Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Barrier Methods”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Protection against sexually transmitted diseases by granting sex workers in Thailand the choice of using the male or female condom: results from a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The male condom is the most effective barrier method available for protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV infection. There is an urgent need to develop and evaluate other prevention methods, such as the female condom. This study estimated the additional protection against STDs offered to sex workers by giving them the option of using the female condom when clients refused to use a male condom. METHODS: Sex establishments in four cities in Thailand were randomized into two study groups: one in which sex workers were instructed to use male condoms consistently (male condom group); and one in which sex workers had the option of using the female condom if clients refused or were not able to use male condoms (male/female condom group). Randomization was done by sex establishments, and not by individuals, to minimize sharing of female condoms across study groups. The proportion of unprotected sexual acts (defined as sexual acts in which condoms were not used, tore, or slipped in or out) and incidence rate of STDs (gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection, trichomoniasis and genital ulcer disease) were measured over a 24-week period and compared between the two study groups. FINDINGS: Results are available from 34 sex establishments (249 women) in the male/female condom group, and 37 sex establishments (255 women) in the male condom group. Condom use was very high in both groups (97.9 and 97.3 % of all sexual acts, respectively, P > 0.05). Male condom use was lower in the male/female condom group when compared with the male condom group (88.2 and 97.5%, respectively, P < 0.001). However, this reduction in male condom use was counterbalanced by the use of female condoms in 12.0% of all sexual acts in the male/female condom group, contributing to a 17% reduction in the proportion of unprotected sexual acts in this group when compared to the male condom group (5.9 versus 7.1%, respectively, P = 0.16). Female condom use was sustained over the entire study period. There was also a 24% reduction in the weighted geometric mean incidence rate of STDs in the sex establishments of the male/female condom group compared to the male condom group (2.81 versus 3.69 per 100 person-weeks, P = 0.18).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Enhanced delivery of boronophenylalanine for neutron capture therapy of brain tumors using the bradykinin analog Cereport (Receptor-Mediated Permeabilizer-7).

OBJECTIVE: Using the well-characterized F98 rat glioma model, the purpose of the present study was to determine whether the delivery of boronophenylalanine (BPA) could be enhanced by prior administration of the bradykinin analog Cereport (Alkermes, Inc., Cambridge, MA) (previously known as Receptor-Mediated Permeabilizer-7), which produces a transient, pharmacologically mediated opening of the blood-brain barrier. METHODS: Two series of experiments were performed in F98 glioma-bearing rats that had received either intracarotid (i.c.) or intravenous infusions of Cereport (at doses ranging from 1.5 to 7.5 microg/kg of body weight), followed by i.c. (or intravenous) injection of BPA (300 mg/kg of body weight). Animals were killed 0.5, 2.5, or 4 hours later, samples of blood, skin, muscle, and eye were obtained, brains were removed, and tumors were excised for boron determination by direct current plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. RESULTS: Averaged over all time points, i.c. infusion of Cereport significantly enhanced tumor boron uptake (P = 0.0001), compared with the excipient (saline) control values. Tumor boron values were equivalent at 0.5 (36.0 microg/g) and 2.5 hours (38.5 microg/g) after i.c. administration of Cereport and BPA and then decreased by 33% (to 25.7 microg/g) at 4 hours. These tumor boron uptake values were significantly different (alpha = 0.05), compared with values measured at the corresponding times after i.c. administration of BPA without Cereport (22.6, 21.8, and 15.3 microg/g, respectively). Although no time-related effects were observed, i.c. administration of Cereport followed by intravenous administration of BPA also significantly enhanced (alpha = 0.05) tumor boron uptake at 0.5, 2.5, and 4 hours (27.4, 30.3, and 28.0 microg/g, respectively), compared with values obtained without Cereport (11.3, 13.4, and 15.2 microg/g, respectively). Boron levels in normal brain tissue from tumor-bearing and non-tumor-bearing cerebral hemispheres and in blood were not significantly different from those measured in saline-treated control animals. CONCLUSION: This study established that i.c. infusion of Cereport significantly increased delivery of BPA to F98 rat gliomas, and this could enhance the efficacy of boron neutron capture therapy of this tumor.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Reproductive function and contraception in the postpartum period.

The postpartum period is a time of major cellular and hormonal change enabling the return of pelvic organs and the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis to the nonpregnant state. Breast-feeding modifies this change and maintains the endocrine profile and uterine endometrium in a "static" state. In nonlactating women, menstruation returns on average by day 55 to 60 postpartum and ovulation returns on average by day 40 to 50 postpartum. Breast-feeding prolongs the return of menstruation to some 8 to 15 months postpartum and the first ovulation on average was between 30 to 40 weeks postpartum. However, in breast-feeding women, the return of menstruation and ovulation can be quite variable and is influenced by the pattern of breast-feeding, in particular, the intensity and pattern of suckling. There is concern that breast-feeding, although an effective contraceptive on a wide population scale, is unpredictable for the individual. An overall pregnancy rate of 2 to 10 per cent during lactational amenorrhea has been reported. Barrier methods, intrauterine contraceptive devices, and progestogen-only contraceptives are some of the highly effective and most commonly used additional methods of contraception by lactating women. Other methods of contraception during this period include the use of periodic abstinence and combined oral contraceptives. This paper provides an overview of postpartum reproductive function in relation to breast-feeding and the use of contraception in this unique period.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1998

The evolving efforts to control hepatitis B virus.

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, hepatitis B virus continues to be a major health threat to populations in both developed and undeveloped countries. In undeveloped countries, this virus often infects children, who then have a high risk of progressing to chronicity. In developed countries, adolescents and adults are at risk of hepatitis B virus transmission during sexual contact. Those who progress to chronic hepatitis B risk premature death and serve as a reservoir for virus transmission. METHODS: Barriers to global control of hepatitis B virus and strategies for increasing awareness of vaccination for reducing risk for contracting hepatitis B were reviewed. RESULTS: With the varied patterns of infection and transmission, multiple strategies and recommendations have been proposed by health organizations around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted hepatitis B as one of eight infectious diseases that should be controlled through vaccination efforts. Canada and the United States have recently recommended universal hepatitis B vaccination for their adolescent populations. CONCLUSIONS: This hard-to-reach cohort may benefit from mass media educational efforts, especially the use of television. Control of hepatitis B virus continues to be elusive; therefore, an ongoing commitment to hepatitis B vaccination programs is warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk factors for HPV DNA detection in middle-aged women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Strong epidemiologic evidence indicates that human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main etiologic factor of cervical cancer. A few cohort studies suggest that most HPV infections are transient in young women and that persistent HPV infections are more common in older women. Little is known about the determinants of persistent HPV infections. The present study was aimed at increasing our knowledge about these determinants. GOALS: To identify risk factors for genital HPV DNA detection among cytologically normal middle-aged women. STUDY DESIGN: Eight hundred ten women who participated as control subjects in three case-control studies on cervical cancer in Spain, Colombia, and Brazil were included in this study. After an interview, women underwent a gynecologic examination with collection of exfoliated cells for a Papanicolaou smear and HPV DNA detection. Human papilloma virus DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based hybridization techniques. RESULTS: The HPV positivity rate was 10.5% in the whole population, but was higher in the areas with high incidence of cervical cancer (17% in Brazil and 13% in Colombia) than in Spain (4.9%), which is a low-risk area for cervical cancer. Age was related to the prevalence of HPV DNA in Brazil, but not in Spain and Colombia. In univariate analyses in all three countries, the prevalence of HPV DNA was positively associated with the number of lifetime sexual partners and inversely associated with the levels of family income and with age at first sexual intercourse. There was four times increase in the odds ratio (OR) of HPV infection in women who had six or more lifetime sexual partners compared with those with one or less. The use of any kind of contraceptive tended to decrease the OR for HPV detection. Their ORs ranged from 0.44 (barrier methods) to 0.48 (oral contraceptives). In Spain and Colombia, antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis were positively associated with the prevalence of HPV DNA. In a final multivariate model, the positive associations with lifetime number of sexual partners, socioeconomic status, and C. trachomatis persisted. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the sexual transmission of HPV and suggest that socioeconomic status and antibodies to C. trachomatis are independent predictors of HPV detection in middle-aged cytologically normal women.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Do spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 prevent sexually transmitted infections? A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are conflicting opinions on whether to recommend spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). GOAL: To systematically review and summarize the medical literature on the effect of spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 on prevention of gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, and HIV. STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis. Potential articles were identified through computerized literature searches. Articles were included if the design was clinical trial, cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional; original outcome data were presented for gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, or HIV; and spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 were used separately from other barrier methods. Study characteristics including design, population, spermicide dose, and delivery method were abstracted. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined from information published in the study or from study authors. Summary risk estimates were computed for clinical trials. RESULTS: Twelve eligible articles were identified, including six clinical trials and six observational studies. Eleven articles evaluated gonorrhea; each found a reduced risk of infection with spermicide use. Among six clinical trials, the summary RR was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.49-0.78). The five articles evaluating chlamydial infection also found significant reduction among spermicide users, with the four clinical trials having a summary RR of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.62-0.91). The degree of spermicidal protection against gonorrhea and chlamydial infection did not differ materially among studies with different study designs or spermicidal preparations (i.e., sponge, gel, suppository, or film). Three studies evaluated degree of protection according to consistency of use and found stronger protection with more consistent use. The two studies on spermicidal prevention of HIV had contrasting results: An observational study found a significant protective effect (RR = 0.1), whereas a clinical trial found a nonsignificantly increased risk (RR = 1.7). CONCLUSIONS: Nonoxynol-9-containing spermicides have an appreciable protective effect against both gonorrhea and chlamydial infection, and wider use of spermicides might substantially reduce the incidence of these diseases. However, insufficient data exist to judge their effect on HIV transmission, and more research on the effect of nonoxynol-9 on HIV transmission is urgently needed to make evidence-based clinical decisions and public health recommendations in the future.

Chlamydia Infections↗
PubMed2001

Condom use among sterilized and nonsterilized Hispanic women.

BACKGROUND: Women who use sterilization for contraception are at risk for various sexually transmitted diseases, unless they use a barrier method. Use of condoms is significantly lower among sterilized women than among hormonal-contraceptive users. Among Hispanics, women's perception of risk and the influence of male partners are strong correlates of dual-method use. Limited data are available concerning use of condoms among sterilized women, in particular among Hispanics. GOALS: Past and future use of condoms was examined and compared among 224 sterilized women and 104 hormonal-contraceptive users of Hispanic origin, and the reasons for use or nonuse of condoms were examined. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: As compared with hormonal-contraceptive users, sterilized women were significantly less likely to have used condoms in the 3 months before the study or to have plans to use them in the future (P < 0.001). Despite similarities between various HIV-related characteristics of sterilized and nonsterilized women, the former group had significantly lower perceptions of being at risk for both HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Sterilized women were also more likely to have used condoms for the purposes of dual protection from pregnancy. The strongest correlates of consistent condom use by both sterilized and nonsterilized Hispanic women were their perceived susceptibility to disease, male partners' positive opinion about condoms, and the women's ability to use condoms in long-term relationships. Furthermore, the practice of concealing the use of a contraceptive from a male partner was not uncommon, although this characteristic was not related to increased dual-method use. CONCLUSIONS: Sterilized women may be at a higher risk of disease than hormonal-contraceptive users. Among Hispanics, women's perception of risk and male partners' influences predict whether the women protect themselves from pregnancy and disease simultaneously.

Condoms↗
PubMed2001

Acceptability of the female condom among sex workers in Thailand: results from a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The female condom may provide women with the first female-controlled barrier method that is effective against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection. GOAL: This study evaluated the acceptability of the female condom among sex workers in Thailand. STUDY DESIGN: Data on use and acceptability of the female condom were collected using a structured questionnaire during an 8-week follow-up. RESULTS: Analyses included 148 women who were still in follow-up at week 8. Sex workers used, on average, 2.8 female condoms per week. The overall satisfaction rate with the female condom was 68%, although, among users, 31% had difficulties in device insertion, 37% had pain from the inner ring, and 22% reported itching sensations. The main reason for using the female condom in the future was its perceived safety, and the main reason for not using it would be the client's refusal. CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of the sex workers were satisfied with the female condom. Difficulties at insertion, discomfort during use, and clients' attitude were potential obstacles to the use of the female condom in the future.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Administration of exogenous interleukin-2 abrogates spontaneous rat liver allograft acceptance but does not affect long-term established graft survival.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous tolerance to the orthotopic liver allograft uniformly occurs in the DA (RT1a) to PVG (RT1c) rat combination despite a fully allogeneic barrier. METHODS: To assess whether spontaneous acceptance might be the consequence of a T cell help deficit at the time of the first exposure of alloantigens to the host, we studied the effect of exogenous interleukin (IL)-2 injections at the time of liver transplantation and during long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Although spontaneous acceptance of the liver allograft constantly ensued in the DA to PVG combination, a daily injection of recombinant IL-2 (3 x 10(5) U) uniformly provoked acute cellular rejection of the liver allograft and consequently the death of animals by postoperative day 5-6. Simultaneous to the graft loss, hepatic enzymes (alanine aminotransferase) increased more than 50-fold in IL-2-treated recipients, whereas similar IL-2 treatment did not produce any hepatic dysfunction in syngeneic animals. By immunohistology, the expression of the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor, usually undetectable in untreated animals, was evident on CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes infiltrating the liver graft. In contrast, a similar IL-2 regimen and even higher IL-2 doses (x 10(6) U) did not abrogate the liver allograft survival during long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that spontaneous rat liver allograft acceptance may be abolished by exogenous IL-2 injections, which suggests that an "inherent T cell help deficit" might be implicated in the spontaneous acceptance mechanisms of DA to PVG liver allografts.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1998

Cross-species interaction of porcine and human integrins with their respective ligands: implications for xenogeneic tolerance induction.

BACKGROUND: Organ transplantation is limited by the number of available donors. One possible solution would be the use of pigs as organ donors. However, current immunosuppressive protocols cannot prevent rejection of these organs. If donor-specific tolerance toward porcine antigens could be induced in recipients, subsequent implantation of porcine organs would be possible without further immunosuppression. Induction of tolerance can be achieved with a bone marrow transplant if donor antigen-presenting cells successfully differentiate in the recipient thymus to induce deletion of donor-reactive host cells. Migration of porcine progenitor cells to the host marrow and thymus and differentiation into tolerance-inducing antigen-presenting cells is likely to require successful interaction of porcine adhesion molecules with human ligands. In this study, we investigated whether very late antigen (VLA)4 and VLA-6 integrins, which play important roles in homing and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells, function across the pig-to-human species barrier. METHODS: Static cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix protein adhesion assays were used to examine the cross-species interaction of porcine adhesion molecules with human ligands. RESULTS: Our studies show that porcine cells adhere to various human endothelial cell monolayers and extracellular matrix proteins and demonstrate that porcine VLA-4 and VLA-6 appear to be fully cross-reactive to the human ligands vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and laminin, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It is likely that porcine hematopoietic progenitor cells will be able to successfully employ pVLA-4- and pVLA-6-human ligand interactions in a pig-to-human bone marrow transplantation model in order to induce donor-specific tolerance.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Early nasogastric feeding in predicted severe acute pancreatitis: A clinical, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of early, nasogastric enteral nutrition (EN) with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in patients with predicted severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In SAP, the magnitude of the inflammatory response as well as increased intestinal permeability correlates with outcome. Enteral feeding has been suggested superior to parenteral feeding due to a proposed beneficial effect on the gut barrier. METHODS: Fifty patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized to TPN or EN groups. The nutritional regimen was started within 24 hours from admission and EN was provided through a nasogastric tube. The observation period was 10 days. Intestinal permeability was measured by excretion of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and concentrations of antiendotoxin core antibodies (Endocab). Interleukins (IL)-6 IL-8, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were used as markers of the systemic inflammatory response. Morbidity and feasibility of the nutritional route were evaluated by the frequency of complications, gastrointestinal symptoms, and abdominal pain. RESULTS: PEG, Endocab, CRP, IL-6, APACHE II score, severity according to the Atlanta classification (22 patients), and gastrointestinal symptoms or abdominal pain did not significantly differ between the groups. The incidence of hyperglycemia was significantly higher in TPN patients (21 of 26 vs. 7 of 23; P < 0.001). Total complications (25 vs. 52; P = 0.04) and pulmonary complications (10 vs. 21; P = 0.04) were significantly more frequent in EN patients, although complications were diagnosed dominantly within the first 3 days. CONCLUSION: In predicted SAP, nasogastric early EN was feasible and resulted in better control of blood glucose levels, although the overall early complication rate was higher in the EN group. No beneficial effects on intestinal permeability or the inflammatory response were seen by EN treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Xenogeneic thymus transplantation in a pig-to-baboon model.

BACKGROUND: We have tested whether fetal porcine thymic tissue transplantation can lead to tolerance across a discordant (pig-to-baboon) xenogeneic barrier. METHODS: Six baboons underwent a conditioning regimen with thymectomy, splenectomy, and anti-monkey CD3 antibody conjugated to a diphtheria toxin binding site mutant (FN18-CRM9). Porcine fetal or neonatal thymic tissue was transplanted into three baboons. Three control baboons received either no transplanted pig tissue (n=1) or adult pig lymph node (n=2). Cellular responses and skin xenografts were used to test for tolerance. RESULTS: After T-cell depletion and thymic transplantation, recovery of thymus-dependent naïve-type CD4 cells (CD4/CD45RA ) and in vitro xenogeneic hyporesponsiveness were observed. No sensitization of alpha-galactosyl antibody responses was observed. The thymic grafts survived up to 48 days. Porcine skin xenografts were performed in two of these animals with survival of 22 and 24 days. Only two of these animals were completely T-cell depleted, and both failed to recover thymus-dependent T cells (CD4/CD45RA ). In one animal, general in vitro hyporesponsiveness was observed, with subsequent death from infection. The second animal demonstrated delayed recovery of T cells and prolonged general hyporesponsiveness in vitro. Neither animal demonstrated prolongation of porcine skin grafts compared with allografts (both rejected by day 13). CONCLUSIONS: Porcine thymic tissue is able to induce xenogeneic hyporesponsiveness. More efficient thymic engraftment may allow this approach to induce xenograft tolerance.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Optimal static output feedback simultaneous regional pole placement.

The problem of optimal simultaneous regional pole placement for a collection of linear time-invariant systems via a single static output feedback controller is considered. The cost function to be minimized is a weighted sum of quadratic performance indices of the systems. The constrained region for each system can be the intersection of several open half-planes and/or open disks. This problem cannot be solved by the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach since it is a nonconvex optimization problem. Based on the barrier method, we instead solve an auxiliary minimization problem to obtain an approximate solution to the original constrained optimization problem. Moreover, solution algorithms are provided for finding the optimal solution. Furthermore, a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of admissible solutions to the simultaneous regional pole placement problem is derived. Finally, two examples are given for illustration.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Psychosocial problems and barriers to improved diabetes management: results of the Cross-National Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN) Study.

AIMS: To examine patient- and provider-reported psychosocial problems and barriers to effective self-care and resources for dealing with those barriers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using face-to-face or telephone interviews with diabetic patients and health-care providers in 13 countries in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Participants were randomly selected adults (n = 5104) with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, and providers (n = 3827), including primary care physicians, diabetes specialist physicians and nurses. RESULTS: Regimen adherence was poor, especially for diet and exercise; provider estimates of patient self-care were lower than patient reports for all behaviours. Diabetes-related worries were common among patients, and providers generally recognized these worries. Many patients (41%) had poor psychological well-being. Providers reported that most patients had psychological problems that affected diabetes self-care, yet providers often reported they did not have the resources to manage these problems, and few patients (10%) reported receiving psychological treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial problems appear to be common among diabetic patients worldwide. Addressing these problems may improve diabetes outcomes, but providers often lack critical resources for doing so, particularly skill, time and adequate referral sources.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Significance of smoking and detection of serum antibodies to cytomegalovirus in cervical dysplasia.

Cervical biopsy specimens from 422 women attending a colposcopy clinic showed various grades of dysplasia in 387 and no evidence of dysplasia in 35. Of the women with dysplasia (CIN I, II or III) 67% were smokers and 33% were non-smokers compared with 43% smokers and 57% non-smokers in those without evidence of dysplasia. Of the women with CIN I 56% were smokers and 44% were non-smokers; 66% of those with CIN II were smokers and 34% were non-smokers (P less than 0.02), and 71% of those with CIN III were smokers (P less than 0.01). There were no significant differences between the smokers and non-smokers in the proportion of women who had had either a miscarriage or an abortion, in the prevalence of condylomata acuminata, and the use of oral contraception or barrier methods. Neither were there any significant differences in numbers of patients seropositive for cytomegalovirus or in CMV antibody titres among the groups. The detection of koilocytic cells in cervical biopsies showed a significant difference between smoking and non-smoking groups which reflected a significant increase in koilocytosis in smokers with CIN III.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Mechanisms of tubulointerstitial injury in IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) runs a highly variable clinical course, with frequent involvement of tubulointerstitial damage. A subgroup of IgAN with severe tubulointerstitial damage is often associated with the most rapid progression to end-stage renal failure. In IgAN, mesangial sclerosis and tubulointerstitial damage were found to be correlated with the increase in pore size of the glomerular barrier. METHODS: The direct toxicity of proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) by IgA in IgAN is still unresolved. Activation of PTEC by mediators released from infiltrating cells or resident kidney cells that induce tubular inflammation is the common final pathway in most chronic renal diseases. We hypothesize that mediators released from human mesangial cells (HMC) triggered by IgA deposition may lead to PTEC activation. RESULTS: We found that IgA binding to PTEC was less than one tenth that of HMC. The binding was nonspecific and exhibited no increased cell proliferation or enhanced synthesis of cytokines or adhesion molecules. However, when PTEC were cultured with IgA-HMC spent medium prepared from IgAN patients, there was enhanced proliferation of PTEC and increased synthesis of cytokines and adhesion molecules. CONCLUSION: These findings implicate a glomerulotubular cross-talk with mediators released from the mesangium, contributing to the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial damage in IgAN. There are preliminary data to suggest that the expression of angiotensin II subtype-1 receptor and angiotensin II subtype-2 receptor in PTEC differs from that of HMC. These novel findings may provide clinicians new therapeutic approach for selective blockade of the tubulointerstitial injury in IgAN.

Glomerulonephritis, IGA↗
PubMed1993

Endocardial mapping of reentry around an anatomical barrier in the canine right atrium: observations during the action of the Class IC agent, flecainide.

INTRODUCTION: Flecainide is effective in terminating stable atrial flutter in the conscious dog with a Y-shaped right atrial lesion. In this model, flutter is due to circus movement of the impulse around a fixed anatomical barrier. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the mechanism of flecainide-induced termination of this type of reentry, we determined the pattern of endocardial activation of the right and left atria before and during administration of flecainide by recording simultaneously from 192 electrode pairs in the isolated blood perfused heart. At least five consecutive flutter beats were analyzed before and during flecainide for each of eight termination episodes in five hearts. In all, flecainide increased flutter cycle length (164 +/- 24 msec) by 89% to 309 +/- 77 msec (P < 0.05) before termination. Atrial refractory period and conduction time during paced beats were also increased by flecainide. In five episodes, termination was due to conduction block of the impulse at critical sites within the reentrant circuit (mode 1). Cycle length oscillations (+/- 30 msec) at sites proximal to site of block preceded termination in three of these episodes. In three other episodes, interruption of the original circuit occurred when there was failure of a lateral boundary, giving rise to an impulse that reset the original circuit (mode 2). In these episodes, long-short cycle length oscillations led to return reexcitation by the impulse within the primary path and subsequent termination. CONCLUSION: In summary, similar to our previous findings with the Class III agent, d-sotalol, two different modes of termination of atrial reentry were observed with flecainide.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A liquid film-forming acrylate for peri-wound protection: a systematic review and meta-analysis (3M Cavilon no-sting barrier film).

To undertake a systematic review of all reliable evaluations of the clinical performance and cost-effectiveness of a film-forming liquid acrylate in the protection of the chronic ulcer peri-wound skin. Results from searches were scrutinised by two reviewers to identify possible randomised controlled trials and full reports of these were obtained. Details of eligible studies were extracted and summarised independently by two reviewers using a data extraction sheet. Meta-analysis was used to combine the results of trials where the interventions and outcome measures were sufficiently similar. A total of nine eligible studies were identified. The review reveals that a liquid-film forming acrylate (Cavilon no-sting barrier film, 3M, Minneapolis, MN, USA) is a safe and effective skin barrier to protect the peri-wound area of chronic ulcers. There is no difference between the protective properties of different barrier methods that are used to protect the peri-wound skin around chronic ulcers. Compared with no treatment or a placebo, this liquid film-forming acrylate has a significant impact on the integrity of the peri-wound skin. In addition, it has significant benefits in terms of pain control and patient comfort, and its use may reduce nursing time.

Acrylates↗