Our objective was to determine the effect of scoliosis correction by posterior spinal fusion on respiratory function in a large cohort of patients with DMD. Patients with DMD undergoing posterior spinal fusion were compared

to patients with DMD not undergoing surgical intervention.

An observational study of 65 patients with DMD associated scoliosis, born between AZ 628 1961 and 2001: 28 of which underwent correction of scoliosis via posterior spinal fusion (Surgical Group) and 37 of which did not undergo surgical intervention (Non-Surgical Group). Pulmonary function was assessed using traditional spirometry. Comparisons were made between groups at set times, and by way of rates of change over time.

There was no correlation between the level of respiratory dysfunction and the severity of scoliosis (as measured by Cobb angle) for the whole cohort. The Surgical Group CAL-101 manufacturer had significantly worse respiratory function at a comparable age pre-operatively compared to the Non-Surgical Group, as measured by per cent predicted forced vital capacity (p = 0.02) on spirometry. The rate of decline of forced vital capacity and per cent predicted forced

vital capacity was not slowed following surgery compared to the non-operated cases. There was no significant difference in survival between the two groups.

Severity of scoliosis was not a key determinant of respiratory dysfunction. Posterior spinal fusion did not reduce the rate of respiratory function decline. These two points suggest that intrinsic respiratory muscle weakness is the main determinant of decline in respiratory function in DMD.”
“Species of Brunfelsia, whose flowers change colour progressively from violet to white, are popularly known as yesterday-today-tomorrow and used in folk medicine, mainly as anesthetic and diuretic. Based on

ethnobotanical surveys, they have been investigated chemically and pharmacologically Selleckchem PU-H71 for expanding the knowledge on the native medicinal flora and for searching bioactive compounds. In order to contribute to pharmacognostic analyses, especially in distinguishing the species B. pilosa Plowman from the allied B. uniflora (Pohl) D. Don, this work has aimed to study the microscopic characters of the leaf and stem of the former. Mature leaves and young stem fragments were fixed in FAA, freehand sectioned transverse and longitudinally, and stained with astra blue and basic fuchsine. Microchemical tests and scanning electron analysis were also performed. The leaf is hypostomatic, having predominantly paracytic stomata. Multicellular non-glandular trichomes and capitate glandular ones are found on both surfaces. The mesophyll is dorsiventral and the midrib is traversed by a bicollateral vascular bundle in open arc. The stem, in incipient secondary growth, shows a uniseriate epidermis and the phellogen is formed in the sub-epidermal layers. The cortex has angular collenchyma, chlorenchyma and a starch sheath, and the vascular system shows external and internal phloem.