Dreaming during Anesthesia and Anesthetic Depth in Elective Surgery Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Dreaming reported after anesthesia remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Dreaming may be related to light anesthesia and represent near-miss awareness. However, few studies have assessed the relation between dreaming and depth of anesthesia, and their results were inconclusive. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that dreaming during anesthesia is associated with light anesthesia, as evidenced by higher Bispectral Index values during maintenance of anesthesia.

Methods: With approval, 300 consenting healthy patients, aged 18-50 yr, presenting for elective surgery requiring relaxant general anesthesia with a broad range of agents were studied. Patients were interviewed on emergence and 2-4 h postoperatively. The Bispectral Index was recorded from induction until the first interview. Dream content and form were also assessed.

Results: Dreaming was reported by 22% of patients on emergence. There was no difference between dreamers and nondreamers in median Bispectral Index values during maintenance (37 [23-55] vs. 38 [20-59]; P = 0.68) or the time at Bispectral Index values greater than 60 (0 [0-7] vs. 0 [0-31] min; P = 0.38). Dreamers tended to be younger and male, to have high home dream recall, to receive propofol maintenance or regional anesthesia, and to open their eyes sooner after surgery. Most dreams were similar to dreams of sleep and were pleasant, and the content was unrelated to surgery.     

颞肌筋膜瓣与全厚皮片移植修复下睑凹陷性畸形

目的探讨颞筋膜瓣或颞肌筋膜瓣与自体全厚皮片移植,在下睑凹陷性瘢痕畸形修复中的应用效果。方法设计以颞浅动脉为蒂的颞筋膜瓣,对伴眶下壁骨缺损者同时行以颞浅、深动脉为蒂的颞肌筋膜瓣,并取耳后全厚皮片移植联合矫正下睑凹陷性畸形。结果8例患者,术后组织瓣及皮片成活良好,凹陷处填充效果满意。随访6个月至1年,睑外翻矫正,瘢痕不显,颞部供区毛发生长良好。结论应用颞筋膜瓣或颞肌筋膜瓣与全厚皮片移植,联合矫正下睑凹陷性畸形的方法,具有操作简便,且无明显的供区损害的特点,是修复下睑凹陷性瘢痕畸形较理想的方法。     

Switching from Tacrolimus to Sirolimus Halts the Appearance of New Sebaceous Neoplasms in Muir-Torre Syndrome

Little is known about the effects of immunosuppression on patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). We describe a kidney transplant recipient with unrecognized Muir-Torre syndrome in whom the administration of a tacrolimus-based regimen led to the eruption of multiple sebaceous tumors. The patient was later found to harbor an MSH2 mutation. Switching to a sirolimus-based regimen resulted in arrest of the disease. When the patient was switched back to tacrolimus, new facial lesions rapidly appeared. Switching again to sirolimus resulted again in halting the appearance of new lesions. This finding is in line with the known antiangiogenic activity of sirolimus and reports on the regression of cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma in kidney transplant recipients switched from another immunosuppressive regimen to sirolimus. Further studies on the potential use of sirolimus for the treatment of de novo tumors in immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipients with HNPCC are warranted.     

Rationale,design, and protocol for the prevention of low back pain in the military (POLM) trial (NCT00373009)

Background  

There are few effective strategies reported for the primary prevention of low back pain (LBP). Core stabilization exercises targeting the deep abdominal and trunk musculature and psychosocial education programs addressing patient beliefs and coping styles represent the current best evidence for secondary prevention of low back pain. However, these programs have not been widely tested to determine if they are effective at preventing the primary onset and/or severity of LBP. The purpose of this cluster randomized clinical trial is to determine if a combined core stabilization exercise and education program is effective in preventing the onset and/or severity of LBP. The effect of the combined program will be compared to three other standard programs.     

Discrimination of exudative pleural effusions based on multiple biological parameters.

Pleural effusion is a common complication of various diseases. Conventional methods are not always capable of establishing the cause of pleural effusion, so alternative tests are needed. The aim of this study was to explore means of discriminating between different pleural effusion groups, malignant, parapneumonic and tuberculous, based on the combined function of seven biological markers. Adenosine deaminase (ADA), interferon-gamma, C-reactive protein (CRP), carcinoembryonic antigen, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor concentration levels were measured in pleural fluid from 45 patients with malignant, 15 with parapneumonic and 12 with tuberculous pleural effusion. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, multinomial logit modelling and canonical variate analysis were applied to discriminate the pleural effusion groups. The three groups could be discriminated successfully using the measured markers. The most important parameters for discrimination were ADA and CRP concentration levels. An individual with an ADA concentration level of >45 U.L(-1) and a CRP concentration of <4 mg.dL(-1) was more likely to belong to the tuberculous pleural effusion group, whereas one with an ADA concentration level of <40 U.L(-1) and a CRP concentration of >6 mg.dL(-1) was more likely to belong to the parapneumonic pleural effusion group, and one with a CRP concentration of <4 mg.dL(-1) to the malignant pleural effusion group. The combination of adenosine deaminase and C-reactive protein levels might be sufficient for discriminating between the three different groups of exudative pleural effusion: malignant, tuberculous and parapneumonic.     

普外科住院患者营养状况评价

目的　调查本院 2 0 0 2～ 2 0 0 3年间普外科住院患者的营养状况。方法　采用多项营养评价指标测定 4 0 12例非急诊住院患者营养状况 ,分析年龄、疾病等因素与营养状况之间关系。结果　各项指标进行营养评价得出本院普外科非急诊患者营养不良的发生率分别是 :BMI 2 1 3% ,TSF5 0 6 % ,MAC 2 0 5 % ,AMC 2 1 2 % ,SGA 38 0 % ,MNA 2 0 8% ,ALB 2 4 2 % ,PA 35 4 % ,TLC 5 5 8%。 >6 0岁组老年患者、消化道疾病患者及恶性肿瘤患者营养不良发生率分别高于≤ 6 0岁患者、消化道外疾病患者及良性疾病患者 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　本院普外科住院患者的营养不良发生率为 2 0 5 %～ 5 5 8% ,不同的营养评价指标得出的营养不良发生率不同。