Rank Determination of Mental Functions by 1D Wavelets and Partial Correlation.

The main aim of this paper is to classify mental functions by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised tests with a mixed method based on wavelets and partial correlation. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised is a widely used test designed and applied for the classification of the adults cognitive skills in a comprehensive manner. In this paper, many different intellectual profiles have been taken into consideration to measure the relationship between the mental functioning and psychological disorder. We propose a method based on wavelets and correlation analysis for classifying mental functioning, by the analysis of some selected parameters measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised tests. In particular, 1-D Continuous Wavelet Analysis, 1-D Wavelet Coefficient Method and Partial Correlation Method have been analyzed on some Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised parameters such as School Education, Gender, Age, Performance Information Verbal and Full Scale Intelligence Quotient. In particular, we will show that gender variable has a negative but a significant role on age and Performance Information Verbal factors. The age parameters also has a significant relation in its role on Performance Information Verbal and Full Scale Intelligence Quotient change.

Time-dependent reduction of structural complexity of the buccal epithelial cell nuclei after treatment with silver nanoparticles.

Recent studies have suggested that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) may affect cell DNA structure in in vitro conditions. In this paper, we present the results indicating that AgNPs change nuclear complexity properties in isolated human epithelial buccal cells in a time-dependent manner. Epithelial buccal cells were plated in special tissue culture chamber / slides and were kept at 37°C in an RPMI 1640 cell culture medium supplemented with L-glutamine. The cells were treated with colloidal silver nanoparticles suspended in RPMI 1640 medium at the concentration 15 mg L⁻¹. Digital micrographs of the cell nuclei in a sample of 30 cells were created at five different time steps: before the treatment (controls), immediately after the treatment, as well as 15 , 30 and 60 min after the treatment with AgNPs. For each nuclear structure, values of fractal dimension, lacunarity, circularity, as well as parameters of grey level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture, were determined. The results indicate time-dependent reduction of structural complexity in the cell nuclei after the contact with AgNPs. These findings further suggest that AgNPs, at concentrations present in today's over-the-counter drug products, might have significant effects on the cell genetic material.

[Hemodynamic effects of propofol in patients undergoing pulmonary excision and in patients undergoing closed heart mitral valve surgery]. / Effetti emodinamici del propofol in pazienti operati di exeresi polmonare e in pazienti operati di commissurolisi mitralica a cuore chiuso.

The effects of propofol on cardiovascular dynamics were studied, by means of SO2 Swan-Ganz catheter, in 12 patients scheduled for elective pulmonary resection and in 10 patients undergoing closed heart mitral valve commissurotomy. Myocardial contractility was also investigated in 10 patients (5 pulmonary and 5 mitral valve patients) by means of transthoracic echocardiography. The patients were premedicated with morphine (0.1 mg/kg i.m.), scopolamine (0.005 mg/kg i.m.) and diazepam (0.1 mg/kg p.o.). Anaesthesia was induced with propofol (2 mg/kg i.v.) and fentanyl (0.005 mg/kg i.v.) and maintained with propofol (6 mg/kg/h) plus fentanyl (0.005 mg/kg/h) infusion. Muscle relaxation was assured by pancuronium bromide (0.1 mg/kg). Ventilation (O2-N2O 50%) was controlled to maintain ETCO2 between 30 and 40 mmHg. All the patients undergoing pulmonary resection were intubated with double lumen endotracheal tube. Measurements were performed with the patients awake, after induction, during steady state anaesthesia, before and after thoracotomy. Propofol together with fentanyl significantly decreased arterial pressure (more than 35%) and cardiac index (more than 40%) in both groups of patients; heart rate showed no significant changes even after intubation. Right atrial pressure didn't change meanwhile wedge pressure showed a reduction, with statistical significance only in pulmonary patients. Total systemic resistances didn't show any variation in both groups of patients. The echocardiographic data revealed an important impairment of myocardial contractility after bolus of propofol, mainly in cardiac patients, as evidenced by decrease of ejection fraction values (20%) and by increase of left ventricle end systolic volume index (10%) from baseline. SVO2 and DO2/VO2 ratio values were stable, according with deep anaesthesia level and adequate metabolic balance. In pulmonary patients, during one lung ventilation, the intrapulmonary shunt values did not differed either during or without propofol infusion, thus suggesting that propofol doesn't interfere with pulmonary hypoxic vasoconstrictor response. In conclusion an aware use of propofol and a careful haemodynamic monitoring would be advisable primarily in patients with a well known or supposed cardiovascular disease.

Direct measurement of pulmonary and systemic flow during assisted circulation.

During biventricular assistance as a bridge to cardiac transplantation, the flow data provided by the pumping systems were compared with flow data obtained with the Fick method. There was a difference between the data sets only in the first 20 hr of observation, with the Fick method giving higher values. During the same period, analysis of the arterial and pulmonary pressure traces showed pulsatile activity to be related with the electrocardiogram's T waves. In the long run, the flow data provided by both methods were no different and the T wave-related pulsatile activity disappeared. The authors concluded that the Fick method represents a useful tool when measuring total flow during biventricular support.

Recovery of post-arrest cardiac performance: effect of fructose-1,6-diphosphate in the isolated rabbit heart.

The effect of fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) on the recovery of post-arrest cardiac performance was assessed in isolated rabbit heart preparations subjected to cold ischemic cardioplegic arrest (CICA). Twenty-eight hearts were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (KHBS) solution followed by 40 minutes of CICA. After CICA normothermic reperfusion with KHBS was restarted. The experimental preparations were divided in four groups of seven hearts each: one group served as control and the other three were perfused with KHBS supplemented with FDP (500 mg/l) given before CICA, after CICA or at both study points. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular systolic pressure, dP/dt and perfusion pressure were measured at different pre- and post-arrest phases. Time analysis of recovery was also performed. The results demonstrated that FDP supplied prior to and after CICA: prevents the ventricular wall rigidity induced by the ischemic arrest, improves cardiac contractile force both in the basal condition and after cardioplegia, reduces the perfusion pressure, reduces the time to recovery of cardiac contractility. Our findings in the isolated rabbit heart are consistent with published data suggesting FDP may limit the impairment of cardiac dynamics induced by ischemia and improve the recovery after cardiac arrest.

A prospective study of the clinical benefits of prostacyclin in 554 cardiopulmonary bypass procedures.

Abnormal bleeding after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may result from incomplete neutralization of heparin, increased fibrinolytic activity, consumption of coagulation factors, or from a reduction in the number of circulating platelets together with impairment of platelet function. Although researchers have reason to believe that hemostasis after CPB could be improved with prostacyclin (PGI(2)), a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation, the drug's clear-cut benefits in this respect have not yet been confirmed. After conducting an initial study concerning the fate of platelets during CPB, in which we determined that PGI(2) had a protective effect, we investigated the effects of PGI(2) infusion during CPB on postoperative blood loss in 554 open-heart surgery patients, 200 of whom underwent valve replacement, 200 of whom had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and 154 of whom underwent repeat valve replacement or CABG. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 277 patients (the study group) received both heparin and PGI(2) during CPB, whereas the remaining 277 patients (the control group) were given heparin alone. Of the patients who underwent surgery for the first time, those treated with PGI(2) had a reduced mean blood loss (p < 0.05 only in CABG patients) in comparison with those who received heparin alone. Of the patients who underwent redo operations, those who received PGI(2) had a nonsignificant tendency toward reduced blood loss. The mean difference in blood loss between the study group and the control group had no clinical relevance, however, because it was less than the smallest practical unit of measurement (i.e., 1 unit of blood).

Alergia a insulina porcina monocomponente: apresentacao de um caso. / Allergy to porcine monocomponent insulin. A case report

Os autores apresentam um caso de alergia generalizada a insulina porcina monocomponente comprovado clinicamente e com testes intradermicos. Houve remissao do quadro apos dessesibilizacao. Comentam a raridade do fenomeno e chamam a atencao para sua importancia clinica