Reproducibility of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor induced cough: A double-blind randomised study

1 The reproducibility of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor induced cough was examined in a double-blind cross over study in patients previously shown to have exhibited this side effect.

2 Ninety-seven patients who had experienced angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor cough within the last 2 years were challenged with enalapril 20 mg daily for 4 weeks to establish eligibility. Eighty-eight of 97 (91%) patients experienced a repeat of their cough symptoms. Sixty-four patients entered the double-blind part of the study where they were treated with enalapril 20 mg and a renin inhibitor for up to 4 weeks in random order. These periods were separated by a minimum 4 week placebo wash out.

3 Of 59 evaluable patients who received enalapril a second time, 37 (62.7%) experienced cough again. Of 62 patients on the renin inhibitor 16 (25.8%) experienced cough, however as it was not equi-efficacious to enalapril no valid comparison could be made.

4 Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor cough is not reproducible within patients, as other factors are involved in the aetiology. Objective testing with blinded assessment together with symptom reporting, would give a more accurate measure of the incidence, and mechanism of this side effect.

     

力学在食管胃腔内弹力环扎吻合术的应用

本文探讨食管胃腔内弹力环扎吻合术的力学机理。这是一种不用任何缝合材料或吻合器进行胃食管吻合的新技术,我们已成功应用于临床。取临床所用的乳胶管按该材料多向异性特征、实验条件以及弹力环数目分为8组,每组3个样品进行各种体外力学试验。通过应力—应变(拉力—伸长)关系曲线和定伸长松驰试验确定它的力学特性是一种粘弹性材料。根据实验所得的应力换算为弹力环对食管和胃组织所施加的最佳压力(压强)是4.23±0.23Kg/cm~2,这样才能保证这一种新颖的吻合术可达到简便、安全、可靠的目的。     

离子交换处理对褐煤加氢液化的影响及其机理

考察了褐煤离子交换处理前后的加氢液化性能,探讨了不同形态铁催化剂和不同溶剂对褐煤加氢液化的影响。发现在液化反应条件下,离子交换煤中的(RCOO)_3Fe分解为Fe_3O_4,后者在有较高供氢性能的溶剂中和有硫存在的条件下进一步转化为Fe_(1-x)S,其催化活性高于Fe_3O_4。此外,在液化残渣的Mossbauer谱中发现有γ-Fe,它可能是由Fe_(1-x)S还原而成,其催化活性比Fe_(1-x)S更高。     

自拟白术桃花汤治疗习惯性便秘临床观察

目的　观察白术桃花汤治疗习惯性便秘的疗效。方法　自拟白术桃花汤 (白术 30g ,桃花 12g ,生地黄 30g ,枳实 10g) ,每日服 1剂 ,7d为 1个疗程。对照组服用果导片作对比观察。结果　白术桃花汤治疗习惯性便秘 117例 ,治愈 10 6例 ,好转 4例 ,总有效率 94 .0 2 %;果导片治疗 6 6例 ,治愈18例 ,好转 30例 ,总有效率 72 .73%。两组总有效率比较 ,经统计学处理P <0 0 1,差异有非常显著性意义。结论　白术桃花汤功能为补气除湿 ,增液行气 ,通调大便 ,治疗习惯性便秘疗效满意。     

A retrospective analysis of the stability and relapse of soft and hard tissue change after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular setback of 64 Taiwanese patients.

PURPOSE: This study was an analysis of the soft and hard tissue changes of the facial profile after bilateral sagittal splitting osteotomy for mandibular setback of Taiwanese patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected pre- and postsurgical lateral cephalographs of 64 patients (28 males, 36 females) with skeletal Class III malocclusion who received combined orthodontic-surgical treatment with bilateral sagittal splitting osteotomy mandibular setback at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 1994 and 2000. Nineteen cephalometric parameters of (14 linear, 4 angular, and the BS index) soft and hard tissues were measured at 1 week before treatment, and 2 months and 1 year after surgery, and analyzed by paired t test. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 20.0 +/- 1.6 years. The patients underwent an average of 7 mm mandibular setback at the osseous pogonion (Pog). Average setbacks at Pog and soft tissue pogonion (pog) were 5.54 mm and 4.85 mm, respectively, at 1 year after surgery. The setback ratio of Pog/pog was 1:0.88. The hard tissue relapse at Pog was 21% at 1 year after surgery. Improvement in prognathic profile was demonstrated by significant changes in the positions of Pog and pog, ANB angle, the distance from lower lip to esthetic line (E-L lip), and the BS index after surgery. However, compared with parameters obtained from a normal Taiwanese population, the cephalometric data of Pog, pog, and BS index still indicated mild prognathism. CONCLUSION: Although mandibular prognathism could be grossly improved by bilateral sagittal splitting osteotomy mandibular setback, a significant amount of relapse occurred within 1 year after surgery. The extent of the postoperatively preserved features showing mandibular prognathism should be a concern for both patients and physicians.     

A multicenter evaluation of safety of early extubation in liver transplant recipients.

Small single-institutional studies performed prior to the introduction of organ allocation using the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) suggest that early airway extubation of liver transplant recipients is a safe practice. We designed a multicenter study to examine adverse events associated with early extubation in patients selected for liver transplantation using MELD score. A total of 7 institutions extubated all patients meeting study criteria and reported adverse events that occurred within 72 hours following surgery. Adverse events were uncommon: occurring in only 7.7% of 391 patients studied. Most adverse events were pulmonary or surgically related. Pulmonary complications were usually minor, requiring only an increase in ambient oxygen concentration. The majority of surgical adverse events required additional surgery. Analysis of a limited set of perioperative variables suggest that blood transfusions and technical factors were associated with an increased risk of adverse events. In conclusion, while early extubation appears to be safe under specified circumstances, there are performance differences between institutions that remain to be explained.     

Early and mid–term results of the Shelhigh stentless bioprosthesis in patients with active infective endocarditis

Summary Aims This study investigated the early and mid–term results following valve replacement with the new Shelhigh^? stentless bioprosthesis made entirely of biological material in patients with active infective endocarditis (AIE). Material and methods Between 02/2000 and 12/2004, 164 patients (n = 122 men, mean age 59, 18–85 years) received implantation of an AIE Shelhigh^? stentless bioprosthesis in the aortic, mitral, tricuspid or pulmonary position. A total of 119 patients (72.6%) had native AIE and 45 (27.4%) prosthetic AIE. A large proportion of the patients reached the operating room in a condition of cardiac decompensation: 37 (22.6%) patients were intubated, 40 (24.4%) had protracted septic shock and 41 (25.0%) required intensive catecholamine treatment. Surgery was regarded as urgent in 94 patients (57.4%) and was performed as an emergency procedure in 70 (42.6%). The mean follow–up time is 1.5 ± 0.11 years (range, 5 months to 5.2 years). Echocardiographic follow–up examinations were performed early postoperatively and after 12 months. Results In terms of the operative indication, we found a highly significant difference in the survival rate between patients who were operated on urgently vs in an emergency. In patients who died within 30 days, the main cause of death was septic multiorgan failure (67.6%). Only three patients required reoperation due to reinfection of the Shelhigh^? bioprostheses; this represents a reinfection rate of 1.8% in relation to the whole cohort. The postoperative echocardiographic examinations showed the Shelhigh^? valves to have very good hemodynamics without relevant pressure gradients. Conclusion Our experience in the use of Shelhigh^? bioprostheses in patients with native and prosthetic endocarditis show the early and mid–term results, in particular the low reinfection rate and the good hemodynamics, to be comparable with the results achieved using homografts. Since these prostheses are readily available and their implantation straightforward, they are increasingly being used in patients with endocarditis. These promising results need to verified in the long term. This paper was presented at a lecture held at the 71^st annual meeting of the German Society for Cardiology, Mannheim, 31. March—2. April 2005. Disclosure Form: The following study discloses my relationship with any corporate sponsor that might relate in some way to the subject presented.     

Surgical therapy in patients with active infective endocarditis: seven-year single centre experience in a subgroup of 255 patients treated with the Shelhigh stentless bioprosthesis

OBJECTIVE: We investigated outcomes after surgical therapy in patients with active infective endocarditis (AIE) with regard to survival in relation to surgical urgency, valve position, number of valves implanted and abscess formation. We aimed to identify independent risk factors for early mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-five patients received Shelhigh bioprostheses between February 2000 and March 2007. A total of 74.1% had native and 25.9% prosthetic AIE. Surgery was regarded as urgent in 57.3% and as an emergency procedure in 38.4%. There was a highly significant difference in survival rate between patients who were operated on urgently versus in an emergency (p<0.0001), between single and double valve replacement (p=0.0206) and between patients with and without abscess formation (p=0.0245). There were two cases of early reinfection (0.78%) and six of late reinfection (2.35%) leading to re-operation. CONCLUSIONS: The survival of patients differs significantly in dependence on their surgical urgency. Better outcome could have been achieved if patients had been referred earlier for surgery and operated upon before heart failure or septic shock developed. Long-term survival was better in patients without abscess formation. The low reinfection rate of Shelhigh bioprostheses in AIE is promising and the early and mid-term results achieved need to be verified in the long-term course.