Ameliorative effect of lithium chloride on working and spatial memory deficit in a PTZ-induced seizure model

Background: The repetitive seizure attacks lead to widespread neuronal damage and cognitive deficit, e.g. memory and learning impairment. The single or repeated administration of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) can induce seizure in rat. This study evaluates the neuroprotective effect of lithium chloride (LiCl) on PTZ-induced working and spatial memory deficit. Materials and Methods: To induce the PTZ-kindling model, repeated doses of PTZ (40mg/kg/BW/ip) were injected for 5 consecutive days. After observing five stages of seizure, the PTZ+Li20, PTZ+Li40 and PTZ+Li80 groups received 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg/BW of LiCl, respectively and the PTZ+Saline group, received Saline for 14 days. The Morris water maze (MWM) and Y maze tests were conducted in order to investigate the spatial and working memory. Results: Compared to Control group, the PTZ+Saline group showed a decrease in alteration behavior in Y maze and an increase in latency time and distance to hidden platform in MWM. LiCl-treated rats, especially in the lowest dose, showed a significant higher alteration behavior in Y maze and the lower latency time and distance to hidden platform in MWM than the PTZ+Saline group. Conclusion: The neuroprotective effects of LiCl can ameliorate the spatial and working memory impairment in a PTZ-kindling model

Stellar populations in the outskirts of M31: The mid-infrared view

The mid-infrared provides a unique view of galaxy stellar populations, sensitive to both the integrated light of old, low-mass stars and to individual dusty mass-losing stars. We present results from an extended Spitzer/IRAC survey of M31 with total lengths of 6.6 and 4.4 degrees along the major and minor axes, respectively. The integrated surface brightness profile proves to be surprisingly difficult to trace in the outskirts of the galaxy, but we can also investigate the disk/halo transition via a star count profile, with careful correction for foreground and background contamination. Our point-source catalog allows us to report on mid-infrared properties of individual objects in the outskirts of M31, via cross-correlation with PAndAS, WISE, and other catalogs

Incidence and risk factors of sternal wound infection at site of incision after open-heart surgery

Objective: To identify the incidence of sternal wound infection and the risk factors before, during and after open-heart surgery in an Iranian critical care unit. Method:A descriptive, analytic study investigating all open-heart surgery patients from March 2010 to March 2011,in terms of the incidence of sternal wound infection and the risk factors before, during, and after surgery. Patients were examined for signs of infection at the site of surgical incision on presentation to the ward, daily during their stay, and on discharge. The same investigator reviewed all wounds, every day. Results:The incidence of sternal wound infection was found to be 10%. Multivariate regression analysis identified the following risk factors: diabetes (OR: 0.439; 95%CI: 0.21-0.95; p=0.04), age (OR: 1.033; 95%CI: 1.003-1.064; p=0.03), hyperlipidaemia (OR: 1.008; 95%CI: 1.005-1.011; p < 0.001), history of respiratory disorders (COPED] OR: 2.952; 95%CI: 1.3-6.4; p=0.007), female gender (OR: 2.06; 95%CI: 1.40-3.03; p < 0.008), and history of addiction to opiates (OR: 2.33; 95%CI: 1.56-3.49; p < 0.006). Conclusion: This study found a high rate of surgical sternal wound infection in open-heart surgery patients in an Iranian critical care unit, suggesting that the medical and care-giving team in the cardiac intensive care unit need further education

The study of harmful and beneficial drug interactions in intensive care, Kerman, Iran

Since multidrug therapy is common in the intensive care unit (ICU), the risk of drug interactions is high. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of drug interactions and risk factors in patients who were admitted to ICUs. In a crosssectional study, the medication flow sheet of 101 patients was investigated in terms of the number and the type of drug interactions. The Drug Interaction Facts reference text book (2010 edition) was used to determine the type and the number of drug interactions. In total, 609 potential drug interactions were found. The mean number of drug interactions per patient was 6.1 (SD=5.6). Of all observed drug interactions, 66.9 were classified as harmful and 33.1 beneficial. In terms of the nature of interactions, delayed, moderate, and possible were the most common types. The most frequent harmful interaction was between phenytoin and omeprazole (63 occasions). Critically ill patients are at a higher risk of drug interactions. Although 33.1 of the drug interactions were considered beneficial, medical teams should be awarethat even beneficial interactions can have undesirable side-effects in the critically ill. © The Intensive Care Society 2013