[Embolization of AVM's of thoracic spinal cord with histoacryl glue]. / Embolizacja naczyniaków odcinka piersiowego rdzenia kregowego za pomoca kleju histoakrylowego.

The authors present two cases of inoperable AVM's of thoracic spinal cord successfully treated by embolization with histoacryl glue (B. Brown Melsungen AG). The glue used for embolization is characterized by instant polymerization when comes in contact with blood. A mass of polymer is visible on X-ray thanks to contrast medium Lipiodol and metallic powder Tungsten that are added to glue and injected together with the latter. In the first case, a female who presented with paraparesis and walked only with assistance embolization performed in one session resulted in neurological improvement enabling independent walking at follow-up 2 yrs later. In the second case of a young male not walking for severe paraparesis embolization performed in three sessions resulted in significant neurological recovery. 10 days after the first session the patient became ambulatory. 6 months after treatment he presented with mild paraparesis and was still ambulatory and leading independent life. In each case embolization was performed after balloon occlusion test during which the function of spinal cord was monitored by somatosensory evoked potentials and neurological assessment.

[Results of intraperitoneal, laparoscopic colposuspension using Burch's method for stress incontinence in women]. / Wyniki przezotrzewnowej, laparoskopowej kolposuspensji sposobem Burcha w wysilkowym nietrzymaniu moczu u kobiet.

Laparoscopic colpoureterosuspension is a feasible surgical procedure for correcting the stress incontinence in women. A total of 41 patients underwent pelvis laparoscopic procedure. The average age of the patients was 55.4 years (range between 40 and 68 years). The mean operative time was 65 minutes. Laparoscopic intraperitoneal ureterocolposuspension is characterized by 87.6% early postoperative success rate. To carry out laparoscopic Burch's is operation is not more difficult than open surgery, but early optimistic results need a longer follow-up to estimate efficacy of this procedure.

Interventions to reduce or prevent obesity in pregnant women: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Around 50% of women of childbearing age are either overweight [body mass index (BMI) 25-29.9 kg/m(2)] or obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)). The antenatal period provides an opportunity to manage weight in pregnancy. This has the potential to reduce maternal and fetal complications associated with excess weight gain and obesity. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of dietary and lifestyle interventions in reducing or preventing obesity in pregnancy and to assess the beneficial and adverse effects of the interventions on obstetric, fetal and neonatal outcomes. DATA SOURCES: Major electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS and Science Citation Index were searched (1950 until March 2011) to identify relevant citations. Language restrictions were not applied. REVIEW METHODS: Systematic reviews of the effectiveness and harm of the interventions were carried out using a methodology in line with current recommendations. Studies that evaluated any dietary, physical activity or mixed approach intervention with the potential to influence weight change in pregnancy were included. The quality of the studies was assessed using accepted contemporary standards. Results were summarised as pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous data. Continuous data were summarised as mean difference (MD) with standard deviation. The quality of the overall evidence synthesised for each outcome was summarised using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) methodology and reported graphically as a two-dimensional chart. RESULTS: A total of 88 studies (40 randomised and 48 non-randomised and observational studies, involving 182,139 women) evaluated the effect of weight management interventions in pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcomes. Twenty-six studies involving 468,858 women reported the adverse effect of the interventions. Meta-analysis of 30 RCTs (4503 women) showed a reduction in weight gain in the intervention group of 0.97 kg compared with the control group (95% CI -1.60 kg to -0.34 kg; p = 0.003). Weight management interventions overall in pregnancy resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of pre-eclampsia (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.92; p = 0.008) and shoulder dystocia (RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.70; p = 0.02). Dietary interventions in pregnancy resulted in a significant decrease in the risk of pre-eclampsia (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.85; p = 0.0009), gestational hypertension (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.88; p = 0.03) and preterm birth (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.96; p = 0.03) and showed a trend in reducing the incidence of gestational diabetes (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.03). There were no differences in the incidence of small-for-gestational-age infants between the groups (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.29). There were no significant maternal or fetal adverse effects observed for the interventions in the included trials. The overall strength of evidence for weight gain in pregnancy and birthweight was moderate for all interventions considered together. There was high-quality evidence for small-for-gestational-age infants as an outcome. The quality of evidence for all interventions on pregnancy outcomes was very low to moderate. The quality of evidence for all adverse outcomes was very low. LIMITATIONS: The included studies varied in the reporting of population, intensity, type and frequency of intervention and patient complience, limiting the interpretation of the findings. There was significant heterogeneity for the beneficial effect of diet on gestational weight gain. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions in pregnancy to manage weight result in a significant reduction in weight gain in pregnancy (evidence quality was moderate). Dietary interventions are the most effective type of intervention in pregnancy in reducing gestational weight gain and the risks of pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension and shoulder dystocia. There is no evidence of harm as a result of the dietary and physical activity-based interventions in pregnancy. Individual patient data meta-analysis is needed to provide robust evidence on the differential effect of intervention in various groups based on BMI, age, parity, socioeconomic status and medical conditions in pregnancy.

Influence of phenoxyherbicides and their metabolites on the form of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin of vertebrates.

The effect of phenoxyherbicides and their metabolites on the structure of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin was studied by using different doses and times of incubation of hemoglobin with the herbicide. It was ascertained that among the investigated hemoglobins the most sensitive was carp oxyhemoglobin incubated with 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and the least sensitive was human hemoglobin. Comparing the toxicity of 2,4-D, MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid), 2,4-DCP (2,4-dichlorophenol), 2,4-DMP (2,4-dimethylphenol) it was found that the highest decrease occurred in bovine hemoglobin incubated with 2,4-DMP. The phenoxyherbicides caused stabilization of the structure of T-deoxyhemoglobin in vitro, in that they decreased the oxygen affinity with a simultaneous increase in methemoglobin concentration.

Changes of adenine nucleotides content and release reaction of human blood platelets following gamma irradiation.

The aim of this work was to examine the effect of gamma irradiation on the energy metabolism and physiological functions of blood platelets. Blood platelets were irradiated with a 60Co-source in the range of 0.5--8.0 krad. Before and after irradiation, the free nucleotide content of platelets and the ability of platelets to perform their hemostatic functions (the release reaction with thrombin) were determined. The obtained results demonstrated that: 1. ATP, ADP and AMP content reached minimum values at 1.5--2.0 krad. 2. The ability of platelets to perform the release reaction correlates with the ATP level at doses of 1.5--2.0 krad. At higher doses (6.0--8.0) disturbances of the release reaction, indicating damage to the platelet plasma membranes, were observed.

Catalase activity in human erythrocytes: effect of phenoxyherbicides and their metabolites.

The effects of exposure to different concentrations of phenoxyherbicides and their metabolites were studied in human erythrocytes, with particular attention to catalase (CAT-EC. 1.11.1. 6- hydrogen peroxide: hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase). 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), 2,4-dimethylphenol (2, 4-DMP) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) did not affect CAT activity, but 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP) decrease its activity, the latter being the more inhibitory.