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.     

T-2 toxin induces apoptosis, and selenium partly blocks, T-2 toxin induced apoptosis in chondrocytes through modulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.

T-2 toxin is one of the mycotoxins, a group of type A trichothecenes produced by several fungal genera including Fusarium species. In the present study, we have investigated the apoptotic effects of T-2 toxin on chondrocytes and the relationship between T-2 toxin induced chondrocyte apoptosis and its influence on Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression. We have also examined the inhibitory effects of selenium on chondrocyte apoptosis induced by T-2 toxin. We have combined morphological and biological techniques to establish the relevance of apoptosis in human chondrocyte death induced by T-2 toxin. Treatment with T-2 toxin caused accelerated apoptosis in a concentration dependent manner. The apoptosis induced by T-2 toxin involved an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Bcl-2 mRNA expression remained unchanged in chondrocyte apoptosis induced by T-2 toxin treatment, while Bax mRNA expression increased following treatment with T-2 toxin. Selenium could partly block the apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by T-2 toxin through decreasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These results suggest that, under our experimental conditions, apoptosis of chondrocytes can be induced by T-2 toxin (1-20ng/mL) via the Bcl-2 and Bax proteins, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio may play a critical role in governing the susceptibility to apoptosis induced by T-2 toxin in human chondrocytes.     

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.     

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.     

后循环缺血与眩晕

后循环又称椎基底动脉系统，由椎动脉、基底动脉和大脑后动脉（posterior cerebral artery，PCA）组成，主要向脑干、小脑、丘脑、枕叶、部分颞叶等结构供血。后循环缺血（posterior circulation ischemia,PCI）是常见的缺血性脑血管病。与前循环缺血一样，PCI也可按缺血程度和持续时间的不同分为短暂性脑缺血发作（transient ischemic attack,TIA）和脑梗死。其同义词包括椎基底动脉系统缺血、后循环TIA和脑梗死、椎基底动脉疾病、椎基底动脉血栓栓塞性疾病。     

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.