Mesoatrial shunt in Budd-Chiari syndrome

BACKGROUND: The operations with proven effects on survival in Budd-Chiari syndrome are shunt operations and liver transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1993 and 1999 (June), 13 cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome have been treated surgically. Four cases had concomitant thrombosis of the inferior vena cava; the others had marked narrowing of the lumen due to the enlarged caudate lobe. Mesoatrial (n = 12) or mesosuperior vena caval (n = 1) shunts were constructed with ringed polytetrafluoroethylene grafts. RESULTS: The median portal pressure fell from 45 (range 32 to 55) to 20 (range 11 to 27) cm H(2)O (P <0.001). Two patients died in the early postoperative period. One patient who did not comply with anticoagulant treatment had a shunt thrombosis in the second postoperative year. The other 10 patients are alive without problems during a median 42 (range 1 to 76) months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Mesoatrial shunt with a ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft is effective in Budd-Chiari syndrome cases with thrombosis or significant stenosis in the inferior vena cava.     

复合中药制剂促进骨折愈合的实验研究

为研究复合中药制剂促进骨折愈合的疗效,对36只家兔进行实验性骨折研究。观察了煅自然铜、紫丹参、生绵耆、淫羊藿等多名药物对骨折愈合的影响,采用光镜、电镜、摄片、光镜四环素标记和Sirius染色记录,观察到骨折后第3周其骨折愈合的程度,明显高于对照组。表明李氏接骨丸对促进骨折愈合有实际的临床意义。     

Spinal fusion for kyphosis in achondroplasia

Persistent thoracolumbar kyphosis in patients with achondroplasia is typically prevented with sitting modifications and bracing. When the kyphosis persists and progresses despite bracing, spinal fusion is indicated to prevent further progression and neurologic complications. Previous reports have suggested that instrumentation in such patients carries a high risk of neurologic injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a two-stage procedure to control progressive kyphosis in the patient with achondroplasia. The authors treated four such patients (4-8 years old) surgically. The first stage involved an anterior spinal fusion with instrumentation and a posterior spinal fusion, and the second stage involved an additional posterior fusion. There were no neurologic complications. Correction ranged from 23.0% to 31.25%. All patients achieved a solid fusion. These results suggest that when nonoperative treatments fail, this procedure for thoracolumbar kyphosis in the achondroplastic patient can be done safely and effectively.     

Pretreatment with β‐adrenergic receptor agonists facilitates induction of LTP and sharp wave ripple complexes in rodent hippocampus

Norepinephrine, is involved in the enhancement of learning and memory formation by regulating synaptic mechanisms through its ability to activate pre‐ and post‐synaptic adrenergic receptors. Here we show that β‐agonists of norepinephrine facilitate the induction of both associational LTP and sharp wave ripples (SPW‐Rs) in acute slices of rat hippocampus in area CA3. Surprisingly, this facilitating effect persists when slices are only pretreated with β‐receptor agonists followed by wash out and application of the unspecific β‐adrenoreceptor (βAR) antagonist propranolol. During application of βAR agonists repeated stimulation resulted in facilitated induction of SPW‐Rs. Since SPW‐Rs are thought to be involved in memory replay we studied the effects of βAR‐agonists on spontaneous SPW‐Rs in murine hippocampus and found that amplitude and incidence of SPW‐Rs increased. These effects involve cyclic‐AMP and the activation of protein kinase A and suggest a supportive role in memory consolidation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Prospective, Multicenter, 3-Year Trial of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding with the MIDBAND?

Background

Although laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a popular metabolic/bariatric procedure, few prospective studies have assessed its outcomes. This study aimed to prospectively assess LAGB safety and effectiveness outcomes using the MIDBAND? (MID, Dardilly, France).

Methods

Between May 2005 and September 2006, 262 morbidly obese patients underwent primary gastric banding with pars flaccida technique in 13 French medical centers. Excess weight loss and change in body mass index (BMI, kilogram per square meter), percentage of patients with comorbidities, and obesity-related complications were recorded. Patients were followed at 6-month intervals for 3?years. A multivariable individual growth model was used to analyze weight change over time and determine potential predictors of weight loss.

Results

The majority of patients were female (n?=?233, 89%), with mean age of 36.4?±?9.7?years. At 3?years, LAGB with MIDBAND resulted in significant decrease in mean BMI from 41.8?±?4.2 to 30.7?±?5.8 (p?p?Conclusion Prospective outcomes demonstrate the safety and efficacy of gastric banding over time using the MIDBAND. Individual growth modeling demonstrated that postoperative weight loss is strongly related to the frequency and consistency of follow-up visits.     

Sagittal spinopelvic parameters in children with achondroplasia: identification of 2 distinct groups

Imatinib mesylate has become the treatment of choice for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and has made a revolutionary impact on survival rates. Bone marrow necrosis is a very rare adverse event in malignant GIST. Bone metastases are also rarely encountered in the setting of this disease. The authors report on a patient with malignant GIST who developed a bone lesion, mimicking spinal metastasis on both MR imaging and FDG-PET/CT. Corpectomy and anterior fusion was performed, but the pathology report was consistent with bone marrow necrosis. Radiological and clinical similarities made the distinction between metastasis and bone marrow necrosis challenging for the treating physicians. Instead of radical surgical excision, more conservative methods such as percutaneous or endoscopic bone biopsies may be more useful for pathological confirmation, even though investigations such as MR imaging and FDG-PET/CT indicate metastatic disease.     

Comparison of dynamic versus static external fixation for pediatric femur fractures

External fixation of pediatric femoral shaft fractures has the advantages of minimal dissection and early weight bearing. However, it is associated with slow healing and potential for refracture. Some surgeons have proposed that axial dynamization may improve the speed and strength of callus formation. to test this hypothesis, we performed a randomized controlled trial using 53 femur fractures in 52 patients between 1995 and 1999. Patients were randomized to receive dynamic or static fixation. Average time until early callus formation was 23.2 days for dynamic fixation and 24.9 days for static fixation (P = 0.627). Average time until complete radiographic healing was 70.1 days for dynamic fixation and 63.1 days for static fixation (P = 0.370). Similarly, the differences in time to fixator removal and to full weight bearing did not reach statistical significance. The conclusion was that axial dynamization of external fixation for pediatric femur fractures has no significant effect on time to healing or frequency of complications.     

Mycotoxicosis – diagnosis,prevention and control: past practices and future perspectives

Abstract

Mycotoxins pose severe health hazards in animals, humans, and poultry birds. More than 400 chemically different mycotoxins have been identified to date. Twenty-five percent of world’s crops are potentially contaminated with mycotoxins. Luckily, nature has provided the ruminants a unique property of inactivating and detoxifying most of the mycotoxins with the help of microflora and microfauna present within their ruminal fluid; however, unfortunately avian species lack such ability putting them at high risk to the deleterious effects of mycotoxins. This review elaborates different strategies for diagnosis, prevention and control of mycotoxins.     

BKCa Channel Activation Attenuates the Pathophysiological Progression of Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Wistar Rats

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of a selective BKCa channel opener (compound X) in the treatment of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial...