Biorhythmical characterization of exacerbations of the degenerative-dystrophic process in patients with the impaired hip joint

The age-dependent structure of the contingents treated conservatively at the local outpatient clinics (197 women aged 17-82 and 59 men aged 25-85) and patients subjected to operations of total endoprosthesis of the hip joint for coxarthrosis (663 women aged 19-89 and 304 men aged 22-82) was investigated. The structure of the indices under study was found to fluctuate with the average period length 10.7 years (sigma = 2.7 years), 8.2 years (sigma = 3.5 years), 7.3 days (sigma = 3.0 years), 9.5 years (sigma = 2.1 years) respectively. A comparison of the fluctuation curves of the age-dependent structure of the women treated conservatively and operated upon showed the coincidence of the maximums in 35, 43, 60, 65, 69, 74-74 years of age, in men--in 34-35, 41, 75-76. It can be supposed that the revealed age-dependent fluctuations of activity of the inflammatory process and the pain syndrome correspondingly might be considered as an element of the periodic disease in pathogenesis of degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the hip joint.     

Adaptive mechanisms of bone tissue and regulatory-metabolic profile of the body

The interrelationship of mechanisms of osseous tissue adaptation to the changes of mechanical loads and regulatory-metabolic influences is discussed on the basis of authors' findings and literature analysis. It is proposed to use the following concepts, which reflect the essence of functioning of different groups of mechanisms at various hierarchical levels of adaptation processes: organic matrix restructuring, osteocytic restructuring of minerals, osteocytic remodelling, osteoclastic-osteoblastic remodelling and reparative osteogenesis. The peculiarities of functioning of these mechanisms depend upon regulatory-metabolic changes which should be defined as organism regulatory-metabolic profile.     

Awake off- pump coronary artery bypass surgery in 25 patients

Objectives To test the feasibility of the use of high thoracic epidural anesthesia as a sole anesthetic in patients undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass surgery, avoiding general anesthesia. Methods Between October 2002 to April 2003, twenty five cases underwent beating heart coronary artery revascularization without endotracheal general anesthesia, using high thoracic epidural anesthesia and analgesia. All the patients underwent epidural catheterization on the evening before the surgery. Resuits The patients in all received 71 grafts (single n= 11, double n = 5, triple n = 6, quadruple n =3). Six patients underwent repeat coronary artery bypass. Except one was converted to general anesthesia and cardiopulmonary bypass, the other patients underwent off- pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery, 2 patients underwent grafting via left thoracotomy (MIDCAB) and the rest through mid sternotomy. There was no mortality. Mean length of stay in the intensive care unit was 16 . 2 ( 4.2 hours and hospital was 3.0(1.2 days. Conclusions Our experience confirms the feasibility of performing muhiple coronary artery bypasses in conscious patients without endotracheal general anesthesia.     

Hepatic Met‐enkephalin immunoreactivity is enhanced in primary biliary cirrhosis

Abstract: Background/aims: In contrast to the normal adult liver, the fetal human and rat livers, and the liver of rats with cholestasis secondary to bile duct resection (BDR) express the preproenkephalin (ppENK) mRNA, which codes for the endogenous opioid peptide Met‐enkephalin. In addition, Met‐enkephalin immunoreactivity (MEIR) is detected in hepatocytes and in proliferating bile ductules in the cholestatic rat liver. These data suggest that cholestasis is associated with the resurgence of cells that produce Met‐enkephalin. To explore further the status of opioids in cholestasis, we studied the expression of MEIR in liver tissue. Methods: The MEIR was sought in paraffin‐preserved liver tissues from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) (n = 10). Results: The MEIR was detected in all the PBC livers. Its intensity varied from weak to strong on hepatocytes and bile ducts and the strongest expression appeared as coarse granules. The MEIR was either absent or only faintly expressed by some hepatocytes from disease and nondisease control biopsies, but absent from bile ducts. Conclusion: These results suggest that the human liver in cholestasis may be a source of endogenous opioids.