Brain PGD2 and PGE2 changes during posthaemorrhagic hypovolemia in rats

This study examined the changes of prostaglandins (PGs) E2 and D2 in brain structures of conscious rats during one hour period following acute bleeding. The analyses were performed in brain structures which are important for cardiovascular homeostasis (medulla oblongata, hypothalamus) and these which are not directly involved in central homeostatic mechanisms but are selectively vulnerable to low-flow states (hippocampus, cortex). Haemorrhage was induced by gradual withdrawal of blood from the cannulated right femoral artery (18 ml/kg, LD30) during a 3-min interval. The brain prostanoid contents were measured by radioimmunoassays. The bleeding induced significant changes in brain prostanoid content which were expressed to the highest extent in medulla oblongata and hypothalamus. The time course of the alterations in PGD2 and PGE2 contents was different in m. oblongata and hypothalamus from that in cortex and hippocampus. It was observed that PGE2 and PGD2 levels rose significantly in brain structures which are important for cardiovascular homeostasis and that their alterations were less expressed with different time course in structures which are selectively vulnerable to ischemia. Therefore, the authors suppose that the prostanoid changes in m. oblongata and hypothalamus are induced by the activation of central homeostatic mechanisms rather than by cerebral ischemia produced by haemorrhagic hypotension.

[Modern psychosomatic aspects of dermatology]

Concerning their origin most diseases are multifactorial and that goes for skin diseases too. Emphasizing just one must not exclude further research and other aspects of etiopathogenetic mechanisms. It has been known for along time that psychological factors have a certain influence on the start, aggravation and maintenance on skin changes and that cosmetic defects of this kind disturb the psychological peace of the sick person and his capacity of establishing satisfactory social relations. Psychosomatic approach in dermatology cannot be reduced to investigation of specific etiology in the field of psyche without physical or social spheres. It unites all of them and in that way the old question what cause and what the consequence is has no importance, because there is no time or distance limit among them. They act simultaneously, holistically.

[Phagocytosis by neutrophils and monocytes in children with recurrent infections]

Phagocytosis by neutrophils and monocytes in 152 children suffering from recurrent infections, mean age 3 7/12 years, was investigated. The patients were divided in several groups according to severity and frequency of infections (A and B), age (<1 year, >1-2 years, >2 years) and a localization of infection (upper and low respiratory tract, otitis/otoantritis, multifocal). Healthy control (n=50) were of the same age as patients. The modification of opsonization test by Miller and the test of monocyte phagocytosis by Vujanovitsh were applied. Phagocytosis by neutrophils, due to disorder of opsonization, was significantly decreased in children with most frequent and severe infections (group B; p<0,05), in children older then 2 years, with less frequent and severe infections (p<0,05) and in those with upper resp. tract (p<0,01) and multifocal infections (P<0,05). Phagocytosis disorder was found in 10 (6,5%) patients (decreased opsonization in 8 and ingestion in 2). Phagocytosis was transient in 7/10 patients and permanent, due to primary opsonization disorder in 3/10. There was no significant difference in phagocytosis by monocytes Detween patients and controle. The short report of 10 patients with phagocytosis has been done.

[Chaemotaxic activity of neutrophils and monocytes in patients with vulgar psoriasis]

In consideration of confirmed disturbances of some functional activities of neutrophils and monocytes in patients with psoriasis vulgaris, this work had a purpose to investigate chaemotactic activity of neutrophils and monocytes in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Totaly were examined 100 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, which were devidede in three hroups: acute exanthematic (A) forme of disease (20 patients), chronic stable (H) form of disease (16 patients) and acute phase of chronic (AH) form of disease (64 patients). Controle group were composed of 50 healthy persons, chaemotactic activity of neutrophils and monocytes were examined by the "skin windows test", method by Eitzman. Results indicate that cellular migration is significant higher in all groups of patients, significantly disturbances of procentual amount of neutrophils and monosytes in compose of cellular infiltrate, were not confirm in neither group of examinees. Significant differens were not confirm in comparasion of the obtaind results. On the base of results, we can conclude that chaemotactic activity of neutrophils and monocytes in higher in patients of psoriasis vulgaris independent from the exudation, infiltration, duration and course of disease.

[Epidemiologic characteristics of collisions and injuries in traffic accidents in the area of Nis]

The epidemiologic picture of the injured in traffic accidents in the Nis region in the last five years (1998-1992) is presented. The analysis was performed of number, types, causes and consequences of traffic accidents with injured and killed people. Traffic accidents most commonly occurred in May and August, during weekends (Friday and Saturday) between 16 and 20 hrs and in the etiology dominated the human factor. These traffic accidents most often cause injuries of the locomotor system, craniocerebral damages and polytrauma. The first on the list of fatalities are drivers of vehicles. The transport of the injured to medical institutions most commonly is inadequate (civil vehicles). Owing to these facts it is necessary to undertake urgently adequate preventive measures in order to reduce the number of traffic accidents and more effective management of the injured.

Influence of in vitro test conditions on release of aspirin from commercial tablets

The influence of in vitro test conditions on the release of aspirin from commercial tablets was assessed with a USP rotating-basket dissolution apparatus. Three types of aspirin tablets were evaluated: plain, buffered, and microencapsulated. The variables investigated were stirring speed, pH, and volume and temperature of the dissolution medium. Plain tablets gave the best dissolution profiles under all experimental conditions, except at pH 3. Microencapsulated tablets showed sustained release. For all three types of tablets, faster dissolution was observed at pH 4.5 compared with that in artificial gastric juices. Increasing the stirring rate increased the dissolution rate, an effect most pronounced for plain tablets. Very similar dissolution curves were obtained when the dissolution test was conducted in 500 and 900 mL of dissolution media regardless of the pH of the media. No significant difference in dissolution profiles was observed when the effect of temperature was investigated. The dissolution data were evaluated on the basis of theoretical dissolution equations and by linear transformation of dissolution curves. Highly significant linear correlation coefficients revealed that the cube root equation could be used to describe drug release in artificial gastric juices, regardless of tablet type. When pH 4.5 buffer solution was used as the dissolution medium, different kinetic models were applicable.

[Cavernous hemangioma of the liver]

Over the last six years 8 patients with cavernous haemangioma of the liver were operated in our institute, of whom 7 women and 1 man, aged from 32 to 77 years average, 19.6 years. In two patients double haemangiomas of the liver were removed. So the number of resected haemangiomas was 10. The size of these haemangiomas was 2, 2, 3, 3.5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6.5 and 16 cm respectively, average 5.7 cm. Diagnosis was established by ultrasonography, computed tomography, blood pool 99m-technetium-scintigraphy, laparoscopy and selective angiography. Indications for the operation were: palpable tumour and pain in 2 patients; suspected liver metastases secondary to colon cancer 7 years after right colectomy; suspicion to primary haematoma of the liver and suspicion to secondary liver tumour in a patient with a big tumour of the left ovary. Incidental ultrasonic finding of the liver tumour occurred in a patient with obstructive jaundice. In a female with Bartter's syndrome ultrasonography and explorative surgery were carried out in order to reveal endocrine tumour (reninoma), as well as an occasional finding during cholecystectomy. Various operative techniques were performed in these 5 patients: 3 left lobectomies, 1 segmentectomy of the V and the VI liver segments, and 3 atypical resections. The only postoperative complication in our series was a mild superficial variceal thrombophlebitis of the leg in one female patient which disappeared on conservative treatment. These 5 patients have been followed-up from 1 to 48 months (average 18 months), and were symptom-free, except the patient with Bartter's syndrome who stayed on treatment.

[Epidemiological characteristic of basocellular skin epitheliomas treated at the Department of Dermatovenereal Diseases in Novi Sad]

The authors review some of the epidemiological characteristics of epithelioma basocellulare (EB) of the skin, showing the incidence of 2.39% of the cases treated for EB of the skin from 1984 to 1990, derived from the total of 61,384 initial examinations carried out in this period at the Department of Dermatovenereal Diseases in Novi Sad. The mean age of the patients was 64.42, the male-female ratio was slightly in favor of the females, 1:1.25. As for localization, EB of the skin were most frequently found on the face, head and neck (87.16%). Regarding occupation of the patients on the top were retired people (47.17%) and agricultural workers (33.02%) and regarding the place of living, most were found in the rural population (68.07). The mean time the treated patients came for a check-up was 1.26 year after the onset of the tumor. Relapses were found in 18 cases (1.23%). The mean time of their occurrence after the rtg therapy was 1.9 year. Familial predisposition for skin tumors was detected in 232 cases (15.79%).

[Skin and laboratory tests: comparison of the epicutaneous patch test with the TTL and LIF tests in the diagnosis of medicamentous allergic contact dermatitis]

We investigated 158 patients from 15 to 82 years of age with clinically evident contact dermatitis, diagnosed at the Department for Allergic Diseases Investigations-Clinic for Dermatovenerological Diseases, Medical Faculty in Novi Sad, during the period of 1 year. We performed patch-epicutaneous test, lymphocyte transformation test (TTL) and leukocyte migration inhibition test (LIF). Among the 130 (82.2%) patients suffering from contact dermatitis, with the positive patch tests to commercial or standard battery epicutaneous allergens, 26 (20%) had at least one positive patch test to the medicament. In these cases contact allergic medicamentous dermatitis (SAMD) was proved by positive clinical and allergic investigations. In only one case, patch test was negative, with booth the TTL and LIF test positive. Among the medicaments TTL and LIF tested, antibiotics were the most frequent in 9 (34.61%) cases, analgetics were found in 6 (23.08%). Professional contact allergy to medicaments has been estimated in 5 patients (19.23%). According to the obtained results and statistic findings, relationships between the two variables-TTL and patch test, and LIF and patch test, were estimated due to the contact allergy to medicaments. Both of them were low and negative without statistic significance. Patch test remains to be the irreplaceable test with regard to CAMD.

[Effect of industrial noise on cardiac systolic cycle in exposed workers]

First the working conditions in the "Ratko Pavlović-Niteks" textile industry were studied and analysed. It was found that industrial noise was one of the dominant noci, grading from 81 to 105 dB (A). It belonged to the group of high-frequency continued noises. The highest noise was recorded in the section "Tkacnica" (101 +/- 3.9 dB). Then the carotide artery curve was recorded before and after work in 411 workers exposed to noise of different intensity. At the same time a control group of 153 workers was studied. They worked in a relatively calmer section (section of dress cutting and control of finished goods). In workers exposed to noise a significant decrease of Q-I sound, I-II sound, ICT, IPEP intervals and PEP/LVET was recorded. However, ILVET was insignificantly increased after the work in comparison with its level before work. These results suggested the existence of significant haemodymanic changes due to industrial noise. Values of these parameters were closely related to the general noise level at working place. The greatest changes were observed in workers working under the effect of the greatest noise (95-105 dB), and the smallest in those working in the smallest noisy areas (75-85 dB). Thus, the intensity of haemodynamic changes depended on the level of general noise atworking place. Therefore appropriate preventive measures should be applied in practice in order to reduce the level of general noise.

[Microvascular disease in diabetics--discrimination analysis of risk factors]

The study concerned 206 diabetic patients, aged 35-54 years, from the urban Kragujevac area. Of this number 40.3 per cent had macrovascular disease, including vascular heart disease (34.9%), diseased leg blood vessels (12.1%) and cerebral stroke (2.4%). According to the results of discriminative analysis of potential risk factors (age, sex, body weight index, cigarette smoking, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glycemia, triglycerides, lipoproteins, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, onset and duration of diabetes, family history) diabetic patients with macrovascular disease and patients with vascular heart disease predominated in female population with early onset of diabetes and high level of diastolic blood pressure.

[Reconstruction of the iris in iridodialysis after a contusion injury of the eye]

Iridodialysis, occurring as a consequence of contusion injury of the eye ball, may initiate certain subjective disturbances (monocular diplopia, esthetic defect) indicating surgery in such cases. There is no uniform opinion as to the time of surgery. The time ranges from two weeks to one year after injury. The surgical technique is a standard one consisting of chamber opening with a corneal-sclerar incision at the site of iridodialysis. Our patient had iridodialysis as a consequence of eye ball contusion occupying a half of the base circumference. Microsurgical reconstruction of the iris was performed with an excellent end result. The specificity of this case, for which reason we are presenting it, is the duration of time elapsed from the moment of injury to surgery (14 years). The patient was injured in early childhood and the successful operation was performed when he was 20 years old. The second characteristic is that this was the case of injury and operation of a high myopic eye.

[Macrovascular disease in diabetics]

The prevalence of macrovascular disease (MVD) was examined in 206 diabetics (115 women and 91 men) and 105 controls (59 women and 46 men). The diagnosis of MVD was established on the basis of responses to the standard questionnaires and Minnesota codes for the ECG. The prevalence of MVD was for 2.2 times higher in diabetics than in nondiabetics (p less than 0.001). Angina pectoris was for 3.1 times more frequently found in diabetics (p less than 0.001), possible myocardial infarction for 4.5 (p less than 0.01) and vascular disease of the lower extremities for 3.1 times (p less than 0.05). The analysis by sex showed that the prevalence of MVD in diabetics and nondiabetics was statistically significant for women only.

[Tumours as cause of eyeball loss in adults]

Causes of eyeball loss in patients over 15 years of age are analyzed, over the period from the beginning of 1966 to the end of 1987. Data from the files of the Ophtalmopathologic Laboratory, Department of Eye Diseases, UCC, Belgrade, were used. In the period of 22 years 2067 eyeballs were enucleated, the procedure being necessitated by tumurs, injuries and other disease in 834, 722 and 511 cases, respectively. The analysis focuses on tumours as the cause of eyeball enucleation. Malignant melanoma of the choroid was noted in 700 cases, skin or conjunctival carcinoma in 117 cases, metastatic tumours of the choroid in 9 cases, and other types of tumours in the remaining 8 cases. At the beginning of the period (1966-1987) tumours were the third most common cause of enucleation, just after diseases and injuries. However, in the last ten years there is a continuous increase in the number of enucleations performed for ocular tumours. Thus tumours have become the most common cause of enucleation. The results show that the number of enucleations is related to the age of the patients. Male to female ratio was uniform in all age groups.