Multidisciplinary intestinal rehabilitation in acute type II intestinal failure: Results from an intestinal rehabilitation team

BackgroundType II (acute) intestinal failure (IF) is usually caused by complications of abdominal surgery resulting in enteric fistulas or proximal stomas and requires parenteral nutrition (PN) for several months. This study aimed to evaluate clinical management and outcome of type II IF patients in a single center.MethodsMedical records of patients referred to the Intestinal Rehabilitation Team (IRT) at Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsFrom 2014 to 2019, 34 patients with IF were referred. 28 patients were type II IF and were included in the analysis. There were 17 males and 11 females. Mean age of patients was 56.7 years. Pathophysiology of IF were high-output stoma in 16 cases, extensive bowel resection (with bowel in continuity) in 7 cases, and enterocutaneous fistula in 5 cases. The catastrophic events necessitating abdominal surgery in the patients were adhesive ileus in 9 cases, superior mesenteric artery thrombosis in 8 cases, internal herniation of bowel in 5 cases, traumatic bowel injury in 3 cases, and ischemic enteritis in 3 cases. Following medical and surgical rehabilitation, 10 patients (35.7%) were weaned off PN and overall mortality was 28.5%. Deaths were related to progression of underlying malignancies in 4 cases, liver failure in 3 cases, and sepsis in 1 case. Thirteen patients underwent surgery to restore bowel continuity. Six postoperative complications occurred in 4 patients (30.7%) and there were no postoperative mortalities.ConclusionStandardized care including restorative surgery resulted in successful outcomes in type II IF patients in this cohort.     

Dysregulation of oxygen hemodynamic responses to synaptic train stimulation in a rat hippocampal model of subarachnoid hemorrhage

We investigated microvascular reactivity to synaptic train stimulation after induction of subarachnoid hemorrhage in adult rats, analyzing tissue oxygen levels [pO₂] in intact hippocampus. In control rats, hippocampal pO₂ averaged 11.4 mm Hg whereas hemodynamic responses averaged 13.1 mm Hg (to a 25 s train). After subarachnoid hemorrhage (at 2 days), we recorded a dramatic elevation in baseline pO₂ in the hippocampus (to 68.4 mm Hg) accompanied by inverted pO₂ responses to synaptic train stimulation (−9.46 mm Hg). These significant changes in baseline hippocampal pO₂ and inverted pO₂ responses after subarachnoid hemorrhage indicate severe alterations of neurovascular coupling and neuronal viability.     

Functional Films from Silica/Polymer Nanoparticles

High performance functional coatings, based on hybrid organic/inorganic materials, are being developed to combine the polymer flexibility and ease of processing with the mechanical properties and versatility of inorganic materials. By incorporating silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) in the polymeric matrices, it is possible to obtain hybrid polymer films with increased tensile strength and impact resistance, without decreasing the flexural properties of the polymer matrix. The SiNPs can further be used as carriers to impart other functionalities (optical, etc.) to the hybrid films. By using polymer-coated SiNPs, it is possible to reduce particle aggregation in the films and, thus, achieve more homogeneous distributions of the inorganic components and, therefore, better properties. On the other hand, by coating polymer particles with silica, one can create hierarchically structured materials, for example to obtain superhydrophobic coatings. In this review, we will cover the latest developments in films prepared from hybrid polymer/silica functional systems.     

Transtracheal jet ventilation

Transtracheal jet ventilation is a technique for ventilation of apnoeic lungs. This article outlines the indications, equipment required, insertion technique and complications of transtracheal jet ventilation. It can be used electively to aid management of the difficult airway and for laryngeal surgery. It also has a vital role in the management of the ‘can't intubate – can't ventilate’ scenario. Death and hypoxic brain damage under anaesthesia are fortunately rare, but most commonly occur as a result of problems with tracheal intubation. No patient should suffer hypoxic brain damage without an attempt at transtracheal ventilation being made.     

The coated antiseptic tip (CAT) syringe

Abstract

Catheter-related blood stream infections (CR-BSI) account for 30% of healthcare acquired infection (HAI). Colonization of connector hubs and contaminated syringes are thought to increase the risk of CR-BSI. The Coated Antiseptic Tip (CAT) syringe was developed to decontaminate connector hubs, thereby reducing the risk of CR-BSI. Needleless valves (n?=?20) and three-way connectors (n?=?20) were contaminated with common critical care pathogens. At hourly intervals, CAT syringes were inserted into the connector hubs and normal saline was injected through the connector. This was repeated with control (non-coated) syringes. The internal surface of the connector hubs were swabbed at t?=?0, t?=?1?h and t?=?4?h, inoculated onto blood agar plates and analysed by a blinded microbiologist. Growth was counted as the number of colony forming units. Baseline swabbing demonstrated 100% bacterial hub colonization in both connectors. The CAT syringe showed a significant reduction in CFU growth at 0 and 1?h compared with control syringes (p?<?0.05). At 4?h, the CAT syringe completely eliminated bacterial growth in both of the connector hubs. The CAT syringe can effectively disinfect both three-way and needleless connectors.     

Effects of Aerosol-Vapor JP-8 Jet Fuel on the Functional Observational Battery,and Learning and Memory in the Rat

To determine whether JP-8 jet fuel affects parameters of the Functional Observational Battery (FOB), visual discrimination, or spatial learning and memory, the authors exposed groups of male Fischer Brown Norway hybrid rats for 28 d to aerosol/vapor-delivered JP-8, or to JP-8 followed by 15 min of aerosolized substance P analogue, or to sham-confined fresh room air. Behavioral testing was accomplished with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Functional Observational Battery. The authors used the Morris swim task to test visual and spatial learning and memory testing. The spatial test included examination of memory for the original target location following 15 d of JP-8 exposure, as well as a 3-d new target location learning paradigm implemented the day that followed the final day of exposure. Only JP-8 exposed animals had significant weight loss by the 2nd week of exposure compared with JP-8 with substance P and control rats; this finding compares with those of prior studies of JP-8 jet fuel. Rats exposed to JP-8 with or without substance P exhibited significantly greater rearing and less grooming behavior over time than did controls during Functional Observational Battery open-field testing. Exposed rats also swam significantly faster than controls during the new target location training and testing, thus supporting the increased activity noted during Functional Observational Battery testing. There were no significant differences between the exposed and control groups' performances during acquisition, retention, or learning of the new platform location in either the visual discrimination or spatial version of the Morris swim task. The data suggest that although visual discrimination and spatial learning and memory were not disrupted by JP-8 exposure, arousal indices and activity measures were distinctly different in these animals.     

Fractional Factorial Design Study on the Performance of GAC-Enhanced Electrocoagulation Process Involved in Color Removal from Dye Solutions

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of main factors and interactions on the color removal performance from dye solutions using the electrocoagulation process enhanced by adsorption on Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). In this study, a mathematical approach was conducted using a two-level fractional factorial design (FFD) for a given dye solution. Three textile dyes: Acid Blue 74, Basic Red 1, and Reactive Black 5 were used. Experimental factors used and their respective levels were: current density (2.73 or 27.32 A/m²), initial pH of aqueous dye solution (3 or 9), electrocoagulation time (20 or 180 min), GAC dose (0.1 or 0.5 g/L), support electrolyte (2 or 50 mM), initial dye concentration (0.05 or 0.25 g/L) and current type (Direct Current—DC or Alternative Pulsed Current—APC). GAC-enhanced electrocoagulation performance was analyzed statistically in terms of removal efficiency, electrical energy, and electrode material consumptions, using modeling polynomial equations. The statistical significance of GAC dose level on the performance of GAC enhanced electrocoagulation and the experimental conditions that favor the process operation of electrocoagulation in APC regime were determined. The local optimal experimental conditions were established using a multi-objective desirability function method.     

An Improved Integration Scheme for Mode-Coupling-Theory Equations

Within the mode-coupling theory (MCT) of the glass transition, we reconsider the numerical schemes to evaluate the MCT functional. Here we propose nonuniform discretizations of the wave number, in contrast to the standard equidistant grid, in order to decrease the number of grid points without losing accuracy. We discuss in detail how the integration scheme on the new grids has to be modified from standard Riemann integration. We benchmark our approach by solving the MCT equations numerically for mono-disperse hard disks and hard spheres and by computing the critical packing fraction and the nonergodicity parameters. Our results show that significant improvements in performance can be obtained employing a nonuniform grid.     

当药苷调节兴奋-收缩耦联改善心肌缺血再灌注损伤的机制

目的 探索当药苷通过兴奋-收缩耦联信号通路对缺血再灌注损伤后心脏收缩/舒张功能的影响。方法 24只健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、10 μmol·L^-1当药苷给药组与1 μmol·L^-1地高辛给药组，并采用Langendorff系统结合左前降支冠状动脉结扎建立缺血再灌注损伤模型（I/R），2，3，5-氯化三苯基四氮唑（TTC）染色检测各组心脏梗死面积，Powerlab生理记录仪检测血流动力学参数，如左心室舒张压（LVDP）、左心室终末舒张压（LVEDP）、左心室终末收缩压（LVESP）、左心室内压最大上升速率（+dp/dt_max）和左心室内压最大下降速率（-dp/dt_max）；提取分离乳鼠原代心肌细胞（NRCMs），建立缺氧/复氧（H/R）损伤模型，随机分为正常组、模型组、1 μmol·L^-1当药苷给药组和10 μmol·L^-1当药苷给药组，多功能成像细胞分析仪和激光共聚焦显微镜测定各组心肌细胞活力、心率、收缩幅度、收缩时程、达峰时程和舒张时程及钙瞬变峰值。根据前期转录组学测序结果及文献调研，利用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（Real-time PCR）检测L型钙通道相关基因（Cacnb2），细胞色素C氧化酶相关基因（Cox6a2），肌钙蛋白（Tnnc1、Tnni3、Tnnt2）、肌动蛋白（Actc1）、肌球蛋白（Myh6、Myl2、Myl4）等兴奋-收缩耦联通路基因的mRNA表达并对差异基因进行聚类分析。结果 与正常组比较，模型组心肌梗死面积显著增加（P<0.01）、LVDP显著降低（P<0.01）、LVEDP显著上升（P<0.01）、LVESP明显下降（P<0.05）、+dp/dt_max有下降趋势和-dp/dt_max上升趋势及心肌细胞活力降低、心率降低、收缩幅度降低、收缩时程升高、达峰时程升高和舒张时程升高（P<0.01），而当药苷可以逆转上述指标（P<0.05）。此外，心肌细胞经H/R损伤后，Cacnb2、Cox6a2、Tnnc1、Tnni3、Tnnt2、Actc1、Myh6、Myl2、Myl4等兴奋-收缩耦联通路的基因表达下降（P<0.05、P<0.01）。而使用当药苷预处理后，可以增强上述基因的表达（P<0.05）。结论 当药苷通过调节兴奋-收缩耦联信号通路，从而调节原代乳鼠心肌细胞内钙离子水平，增强心肌收缩功能，对抗I/R损伤。