Per‐oral transgastric abdominal surgery

Laparoscopic surgery has several advantages over traditional surgery because it has been shown to be less invasive. The next logical step in the evolution of minimally invasive surgery may be to eliminate all abdominal incisions. The natural orifices provide a port of entry via the gastrointestinal tract to the peritoneal cavity. This approach would require the creation of a perforation, which is considered to be a major complication of endoscopy with significant morbidity and mortality. However, there are several recent studies that have described the technical feasibility and safety of a per‐oral transgastric approach to the peritoneal cavity using conventional endoscopes. Theoretically, this approach could reduce postoperative abdominal wall pain, wound infection, hernia formation, and adhesions. This article aims to summarize the current status of transgastric surgery, currently referred to as natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), and to address some of its future challenges.     

Risk factors and ankle brachial indexes in cerebral infarction combined with peripheral arterial disease

BACKGROUND: Ankle brachial index(ABI)is widely involved in researches and clinical application of peripheral vascular injury of patients with diabetes (DM);however ,the application in cerebral infarction(CI)is rare.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible risk factor of cerebral infarction plus peripheral arterial disease(PAD),compare metabolic characteristics of patients who having CI plus PAD or only having CI,and understand the significance of ABI on screening and diagnosing CI plus PAD of lower limb.DESIGN: Contrast observation based on CI patients.SETTING: Deparment of Neurology,Nanxishan Hospital of Guangxi Zhang Autonomous Region.PARTICIPANTS:A total of 124 CI patients were selected from Department of Neurology.Nanxishan Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from July 2005 to April 2006,including 72 males and 52 females aged from 45 to 88 years.All patients met the diagnostic criteria of cerebrovascular disease established by National Academic Conference of Cerebrovascular Diseases in 1995 and determined as cerebral infarction with MRI or CT examination.All patients provided informed consent.There were 46 cases(37.2%)with CI plus PAD and 78 cases(62.8%)only with CI.METHODS: Blood pressure of bilateral ankles and upper extremities was measured at plain clinostatism with DINAMAP blood pressure monitor(GE Company).The ratio between average systolic pressure of lateral ankle and average systolic pressure of both upper extremities was regarded as ABI.The normal ABI was equal to or more than 0.9.If ABI＜0.9 occurred at one side,patients were diagnosed as PAD.On the second morning after hospitalization,blood was collected to measure fasting blood glucose(FBG),2-hour postprandial blood glucose(PBG2h),glycosylated hemoglobin(HbAlc),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C).Among them,blood glucose.lipid and other biochemical markers were measured with enzyme chemistry assay and HbA1c was measured with HbA1c meter based on high liquid phase.Measurement data and enumeration data were compared with t test and Chi-square test.and multiple factors were deat with Logistic regression analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of correlation between ABI and metabolic markers with multivariate linear regression analysis;risk factors of CI plus PAD with Logistic regression analysis;comparisons of metabolic markers between PAD and non-PAD patients.RESULTS:All 124 patients with acute CI were involved in the final analysis.①Comparisons of metabolic markers:Levels of serum LDL-C and uric acid(UA)were higher of PAD patients than those of non-PAD patients(t=2.051 9,3.339 1,P＜0.05);however,there were no significant differences among other metabolic markers(P＞0.05).②Results of multivariate linear regression analysis:PBG2h,LDL.C and UA were obvious correlation with ABI of posterior tibial artery of lower limb and dorsal pedis artery rpartial regression coefficient:-0.231 to-1.010,P＜0.05).③Risk factors of CI plus PAD with Logistic regression analysis:Age.Smoking history,sum of CI focus(≥3)and LDL-C were independent risk factor of CI plus PAD(OR=1.524-5.422,P＜0.05-0.01 ).CONCLUSION:①Levels of serum LDL-C and UA of patients with CI plus PAD are high.②ABI of lower limbs is correlation with PBG2h,LDL-C and UA.In addition,measuring ABI is beneficial for early diagnosing PAD of lower limbs of patients who have poorly controlled blood glucose,abnormal lipid and poor renal function.③Age,LDL-C and sum of CI focus(≥3)are independent risk factors of CI plus PAD.It is of significance for screening non-PAD patients to evaluate risk degrees and prognosis and select therapeutic methods based on ABI measurement.     

Perspectives on Health Among Adult Users of Illicit Stimulant Drugs in Rural Ohio

CONTEXT: Although the nonmedical use of stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine is increasingly common in many rural areas of the United States, little is known about the health beliefs of people who use these drugs. PURPOSE: This research describes illicit stimulant drug users' views on health and health-related concepts that may affect their utilization of health care services. METHODS: A respondent-driven sampling plan was used to recruit 249 not-in-treatment, nonmedical stimulant drug users who were residing in 3 rural counties in west central Ohio. A structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers was used to collect information on a range of topics, including current drug use, self-reported health status, perceived need for substance abuse treatment, and beliefs about health and health services. FINDINGS: Participants reported using a wide variety of drugs nonmedically, some by injection. Alcohol and marijuana were the most commonly used drugs in the 30 days prior to the interview. Powder cocaine was used by 72.3% of the sample, crack by 68.3%, and methamphetamine by 29.7%. Fair or poor health status was reported by 41.3% of the participants. Only 20.9% of the sample felt they needed drug abuse treatment. Less than one third of the sample reported that they would feel comfortable talking to a physician about their drug use, and 65.1% said they preferred taking care of their problems without getting professional help. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulant drug users in rural Ohio are involved with a range of substances and hold health beliefs that may impede health services utilization.     

Pick’s disease with Pick bodies combined with progressive supranuclear palsy without tuft‐shaped astrocytes: A clinical,neuroradiologic and pathological study of an autopsied case

We report clinical, neuroradiologic features, and neuropathologic findings of a 76‐year‐old man with coexistent Pick’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. The patient presented with loss of recent memory, abnormal behavior and change in personality at the age of 60. The symptoms were progressive. Three years later, repetitive or compulsive behavior became prominent. About 9 years after onset, he had difficulty moving and became bed‐ridden because of a fracture of his left leg. His condition gradually deteriorated and he developed mutism and became vegetative. The patient died from pneumonia 16 years after the onset of symptoms. Serial MRI scans showed progressive cortex atrophy, especially in the bilateral frontal and temporal lobes. Macroscopic inspection showed severe atrophy of the whole brain, including cerebrum, brainstem and cerebellum. Microscopic observations showed extensive superficial spongiosis and severe neuronal loss with gliosis in the second and third cortical layers in the frontal, temporal and parietal cortex. There were Pick cells and argyrophilic Pick bodies, which were tau‐ and ubiquitin‐positive in neurons of layers II–III of the above‐mentioned cortex. Numerous argyrophilic Pick bodies were observed in the hippocampus, especially in the dentate fascia. In addition, moderate to severe loss of neurons was found with gliosis and a lot of Gallyas/tau‐positive globus neurofibrillary tangles in the caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, thalamus, substantia nigra, locus coeruleus and dentate nucleus. Numerous thorned‐astrocytes and coiled bodies but no‐tuft shaped astrocytes were noted in the basal ganglion, brainstem and cerebellar white matter. In conclusion, these histopathological features were compatible with classical Pick’s disease and coexistence with progressive supranuclear palsy without tuft‐shaped astrocytes.     

前置胎盘孕妇恐惧心理观察及护理

目的观察前置胎盘孕妇的恐惧心理反应，做好前置胎盘孕妇的心理护理。方法由孕妇自行填写CES-D和SA2量表，进行统计学分析。结果70．2％的前置胎盘孕妇具有恐惧心理。结论在妊娠过程应提高孕妇认知水平，加强心理护理，有助于她们顺利渡过妊娠期。     

The distally based sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap for foot reconstruction.

Finding appropriate soft-tissue to cover a wound located over the middle or distal portion of the foot can be challenging. A distally based sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap including the sural nerve and a midline cuff of the gastrocnemius muscle can be used for this purpose. This flap is designed on the proximal third of the posterior calf and is nourished in a retrograde manner by the lower peroneal septocutaneous perforators, through the vascular axis of the sural nerve to the musculocutaneous perforators of the gastrocnemius muscle. Between October of 2002 and January of 2004, this flap was applied in nine individuals, including four diabetic patients. The skin defects all resulted from trauma, osteomyelitis or chronic ulcer, and combined with bone or tendon exposure. One flap developed distal necrosis. The other flaps survived fully and provided good contour. In our series, diabetes mellitus seemed not to compromise the vascularity of the flap. The distally based sural fasciomusculocutaneous flap is very useful for lower limb reconstruction, particularly for the foot, because of its long vascular pedicle and the availability of the skin portion of the proximal calf based on direct branches between the musculocutaneous perforators and the neurovascular axis of the sural nerve. This is an important variant of the sural neurocutaneous flap and it appears to be a good alternative to free flaps for resurfacing the foot.     

三磷酸腺苷结合盒运转体A1与颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的关系

目的 探讨三磷酸腺苷结合盒运转体A1(ATP binding cassette transporter A1,ABCA1)在人颈动脉粥样硬化斑块中的表达变化及作用机制.方法 收集24例人颈动脉粥样硬化斑块标本和10例肠系膜动脉标本(对照组),采用RT-PCR测定ABCA1 mRNA和视黄酸X受体α(RXRα)mRNA表达水平,并采用Western Blot检测ABCA1及RXRα的蛋白表达水平.24例人颈动脉粥样硬化斑块标本按病理分级,比较病理组织为Ⅲ级和Ⅰ级动脉粥样硬化组织间ABCA1 mRNA、RXRαmRNA表达水平及蛋白表达水平.结果 颈动脉粥样硬化斑块组的ABCA1 mRNA(0.79±0.04)和RXRα mRNA(0.73±0.04)表达与对照组相比上调,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);ABCA1 mRNA与RXRα mRNA增加水平相关(P＜0.05);颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的ABCA1蛋白表达(0.22±0.03)下调水平与对照组(0.53±0.03)相比差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);Ⅲ级和Ⅰ级动脉硬化斑块ABCA1mRNA、RXRα mRNA及蛋白表达水平差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 ABCA1及RXRα蛋白表达水平下调可能是进展性动脉粥样硬化损害的关键因素.     

Observations on the efficacy of combined acupuncture and medicine in Treating 50 cases of pseudobulbar paralysis

目的：观察针药结合治疗假性延髓麻痹的疗效。方法：采用完全随机抽样法分为针刺组50例，对照组48例。针刺组在西医治疗的同时，应用针刺进行综合治疗；对照组单纯接受西医药物治疗。结果：针刺组有效率为92．0％，对照组为62．5％。两组疗效差异具有非常显著性意义（P〈0．01）。结论：针药结合治疗假性延髓麻痹效果明显优于单纯西药治疗。