Effects of early reperfusion on the mechanical and biochemical characteristics of ischemic myocardium

Coronary reperfusion of ischemic myocardium may be beneficial but is highly dependent upon occlusion and reperfusion times. To study the effects of early reperfusion on ischemic myocardium, 24 open chest pigs underwent coronary occlusion; one group was occluded for 40 min, and the other was occluded for 30 min followed by 10 min of reperfusion. Left ventricular wall thickness during systole and diastole was determined by ultrasound. Mitochondrial energy production and calcium content were evaluated from ischemic and nonischemic areas. Results showed: There was an absence of systolic thickness, a slight decrease of diastolic thickness from baseline, and a decrease in energy production in the ischemic myocardium. Reperfusion resulted in a diverse pattern of systolic and diastolic wall thickness in the ischemic area and a variable Ca2+ accumulation and mitochondrial ATP production. The variability of myocardial Ca2+ accumulation in the ischemic reperfused group correlated inversely with mitochondrial ATP production (r = -0.94) and directly with diastolic wall thickness (r = 0.65). Similarly, calcium accumulation, ATP production, and diastolic wall thickness correlated with mean blood pressure during reperfusion. These results suggest that many factors including individual characteristics of the animal and experimental conditions such as the level of blood pressure and the degree of calcium accumulation may determine outcome of reperfusion even in as brief a period as 10 min.     

Evaluation of the MagNA Pure LC used with the TRUGENE HBV Genotyping Kit.

BACKGROUND: The current manual sample processing method recommended for use with the TRUGENE HBV Genotyping Kit (TRUGENE HBV; Bayer HealthCare LLC, Tarrytown, NY) is labor-intensive and may be prone to specimen cross-contamination. Recent evaluations of the MagNA Pure LC (MP; Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, IN) suggest that it is suitable for automated, contamination-free extraction and purification of viral nucleic acids from large-volume (1.0 mL) serum or plasma specimens. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the MP Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit--Large Volume (Roche Applied Science) in conjunction with TRUGENE HBV to establish the analytical sensitivity (threshold titer) of the assay, in HBV DNA International Units (IU)/mL, for obtaining consistent, interpretable sequence data from TRUGENE HBV. STUDY DESIGN: HBV analytical standards, prepared as 10 replicates (1.0 mL each) at each of the following concentrations: 200, 1000, 5000, and 10,000 IU/mL, were processed by MP and analyzed by TRUGENE HBV according to manufacturer's instructions. Performance of TRUGENE HBV used in conjunction with MP sample processing was evaluated further using 22 clinical serum specimens containing low titers of HBV DNA. RESULTS: All replicates of HBV analytical standards at 1000, 5000, and 10,000 IU/mL yielded interpretable TRUGENE HBV sequences, whereas interpretable sequences were obtained in 90% (9 of 10) of the replicates at 200 IU/mL. TRUGENE HBV sequences were interpretable in 86% (19 of 22) of the clinical specimens studied. CONCLUSIONS: MP sample processing is efficient and suitable for use with TRUGENE HBV. When combined with MP sample processing, TRUGENE HBV yielded interpretable sequences from HBV analytical standards and clinical serum specimens with HBV DNA titers of > or =200 IU/mL.     

Just-in-Time Evidence-Based E-mail “Reminders” in Home Health Care: Impact on Patient Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of two information-based provider reminder interventions designed to improve self-care management and outcomes of heart failure (HF) patients. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Interview and agency administrative data on 628 home care patients with a primary diagnosis of HF. STUDY DESIGN: Patients were treated by nurses randomly assigned to usual care or one of two intervention groups. The basic intervention was an e-mail to the patient's nurse highlighting six HF-specific clinical recommendations. The augmented intervention supplemented the initial nurse reminder with additional clinician and patient resources. DATA COLLECTION: Patient interviews were conducted 45 days post admission to measure self-management behaviors, HF-specific outcomes (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-KCCQ), health-related quality of life (EuroQoL), and service use. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Both interventions improved the mean KCCQ summary score (15.3 and 12.9 percent, respectively) relative to usual care (p< or =.05). The basic intervention also yielded a higher EuroQoL score relative to usual care (p< or =.05). In addition, the interventions had a positive impact on medication knowledge, diet, and weight monitoring. The basic intervention was more cost-effective than the augmented intervention in improving clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the positive impact of targeting evidence-based computer reminders to home health nurses to improve patient self-care behaviors, knowledge, and clinical outcomes. It also advances the field's limited understanding of the cost-effectiveness of selected strategies for translating research into practice.     

Pancreatic cancer–Palliative therapy: surgery (bypass/resection)

Objective: We compare the outcome of palliative pancreaticoduodenectomy and palliative surgical bypass in patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma in our hospital. Recent published related articles are also reviewed. Methods: A respective analysis was performed comparing the perioperative parameters and outcome of 20 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with a gross suspected cancer residue and 30 patients who underwent a surgical bypass, all of the patients were diagnosed as in advanced stages intra-operatively. Results: The two groups were comparable with patient characteristics, including age, gender, initial symptoms and concomitant major organ diseases. Tumors are similar in size and intra-operatively diagnosed as in advanced stages in both groups. All of the patients in the resection group were microscopically proved having cancer residue. One postoperative mortality occurred in the resection group (5%), zero in the bypass group (P > 0.05). Overall complications were significantly higher in the resection group (30% vs. 0, P < 0.01), including 2 patients developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), zero in the bypass group (P < 0.01); hemorrhage and transfusions in the resection group were much more than that in the bypass group (P < 0.05). Hospital stay after resection was significantly longer than bypass (20 vs. 12 days, P < 0.01). Hospital fee after resection was 4 times more than after bypass (median 61.500 vs. 15. 300 yuan, P < 0.01). Survival was significantly longer after resection (median 12.2 vs. 7.1 months, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Our results show that palliative resection in advanced pancreatic carcinoma lengthens the survival time of the patients, but this is paid for significantly higher complications than bypass.     

可调节型充气体位垫的制作和应用

手术中常用体位垫来调整体位及预防褥疮,但以往使用的软垫、海绵垫等却不可根据手术及术中的要求来调节高度,我科对其进行研究并利用现有材料,将其改进制成可调节型充气体位垫,投入临床试用,效果较好。现介绍如下。1材料与制作取上海百特医疗用品有限公司生产的3L容量的氯化钠溶液软包装袋一个,将其中一个出口封闭,使其不漏气。将一根长30cm~50cm长的橡胶管固定于另一个出口,使其不漏气,并将输血器调节器穿于橡胶管上,调节滚轴,起开关作用。连接气压止血器充气,即成可调节型充气调节体位垫。2使用方法根据手术要求将橡胶管连接于气压止血器…     

长期输精管结扎术后附睾的超声表现

目的:探讨长期输精管结扎术后附睾的超声表现。方法:选择输精管结扎术后10～31年且有临床症状的患者64例(结扎组)。同时选择同期被临床诊断为附睾疾病而无结扎史的患者60例作为对照组。用高频超声观察附睾头、体、尾部的形态,厚度及内部回声;用彩色多普勒血流图或能量图观察附睾的血流状况。结果:结扎组附睾体部增厚、尾部增厚、头体尾均增厚及附睾管扩张的发生率分别为64.1%、78.1%、42.2%、54.7%,均显著高于对照组的15.0%、51.7%、8.3%、8.3%(P<0.01),而结扎组附睾的高血供发生率15.6%显著低于对照组的61.7%(P<0.01)。结论:长期输精管结扎术后附睾的主要超声表现是附睾增厚、附睾管扩张,但附睾血流多为无血供或低血供状况。     

介入治疗下肢深静脉血栓的临床应用

目的 探讨介入治疗下肢深静脉血栓(deep venous thrombosis,DVT)的效果. 方法 38例DVT均行深静脉置管接触性溶栓,12例联合血管球囊扩张及血管内支架置入术.按我院疗效观察标准:治愈,造影检查示血栓完全溶解,静脉壁光滑;显效,静脉回流通畅,静脉内有附壁血栓,管腔内径≥2/3;有效,静脉内仍有血栓残留,管腔内径＜2/3;无效,造影检查示静脉回流不通畅. 结果 治愈22例,显效14例,有效2例.治疗中无严重并发症发生.34例随访3～24个月,其中3～6个月7例,7～12个月12例,13～24个月15例,血栓复发2例,经再次深静脉置管接触性溶栓治疗后部分再通. 结论 介入治疗DVT操作简便,安全有效.     

CT导向下经皮射频消融术治疗肾上腺恶性肿瘤

目的对29例肾上腺肿瘤患者行射频消融（RFA）治疗，研究其近期局部治疗效果、不良反应和副作用。方法肾上腺肿瘤患者共29例，病灶总数31个，其中直径≤2．0cm的病灶共5个，2．1-4．0cm者18个，4．1-6．0cm者5个，≥6．1cm者3个，经RFA治疗1个月后行螺旋CT双期增强扫描评价肿瘤治疗效果。结果上述病灶经消融治疗后达到完全坏死者分别为5个、18个、3个、2个。患者无严重并发症出现。结论RFA治疗安全可靠，副作用小，是治疗肾上腺恶性肿瘤的有效方法之一。     

多疗程治疗的癌症病人入院时的焦虑状态调查

[目的]了解恶性肿瘤病人反复多次入院治疗时的心理状态,通过护理干预帮助病人更快投入治疗情境.[方法]通过焦虑自评量表(SAS)进行心理测验,随机将病人分为对照组和实验组,针对结果分别进行相应护理,1周后复查.[结果]实验组和对照组护理后的SAS评分差异显著.[结论]癌症病人多疗程入院的病人焦虑状况严重,实施焦虑的支持护理及心理辅助,可较好地促进病人进入治疗角色,减少弃治轻生的发生.