广州天河社区绝经后妇女血清25羟维生素D水平与骨密度的相关性分析

目的调查广州天河区绝经后妇女维生素D水平及其与骨密度的关系。方法随机选取2015年4月至2015年8月在广州市天河区前进街社区卫生服务中心体检的109名绝经后妇女,年龄49~75岁。检测血清25(OH)D水平,分析血清25(OH)D水平与骨转换指标和骨密度(BMD)的相关性。结果 25.7%的受试者血清25(OH)D水平≥75 nmol/L,41.3%在50~75 nmol/L之间,33.0%低于50 nmol/L。双变量分析显示血清25(OH)D水平与血清PINP、β-CTX水平无相关性。股骨颈BMD与血清25(OH)D正相关(r=0.373,P=0.030),校正年龄和体重指数(BMI)后,相关性仍存在(r=0.174,P=0.049)。多元回归分析显示年龄、BMI、25(OH)D是股骨颈BMD的预测因子(R2=0.325)。结论绝经后女性广泛存在血清25(OH)D不足或缺乏,血清25(OH)D水平与股骨颈BMD正相关,适当补充维生素D对维持股骨颈区域的骨量至关重要。     

中国男性和女性血清25羟维生素D水平与年龄、性别和骨密度之间的关系

目的观察血清25羟维生素D[25(OH)D]水平与广州地区成人年龄、性别和骨密度的关系。方法本横断面研究随机抽取了188名女性和122名男性,年龄为17~88岁的广州地区居民。采用双能X线(DXA)骨密度仪测量腰椎和股骨颈的骨密度,电化学发光免疫分析法测定血清中25(OH)D、甲状旁腺激素(parathyroid hormone,PTH)、Ⅰ型原胶原N-端前肽(procollagen type IN-terminal propeptide,PINP)、β-胶原特殊序列(β-crosslaps,β-CTX)。血清25(OH)D水平分为四个亚组:严重缺乏(10 ng/m L),缺少(10~20 ng/m L),不足(20~30 ng/m L),充分(≥30 ng/m L)。结果受试者平均年龄为(47.39±19.32)岁。女性的血清25(OH)D水平(25.35±6.59)ng/m L明显低于男性(27.25±7.94)ng/m L,P0.05。男性25(OH)D严重缺乏(10 ng/m L)的比例为1.6%,女性为0;男性25(OH)D缺少(10~20 ng/m L)的比例为22.9%,女性为20.5%;男性25(OH)D不足(20~30 ng/m L)的比例为65.6%,女性为73.4%。男性血清25(OH)D水平与年龄呈负相关(r=0.249,P0.01),而在女性中二者没有相关性(r=0.130,P0.05)。血清25(OH)D水平与老年妇女(分别为r=0.382,P0.01;r=0.384,P0.01)、青年男性(分别为r=0.332,P0.05;r=0.260,P0.05)腰椎和股骨颈的骨密度呈正相关。当校正年龄因素后,血清25(OH)D水平与老年妇女的腰椎、股骨颈骨密度之间仍存在相关性(分别为r=0.325,P0.05;r=0.323,P0.05)。但年龄校正后的血清25(OH)D水平与年轻男性的腰椎骨密度呈正相关(r=0.278,P0.05),与股骨颈骨密度没有相关性(r=0.165,P0.05)。校正年龄后的血清25(OH)D水平与中青年妇女和中老年男性腰椎和股骨颈骨密度无相关性。无论是否校正年龄,血清PTH水平和其他骨代谢指标均与受试者的血清25(OH)D水平无相关性。结论有超过2/3的广州居民存在维生素D不足。血清25(OH)D水平是老年女性和青年男性骨密度的重要生化标志物。     

大连地区中老年人25-羟维生素D和同型半胱氨酸与骨质疏松症相关性研究

目的探讨大连地区中老年人25-羟维生素D[25-hydroxyvitamin D,25(OH)D]、血清同型半胱氨酸(Homocysteine,Hcy)水平与骨密度(Bone mineral density,BMD)及骨质疏松性骨折(Osteoportic fracture,OPF)的相关性。方法本研究为横断面研究。210例(男85例,女125例)研究对象均来自我院门诊及体检中心,年龄46-90岁。所有研究对象均检测腰椎1-4(Total)(BMD-L)、髋部(Total)(BMD-H)、股骨颈(BMD-N)骨密度和血清25(OH)D、Hcy、钙、磷、镁、碱性磷酸酶。210例分为骨质疏松组,骨量减少组和骨量正常组。应用方差分析和回归分析分别对男性和女性血清25(OH)D、Hcy与BMD及OPF的相关性进行分析。结果男性和女性骨质疏松组25(OH)D均低于骨量减少组和骨量正常组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。多元线性回归分析校正年龄等潜在混杂因素后,25(OH)D与男性BMD-L(P=0.064)、BMD-H(P=0.073)和女性BMD-H(P=0.072)近似正相关;25(OH)D20 ng/m L时,男性25(OH)D与BMD-N呈显著正相关;25(OH)D15 ng/m L时,女性25(OH)D与BMD-L和BMD-N呈显著正相关。Logistic回归分析显示,女性骨质疏松症患者血清中25(OH)D每增加1 ng/m L骨折风险降低12.8%。女性Ln Hcy在骨质疏松组与骨量正常组和骨量减少组比较差异有统计学意义(P=0.040和P=0.020)。女性Ln Hcy与BMD-N呈负相关,校正年龄后不相关。男性和女性Ln Hcy和25(OH)D均不相关。结论 25(OH)D在不同范围时,大连地区中老年男性和女性25(OH)D与各部位BMD不同程度正相关。维生素D缺乏可能是中老年女性OPF发生的独立危险因素。Hcy不是女性发生OPF的危险因素(女性Hcy和OPF不相关),女性高Hcy与低BMD有一定相关关系,这种相关可能与增龄有关。男性Hcy与BMD不相关。     

中老年2型糖尿病患者骨代谢特点及骨量丢失危险因素分析

目的探讨中老年2型糖尿病(type 2 diabetes mellitus,T2DM)患者骨代谢特点及骨量丢失危险因素。方法选择中老年T2DM患者612例(男296例,女316例),根据骨密度(bone mineral density,BMD)水平分为骨量正常组(108例)、骨量减少组(281例)、骨质疏松组(223例),分析各组差异及其相关性。结果女性患者中,骨质疏松组的年龄、甲状旁腺激素(parathyroid hormone,PTH)、I型前胶原N-末端肽(procollagen type I N propeptide,PINP)、I型胶原交联C-末端肽(collagen type I cross-linked C-telopeptide,CTX)显著增高,体质量指数(body mass index,BMI)、尿酸(uric acid,UA)、25-羟基维生素D[25-hydroxy vitamin D,25(OH)D]显著降低;腰椎L1~4 BMD与BMI、UA、25(OH)D正相关,与年龄、PTH、PINP、CTX负相关。男性患者中,骨质疏松组PTH显著增高,BMI显著降低;腰椎L1~4 BMD与BMI、UA正相关,与PTH负相关。Logistic回归分析显示高龄、高PTH、高PINP、低BMI、低UA、低25(OH)D是女性T2DM患者骨量丢失的危险因素,高PTH、低BMI是男性骨量丢失的危险因素。结论中老年女性T2DM合并骨质疏松患者骨转换水平增高,而男性骨转换水平无显著变化,但两者骨质疏松的发病可能均与低BMI、高PTH水平有关。     

贵阳城区男性血清25( OH) D水平与血清PTH及骨密度的相关性研究

目的了解贵阳城区男性血清25(OH)D水平与血清PTH、骨密度之间关系的阈值。方法用整群抽样的方法横断面调查贵阳城区20~79岁(46.2±14.9岁)健康男性居民634名。研究对象均问卷调查健康状况,测定血钙、血磷、血肌酐、血清25(OH)D水平和血清PTH浓度(美国DiaSorin放射免疫试剂盒),测定非优势(左)股骨近端股骨颈(neck)、全髋部(hip)及腰椎前后位(L1-L4)的骨密度(BMD)值(美国GE公司Lunar Prodigy双能x线骨密度仪)。结果1.资料较齐全的571名受试者中,维生素D营养状况正常[25(OH)D≥30.0 ng/ml]仅为103名(18.0%),维生素D营养状况异常者[25(OH)D30.0ng/ml]高达82%;2.血清25(OH)D水平与血清PTH浓度呈负相关,当25(OH)D水平低于20 ng/ml时,PTH开始升高;3.青中年男性骨密度值随血清25(OH)D水平在20 ng/ml以上明显升高,老年男性血清25(OH)D水平在10 ng/ml各部位骨密度增高,但达到20 ng/ml后,骨密度增长缓慢。结论贵阳市城区男性低血清25(OH)D水平较常见,血清25(OH)D水平低于20 ng/ml可能会导致甲状旁腺激素水平升高,维生素D营养状况对不同年龄段男性骨密度部位影响可能不同。     

老年男性血清维生素D水平状况及其与甲状旁腺激素的相关性研究

目的 探讨老年男性血清维生素D水平及其与甲状旁腺素及骨代谢指标的相关性。方法 收集2010年9月至2013 年9月在上海瑞金医院老年病科病房住院及门诊患者895例,平均年龄为76岁。测定其血清25-羟基维生素D[25(OH)D]、血钙（Ca)、血磷(P)、甲状旁腺激素（PTH),1型胶原分子N-端前肽（PINP)及β-1型胶原C端肽（β-CTX)水平。根据血清25 (OH) D水平将患者分为维生素D严重缺乏组（<25 nmol/L)、维生素D缺乏组（25~50 nmol/L)、维生素D不足组（50 ~75 nmol/L)和维生素D充足组（>75 nmol/L)。结果（1)895例老年男性患者年龄60 ~99岁,平均年龄76岁。血清25( OH) D 平均值为(43. 52 ±21. 97) nmol/L。维生素D缺乏者（≤50nmol/L)为592人(67% ),维生素D不足者（50 ~ 75 nmol/L)为223 人(25%)。维生素D缺乏或不足者高达92%,维生素D充足者（>75 nmol/L)仅为80人(8%)。（2)不同年龄段血清25- (OH) D的比较显示,血清25-(OH) D水平随增龄而逐渐降低。60 ~69岁组25-(OH) D值最高,为（46. 27 ± 20. 76) nmol/L,与 其它各组比较差异均有统计学意义(P <0. 05)。相关分析表明,血清25-(OH)D与年龄呈负相关（相关系数r =-0.088,P = 0. 008)。（3)甲状旁腺素（PTH)的平均水平为（55. 74 ±29. 06) pg/mL。相关分析显示,25-(OH)D与PTH、PINP、β-CTX均呈负相关（r值分别为-0.209、-0. 109、-0. 122,P 均 <0.05)。血25-(OH)D 与 Ca 呈正相关（r = 0. 206,P <0.001)。血 25-(OH) D与BMI、P均无相关性（P均>0.05)。结论 老年男性存在严重的维生素D缺乏或不足。血25-(OH) D与PTH、年龄、 PINP、β-CTX均呈负相关。     

老年2型糖尿病患者血尿酸水平与骨代谢、骨密度及骨质疏松的关系

目的探讨老年2型糖尿病患者血尿酸水平与骨代谢标志物、骨密度及骨质疏松的相关关系。方法选取2018-2019年于北京大学国际医院内分泌科门诊就诊及住院的年龄60岁以上的老年2型糖尿病患者,共计577人,其中男性289人,女性288人(均为绝经后女性)。对所有研究对象进行一般临床资料调查、生化指标及甲状旁腺素(PTH)、25羟维生素D[25(OH)D]、骨钙素(OC)、血清I型前胶原N-末端前肽(P1NP)、I型胶原交联C-末端肽(β-CTX)测定,计算估算肾小球滤过率(eGFR),双能X线吸收法(DXA)测定股骨颈(FN)及腰椎(L1~4)骨密度(bone mineral density,BMD)。将血尿酸(SUA)四分位法分层比较分析股骨颈及腰椎总BMD变化趋势,Pearson和Spearman相关分析SUA与血钙(Ca)、PTH及OC、P1NP、CTX、25(OH)D、腰椎及股骨颈BMD的关系,多因素Logistic回归分析SUA与骨质疏松的关系。结果SUA第4分组BMI、肌酐(Cr)、股骨颈及总腰椎BMD水平明显高于第1分位组,SUA第4分组eGFR水平明显低于第1分位组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);Pearson相关分析显示SUA与股骨颈BMD(r=0.082,P=0.002)、糖尿病病程(r=0.129,P=0.005)、BMI(r=0.201,P=0.000)正相关,与eGFR负相关(r=-0.434,P=0.000),Spearman相关分析显示SUA与腰椎总BMD(r=0.168,P=0.003)、Ca(r=0.147,P=0.001)正相关,与β-CTX负相关(r=-0.157,P=0.001),与PTH、25(OH)D、OC、P1NP无相关性(P>0.05)。以老年2型糖尿病合并骨质疏松为因变量,多因素Logistic回归显示,调整年龄、eGFR、BMI、HbA1c后,SUA是老年2型糖尿病患者发生骨质疏松的保护因素(P=0.039,OR=0.452,95%CI:0.212~0.962)。结论在老年2型糖尿病患者中,正常偏高的血尿酸水平可能减少骨质疏松的发生风险。     

2型糖尿病患者血清25-经维生素D水平与骨密度的关系

目的 探讨2型糖尿病患者不同血清25-( OH) D水平与骨密度的关系。方法 选择住院的2型糖尿病患者288例,根据25-( OH) D水平对其进行分组：25-( OH) D>30ng/mL为维生素D充足组;20ng/mL <25-( OH ) D≤30 ng/mL为维生素D不足组;l0 ng/mL <25-( OH) D <20 ng/mL为维生素D缺乏组;25-( OH) D <10ng/mL为维生素D严重缺乏组。采用双能X线骨密度仪(DXA)测量受试者腰椎L1-4、股骨颈及全髓的骨密度。分析不同水平25-( OH ) D与骨密度的关系。结果 维生素D充足组、维生素D不足组、维生素D缺乏组、维生素D严重缺乏组的患者例数(所占比例)分别为10例(3. 5%) ,74例(25.7%) ,177例(61.5%) ,27例(9.3%)。不同性别组25-( OH ) D水平无明显差异,但是女性患者的腰椎L1-4、股骨颈、全髋的骨密度均较男性低。pearscm相关分析显示25-( OH) D水平与腰椎L1-4、股骨颈、全髓的骨密度均无相关性(分别为r=0.080 P=0.262;r=0. 139 P=0. 051;r=0.068 P=0. 342)。结论 2型糖尿病患者25-( OH) D水平与腰椎L1-4、股骨颈、全髓的骨密度均无明显相关性。     

维生素D缺乏的女性髋部骨折患者中血清甲状旁腺素值与股骨颈骨密度的相关性

目的探讨维生素D缺乏的女性髋部骨折患者中血清甲状旁腺素(PTH)值与股骨颈骨密度(BMD)的相关性。方法将128例维生素D缺乏(血清25-羟基维生素D水平50 nmol/L)的女性髋部骨折患者根据血清PTH水平分为PTH正常组(n=86)和PTH升高组(n=42)。测定股骨颈BMD、BMD(T值)及各临床指标。各临床指标与股骨颈BMD(T值)的相关性采用多元logistic回归分析。结果年龄、PTH:PTH正常组显著低于PTH升高组(P 0. 05)。血磷、肾小球滤过率、BMD(T值)、BMD:PTH正常组显著高于PTH升高组(P0. 05)。多元线性回归分析结果显示,血清PTH、年龄与股骨颈BMD呈负相关(P 0. 05),BMI与股骨颈BMD呈正相关(P 0. 05)。PTH正常组中有52例(60. 47%) BMD(T值)≤-2. 5,PTH升高组中有30例(71. 43%) BMD(T值)≤-2. 5。多元logistic回归分析结果显示,血清PTH、BMI是BMD(T值)≤-2. 5的影响因素(P 0. 05)。结论维生素D缺乏的女性髋部骨折患者中,PTH水平与股骨颈BMD密切相关。维生素D缺乏症的防治在血清PTH升高的女性髋部骨折患者中可能尤为重要。     

岳阳地区50岁以上人群25经维生素D水平及其与骨密度的关系

目的 通过测定269名岳阳地区50岁以上人群血清25经维生素D(25(OH)D)和骨密度(BMD)水平,分析岳阳地区50岁以上人群的维生素D ( VitD)状况,并探讨其与BMD的关系。方法 采集受试者的血清后,用电化学发光法测定血清25(OH)D水平,并同时应用双能X线吸收仪测定腰椎及髓部BMD。结果 所有受试者中,VitD严重缺乏者占24. 2 %,缺乏者占45. 0%,不足者占24. 5 %,充足者占6. 3。男、女性受试者的25(OH)D水平、腰椎及髓部的BMD间有统计学差异(P<0.001),男性高于女性。男性各年龄段间25(OH)D水平及各部位BMD无统计学差异(P=0. 101 ,P = 0. 261 ,0. 055 ,0. 170 ,0. 108 ,0. 051 ) ;女性各年龄段之间25(OH)D水平及腰椎BMD无统计学差异(P = 0. 364 , 0. 063 ) ;髓部BMD有统计学差异(P < 0. 001 ),随着年龄的增长而逐步减低。男性受试者中,不同25(OH)D水平组间股骨颈、转子间区及整髓BMD无统计学差异(P = 0. 076 , 0. 425 , 0. 122 );腰椎、大转子区BMD水平间有统计学差异(P=0. 027 , 0. 017 ) , VitD充足组腰椎BMD高于其他各组(P = 0. 005 , 0. 025 , 0. 009 );不足组、严重缺乏组大转子区BMD高于缺乏组(P = 0. 021, 0. 005 )。女性受试者中,不同25(OH)D水平组各部位BMD均无统计学差异(P = 0. 616 , 0. 739 , 0. 559 ; 0. 608 , 0. 641)。结论 在湖南岳阳地区50岁以上人群存在严重的维生素D缺乏及不足;对于维生素D状况与骨密度之间可能无直接关联,需加大样本量进一步观察。     

Is the recovery profile of mivacurium independent of the rate of decay of its plasma concentration in patients with normal plasma cholinesterase activity?

Background: The duration of action of muscle relaxants is poorly correlated to the rate of decay of their plasma concentration. The plasma concentration of mivacurium may rapidly decrease below its active concentration because of the extensive hydrolysis of mivacurium. By inflating a tourniquet on one upper limb for 3 min after the administration of atracurium, mivacurium or vecuronium, we studied the influence of the initial decline of their plasma concentration on their effect. Methods: In 50 patients anaesthetised with thiopental, isoflurane and fentanyl, the effect of bolus doses of 0.15 or 0.25 mg . kg^?1 mivacurium (MIV 15, MIV 25), 0.3 or 0.5 mg . kg^?1 atracurium (ATR 30, ATR 50) and 0.06 or 0.1 mg . kg^?1 vecuronium (VEC 06, VEC 10) were measured on both arms (evoked response of the adductor pollicis to train-of-four stimulation every 12 s), a tourniquet being applied on one arm just before and during 3 min after the muscle relaxant bolus. Results: Tourniquet inflation of 3 min almost abolished the neuromuscular effect of mivacurium. In the vecuronium groups and in the ATR 50 group, tourniquet inflation did not modify the maximum degree of depression of the twitch response. Also, the duration of action of vecuronium was unaffected by the tourniquet. In the ATR 30 group, times to return of the twitch response to 25% (duration 25%) and 75% (duration 75%) of control response were significantly shorter in the cuffed arm, 23 min vs 27 min, and 41 min vs 45 min, respectively. In the ATR 50 group, only duration 25% was significantly shorter in the cuffed arm (41 min vs 45 min). Conclusion: The results suggest that the rate of decline of the plasma concentration of mivacurium is so rapid, that a very low and almost clinically ineffective concentration is present as soon as 3 min after its administration. The results also indicate that the recovery from a mivacurium-induced neuromuscular blockade is not influenced by the rate of decay of its plasma concentration in patients with genotypically normal plasma cholinesterase.     

Membranes in Artificial Organs

Abstract: Membrane processes play a pivotal and enabling role in modern replacement therapy for acute and chronic organ failure and in the management of immunologic diseases. In fact, virtually all contemporary extracorporeal blood purification methods employ membrane devices, and the next generation of artificial organs and tissue engineering therapies are almost certain to be similarly grounded in membrane technology. In this short essay, we comment on the similarities and differences among synthetic membranes and their natural counterparts and also provide a critical overview of the demographics and technology of hemodialysis, hemofiltration, apheresis, oxygenation, and emerging membrane technologies and applications.     

Dilemma of Membrane Biocompatibility and Reuse

Abstract: Numerous articles have been published on the multiple use of dialyzers and on the effect of different reprocessing chemicals and techniques on the dialyzer biocompatibility and performance. The results often appear contradictory, especially those comparing standard biocompatibility parameters. Despite this confusion, a discerning review of the published works allows certain limited conclusions to be drawn. Reprocessing of used hemodialyzers changes the biocompatibility profile of a dialyzer as defined by the parameters complement activation. leukopenia, and cytokine release. The effect of reprocessing depends on the chemicals and reprocessing technique applied and also on the type of membrane polymer being subjected to the reprocessing procedure. Reports of pyrogenic reactions indicate that the flux of the membrane also influences how suitable it is for safe reuse. An increased risk of allergic and pyrogenic reactions appears to be associated with dialyzer reuse. Furthermore, there has been a lack of investigations into the immunologic effect of the layer of adsorbed and chemically altered proteins that remains on the inner surface of reprocessed dialyzers. We conclude that the clinical benefit of dialyzer reuse cannot be generally accepted from a biocompatibility point of view.     

The analgesic effect of racemic ketamine in patients with chronic ischemic pain due to lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans

Background : Ketamine in sub-dissociative doses has been shown to have analgesic and phantom-Limb pain, where conventional treatment has often failed. Chronic ischemic pain due to lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans often responds poorly to analgesics, and the pain-generating mechanisms are not well understood.
Methods : Eight patients with rest pain in the lower extremity due to arteriosclerosis obliterans were given sub-dissociative doses of 0.15, 0.30, or 0.45 mg/kg racemic ketamine and morphine 10 mg as a 5-min infusion on four separate days in a cross-over, double-blind, randomised protocol. Plasma levels of (S)- and (R)-ketamine and their nor-metabolites were analysed with an enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Pain levels were evaluated with a visual analogue scale (VAS).
Results : Individual pain levels were highly variable during and after all the infusions but the pooled pain levels showed a dose-dependent analgesic effect of ketamine with a transient but complete pain relief in all patients at the highest dose (0.45 mg/ kg). Side-effects, mainly disturbed cognition and perception, were pronounced and dose-dependent. Morphine 10 mg had an analgesic peak at 20 min and 5/8 patients had complete pain relief. The remaining 3 patients also had high baseline pain scores, indicating a higher analgesic potency for the 0.30 and 0.45 mg/ kg ketamine doses than for morphine 10 mg.
Conclusion : We have demonstrated a potent dose-dependent analgesic effect of racemic ketamine in clinical ischemic pain. Due to a narrow therapeutic window, this analgesic effect is probably best utilised in combination with other analgesics.     

Intravenous endotoxin does not increase tissue extravasation of albumin in rats

Background : It is unclear whether activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) increases or decreases the extravasation of plasma.
Methods : Chloralose anaesthetised male Wistar rats received E. coli lipopolysacharide (LPS), 3 mg kg^-1 i.v., or the corresponding volume of saline, 3 or 5 h before the end of the experiment. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded. Tissue clearance of radio-labelled albumin, during the last 2 h of each experiment, was determined by a double-isotope method. In separate animals, the serum concentration of nitrite and nitrate was determined, 5 h after LPS or the solvent.
Main Results : LPS initially decreased MAP and lastingly increased HR. In the 3-h LPS animals (n=8), tissue plasma clearance was lower in the heart and calf muscle and increased only in diaphragm, compared to corresponding control animals (n=8). In the 5-h LPS rats, clearance was lowered (n=8) in the entire gastrointestinal tract and in testes, compared to controls (n=8). The serum nitrite/nitrate concentration was higher in animals given LPS (n=6) than in controls (n=6).
Conclusion : After LPS, tissue clearance of albumin was not increased in any major tissue, in spite of increased serum levels of NO end products. Apparently, after activation of iNOS, the augmented release of NO is not necessarily associated with increased albumin extravasation.     

Adrenaline markedly improves thoracic epidural analgesia produced by a low-dose infusion of bupivacaine, fentanyl and adrenaline after major surgery: A randomised, double-blind, cross-over study with and without adrenaline

Background: Basic pharmacological research indicates that there are synergistic antinociceptive effects at the spinal cord level between adrenaline, fentanyl and bupivacaine. Our clinical experience with such a mixture in a thoracic epidural infusion after major surgery confirms this. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects on postoperative pain intensity, pain relief and side effects when removing adrenaline from this triple epidural mixture. Methods: A prospective, randomised, double-blind, cross-over study was carried out in 24 patients after major thoracic or abdominal surgery. Patients with only mild pain when coughing during a titrated thoracic epidural infusion of about 10 ml · h^?1 of bupivacaine 1 mg · ml^?1, fentanyl 2 μg · ml^?1, and adrenaline 2 μg · ml^?1 were included. On the 1^st and 2^nd postoperative days each patient was given a double-blind epidural infusion, at the same rate, with or without adrenaline. The effect was observed for 4 h or until pain when coughing became unacceptable in spite of a rescue analgesic procedure. Rescue analgesia consisted of up to two epidural bolus injections per hour and i.v. morphine if necessary. All patients received rectal paracetamol 1 g, every 8 h. Fentanyl serum concentrations were measured with a radioimmunoassay technique at the start and end of each study period. Main outcome measures were extent of sensory blockade and pain intensity at rest and when coughing, evaluated by a visual analogue scale, a verbal categorical rating scale, the Prince Henry Hospital pain score, and an overall quality of pain relief score. Results: The number of hypaesthetic dermatomal segments decreased (P <0.001) and pain intensity at rest and when coughing increased (P <0.001) when adrenaline was omitted from the triple epidural mixture. This change started within the first hour after removing adrenaline. After 3 h pain intensity when coughing had increased to unacceptable levels in spite of rescue analgesia (epidural bolus injections and i.v. morphine). Within 15–20 min after restarting the triple epidural mixture with adrenaline, pain intensity was again reduced to mild pain when coughing. Serum concentration of fentanyl doubled from 0.22 to 0.45 ng · ml^?1 (P <0.01), and there was more sedation during the period without adrenaline. Conclusions: Adrenaline increases sensory block and improves the pain-relieving effect of a mixture of bupivacaine and fentanyl infused epidurally at a thoracic level after major thoracic or abdominal surgery. Serum fentanyl concentrations doubled and sedation increased when adrenaline was removed from the epidural infusion, indicating more rapid vascular absorption and systemic effects of fentanyl.     

Reduction of Plasma Fibrinogen, Immunoglobulin G, and Immunoglobulin M Concentrations by Immunoadsorption Therapy with Tryptophan and Phenylalanine Adsorbents

Abstract Immunoadsorption (1A) therapy with tryptophan (TR-350) or phenylalanine (PH-350) adsorbents has been used to reduce the concentration of serum antibodies in human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-immunized patients. Other forms of plasma purification have been reported to reduce the level of fibrinogen, which affects the blood properties. In this study we investigated the effects of IA therapy using both adsorbents on plasma fibrinogen and immunoglobulins G and M in 13 patients (8 patients were treated with TR-350, and 5 patients were treated with PH-350). During each session 1 plasma volume (2.8 ± 0.4 L of plasma) was processed through the immunocolumn and then returned to the patient together with the blood cells. Compared with the pretreatment values, the plasma fibrinogen, IgG, and IgM concentrations were significantly reduced after IA therapy (p < 0.01 for TR-350; p < 0.04 for PH-350). There was a positive correlation between the degree of reduction of plasma proteins and the number of IA treatments given. A nonpara-metric test (Wilcoxon's signed-rank test or the Mann-Whitney test) was used for statistical analysis. We conclude from our study that IA therapy effectively lowers the plasma levels of fibrinogen, IgG, and IgM and thus can be considered a valuable alternative to other blood purification methods.     

Utilisation des médicaments prokinétiques en réanimation : indications et limites ?

Enteral feeding is often limited by gastric and intestinal motility disturbances in critically ill patients, particularly in patients with shock. So, promotility agents are frequently used to improve tolerance to enteral nutrition. This review summaries the pathophysiology, presents the available pharmacological strategies, the clinical data, the counter-indications and the principal limits. The clinical data are poor. No study demonstrates a positive effect on clinical outcomes. Metoclopramide and erythromycin seems to be the more effective. Considering the risk of antibiotic resistance, the first line use of erythromycin should be avoided in favor of metoclopramide.     

Anesthésie générale chez l’enfant : quid des pratiques en 2010 ?

Introduction

The practice of pediatric anesthesia requires a regular update of scientific knowledge and technical skills. To provide the most adequate Continuing Medical Education programs, it is necessary to assess the practices of pediatric anesthesiologists. Thus, the objective of this survey was to draw a picture of the current clinical practices of general anesthesia in children, in France.

Material and methods

One thousand one hundred and fifty questionnaires were given to anesthesiologists involved in pediatric cases. These questionnaires collected information on various aspects of clinical practice relative to induction, maintenance, recovery from general anaesthesia and also classical debated points such as children with Upper Respiratory Infection (URI), emergence agitation, epileptoid signs or anaesthetic management of adenoidectomy. Differences in practices between CHG (general hospital), CHU (teaching hospital), LIBERAL (private) and PSPH (semi-private) hospitals were investigated.

Results

There were 1025 questionnaires completed. Fifty-five percent of responders worked in public hospitals (CHG and CHU); 77% had a practice that was 25% or less of pediatric cases. In children from 3 to 10 years: 72% of respondents used always premedication and two thirds performed inhalation induction in more than 50% of cases. For induction, 53% used sevoflurane (SEVO) at 7 or 8%. Respondents from LIBERAL used higher SEVO concentrations. Tracheal intubation was performed with SEVO alone (37%), SEVO and propofol (55%) and SEVO with myorelaxant (8%), 93% of respondents used a bolus of opioid. For maintenance, the majority of respondents used SEVO associated with sufentanil; desflurane and remifentanil were more frequently used in CHU. Two thirds of respondents used N₂O. Depth of anesthesia was commonly assessed by hemodynamic changes (52%), end tidal concentration of halogenated (38%) or automated devices based on EEG (7%). In children with URI, 98% of respondents used SEVO for anesthesia. To control the airway 42% used a tracheal tube, 30% a laryngeal mask and 20% a facial mask. Emergence agitation was an important concern for two thirds of respondents, while epileptoid signs were considered as important by only 20%. Eighty-nine percent of respondents practiced anesthesia for adenoidectomy. Anesthesia was induced by inhalation of SEVO 7–8% (41%), 6% (39%) or 4% (12%), 66% put an intravenous line (less frequently in LIBERAL). 67% of the responders managed adenoidectomy without any device to control the airway (more frequently in LIBERAL), 32% administrated a bolus of opioid (less frequently in LIBERAL).

Discussion

This survey demonstrated that the practices regarding general anesthesia in children are relatively homogenous. Most of the differences appeared between LIBERAL and the others structures; the anaesthetic management for adenoidectomy illustrates these findings.     

Intérêt d’une rééducation précoce pour les patients neurologiques

Rehabilitation improves the functional prognosis of patients after a neurologic lesion, and tendency is to begin rehabilitation as soon as possible. This review focuses on the interest and the feasibility of very early rehabilitation, initiated from critical care units. It is necessary to precisely assess patients’ impairments and disabilities in order to define rehabilitation objectives. Valid and simple tools must support this evaluation. Rehabilitation will be directed to preventing decubitus complications and active rehabilitation. The sooner rehabilitation is started; the better functional prognosis seems to be.