The natural course of blood pressure (BP) was studied after emergency hospitalization in 209 consecutive stroke patients and as many age and sex matched controls. Histories of hypertension were more common among patients than controls (46% vs 26%). On admission 69% of the stroke group and 36% of the controls had BP greater than or equal to 170/100 mm Hg. In the first four days there was a spontaneous BP decline, which was greater the higher the initial values. During the whole hospitalization though, stroke patients with previous hypertension had the highest BP levels and previously normotensive controls the lowest. Even if WHO as well as the Joint Committee for Stroke have recommended cautious antihypertensive therapy in stroke patients with extreme hypertension, such therapy is not evaluated. If this is to be done, the present findings have to be taken into consideration. Stroke controls, matched according to the initial BP level, will thus be required.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of topical phospholipids in the prophylaxis of silicone elastomer-associated infection in the abdominal cavity.

The present study evaluated the influence of phospholipids (phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl inositol) on the prevention of abdominal biomaterial-associated infection. Phospholipid-impregnated silicone elastomer (SE) fragments were either intraperitoneally implanted in rats or immersed in serum for 0, 4, and 14 days, and 3 x 10(9) cfu of 3H-labeled, live Escherichia coli were added in the peritoneal cavity or in vitro incubation medium. Three hours after incubation, the adherence of bacteria significantly decreased to phospholipid-impregnated SE fragments, which had been immersed/implanted for 0 and 4 days. However, the number of adhering bacteria did not differ between the impregnated and unimpregnated SE fragments after 14 days of immersion/implantation. A significantly lower number of adhering bacteria was noted on all unimpregnated SE fragments when phospholipid was supplemented in the peritoneal cavity or in vivo medium, compared with fragments with no supplement. The rate of bacterial DNA synthesis decreased significantly after incubation with phospholipid 2 h or more. Phospholipids did not further influence peritoneal morphology. Thus topical administration of phospholipids by impregnation to the surface of SE fragments or supplement in the incubation medium prevented bacterial adherence onto the SE fragments. This implies that the use of phospholipids might be a mode of preventing biomaterial-associated infections.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Leukocyte and serum alkaline phosphatase after hip arthroplasty, synovectomy of the knee and fracture.

The alkaline phosphatase in leukocytes (LAP) was measured in patients who had undergone various types of total arthroplasty of the hip, in patients who had undergone synovectomy and in whom tibial fractures had been treated conservatively. The LAP-Score increased rapidly and reached a maximum within a few days and returned to original levels after 14 days both after soft tissue trauma and skeletal trauma. The size of the maximal increase appears to vary only with the severity of the trauma. LAP was not found to be correlated with the increase in alkaline phosphatase in the serum. The increase in serum alkaline phosphatase occurred much later and decreased much slower and occurred only after skeletal trauma. The increase in alkaline phosphatase in the serum appears to vary with severity of skeletal trauma. A significant difference in LAP (P less than 0.05) was found between patients operated upon with total arthroplasty with success and those with deep infection. The difference between these two groups was, however, larger (P less than 0.01) regarding ESR and CRP.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Function following mega total hip arthroplasty compared with conventional total hip arthroplasty and healthy matched controls.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) with the use of a Mega prosthesis was a successful surgical procedure in the management of tumors of the hip as well as in revision THA with loss of bone stock. Passive hip motion and strength of hip muscles, walking ability, and activities of daily living in nine such cases compared well with the function following conventional THA. Limp and positive Trendelenburg sign were more common after Mega THA. Dislocation of the prosthesis occurred in 2/14 cases. Fracture of the femoral condyle occurred in one case. Another case had stem fatigue failure of a thin stem.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chlorpromazine-induced hypothermia: effect on tumour progression and survival in mice.

The effect of chlorpromazine on tumour progression and survival, when used as a modifier of chemotherapy response and toxicity, was studied in mice. The dosage was 15 mg/kg i.p., tested to produce rectal hypothermia within 1 hour, lasting for at least 8 hours, at an ambient temperature of 28 degrees C. The drug or saline was given to inbred C57Bl/6J mice four days previously inoculated i.v. with MCG101-AA sarcoma cells. Little acute toxicity, except for the intended hypothermia, was observed. No influence on survival could be discerned, nor any influence upon distribution of tumour deposits. In this tumour model system, chlorpromazine can be used as a chemotherapy response modifier without significant effects per se.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vascular cross-sectional area in rat mammary tumours; influence of noradrenaline.

A double fluorescent staining technique for visualisation of blood vessels was applied to rat mammary tumours. Rats were exposed to noradrenaline or saline and the stained vascular area was recorded. In tumours exposed to noradrenaline, vascular staining was different from that in those exposed to saline, reflecting the possible closure of part of the vasculature in response to the drug.

Animals↗