A randomized trial of 5 versus 7 French guiding catheters for transfemoral percutaneous coronary stent implantation

Comparative studies between 5 French guiding catheter and others of larger size using the transfemoral approach to coronary stenting have not been described. Coronary stent implantation was performed in 90 patients in a randomized trial. The primary end-point was to compare the incidence of successful uncomplicated stent implantation per lesion with the 5F and 7F guiding catheters. Patients were excluded for excessive vessel tortuosity or anticipated need for equipment not fitting through a 5 catheter. Baseline characteristics and the use of direct stenting did not differ between the two groups. The primary success rate was 97.8% per patient in both groups and 98% per lesion in the 5 French and 97.9% in the 7 French. Guiding catheter change was necessary in 1 patient in each group to successfully complete the procedure in both groups. The amount of contrast used was 63 +/- 27.3 mL in the 5 French and 76 +/- 25 mL in the 7 French groups (P < 0.05). Vascular complications and blood transfusions occurred somewhat more frequently in the 7 French group (P = 0.058). The manual compression time after sheath removal was 5.1 +/- 2.0 min and 8.0 +/- 4.3 min, respectively, in the 5 and 7 French groups (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the 5 French guiding catheters showed a similar success rate with coronary stenting when compared to the 7 French, but the amount of contrast used and manual compression time after sheath removal, as well as the rate of vascular and bleeding complications, were reduced in the 5 French group.

Ultrastructural Analysis of Radicular Dentine Surface Submitted to CO(2) Laser at Different Parameters

Background: There are no reported studies comparing different parameter settings of the CO(2) laser and irradiation direction considering their effect on the morphology of radicular dentine surface. Purpose: To evaluate the alterations of radicular dentine (cervical, middle, and apical thirds) irradiated with CO(2) laser at different potencies and irradiation directions. Study Design: Roots of 35 canines were prepared and randomly distributed according to the laser potency: GI: no laser treatment (control) (n = 5); GII, 2 W (n = 10); GIII: 4 W (n = 10); GIV: 6 W (n = 10). Each group (excepting GI) was divided in two subgroups according to the irradiation distance (n = 5): (A) parallel and (B) perpendicular to the root canal walls. The roots were splited longitudinally and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy in a qualiquatitative way. The scores were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn`s tests. Results: No significant statistical differences were observed among root canal thirds (P > 0.05). The specimens irradiated with 2 W were statistically different (P < 0.05) from those irradiated with 4 and 6 W, which were statistically similar between themselves (P > 0.05). With 2, 4, and 6 W at in parallel irradiation and 2 W in perpendicular direction, the surface showed a fissured aspect. With 4 W in perpendicular direction and 6 W in parallel and perpendicular direction, surface was modified by laser action and exhibited fused areas. Conclusions: The intensity of the effects is dependent on the laser-irradiation dosimetries. Alterations were more intense when higher parameters were used. Microsc. Res. Tech. 72:737-743, 2009. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Synthesis of fluorinated 2-phenyl-4-quinolones from pyrrole-2,3-diones

A series of substituted 2-phenyl-4-quinolones 8-11 have been synthesized in good yields via ash vacuum thermolysis (FVT) of 1-aryl-4-cyano-5-phenylpyrrole-2,3-diones 7a-e and 1-aryl-4-methoxycarbonyl-5-phenylpyrrole-2,3-diones 7f-j. The pyrrolediones 7 were prepared from amines 3 and benzoylacetonitriles 5a-e or methyl 3-arylamino-3-phenylprop-2-enoates 5f-j.

A Novel Short-Step Synthesis of New Xanthenedione Derivatives from the Cyclization of 3-Cinnamoyl-2-styrylchromones

Novel (E)-3-aryl-4-benzylidene-8-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1 H-xanthene-1,9(2H)-diones are prepared by the cyclization of (E,E)-3-cinnamoyl-5-hydroxy-2-styrylchromones efficiently catalyzed with boron tribromide. The (E,E)-3-cinnamoyl-5-hydroxy-2-styrylchromones are obtained from the Baker–Venkataraman rearrangement of (E,E)-2-acetyl-1,3-phenylene bis(3-phenylacrylate), which is greatly improved under microwave irradiation.

Reversibility of cardiac fibrosis in mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, under specific chemotherapy

This investigation was performed to verify the effect of specific chemotherapy (Benznidazole or MK-346) on the inflammatory and fibrotic cardiac alterations in mice chronically infected with the strains 21 SF (Type II) and Colombian (Type III) of Trypanosoma cruzi. To obtain chronically infected mice, two groups of 100 Swiss mice each, were infected with either the 21 SF or the Colombian strain (2x 10 [raised to the power of] 4 and 5x 10 [raised to the power of] 4 blood forms respectively). The rate of morality in the acute phase was of 80% for both groups. Twenty surviving mice chronically infected with the 21 SF strain and 20 with the Colombian strain were then divided in treated and untreated groups. Excluding those that died during the course of treatment, 14 mice chronically infected with the 21 SF strain and 15 with the Colombian strain were evaluated in the present study. Chemotherapy was performed with Benznidazole (N-benzil-2-nitro-1-imidazolacetamide) in the dose of 100mg/k.b.w/day, for 60 days, or with the MK-436(3(1-methyl-5 nitroimidazol-2-yl) in two daily doses of 250 mg/k.b.w, for 20 days. Parasitological cure tests were performed (xenodiagnosis, haemoculture, subinovulation of the blood into newborn mice), and serological indirect immunofluorescence test. The treated and untreated mice as well as intact controls were killed at different periods after treatment and the heart were submitted to histopathological study with hematoxilineosin and picrosirius staining; ultrastructural study; collagen immunotyping, fibronectin and laminin identification by immunofluorescence tests. Results: the untreated controls either infected with 21 SF or Colombian strain, showed inflammatory and fibrotic alterations that were mild to moderate with the 21 SF strain and intense with the Colombian strain. Redpicrosirius staining showed bundles of collagen in the interstitial space and around cardiac fibers. Increased deposits of mitritial components and collagen fibers, macrophages and fibroblasts appeared at the ultra structural examination. Deposits of fibronectin, laminin, pro-III and IV collagens were seen, most intense in those infected with the Colombian strain. Treated nice, parasitologically cured, presented clear-cut regression of the inflammatory lesions and of the interstitial matrix thickening. Mice infected with the Colombian strain and treated with MK-436, was parasitologically cured in 5/6 cases and showed mild inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis. The mice treated with Benznidazole (Colombian strain) did not cure and showed moderate fibrosis and inflammation. Treatment of the nice infected with the 21 SF with Benznidazole determined parasitological cure of all animals, that showed mild inflammation and fibrosis of the myocardium. The cured mice of all groups and treated but uncured showed collagen degradation at electronmicroscopy and decrease of immunofluorescence pattern of the matrix.

Gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and 5-FU in advanced bile duct and gallbladder carcinoma: two parallel, multicentre phase-II trials.

BACKGROUND: Gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are active in biliary tract cancer and have a potentially synergistic mode of action and non-overlapping toxicity. The objective of these trials was to determine response, survival and toxicity separately in patients with bile duct cancer (BDC) and gallbladder cancer (GBC) treated with gemcitabine/oxaliplatin/5-FU chemotherapy. METHODS: Eligible patients with histologically proven, advanced or metastatic BDC (n=37) or GBC (n=35) were treated with gemcitabine (900 mg m(-2) over 30 min), oxaliplatin (65 mg m(-2)) and 5-FU (1500 mg m(-2) over 24 h) on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. Tumour response was the primary outcome measure. RESULTS: Response rates were 19% (95% CI: 6-32%) and 23% (95% CI: 9-37%) for BDC and GBC, respectively. Median survivals were 10.0 months (95% CI: 8.6-12.4) and 9.9 months (95% CI: 7.5-12.2) for BDC and GBC, respectively, and 1- and 2-year survival rates were 40 and 23% in BDC and 34 and 6% in GBC (intention-to-treat analysis). Major grade III and IV adverse events were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated bilirubin and anorexia. CONCLUSION: Triple-drug chemotherapy achieves comparable results for response and survival to previously reported regimens, but with more toxicity.

In vitro activity of thienyl-2-nitropropene compounds against Trypanosoma cruzi

The in vitro activity of four 2-nitropropene derivatives, 1-(3-benzothienyl)-2-nitropropene (N1), 1-(3-thienyl)-2-nitropropene (N2), 1-(5-bromo-2-thienyl)-2-nitropropene (N3) and 1-(4-bromo-2-thienyl)-2-nitropropene (N4), were tested against cultures of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Cytotoxicity studies were performed using Vero cells. The blood trypomastigotes, amastigotes and epimastigotes showed differential degrees of sensitivity towards the four tested compounds; the highest activity against the epimastigotes and blood tripomastigotes was exhibited by N1, followed by N3, N4 and finally N2. In contrast, whereas the compounds N1, N3 and N4 exerted similar magnitudes of activity against amastigotes, N2 was found to be a much less potent compound. According to our results, the compound N1 had the highest level of activity (IC50: 0.6 μM) against epimastigotes.

Akateemikko Lauri Posti 21/5 1975

Kirje 21.5.1975

Vuorineuvos Björn Westerlund 5/4 1975

Kirje 5.4.1975

Maisteri Aili Palmen 2/12 1974

Kirje 2.12.1974

Ellen Niemelä-Pylkkänen 5/4 1975

Kirje 5.4.1975

Suurlähettiläs Max Jakobson 2/3 1968

Kirje 2.3.1968

Toimitusjohtaja Tapani Tikanoja 11/5 1971

Kirje 11.5.1971