Partial left ventriculectomy in a two-year-old girl with dilated cardiomyopathy.

We report the case of a two-year-old girl with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy who was a status I heart transplant candidate. Partial left ventriculectomy and novel mitral valve repair were performed. Early hemodynamic and functional improvements were maintained at the 18-month follow-up.

Oxidative stress in the rats brain capillaries in sepsis--the influence of 7-nitroindazole.

As a part of blood-brain barrier, brain capillaries participate in pathophysiological events during systemic inflammation. We investigated the effects of 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, to oxidative status (OS) of brain capillaries. Adult Wistar rats were randomized at groups: control group (CG) (sham operated), sepsis group (GS) (cecal ligation and perforation with inoculation of Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), 7-NI group (G7-NI), (30 mg/kg b/w i.p.) and 7-NI + sepsis group (G7-NIS), (7-NI was applied 30 minutes before operation). Lipid peroxidation index (LPI), nitrite concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and superoxide anion (O2*-) content were determined 3, 6, 24 and 48 hour in each group. Cerebral capillaries were separated from non-vascular brain tissue using sucrose gradient. Compared to controls, LPI, nitrite and O2*- increased at SG. In the G7-NIS, LPI reached control values at the 24th and 48th hour, while nitrite were decreased at the 3rd and 24th hour, compared to controls. In the same group, O2*- decreased at the 3rd, 6th and 24th hour, although SOD showed variable activity. The systematic nNOS inhibition with 7-NI forces OS on early terms of sepsis, but lately it contributes to the normalization of OS in cerebral capillaries.

[Anamnestic reaction]. / Anamnesticka reakcija

From 402 pregnant women immunized with blood-group antigens, the anamnestic serologico-immunological reaction has been confirmed in 11 cases (2,7%). Because of the absolute low number of the cases that have been followed up no suggestions are suggested but only observations made with the invitation to professionals to follow up, in an organized form, this interesting phenomenon in blood group immunology.

[Assessment of the state of the fetoplacental unit before induction of labor and its outcome]. / Procena stanja fetoplacentne jedinice pred indukciju porodaja i njen ishod.

By a prospective study the authors tried to assess the state of the fetoplacental unit in pathologic pregnancies. Depending on the given situation, the following analytical procedures were used: oxytocin test (OCT), placental beta-1-glycoprotein (SP-1), amnioscopy, and analysis of the liquor amnii ingredients (L/S relationship). By combining the above quoted procedures and taking into account obstetric factors (pelvic measures, cervical maturity), the assessment was made of the state of the fetus and the placenta, of the maturity grade and gestation age, and of the condition of the fetus for delivery by the planned induction of uterine contractions. Statistical analysis (the kappa 2 test) has shown that there is no difference in the results concerning the parameters observed, which speaks for good agreement between them. In the authors' opinion, none of the methods used is an absolutely valid test but their combination and dynamic observation along with a certain clinical experience, could lead to right conclusions about the state of the fetoplacental unit before induced labour.

[Childbirth in multiparae]. / Porodaj u viserotki.

The authors present problems of multiparity in women with four or more deliveries, by analysing the course of delivery in these women. To this end they made a retrospective study of 299 such deliveries, by comparing them with 100 randomly selected primiparae from the same period. The results have shown as follows: The incidence of multiparae is about 1.04%; multiparae are significantly older than primapare; multiparae have a larger of spontaneous deliveries, whereas directed and induced labour proved more frequent in primiparae; in primiparae there are significantly more interventions in the course of labour (episiotomy and manual revision of the uterine cavity); labour in multiparae lasts less and their offspring has less wight and less vitality (more at risk); stillborns are four times as frequent in multiparae (3.68%) as is the general rate of mortality (0.94%).

[Growth of the fetal cerebellum in normal pregnancy]. / Rast cerebeluma ploda u normalnoj trudnoci.

An ultrasonographic study was carried out in 203 physiological pregnancies whose menstrual gestational age (MGA) was between 20 and 40 weeks. The following biometric parameters were determined: transversal cerebellar diameter (TCD), biparietal diameter (BPD), occipito-frontal diameter (OFD) and head circumference (HC). The data analysis gave the optimal mathematical models with the following relations: 1) TCD/MGA (R2 = 0.904; SD = 2.6 mm); 2) MGA/TCD (R2 = 0.924; SD = 1.7 wks); 3) BPD/TCD (R2 = 0.914; SD = 4.3 mm); 4) HC/TCD (R2 = 0.919; SD = 14.3 mm), which are graphically and tabularly presented. Also the variability in the determination of MGA from TCD is calculated before 26 weeks (2 SD = 2.6 wks) and after 26 weeks (2 SD = 3.5 wks). TCD can be practically applied in cases where it is difficult or impossible to measure BPD, or in cases where it is unsuitable because of the expressed moulding of the head, since the cerebellum is not liable to changes in forms and its size is in correlation with MGA and BPD. The use of TCD is also important in the detection of congenital malformations which are manifested in the posterior cranial fossa. The potential importance of TCD in the diagnosis of the fetal intrauterine growth retardation is based on the assumption that the cerebellum is not liable, or at least not considerably liable, for growth retardation.

[Value of the fetal biophysical profile in intensive monitoring of high risk pregnancy]. / Pouzdanost biofizickog profila ploda u intenzivnoj kontroli visoko rizicnih trudnoca.

The fetal biophysical profile (FBP) is a combination of both acute and chronic condition markers of the fetus in the uterus (fetal movements, fetal breathing movements, amniotic fluid volume, maturity of the placenta, intestine distension, cardiotocographic "non stress test", cardiotocographic "oxytocin stress test" cardiotocographic "physical stress test") presented numerically, is an irreplaceable method for monitoring the condition of the fetus in the uterus. In 271 women with high risk pregnancies at the gestational age of 34-44 weeks, depending on the FBP value, the time and mode of pregnancy termination were chosen. There is a significant difference regarding the outcome of pregnancy (general bad outcome--p less than 0.001, mortality--p less than 0.004, low 5 min Apgar score--p less than 0.002, fetal distress during labour--p less than 0.001) depending on the FBP value (normal or pathological) and the connection of the pathological FBP values with the low fetal biochemical profile values (estriol in 24th urine less than 40,000 n mol/day and HPL less than 5 mg). Sensitivity (46.4%), specificity (99.2%), the prognostic value of the pathological test PVP (86.7%), and prognostic value of the normal test - PVN (94.1%) show a high FBP value as a diagnostic test. It is necessary to stick to the protocol while using this test which is very simple, cheap and not at all harmful.

Bovine corneal opacity and permeability test: an in vitro assay of ocular irritancy.

Most of the published in vitro tests of ocular irritancy investigate a single parameter, generally cytotoxicity, using different cell types in culture. Although good correlations with in vivo data have been reported by some investigators, many of these studies examined only limited classes of products, mainly surfactants and cosmetic ingredients. To predict the irritant potential of compounds in development and process intermediates (which include a wide variety of chemical classes with variable physical characteristics), an assay which would allow great flexibility was needed. A recently published model of corneal opacity was appropriate for this purpose and therefore investigated. The method was substantially modified and extended to study, in the same assay, two important components of irritation, i.e., opacity and permeability. For opacity alone, values obtained for 44 common chemicals showed a correlation of r = 0.73 with published in vivo data. However, compounds like sodium lauryl sulfate and some medium-chain alcohols gave false-negative results, apparently because they produced destruction of corneal epithelium. Such an effect was quantified by the measure of corneal permeability to fluorescein, and changes observed were found to be consistent with the known irritant potential of the compounds. In combination, the measurement of these two endpoints thus appeared to be sufficient to accurately predict ocular irritancy. This was further verified with 15 process intermediates. In short, the bovine corneal opacity and permeability assay allows investigation of two important components of eye irritation, in a one-day experiment, using an ocular tissue. It represents a useful approach to assess ocular irritation at least for our needs.

Oxidative stress in the thalamus of Wistar rats treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.

Experimental parkinsonism was induced in adult Wistar rats by selective nigrostriatal neurotoxine, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in a single dose of 0.09 g/kg, by unilateral intrastriatal application using stereotaxic instrument. Control group included rats treated with 0.9% saline solution in the same manner. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation seven days after the treatment. Total glutathione was measured in the crude mitochondrial fraction of thalamus and striatum. Total glutathione content, as a measure of reduced cell atmosphere, was mutually decreased in the thalamus and striatum of MPTP-treated animals, compared to controls: thalamus ipsi- = 24.8 +/- 3.11, contralateral = 26.81 +/- 5.31; striatum ipsi- = 19.96 +/- 4.13, contralateral = 17.3 +/- 4.09 nmol/mg prot. Mutually depleted glutathione content in the thalamus and contralateral striatum, the structures distant from ipsilateral treated striatum, could indicate on spatial propagation of oxidative stress, not only in the selective vulnerable dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons, but in the structures included in the motor and cognitive loops of basal ganglia.

Effects of nerve growth factor on antioxidative system in the thalamus of MPTP treated Wistar rats.

1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced parkinsonism is one of the most useful models for the study of that disease. It has been suggested that MPTP-induced neurotoxicity may involve the production of reactive oxygen species. MPTP was applied intracerebrally, unilaterally, in the striatum in single dose of 0.09 g/kg b.w. The second group was treated both with MPTP and nerve growth factor (NGF) in dose of 7 ng/ml. NGF was applied immediately after the neurotoxin. Control group was treated with 0.9% saline solution in the same manner. Animals were decapitated 7 days after the treatment. In the group treated with MPTP, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was decreased in ipsilateral thalamus, compared to control values as well as to the contralateral thalamus. In the same structures superoxide anion production was increased, compared to controls. Following the application of both MPTP and NGF, the activity of SOD and GSH-Px remained on control values, while the superoxide anion content was decreased, compared to controls. These results indicate a temporal and spatial propagation of oxidative stress and spread protective effects of NGF on the thalamus, the structure that is distant, but very tightly connected with striatum, the place of direct neurotoxic damage.

[Hereditary and congenital defects in children in the regions of Indija-Stara Pazova and Pancevo-Kovin]. / Urodene i prirodene mane u dece regiona Indija-Stara Pazova i Pancevo-Kovin.

An analysis of frequency and range of hereditary and congenital defects was performed in all infants born in the period from January 1 to December 31, 1986 in the Ward for Neonates at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Pancevo and in the out-patient maternity home in Indija and Kovin. In Pancevo 2.559 (1.286 m. and 1.273 f.) newborn infants were born, i.e. there were 2.314 (1.178 m. and 1.136 f.) mature children and 245 (108 m. and 187 f.) premature children. In Indija 367 (180 m. and 187 f.) newborn infants were born, i.e. there were 355 (174 m. and 181 f.) mature children and 12 (6 m. and 6 f.) premature children. In Kovin 146 (65 m. and 81 f.) newborn infants were born, i.e. 150 (82 m. and 68 f.) mature and 10 (1 m. and 9 f.) premature children. A total 3.072 (1.531 m. and 1.541 f.) newborn infants in all three places were born. In all three places there was a total of 2.805 (1.417 m. and 1.387 f.) mature and 267 (115 m. and 152 f.) premature children. In Pancevo 68 children were born with defects (40 m. and 28 f.), i.e. 2.66% (3.11% m. and 2.20% f.). In Indija only one defect was noted in one female child (0.53% related to female newborns).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cytochrome C oxidase activity and total glutathione content in experimental model of intracerebral aluminum overload.

Treatment of Wistar rats with aluminum chloride causes astroglial and neuronal cell damage in the selective brain regions of association cortex and hippocampus, seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Adult Wistar rats were treated with unilateral intrahippocampal injection of AlCl3 in one single dose of 3.7 g/kg b.w. Control group of animals was treated with 0.9% saline solution likewise. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation seven days after the treatment. Activity of cytochrome C oxidase (COX) and total glutathione content were measured in the ipsi- and contralateral hippocampus and forebrain cortex. Activity of COX was mutually decreased in the hippocampus (ipsi- 30%, contra- 34%), as well as in the forebrain cortex (ipsi- 44%, contra- 47%), compared to controls. These decrease could indicate a deficiency in reducing equivalents with concomitant altered proton gradient and function of electron transport chain, as well as decreased ATP synthesis. Content of glutathione, a clue antioxidative factor, was decreased for about 50% in all examined structures, primary suggesting an impaired regeneration of reduced glutathione. Such distribution of diminished antioxidative defense could be the consequence of the specific brain distribution of transferrin receptors, which was also a main protein carrier for Al. Furthermore, at the cellular level Al could impede glycolysis with consequent decreased production of reducing equivalents which were necessary for glutathione synthesis/reduction, as well as for proton gradient and functionality of electron-transport chain.