Volume of tarsal bones in congenital clubfoot

To elucidate the growth of the tarsal bones in congenital clubfoot, relative to the growth of these bones in the unaffected feet and compared to growth in the feet of normal volunteers, we used a computed tomography (CT) scanner to measure the volume of all tarsal bones. The subjects of the study were 10 adults (7 men and 3 women) with unilateral congenital clubfoot (average age 20 years and 1 month). As controls, we examined 11 healthy volunteers. We calculated the ratio of the volume of each tarsal bone to the total bone volume and the ratio of the volume of each tarsal bone in clubfoot to the corresponding bone in the unaffected foot. The volume ratio of each tarsal bone was compared between clubfeet and unaffected feet because the differences of each tarsal bone ratio between the normal foot group and unaffected foot group were not significant. In the clubfeet (n=10), the talus and the medial cuneiform bones were smaller than those in the unaffected feet (n=10) but the cuboid bone was larger. The growth of the navicular did not differ from as that in unaffected feet. Our results suggested hypoplasia on the medial side of the foot in adult patients with congenital clubfoot. The 3 patients who had undergone medial release showed particularly marked hypoplasia of the medial side. In congenital clubfoot cases with severe deformities who had undergone wide soft-tissue release operations, there were clear growth suppressions in the talus and the medial cuneiform. We could not determine whether the cause of the growth suppression was the hypoplastic nature of tarsal bones themselves or the surgical obstacles to tarsal bone growth.     

成人原发性肾病综合征血容量与肾素,醛固酮,心钠素的关系

探讨成人原发性肾病综合征(NS)血容量与肾素、醛固酮及心钠素的关系。方法 应用~(113)mInCl标记转铁蛋白稀释法测定血容量,放免法测定血浆激素水平。对水肿期NS28例、正常26例及其中NS缓解期随访18例进行检测。结果 (1)水肿期NS血容量与正常组无差别,血浆肾素活性(PRA)、血管紧张素Ⅱ(ATⅡ)、醛固酮(Ald)、心钠素(ANP)水平均较正常组高,白蛋白、各激素水平与血容量无显著相关;(2)缓解期与水肿期比较,总的血容量无差异,Ald、ANP显著降低,PRA、ATⅡ则无明显差异;(3)Ald与24小时尿排钠(UNaV)显著负相关。结论 Ald和ANP是NS钠排泄的主要调节因子。     

Factors related to renal haemodynamics in young type-1 diabetes mellitus patients

The influence of metabolic control (HbA_1c), noradrenaline (NA) and insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) on renal function and size was investigated in 11 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients aged 11–17 years. Renal function was evaluated in terms of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF). Renal size was determined as renal parenchymal volume (RPV) by ultrasonography. The patients' HbA_1c values ranged from 8.2% to 12.9% (normal range 5.5–8.5%) and their GFR and ERPF were higher than normal. Their IGF-II values were higher, and NA and IGF-I levels were lower than those of healthy controls. Inverse correlations between NA and GFR (r=–0.66) and NA and ERPF (r=–0.63) were found. No correlation was found between serum IGF-I and renal functional parameters. The IGF-II values correlated with GFR and HbA_1c (r=0.63,r=0.70 respectively). There were linear correlations between RPV and GFR, RPV and ERPF, HbA_1c and GFR, and ERPF and RPV. Decreased NA concentrations and increased IGF-II values appear to be factors contributing to renal hyperfunction in these patients.     

Single-dose oral omeprazole for reduction of gastric residual acidity in adults for outpatient surgery

Omeprazole is a substituted benzimidazole that causes dose-dependent intracellular inhibition of gastric acid secretion in humans. This double-blind study examined the effect of omeprazole in decreasing gastric acidity and gastric residual volume in outpatient adults. Unpremedicated outpatients, ASA I-III, 18 years or older (n = 17), were randomly assigned to receive omeprazole 80 mg, or placebo by mouth the night before scheduled elective outpatient surgery. The patients were fasted for 8 h prior to surgery. After the patient was anesthetized, an orogastric tube was inserted with proper placement verified by auscultation for gastric sounds. Gastric residual contents were withdrawn into a Luken's trap, and pH was then determined and gastric volume indexed to weight (ml.kg-1). Data were analyzed by a t-test, with P less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Patient characteristics of both groups were similar. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups for pH (P = 0.02), but not between the two groups for gastric volume indexed to weight (P = 0.07).     

Perioperative specific management of blood volume loss in craniosynostosis surgery

Accurate assessment and replacement of blood loss and fluid–electrolyte deficit during craniosynostosis repair is difficult owing to patient size and the diversity of surgical technique. Forty-three patients undergoing primary craniosynostosis repair over a 10-year period were studied retrospectively to determine blood loss and fluid deficit and to assess blood transfusion practices during both intraoperative and postoperative periods. Blood loss was calculated on the basis of estimated red cell mass (ERCM) and fluid-electrolyte imbalance was investigated with blood samplings. Blood transfusion was considered appropriate if the postoperative or posttransfusion ERCM was within 12% of the preoperative value. Estimated fluid requirement (EFR) was used in 4 ml kg^–1 h^–1 except for neonates. Intraoperatively, 80% of all patients were appropriately managed with respect to blood transfusion and EFR. Postoperatively only 20% of the patients receiving transfusions were transfused appropriately. In 23.3% of these patients (10/43) unexpected respiratory distress developed immediately after their recovery from the anesthesia. With the measurement of estimated blood volume and allowable blood loss, appropriate transfusion could be achieved for the successful treatment of the primary craniosynostosis. Received: 16 February 1998     

Value of digital volume tomography in patients with conductive hearing loss

Digital volume tomography (DVT) is an extension of panoramic tomography. With this diagnostic technique, characterized by high resolution, a narrow section width (0.125 mm) and three-dimensional display, small pathological processes can be well visualized. Twenty-five patients with the history of a progressive hearing loss were examined with DVT (Accu-I-tomo, Morita, Japan). The results were compared with pre- and intraoperative findings to evaluate the diagnostic value of DVT in cases of erosion of the ossicular chain. With high resolution and artifact-free demonstration of the middle ear and the ossicular chain, it was possible to define its continuity preoperatively by DVT in all 25 cases. An intact ossicular chain was found by DVT in 13 cases and was later confirmed by surgery. The predicted erosion of the ossicles was verified in 12 patients, and a tympanoplasty type III was performed. Digital volume tomography is an excellent technique to examine the middle ear cleft and inner ear, and expands the application of diagnostic possibilities in the lateral skull base. Therefore, improvement in preoperative diagnosis is achieved along with more accurate planning of the surgical procedure. Digital volume tomography delivers a small radiation dose with a high resolution and a low purchase price for the equipment.     

Three-dimensional sonographic volume measurement of the fetal spleen

AIM: The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the growth of the fetal spleen in normal pregnancies, using three-dimensional ultrasound. METHODS: Three-dimensional sonographic examinations were performed on 14 appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses. Fetal splenic volume was measured every 2-3 weeks after 20 weeks of gestational age until delivery. RESULTS: Curvilinear relationships were found between the gestational age and splenic volume (R(2) = 80.2%, P < 0.0001), and normal ranges of splenic volume measurements for estimating the growth of the fetal spleen during normal pregnancy were generated. We found that the splenic volume calculation based on the equation for the volume of the ellipsoid by conventional two-dimensional ultrasound in previous investigations is about twice as large as that using three-dimensional ultrasound in our study, whereas the present data described in this study is quite comparable with previous data from an autopsy series. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the standard curve for the fetal splenic volume using three-dimensional ultrasound provides a superior means for evaluating the normal splenic growth in the fetus and for identifying splenic abnormalities in utero. However, the data and its interpretation in our study should be taken with some degree of caution because of the small number of subjects studied. Further studies involving a larger sample size would be needed to confirm these findings.     

高脂血症患者血小板体积及有关参数的研究

本文报道242例高脂血症患者血小板(PLT)、平均血小板数(MPLT)及平均血小板体积(MPV)等参数的测定结果,其中高胆固醇并高甘油三酯患者,PLT、MPLT及巨大血小板比例(Macro-PLT)高于正常,MPV正常;而单纯高胆固醇或高甘油三酯患者,上述指标与正常人无显著性差异。提示高胆固醇并高甘油三酯患者,存在血小板生成动力学异常,其血小板的破坏增加,生成率加速、但处于一种高水平的动态平衡之中。这可能是高脂血症出现高凝状态的原因之一。同时表明此类患者使用抗血小板疗法具有一定的合理性和必要性。     

Clinical and Physical Evaluation of the Infertile Male: Testicular Measurement or Orchidometry/Klinische und physikalische Bewertung des infertilen Mannes: Hodenmessung oder Orchidometrie

Summary: For the quantitative determination of the testicular size or volume, two groups of apparatus are available: on the one hand, model testes, which are extremely valuable in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies during the period of pubescence, and on the other hand, measuring devices, with which the testicular dimensions can be specified. The latter instruments are helpful chiefly during the adolescent years and the diagnosis of problems surrounding fertility. The testicular volume can be calculated subsequently from the specific testicular measurements. The formula, for computing the volume of an ellipsoid, seems to be the most suitable for this purpose. Appliances also have been developed, which allow the largest (longitudinal) dimension (in mm) and the testicular volume (in cm3) to be read off simultaneously. A tonometer can be useful to quantitatively estimate the testicular consistency, which is a parameter of the testicular integrity at the level of tubular function (spermatozoa production).     

Large volume injection and infiltration system

Summary A system which can be used for injection or infiltration of large volumes of fluid is described. This consists of a syringe which fills automatically from a reservoir through an inlet/outlet valve.