Is ceftriaxone effective in experimental brain ischemia/reperfusion injury?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of ceftriaxone in a rat brain ischemia/reperfusion injury model. METHODS: The oxidative stress parameter, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels with or without ceftriaxone treatment in brain ischemia/reperfusion injured rats as well as in controls were measured in serum and brain tissue. Motor examinations of the rats were also performed. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was used for analysis. Duncan's Multiple Range Test was performed in multiple comparisons. p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.  RESULTS: The data of this study showed that ceftriaxone treatment reduced the MDA levels in brain tissues in ischemia/reperfusion injured rats. Moreover, Bederson motor scores were higher in the ceftriaxone treated group as compared to the ischemia group (p = 0.092). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ceftriaxone could be beneficial for the prevention of brain ischemia/reperfusion injury caused by acute arterial occlusion through reducing the tissue MDA level (Tab. 2, Fig. 5, Ref. 24).

Using Proseal LMA and I-gel for difficult airway management in patient with diffuse tracheal stenosis and pulmonary artery sling.

Pulmonary artery sling (PAS) is a rare congenital anomaly frequently accompanied by focal or long-segment tracheal stenosis. We presented a 34-year-old female patient with severe long-segment tracheal stenosis associated with PAS which was assessed with Multi Slice Computed Tomography (MSCT) consisting of axial, three dimensional and virtual bronchoscopic images of the airway. This case report discussed the management of her difficult airway condition during surgical cholecystectomy and thyroidectomy by using proseal- LMA and I-gel, respectively (Fig. 4, Ref. 10).

Multi-slice computed tomography urography after diuretic injection in children with urinary tract dilatation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential use of multi-slice computed tomography urography (MSCTU) after diuretic injection in children with urinary tract dilatation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MSCTU was performed in 19 patients (11 boys, 8 girls, mean age 5.4 years) with suspicion of urinary tract obstruction and dilatation. Furosemide, 1 mg/kg, was injected 3 min before contrast material administration and followed by a bolus of 30 ml of physiologic saline solution immediately after application of contrast material. Excretory-phase images were obtained through the abdomen and pelvis beginning 10 min after initiation of the injection of contrast material. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) images were post-processed to obtain urographic views. RESULTS: MSCTU revealed pathology in 16 of 19 patients, while 3 patients had normal findings. Ureteropelvic obstruction was found in 4 patients, obstructive megaureter in 8. Both ureteropelvic obstruction and obstructive megaureter were disclosed in 1 patient, partial ureteral duplication in 1 patient, and both complete ureteral duplication and ureterocele in 2 patients. In all patients, MIP and VR images could satisfactorily show the pathologies of the urinary tract. The estimated effective average doses of MSCTU were higher than IVU. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results of furosemide-enhanced MSCTU demonstrated consistently dilated urinary tracts, obstruction levels, and underlying pathologies better than US and IVU.

Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in the course of verapamil intoxication.

Only three cases of non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema secondary to high dose verapamil ingestion have been described in the literature. This report describes two girls, who developed pulmonary oedema in the course of massive dose verapamil ingestion (total of 6000 mg and 7200 mg). Left ventricule size and function was normal on transthoracic echocardiograms in both of these patients. They were treated successfully with mechanical ventilatory support. The report emphasises that this fatal complication may be seen with verapamil overdose and underlying mechanisms and therapeutic approach are discussed.