Intracoronary shunt reduces postoperative troponin leaks: a prospective randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether intracoronary shunt usage reduced the myocardial damage on the basis of the cardiac markers when compared with the shuntless anastomosis in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) surgery of isolated left anterior descending artery lesions. METHODS: Forty patients who had stable angina with isolated left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery lesion undergoing OPCABG surgery were randomized into two groups. Shunt group consisted of 20 patients who had OPCABG using intracoronary shunt, whereas the shuntless group consisted of 20 patients who underwent OPCABG without using intracoronary shunt. Cardiac troponin I, CK, and CK-MB before and 24h after the surgery were assessed in the groups. RESULTS: There were no deaths in the study. The two groups were similar with respect to sex and age. Duration of LIMA-LAD anastomosis was significantly higher in the shunt group (p=0.01). There was no significant difference between the groups concerning the preoperative and postoperative CK and CK-MB levels. The preoperative troponin I levels of the groups were not different (p=0.238; NS), whereas postoperative levels of this marker was significantly higher in the shuntless group (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Intracoronary shunt reduced the postoperative troponin I levels significantly, so it may be indicated in the patients who are thought to be susceptible to transient ischemia.     

Recombinant activated factor VII for intractable bleeding post splenectomy in a patient with myeloproliferative disorder.

Recombinant activated factor VII has been Food and Drug Administration approved to treat hemorrhages in hemophiliac patients with inhibitors and in acquired hemophilia patients. Recombinant activated factor VII use has also been considered for the management of uncontrolled bleeding in a number of congenital and acquired hemostatic abnormalities. The myeloproliferative disorders are a group of clonal hematologic diseases where, frequently, abnormal platelet function is considered a hallmark. This is the first case report addressing the clinical benefit of off-label use of recombinant activated factor VII in an attempt to control intractable bleeding in a patient with a myeloproliferative disorder after splenectomy.     

Low back pain education and short term quality of life: a randomized trial

Background  

Different interventions can reduce the burden of the chronic low back pain. One example is the use of a 'Back School Programme'. This is a brief therapy that uses a health education method to empower participants through a procedure of assessment, education and skill development. This study aimed to evaluate to what extent the programme could improve quality of life in those who suffer from the condition.     

Evaluation of pH and calcium ion release of Acroseal sealer in comparison with Apexit and Sealapex sealers.

OBJECTIVE: This is an in vitro assessment of pH level and calcium ion release exhibited by 3 calcium hydroxide-based root canal sealers-Sealapex, Apexit, and Acroseal. STUDY DESIGN: The materials were prepared according to the manufacturers' instructions and placed in 1 cm long and 4 mm diameter tubes. The tubes were then immersed in a glass flask containing 10 mL bidistilled water (n = 15), which was sealed and stored at 37 degrees C before the materials had set. The control group contained bidistilled water with empty tubes (n = 12). At predetermined time intervals (24 h, 96 h, and 7, 15, and 28 days) the pH of the bidistilled water was tested with a pH meter and for released calcium by using spectrophotometry. The data were statistically analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance for the comparison of the materials at each time point. If the difference was significant, individual comparisons were performed by Tukey multiple comparisons test (alpha = .05). RESULTS: Sealapex produced higher pH and released significantly higher calcium amounts than the other 2 sealers at all periods (P < .05). Apexit showed higher calcium release than Acroseal at the end of 15 days (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the pH between Apexit and Acroseal (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The new Acroseal sealer presented the least calcium ion release and pH than Sealapex and less calcium ion release than Apexit sealer.     

Histopathologic changes in oral mucosa of Yemenis addicted to water-pipe and cigarette smoking in addition to takhzeen al-qat.

BACKGROUND: Because the clinicopathologic effects of takhzeen al-qat are similar to those induced by smoking, the aim of this paper was to study the oral effect of 3 bad oral habits: takhzeen al-qat and cigarette and water-pipe smoking. STUDY DESIGN: This study was done on 33 Yemeni chronic qat users grouped as heavy cigarette smokers (GI), nonsmokers (GII) and water-pipe smokers (GIII). In all cases (n = 33) 2 biopsies were taken (n = 66), one from the buccal mucosa at the chewing side and the other from a similar mucosa at the contralateral (nonexposed) side. Biopsies were prepared for routine H&E staining. RESULTS: Acanthosis appeared in 88% and 0%, abnormal rete ridges in 70% and 3%, hyperparakeratosis in 67% and 0%, and epithelial dysplasia in 30% and 0% of the chewing and nonchewing sides, respectively, in the 3 groups. Epithelial dysplasia appeared in 41% of GI and GIII (smokers) but in only 9% of GII (nonsmokers). CONCLUSIONS: Takhzeen al-qat causes distinct histopathologic changes in the oral mucosa at the side of chewing, such as acanthosis, abnormal rete ridges, and hyperparakeratosis. The association between takhzeen al-qat and cigarette or water-pipe smoking may increase the risk of epithelial dysplasia.     

Fast decomposition of water and lipid using a GRASE technique with the IDEAL algorithm.

Three-point Dixon techniques achieve good lipid-water separation by estimating the phase due to field inhomogeneities. Recently it was demonstrated that the combination of an iterative algorithm (iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL)) with a fast spin-echo (FSE) three-point Dixon method yielded robust lipid-water decomposition. As an alternative to FSE, the gradient- and spin-echo (GRASE) technique has been developed for efficient data collection. In this work we present a method for lipid-water separation by combining IDEAL with the GRASE technique. An approach to correct for errors in the lipid-water decomposition caused by phase distortions due to the switching of the readout gradient polarities inherent to GRASE is presented. The IDEAL-GRASE technique is demonstrated in phantoms and in vivo for various applications, including pelvic, musculoskeletal, and (breath-hold) cardiac imaging.     

Holmes-like tremor of the lower extremity following brainstem hemorrhage.

Holmes tremor is an arrhythmic, 2- to 5-Hz resting, postural, and kinetic upper extremity movement disorder that occurs weeks to months after acute mesencephalic pathology. We present a patient who developed tremor in three body parts postbrainstem hemorrhage with subsequent hypertrophic olivary degeneration and discuss the relevant clinical evolution. Our case is unique because in addition to expected upper extremity and cervical dystonic head tremors, the patient also developed a severe lower extremity movement disorder, which we believe to be a form of Holmes tremor. Tremor involving the lower extremity in this setting has not been previously reported.