Comparative data on the use of a cryosupernatant and fresh-frozen plasma in the therapy of a protracted infectious-septic syndrome of disseminated intravascular coagulation

AIM: To compare therapeutic effectiveness of cryosupernatant plasma fraction (CSP) and fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) in long-term infectious-septic DIC syndrome arising in acute abscess and gangrene of the lung. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 106 and 131 patients with infectious-septic DIC syndrome were treated with CSP and FFP, respectively. The results of the treatment were compared clinically and hemotopogically. RESULTS: Clinical response to both treatments was evident from positive changes in XIIa-dependent fibrinolysis, lowering of fibrinogen level and enhanced activity of antithrombin III. CSP treatment brought about a decrease in the number of thromboses, lethal cases, unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSION: The cryosupernatant can be used instead of fresh-frozen plasma in combined treatment of long-standing infectious-septic DIC syndrome.     

Normal variants and pitfalls in magnetic resonance imaging of the ankle and foot

Distinction of normal from disease is one of the principal tenets in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) interpretation of the foot and ankle. Therefore, familiarity with normal anatomic variants and pitfalls in the foot and ankle is crucial for accurate diagnostic analysis of MR images. This article will focus on outlining variants and MRI interpretation pitfalls of the tendons, muscles, bones, ligaments, and other miscellaneous structures of the foot and ankle.     

Effects of dachengqi decoction and rhubarb on cellular electrical activities in smooth muscle of the guinea-pig taenia coli

The effects of Dachengqi decoction (DCQ) and Rhubarb (Rb) on spontaneous cellular electrical activities of guinea-pig's taenia coli has been studied by intracellular microelectrode technique. DCQ and Rb could both improve depolarization of cell membrane, speed up the burst of slow wave potential (when drug concentration was 1%, P > 0.05; 10% or 20%, P < 0.05), which was dose dependent. At the same concentration, the effects of Rb were more significant than that of DCQ. These results suggested that DCQ and Rb enhanced directly the cellular electrical excitability so as to strengthen the contraction of colon, is one of the mechanisms of these drugs in cellular level on diarrhea action. The ionic basis of the effects might be that DCQ and Rb reduced the K+conductance of cell membrane in rest state.     

Cerebellar mutism with subsequent dysarthria in an adult: case report

AIM: To establish whether infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) contributed to the development of coronary artery lesions in a six year old child with an aneurysm and stenoses of the coronary arteries and suspected Kawasaki disease. METHODS: Postmortem paraffin wax sections of the coronary artery and myocardium were examined by in situ hybridisation for expression of EBER-1 (EBV-encoded RNA-1). Positive controls consisted of an EBV positive case of Hodgkin disease and a case of posttransplantation lymphoma. RESULTS: No EBER-1 positive cells were identified in either myocardium or walls of the coronary artery. CONCLUSIONS: Although EBV has been implicated in the aetiology of Kawasaki disease and development of coronary artery lesions, this process was not confirmed in this patient. It is likely that an unusual immunological reaction to a primary EBV infection with suspected deregulation of T helper cell activity leads to severe coronary artery damage in early childhood.