Roll blending of EPDM with EPM was carried out. The blend rubbers were vulcanized using three different agents, i.e., sulfur, dicumyl peroxide, and brominated alkyl phenol resin. As EPM is unsuitable for sulfur or resin cure, blend rubbers are required to contain a surplus EPDM. Both blend rubbers could be vulcanized with DCP. Physical properties of the blend rubbers are proportional to the blend ratio.
Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is one of the major complications after Fontan operation and usually results in a poor outcome. The mechanism of PLE is not fully understood, and the specific treatment remains to be studied. Recently, some reports showed that the phosphodiesterase inhibitor V, sildenafil, might improve PLE through the vasodilation of not only the pulmonary artery but also the mesenteric artery. Here, we report three patients with PLE after the Fontan operation whose symptoms were improved by administration of sildenafil. [Case 1] A twenty-one-year old male with single ventricle developed edema due to PLE 6 years after surgery. Sildenafil was administered at a dose of 30 mg per day, and edema was resolved after titrating it up to 40 mg per day. [Case 2] A seventeen-year-old male with single ventricle developed cyanosis and edema due to pulmonary arterial-venous fistula and PLE 2 years after surgery. Sildenafil was administered at a dose of 1 mg/kg per day, and his symptom was resolved after titrating it up to 4 mg/kg per day. [Case 3] A twelve-year-old girl with double outlet right ventricle developed edema and ascites due to PLE a year after surgery. The symptoms were refractory to oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg per day). After sildenafil was administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg per day and titrated up to 8 mg/kg per day, ascites finally resolved. No major complications were observed in each case. Sildenafil may be a safe and effective therapeutic option for PLE after the Fontan operation with dose dependent efficacy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.