Angiology
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Sodium tetradecyl sulfate is a sclerosing agent that has been widely used to treat varicose veins of the legs and digestive tract. Despite the multitude of side-effects of sclerotherapy procedures and sclerosing-drug administration, the medical literature reports only on a few cases of life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions resulting from sodium tetradecyl sulfate therapy. A case is reported of a 49-year-old woman who developed anaphylactoid reaction after the administration of the Fibro-vein for varicose veins in the legs. Attention is drawn to this adverse event and underlines the necessity for potential hypersensitivity assessment before the drug application.
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Alterations in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are implicated in ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Changes in the 3 NOS isoforms in human skeletal muscle subjected to acute ischemia and reperfusion were studied. Muscle biopsies were taken from patients undergoing total knee replacement. ⋯ No changes in NOS II/inducible NOS expression or NOS activity occurred. In conclusion, alterations in NOS I and III (neuronal NOS and endothelial NOS) at different levels occurred after acute ischemia and reperfusion in human skeletal muscle; however, this did not result in increased NOS activity. In the development of therapeutic agents based on manipulation of the NO pathway, targeting the appropriate NOS isoenzymes may be important.
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Myocardial injury caused by blunt chest trauma has been recognized with increased frequency over the past 2 decades. Increased awareness by physicians and the increased use of various clinical and laboratory diagnostic modalities have contributed to this recognition. Injuries range from inconsequential to catastrophic and can affect any or all areas of the heart: pericardium, myocardium, coronary arteries and veins, chordae, papillary muscles, valves, and great vessels. ⋯ It is important to assess and classify properly the extent of the trauma and its prognostication as to the possibility of residual sequelae. A proposed classification is presented that has both medical and legal application. The uses of stages 0 (suspect), I (mild), II (moderate), III (severe), and IV (catastrophic) are illustrated in detail.