Torsional loads in the early postoperative period following total hip replacement

Torques generated in one subject during the early postoperative period were measured with a telemeterized total hip component. The patient was examined during gait, stair ascent, rising from a chair, and single-limb stance. The torques were plotted against both the resultant joint contact force and the force component directed along the stem axis. During gait, the maximum torque was 35 Nm, recorded at a walking velocity of 1.7 m/sec. The peak torques during stair ascent and during rising from a seated position were found to be 23 and 15 Nm, respectively. The maximum value for torque measured in this study was 37 Nm during one attempt at single-limb stance. Comparison of plots for torque versus stem-axis component for the four activities shows that the torque increased more rapidly for chair exits than for gait up to resultant contact force values of as much as 1,000 N. For stair ascent, the same was true to values of 1,400 N. Within any given activity, the relationship between stem torque and resultant or stem-axis force showed considerable variability. These results indicate that experiments evaluating the stability of femoral components in total hip arthroplasty should incorporate a component directed along the stem axis, as well as a component normal to the plane of the prosthesis. The results also suggest that theoretical stress analysis models should consider the broad variability in the orientation of the joint force at the hip.     

A personal computer database system for head and neck cancer records

The computerized database system described was initially developed in 1986 to facilitate analysis of retrospective head and neck cancer data from the Royal Adelaide Hospital Department of Otolaryngology. This has now been expanded to become an on-going patient information management system. It is based on the dBase-III-Plus database package and is implemented on an IBM XT compatible computer. The system was designed to be used by staff without specialist computer skills and is therefore largely “menu-driven.” The main functions include patient record creation, update, and retrieval, and the production of reports including graphical presentations. There is also a powerful but easy to use query facility. The system has already provided much useful epidemiological material but is now beginning to fulfill an even more important role in patient follow-up and in assisting evaluation of alternative treatment protocols.     

Effects of oropharyngeal/buccal insulin on glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits: clinical implications

The effect of oropharyngeal administration of insulin lente (BP, USP) on alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits was investigated. In mild cases of hyperglycaemia (below 500 mg/dl), a buccal dose of 100 IU was able to produce significant reduction in blood glucose levels over seven hours, as compared with diabetic animals during the same period. As much as 60% reduction in glucose level from the starting level could be achieved. However, at very high levels of hyperglycaemia (above 500 mg/dl), this regimen failed to produce normoglycaemia although it rendered the animal tolerant to high levels of glucose. This mode of administration of insulin did not produce hypoglycaemia in any of the animals: the blood levels in the mildly diabetic animals were reduced to normoglycaemia without progressing into the hypoglycaemic state. The administration of insulin to normoglycaemic rabbits by this route did not produce any reduction in glucose levels. This preliminary report suggests that a noninvasive oropharyngeal route may be an alternative for the clinical management of insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in man.     

Mouse homologues of the human AZF candidate gene RBM are expressed in spermatogonia and spermatids, and map to a Y chromosome deletion interval associated with a high incidence of sperm abnormalities

An RNA-binding motif (RBM) gene family has been identified on the human Y chromosome that maps to the same deletion interval as the 'azoospermia factor' (AZF). We have identified the homologous gene family (Rbm) on the mouse Y with a view to investigating the proposal that this gene family plays a role in spermatogenesis. At least 25 and probably >50 copies of Rbm are present on the mouse Y chromosome short arm located between Sry and the centromere. As in the human, a role in spermatogenesis is indicated by a germ cell-specific pattern of expression in the testis, but there are distinct differences in the pattern of expression between the two species. Mice carrying the deletion Yd1, that maps to the proximal Y short arm, are female due to a position effect resulting in non-expression of Sry ; sex-reversing such mice with an Sry transgene produces males with a high incidence of abnormal sperm, making this the third deletion interval on the mouse Y that affects some aspect of spermatogenesis. Most of the copies of Rbm map to this deletion interval, and the Yd1males have markedly reduced Rbm expression, suggesting that RBM deficiency may be responsible for, or contribute to, the abnormal sperm development. In man, deletion of the functional copies of RBM is associated with meiotic arrest rather than sperm anomalies; however, the different effects of deletion are consistent with the differences in expression between the two species.      

High Prevalence of Low Birth Weight Babies Born to Pregnant Women Referred to a District Hospital in Rural Zambia

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Low birthweight (LBW) is a significant public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and LBW in rural Zambia is high. Our study explored the prevalence of LBW for...     

Low-dose sufentanil and lidocaine supplementation of general anaesthesia

This randomized double-blind study compared the effects of: (1) saline infusion (C); (2) sufentanil alone (1.0 micrograms.kg-1) (S); and (3) low-dose sufentanil (0.5 micrograms.kg-1) in combination with lidocaine (1.5 mg.kg-1) (LS): on the cardiovascular responses to tracheal intubation and on postoperative ventilation as monitored by respiratory inductive plethysmography in day-care surgical procedures of approximately 60 min duration. Thirty healthy, unpremedicated patients were studied. Thiopentone requirements were reduced by 40 and 28 per cent in the S and LS groups respectively compared with control (P less than 0.001). Both treatments suppressed HR and BP responses (P less than 0.005) to intubation. Postoperatively, PaCO2 was elevated (P less than 0.05) in group S. Dose-related respiratory depression was observed. The incidence of postoperative apnoea was significantly higher in both S and LS groups than compared with control (P less than 0.05). However, only patients in group S showed higher apnoea index and mean apnoea duration over the initial 10-20 min after surgery compared with control (P less than 0.005). In addition, group S showed slower respiratory frequency and prolonged expiratory time (P less than 0.005). In conclusion, an induction dose of sufentanil (1 microgram.kg-1) used in balanced anaesthesia of less than 70 min duration was associated with significant respiratory depression, particularly during the initial 10-20 min after surgery, whereas low-dose sufentanil (0.5 micrograms.kg-1) with lidocaine (1.5 mg.kg-1) had minimal postoperative respiratory depression and comparable attenuation of pressor responses to intubation.     

急性重度毒蕈中毒性肝炎抢救成功1例

1　病例报告　男 ,16岁 .误食毒蕈后出现恶心 ,呕吐伴有腹痛、腹泻 4d,每日大便 4～ 12次 ,为稀水便 ,有心慌、气短、发热 ,在当地医院以“毒蕈中毒”救治 ,症状无缓解 ,为进一步治疗于 2 0 0 0 - 0 8- 31转入我院 .查体 :T37.8℃ ,P110次·min-1 ,R18次·min-1 ,BP14/ 9k Pa.全身皮肤黄染 ,巩膜重度黄染 ,心肺无阳性体征 .腹平坦 ,上腹部有压痛 ,肌紧张及反跳痛 ,肝脾未触及 ,肝区有叩击痛 ,移动性浊音阳性 .入院后患者出现烦躁 ,意识不清 ,心率时快时慢 ,血压不稳定 .肝功 :T- BIL 2 5 4.1μmol· L-1 ,D- BIL 16 9.5 μmol· L-1 …