A persistent tracheocutaneous fistula closed with two hinged skin flaps and rib cartilage interpositional grafting

Persistent tracheal fistula after tracheostomy decannulation is a recognized sequel to long-term tracheostomy use, causing important morbidity including difficult to vocalization and control of air secretions, recurrent pulmonary infections, and cosmetic and social problems. Herein, we reported a new method for closure of persistent tracheocutaneous fistula with rib cartilages. Compared to other techniques previously reported, the variations of our strategy were the use of temporary metal-covered tracheal stent and the hinged turnover skin bi-flaps reinforced with rib cartilage grafts. Rib cartilages were useful in order to reconstruct the trachea and prevent stenosis. Since it become difficult to obtain the maintenance of the trachea stability until healing of suture was well established, a covered metallic stent was also inserted to avoid flap collapse. The stent was removed 3 months later. Six months follow-up showed normal tracheal patency.     

Can dietary fibre help provide safer food products for sufferers of gluten intolerance? A well-established biophysical probe may help towards providing an answer

ABSTRACT: Gluten intolerance is a condition which affects an increasing percentage of the world's population and for which the only current treatment is a restrictive gluten free diet. However could the inclusion of a particular polysaccharide, or blends of different types, help with the provision of 'safer' foods for those individuals who suffer from this condition. We review the current knowledge on the prevalence, clinical symptoms and treatment of gluten intolerance, and the use and properties of the allergens responsible. We consider the potential for dietary fibre polysaccharides to sequester peptides that are responsible for activation of the disease in susceptible individuals, and consider the potential of co-sedimentation in the analytical ultracentrifuge as a molecular probe for finding interactions strong enough to be considered as useful.     

婴幼儿牛奶蛋白过敏对罗马Ⅳ标准功能性胃肠病诊断的影响

目的 探讨婴幼儿牛奶蛋白过敏（CMPA）对罗马Ⅳ标准功能性胃肠病（FGID）诊断的影响。方法 选取84例1月龄至3岁的CMPA患儿作为病例组，84例健康体检确诊无CMPA的婴幼儿作为对照组。由儿科消化专科医生使用罗马Ⅳ标准FGID诊断问卷询问两组婴幼儿的父母，评估临床症状，进行FGID诊断。结果 病例组家族过敏史发生率明显高于对照组（P < 0.05）。84例病例组中，38例（45%）符合罗马Ⅳ版诊断FGID的标准；而84例对照组中，13例（15%）符合罗马Ⅳ版诊断FGID的标准（P < 0.05）。根据FGID罗马Ⅳ标准，婴儿反流、功能性腹泻、婴儿排便困难、功能性便秘等胃肠病，病例组的诊断率均高于对照组（P < 0.05）。对对照组中诊断为FGID的患儿进行FGID常规治疗，病例组中诊断为FGID的患儿除常规治疗外，进行了牛奶蛋白回避治疗。治疗3个月后，病例组的症状缓解率显著高于对照组（P < 0.05）。结论 在婴幼儿中，CMPA对罗马Ⅳ标准FGID的诊断有重要影响，诊断FGID时应该考虑CMPA的可能。