Lourdes Zélia Zanoni

Continuous fenoterol inhalation by children with severe acute asthma: immediate clinical effects

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the alterations of heart rate, blood pressure, psychological aspects and oxygen saturation after continuous fenoterol inhalation (0.5 mg/Kg) by children with severe acute asthma. METHODS We studied 30 patients with severe acute asthma who were treated at the pediatric ward of Hospital Universitário-UFMS. The patients inhaled 0.5 mg/Kg of fenoterol (two drops/Kg) during one hour. Psychological aspects, oxygen arterial saturation, heart rate and blood pressure were evaluated at three different moments: before, after and one hour after the fenoterol inhalation. RESULTS There were 17 males (56.6%) and 13 females (43.4%). Sleepiness was observed in 16 (53.3%), psychomotor agitation in one (33%) and nausea and vomiting in 12 patients (40%). The average of oxygen arterial saturation increased from 90.9 +/- 2.8% to 92.7 +/- 2.5% (P<0.05) after inhalation. There was statistically significant increase in the average heart rate before and after inhalation (139.5 +/- 13.5 beats/min, 166.5 +/- 11.1 beats/min, respectively), P<0.05. A significant decrease in blood pressure rate was observed from 117.56 +/- 10.3 / 74.6 +/- 7 mmHg, to 107.6 +/- 11 / 63.6 +/- 9.3 mmHg (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Continuous fenoterol (0.5 mg/Kg) inhalation by children with severe acute asthma caused sleepiness, nausea, vomits, palpitation and decrease in blood pressure rate. The authors suggest that patients submitted to this treatment need clinical monitorship at hospital settings. Children with concomitant diseases such as diarrhea, vomits, and dehydration require special attention.

O uso da L-carnitina como adjuvante no tratamento da miocardiopatia dilatada em criança com Aids

OBJECTIVE: To present the cardiovascular response to L-carnitine of a patient with congestive heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy and human immunodeficiency virus. CASE DESCRIPTION: Child with a clinical history of severe congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy caused by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The treatment for the symptoms resulted in a poor clinical response. In order to improve the energetic performance/metabolism of cardiomyocytes, therapy with L-carnitine was established. There was significant clinical improvement of the cardiac performance of the patient, even before starting the treatment with antiretroviral drugs. COMMENTS: L-carnitine is a compound that facilitates the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. In this case the administration of L-carnitine appears to be clinically and biochemical justified.

Comment on the Paper: Alterations in Electrocardiographic Parameters After Subacute Exposure of Fluoride and Ameliorative Action of Aluminum Sulfate in Goats

On the basis of results, it has been concluded in the recently published paper [1] that subacute toxicity of sodium fluoride produces significant changes in different waves of electrocardiogram in goats. At the same time, it was shown that aluminum sulfate hydrate, Al2(SO4)3·16H2O, given 30 min before the administration of NaF has ameliorative efficacy and is capable to prevent alterations in electrocardiographic parameters. Nevertheless, the authors of the paper in question do not investigate by reasoning or argument the mechanisms involved in the protective effect of aluminum salt. The aim of the present communication is to think of new ways to discuss the topic and present unique solution to the problem. Oral exposure to aluminum occurs through ingestion of aluminum-containing pharmaceuticals and to a lesser extent foods and water. The gut is the most effective place in preventing tissue aluminum accumulation after oral exposure. Typically, gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum from diets is <1% [2]. The digestion in ruminants takes approximately 6 h, so the interval of 30 min between aluminum and fluoride administration is actually of no importance since aluminum absorption kinetics is very slow, and both ions are available in the fore-stomach at the same period of time. Due to a marked affinity between aluminum and fluorine, there are two species that can be immediately formed in alkaline milieu: mixed-ligand complexes Al2[(OH)1−xFx]6 and NaAl(OH)3F. The former are well-known aluminum hydroxyfluorides [3] with the ratio Al–F at least 1:3 and the latter are hydroxo–fluoro aluminates [4] with the ratio Al–F=1:1 and Biol Trace Elem Res (2011) 141:1–2 DOI 10.1007/s12011-010-8706-1

Zinco em crianças submetidas à cirurgia cardíaca com circulação extracorpórea

During cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC), a series of immunological and inflammatory alterations occur, which trigger oxidative stress1,2. Under the nonphysiological conditions during the ECC and due to the alterations related to ischemia-reperfusion, a large amount of free radicals is formed3. These are responsible for systemic inflammation and considerable structural and functional cellular lesion4.

Thermal decomposition of lutetium nitrate trihydrate Lu(NO 3 ) 3 ·3H 2 O

The thermal decomposition of lutetium nitrate starts with essentially a process of dehydration of the initial monomer Lu(NO3)3·3H2O with further condensation into a hexamer Lu6N18O54·6H2O. The latter decomposes in four steps with release of water, azeotrope 68% HNO3–32% H2O, nitric acid, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen. The resulting intermediate compounds are lutetium oxynitrates Lu6N4O19 and Lu6N2O14. After complete denitrification at high temperatures, they are converted into unstable trimer Lu6O18 which is destroyed leaving behind lutetium oxide. All mass losses are accounted for, step by step. The intermediates were characterized using thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The models of intermediate oxynitrates obtained with the molecular mechanics technique represent a reasonably good approximation to the real structures.