The efficacy of Augmentin in suppurative complications in neurosurgery]

The results of clinical and laboratory studies on the use of augmentin in severe purulent complications after neurosurgical operations are presented. The laboratory studies carried out with the use of an automatic system Cobas Bact (Roch) showed that the numbers of the augmentin resistant strains of Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae among the pathogens were 47 and an average of 64.5%, respectively. Gram-negative bacteria resistant to augmentin were 1.5 to 2 times less frequent than those resistant to amoxycillin. Still, they were much more frequent than those resistant to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone. Clinical efficacy of augmentin was studied in treatment of 39 patients with various affections of the brain such as tumors, trauma, vascular malformations and inflammatory processes. The postoperative complications were represented by meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis and their associations. The use of augmentin in the severe intra- and extracranial complications was favourable in 82.1% of the cases.     

Anatomic correction of transposition of the great vessels

We present a new approach for anatomic correction of transposition of the great arteries. The two coronary arteries, with a piece of the aortic wall attached, are transposed to the posterior artery. The two aortic openings are closed with a patch. The aorta and pulmonary artery are transected, contraposed, ant then anastomosed. The interventricular septal defect is closed with a patch, through a right ventriculotomy approach, because the right ventricle is no longer part of the systemic circulation. Two patients, aged 3 months and 40 days weighing 4,200 and 3,700 grams, respectively, were operated upon with deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest. There was good recovery from the operation, with normal cardiocirculatory conditions. Renal failure developed in the first patient, and she died on the third postoperative day. During this time the cardiocirculatory conditions were good. The second patient made an uneventful recovery. Hemodynamic studies 20 days after the operation showed complete correction of the malformation. Five and one-half months after the operation, he weighs 7,500 grams, and his development is very good. We believe that this operation will be reproducible by most cardiovascular septal defect and pulmonary hypertension.     

Development of lung tumors in BALB/c mice in chronic influenza infection and inhalation of metal-containing aerosols

Intensification of cocarcinogenic effect of chronic influenza infection (10 months after virus instillation) in BALB/c mice was obtained by polymetallic aerosol inhalation 5 or 6 months after infection. An increase of malignant neoplasms incidence was accompanied by a decrease of the cytoproliferative activity in the thymus and spleen. The immunopathogenic and cocarcinogenic effects were maximal when the aerosol treatment was carried out 6 months after infection.     

Plutonium anomalies in attic dust and soils at locations surrounding the Nevada Test Site

Attic dust and soil samples were collected during the Summer of 1996 and the Spring of 1997 in southern Nevada and southern Utah. Analysis of the samples for radiocesium and plutonium give activity ratios of radiocesium/plutonium that range from 0.7 +/- 0.1 to 27 +/- 2, well below the world-wide fallout ratio of 34 +/- 4 (as of 1 July 1997). This indicates anomalous plutonium throughout the region, including areas to the south of the Nevada Test Site (NTS), generally believed to have received only world-wide fallout. Safety tests and above-ground detonations that resulted in incomplete fission, conducted at the NTS during the 1950's and 1960's, are likely sources of this excess plutonium.