Glaucoma as a disease of whole body

The authors correlated the aeroions variations in January, February and March 1963 with urinary 17-KS variations in 5 adult subjects. The results revealed that the excess of positive aeroions induced an increase of the urinary 17-KS eliminations, whereas the excess of negative aeroions induced a decrease.     

Response of the body to a combination of severe cranio-cerebral trauma and acute massive blood loss

It was shown in acute experiments on 54 dogs that peculiarities of body reaction to the combination of a severe craniocerebral trauma with acute blood loss depended on the sequency of the extreme influences inflication. The craniocerebal trauma inflicted at the early period of hemorrhagic shock failed to influence significantly the dynamics and results of the main pathological process. Against the background of the craniocerebral trauma hemorrhagic shock appeared with a much less blood loss and its course was more severe.     

Use of a tincture of birch buds for treating suppurative wounds

The treatment of purulent wounds with 20% tincture of birch buds in 70% alcohol was performed on 108 patients (83 patients had superficial wounds, 10--deep wounds, 15--cavitary wounds). Good results were obtained after using the birch buds tincture in all the patients, including patients with antibiotic-resistant microbial flora.     

Extracellular calmodulin-binding proteins in body fluids of animals

We aimed to audit nosological inaccuracies in death certification in Northern Ireland and to compare performance of hospital doctors and general practitioners. Nosology is the branch of medicine which treats of the classification of disease. 1138 deaths were registered in Northern Ireland in a 4-week period commencing 3/10/94. 195 of these were either registered by HM Coroners (HMC) or required further investigation by their staff; these cases were excluded from the study. The remaining 943 were analysed for wording and formulation inaccuracies according to the revised notes (1974), Northern Ireland Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. These are issued in book form by the Registrar of Births and Deaths. The commonest inaccuracies in death certification occur in the areas of poor terminology, sequence errors and unqualified mode. One or more inaccuracies were found in 317 (33.6%) of cases. In 13 of these (4%) cases, the inaccuracies were serious enough to warrant referral by the Registrar of Deaths to HM Coroner. The numbers of general practitioners and hospital doctors were recorded, with general practitioners being responsible for 122 (38%) and hospital doctors being responsible for 195 (62%) of inaccuracies.     

Induction of whole body hyperthemia with venovenous perfusion

Primary aldosteronism is associated with low plasma renin levels, whilst malignant phase hypertension is generally associated with raised renin activity. These two conditions are therefore at opposite ends of the renin spectrum, so in theory their co-existence would be unusual. We describe in detail 3 cases of primary hyperaldosteronism from a disease register of 315 cases of malignant hypertension seen in one medical centre over 29 years.     

Effectiveness of collagen-gentamicin implant for treatment of "dirty" abdominal wounds

The purpose of this work was to compare the efficacy and safety of the collagen-gentamicin sponge with conventional treatment (wound open, maintaining a close observation, and cleaning it daily with antiseptics) for the prophylaxis of infection in "dirty" abdominal wounds. Seventy-three patients with dirty abdominal wounds caused by gastrointestinal tract surgery were studied. The patients were randomized in two groups: group A, open wounds, treated with local cleansing, metronidazole 20 to 40 mg/kg/day IV and gentamicin 5 mg/kg/day IV for 7 days. Group B, primary closure with collagen-gentamicin implant plus metronidazole 20 to 40 mg/kg/day IV for 7 days. Surgical wound infections were significantly reduced by the collagen-gentamicin implant. Polymicrobial infections were observed in group A, whereas the infections were caused only by a single organism in group B. In conclusion, the collagen-gentamicin implant is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of "dirty" surgical abdominal wounds because it significantly reduces the wound infection rate (p < 0.01) and shortens healing time (p < 0.001) and the period of disability.     

Cataract extraction as a means of treating postfiltration hypotony maculopathy

A 13-year-old warmblood mare was presented because of progressive weight loss, general weakness and trembling. On examination the horse stood with its head lowered and the limbs placed under the body. On lifting its head spasms of the neck muscles could be observed. At the same time the horse developed trembling over the lower neck and muscle fasciculations continued over the whole body. Additional signs included frequent recumbency, polyphagia and facial hyperaesthesia. The horse showed no signs of ataxia. Haematology was normal. Blood biochemistry revealed slight increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST: 1060 U/I) and creatine kinase levels (CK: 441 U/I). Based on the clinical findings equine motor neuron disease was diagnosed. The horse was euthanatized due to poor prognosis and the progression of symptoms. The typical neurodegenerative changes found on histological examination of the spinal cord confirmed the diagnosis.     

Effect of cholinesterase inhibitor malathion on whole body irradiated rats

Under physiological conditions, erythrocytes of the horse metabolized 638 +/- 37 (+/-SE) nmoles glucose/ml cells/hr at 37 degrees C compared to 942 +/- 31 for the cat, 1,329 +/- 44 for the dog, and 1,485 +/- 43 for man. On an absolute basis, pentose phosphate metabolism was similar between species, with species differences in erythrocyte glucose tulization attributable to differences in Embden-Meyerhof pathway metabolism. By examining pentose phosphate pathway recycling, it appears that some functional compartmentation exists within erythrocytes.     

Effectiveness of combined use of verapamil and adenosine triphosphate in experimental animals

A wide application of ATP to abolish reciprocal paroxysmal tachycardia is limited by frequent and adverse effects of the drug. Experiments on 49 rats have revealed that successive intravenous injections of verapamil and ATP have a more pronounced and prolonged action than the drugs alone. It is assumed that decreased pacemaker activity of sinus nodal cells and reduced atrioventricular conduction ("binodal dysfunction") are as a result of drug calcium channel block in the cellular membranes of myocytes. Potentiation of the pharmacological action of the drugs in question may be used in the clinical setting to lower an ATP dose and to reduce the incidence of adverse effects.     

Control of whole body balance in the frontal plane during human walking

A whole-body inverted pendulum model was used to investigate the control of balance and posture in the frontal plane during human walking. The model assessed the effects of net joint moments, joint accelerations and gravitational forces acting about the supporting foot and hip. Three video cameras and two force platforms were used to collect kinematic and kinetic data from repeat trials on four subjects during natural walking. An inverse solution was used to calculate net joint moments and powers. Whole body balance was ensured by the centre of mass (CM) passing medial to the supporting foot, thus creating a continual state of dynamic imbalance towards the centerline of the plane of progression. The medial acceleration of the CM was primarily generated by a gravitational moment about the supporting foot, whose magnitude was established at initial contact by the lateral placement of the new supporting foot relative to the horizontal location of the CM. Balance of the trunk and swing leg about the supporting hip was maintained by an active hip abduction moment, which recognized the contribution of the passive accelerational moment, and countered a large destabilizing gravitational moment. Posture of the upper trunk was regulated by the spinal lateral flexors. Interactions between the supporting foot and hip musculature to permit variability in strategies used to maintain balance were identified. Possible control strategies and muscle activation synergies are discussed.