Effects of sex and age on strength-duration properties.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible effects of sex and age on strength-duration time constant (SDTC). METHODS: The SDTC of 126 healthy volunteers was measured following stimulation of right median nerve at the wrist. Variations in values were evaluated according to sex and age. RESULTS: The SDTC was 438.6+/-114.5 micros in women and 396.2+/-90.3 in men (P=.023). In men, as age increased, so did SDTC. However, this was not true in women. Comparing the values of women and men, aged below 40, demonstrated a difference in excitability, confined to younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: As SDTC depends on the biophysical properties of the axonal membrane and can provide some information about Na(+) channel function, these data raise the possibility of a difference in Na(+) channel function between men and women and a difference in the conductance with age. SIGNIFICANCE: The age- and sex-related differences shown in this study suggest a possible biochemical or hormonal influence on axonal excitability.     

The effect of chronic restraint stress and sulfite on visual evoked potentials (VEPs): relation to lipid peroxidation.

Stress and sulfite can stimulate numerous pathways leading to an increased production of free radicals which generate a peroxidation cascade producing lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, DNA damage and cell death, and contribute to the occurrence of pathologic conditions. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of stress and sulfite on visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and to examine the relationship between lipid peroxidation and VEP changes. Forty male wistar rats, aged three months were used. They were equally divided into four groups: control (C), the group exposed to restraint stress (R), the group treated with sulfite (S) and the group exposed to stress and treated with sulfite (RS). Chronic restraint stress was applied for 21 days (1h/day) and sodium metabisulfite (520 mg/kg/day) was given by gavage for the same period. All latencies of VEP components were prolonged in the R, S and RS groups with respect to the C group. Brain and retina TBARS levels were found to be increased in those groups compared to the C group. Our results strongly suggest that the latency prolongations of all VEP components may have resulted from the enhancement of lipid peroxidation. Correlation analysis between brain and retina TBARS levels and VEP latencies also support this conclusion. Our data in regard to latency prolongations of all VEP components in the stress group exposed to sulfite, reflected an additive effect of sulfite toxicity on VEP components. Therefore it could be suggested that chronic exposure to stress and sulfite together is associated with a considerable health risk.     

儿童脊柱结核再次手术原因分析

目的:探讨儿童脊柱结核再手术原因。方法:2002年6月~2013年6月行手术治疗的儿童脊柱结核患者123例,其中男59例,女64例;年龄6.9±4.8岁(1~14岁)。其中76例患者行前路手术,26例行后路手术,21例行前后路联合手术。分析再手术原因。结果:其中27例患者再次手术治疗,男15例,女12例;年龄8.2±4.1岁(2~13岁)。其中,脊柱结核迁延不愈或复发5例,脊柱后凸畸形14例,术后内固定断裂或脱出4例,脊柱结核复发同时伴内固定螺钉断裂、内固定棒断裂1例,脊柱结核迁延不愈伴脊柱后凸畸形2例,术后内固定棒断裂伴脊柱后凸畸形1例。再次手术患者中,初次行前路手术者19例,后路手术者4例,前后路联合手术者4例。初次行前路、后路和前后路联合手术后因脊柱后凸畸形再手术的百分率比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05),因术后脊柱结核迁延不愈或复发再手术的百分率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),术后因内固定断裂或脱出再手术的百分率比较差异有统计学意义(PP0.05)。结论:儿童脊柱结核再次手术的原因复杂,主要有术后脊柱后凸畸形、术后脊柱结核的迁延不愈或复发、术后内固定断裂或脱出。儿童脊柱结核行前路手术后因脊柱后凸畸形而再次手术的百分率比后路或前后路联合手术高。     

Bony palatal necrosis in a diabetic patient secondary to palatal rotational flap

Donor site necrosis is a very rare complication of palatal rotational flaps. The aim of this case report is to present a 43-year-old female, Type I diabetic patient with a chronic oroantral fistula in the right second molar region. The patient had bony necrosis in the donor site following palatal rotational flap operation. The treatment approach and the alternative methods are discussed.     

Phytochemical constituents,biological activities,and health‐promoting effects of the genus Origanum

Origanum species are mostly distributed around the Mediterranean, Euro‐Siberian, and Iran‐Siberian regions. Since time immemorial, the genus has popularly been used in Southern Europe, as well as on the American continent as a spice now known all over the world under the name “oregano” or “pizza‐spice.” Origanum plants are also employed to prepare bitter tinctures, wines, vermouths, beer, and kvass. The major components of Origanum essential oil are various terpenes, phenols, phenolic acids, and flavonoids with predominant occurrence of carvacrol and thymol (with reasonable amounts of p‐cymen and ‐terpinene) or of terpinene‐4‐ol, linalool, and sabinene hydrate. Many species of Origanum genus are used to treat kidney, digestive, nervous, and respiratory disorders, spasms, sore throat, diabetes, lean menstruation, hypertension, cold, insomnia, toothache, headache, epilepsy, urinary tract infections, etc. Origanum essential oil showed potent bioactivities owing to its major constituents' carvacrol, thymol, and monoterpenes. Several preclinical studies evidenced its pharmacological potential as antiproliferative or anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, anti‐obesity, renoprotective, antiinflammatory, vasoprotective, cardioprotective, antinociceptive, insecticidal, and hepatoprotective properties. Its nanotechnological applications as a promising pharmaceutical in order to enhance the solubility, physicochemical stability, and the accumulation rate of its essential oils have been investigated. However, Origanum has been reported causing angioedema, perioral dermatitis, allergic reaction, inhibition of platelet aggregation, hypoglycemia, and abortion. Conclusive evidences are still required for its clinical applications against human medical conditions. Toxicity analyses and risk assessment will aid to its safe and efficacious application. In addition, elaborate structure–activity studies are needed to explore the potential use of Origanum‐derived phytochemicals as promising drug candidates.     

Aortic cusp ablation for premature ventricular contractions and ventricular tachycardia in children: a 5-year single-center experience

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology - Aortic cusps might be the source of supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias. For many years, aortic cusp ablation has been widely used to...     

Railway graft for internal nasal valve reconstruction

Background

Although many methods have been proposed to restore the internal nasal valve (INV) such as suture techniques, various grafts, upper lateral cartilage folding techniques, and combined techniques, the most popular and effective one remains spreader grafts. The aim of the present study is to propose a new graft design for INV reconstruction and to test the reliability and feasibility of the technique.

Methods

Thirty-two primary septorhinoplasty patients divided in three groups underwent surgery with railway, spreader, and no graft techniques. The functional results were evaluated with the Nasal Obstruction Evaluation Scale (NOSE) scores subjectively.

Results

Significant improvements were observed comparing preoperative and postoperative NOSE scores in railway and spreader grafts groups. However, there was no significant difference in NOSE scores between those groups of patients.

Conclusions

Railway graft is an effective method that can be recommended if septal cartilage is limited for reconstruction of INV. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.