Effect of dosing vehicle on the toxicity and metabolism of unsaturated aliphatic nitriles.

The effect of dosing vehicle on toxicity and metabolism of unsaturated aliphatic nitriles was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Five unsaturated aliphatic nitriles--acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, allylnitrile, crotononitrile and fumaronitrile--were prepared in five different dosing vehicles--saline, corn oil, safflower oil, mineral oil, olive oil and Tween-20. Groups of six male rats were given 0.5 LD50 doses of the nitriles by gavage and they were observed for 12 It for cholinomimetic and central nervous system effects. Cyanide and glutathione levels were determined in blood and various organs at 1, 3 and 6 h after nitrile administration and thiocyanate levels were determined at 6 h after nitrile administration. The results indicate that all the vehicles studied potentiated the toxicity of all the nitriles compared to nitriles administered in saline and significantly increased their metabolism to cyanide and thiocyanate and nitrile-induced depletion of glutathione in rats. This behavior of vehicles illustrates the difficulty of identifying suitable vehicles for administration of lipophilic compounds in toxicology studies.

[Utilization of percutaneous catheters in neonatology: insertion of 105 catheters]. / Utilización de los catéteres percutáneos en neonatología: colocación de 105 catéteres.

We present the results of one prospective study made it to evaluated central percutaneous catheters morbi-mortality in newborns critically sick ingresed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The total of 105 percutaneous catheter put it on in 97 newborns from one total 1554 catheter-days. We found in 53.3% were premature newborns, 74.2% weighted less than 2500 g, the femoral veins was used in 90%. The predominant morbidity at the moment of the colocations was respiratory problems, sepsis and mayor congenital malformation, the 30% the percutaneous catheter was had bacterial colonization when were retired; the catheter infection was 1.2 x 1000 catheter days. Our conclusion are the percutaneous catheter was the prime election to the vein access in the newborn critically stick, with low mortality rate during colocation and permanency, low sepsis incidence by catheter, and less quantity of venopunture stress and veins mutilation.

Experience with cardiorespiratory support devices in patients undergoing heart and heart-lung transplantation.

During the 2-year period 1987 through 1988, 124 patients were assessed for heart or heart-lung transplantation. Sixty were accepted for heart transplantation, of whom 49 received transplants. Nine required pretransplant intra-aortic balloon pump support (+/- positive-pressure ventilation) for periods ranging from 2 to 15 days (mean 5 days). One patient was supported successfully by a pneumatic biventricular assist device for 70 days pretransplant. The 30-day survival in this group of 10 critically unstable patients was 100% and the 6-month survival 90% (one death). This experience compares well with survival rates of 100% at 30 days and 92% at 6 months in the 39 patients who required no form of pretransplant circulatory support. The biventricular assist device also has been used in 2 other patients; one did not survive to transplant and the other was deemed unsuitable by virtue of cerebral injury. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation supported 2 posttransplant patients (one heart and one heart-lung) with grossly impaired pulmonary function for periods of 5 and 2 days respectively, but both died before lung function had recovered.