Myasthenia Gravis Appearing After Thymectomy: a Case Report and Review of the Literature

A small proportion of thymoma patients without myasthenia gravis (MG) have been observed to develop MG after total removal of the thymoma. However, the underlying cause is not yet known due to the rarity of postoperative MG patients. We report a 39-year-old man in whom MG appeared after surgical removal of a thymoma. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed no signs of recurrent or metastatic thymoma. Administration of pyridostigmine bromide resulted in the prompt improvement of myasthenic symptoms. Our observations indicate that postoperative follow-up care with monitoring of possible postoperative MG is necessary after resecting a thymoma.     

Comparison of the effects of three different combinations of general anesthetics on the electroretinogram of dogs

The objective of this study is to compare the effects of three different anesthetic combinations on the electroretinogram in the same animals under similar laboratory conditions. Thiopental–isoflurane (TI), medetomidine–ketamine (MK), and xylazine–ketamine (XK) were used on each of 12 healthy miniature schnauzer dogs (MS) with a period of at least 3 weeks in between subsequent anesthesia protocols, using the Dog Standard Protocol. The scotopic ERGs consisted of scotopic low stimulus strength (S) responses designated S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after dark adaptation, respectively, and scotopic standard stimulus strength (S-ST) responses. The photopic ERGs consisted of a photopic single flash (P) response and 31 Hz flicker (P-FL) responses. For S-ST (2.5 cd s/m²), the amplitude of the a-wave using TI was significantly lower than that using MK (adjusted P = 0.05) and XK (adjusted P = 0.03), and the implicit time of the a-wave was significantly shorter than that using MK (adjusted P = 0.04). For P (2.5 cd s/m²), the amplitude of the b-wave using XK was significantly higher than that using MK (adjusted P = 0.01). The implicit times of the b-wave using TI was significantly longer and shorter than that of MK for S1, S2 and P-FL and for S4 and S-ST, respectively, and than that of XK for S2 and P-FL and for S5 and S-ST, respectively. The results of the present study showed that TI affected both the amplitude and the implicit time of the a-wave for S-ST and the implicit time of the b-wave relatively more so than was the case when using XK or MK. Therefore, it appears that either XK or MK could be advantageous to use rather than TI for clinical studies.     

血管介入仿真模拟器在心血管医生冠状动脉介入技术规范化培训中的作用

目的明确Angiomemor（美国Simbionix公司生产）血管介入仿真模拟器是否有助于冠状动脉造影技术的掌握和提高。方法选取16名无血管放射介入经验的心血管医生，接受相同课时的冠状动脉介入造影理论培训后，按随机表编码随机分为模拟器培训组与非培训组各8名，模拟器培训组8名医生接受Angiomemor血管介入仿真模拟器培训，模拟冠状动脉造影操作，非培训组8名心血管医生未接受仿真模拟器培训。在随后的真实临床环境中操作冠状动脉造影时，评价2组医生冠状动脉造影操作过程中错误的频数、平均造影时间、造影剂使用量及术中放射线剂量。结果相对于非培训组，模拟器培训组医生在冠状动脉造影操作中错误频数减少62．5％、平均造影时间减少44．0％、造影剂使用量减少44．0％，术中平均放射线曝光时间减少了57．7％，平均X线累计曝光剂量减少51．6％，单位面积X线累计曝光剂量减少了52．4％。结论Angiomemor血管介入仿真模拟器有助于医生较快地熟练掌握冠状动脉造影技术，是冠状动脉介入规范化培训的重要辅助手段之一。     

Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential monitoring during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in nonmyelopathic patients--a review of 1,039 cases.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring has been shown to reduce the incidence of new postoperative neurological deficits in scoliosis surgery. However, its usefulness during cervical spine surgery remains a subject of debate. PURPOSE: To determine the utility of intraoperative SSEP monitoring in a specific patient population (those with cervical radiculopathy in the absence of myelopathy) who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 1,039 nonmyelopathic patients who underwent single or multilevel ACDF surgery. The control group (462 patients) did not have intraoperative SSEP monitoring, whereas the monitored group (577 patients) had continuous intraoperative SSEP monitoring performed. OUTCOME MEASURE: A new postoperative neurological deficit. METHODS: SSEP tracings were reviewed for all 577 patients in the monitored group and all significant signal changes were noted. Medical records were reviewed for all 1,039 patients to determine if any new neurological deficits developed in the immediate postoperative period. RESULTS: None of the patients in the control group had any new postoperative neurological deficits. In the monitored group there were six instances of transient SSEP changes (1 due to suspected carotid artery compression; 5 thought to be due to transient hypotension) which resolved with the appropriate intraoperative intervention (repositioning of retractors; raising the arterial blood pressure). Upon waking up from anesthesia, one patient in the monitored group had a new neurological deficit (partial central cord syndrome) despite normal intraoperative SSEP signals. CONCLUSIONS: ACDF appears to be a safe surgical procedure with a low incidence of iatrogenic neurological injury. Transient SSEP signal changes, which improved with intraoperative interventions, were not associated with new postoperative neurological deficits. An intraoperative neurological deficit is possible despite normal SSEP signals.     

Alveolar hydatid disease of the liver: Brief review and spectrum of adjacent organ invasion

The purpose of this study is to show the spectrum of adjacent organ invasion and to make a brief review of hepatic alveolar hydatid disease (AHD), using CT and MR imaging. We retrospectively reviewed CT and MR images of three patients with various adjacent organ invasions surgically and histologically proven to be AHD. Local invasion to right kidney and adrenal, right hemidiaphragm and lung were detected in one patient, right adrenal in another patient and gall bladder, duodenum, gastric wall and pancreas invasion in the other. AHD may rarely extend to the gall bladder, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, right adrenal and kidney, diaphragm, pleura and lung. The extension of the disease outside the liver is usually encountered in patients with large, peripherally located masses in the advanced stage of the disease.     

Pituitary abscess in a pregnant woman.

Pituitary abscess is a rare and potentially lethal condition. Pituitary abscess in a pregnant woman has not been previously described. A 38-year-old pregnant woman (34 weeks gestation) with a pituitary mass complained of a progressive headache and sudden visual impairment. She was afebrile and had no inflammatory symptoms on admission. On MRI, the preoperative diagnosis was pituitary adenoma with sphenoid sinusitis. She underwent an uncomplicated transsphenoidal procedure for removal of the pituitary mass. The next day, labor commenced and a healthy preterm baby was delivered. Pathologic examination of the intrasellar mass showed polymorphonuclear cells, debris and no tumor cells. The sellar contents were cultured and Streptococcus viridans was grown. To our knowledge this is the first case of pituitary abscess reported during pregnancy. Although the patient was pregnant, the transsphenoidal approach was safe for the mother and the fetus. Surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy are required for the definitive treatment of this condition.     

胆囊癌组织中NDPK／nm23的表达及意义

作者用免疫组化ＡＢＣ法对４１例胆囊癌标本核苷二磷酸激酶（ＮＤＰＫ，下同）／ｎｍ２３表达进行了测定，结果发现：ｎｍ２３在恶性肿瘤中的表达率明显高于良性病变（Ｐ＜０．０５）。ＮＤＰＫ／ｎｍ２３表达与胆囊癌组织的分化、局部浸润及淋巴转移密切相关（Ｐ＜０．０１）。ＮＤＰＫ／ｎｍ２３阳性患者生存中位数１２．２５个月，阴性患者６．５个月，两者存在显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１），提示ｎｍ２３检测对预后有重要价值。     

Heat probe thermocoagulation as a substitute for surgical intervention to arrest massive peptic ulcer hemorrhage: an experience in 153 cases

In a period of 2 years 7 months, we performed heat probe (HP) thermocoagulation in 153 cases of massive peptic ulcer hemorrhage. The male/female sex ratio was 125/28. The average age was 57.6 +/- 1.3 years (mean +/- SEM; range, 17 to 88). There were 69 cases (45.1%) of spurting hemorrhage, 50 cases (32.7%) of oozing hemorrhage, and 34 cases (22.2%) of nonbleeding visible vessels. Seventy-seven patients (50.3%) were in shock before therapy. After therapy we obtained initial success in 147 cases (96.1%). Rebleeding episodes occurred in 23 patients (15.6%) within 1 month after therapy. Nineteen patients received a second therapy, and treatment in 15 of these cases (78.9%) was ultimately successful. Finally, treatment in 142 cases (92.8%) was ultimately successful. The duration of hospitalization was 6.3 +/- 0.4 days (mean +/- SEM). After discharge all patients were followed at the outpatient department for at least 1 month. Sixty-seven patients were followed endoscopically for at least 2 to 3 months after therapy. Fifty-six patients (83.6%) had a healed scar at the previous bleeding site 2 months after therapy, and 62 patients (92.5%) had a healed scar 3 months after therapy. We conclude that HP thermocoagulation is an ideal and reliable modality of therapeutic endoscopy in arrest of massive peptic ulcer hemorrhage. HP thermocoagulation may become the first choice of therapy for massive peptic ulcer bleeding in the near future.     

联苯苄唑凝胶治疗婴儿花斑癣22例临床效果分析

目的总结分析1%联苯苄唑凝胶治疗婴儿花斑癣的临床疗效及不良反应。方法对22例婴儿花斑癣患者采用外用1%联苯苄唑凝胶治疗2周,总结分析其临床资料。结果外用1%联苯苄唑凝胶2周后,总有效率达到90.91%,真菌清除率达到86.36%。结论联苯苄唑凝胶治疗婴儿花斑癣安全、有效,不良反应少。