Morbid Obesity and Gastric Bypass Surgery: Biochemical Profile

Background: Morbid obesity (MO) and the pathologies associated with it constitute an important public health problem, accounting for 7% of the health expenditure in industrialized countries. An important percentage of this expense is attributed to the different biochemical tests performed in these patients, who suffer from several metabolic derangements. We evaluated the basic biochemical abnormalities in MO patients and their reversibility by weight loss after gastric bypass, to standardize the surveillance of the different metabolic abnormalities in obese patients. Methods: By a retrospective analysis on 125 patients operated in our hospital, we evaluated anthropometric and biochemical data before and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after gastric bypass. Results: Preoperatively hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and hypertensive disease were present, and began to improve 1 and 3 months after surgery (although not significantly) and significantly at 6, 12 and 24 months after it. We also observed deficient protein nutrition and a deficiency of micronutrients both before bypass and during the follow-up. Conclusion: After gastric bypass, a marked decrease in insulin occurred, with normalization of blood pressure and the biochemical parameters associated with the metabolic syndrome. We propose a biochemical follow-up protocol for MO patients.     

高效毛细管电泳法测定利多卡因代谢产物单乙基甘氨酰二甲苯胺

目的 :建立一种测定利多卡因代谢产物单乙基甘氨酰二甲苯胺 (MEGX)含量的高效毛细管电泳法。方法 :用50mmol/L硼酸缓冲液 (pH =8.8)为电泳电解液 ,电压 1 2kV ,运行电流 1 8.8～ 2 3 .2 μA ,检测波长 2 1 4nm ,有效毛细管长度 50cm ,管径 50 μm ,氨茶碱为内标 ,展开 1 2min。 8只昆明种小白鼠腹腔注射 0 .2 %利多卡因 4 0mg/kg ,用本法测定其 5h尿液中MEGX累积排泄量。结果 :MEGX迁移时间 7.8min ,氨茶碱迁移时间 1 0 .7min。MEGX含量为 0 .0 62～1 .0mg/ml时 ,其浓度与色谱峰面积线性关系良好 ,r =0 .9991 ,日内、日间变异系数均小于 7.8% ,回收率为98.4 %～ 1 0 1 .6% ,常用 3 0种药物对其无干扰。 8只小鼠MEGX累积排泄量为 ( 2 95.2± 55.2 ) μg ,其中游离型MEGX为 4 4.7% ,结合型为 55.3 %。结论 :该方法简单、快速、灵敏 ,特异性和重现性良好 ,具有较强实用价值。     

The effectiveness of adding cognitive behavioural therapy aimed at changing lifestyle to managed diabetes care for patients with type 2 diabetes: design of a randomised controlled trial

Background  

In patients with type 2 diabetes, the risk for cardiovascular disease is substantial. To achieve a more favourable risk profile, lifestyle changes on diet, physical activity and smoking status are needed. This will involve changes in behaviour, which is difficult to achieve. Cognitive behavioural therapies focussing on self-management have been shown to be effective. We have developed an intervention combining techniques of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Problem Solving Treatment (PST). The aim of our study is to investigate if adding a combined behavioural intervention to managed care, is effective in achieving changes in lifestyle and cardiovascular risk profile.     

Drilling speaking valves: A modification to improve vocalization in tracheostomy dependent children

Pediatric tracheostomy dependence is associated with a variety of sequelae. Vocalization delay is commonplace and may result in long‐term communication disability. Passy‐Muir speaking valves are routinely used to allow such children to vocalize. Unfortunately, not all tracheostomy dependent children can tolerate the placement of a speaking valve. Elevated transtracheal pressures are often associated with failure. We describe a method of modifying a standard Passy‐Muir valve to decrease transtracheal pressures and thus improve tolerance of the valve. In our practice, the modification allows a broader range of children experience the benefit of speaking valve placement. Laryngoscope, 119:176–179, 2009     

Applications of the Double O to Z Flap Repair for Facial Reconstruction

Multiple defects are often encountered in the treatment of malignant skin tumors. Nearby defects can present a reconstructive challenge since the closure of one defect may impact the closure of the other defect. The double O to Z flap design is ideally suited to combine the closure of adjacent defects into one technique. This flap technique and design is illustrated and described. Examples include defects on the forehead, temple, cheek, and nose following Mohs micrographic surgery.     

From the outside-in: Epidermal targeting as a paradigm for atopic disease therapy

Atopic dermatitis(AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder which can precede asthma and allergic rhinitis in a disease trajectory known as the atopic march. The pathophysiology of AD includes cutaneous inflammation, disrupted epidermal barrier function, xerosis and propensity to secondary infections. AD had previously been thought to arise from the systemic atopic immune response and therapies are therefore directed towards ameliorating Th2-mediated inflammation. However in recent years the focus has shifted towards primary defects in the skin barrier as an initiating event in AD. Links between loss-of-function variants in the gene encoding filaggrin and disrupted activity of epidermal serine proteases and AD have been reported. Based on these observations, a mechanism has been described by which epidermal barrier dysfunction may lead to inflammation and allergic sensitization. Exogenous and endogenous stressors can further exacerbate inherited barrier abnormalities to promote disease activity. Pathways underlying progression of the atopic march remain unclear, but recent findings implicate thymic stromal lymphopoietin as a factor linking AD to subsequent airway inflammation in asthma. This new appreciation of the epidermis in the development of AD should lead to deployment of more specific strategies to restore barrier function in atopic patients and potentially halt the atopic march.