ABSTRACT
High levels of scatter radiation in catheterization laboratories may lead to posterior subcapsular opacities in the lens of the staff. The international Retrospective Evaluation of Lens Injuries and Dose (RELID) was performed in Argentina for the first time in 2010 in the context of the congress of the Latin American Society of Interventional Cardiology (SOLACI) and recently, in 2014, was carried out for the second time (SOLACI-CACI 2014). The 2014 study included 115 participants: interventional cardiologists, technicians and nurses. Posterior subcapsular lens changes typical of ionizing radiation exposure were found in 91.5% of interventional cardiologists, in 77% of technicians and in 100% of nurses, according to the Merriam-Focht scale. This RELID study (Argentina 2014) has particular importance since it allowed the follow-up of 10 professionals evaluated in 2010. The results obtained in the study population highlight the importance of the availability and proper use of the elements of radiation protection, as well as staff training.
Subject(s)
Cataract/etiology , Occupational Exposure , Radiation Injuries , Argentina , Humans , Radiation Dosage , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
An enzyme capable of converting putative opioid peptide intermediates to free enkephalin has been purified 300-fold from washed rat brain membranes. The action of this enzyme, an enkephalin-generating endopeptidase (EGE), was compared with the action of carboxypeptidase B after trypsin treatment on enkephalin precursor peptides present in rat striata. After Sephadex G-100 gel filtration of striatal material, fractions were radioimmunoassayed for enkephalin content using an antiserum specific for the carboxyl terminal of enkephalin. Additionally, aliquots of the column fractions were treated with either trypsin and carboxypeptidase B, trypsin and EGE, or EGE alone. The peak of enkephalin immunoreactivity increased with the enzymes' treatment indicating the conversion of the low molecular weight proenkephalin precursor peptides to enkephalin. Trypsin and EGE generated almost as much enkephalin as trypsin and carboxypeptidase B in the conditions of the experiment. Thus EGE is capable of processing precursors to enkephalin after the action of trypsin-like enzyme(s) in the brain. The gel filtration fractions containing enkephalin and its low molecular weight precursors were pooled and one-half treated with EGE. The contents were analyzed by HPLC and the increase in immunoreactivity co-eluted with enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin. Small peptides found to be the most potent competitive inhibitors of this enzyme are Met-Arg-Phe-Ala, and Met-Arg-Phe.
Subject(s)
Brain/enzymology , Corpus Striatum/metabolism , Endopeptidases/metabolism , Enkephalins/biosynthesis , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Chromatography, Gel , Endopeptidases/isolation & purification , RatsABSTRACT
Absorption of levodopa was studied after administration by mouth and rectum. Given by mouth, levodopa benefited all 12 patients studied, and levodopa blood levels rose significantly (p less than 0.01). When it was given rectally, there was no rise in levodopa concentration in the blood and no clinical benefit. Rectally administered levodopa is therefore of no value in the management of postoperative parkinsonian patients who cannot take oral medication.
Subject(s)
Levodopa/administration & dosage , Parkinson Disease/drug therapy , Absorption , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Levodopa/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Parkinson Disease/surgery , RectumABSTRACT
Se presentan dos casos de reconstruccion quirurgica de los cantos palpebrales. Se analizan brevemente las caracteristicas generales de los colgajos y sus inconvenientes
Subject(s)
Surgery, Plastic , EyelidsABSTRACT
Se presentan dos casos de reconstruccion quirurgica de los cantos palpebrales. Se analizan brevemente las caracteristicas generales de los colgajos y sus inconvenientes
Subject(s)
Eyelids , Surgery, PlasticABSTRACT
1. When initially given to patients with idiopathic parkinsonism, lergotrile induced marked supine arterial hypotension. Tolerance to this hypotensive effect developed and larger doses of lergotrile were administered without this adverse effect. 2. Cross tolerance occurred between lergotrile and a structurally related ergot derivative, bromocriptine. A high dose of lergotrile given to patients who had been on long term bromocriptine therapy did not induce any significant hypotension when compared to placebo whereas hypotension still occurred when lergotrile was given after previous treatment with levodopa.
Subject(s)
Blood Pressure/drug effects , Bromocriptine/pharmacology , Ergolines/pharmacology , Aged , Bromocriptine/therapeutic use , Drug Tolerance , Ergolines/therapeutic use , Heart Rate/drug effects , Humans , Levodopa/pharmacology , Male , Middle Aged , Parkinson Disease/drug therapyABSTRACT
Because there is biochemical evidence of decreased GABAergic function in Parkinson's disease, sodium valproate, an inhibitor of GABA catabolism, was administered to eight Parkinsonian patients. Valproate treatment did not significantly alter any Parkinsonian feature, but tended to increase the dyskinesia in the "on-off" patients. The increased dyskinesias were not a result of altered peripheral metabolism of L-dopa. Despite obtaining high plasma levels of valproate, no consistent alteration of CSF GABA levels could be demonstrated. Thus, in these patients, an effect of valproate on GABA metabolism is unproven, and in turn, the role of GABA in Parkinsonism and dyskinesia uncertain.