Study of arteriosclerosis in patients with hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: It has been reported that the prevalence of hiatal hernia (HH) and reflux esophagitis (RE) increases with age, as does the degree of arteriosclerosis. However, it has not been investigated whether or not arteriosclerosis is correlated with the presence of HH and RE. Therefore, we prospectively investigated the degree of arteriosclerosis in patients with HH and RE compared with subjects without HH and RE. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 1683 people who visited Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation for annual medical check-ups. All subjects were investigated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for the possible presence of HH and RE. Factors used for assessing cardiovascular risk were sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking and drinking habits, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). Arteriosclerosis was investigated by measuring systolic blood pressure, heart-carotid pulse wave velocity (HCPWV), bilateral ankle brachial index (ABI) and heart-ankle PWV (HAPWV). RESULTS: The number of patients with HH and RE was 624 (37.1%) and 143 (8.5%), respectively. The HDLC level of the patients with HH was significantly lower, and the levels of BMI, TG and arteriosclerotic parameters were higher than those of the subjects without HH after adjusting for confounding factors (sex, age and smoking and drinking habits). Cardiovascular and arteriosclerosis parameters except for TG did not differ between the subjects with and without RE. CONCLUSION: Levels of arteriosclerosis parameters in patients with HH were higher than in those without HH. However, the association between arteriosclerosis and presence of RE was not clarified.     

The Effect of Aggressive Versus Conventional Lipid-lowering Therapy on Markers of Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress

Purpose Recent trial results are in favor of aggressive lipid lowering using high dose statins in patients needing secondary prevention. It is unclear whether these effects are solely due to more extensive lipid lowering or the result of the potentially anti-inflammatory properties of statins. We aimed to determine whether aggressive compared with conventional statin therapy is more effective in reducing systemic markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Materials and methods This was a multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients with previous cardiovascular disease, who did not achieve low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels <2.6 mmol/l on conventional statin therapy (simvastatin 40 mg) were randomized to continue with simvastatin 40 mg or to receive atorvastatin 40 mg for 8 weeks and thereafter atorvastatin 80 mg for the final 8 weeks (aggressive treatment). Lipids, C-reactive protein, soluble cellular adhesion molecules, neopterin, von Willebrand Factor, and antibodies against oxidized LDL were measured at baseline and after 16 weeks. Results Lipid levels decreased significantly in the aggressive treatment group (LDL-C reduction 20.8%; P < 0.001), whereas a slight increase was observed in the conventional group (LDL-C increase 3.7%; P = 0.037). A significant reduction in antibodies against oxidized LDL was seen in the aggressive (13.4%; P < 0.001) and the conventional (26.8%; P < 0.001) group, but there was no difference between groups (P = 0.25). Furthermore, no significant differences in change in other biomarkers was observed between both groups. Conclusions This study does not support the hypothesis that a more profound reduction in inflammatory and oxidative stress contributes to the benefits of aggressive statin therapy.     

Stress fractures in the lower extremity. The importance of increasing awareness amongst radiologists

Stress fractures are fatigue injuries of bone usually caused by changes in training regimen in the population of military recruits and both professional and recreational athletes. Raised levels of sporting activity in today's population and refined imaging technologies have caused a rise in reported incidence of stress fractures in the past decades, now making up more than 10% of cases in a typical sports medicine practice. Background information (including etiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation and treatment and prevention) as well as state of the art imaging of stress fractures will be discussed to increase awareness amongst radiologists, providing the tools to play an important role in diagnosis and prognosis of stress fractures. Specific fracture sites in the lower extremity will be addressed, covering the far majority of stress fracture incidence. Proper communication between treating physician, physical therapist and radiologist is needed to obtain a high index of suspicion for this easily overlooked entity. Radiographs are not reliable for detection of stress fractures and radiologists should not falsely be comforted by them, which could result in delayed diagnosis and possibly permanent consequences for the patient. Although radiographs are mandatory to rule out differentials, they should be followed through when negative, preferably by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as this technique has proven to be superior to bone scintigraphy. CT can be beneficial in a limited number of patients, but should not be used routinely.     

Restoration of vital activity of cooled animals without rewarming the body

The fatality of deep hypothermia in non-hibernating mammals follows the cessation of respiration and heart beat, and a massive influx of calcium (Ca⁺⁺) into cells. This review presents evidence relating to restoration of key physiological functions during hypothermia in several animal preparations. For example, in anaesthetized hypothermic rats (body temperature 16–17°C), a pharmacologically induced reduction in intracellular [Ca⁺⁺] [via intravenous administration of an ethylenediaminetatraacetate (EDTA) solution (0.15–0.16 mmole)] has been shown to restore cold shivering and respiration after several minutes. Also, activity in an isolated rat heart preparation has been shown to be halted when temperature is reduced in the range 14–12°C. However, decreasing the perfusate [potassium] by a factor of 2–3 relative to normal blood levels restored contractile activity. In conclusion, it is possible to restore the activity of key physiological systems involved in the thermoregulatory responses to sustained hypothermia without the need to rewarm the organism.     

应用彩色多普勒超声检查下肢深静脉血栓36例临床分析

目的 探讨二维及彩色多普勒超声检查在下肢深静脉血栓中的诊断及治疗效果观察中的应用价值.方法 应用彩色超声仪对36例下肢深静脉血栓患者进行常规超声和彩色多普勒血流显像检测,观察血栓形成的部位、大小、栓塞程度,并与下肢静脉顺行造影进行对比.结果 下肢静脉髂股静脉血栓7例,其中4例完全阻塞,余为部分阻塞;股静脉、小腿深静脉血...     

横突定位臂丛阻滞对臂丛感觉和运动神经分支的阻滞效果观察

目的评价三种横突入路臂丛阻滞对臂丛感觉和运动神经各分支的阻滞效果。方法200例需行肩部、上肢手术患者,分别在颈5（C5,78例）,颈6（C6,70例）,颈7（C7,52例）横突入路下进行臂丛阻滞。评价阻滞后30rain各感觉和运动神经阻滞效果,并记录并发症情况。结果三种横突入路对臂丛神经分支阻滞效果不同,C5入路对腋神经和C4神经阻滞率较C6、C7入路高（P〈0．05）,而C7入路对尺神经感觉和运动阻滞的完善程度较C6入路明显提高（P〈0．05）,均无严重并发症发生。结论三种横突入路臂丛阻滞对臂丛感觉和运动神经各分支的阻滞效果不同。     

颈部扩张皮瓣用于下面部瘢痕修复

目的:探讨颈部扩张皮瓣用于下面部瘢痕修复的效果.方法:将扩张器置于颈部扩张3-5个月,然后,将扩张的皮瓣向头侧铺展来修复下面部瘢痕包括上唇瘢痕.在扩张皮瓣上对应口的位置开个洞以修复口周瘢痕.结果:从2004年1月至2009年1月,我们用颈部扩张皮瓣修复下面部瘢痕患者8例.有6例患者扩张皮瓣存活良好,有2例患者,扩张皮瓣...     

2型糖尿病患者颈动脉和下肢动脉粥样硬化斑块超声检查及影响因素分析

目的 通过分析超声联合检查2型糖尿病患者颈动脉、下肢动脉粥样硬化斑块程度,明确糖尿病患者大血管并发症的情况,以便指导治疗.方法 对103例2型糖尿病住院患者超声检查颈动脉和下肢动脉斑块情况,分析其特点及其相关因素.结果 糖尿病患者颈动脉斑块、下肢动脉斑块及均有斑块者比例约为3:2:6,并且严重程度与病程、年龄相关(P＜0.05),不同病程糖尿病患者血糖、血脂水平及高血压患病率间差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 对2型糖尿病患者监测血管超声,对血脂、血糖早期进行干预并长期监测使达标,可以延缓大血管病进展,减少患者脑梗死、冠心病和糖尿病足等大血管病的发病率.     

146例低位直肠癌保肛手术临床分析

目的探讨低位直肠癌的最佳治疗方法。方法对2005年7月～2010年6月间收治的低位直肠癌行保肛术的146例患者进行回顾性分析。结果术后1周内吻合口瘘11例,发生率为7.53%,6例经保守治疗后痊愈,5例二次手术行横结肠造瘘,4例手术后顺利恢复,1例急诊二次手术后出现多脏器功能衰竭、DIC而死亡。保肛手术3年内局部复发率为5.51%。结论低位直肠癌保肛手术只要把握适应证,可作为手术首选。严格掌握保肛手术指征、合理选择患者、规范手术操作是低位直肠癌保肛根治手术成功的关键。     

Potential effects of environmental contaminants on P450 aromatase activity and DNA damage in swallows from the Rio Grande and Somerville, Texas

Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and cave swallows (P. fulva) were sampled during the breeding season at several locations in the Rio Grande, Texas, to evaluate the potential effects of environmental contaminants on P450 aromatase activity in brain and gonads and DNA damage in blood cells. The tritiated water-release aromatase assay was used to measure aromatase activity and flow cytometry was used to measure DNA damage in nucleated blood cells. There were no significant differences in brain and gonadal aromatase activities or in estimates of DNA damage (HPCV values) among cave swallow colonies from the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) and Somerville. However, both brain and gonadal aromatase activities were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in male cliff swallows from Laredo than in those from Somerville. Also, DNA damage estimates were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in cliff swallows (males and females combined) from Laredo than in those from Somerville. Contaminants of current high use in the LRGV, such as atrazine, and some of the highly persistent organochlorines, such as toxaphene and DDE, could be potentially associated with modulation of aromatase activity in avian tissues. Previous studies have indicated possible DNA damage in cliff swallows. We did not observe any differences in aromatase activity or DNA damage in cave swallows that could be associated with contaminant exposure. Also, the differences in aromatase activity and DNA damage between male cliff swallows from Laredo and Somerville could not be explained by contaminants measured at each site in previous studies. Our study provides baseline information on brain and gonadal aromatase activity in swallows that could be useful in future studies.