Tonsil cryptolysis usingCO2 Swiftlase

Treatment for inflammation of the tonsils has taken a variety of therapeutic forms over the years, ranging from the application of iodine and massage in the preantibiotic era to the tonsillectomy, which prevails today. The architecture of the cryptic tonsil, its clinical implications, and the rationale for a conservative, yet effective treatment modality focusing on the tonsillar crypts are addressed in this article. Also described are the procedures and results of a retrospective clinical study in which conventional tonsillectomy was compared with CO₂ SwiftLase cryptolysis. Although our observations are not based on a prospective, controlled study, the information disseminated here may be useful to otolaryngologists who routinely perform tonsillectomy in their practice, using conventional surgical dissection methods or the CO₂ laser. According to our experience with a population of 120 patients, cryptolysis offers some clear advantages, particularly when performed with the SwiftLase apparatus. The procedure can be performed safely in an ambulatory surgery or office setting under local anesthesia. The cooperative patient avoids the cost and risks of general anesthesia. Limited tissue destruction significantly reduces operative and postoperative complications, discomfort, and recovery time. To conclude, CO₂ SwiftLase cryptolysis is a safe and cost-effective method of treating tonsil pathology without unnecessary sacrifice of the organ, and undue risks and expenses to the patient.^11,12     

Pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered sodium dichloroacetate in rabbits

ＰｈａｒｍａｃｏｋｉｎｅｔｉｃｓｏｆｉｎｔｒａｖｅｎｏｕｓｌｙａｄｍｉｎｉｓｔｅｒｅｄｓｏｄｉｕｍｄｉｃｈｌｏｒｏａｃｅｔａｔｅｉｎｒａｂｂｉｔｓＧｕＢｉｎ（顾斌）；ＳｏｎｇＬｉｎｇ（宋岭）；ＪｉａｎｇＹｏｎｇｐｅｉ（蒋永培）；ＷｅｎＡｉｄｏｎｇ（文...     

Outcome study: comparison of short-term vs long-term treatment in a residential community.

All patients admitted to a Residential Treatment Center (RTC), a drug-free hospital-based inpatient facility in February 1985 through July 1985, were followed-up 6 months after discharge. The results are contrasted with those obtained in 1973 in a similar follow-up study. Length of stay at RTC had been reduced from 1 year in 1973 to 3 months in 1985. Six months after discharge, the longer length of stay in 1973 appears to be almost twice as effective as the 3-month program in 1985.     

APPLICATION OF ACUPOINT-INJECTION THERAPY TO PAIN SYNDROME: CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF 250 CASES

In this paper,250 cases of headache,shoulder pain,lumbago and leg pain weretreated with 20％Angelicae Sinensis mixed with Vitamine B_(12) point-injection therapy.The total effective rate was 95.2％and in which the cure rate was 53.6％.Authors have found a close correlation between the effectiveness and the duration of disease.     

Survival following hydrofluoric acid ingestion.

Systemic toxicity after significant dermal exposure to hydrofluoric acid includes rapid development of hypocalcemia and hyperkalemia, leading to ventricular fibrillation. Similar dysrhythmias have occurred in patients after ingestion of sodium fluoride-containing compounds. Ingestion of hydrofluoric acid could induce similar cardiac toxicity; however, reported cases of hydrofluoric acid ingestion rarely have been described, and the rapid death of these patients has not allowed verification of this hypothesis. On two separate occasions, a 70-year-old woman ingested up to 2 oz of a 8% hydrofluoric acid-containing solution. Recurrent ventricular fibrillation with concurrent hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia complicated her first episode, whereas a more aggressive administration of calcium and magnesium may have prevented dysrhythmias in the second episode. Survival from ventricular fibrillation after hydrofluoric acid ingestion has not been reported previously and suggests a role for aggressive empiric calcium and magnesium replacement.     

The adverse effect of treatment prolongation in cervical cancer by high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The potential risk of prolongation of treatment time in cervical cancer has been reported for many low-dose rate (LDR) studies, with an estimated loss of local control ranging from 0.3 to 1.6% per day of treatment prolongation. Since the treatment schedule for fractionated high-dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDRICB) is not directly comparable with that for low-dose rate studies, this report aims to evaluate the adverse effect of treatment prolongation specifically for cervical cancer treated with HDRICB. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From September 1992 to December 1997, 257 patients diagnosed with uterine cervical cancer (35 Ib, 26 IIa, 122 IIb, 10 IIIa, 57 IIIb, 7 IVa), who underwent external radiotherapy combined with between two and four courses of HDRICB and a minimum of 3 years of follow-up (median 57 months), were analyzed. Treatment consisted of irradiation of the whole pelvis with 44-45 Gy consisting of 22-25 fractions by 5 weeks, with the dose boosted to 54-58 Gy (with central shielding) for patients diagnosed as FIGO stage IIb-IVa bilateral parametrial disease. HDRICB was performed using an Ir-192 remote afterloading technique at 1-week intervals. The standard prescribed dose for each course of HDRICB was 7.2 Gy to point A for three insertions (before July 1995), or 6.0 Gy to point A for four insertions (after July 1995). Total prescribed point A doses (external beam radiotherapy+HDRICB) ranged from 58 to 71.6 Gy (median, 65.6 Gy) for stage IB-IIA, while analogous dosage for larger lesions (stage IIb-IVa) ranged from 59 to 75.6 Gy (median, 65.6 Gy). Kaplan-Meier and multivariate analyses were used to test the effect of treatment time on pelvic control rate (PCR) and cause-specific survival (CSS) at 5 years. RESULTS: Median treatment time was 63 days. For all stages of disease, the 5-year CSS and PCR were significantly different comparing treatment times of less than and greater than or equal to 63 days [83% and 65% (P=0.004], 93% and 83% (P=0.02), respectively]. These associations were also significant for stage Ib/IIa [97% and 79% (P=0.01), and 100% and 87% (P=0.02), respectively), but not for stage IIb [75% and 72% (P=0.79), and 93% and 87% (P=0.83), respectively] or stage III [66% and 49% (P=0.2), and 83% and 72% (P=0.21), respectively]. Multivariate analysis identified three prognostic factors for CSS, stage (P<0.001), tumor response to external RT (P=0.001), and overall treatment time (OTT; P=0.006). Prognostic factors for pelvic failure were stage (P<0.001), tumor response to external RT (P=0.001), and OTT (P=0.03). Prolongation of treatment time resulted in a daily decrease in pelvic control rate of 0.67% overall, and 0.43% for stage Ib-IIa, 0.57% for stage IIb, and 0.73% for stage III patients. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the data from the current study demonstrates that the adverse effect of treatment prolongation was observed later in the treatment course for the high-dose rate (HDR) series compared to the LDR analog, however, treatment-time prolongation still negatively influenced the cause-specific survival and pelvic control rate for both dosage groups.     

乳腺导管瘘的诊断和治疗：附40例报告

为探讨乳腺导管瘘的诊断和治疗方法，笔者回顾分析2年间收治的40例乳腺导管瘘患者的临床资料。诊断主要依据病史、体征和病理检查。治疗采用完整切除瘘管和受累乳导管，去除炎性组织，并充分引流的方法，通过肉芽组织生长使乳管瘘痊愈。结果显示，全部病例均治愈，随访其中37例住院治疗的患者2.5年，无1例复发。提示：在治疗上完整切除瘘管和受累乳导管，修复乳头畸形，是防止导管瘘复发的关键。     

Foreign metallic pellet in the heart

Foreign bodies in the heart are a rare but serious form of cardiac injury. The objects usually are sharp pointed. Such as acupuncture needles,sewing needles, coat hangers, fragments of Kirschner wires, pins, etc. 1 We report a patient with a metallic pellet lodged in the heart, which was accurately diagnosed and successfully removed.