Duodenal Volvulus: Report of a Case

A duodenal volvulus is a hitherto unreported condition caused by an abnormal mobility of the third and fourth parts of the duodenum. We herein report the first such case, including its presentation, management, and possible etiology. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Social Cognitive Changes Following Weight Loss and Physical Activity Interventions in Obese, Older Adults in Poor Cardiovascular Health

Background

The study objectives were to determine (a) the effects of group-mediated cognitive?Cbehavioral interventions on change in performance self-efficacy, satisfaction with function, and with appearance among older, overweight/obese adults in poor cardiovascular health and (b) whether self-efficacy mediated change in 400-m walk time.

Methods

This translational, randomized controlled trial of physical activity and weight loss was conducted within community Cooperative Extension Centers. Participants were randomized to three intervention arms: Physical Activity, Weight Loss?+?Physical Activity, or a Successful Aging education control.

Results

Across 18?months, the Weight Loss?+?Physical Activity intervention demonstrated greater improvements in self-efficacy, satisfaction with function, and appearance versus other trial arms. Physical Activity intervention participants also experienced significant improvements in self-efficacy and satisfaction with function versus those in Successful Aging. Self-efficacy mediated 400-m walk time at 18?months.

Conclusions

Both group-mediated cognitive?Cbehavioral interventions yielded desirable improvements in social cognitions and preserved mobility improvements post-intervention.     

The MTT-assay as a rapid test for cell proliferation and cell killing: application to human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL).

The possibility to use the colorimetric MTT assay for measuring proliferation and cell death of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was studied. In a range from 100,000-800,000 cells/well a linear correlation between the optical signal (OD signal at 570 nm) and the cell number was found. It is necessary to incubate the cells with the MTT at least 2 hours. After stimulation by different PHA concentrations a very good correlation between [3H] thymidine incorporation and MTT assay was found. A comparison of daunomycin cytotoxicity, measurement by trypan blue exclusion and MTT assay, gave also a good correlation between both methods. It can be pronounced that the MTT assay is a suitable method to measure cell proliferation and cell death of human PBL. The assay is easy to handle, a large number of probes can be assayed in a relatively short time and no radioactivity is necessary. For the measurement of the colored product a common ELISA reader can be used.     

MEBT/MEBO治愈夫妻面部烧伤的护理体会

目的：介绍夫妻二人同时面部酒精火焰烧伤后,用ＭＥＢＯ治愈护理的体会。方法：采用ＭＥＢＴ／ＭＥＢＯ、创面与心理护理等方法,并总结了经验与才识结果：ＭＥＢＴ／ＭＥＢＯ对颜面部浅Ⅱ度和深Ⅱ度创面有止痛效果,愈合快,无明显疤痕及色素沉着。结论：ＭＥＢＴ／ＭＥＢＯ对颜面部Ⅱ度烧伤创面是最适宜的治疗方法。     

烧伤大鼠早期胃肠喂养的实验研究

目的：探讨严重烧伤后早期胃肠性喂养的作用及方法。方法：对伤后２小时既开始喂养的严重烧伤大鼠进行血浆蛋白监测,并与正常大鼠及伤后禁食大鼠作对比。结果：喂养组大鼠伤后７天血浆球蛋白明显上升至接近正常,胃肠粘膜病理变化减轻。结论：早期喂养有减轻胃肠及全身损害的作用。     

Lower respiratory illness in infants and young children with cystic fibrosis

The purpose of our study was to assess the effect on pulmonary function of adding intravenous hydrocortisone to the standard treatment of infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) hospitalized for lower respiratory illnesses (LRI). Twenty CF infants were randomized and received 10 days of hydrocortisone (10 mg/kg/day) or placebo in addition to standard treatment with intravenous antibiotics, chest physiotherapy, and an aerosolized-agonist with cromolyn. Functional residual capacity (FRC) and forced expiratory flows (V′_{max, FRC}) were measured on admission, on Day 10 of hospitalization, and as outpatients 1–2 months following hospital discharge. Pulmonary function values were adjusted for differences in body length and expressed as Z-scores. Upon admission, flows were decreased, and FRC was increased in both groups; there were no differences between the groups. The change in pulmonary function from admission to Day 10 of hospitalization was not different for the two groups. From admission to outpatient follow-up after hospitalization, there was a significant increase in flows for the steroid group, but not for the placebo group. In addition, the direction of change in FRC was significantly different for the two groups; the steroid group had a small decrease in FRC, while the placebo group had a small increase in FRC. These findings suggest that the addition of intravenous hydrocortisone to the standard treatment of CF infants hospitalized for a LRI may produce a greater or a more sustained improvement in lung function following hospitalization. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 1997;24:48–51. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.