Seroprevalence to cytomegalovirus in the Portuguese population, 2002-2003.

The prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections ranges between 50% and 85% in adults in the United States, and its epidemiology varies in different regions of the world and between socioeconomic and age groups. In Portugal, no study has been carried out to date to determine the prevalence of CMV in the general population. Under the second National Serological Survey conducted in continental Portugal in 2001­2002, we estimated the prevalence of individuals with antibodies to CMV using indirect immunofluorescence to detect virus-specific IgG. The population sample included 2,143 individuals of both sexes and different ages from all 18 districts in Portugal. The national seroprevalence of CMV was determined as 77%. We analysed the proportion of CMV IgG by sex, age group and district of residence. This was the first nationally representative study of seroprevalence of CMV in Portugal. The results of the study indicate that CMV infection is highly prevalent in the population and occurs mainly in the first years of life.

Difucultades quirúrgicas en el paciente con enfermedad de Paget: Revisión bibliográfica / Surgical difficulties in the patient with Paget's disease: A review of th literature

Introducción. El tratamiento quirúrgico de pacientes con enfermedad de Paget ósea supone un reto constante para el cirujano ortopédico, tanto por la dificultad que supone el operar un hueso con una arquitectura anormal como por las complicaciones específicas que puede presentar esta patología. Material y métodos. Se realiza una revisión bibliográfica de los artículos publicados sobre dificultades quirúrgicas en el paciente con enfermedad de Paget en revistas de alto impacto en los últimos 25 años. Se analizan y comparan las conclusiones obtenidas a partir de dichos artículos. Resultados. El paciente con enfermedad de Paget frecuentemente precisa de la realización de osteotomías para corrección de las deformidades óseas que ocasiona la enfermedad. Por otro lado, la afectación de superficies articulares por dichas deformidades o por las alteraciones en la carga que producen hacen que en muchos casos se precise de artroplastias para mejorar la calidad de vida de estos pacientes. Las fracturas patológicas que aparecen en el hueso pagético necesitan, asimismo, consideraciones especiales a la hora de ser tratadas. Aunque habitualmente no precisa cirugía, la afectación de la columna vertebral por la enfermedad es una complicación típica. Por último, la degeneración maligna es una complicación que siempre se debe tener en cuenta en el seguimiento de los pacientes con enfermedad de Paget. Conclusión. Aunque infrecuente, la cirugía en el paciente con enfermedad ósea de Paget presenta unas complicaciones específicas que hacen que sea imprescindible individualizar el tratamiento de estos pacientes(AU)

Introduction. The surgical management of patients with Paget's disease of bone is a constant challenge for the orthopedic surgeon, not only because it is difficult to operate on a bone with an abnormal architecture, but also due to the specific complications that this condition may entail. Material and methods. A review of the articles published in high impact journals over the last 25 years on orthopedic complications in the patient with Paget`s disease was performed. The conclusions obtained from those articles have been analyzed and compared. Results. The patient with Paget's disease of bone frequently requires an osteotomy to correct the bone deformations caused by the disease. On the other hand, the involvement of joint surfaces cause by these deformities or due to load disorders caused by them often makes it necessary to perform an arthroplasty to improve life quality of the patient. The pathological factures that appear in the Pagetic bone also require special considerations when treated. Although they usually do not require surgery, the involvement of the spine by the disease is a typical complication of these patients. Finally, malignant degeneration is a complication that must always be considered while following a patient with Paget's disease. Conclusion. Although rare, surgery in a patient with Paget's bone disease presents some specific complications that make it necessary to individualize the treatment for these patients(AU)

Pharmacokinetics of indomethacin after intraruminal administration to sheep.

The pharmacokinetics of indomethacin (7 mg/kg) was determined in six adult sheep after intraruminal administration. The plasma concentration-time curves showed different patterns for each sheep, depending on the physiological state of the gastrointestinal tract, where absorption took place, and possible enterohepatic and saliva recycling. Indomethacin was irregularly and poorly absorbed from the rumen after intraruminal administration to sheep. Plasma concentrations barely rose to the lower therapeutic margin and mean bioavailability was 38.25 +/- 15.98%. The elimination phase was slow (beta = 0.015 +/- 0.010 h-1) and the half-life was long (t1/2 beta = 56.52 +/- 31.21 h). The mean residence time was 20.01 +/- 6.92 h.

Pharmacokinetics of indomethacin in sheep after intravenous and intramuscular administration.

The pharmacokinetics of indomethacin (1 mg/kg) was determined in six adult sheep after intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) injection. Plasma concentrations were maintained within the therapeutic range (0.3-3.0 microg/mL) from 5 to 50 min after i.v. and from 5 to 60-90 min after i.m. administration. After two trials, indomethacin best fitted an open two-compartment model. The mean (+/- SD) volumes of distribution at steady state (Vd(ss)) were 4.10 +/- 1.40 and 4.21 +/- 1.93 L/kg and the mean clearance values (ClB) were 0.17 +/- 0.06 and 0.22 +/- 0.12 L/h x kg for i.v. and i.m. routes, respectively. The elimination phase half-lives did not show any significant difference between routes of injection (t1/2beta = 17.4 +/- 4.6 and 21.25 +/- 4.44 h, i.v. and i.m. respectively). After i.m. administration, plasma maximum concentration (Cmax = 1.10 +/- 0.68 microg/mL) was reached 10 min after dosing; the absorption phase was fast (Kab = 26 +/- 18 h(-1)) and short (t1/2ab = 2.33 +/- 1.51 min) and the mean bioavailability was 91.0 +/- 32.8%, although there was considerable interanimal variation. In some individuals, bioavailability was higher than 100%. This fact combined with the slower elimination phase after i.m. than after i.v. administration, could be related with enterohepatic recycling.

Chronopharmacokinetic behaviour of cyproterone acetate in rabbits.

Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is an antiandrogenic compound that shows a rhythmic toxicologic behaviour. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CPA pharmacokinetics in the rabbit were influenced by the administration time of day. Previously synchronised rabbits received a single intravenous dose of 4 mg kg(-1) of CPA at two hours after light onset (2 HALO) and 14 hours (14 HALO) after light onset. The drug concentration in plasma samples was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The mean concentrations in plasma were significantly higher (P<0.05) in 2 HALO than in 14 HALO animals at five, 15 and 30 minutes after dosing. Both plasma concentration profiles were fitted to two-compartment open models. Mean A, Vc and Vss differed significantly between 2 and 14 HALO dosage (P<0.005). Temporal variations in plasma protein binding, drug distribution and in drug elimination may play an important role in explaining these results.

Influence of closure of the reticular groove on the bioavailability and disposition kinetics of meclofenamate in sheep.

Sodium meclofenamate is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with anaphylactic protective activity in cattle. The objectives of this study were to describe the pharmacokinetic behaviour of sodium meclofenamate after intravenous and oral administration to sheep and to determine the influence of closure of the reticular groove on the bioavailability of the drug. Sodium meclofenamate was administered by the intravenous (2.2 mg/kg) and oral (20 mg/kg) routes to sheep (n = 6). During the oral study the reticular groove was closed by intravenous administration of lysine vasopressin (0.3 IU/kg) or left open (saline solution). The closure of the reticular groove was assessed by determination of the blood glucose curves after oral administration of a glucose solution. After intravenous administration of meclofenamate, the distribution and elimination half-lives of the drug were 7.2 min and 542 min respectively, Vss was 1.68 L/kg and ClB was 2.47 mliter/min kg. Two different patterns of the plasma concentration curves were observed after oral administration of sodium meclofenamate. When the reticular groove was closed, two peaks were observed (tmax-1 12-15 min, Cmax-1 3.30-24.01 micrograms/mliter; and tmax-2' 52.50-75 min, Cmax-2, 6.45-11.08 micrograms/mliter).

Comparison of the kinetics of sodium meclofenamate versus meclofenamic acid after oral administration to sheep.

Meclofenamates are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents used in ruminants for the prevention and the treatment of anaphylactic processes. The objective of the present work was to study possible kinetic variations due to the chemical form of meclofenamates administered by the oral route to adult sheep. Six Rubia del Molar female sheep (2-3 years old, 47-57 kg) were used. Initially, an intravenous administration of sodium meclofenamate (2.2 mg/kg bwt) was given; the obtained kinetic results were in agreement with data from other authors. Oral administrations (20 mg/kg bwt) of sodium meclofenamate and meclofenamic acid were then given. When the reticular groove was opened, both drug forms showed a single meclofenamate plasma peak; t2max were 60.0 +/- 10.61 min and 127.50 +/- 22.5 min for the sodium and acid form, respectively. The elimination rate constants (beta) were not significantly different, but the absorption half-lives were (14.69 +/- 3.21 min for the sodium form and 61.07 +/- 21.7 min for the acid form). The bioavailability was 48.6 +/- 4.3% for sodium meclofenamate and 65.1 +/- 2.8% for meclofenamic acid. Thus, the chemical form (sodium versus acid) alters the oral bioavailability and tmax of meclofenamates in adult sheep. These findings agree with the behaviour of meclofenamates in man.

[Transmural electrical stimulation in the reticular groove of adult cattle]. / Estimulación eléctrica transmural en la gotera reticular de bóvidos adultos.

An in vitro study of the smooth muscle of the fore third of the reticular groove bottom was carried out in adult bovines, to determine the most favorable parameters for electrical transmural stimulation (ETS). The mechanical activity of the preparations was registered isometrically and the electric stimuli were applied by means of ring-shaped platinum electrodes. Results show that the response of this tissue to ETS is of a phasic and synchronic nature in accordance with the stimulus. The parameter values necessary to produce a homogeneous, quantifiable and reproducible response were the following: Supermaximum voltage 70-100 V, frequency 30 Hz, pulsing time 4 ms, stimulus time 5 s and intervals between each stimulus 4 min. The intervals among stimuli where 3 min long to establish the frequency curves of 2, 6, 10, 20 and 30 Hz.