatment of tissue loss in surgery of the scalp. An analysis of 89 patients brought to our attention]. / Il trattamento delle perdite di sostanza nella chirurgia del cuoio capelluto. Un'analisi di 89 pazienti giunti alla nostra osservazione.

The recent computerisation of operating theatre and forensic files facilitated a retrospective study of 136 plastic surgery operations performed on 89 patients presenting traumatic or surgical scalp tissue loss in the San Camillo Hospital, Rome between 1/1/1980 and 31/12/1987. The study provided some useful data for the planning of the surgical approach to this delicate anatomical area. Where the dimensions of the defect and the trophic condition of the local tissues permitted, the best functional and cosmetic results were obtained by using flaps of contiguous skin. In this field, new prospects are offered by the introduction of skin expanders whose gradual and controlled distension of the skin permit excellent functional and cosmetic results.

[Reconstruction of the breast after radical mastectomy in cancer. Reconstruction of the areola-nipple complex and the symmetry of the 2 breasts]. / La ricostruzione della mammella dopo mastectomia radicale per cancro. Ricostruzione del complesso areola capezzolo e della simmetria tra i due seni.

After pointing out the need for reconstruction of the nipple-areola complex and the restoration of symmetry between the two breasts after radical mastectomy for cancer, the paper briefly examines the techniques currently available for the achievement of these "finishing touches" that usually take longer then the primary and fundamental breast reconstruction.

[Treatment of fractures of the mandible: a new type of external fixator]. / Trattamento delle fratture della mandibola: un nuovo tipo di fissatore esterno.

The use of external fixators in the treatment of complex mandibular fractures is described, as are the advantages offered by the technique which permits accurate, controlled reduction of the bone fragment without immobilising the temporomandibular joint.

[Complications of septorhinoplasty]. / Complicanze nella settorinoplastica.

A review of the literature on complications in septorhinoplasty is presented. Though rare, complications may arise in the surgical treatment of such a delicate anatomical area as the nasal septum and both theoretical and practical knowledge of the problem is necessary in order to prevent and/or handle such unexpected events. Complications are grouped according to aetiopathogenesis into infectious, haemorrhagic, traumatic, systemic and miscellaneous.