Gallstone pancreatitis: a prospective randomized trial of the timing of surgery

The correct timing of surgery in cases of gallstone pancreatitis is debatable. To delineate more clearly the influence of the timing of surgery in the treatment of the disease, a prospective randomized clinical study of early surgery (less than 48 hours after admission) and delayed surgery (more than 48 hours after admission) was conducted in 165 patients. Ranson's prognostic signs of severity of disease were used to classify the patients into two risk groups: mild pancreatitis (three or fewer positive signs) and severe pancreatitis (more than three positive signs). In patients with three or fewer positive Ranson's signs, the time of surgery appeared to have little effect on the outcome, whereas in patients with more than three positive signs, early surgery resulted in a significant increase in rates of morbidity and mortality. Controlled randomization showed that in patients with gallstone pancreatitis, edematous or hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis can develop, with or without impacted stones, early or late in the progression of the disease, during early or delayed surgery. These findings suggest that (1) although a gallstone initiates a bout of pancreatitis, it does not cause the progression of the disease; (2) the fate of the progression of pancreatitis is decided early by the amount of digestive enzymes being activated; (3) early removal of an impacted stone does not ameliorate the progression of pancreatitis; and (4) surgery should be performed during the initial hospital admission after the pancreatitis has subsided.     

Erection and ejaculation in man. Assessment of the electromyographic activity of the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles

Electromyographic (EMG) recordings were obtained by concentric needle electrodes from the bulbocavernosus (BC) and ischiocavernosus (IC) muscles in 7 human volunteers during excitement to erection and subsequent ejaculation. Simultaneous registration of the time course and volume of each expressed spurt of semen was obtained using an aluminium pan suspended in front of the subject's penis on a force transducer the output of which was charted with the EMG activity. The BC and IC muscles showed no EMG activity during erection and detumescence cycles induced by visual sex stimulation. In 5 of 7 subjects, the first EMG burst of the BC in ejaculations induced by masturbation was not correlated with an expelled spurt of semen as were subsequent bursts. However, only 26 to 60% of the total number of EMG bursts were accompanied by expulsion of a spurt of semen. There thus appears to be a large safety factor in the striated muscle expulsive mechanism. Oral phenoxybenzamine treatment in 2 subjects did not significantly affect either the number of EMG bursts of the BC or the subjective pleasure of the orgasm but did significantly reduce the volume of semen expelled. Semen volume does not appear to be a unique determinant of the pleasure felt or the trigger for ejaculation.     

Epididymal cystadenomas in von Hippel-Lindau disease

Objectives. Epididymal cystadenomas (ECs) are frequently found in association with von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL), but little has been reported about their sonographic appearance. We review the sonographic appearance of ECs, the relationship of ECs to other manifestations of VHL, and the specific genetic mutations associated with ECs.Methods. Fifty-six male patients with VHL were examined with scrotal sonography and physical examination as part of a larger screening program for VHL. The head of the epididymis was measured in two planes on sonography and compared with age-matched normal controls. All VHL patients with palpable epididymal abnormalities or enlargement (more than two standard deviations) of the head of the epididymis on ultrasound were considered positive for EC.Results. Thirty of 56 (54%) male patients with VHL demonstrated a unilateral (n = 10; 33%) or bilateral (n = 20; 67%) solid abnormality in the head of the epididymis suggestive of EC. Sonographic appearances ranged from a solid mass with multiple tiny cysts to an almost completely solid mass. The most common appearance was a 15- to 20-mm solid mass with small cystic components. Dilated efferent ductules were seen within the testicle in 7 men, evidently a result of chronic obstruction. There was no association between the clinical subtype of VHL and the presence of ECs (P >0.10, chi square). Mutations resulting in a truncated gene product were associated with the development of ECs but the association did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.06).Conclusions. ECs are a common manifestation of VHL in men and exhibit a range of appearances on ultrasound. Sonography can be used to identify ECs and determine the extent of cystic dilation of the rete testes. The benign course of ECs and the usual absence of clinical symptoms favor a conservative approach to their management.     

Effect of conjugated estrogens on platelet function and prostacyclin generation in CRF

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over study, we investigated in seven patients with chronic renal failure the effect of conjugated estrogens (0.6 mg/kg/day for 5 days) on template bleeding time and on thromboxane A2 (TxA2), beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and prostacyclin (PGI2) concentrations in blood emerging from the template bleeding time incisions. Administration of conjugated estrogens resulted in a significant shortening of the bleeding time in six out of seven patients with a maximum effect 7 and/or 14 days following treatment. Both TxA2 (measured as thromboxane B2, TxB2) and beta-TG release in bleeding time blood were significantly higher following administration of conjugated estrogens as compared to placebo administration. No difference was seen in endothelial PGI2 (measured as 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha) formation when patients were treated with conjugated estrogens as compared to placebo administration over the 28 day observation period. We conclude that in patients with chronic renal failure, infusion of conjugated estrogens results in a significant shortening of the bleeding time together with an increase in platelet reactivity, as indicated by an increase of TxA2 and beta-TG concentration in the microvasculature. No effect was seen on PGI2 production, thereby excluding a major effect on vascular prostaglandin metabolism.     

Prophylactic antibiotics for head and neck surgery with flap reconstruction.

The leading cause of postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing major head and neck surgical procedures is postoperative infection. This prospective randomized multi-institutional clinical trial was designed to compare the effectiveness of clindamycin phosphate and high-dose cefazolin sodium therapy in preventing postoperative wound sepsis in patients undergoing contaminated head and neck surgical procedures in which flap reconstruction was required. Either clindamycin phosphate (900 mg) or cefazolin sodium (2 g) therapy was instituted intravenously prior to surgery and continued every 8 hours, for a total of 24 hours. The patients received postoperative follow-up, and the wounds were graded according to the worst condition observed. One hundred cases were evaluated. Fifty-one patients received clindamycin and 49 patients received high doses of cefazolin; wound infection developed in 10 patients (19.6%) and 11 patients (21.6%), respectively. This difference was not statistically significant. The average duration of surgery was approximately 8 hours for both the infected and the noninfected groups of patients. High-dose cefazolin and clindamycin have similar efficacy when administered prophylactically under these circumstances. Reconstruction with free vascularized tissue may aid in reducing postoperative wound infection.     

贝那普利降压疗效与校正QT间期的关系

目的探讨原发性高血压患者心电图心率校正QT间期(QTc)和贝那普利降压疗效之间的关系.方法采用前瞻性队列研究方法调查安徽A县899名高血压病患者的基线心电图、治疗15 d前后的血压变化及相关临床和流行病学特点等情况.结果 QTc和血压下降呈负相关.QTc每增加0.1秒1/2,收缩压和舒张压的下降值分别减少3.6 mmHg和3.3 mmHg,且差异均有显著性(P＜0.05).将QTc三等分后,随着QTc等分的增加,收缩压和舒张压的下降值均逐渐减少,且差异具有显著性(P＜0.05);将QTc等分后的变量放入方程中进行趋势性分析,发现在收缩压和舒张压组中的负相关关系具有显著性(P＜0.05).随着QTc等级的增加,舒张压有效率逐渐降低,且有显著性差异(P＜0.05),收缩压的效应关系不如舒张压明显.结论 QTc和贝那普利降压疗效呈负相关,对贝那普利短期降压疗效具有重要的预测价值.     

Dacryocystitis following Kawasaki's disease

A 6 1/2-year-old white male child had developed bilateral dacryocystitis 1 year earlier, approximately 6 months after resolution of the acute phase of Kawasaki's disease. The patient had had no previous history of dacryostenosis or epiphora. After he failed to respond to appropriate antibiotic therapy, probing was partially successful on the right side, but complete obstruction persisted on the left side. At age 7 1/2 years, dacryocystorhinostomy was performed successfully on the left side. To our knowledge, dacryocystitis has not been reported previously following Kawasaki's disease. Other reported ocular complications of Kawasaki's disease, with the exception of a case of bilateral conjunctival scarring, have occurred in the acute phase of the disease.     

Traumatic dental injuries and associated factors among Brazilian preschool children

Abstract –  The main objective of this study was to assess the epidemiology of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) to the primary teeth of preschool children and second, to investigate whether TDI were related to anterior open bite and, third, whether TDI are related to socio-economic circumstances in an urban Brazilian population. A clinical examination was performed during the National Day of Children's Vaccination. TDI were classified according to the modified classification proposed by Ellis. In addition to those criteria the presence of tooth discoloration was recorded. An interview was carried out with mothers or guardians. The data collected included mother's level of education and living conditions. The prevalence of TDI was 9.4%. The maxillary central incisors were the most affected teeth. Most children with a TDI experienced traumatic injuries to one tooth (6.3%), while 2.8% had two and 0.4% had three traumatized teeth. The most common crown fracture was in enamel only (68.8%), followed by crown fracture of enamel and dentin (13.8%). Missing teeth following trauma occurred in 10.9% of those with TDI. The prevalence of tooth discoloration was 5.1%. Children with anterior open bite had twice the level the level of TDI compared to those with normal occlusions ( P  = 0.001). Socio-economic factors were not statistically significantly associated with the occurrence of TDI. The prevalence of dental injuries in Brazilian preschool children was low. Children with anterior open bite experienced more dental injuries. Neither of the indicators of socio-economic status was related to the prevalence of TDI.