Hepatitis aguda medicamentosa / Drug-induced acute hepatitis

Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 75 años que presenta hepatitis aguda tras recibir tratamiento prolongado con nitrofurantoína, como profilaxis de infecciones urinarias recurrentes. Los fármacos son una importante causa de hepatotoxicidad; más de 900 fármacos, toxinas y plantas han sido implicados como causa del daño hepático. Los clínicos deben vigilar y detectar precozmente para evitar cuadros severos de toxicidad hepática (AU)

We report the case of a 75-year-old female with acute hepatitis after a long-term treatment with nitrofurantoin as prophylaxis for recurrent urinary tract infections. Drugs are an important cause of hepatotoxicity; over 900 drugs, toxins, and herbs have been reported to cause liver damage. Physicians must be vigilant and identify drug-related liver damage early to avoid severe liver toxicity (AU)

Tear and decohesion of bovine pericardial tissue.

The aim of this study was to evaluate quantitatively the fracture-by tear and delamination-of bovine pericardium tissues which are usually employed for the manufacture of bioprosthetic valves. A large number of samples (77) were tested in root-to-apex and circumferential directions, according to a standardised tear test (ASTM D 1938). Before performing the tear test, some samples were subjected to 1000 cycles of fatigue to a maximum stress of 3MPa. Fracture toughness of tearing and delamination were computed by following a simple fracture model. The study showed significantly lower values of delamination toughness compared with tear delamination. Moreover, tear forces were different in each test direction, revealing a clear orthotropic behaviour. All these results, as well as the testing procedure, could be of value for future research in the physiological function of pericardium tissues and clinical applications.

Indentation hardness: A simple test that correlates with the dissipated-energy predictor for fatigue-life in bovine pericardium membranes for bioprosthetic heart valves.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation of hardness with fatigue in calf pericardium, a biomaterial commonly used in bioprosthetic heart valves, and its relationship with the energy dissipated during the first fatigue cycle that has been shown to be a predictor of fatigue-life (García Páez et al., 2006, 2007; Rojo et al., 2010). Fatigue tests were performed in vitro on 24 pericardium specimens cut in a root-to-apex direction. The specimens were subjected to a maximum stress of 1MPa in blocks of 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 cycles. By means of a modified Shore A hardness test procedure, the hardness of the specimen was measured before and after fatigue tests. Results showed a significant correlation of such hardness with fatigue performance and with the energy dissipated in the first cycle of fatigue, a predictor of pericardium durability. The study showed indentation hardness as a simple and reliable indicator of mechanical performance, one which could be easily implemented in improving tissue selection.

Pentoxifilina en el tratamiento de la aftosis orogenital y del síndrome de Behçet / Pentoxifylline in the treatment of orogenital aphthosis and Behçet's syndrome

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