The median palmar cutaneous nerve in normal subjects and CTS.

OBJECTIVE: The neurophysiological confirmation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) relies on detecting abnormal median nerve transcarpal conduction in the presence of unaffected comparator nerves. We compare the palmar cutaneous median branch (PCBm) with the ulnar sensory nerve conduction to digit 5 (US(5)) as comparator nerves for diagnosing CTS. METHODS: In a prospective case control study of patients with clinically defined carpal tunnel syndrome and normal subjects, we determined and compared the PCBm and US(5) conduction velocity. RESULTS: We examined 57 hands with clinically defined CTS and 59 control hands. Comparison showed highly significantly slowed PCBm conduction (p<0.0001) but not for US(5) conduction (p=0.488). Using a 3 percentile cut-off for abnormality derived from controls, PCBm conduction velocity was abnormal in 46% of CTS hands. CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency of PCBm nerve conduction abnormality in CTS suggests that this nerve should not be used as a comparator nerve for the neurophysiological diagnosis of CTS. This finding may help explain some of the extension of sensory symptoms outside the median nerve distribution in CTS. SIGNIFICANCE: In CTS frequent abnormality of PCBm conduction makes this a poor comparator nerve and may explain extension of sensory symptoms beyond the median nerve.     

Anterior translocaton of pulmonary artery without aortic transection in repair of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve.

We developed a technique of translocation of the pulmonary artery anterior to the ascending aorta without transection of the aorta in the repair of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve. Our technique includes detachment of the main pulmonary artery (MPA) from the pulmonary annulus, vertical division of the MPA, anterior translocation of the pulmonary artery with patch augmentation between the vertically divided MPA.     

Avoidance of Nitrous Oxide for Patients Undergoing Major Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Nitrous oxide is widely used in anesthesia, often administered at an inspired concentration around 70%. Although nitrous oxide interferes with vitamin B12, folate metabolism, and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and prevents the use of high inspired oxygen concentrations, the consequences of these effects are unclear.

Methods: Patients having major surgery expected to last at least 2 h were randomly assigned to nitrous oxide-free (80% oxygen, 20% nitrogen) or nitrous oxide-based (70% N2O, 30% oxygen) anesthesia. Patients and observers were blind to group identity. The primary endpoint was duration of hospital stay. Secondary endpoints included duration of intensive care stay and postoperative complications; the latter included severe nausea and vomiting, and the following major complications: pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, wound infection, myocardial infarction, venous thromboembolism, stroke, awareness, and death within 30 days of surgery.

Results: Of 3,187 eligible patients, 2,050 consenting patients were recruited. Patients in the nitrous oxide-free group had significantly lower rates of major complications (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.89; P = 0.003) and severe nausea and vomiting (odds ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.51; P < 0.001), but median duration of hospital stay did not differ substantially between groups (7.0 vs. 7.1 days; P = 0.06). Among patients admitted to the intensive care unit postoperatively, those in the nitrous oxide-free group were more likely to be discharged from the unit on any given day than those in the nitrous oxide group (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.73; P = 0.02).     

豚鼠爆震性聋耳蜗结构与功能的动态变化

目的 探讨爆震性聋与耳蜗损伤之间的关系。方法 通过畸变产物耳声发射及扫描电镜进行研究。结果 豚鼠爆震后即刻出现听阈的提高，与爆震前相比，DPOAEs幅值于1kHz处开始出现非常显著的减低（P〈0．05），在8kHz处两者的差值更大（P〈0．05），DPOAEs幅值随频率升高而逐渐下降，以高频段更为严重。爆震后20天DPOAEs幅值在0．5、0．7、1kHz处基本恢复至爆震前水平，在1．5—8kHz处较爆震后即刻明显提高，但仍低于爆震前水平（各频率均P〈0.05）。爆震后40天DPOAEs幅值与爆震后20天无明显改变（各频率均P〉0．05）。扫描电镜下见豚鼠爆震后即刻出现IHC纤毛排列紊乱，第一排OHC形态基本正常，第二排OHC部分纤毛扭曲或倒伏，尚可看到鸟翼状结构，第三排OHC倒伏、分散，部分折断；20天组IHC纤毛排列仍然紊乱，第一排OHC纤毛基本正常，第二、第三排OHC纤毛排列极度扭曲，以第三排更为严重，少数OHC溶解变性，空位由支持细胞取代；40天组与20天组无明显差别。结论 爆震性聋出现耳蜗HC结构改变及功能减退，提示耳蜗损伤与爆震性聋紧密相关。     

Interaction of epidermal growth factor, Ca2+, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in primary keratinocyte migration

Elevations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and Ca²⁺ concentrations in the wound site are associated with reepithelialization during wound healing. In addition, Ca²⁺ and EGF can both induce increases in matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) synthesis. However, little is known about the interplay of these events in regulating the migration properties of primary keratinocytes on collagen I, the most abundant extracellular matrix component in the skin. We found that EGF stimulated both chemokinetic and chemotactic migration of primary keratinocytes on collagen I; however, MMP‐9 was required for EGF‐stimulated chemotaxis but not EGF‐stimulated chemokinesis. Calcium at 0.5 mM stimulated chemokinetic migration of keratinocytes. Together, Ca²⁺ and EGF stimulated higher levels of chemokinesis than either stimulus alone. Furthermore, Ca²⁺ could restore the ability of keratinocytes from MMP‐9 null mice to undergo EGF‐stimulated chemotaxis. The phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 inhibited both EGF‐ and Ca²⁺‐stimulated chemokinetic migration. In contrast, the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked Ca²⁺‐ but not EGF‐stimulated chemokinetic migration of keratinocytes. A combination of PD98059 and LY294002 was required to inhibit Ca²⁺ enhancement of EGF‐stimulated migration completely. Calcium‐stimulated chemokinesis was completely blocked by either the protein kinase C‐α inhibitor Gö6976 or the src/fyn inhibitor PP2. Using primary keratinocytes, our results showed how the combined action of Ca²⁺, EGF, and MMP‐9 regulated the contributions of extracellular‐regulated kinase and phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase toward chemokinetic and chemotactic migration of keratinocytes.     

Variation of multifocal electroretinogram with axial length

INTRODUCTION: The first-order kernel response of multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) decreases in myopia. A recent study indicates that the flash ERG is also reduced with increased axial length. The aim of this study was to investigate the variations in the first-order response (K1) and the first slice of second-order response (K2.1) across the retina for different axial lengths. METHODS: Thirty healthy subjects with axial length from 23.72 to 28.13 mm (spherical equivalent refractive errors from plano to -10.50 D) were recruited for mfERG measurement using VERIS 4.0. All subjects were fully corrected after cycloplegic refraction and pupils were dilated prior to mfERG recording. There is one trough, n1, and one peak, p1, in the K1 response and three troughs, n1, n2, n3, and three peaks, p1, p2, p3, in the K2.1 response. The amplitudes and implicit times of K1 and K2.1 responses were analysed to determine the characteristic of the responses across retina and the correlation to axial length. RESULTS: The amplitudes of p1 (in the first-order kernel-K1) decreased in the central region and the paracentral region (ring 3) as the axial length increased. The central retinal region showed high rates of reduction in both n1 and p1 (in K1). The amplitudes of n1p1 and n2p2 (in the first slice of the second-order kernel-K2.1) were reduced in the paracentral region (from ring 2 to ring 5) as axial length increased. The average n1 and p1 in K1, and n1p1 and n2p2 in K2.1 mfERG responses are decreased in amplitude by 6-10% per millimetre elongation of axial length. CONCLUSION: Eyes with longer axial lengths, usually with high myopia, have a weaker mfERG response and this attenuation is across the measured retina (from central to paracentral regions) but different kernel responses show a different pattern of attenuation at different retinal eccentricities. The weaker mfERG responses may be related to the morphological changes associated with increased axial length.     

Polymorphic distribution of Y-chromosome haplotype and mitochondrial DNA in the Bouyei people in China

In the evolution of humans, many kinds of mutations in the human genome have been accumulated, providing credible genetic evidence for the study of human origins and migrations. The "out-of-Africa" hypothesis of modern human evolution and the genetic origin of the Japanese has come about by studying mitochondrial DNA.l,2 Recently, researchers have recognized the power of Y-chromosome markers in resolving migratory patterns of modern humans as more and more Y-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphism markers have been found. The markers on the nonrecombinant part of the Y-chromosome allows for the reconstruction of intact haplotypes which are probably the best genetic tools to study human migrations. We can analyze the paternal history of some people in different areas by Y-chromosome haplotypes.     

富血小板血浆与骨再生

急性臂丛神经炎是一种少见病,但人们往往认识不足,在早期,易被误诊为神经根型颈椎病或胸廓出口综合征。为了提高对本病的认识,降低误诊和漏诊率,本文就急性臂丛神经炎的诊断、鉴别诊断与治疗进行综述。1诊断名词与病因急性臂丛神经炎,病因尚未明了,但却有典型的临床特征。最初由Parsonage等[1]和Turner等[2]报道为肩胛带综合征和麻痹性臂丛神经炎,后被称之为:Parsonage-Turner综合征。其他诊断名词有:急性臂丛神经炎,神经源性肌萎缩,术后原发性臂丛神经炎等[3,4]。