Does Rest Time before Ultrasonography Imaging Affect Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Thickness,Cross-Sectional Area and Echo Intensity Measurements?

In the work described here, our aim was to determine, in an elderly population, changes in muscle thickness (MT), cross-sectional area (CSA) and echo intensity (EI) of the quadriceps muscles at four time points (0, 5, 10 and 15 min; i.e., T0, T5, T10 and T15, respectively) after changing from a standing to supine position. Twenty-one elderly participants (14 men: 68.1 ± 4.6 y; 8 women: 66.8 ± 4.1 y) were evaluated at four time points. Rectus femoris CSA (RF_CSA), MT and EI of the quadriceps femoris (QF) muscles were assessed. EI significantly increased from T0 to T5, T10 and T15 (p < 0.001), whereas no differences were observed between T5 and T15 in the rectus femoris (RF_EI), vastus intermedius (VI_EI) and quadriceps femoris (QF_EI). No differences were observed between any time points in the RF_CSA and MT of QF muscles. In summary, these results suggest that periods >5 min are not necessary to obtain consistent MT and EI measurements of quadriceps femoris muscles in the elderly population.     

丹参注射液对带蒂皮瓣移植修复术后成活率及预后的影响

目的:探讨丹参注射液对带蒂皮瓣移植修复术后成活率及预后的影响。方法:将68例接受带蒂皮瓣移植修复术的患者简单随机分成观察组与对照组各34例。对照组给予术后常规治疗,观察组在此基础上加用丹参注射液治疗,持续给药1周。随访3～12个月,比较两组患者术后皮瓣成活率、皮瓣肿胀程度、凝血指标凝血酶原时间(PT)、活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)水平变化及并发症发生率。结果:观察组患者皮瓣成活率为97.06%,明显高于对照组的76.47%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组术后7 d皮瓣肿胀程度明显轻于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组患者术后3 d的PT、APTT、FIB水平[(17.84±2.45)s、(35.38±3.14)s、(2.24±0.17)g/L]均明显低于对照组患者[(23.07±2.69)s、(41.56±3.34)s、(2.79±0.32)g/L],差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组患者术后伤口感染、瓣下积液、动静脉危象的总并发症率为8.82%,明显低于对照组的29.41%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:丹参注射液能提高带蒂皮瓣移植修复术后成活率,减轻术后皮瓣肿胀程度,改善凝血指标,降低血管危象、皮瓣坏死等并发症风险。     

Improvements to the retractor and muscle flap design for minimally invasive cochlear implantation

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to improve muscle flaps and to evaluate surgical outcomes with the use of a novel specialized retractor, which is a surgical instrument used to locate and shape a bony seat for minimally invasive cochlear implantation.Methods50 patients aged 1–75 years with sensorineural hearing loss who required cochlear implantation were recruited. A small incision (<3 cm) was made, and the novel specialized retractor was used in the study group during cochlear implantation. The incision length, surgical outcomes and operative time were recorded and analyzed.ResultsThe incision length, total operative time and drilling bony time were shorter in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05, respectively). All patients recovered well after the surgery without any severe complications.ConclusionThe use of a novel specialized retractor standardized the surgical processes of cochlear implantation. The retractor helped locate and control the size of the bony well during bone drilling. The tool reduced the technical difficulty and improved the efficacy of this minimally invasive operation.