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To study short and long-term effects of acute ocular hypertension (AOHT) on inner and outer retinal layers, in adult Sprague-Dawley rats AOHT (87mmHg) was induced for 90min and the retinas were examined longitudinally in vivo with electroretinogram (ERG) recordings and optical coherent tomography (OCT) from 1 to 90 days (d). Ex vivo, the retinas were analyzed for rod (RBC) and cone (CBC) bipolar cells, with antibodies against protein kinase Cα and recoverin, respectively in cross sections, and for cones, horizontal (HZ) and ganglion (RGC) cells with antibodies against arrestin, calbindin and Brn3a, respectively in wholemounts. The inner retina thinned progressively up to 7d with no further changes, while the external retina had a normal thickness until 30d, with a 20% thinning between 30 and 90d. Functionally, the a-wave showed an initial reduction by 24h and a further reduction from 30 to 90d. All other main ERG waves were significantly reduced by 1d without significant recovery by 90d. Radial sections showed a normal population of RBCs but their terminals were reduced. The CBCs showed a progressive decrease with a loss of 56% by 30d. In wholemount retinas, RGCs diminished to 40% by 3d and to 16% by 30d without further loss. Cones diminished to 58% and 35% by 3 and 7d, respectively and further decreased between 30 and 90d. HZs showed normal values throughout the study. In conclusion, AOHT affects both the inner and outer retina, with a more pronounced degeneration of the cone than the rod pathway.

The perfusion index (PI), calculated from the photoplethysmographic waveform, reflects peripheral vasomotor tone. As such, the PI serves as a surrogate for quantitative measures of drug-induced vasoconstriction or vasodilation. This study aimed to compare the effect on the PI of desflurane and sevoflurane at equi-anaesthetic concentrations in patients undergoing single-agent inhalation anaesthesia, where equi-anaesthetic dose was based on the known minimum alveolar concentration of these agents.

We randomly allocated patients scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery to receive either desflurane or sevoflurane general anaesthesia after target-controlled induction of anaesthesia with propofol. Anaesthesia was maintained at age-corrected minimum alveolar concentration 1.0, under neuromuscular block (rocuronium). The PI and haemodynamic data were recorded every minute for 35 min after induction of anaesthesia and after standardised nociceptive stimulation. The primary outcome was PI, compared between the groups over time (repeated-measures analysis of variance). Secondary outcomes included MAP and HR.

Sixty-nine participants (mean [range] age 42 yr [19-65 yr]; 49% females) were assigned to either desflurane (n=34) or sevoflurane (n=35). The PI remained higher under desflurane compared with sevoflurane, both before (mean difference [MD] 3.3; 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 2.0-4.7; P<0.001) and after tetanic stimulation (MD 2.8; 95% CI 2.0-3.7; P<0.001). Higher PI paralleled lower MAP in participants assigned to desflurane anaesthesia (P<0.001), both before (MD 8 mm Hg; 95% CI 4-12) and after nociceptive stimulation (MD 14 mm Hg; 95% CI 7-22). HR was similar throughout.

These findings suggest that at equipotent doses, desflurane exerts more potent vasodilatory properties and lowers blood pressure by a magnitude potentially associated with harm.

NCT03570164.

NCT03570164.Our study compares the efficacy of two therapeutic treatments, cognitive behavioral and psychoanalytic, on a depressed population hospitalized in the same institution. We recorded the degree of intensity and improvement of fifteen subjects in a depressive state followed by a psychologist trained in CBT, and recorded the same for fifteen subjects followed by a psychoanalytical psychologist, using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Both the first and final follow-up scores were compared, and the difference between the two depression scores was calculated. At the same time, the degree of therapeutic alliance was measured using the therapeutic alliance scale, therapist version (WAI-T). The comparison of the MADRS averages and the point spread demonstrate a significant and equivalent reduction in the depressive crisis for both groups. The WAI-T scores and the comparison of the average to the overall score indicate a similar quality of alliance. These results suggest that the frame of reference is not the cornerstone of a psychotherapy’s efficacy, but is rather based on the foundation of a good therapeutic alliance with benevolent neutrality, the maintenance of a good distance, the ability to maintain the frame, a sufficient management of anxiety in the face of suicidal thoughts, with a structuring implication towards the subject. This, associated with a more active relational dynamic on the part of the therapist, compared to the investment he would develop in other types of follow-ups. These results demonstrate that the collaboration between professionals using a different theoretical framework can contribute to obtaining attractive benefits for the subjects.Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a prevalent and serious complication in hospitalized medical patients. Pulmonary embolism is the most common preventable cause of hospital death. VTE extends hospitalization, with a higher resource consumption and an increase in healthcare costs. Risk factors for VTE include intrinsic factors and those related to hospitalization. It is important to know and to identify these factors at the moment of hospital admission and during the course of disease. VTE prophylaxis has demonstrated to be an efficient and effective action. Its implementation reduces life-threatening pulmonary embolism, symptomatic deep vein thrombosis and death rate three months after discharge. selleckchem An individual and detailed assessment of prophylaxis risk-benefit is a priority. In our country, low molecular weight heparins are still the first option for VTE pharmacological prophylaxis. In those patients at high risk of bleeding or in whom anticoagulation is contraindicated mechanical methods could be used.