In conclusion, intrathecal injections of Class I antiarrhythmic drugs produced a dose-related spinal anesthetic effect. These drugs may be potential candidates for developing new local anesthetics. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objectives:

Rib fractures are a frequent traumatic injury associated with a relatively high morbidity. Currently, the treatment of rib fractures is symptomatic. Since it has been reported that pulsed ultrasounds accelerates repair of limb fractures, we hypothesized that the application of pulsed ultrasounds will modify the course of healing in an animal model of rib fracture.

Methods: Z-VAD-FMK manufacturer We studied 136 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were

randomly assigned to different selleck groups of doses (none, 50, 100, and 250 mW/cm(2) of intensity for 3 minutes per day) and durations (2, 10, 20, and 28 days) of treatment with pulsed ultrasounds. In every subgroup, we analyzed radiologic and histologic changes in the bone callus. In addition, we examined changes in gene expression of relevant genes involved in wound repair in both control and treated animals.

Results: Histologic and radiologic consolidation was significantly increased by pulsed ultrasound treatment when applied for more than 10 days. The application of 50 mW/cm(2) was the most effective dose. Only the 100 and 250 mW/cm(2) doses were able to significantly increase messenger RNA expression of insulin-like growth factor 1, suppressor of cytokine signaling-2 and -3, and vascular endothelial growth factor and decrease monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and collagen type II-alpha 1.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that pulsed ultrasound accelerates the consolidation of rib fractures. This study is the

first to show that pulsed ultrasound promotes the healing of rib fractures. From a translational point of view, this easy, cheap technique could serve as an effective new therapeutic modality in patients with rib fractures. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2011;141:1253-8)”
“BACKGROUND

A large outbreak of the hemolytic-uremic syndrome caused by Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 occurred in Germany in May 2011. The source of infection was undetermined.

METHODS

We conducted a matched case-control study and a see more recipe-based restaurant cohort study, along with environmental, trace-back, and trace-forward investigations, to determine the source of infection.

RESULTS

The case-control study included 26 case subjects with the hemolytic-uremic syndrome and 81 control subjects. The outbreak of illness was associated with sprout consumption in univariable analysis (matched odds ratio, 5.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 29) and with sprout and cucumber consumption in multivariable analysis. Among case subjects, 25% reported having eaten sprouts, and 88% reported having eaten cucumbers.