A new heparin fragment decreases liver ischemia-reperfusion injury

<正>To the Editor:Ischemia-reperfusion injury following surgery and transplantation can lead to irreversible multiorgan failure.Intracellular calcium overload is associated to cellular death during ischemiareperfusion.A recently discovered heparin fragment (HF),trisulfated disaccharide (TD),that acts on sodium-calcium exchanger(NCX) decreasing intracellular Ca²⁺,showed effectiveness on protecting hepatocytes from ischemia-reperfusion injury [1],     

Ethmoid sinus disease: CT evaluation in 400 cases. Part II. Postoperative findings

Clinical, pathologic, and computed tomographic (CT) findings were reviewed in 400 patients with ethmoid sinus disease, including 272 who had undergone surgery. The postoperative appearance of ethmoid sinuses on CT scans is a highly neglected subject in radiologic literature. The unique ethmoid anatomy permits a variety of surgical approaches, and radiologists must be familiar with the postoperative appearances if they are to recognize the effects of prior surgery and detect, when possible, the recurrence of disease. It is often difficult to evaluate the clinical significance of soft-tissue disease, despite good clinical correlation.     

The emerging dental workforce: why dentistry? A quantitative study of final year dental students' views on their professional career

Background  

Dental graduates are joining a profession experiencing changes in systems of care, funding and skill mix. Research into the motivation and expectations of the emerging workforce is vital to inform professional and policy decisions. The objective of this research was to investigate final year dental students' perceived motivation for their choice of career in relation to sex, ethnicity and mode of entry.     

Effectiveness of prolonged use of continuous passive motion (CPM), as an adjunct to physiotherapy,after total knee arthroplasty

Background  

Adequate and intensive rehabilitation is an important requirement for successful total knee arthroplasty.     

老年人平衡能力特点及评估

学术背景:平衡能力是人体的一项重要生理机能,在人类生活中有非常重要的意义.特别是老年人平衡能力下降,直接影响老年人独立生活能力,严重的会引起老年人跌倒,诱发其他疾病.目的:总结老年人平衡能力的国内外研究现状,并展望未来老年人平衡能力研究的发展方向.检索策略:应用计算机检索PubMed数据库1990-12/2007-06有关老年人平衡能力方面的文章,检索词“elderly,balance“,限定文章语言种类为English,共检索到208篇文章.同时应用计算机检索中国期刊全文数据库、万方数据库1997-12/2007-06的相关文章,检索词“老年人、平衡能力“,限定文章语言种类为中文,共检索到85篇文章.对资料进行初审,选取符合研究要求的有关文章找全文.纳入标准:①平衡能力的研究.②老年人平衡特征.③平衡能力评价.④运动干预对平衡能力的研究.排除理由:①较陈旧的文献.②重复研究.文献评价:共19个研究满足全部纳入标准,予以纳入.其中6篇为老年人平衡特征的文献、8篇平衡评价的文献、5篇运动干预老年人平衡影响的文献.资料综合:①平衡能力是人体相关系统功能的集中表现,研究影响平衡能力的前庭系统、视觉系统、躯体感觉、神经系统及肌肉-骨骼等系统功能增龄性的变化趋势,探究导致平衡能力增龄性变化的主要因素是待解决的问题.②平衡测试是定量评定平衡能力的前提,针对老年群体的特殊性,逐步寻求安全、简捷能全面反映其平衡能力的测试方法.③国内专业人员日益提高了对平衡的关注,发表的论文也较多,但由于平衡评定方法不统一,对中国人民平衡能力增龄性变化的研究没有继承性,研究国民的平衡能力增龄性变化是必要的.④众多研究表明,体育锻炼可以延缓平衡能力的衰退.但研究比较分散,运动项目比较单一,探究利于干预的运动项目以及最佳时机是待解决的热点课题.结论:建立一整套适合中国国民平衡能力评价体系,研究国民的平衡能力增龄性变化是十分有必要的,为全民健身活动中的老年人科学地进行健身提供依据.     

Effect of cisapride on functional dyspepsia in patients with and without histological gastritis: A double-blind placebo-controlled trial

In the present double-blind placebo-controlled study the effect of cisapride on functional dyspepsia was evaluated in patients with and without histological gastritis. Patients with functional dyspepsia and whose symptoms persisted after a 2 week run-in period with antacid treatment were randomized to receive cisapride (10 mg) or matching placebo three times daily for 4 weeks. Symptoms of epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, belching, early satiety and heartburn were graded on a four-point scale based on patients’ feedback and diary card recording. A global response was also formulated by the investigators. One hundred and four patients entered the study and 76 completed the trial, comprising 36 patients with histological gastritis and 40 patients without gastritis. Symptom scores in both gastritis and non-gastritis groups were significantly improved by both cisapride and placebo; however, the improvement was not statistically different between the two treatment groups. Cisapride produced a good or better global response in 58% of subjects with histological gastritis and in 53% of subjects without gastritis compared with 47% and 52%, respectively, of patients on placebo; this difference was not statistically significant. Gastric histology did not influence the effect of cisapride on the symptoms of functional dyspepsia.