Oral naftidrofuryl prevents platelet hyperreactivity ex vivo and inhibits functional desensitization to prostacyclin in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Among other mediators, platelet-derived serotonin (5-HT) may contribute to thromboembolic complications of atherosclerosis. We determined whether long-term oral treatment with the 5-HT2 antagonist naftidrofuryl (NAF, 50 mg/kg daily for 12 weeks) alters platelet function in cholesterol-fed (1%) rabbits. Hypercholesterolemia resulted in marked platelet hyperreactivity to collagen and ADP. This included increased aggregation, ATP secretion, and thromboxane formation; e.g., collagen-induced (1.2 micrograms/ml) platelet aggregation was stimulated to 210 +/- 10 mm/30 s in cholesterol-fed rabbits as compared with 108 +/- 9 mm/30 s in rabbits fed a standard diet (p < 0.05). Inhibition of ADP-stimulated platelet activation by the prostacyclin mimetic iloprost was significantly reduced. NAF did not reduce plasma cholesterol in hypercholesterolemia, but prevented enhanced platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and ATP secretion. NAF treatment significantly reduced collagen-induced (1.2 micrograms/ml) aggregation to 81 +/- 20 mm/30 s in these animals (p < 0.05). NAF also inhibited functional desensitization of platelets to iloprost, but did not alter the impaired binding of [3H]iloprost to platelet membranes in hypercholesterolemic animals. NAF also did not change any of these parameters in normocholesterolemic rabbits. These data suggest beneficial effects of NAF on platelet hyperreactivity in experimental hypercholesterolemia which may also be relevant for its clinical use.

[Comparative study of weight, length and congenital defects before and after water fluoridation in Valparaiso]

The purpose of this study was to establish any statistical significance between weight, length and congenital defects in births occurred before and after fluoridation in Valparaiso-Chile. A review was performed over 4.899 controlled births occurred in the Naval Hospital of Valparaíso during both periods (Before = 1983-84 and after = 1987-88). The results were analysed statistically by mean significance test (alpha = 0.05). In contrary to other studies, no difference were determined between births weight mean and birth length mean, by sexes, before and after fluoridation. No congenital defects (Down's syndrome, intraventricular septal defects and cleft lips) were associated with fluoridated water.

Orbital melanocytic hamartoma

A male Chinese neonate had a melanocytic hamartoma that involved the entire orbit and the eye, but did not involve the orbital bones or eyelid skin. Although usually benign, these hamartomas may be locally invasive, and rare cases of malignant transformation have occurred.

Transient supranuclear disturbances of gaze in healthy neonates

We examined 242 healthy neonates. Five developed transient tonic downward deviation of the eyes and eight showed any resultant visual, systemic, or neurologic abnormality. However, five of the 22 children with neonatal skew deviation developed a subsequent comitant horizontal stabismus. Although transient supranuclear disturbances of gaze are common in healthy neonates, skew deviation is a risk factor for development of horizontal stabismus.

Saccadic velocity studies in Möbius syndrome

Eight patients with Möbius syndrome were examined and their eye movements studied with horizontal saccadic velocity measurements. A marked decrease in velocity of horizontal saccades was noted, indicating both medial and lateral rectus weakness. Significant esotropia, when present, may be improved with conventional recession-resection surgery.