Titanium wear from magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) for the treatment of spinal deformities in children.

Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) are an effective treatment method for early-onset scoliosis (EOS). In recent years, increasing titanium wear was observed in tissue adjacent to implants and in blood samples of these patients. This study aims to investigate the potential correlation between amount of metal loss and titanium levels in blood during MCGR treatment as well as influencing factors for metal wear. In total, 44 MCGRs (n = 23 patients) were retrieved after an average of 2.6 years of implantation and analyzed using a tactile measurement instrument and subsequent metal loss calculation. Titanium plasma levels (n = 23) were obtained using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The correlation of both parameters as well as influencing factors were analyzed. Titanium abrasion on MCGRs was observed in the majority of implants. There was no correlation of metal implant wear or titanium plasma values to the duration of MCGR implantation time, number of external lengthening procedures, patient's ambulatory status, gender, weight or height. Material loss on the MCGRs showed a positive correlation to titanium blood plasma values. The present study is one of the first studies to analyze retrieved MCGRs using high-precision metrological techniques and compare these results with ICP-MS analyses determining blood titanium values.

[Early exercise test in patients with myocardial infarction after nifedipine administration of prolonged duration]. / Wczesny test wysilkowy u chorych z zawalem serca po podaniu nifedypiny o przdluzonym dzialaniu.

In 25 patients with transmural myocardial infarction a mean of 16 days after the onset of infarction an exercise stress test was performed 2 hours after the administration of Corinfar Retard. We evaluated ECG, blood pressure, heart rate, echocardiograms and spirographic parameters before and after drug administration. In the majority of patients ST segment depressions were reduced and duration of the exercise test increased or remained unchanged. In 5 patients the magnitude of ST segment depression was markedly decreased and associated with prolonged duration of exercise and substantial patient comfort. In these patients the drug is continued, as its withdrawal resulted in decreased exercise tolerance with accompanying chess discomfort. Corinfar Retard significantly decreased weigh blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, whereas its effect on low blood pressure was only slight or none. Heart rate was higher before exercise, during and after exercise it did not differ from that measured without the drug. Ejection fraction increased by a mean of 4%; VC and FEV1 increased or remained unchanged. Exercise testing was safe, did not produce and any side effects and seems to be useful in deciding about the choice of drug after myocardial infarction, especially in patients with counterindications to beta blockers.

Intraocular pressure and prolactin measures in seasonal affective disorder.

To test further an original hypothesis of possible dampening of the hemodynamics of the eye in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the authors determined temporal organisation of both the intraocular pressure (IOP) and serum prolactin (PRL) values for ten seasonally depressed women and twelve sex- and age-matched controls during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in winter (February through December). Recent studies suggest that low prolactin secretion may be a trait characteristic in SAD and this hormone is known to influence on transport mechanism of water and electrolytes from blood to aqueous humor. The SAD women had significantly lower IOP and PRL values than the control subjects at all four time points measured starting from 4.00 p.m. The authors discuss the implications of the finding of lowered IOP in relation to opposing roles of dopamine and serotonin in prolactin secretion in SAD.

[Correction of the symptoms of late substance withdrawal syndrome by intra-conjunctival administration of 5% homatropine solution (preliminary report)]. / Usuwanie objawów póznego zespolu abstynencyjnego dospojówkowym podaniem 0.5% roztworu homatropiny (doniesienie wstepne).

The "late" or post-acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (PAWs) is characterized by recurring waves of psychosomatic disturbances, and return for alcohol for the relief of these symptoms is a commonplace in many of abstinent alcoholics. However, the exact mechanism(s) is not fully known and there is no established any rapid treatment. We now have some data which seem to confirm our original and successful experience with local homatropine in clearly defined cases of the PAW syndrome. 28 alcoholic inpatients suffering from severe signs of the post-acute alcohol withdrawal (PAW) syndrome were randomly administered either homatropine hydrobromide or placebo eyedrops. Administration of topical homatropine (two 0.5% drops were given twice being spaced 15 minutes apart), unlike that of placebo had, within 60 minutes, caused a significant and then usually maintained clinical improvement, as evidenced by decreases of intensity of the PAW symptoms (irritability, depressed mood, anxiety, somatic and vegetative disorders (p less than or equal to 0.01), as well as a considerable reduction of the self-rated "desire for drink" phenomenon (less than or equal to 0.01). Post-homatropine responses observed so far seem to be initiated by the reflexory-induced haemodynamic and thermoregulatory changes with a transient but still significant fall in the systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, and oral temperature. Of importance may be the fact that in majority of patients, the PAW symptoms decreased and well-being increased parallel with the fall in prolactin levels (p less than or equal to 0.01): this has usually been noted at 60 minutes after the first homatropine dosing and might indicate a possible involvement of, at least, the cholinergic-serotonergic pathways.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)