A survey of technical considerations in the construction of intestinal stomas

Reported complications rates for the construction of intestinal stomas are high. Many of these complications result from improper construction, improper location, or other technical errors. In order to sample the techniques of stoma construction currently in use, a survey was conducted at the 69th Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons in Atlanta in conjunction with our scientific exhibit "Complications of Intestinal Stomas." A total of 245 surgeons completed the questionnaire with a mean age of 47.8 years. The routine use of fascial-seromuscular tacking sutures and primary maturation of a loop colostomy in the presence of distal obstruction were among the most controversial technical points considered. Many other subtle but important principles of stoma construction were also discussed. In addition, the authors contend that many of the techniques currently in use result from an underemphasis on the importance of proper stoma construction in many surgical training programs.     

Lymphographic abnormalities in patients with Brugia malayi filariasis and "idiopathic tropical eosinophilia"

Peripheral lymphography was carried out in 17 patients with elephantiasis and microfilaremia (Brugia malayi) and the findings compared to ten patients with "idiopathic tropical eosinophilia." There were extensive changes in peripheral lymphatic and regional nodal architecture in each group suggesting that "occult filariasis" is the cause of idiopathic tropical eosinophilia.     

CSS-Ⅱ型ECG微机自动诊断与临床金标准在1160例中的比较研究

作者自行设计的CSS-Ⅱ型心电图微型计算机自动诊断系统试用于临床,受试者1160例,其中波形异常和心律失常共247份心电图,从913份正常心电图中随机抽样106份,两者共计353份图纸,用本研究诊断确定的“金标准”(Gold standard)与该系统的自动诊断结论进行比较。结果:波形诊断及心律失常的诊断一致率均在90％以上,排除了机遇诊断一致率,其波形为90％,心律失常为88％。     

Anti-lipolytic action of prazosin in hamster fat cells

Using isolated white fat cells of the hamster, we studied the possible inhibitory effects on lipolysis of the preferentially selective alpha-1-adrenoceptor blocking and anti-hypertensive agent prazosin. Parallel studies were undertaken with the preferentially alpha-2-adrenoceptor blocking agent yohimbine. Neither of the compounds had any significant effects on basal (non-stimulated) lipolysis. When lipolysis was stimulated by noradrenaline or isoprenaline, however, prazosin showed significant anti-lipolytic effects from a concentration of 10(-6) M. Lipolysis stimulated by methylisobutylxanthine was antagonized by prazosin only at a concentration of 10(-4) M, and dibutyrylcyclic adenosine 3'5' monophosphate-stimulated lipolysis was not inhibited at all. It is suggested that prazosin inhibits lipolysis by preventing adenyl cyclase activation by an indirect mechanism not identifiable with an alpha-2-adrenergic function but associated possibly with the formation of a local inhibitory mediator. These observations are compatible with a reduction of the outflow of free fatty acids from adipose stores in patients undergoing prazosin therapy and thus a breaking of the "vicious circle" leading to elevated plasma lipoproteins and may explain, in part at least, the reduction in plasma lipid levels observed during prazosin treatment in man.     

Correction to: Patterns of School Victimization and Problem Behaviors: Longitudinal Associations with Socioeconomic Well-Being and Criminal Justice Involvement

Child & Youth Care Forum -     

Association of Coffee Consumption and Its Types According to Addition of Sugar and Creamer with Metabolic Syndrome Incidence in a Korean Population from the Health Examinees (HEXA) Study

Coffee is widely consumed worldwide, and numerous studies indicate that coffee consumption may potentially affect the development of chronic diseases. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) may constitute a risk factor for chronic diseases. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the association between coffee consumption and MetS incidence. All participants were selected from the Health Examinees study. MetS was defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the relationship between coffee consumption and MetS incidence. In comparison with non-consumers, male moderate consumers (≤3 cups/day) showed a lower risk for low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (≤1 cup/day, hazard ratio (HR): 0.445, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.254–0.780; 1–3 cups/day, HR: 0.507, 95% CI: 0.299–0.859) and high fasting blood glucose (FPG) (≤1 cup/day, HR: 0.694, 95% CI: 0.538–0.895; 1–3 cups/day, HR: 0.763, 95% CI: 0.598–0.972). Male 3-in-1 coffee (coffee with sugar and creamer) consumers also showed a lower risk for low HDL-C (HR: 0.423, 95% CI: 0.218–0.824) and high FPG (HR: 0.659, 95% CI: 0.497–0.874). These findings indicate a negative association between moderate coffee consumption and low HDL-C and high FPG among Korean male adults.     

Assessing the Impact of Salt Reduction Initiatives on the Chronic Disease Burden of Singapore

Globally, many countries are facing an increasing burden of chronic disease due to ageing populations, of which cardiovascular disease forms a large proportion. Excess dietary sodium contributes to cardiovascular disease risk and requires intervention at a population level. This study aimed to quantify the impact of several salt reduction initiatives on population health over a 30-year horizon using GeoDEMOS, a population model from Singapore. Four interventions were modelled in four demographic groups in 2020 for a total of 16 intervention scenarios. The effect of 0.5, 2.0, and 4.0 g/day reductions in daily salt consumption, along with adherence to the World Health Organization guidelines of a maximum of 5.0 g of salt each day, was modelled in the entire population, including the overweight and obese, the elderly, and diabetics. In each scenario, the number of averted incident cases of acute myocardial infarction and stroke, along with the disability-adjusted life years up to 2050, was monitored. We found 4.0 g/day reductions in salt consumption were the most effective when implemented across the entire population, resulting in 24,000 averted incident cases of cardiovascular disease and 215,000 disability-adjusted life years over 30 years. This is a large figure when compared with the 29,200 projected annual incident cases of cardiovascular disease in 2050. When targeted at specific high-risk demographic groups, the largest effects were observed in the overweight and obese, with the same intervention yielding 10,500 averted incident cases of cardiovascular disease and 91,500 disability-adjusted life years. Quantifying the benefits of salt reduction initiatives revealed a significant impact when administered across the entire population or the overweight and obese. Health promotion efforts directed toward sustainably reducing salt consumption will help to lower the chronic disease burden on the healthcare system in years to come.     

High-Protein,Low-Glycaemic Meal Replacement Decreases Fasting Insulin and Inflammation Markers—A 12-Month Subanalysis of the ACOORH Trial

Lifestyle interventions, including meal replacement, are effective in the prevention and treatment of type-2-diabetes and obesity. Since insulin is the key weight regulator, we hypothesised that the addition of meal replacement to a lifestyle intervention reduces insulin levels more effectively than lifestyle intervention alone. In the international multicentre randomised controlled ACOORH (Almased Concept against Overweight and Obesity and Related Health Risk) trial, overweight or obese persons who meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome (n = 463) were randomised into two groups. Both groups received nutritional advice focusing on carbohydrate restriction and the use of telemonitoring devices. The intervention group substituted all three main meals per day in week 1, two meals per day in weeks 2–4, and one meal per day in weeks 5–26 with a protein-rich, low-glycaemic meal replacement. Data were collected at baseline and after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. All datasets providing insulin data (n = 446) were included in this predefined subanalysis. Significantly higher reductions in insulin (−3.3 ± 8.7 µU/mL vs. −1.6 ± 9.8 µU/mL), weight (−6.1 ± 5.2 kg vs. −3.2 ± 4.6 kg), and inflammation markers were observed in the intervention group. Insulin reduction correlated with weight reduction and the highest amount of weight loss (−7.6 ± 4.9 kg) was observed in those participants with an insulin decrease > 2 µU/mL. These results underline the potential for meal replacement-based lifestyle interventions in diabetes prevention, and measurement of insulin levels may serve as an indicator for adherence to carbohydrate restriction.