Routine defunctioning stoma after chemoradiation and total mesorectal excision:A single-surgeon experience

AIM:To investigate the 10-year results of treating low rectal cancer by a single surgeon in one institution.METHODS:From Oct 1998 to Feb 2009,we prospectively followed a total of 62 patients with cT2-4 low rectal cancer with lower tumor margins measuring at 3 to 6 cm above the anal verge.All patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiation(CRT) for 6 wk.Among them,85% of the patients received 225 mg/m2/d 5-fluorouracil using a portable infusion pump.The whole pelvis received a total dose of 45 Gy of irradiation in 25 fractions over 5 wk.The interval from CRT completion to surgical intervention was planned to be approximately 6-8 wk.Total mesorectal excision(TME) and routine defunctioning stoma construction were performed by one surgeon.The distal resection margin,circumferential resection margin,tumor regression grade(TRG) and other parameters were recorded.We used TRG to evaluate the tumor response after neoadjuvant CRT.We evaluated anal function outcomes using the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center anal function scores after closure of the defunctioning stoma.RESULTS:The median distance from the lower margin of rectal cancer to the anal verge was 5 cm:6 cm in 9 patients,5 cm in 32 patients,4 cm in 10 patients,and 3 cm in 11 patients.Before receiving neoadjuvant CRT,45 patients(72.6%) had a cT3-4 tumor,and 21(33.9%) patients had a cN1-2 lymph node status.After CRT,30 patients(48.4%) had a greater than 50% clinical reduction in tumor size.The final pathology reports revealed that 33 patients(53.2%) had a ypT3-4 tumor and 12(19.4%) patients had ypN1-2 lymph node involvement.All patients completed the entire course of neoadjuvant CRT.Most patients developed only Grade 1-2 toxicities during CRT.Thirteen patients(21%) achieved a pathologic complete response.Few post-operative complications occurred.Nearly 90% of the defunctioning stomas were closed within 6 mo.The local recurrence rate was 3.2%.Pathologic lymph node involvement was the only prognostic factor predicting disease recurrence(36.5% vs 76.5%,P = 0.006).Ne     

Neurodevelopmental outcome over time of preterm born children ≤750 g at birth

Background

Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are at risk of cognitive impairment and follow-up is therefore of major importance. The age at which their neurodevelopmental outcome (NDO) can reliably be predicted differs in the literature.

Aims

To describe NDO at 2, 3.5 and 5.5 years in an ELBW cohort. To examine the value of NDO at 2 years corrected age (CA) for prediction of NDO at 3.5 and 5.5 years.

Study design

A retrospective cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort study.

Subjects

101 children with a BW ≤ 750 g, born between 1996 and 2005, who survived NICU admission and were included in a follow-up program.

Outcome measures

NDO, measured with different tests for general development and intelligence, depending on age of assessment and classified as normal (Z-score ≥ − 1), mildly delayed (− 2 ≤ Z-score < − 1) or severely delayed (Z-score < − 2).

Results

At 2, 3.5 and 5.5 years 74.3, 82.2 and 76.2% had a normal NDO. A normal NDO at 2 years CA predicted a normal NDO at 3.5 and 5.5 years in 92% and 84% respectively. Of the children with a mildly or severely delayed NDO at 2 years CA the majority showed an improved NDO at 3.5 (69.2%) and 5.5 years (65.4%) respectively.

Conclusions

The majority of the children with a BW ≤ 750 g had a normal NDO at all ages. A normal NDO at 2 years CA is a good predictor for normal outcome at 3.5 and 5.5 years, whereas a delayed NDO at 2 years CA is subject to change with the majority of the children showing a better NDO at 3.5 and 5.5 years.     

双(2,6-哌嗪二酮)类抗肿瘤药物的研究:2,3-二乙酰氧基-1,4-二(3′,5′-二酮-N4′-取代哌嗪甲基)苯的合成

Seventeen compounds having the structure of 2,3-diacetoxy-1,4-bis(3′,5′- dioxo-N⁴′-substituted piperazinyl methyl)benzene were designed and synthesized based on chelation hypothesis. Their antitumor activities on P388 cells,Hep cells and SGC 7901 cells in vitro were tested. Preliminary results showed that compound 4e has potent antitumor effect against P388 cells and.Hep cells in vitro.     

Anti-phospholipid antibodies and pregnancy loss.

Anti-phospholipid antibodies such as the lupus anticoagulant and anti-cardiolipin antibodies, are antibodies directed at negatively charged phospholipids and have received much attention in the last decade. Their presence has been associated with a thrombotic tendency, leading to a variety of clinical symptoms. In the pregnant woman, the presence of these antibodies may have consequences for management, since retrospective reports have established a correlation between the lupus anticoagulant or anti-cardiolipin antibodies with intrauterine fetal death, probably due to placental thrombosis. This article reviews current knowledge on anti-phospholipid antibodies in relation to pregnancy loss, focusing on clinical aspects.     

内镜下扩大经鼻蝶入路至斜坡区的解剖学研究

目的探索内镜下经扩大鼻蝶入路显露斜坡区的可行性,为切除斜坡区病变提供解剖学参考。方法在10例成人头部固定标本上,内镜下模拟扩大经鼻蝶手术入路显露斜坡区,观察有关显微解剖标志。结果扩大经鼻蝶内镜入路可磨除从鞍后到斜坡、枕骨大孔前缘的骨性结构;可显露斜坡区腹侧硬膜下的椎基底动脉及其分支、后交通动脉及其与大脑后动脉汇合处、动眼神经、脑干腹侧等结构。此入路的手术标志主要包括:蝶筛隐窝、蝶窦开口、视神经隆突、颈内动脉隆突与颈内动脉视神经隐窝、咽结节、枕骨大孔前缘。结论内镜下扩大经鼻蝶手术入路可充分显露鞍后-斜坡区的腹侧硬膜下结构,适用于此区病变的手术治疗。     

Value of high-definition imaging in neuroendoscopy

To compare the image quality of a standard definition （SD） three-chip camera with a new high-definition （HD） three-chip camera. In five neurosurgical interventions, an SD three-chip camera and an HD three-chip camera were used with the same endoscopic equipment. Both cameras were used while performing one endoscopic third ventriculostomy, one endoscope-assisted microvascular decompression, one endoscope-assisted removal of a vestibular schwannoma, and two endonasal pituitary surgeries. To provide comparable conditions, the outputs of both cameras were displayed on the same fiat screen and were recorded on hard disk with an appropriate workstation using a visually lossless codec.     

The effect of vaginal and cesarean delivery on lower urinary tract symptoms: what makes the difference?

A prospective cohort study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of pregnancy and childbirth in nulliparous pregnant women. The focus of this paper is on the difference in the prevalences and risk factors for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) between woman who delivered vaginally or by cesarean and secondly the effect of LUTS on the quality of life between these two groups was analyzed. Included were 344 nulliparous pregnant women who completed four questionnaires with the Urogenital Distress Inventory and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ). Two groups were formed: vaginal delivery group (VD), which included spontaneous vaginal delivery and an instrumental vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery group (CD). No statistical significant differences were found in the prevalences of LUTS during pregnancy between the two groups. Three months after childbirth, urgency and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) are less prevalent in the CD group, but no statistical difference was found 1 year postpartum. Stress incontinence was significantly more prevalent in the VD group at 3 and 12 months postpartum. The presence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in early pregnancy is predictive for SUI both in the VD as in CD group. A woman who underwent a CD and had SUI in early pregnancy had an 18 times higher risk of having SUI in year postpartum. Women were more embarrassed by urinary frequency after a VD. After a CD, 9% experienced urge urinary incontinence. Urge incontinence affected the emotional functioning more after a cesarean, but the domain scores on the IIQ were low, indicating a minor restriction in lifestyle. In conclusion, after childbirth, SUI was significantly more prevalent in the group who delivered vaginally. Besides a vaginal delivery, we found both in the VD and in the CD group that the presence of SUI in early pregnancy increased the risk for SUI 1 year after childbirth. Further research is necessary to evaluate the effect of SUI in early pregnancy on SUI later in life. Women were more embarrassed by urinary frequency after a vaginal delivery. UUI after a CD compared to a vaginal birth limited the women more emotionally; no difference was found for the effect of SUI on the quality of life between the two groups.     

精液分析现状：对《亚洲男性学杂志》出版的陆金春等所著的“中国118家实验室精液分析状况的调查”一文的评论

陆金春等^[1]所著的“中国118家实验室精液分析状况的调查”一文主要回顾了当前在中国采用的精液分析方法。调查使用的是作者自己设计的包括36个问题的“男科实验室精液分析调查表”。给145家精液实验室发放了调查表，收回118份答卷。调查表均由实验室专业技术人员填写。     

Snake bites by the jararacucu (Bothrops jararacussu): clinicopathological studies of 29 proven cases in Sao Paulo State, Brazil

The jararacucu, one of the most dreaded snakes of Brazil, southern Bolivia, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina, is a heavily-built pit viper which may grow to a length of 2.2 m. Up to 1000 mg (dry weight) of highly-lethal venom may be milked from its venom glands on a single occasion. It has accounted for 0.8% to 10% of series of snake bites in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. We examined 29 cases of proven jararacucu bites recruited over a 20-year period in two Sao Paulo hospitals. Severe signs of local and systemic envenoming, (local necrosis, shock, spontaneous systemic bleeding, renal failure) were seen only in patients bitten by snakes longer than 50 cm; bites by shorter specimens were more likely to cause incoagulable blood. Fourteen patients developed coagulopathy, six local necrosis (requiring amputation in one) and five local abscesses. Two became shocked and four developed renal failure. Three patients, aged 3, 11 and 65 years, died 18.75, 27.75 and 83 h after being bitten, with respiratory and circulatory failure despite large doses of specific antivenom and intensive-care- unit management. In two patients, autopsies revealed acute renal tubular necrosis, cerebral oedema, haemorrhagic rhabdomyolysis at the site of the bite and disseminated intravascular coagulation. In one survivor with chronic renal failure, renal biopsy showed bilateral cortical necrosis; the patient remains dependent on haemodialysis. Effects of polyspecific Bothrops antivenom were not impressive, and it has been suggested that anti-Bothrops and anti-Crotalus antivenoms should be given in combination.