Surgical tactics in nonspecific aortoarteritis of the thoracoabdominal region

Sixty-six patients with nonspecific aortoarteritis of thoracoabdominal localization were treated at the department of vascular surgery of the Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery, AMS USSR from 1984 to 1989. Operations were performed on 49 (74.9%) patients. Percutaneous angiodilatation of the renal arteries was conducted in 3 (4.5%) patients. Nonoperative treatment was carried out in 14 (21.2%) patients. In view of concurrent affection of the branches of the arch of the aorta, reconstructive operations were performed in 16 (24.2%) cases on the brachiocephalic trunks: aorto-biocarotid prosthetics (6), aortocarotid prosthetics (1), subclavian-carotid autovenous prosthetics (6), carotid-subclavian autovenous shunt (2), carotid endarterectomy (1). Reconstructive operations on the brachiocephalic trunks were preceded by reconstruction of the arteries in 5 (7.6%) cases and were conducted after correction of the blood flow in the thoracoabdominal segment in 2 (3%) cases. In 9 (13.6%) patients only the brachiocephalic trunks were reconstructed. A total of 42 reconstructive interventions on the thoracoabdominal segment were carried out on 40 (60.6%) patients, in 35 (87.5%) correction of the blood flow in the visceral branches and renal arteries was performed simultaneously. The surgical tactics suggested by the authors and the results produced by it are discussed in detail.     

Improving the ambulatory surgical services on the basis of the work experience of the Center of Ambulatory Surgery

Centers of ambulatory surgery made on the basis of large city polyclinics and regional medical formations are considered to be a perspective and economically effective form of perestroika of the ambulatory surgical aid to people. Specificity of the operative procedures performed at the Center and specific features of postoperative management of the patients should be taken into consideration, and the staff of such units must consist of highly trained surgeons of wide type. The ambulatory surgery Center must occupy its place in the system of dispensary examinations of the population.     

Liver histology, blood biochemistry and RNA, DNA and subcellular protein composition of various skeletal muscles of rats with experimental cirrhosis: implications for alcoholic muscle disease.

(1) Liver cirrhosis was induced in male rats by treatment with carbon tetrachloride and phenobarbitone for 130-142 days. Detailed histological examination showed all livers from rats treated with carbon tetrachloride had annular fibrosis, necrosis, loss of normal hepatic architecture and other features that were consistent with an established micronodular cirrhosis. (2) Plasma biochemical analysis showed a significant reduction in total protein concentration (13%), which was due entirely to a reduction in plasma albumin (29%). There were also large increases in the plasma activities of alkaline phosphatase (110%) and aspartate aminotransferase (159%), when compared to phenobarbitone-treated controls. Plasma cholesterol was also increased (67%), but other plasma analytes were not significantly altered. (3) The soleus (Type I), plantaris (Type II) and gastrocnemius (Types I and II) muscles were dissected and examined for possible differential effects. There were minor reductions in all three muscle weights, but these changes did not reach statistical significance. The protein, RNA and DNA concentrations, total muscle content and content relative to body weight in cirrhotic rats were also not significantly altered in any of the muscles. Cirrhosis did not cause any perturbations in derived parameters, i.e. amount of synthetic apparatus per cell, RNA/DNA ratio, apparent cell size, protein/DNA ratio and the capacity for protein synthesis or RNA/protein ratio. (4) The gastrocnemius was fractionated into soluble, stromal and myofibrillar proteins. The concentrations and contents of all three proteins were unaltered in cirrhotic animals, compared to controls. (5) It is concluded that in this experimental model of cirrhosis there were no effects on those skeletal muscle variables which are strikingly altered by chronic alcohol feeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Reliability of causal indicators for nonfatal injuries

The applicability of the ICD E code as a causal indicator of nonfatal injuries has been criticized. New codes have been developed to replace the ICD codes. We compared the coding reliability of the ICD E and place vs. the Nordic mechanism (M) and place codes. The mean accuracy (76 vs. 70%) (p less than 0.002) and the intercoder reliability (84 vs. 69%) (p less than 0.001) were better for the E than M code. The accuracy of the place codes was the same (83%). A short training improved (p less than 0.001) the accuracy of all four codes. The replacement of the E code with the M code would not improve the reliability of data on causes of injuries.     

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of antipyrine in inbred mice

Translated from Khimiko-farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 24, No. 9, pp. 24–26, September, 1990.     

Infection of the upper extremity byMycobacterium marinum in a 3-year-old boy — Diagnosis by 16S-rDNA analysis

Summary A 3-year-old boy developed several subcutaneous nodular lesions on his right arm. Based on the histological examination of one of these nodules furunculosis was suspected and cefuroxime was tentatively given. However, acid-fast bacilli were then detected in the tissue specimen and a few colonies of acid fast, gram-positive rods grew on blood agar. Definitive species diagnosis (Mycobacterium marinum) was rapidly achieved by automated sequencing of amplified 16S-rDNA and antimicrobial therapy was adjusted according to the available literature. After 3 weeks of treatment with clarithromycin, rifampicin and protionamid regression of the nodular lesions was evident.

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Infektion der oberen Extremität durchMycobacterium marinum — Diagnose mit Hilfe von 16S-rDNA Analyse

Zusammenfassung Wir berichten von einem 3-jährigen Jungen, der verschiedene subkutane Knoten im rechten Arm entwickelte. Nach histologischer Untersuchung wurde zunächst der Verdacht auf Furunkulose geäußert und eine vorläufige Therapie mit Cefuroxim begonnen. Es wurden dann jedoch säurefeste Stäbchen im entnommenen Gewebe nachgewiesen und eine Woche später auf Blutagar grampositive, säurefeste Stäbchen angezüchtet. Die definitive Speziesdiagnose (Mycobacterium marinum) wurde rasch mit automatischer 16S-rDNA Sequenzbestimmung erzielt und die Therapie entsprechend der verfügbaren Literatur korrigiert. Nach drei Wochen einer Behandlung mit Clarithromycin, Rifampicin und Protionamid war ein Rückgang der subkutanen Knoten erkennbar.

     

Unsteady Fluid Dynamics of Several Mechanical Prosthetic Heart Valves Using a Two Component Laser Doppler Anemometer System

Abstract: Five typical mechanical heart valves (Starr-Edwards, Björk-Shiley convexo-concave (c-c), Björk-Shiley monostrut, Bicer-Val, and St. Jude Medical) were tested in the mitral position under the pulsatile flow condition. The test program included measurements of velocity and turbulent stresses at 5 downstream locations. The study was carried out using a sophisticated cardiac simulator in conjunction with a highly sensitive 2 component laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) system. The continuous monitoring of parametric time histories revealed useful details about the complex flow and helped to establish the locations and times of the peak parameter values. Based upon the nondimensional presentation of data, the following general conclusions can be made. First, all the 5 valve designs created elevated turbulent stresses during the accelerating and peak flow phases, presenting the possibility of thromboembolism and perhaps hemolysis. Second, the difference in valve configuration seemed to affect the flow characteristics; third, the bileaflet design of the St. Jude valve appeared to create a lower turbulence stress level.     

Urogenitales Altern

In the industrial Western world, 8 % of the population suffer from urogenital discomfort. Epidemiologic studies show that the incidence rises with age. In light of the steadily increasing longevity in the female population, clinically manifested irregularities such as urogenital atrophy, recurrent urinary tract infections, irritable bladder, and incontinence pose a challenge to the attending physician. To this day, urinary incontinence in later life is considered “normal” and “caused by old age.” However, among other age-related reasons, the main cause of this disorder is postmenopausal hormone deficiency. Thus, following thorough diagnostics, pathological changes in the urogenital tract can often be reduced or altogether eliminated by simple conservative measures such as topical hormone administration, which rapidly enhance patients’ quality of life. The present study gives an overview of the physiology of urogenital aging and the diagnostic and therapeutic means available to physicians to alleviate patients’ discomfort.