1 Some cardiovascular disturbances which occur in diabetics are a consequence of alterations in vascular contractility as well as in endothelium-dependent relaxation. 2 Calcium dobesilate (DOBE) is a drug used in diabetic retinopathy and its mechanism of action is not yet understood. 3 The aim of this study was to investigate the e ects of DOBE on synthesis and release of endotheliumdependent relaxing factor (EDRF) and endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in rabbit isolated aorta. 4 Endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine (ACh) (10 78 ± 10 75 M) increased in the presence of DOBE 10 75 M only when vascular endothelium was kept intact. 5 N G -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10 78 ± 10 74 M progressively decreased the enhancing e ect of DOBE on endothelium-dependent relaxation whereas it was progressively increased by L-Arg. 6 DOBE 10 75 M increased in a non-signi®cant manner endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by ACh when the arteries were incubated with both L-NAME 10 74 M and indomethacin 10 76 M. 7 DOBE (10 76 M and 10 75 M) was able to scavenge superoxide anion radicals generated by the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase reaction. 8 These results provide evidence that DOBE is able to a ect the vascular disorders associated with diabetes mellitus since it enhances the synthesis of endothelium-dependent relaxing factors.

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Background and Objective: To analyse the range of motion of the thoracic spine by radiographically measuring changes in the sagittal profile of different thoracic segments during maximal inspiration and exhalation. The starting hypothesis was that forced deep breathing requires an active, but non-uniform widening of the lordotic–kyphotic range of motion of the different thoracic segments.Methods: Cross-sectional study. Participants were 40 healthy volunteers aged 21–60. Conventional anteroposterior and functional sagittal chest radiographs were performed during maximal inspiration and exhalation. The range of motion of each spinal thoracic functional segment, global T1–T12 motion, and the sagittal displacement of the thoracic column during breathing were measured. Considering the different type of ribs and their attachment the spine and sternum, thoracic segments were grouped in T1–T7, T7–T10, and T10–T12. The displacement of the thoracic spine with respect to the sternum and manubrium was also recorded.Results: The mean difference from inspiration to exhalation in the T1–T12 physiologic kyphosis was 15.9° ± 4.6°, reflecting the flexibility of the thoracic spine during deep breathing (30.2%). The range of motion was wider in the caudal hemicurve than in the cranial hemicurve, indicating more flexibility of the caudal component of the thoracic kyphosis. A wide range of motion from inspiration to exhalation was found at T7–T10, responsible for 73% of T1–T12 sagittal movement. When the sample was stratified according to age ranges (20–30, 30–45, and 45–60 yr.), none of the measurements for inspiration or exhalation showed statistically significant differences.Only changes at this level showed a positive correlation with changes in the global thoracic kyphosis (r = 0.794, p <0.001).Conclusion: The range of motion of the thoracic spine plays a relevant role in respiration dynamics. Maximal inspiration appears to be highly dependent on the angular movements of the T7–T10 segment.

Background: The aetiology of contact dermatitis, a common inflammatory skin disorder, is often complex and multifactorial. Objectives: To describe the characteristics of patients with contact dermatitis who also have concomitant atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. Methods: Between 2000 and 2011, adult patients with chronic contact dermatitis (six months or more), which also had concomitant atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, were recruited for a descriptive retrospective study in a tertiary care Spanish hospital. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used for the analysis of the collected data. Results: 76 patients with atopic dermatitis and 130 with psoriasis were recruited. The most frequent site of contact dermatitis in both groups was the hands. The most frequent clinically relevant allergen in both groups was nickel sulphate. According to multivariate logistic regression, a statistically significant association was found between facial contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis (adjusted OR 0.2 95% CI: 0.05-0.8; P = 0.022). No differences were found between the groups for patch test results (adjusted OR 0.6 CI 95%: 0.3-1.3; P = 0.194). Conclusions: Although the number of patients was limited, our results provide valuable insight on the behaviour of contact dermatitis in patients with atopic dermatitis and with psoriasis. Facial contact dermatitis was positively associated with atopic dermatitis. No differences were found with respect to rates of contact hypersensitivity or positivity to different allergens.