Does prophylactic amifostine preserve the biomechanical properties of irradiated bone in the murine mandible?
The authors' findings demonstrate paradoxical and transient elevations in the initial biomechanical properties of irradiated specimens that were not sustained through the later study time point. Amifostine pretreatment, however, provided uninterrupted preservation of the biomechanical properties of normal, native bone at both time points. This supports the contention that amifostine is capable of providing continuous protection to bone against the untoward effects of radiation therapy.
These results suggest that in parenchymal microvessels of the rat cerebral cortex, decreased pH corresponding with hypercapnia, but not hypercapnia itself, contributes to cerebral vasodilation produced by carbon dioxide and that ATP-sensitive K+ channels play a major role in vasodilator responses produced by mild hypercapnia.