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Biomedical subjects

D Brănişteanu

Publications and source records attributed to D Brănişteanu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Efficiency of air tamponade in prevention of early recurrence of vitreal hemorrhage in diabetic patients with vitrectomy].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of air endo-tamponade in preventing early recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage in diabetic vitrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, consecutive, interventional, non-randomized study including 40 eyes (from 40 patients) with persistent or recurrent vitreous hemorrhage related to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. At the end of vitrectomy 20 cases (study group) were assigned to complete fluid--air exchange while the other 20 cases (control group) were left with BSS Plus. RESULTS: Early postoperative bleeding occurred in 9 out of 40 cases--22.5% (3 cases from the study group--15% and 6 cases from the control group--30%, p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in visual acuity, intraocular pressure or incidence of late-onset hemorrhage recurrence between both groups during 6-month postoperative follow-up. In the study group there was a higher rate of lens opacities appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Air endo-tamponade seems a simple and efficient way of preventing early recurrence of vitreous hemorrhage in diabetic vitrectomy. Higher rate of lens opacities appearance may counteract this advantage thus this technique could be safely and electively used in pseudophakic patients.

Adult↗

[Intra- and postoperative use of 5-fluorouracil in the surgical treatment of refractory glaucoma].

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the safety and efficiency of various modalities of 5-FU administration in the surgery of refractory glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A prospective, randomized study including 36 patients with refractory glaucoma who received 5-FU in the following protocols: group A (10 patients)--intraoperative application of 50 mg 5-FU, group B (12 patients)--postoperative subconjunctival injections of 5 mg 5-FU, group C (14 patients)--intra and postoperative administration of 5-FU. Mean follow-up interval is 6 months. RESULTS: Last controlled intraocular pressure is lower in C group patients (13.92 mmHg) versus group A and group B patients (< or = 15.7 mmHg). The real therapeutic success rate (intraocular pressure < or = 15 mmHg) and the qualified success rate (intraocular pressure < or = 21 mmHg) are higher in group C (85.7% and 92.8% respectively) as compared with group A and group B (50% and 82% respectively). The rate of side-effects in highest in group B and lowest in group C. CONCLUSIONS: Association of intra and postoperative use of 5-FU in refractory glaucoma increases the rate of therapeutic success and a lower incidence of side-effects.

Antimetabolites↗

Evidence for the involvement of cerebral renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in stress analgesia.

Studies concerning variations of the central renin-angiotensin system (RAS) during immobilization stress in rats have shown a significant increase in renin-like activity in the hypothalamus and fronto-parietal cortex, together with a definite decrease in the hypophysis and pineal gland. The resultant stress analgesia is blocked by the previous administration of naloxone and saralasin (angiotensin II antagonist). The intracerebral administration of renin and angiotensin II produces an increase in latencies to thermoalgesic stimuli; this is reduced, as is immobilization stress, by naloxone and saralasin. Both chemical hypophysectomy obtained by dexamethasone pretreatment as well as surgical epiphysectomy block the stress-induced analgesia. The experimental data obtained argue in favour of the participation of the cerebral RAS in stress analgesia through the indirect mechanism of release of opioid peptides.

Analgesia↗

A renin-like activity in pineal gland and hypophysis.

Using Boucher micromethod for determining renin activity in the rat pineal gland and hypophysis tissues, before and after NaCl 10% i.v. administration, the normal rats showed an average value of 96.8 +/- 21 ng Ang/g/h at the hypophysis level, and 325 +/- 66 ng Ang/g/h in epiphysis. In rats previously treated with 1--1.5 ml. NaCl 10% i.v., a more reduced renin-like activity was found both in hypophysis and epiphysis, that is 36.5 +/- 13 ng Ang/g/h and 144.5 +/- 38 Ang/g/h, respectively. In keeping with the previous data regarding the drinking and ADH-releasing effects of angiotensin, the obtained results plead for a possible participation of the cerebral glandular tissue renin in the self-regulating of the hydroelectrolytic balance.

Animals↗

[Oxidative stress in bronchial asthma].

Oxidative stress occurs when the antioxidative defence mechanism of the body are surpassed by the intra- and/or extracellular presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS were involved in the etiopathogenesis of many disorders, but it is difficult to discern whether their role is decisive--as in the production of atherosclerosis--or only aggravating, as an intermediate link, this being the case in neoplasms. Today, the participation of ROS in the progression of some respiratory diseases, such as bronchial asthma, is considered essential. Thus, since the first description of asthma by Aretaeus of Cappadocia, a huge leap in the understanding of this disease was recorded, this condition being nowadays considered a chronic inflammatory disorders with the participation of oxidative stress. For ascertaining the share of oxidative stress in the determinism of this disease and the efficacy of antioxidants on its course further investigations are needed.

Asthma↗

[The blood enzymatic antioxidative potential in bronchial asthma patients].

This study aims at assessing the ability of asthma patients to defend themselves against the noxious effects of oxidative stress, known being the inflammatory nature of this disorder. As the anti-radical defence ability of the body is reflected by the antioxidative potential of blood and tissues, our study was based on the determination of the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and CAT/SOD and GPx/SOD ratios in the blood. Except for SOD, the activity of which was lower in asthma patients by -34.08%, CAT and GPx had values increased by +32.18%, respectively, with a resulting increase of CAT/SOD and GPx/SOD ratios. Our data, demonstrating a change in per-oxidants/antioxidants balance in favour of the first ones, seem to suggest that in the treatment of bronchial asthma the association of some compounds with antioxidants effects would be beneficial.

Adult↗

Histological aspects of the pulmonary territory as seen in an experimentally ovalbumin induced inflammation in guinea pigs.

The microscopic morphology of the respiratory territory was investigated on sections of pulmonary tissue and bronchioalveolar lavage liquid (BAL) that were stained with Giemsa, PAS and trichrome solutions. As a result of the induced pathological conditions, the following histological images were encountered: normal histological aspect of the bronchoalveolar territory was seen in the groups nebulized with 0.9% NaCl or sensitized after i.p. administration of ovalbumin (OA); macrophage cells influx in both tissue samples and BAL in animals nebulized with OA; after sensitization with OA followed by nebulization with OA, the same sequence of events as in atopical asthma was reproduced, including loss of epithelial structure and the appearance of mast cells and basophils in the alveolar territory. Hydrocortisone hemisuccinate, used to treat asthma attacks, causes a similar histological aspect as in the untreated group. Cells with intact basophilic granules were seen in the hypersensitized group under ketotiphen protection.

Animals↗

[Medical treatment in diabetic retinopathy].

Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness worldwide with an expected increasing incidence. Tight blood sugar and blood pressure control have proven essential in preventing both appearance and evolution of retinopathy. Surgical treatments as laser therapy and vitrectomy have also been proved highly effective in preventing major visual loss in advanced stages of retinopathy. Continuous scientific research is leading to a better understanding of pathogenesis of the disease and thus an effective medical treatment is expected in both preventing and treating different stages of diabetic retinopathy. In this update we review ongoing clinical trials and also the knowledge from finalized clinical trials that were testing the clinical impact of experimental treatments or known therapies.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Modulatory effects of adenosine upon the transmitter release in the hippocampal slice preparation of rats.

In the hippocampal slice preparation of rats, preloaded with 3H-glutamate a local perfusion technique was used in order to measure the labelled transmitter output. The electrical receptive stimulation of the Schaffer collateral-commissural projections resulted in a detectable 3H-glutamate release which was significantly increased in the presence of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Exogenous adenosine and its analogue L-PIA induced a slight unsignificant reduction of the release while in the presence of 4-AP the release was almost completely blocked. Adding adenosine deaminase (ADA) did not change the normal transmitter release while in the presence of 4-AP the elimination of the endogenous adenosine brought about a significantly higher 3H-glutamate output. It is concluded that the adenosine-induced presynaptic inhibition of the transmitter release could be a significant mechanism under conditions in which the synaptic activity is abnormally high. This effect seems to be mediated via the A1 adenosine receptor since the D-PIA isomer application has no significant inhibitory effects.

4-Aminopyridine↗

[The surgical results in traumatic cataract].

The retrospective analysis of the postoperative course in 204 traumatic cataracts (140 isolated, simple cataracts and 64 aggravated ones) showed an apparent functional improvement in the simple cases (preoperative and postoperative visual acuity 0.0139 and 0.8520, respectively); the incidence of postoperative detachment of retina was of 4.9%, that of postoperative endophthalmitis that of cystoid macular edema of 3.2%; complications more commonly occurred in aggravated traumatic cataracts and partially accounted for the poorer functional results. During the investigated interval (1988-1992) a rapid shift to extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber lens implants was made. The crystalline grafts preserved binocular vision in 92% of the cases and contact lens in 50% of the cases. Lens implant remains a matchless solution for the visual rehabilitation of the patients with aphakia.

Cataract↗