Complications of automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators: radiographic, CT, and echocardiographic evaluation

Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (AICDs) were studied in three groups: (a) Serial radiographs were reviewed in 51 clinic patients. Twenty of 96 (21%) AICD patches distorted with time. (b) Thirty-six postoperative computed tomographic (CT) scans of asymptomatic patients revealed that pericardial fluid collections were frequent during the month after surgery but rare beyond that. Echocardiography was insensitive for these collections. CT also demonstrated dense fibrosis around some distorted patches, months after surgery. (c) Five other patients with pericardial infection had distorted patches, and the four studied with CT had fluid beneath their patches. (d) A case of constrictive pericarditis had distorted patches but was not diagnosed with CT. The authors conclude that distorted patches may indicate postoperative complications and that CT is the imaging modality of choice.     

Platelet membrane microparticles in blood bank fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate

Cryoprecipitate has been demonstrated to correct the bleeding abnormality of patients with some congenital (storage pool disease) and acquired (uremia) platelet abnormalities, but the reason for this effect is unknown. We found significant platelet contamination in plasma harvested to prepare fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate. The platelet membrane microparticles produced by freezing and thawing of the plasma were highly concentrated in cryoprecipitate and may contribute to its therapeutic effect.     

Tongue and tonsil cancer: staging with US

A prospective study on the value of ultrasound (US) for the staging of 70 cases of cancer of the tongue and tonsil was performed. A real-time, high-frequency transducer was used, and the examination was often coupled with endobuccal palpation. US did not visualize the tumor in nine of 42 cases of tongue cancer (seven stage T1 and two anterior stage T2 tumors); US accurately defined tumor size in 33 cases. The degree of in-depth extension and the location with respect to the median line (only four false results) were evaluated correctly. With regard to 28 tonsil cancers, US depicted extension from the tonsillar fossa to the tongue in all cases but one (13 of 14 cases). US is valuable for the detection of cervical lymph nodes associated with both tongue and tonsil tumors and is a safe and helpful technique for the follow-up of medium-size lesions. The major limitations of US include the nonvisualization of superficial lesions, reduced accuracy for evaluation of the extension of large tumors, and analysis of posterior pharyngeal extension.     

Mechanical model testing of rebreathing potential in infant bedding materials

Rebreathing of expired air may be a lethal hazard for prone sleeping infants. This paper describes a mechanical model to simulate infant breathing, and examines the effects of bedding on exhaled air retention. Under simulated rebreathing conditions, the model allows the monitoring of raised carbon dioxide (CO2) inside an artificial lung-trachea system. Resulting levels of CO2 (although probably exaggerated in the mechanical model compared with an infant, due to the model's fixed breathing rate and volume) suggest that common bedding materials vary widely in inherent rebreathing potential. In face down tests, maximum airway CO2 ranged from less than 5% on sheets and waterproof mattresses to over 25% on sheepskins, bean bag cushions, and some pillows and comforters. Concentrations of CO2 decreased with increasing head angle of the doll, away from the face down position. Recreations of 29 infant death scenes also showed large CO2 increases on some bedding materials, suggesting these infants could have died while rebreathing.     

Complicated cholesteatomas: CT findings in inner ear complications of middle ear cholesteatomas

Patients with facial palsy and middle ear disease, which may be chronic but clinically occult, may have a cholesteatoma with extension medially along the facial canal. In two patients, axial computed tomographic (CT) scans demonstrated involvement of the medial petrous bone. Patients with vertigo and chronic middle ear disease may have a cholesteatoma with a "fistula" between the middle and inner ears. Although the fistula usually involves the lateral semicircular canal, the cholesteatoma may pass through the oval window. In two patients, coronal CT scans showed extension to the oval window in one and through it in the other.     

Carvedilol心力衰竭研究

标题　Ｃａｒｖｅｄｉｌｏｌ对慢性心力衰竭患者病残率和病死率的影响作者　ＰａｃｋｅｒＭ，ＢｒｉｓｔｏｗＭＲ，ＣｏｈｎＪＮ，等　　ＮＥｎｇｌＪＭｅｄ，１９９６，３３４：１３４９～１３５５　　研究疾病：充血性心力衰竭。目的：Ｃａｒｖｅｄｉｌｏｌ是一种非选择性β受体阻滞剂，它不但具有α１受体阻滞作用，而且具有抗氧化特性。本研究旨在对其对慢性心力衰竭患者存活和住院的影响进行评估。　　设计：随机、双盲、安慰剂对照的多中心研究。病人资料：共１０９４名心力衰竭患者，起病时间≥３月，虽已用利尿剂和ＡＣＥＩ制剂治疗…     

骨形态发生蛋白在大段同种异体骨移植中的表达

目的:通过动物实验来探讨骨形态发生蛋白在大段同种异体骨移植愈合中的表达及其意义。方法:实验于2005-10/2006-01在南京军区总院动物实验中心完成。①24只新西兰大白兔随机分为实验组和对照组各12只。实验组,手术移植用梯度降温深低温保存的同种异体兔股骨半髁植入,以金属螺钉固定;对照组将取下的自体股骨半髁原位植入,用与实验组相同的内固定方法固定。②术后4,8,12周取标本行大体标本观察,苏木精-伊红及骨形态发生蛋白免疫组织化学染色,观察骨形态发生蛋白在大段同种异体骨愈合过程的表达情况。结果:24只兔均进入结果分析。①两组移植骨段大体观察:第12周,实验组与对照组移植骨段已与宿主完全连接成一整体,外周骨痂已塑形。②两组自体骨与异体骨苏木精-伊红染色结果:第12周,实验组自体骨与异体骨间见较多成熟骨小梁,自体骨与异体骨连接处髓腔基本融合,于异体骨外侧新形成皮质骨结构。对照组已形成新皮质结构,有大量成熟的骨小梁结构,髓腔基本融合。③骨形态发生蛋白免疫组织化学染色结果:第4周:实验组皮质骨外周见较强的骨形态发生蛋白表达,阳性染色主要位于不成熟的骨细胞、成骨细胞、软骨细胞的胞浆及其分泌的基质中,表明骨形态发生蛋白通过“旁分泌”和“自分泌”的形式使得间质细胞分化为软骨细胞和骨细胞。对照组骨折断端两侧均有骨形态发生蛋白表达。第8周:异体皮质骨周围的骨痂中可见阳性表达,新形成的管状结构中呈“镶边”样排列的成骨细胞为阳性表达,其周围尚有一些软骨细胞核阳性表达。对照组与实验组相似,新生血管和新骨生成较实验组为多。第12周:实验组及对照组骨形态发生蛋白表达均较少。深低温保存的同种异体骨移植过程中骨形态发生蛋白表达与自体骨相似。骨形态发生蛋白染色在新生骨及其周围类基质表达阳性。结论:①骨形态发生蛋白在同种异体骨移植愈合早期起重要作用,其通过“旁分泌”和“自分泌”的形式使得间质细胞分化为软骨细胞和骨细胞,从而促使新骨形成。②大段同种异体骨移植愈合早期(4周)过程中骨诱导与骨吸收同时存在时,骨形态发生蛋白发生重要作用。     

Modulation of neutrophil oxidative responses to soluble stimuli by platelet-activating factor

The role of platelet activating factor (PAF) as a regulator of human neutrophil superoxide (O2-) generation in response to soluble and particulate stimuli was examined. At concentrations greater than 10(-7) mol/L, PAF alone induced a brief burst of O2- production. When cells were exposed to PAF and either the chemotactic peptide n-formyl- methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP 10(-7) mol/L) or the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate (PMA 10 ng/mL), a marked synergistic augmentation of O2- release was noted when compared to control cells stimulated with FMLP or PMA alone. Mean percentage of enhancement by 10(-5) mol/L of PAF was 297% +/- 35% (n = 9) of control responses to FMLP and 185% +/- 16% (n = 3) of control responses to PMA. Consistent enhancement occurred with PAF concentrations of as low as 10(-9) mol/L. Enhancement could be demonstrated when neutrophils were exposed to PAF either at the same time as, or up to 60 minutes prior to, the second stimulus, and was neither reversed by removal of PAF from the medium prior to addition of FMLP or PMA nor dependent on the presence of extracellular divalent cations. Continuous recordings revealed that the enhancement was due to an increased maximal rate of O2- production. In contrast, PAF concentrations up to 10(-5) mol/L had only a minimal effect on the response to neutrophils to opsonized zymosan. Analysis of the enhancing properties of lipids structurally related to PAF revealed that the critical moiety was the saturated fatty acid at position 1. These results indicate the presence of a PAF-mediated positive feedback loop whereby the oxidative burst induced by some soluble stimuli is augmented. Modulation of neutrophil O2- production by PAF may serve to amplify neutrophil oxidative responses at sites of inflammation.     

Contemporary surgical treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism without intraoperative parathyroid hormone measurement

Introduction

Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is usually the result of a single adenoma that can often be accurately located preoperatively and excised by a focused operation. Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) measurement is used occasionally to detect additional abnormal glands. However, it remains controversial as to whether IOPTH monitoring is necessary. This study presents the results of a large series of focused parathyroidectomy without IOPTH measurement.

Methods

Data from 2003 to 2014 were collected on 180 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for pHPT by a single surgeon. Preoperative ultrasonography and sestamibi imaging was performed routinely, with computed tomography (CT) and/or selective venous sampling in selected cases. The preferred procedure for single gland disease was a focused lateral approach guided by on-table surgeon performed ultrasonography. Frozen section was used selectively and surgical cure was defined as normocalcaemia at the six-month follow-up appointment.

Results

Focused surgery was undertaken in 146 patients (81%) and 97% of these cases had concordant results with two imaging modalities. In all cases, an abnormal gland was discovered at the predetermined site. Of the 146 patients, 132 underwent a focused lateral approach (11 of which were converted to a collar incision), 10 required a collar incision and 4 underwent a mini-sternotomy. At 6 months following surgery, 142 patients were normocalcaemic (97% primary cure rate). Three of the four treatment failures had subsequent surgery and are now biochemically cured. There were no complications or cases of persistent hypocalcaemia.

Conclusions

This study provides further evidence that in the presence of concordant preoperative imaging, IOPTH measurement can be safely omitted when performing focused parathyroidectomy for most cases of pHPT.