Systemic DL-kynurenine and probenecid pretreatment attenuates quinolinic acid-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

Kynurenine (KYN) is the precursor of kynurenic acid (KYNA), an endogenous antagonist of the glycine site of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor. Probenecid (PROB), blocks the excretion of KYNA from the extracellular fluid. KYNA antagonizes the toxic action of quinolinic acid (QUIN), an endogenous NMDA receptor agonist. In this study, we tested the effect of the systemic administration of KYN and PROB, either alone or in combination, on QUIN-induced circling behavior and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) depletion in rats. Circling behavior and GABA depletion induced by QUIN were both partially prevented by PROB (200 and 300 mg/kg) and KYN (300 and 450 mg/kg) treatments. Lower doses of drugs administered separately were nonprotective. However, when administered in combination, doses of 150 or 300 mg/kg KYN plus 100 mg/kg PROB significantly protected animals against QUIN neurotoxicity. These findings suggest a role of KYN and PROB as promoters of KYNA-mediated NMDA receptor antagonism, via an increase of kynurenate in brain extracellular spaces.

Dapsone attenuates kainic acid-induced seizures in rats.

We tested the ability of dapsone (4,4'-diamino-diphenyl sulfone) to attenuate kainic acid-induced seizures. We observed that 9.375 and 12.5 mg/kg doses of dapsone administered 30 min before a single kainic acid (10 mg/kg) i.p. injection were able to decrease the time of electroencephalographic seizures by 52% and 82%, respectively, as compared with rats administered with 10 mg/kg kainic acid only. The 12.5 mg/kg dose of dapsone was also able to diminish both kainic acid-evoked body and head shakes (58%) and kainic acid-induced mortality (75%). These results suggest that dapsone could be used in clinical trials as anticonvulsant.

Ruptura prematura de membranas : incidencia, diagnóstico y manejo en un hospital maternidad / Premature rupture of amniotic fluid membranes: occurrence, diagnosis and treatment at a maternity hospital

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo-prospectivo a 2,388 embarazadas que acudieron al Centro Materno Infantil San Lorenzo de los Mina, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana, durante el período agosto-septiembre 1988, para determinar la incidencia, el diagnóstico y tratamiento de Ruptura Prematura de Membranas. Solo 288 casos (12//) presentaron Ruptura Prematura de Membranas. En 280 (97//) casos se diagnostica Ruptura Prematura de Membranas por el método clínico; 258 (89.5//) casos por interrogatorio y exámen físico. En 155 (54//) casos fue manejado conservadoramente; 133 (46//) casos de manera agresiva; el parto vaginal fue la vía de desembarazo en 74 (65.6//) casos, y la cesárea en el 99 (34//) casos. El método clínico es altamente específico para diagnosticar Ruptura Prematura de Membranas, el manejo conservador se usó más en ambarazadas a término y pretérmino, en los inmaduros y post-maduro se indicó manejo agresivo

Relationship between physicochemical properties of prussian blue and its efficacy as antidote against thallium poisoning.

In the present work we established a relationship between some physicochemical properties of two different batches of Prussian blue (PB) and their in vivo efficacy as an antidote against thallium poisoning. The physicochemical properties studied were crystallite size and thallium-adsorbing capacity. One of the batches was synthesized and the other was obtained from commercial sources. The synthesized PB batch with the smallest crystallite size had both the highest adsorption capacity and antidotal efficacy. Synthesized PB protected 100% of the animals against one LD50 thallium dose, whereas the commercial PB batch protected only 80%. Thallium content in blood and tissues (liver, kidney, brain) was also analysed after antidotal PB treatment in rats previously intoxicated with a sublethal dose of T1+. Animals treated with synthesized PB showed significantly less thallium in blood and tissue contents than those values of commercial PB-treated rats, indicating better antidotal properties of the synthesized PB. According to the present study we suggest an in vivo evaluation of the compound before distribution of the product to toxicological units, if X-ray diffractometric analysis is not available, in order to identify and determine the crystallite size of the compound as it plays an important role in the efficacy of PB.

Conducta sexual en embarazadas que acuden al control prenatal en el Centro Materno Infantil San Lorenzo de Los Mina y un Centro Medico Privado / Sexual behavior in pregnant under at prenatal consult in the Centro Materno Infantil San Lorenzo de Los Mina

Se realizó un estudio longitudinal y prospectivo con 200 embarazadas que asistieron a la consulta prenatal del Centro Materno Infantil San Lorenzo de Los Mina y del Centro de Pediatria y Especialidades. Se les dividió en períodos de tres trimestres durante el embarazo y se le cuestionó sobre su conducta sexual en cada uno de ellos. En el 1er. trimestre, 108 manifestaron una actividad disminuida y 82 revelaron que no hubo cambios. En el 2do trimestre, 93 manifestaron actividad sexual disminuida y 73 que no hubo cambios. En el 3er. trimestre, 83 admitieron haber disminuido su actividad sexual, 13 dijeron que había aumentado y 35 que no hubo cambios