Early neonatal inflammation affects adult pain reactivity and anxiety related traits in mice: genetic background counts

Protracted or recurrent pain and inflammation in the early neonatal period may cause long-lasting changes in central neural function. However, more research is necessary to better characterize the long-term behavioral sequelae of such exposure in the neonatal period. Objectives: (1) to study whether timing of postnatal exposure to persistent inflammation alters responsiveness to thermal pain in the adult animal; (2) to assess whether animals experiencing early postnatal chronic inflammation display altered anxiety related behavior; (3) to study the importance of genetic background. Newborn mice (outbred strain, CD1 and F1 hybrid strain, B6C3F1) received an injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) or saline on either postnatal day 1 or 14 (PND1; PND14) into the left hind paw. Pain to radiant heat and anxiety were examined in 12-week-old adult animals. Adult baseline PWL was significantly decreased in CD1 mice exposed to CFA on PND 1 and 14 as compared to their saline treated counterparts. B6C3F1 mice exposed to CFA on PND14 showed markedly reduced baseline PWL compared to the PND14 saline group. Persistent inflammation experienced by B6C3F1 mice on PND1 failed to affect baseline adult thermal responsiveness. Adult mice, CD1 and B6C3F1, displayed low anxiety traits only if they had been exposed to persistent inflammation on PND1 and not on PND14. Our research suggests a role for genetic background in modulating long-term behavioral consequences of neonatal persistent inflammation: the data support the hypothesis that pain experienced very early in life differentially affects adult behavioral and emotional responsiveness in outbred (CD1) and hybrid mice (B6C3F1).     

Cefotetan versus piperacillin in the prophylaxis of abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy: a prospective randomized study

A prospective randomized study was carried out on a total of 686 patients who underwent vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy. Of these, 338 were given prophylactic cefotetan (2 g) and 348 piperacillin (2 g). Both drugs were administered as i.v. bolus 30 min before operation. Findings confirm the higher risk of infection with abdominal hysterectomy and the advantages of the long half-life cephalosporin, cefotetan.     

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint successfully treated with arthroscopic lysis and lavage: case report and review of the literature.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is infrequently reported. We present a case of septic arthritis of the TMJ following the extraction of the left upper second molar that occurred 1 week before beginning of symptoms. No evident predisposing factors were detected. Arthroscopic diagnosis of septic arthritis, lysis and lavage, and capsular stretch were performed. Cultures taken from the TMJ space grew Streptococcus sp. After 1 month of antimicrobial therapy the patient was asymptomatic and mandibular function was normal. Literature related to septic arthritis of TMJ and its treatment was reviewed. Different surgical procedures are available to treat this condition. Arthroscopy should be preferred as initial treatment on account of the possibility of drainage and accurate lavage under direct visualization of joint space, at the same time allowing confirmation of diagnostic hypotheses. Improving joint mobility with lysis of adhesions and capsular stretch in an early stage of disease may be helpful in stopping the fibrosis process.     

Mitozolomide activity on human cancer cells in vitro

The growth inhibitory effects, the reduction of [3H]-TdR incorporation and the perturbation of the cell cycle induced by the new agent mitozolomide on the M14 human melanoma cell line and on the SW626 human ovarian cancer cell line were compared to those produced by BCNU. Flow cytometry showed an interesting difference: at the high concentration mitozolomide induced an accumulation of cells in S middle and S late-G2-M phase of the cell cycle whereas BCNU caused only a block in S late-G2-M. Further studies were aimed at investigating the susceptibility of freshly isolated human ovarian cancer cells to pharmacologically reasonable mitozolomide concentrations. Only in one out of 16 primary cultures of human ovarian cancers was mitozolomide able to induce cell cycle perturbation, suggesting that ovarian carcinoma cells may not be sensitive to this drug.