Scanning electron microscopy observations of nasal mucosa in patients affected by retinitis pigmentosa

A controlled study of the ciliated epithelium of olfactory lnucosa was perfornled on 25 patients affected by retinitis pigmentosa and in 5 healthy sul3jects. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed a bignificant lack of ciliated epithelia1 cells. These cells probably represent undifferentiated ciliated cells. These morphological alterations of the olfactory mucosn might correspond to similar changes in the outer segment of retinal photoreceptors in rctinitis pigmentosa

Outcome in patients having salvage coronary artery bypass grafting

Salvage coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is often performed for cardiogenic shock on compassionate basis without clinical data justifying this aggressive approach. The aim of this study was to analyze early and intermediate outcomes after salvage CABG. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 85 patients who underwent salvage CABG at 11 European cardiac surgery centers. Salvage CABG was defined according to the EuroSCORE criteria, that is, a procedure performed in patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (external cardiac massage) en route to the operating theater or before induction of anesthesia. A percutaneous coronary intervention procedure preceded salvage CABG in 55 patients (64.7%). Thirty patients (35.3%) died during the inhospital stay. The mean EuroSCORE II was 32.0% and the observed-to-expected ratio was 1.08. Salvage CABG was associated with high rates of postoperative stroke (9.4%), resternotomy for bleeding (23.5%), resternotomy for hemodynamic instability (15.3%), dialysis (18.8%), severe gastrointestinal complications (12.9%), and deep sternal wound infection (10.6%). Survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 58.6%, 49.8%, and 40.9%, respectively. Twenty patients (23.5%) were postoperatively treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The rates of adverse events after ECMO were particularly high (stroke 40%, resternotomy for bleeding 60%, dialysis 35%, gastrointestinal complications 30%, and deep sternal wound infection 30%). Of patients treated with ECMO, 8 (40%) survived to discharge, and 1-year survival was 29.2%. Salvage CABG is associated with high risk of immediate mortality and severe adverse events. However, the observed immediate and intermediate outcome justify coronary surgery in these critically ill patients. A number of these patients are currently treated by ECMO, and its results are encouraging

Nitrogênio e enxofre em características produtivas do capim-braquiária proveniente de área de pastagem em degradação Nitrogen and sulphur for productive characteristics of signalgrass from degrading pasture area

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de combinações de doses de N com as de S para as características produtivas do capim-braquiária (Brachiaria decumbens), coletado em cilindros com plantas + solo em uma pastagem em degradação em área de Neossolo Quartzarênico. O experimento foi conduzido em casa-de-vegetação, no período de novembro de 2003 a março de 2004. Foram utilizadas cinco doses de N (0; 100; 200; 300 e 400 mg/dm³) e cinco doses de S (0; 10; 20; 30 e 40 mg/dm³), combinadas em estudo de superfície de resposta baseado em desenho experimental composto central modificado de um fatorial 5² fracionado. Realizaram-se três cortes nas plantas, em intervalos de 30 dias. As doses de N e de S foram determinantes para o número de perfilhos, produção de massa seca das lâminas foliares e dos colmos mais bainhas no primeiro crescimento da gramínea e para a relação folha:colmo no segundo crescimento. A adubação com N teve efeito isolado no número de perfilhos e na produção de massa seca das lâminas foliares e dos colmos mais bainhas no segundo e no terceiro crescimentos. O número de folhas foi influenciado pelas doses de N e de S de forma isolada, no primeiro crescimento, e pelas doses de N no segundo e no terceiro crescimentos. As relações entre as doses de N e as de S para obtenção das máximas produções de massa seca foram, de maneira geral, em torno de 10:1. A aplicação, principalmente de N mas também de S, influenciou as características produtivas do capim-braquiária e conseqüentemente a sua recuperação.<br>The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of combined rates of N and S on signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens) productive characteristics. This grass was collected in cylinders with soil + plants in a degrading pasture established in an Entisol. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, at Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, from November 2003 to March 2004. Five rates of N (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/dm³) were combined with five rates of S (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/dm³) in a fractionated 5² factorial, based on a central composite design. Plants were harvested following three periods of 30 days growth. The combination between N and S rates affected the number of tillers, dry matter yield of leaf blade and stems plus sheaths at the first harvest and the leaf blade: stems plus sheaths ratio at the second harvest. Nitrogen rates had effects on the number of tillers and on dry matter yield of leaf blade and stems plus sheaths at the second and third harvests. At the first growth, the leaf number of the grass was changed by both N and S rates, and by N rates at the second and third growths. Maximum dry matter yields were reached when N and S rates were applied at about 10:1 ratio. The application of mainly N, but also of S, affected the productive characteristics of signalgrass, and its recovery