Prevalence of traumatic injuries to the permanent incisors in candidates for orthodontic treatment

Abstract  – The dental records made on presentation of 1367 consecutive patients (731 females and 636 males) for orthodontic treatment at a private orthodontic practice between 1998 and 2002 were examined for data relating to trauma to the permanent incisors. The results showed that 10.3% of these patients had suffered from dental trauma before the onset of orthodontic treatment. The highest prevalence of dental trauma was determined in the 11–15 years age group, corresponding to the dental developmental stage of the late mixed dentition. The most frequently affected teeth were the maxillary central incisors (79.6%), and the most common types of trauma were fracture of enamel–dentin without pulpal involvement (42.7%) and fracture of enamel (33.8%). Compared to patients with normal overjet and adequate lip coverage, the frequency of dental trauma was significantly higher in patients with increased overjet and adequate lip coverage ( P  = 0.028) or with increased overjet and inadequate lip coverage ( P  = 0.003). The results of the present study indicate that a significant percentage of candidates for orthodontic treatment, and especially those with increased overjet and inadequate lip coverage, suffer trauma to their permanent incisors before the onset of orthodontic treatment. It might also be concluded that preventive orthodontic treatment of such patients should be initiated and completed before the age of 11, i.e. in the early to middle mixed dentition.     

Management of adult patients with a left ventricular assist device.

The number of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantations is growing as a result of increased waiting periods for cardiac transplantation and the decreased availability of organ donors. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved permanent LVAD support. After an acute hospitalization, patients with LVADs may need prolonged convalescence in a healthcare facility because they have complex medical needs and are physically disabled. Admission criteria need to be developed as essential patient and nursing competencies need to be defined as a part of a successful LVAD program in an acute rehabilitation center. Acute rehabilitation centers can help patients with LVADs transition to a home setting.     

带桡神经浅支营养血管蒂的桡骨茎突骨(膜)复合瓣转位术

目的介绍一种修复掌、指骨缺损合并皮肤软组织缺损的新型手术方法。方法自2002年以来应用桡神经浅内侧支营养血管的骨(膜)皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损合并掌指骨缺损12例,该复合瓣以桡骨茎突和第2掌骨头的连线为轴心线,以桡神经浅内侧支营养血管构成筋膜蒂。皮瓣最大6cm×3cm,最小3cm×2cm;骨(膜)瓣最大3cm×1.5cm,最小2cm×1.5cm。结果术后12例复合瓣全部成活,创面一期修复,X线显示骨缺损和骨不连在术后2～3个月达到骨愈合,但6例有不同程度的掌指关节活动受限,经康复治疗后好转;术后随访8～12个月,手部外形及功能均较满意。结论桡神经浅内侧支营养血管骨(膜)皮瓣的设计合理,血供可靠,操作简便,适用于修复手背部皮肤软组织缺损合并第1、2、3掌骨和拇、食指指骨近节部分缺损。     

Segmental Liver Transplantation from Non-Heart Beating Donors—An Early Experience with Implications for the Future

We report our experience of pediatric liver transplantation with partial grafts from non-heart beating donors (NHBD). Controlled donors less than 40 years of age with a warm ischemia time (WI) of less than 30 min were considered for pediatric recipients. Death was declared 5 min after asystole. A super-rapid recovery technique with aortic and portal perfusion was utilized. Mean donor age was 29 years and WI 14.6 min (range 11–18). Seven children, mean age 4.9 years (0.7–11), median weight 20 kg (8.4–53) received NHBD segmental liver grafts. Diagnoses included seronegative hepatitis, neonatal sclerosing cholangitis, familial intrahepatic cholestasis, hepatoblastoma, primary hyperoxaluria and factor VII deficiency (n = 2).The grafts included four reduced and one split left lateral segments, one left lobe and one right auxiliary graft. Mean cold ischemia was 7.3 h (6.2–8.8). Complications included one pleural effusion and one biliary collection drained percutaneously. At 20 months (10–36) follow-up all children are alive and well with functioning grafts.
Donation after cardiac death is a significant source of liver grafts for adults and children with careful donor selection and short cold ischemic times.     

马来酸桂哌齐特在颅脑损伤患者的治疗效果观察

目的通过随机分组对照观察探讨马来酸桂哌齐特对颅脑损伤患者的治疗效果。方法100例急性闭合性颅脑损伤患者，分为对照组和用药组，各50例病人。分析对比治疗后对照组和用药组的实验室各项检查指标：血液流变学，TCD检查结果等变化情况。并且对出院后3—6个月随访调查结果进行比较分析。结果治疗后血液流变学检查中，用药组（马来酸桂哌齐特组）各项指标均低于对照组（P〈0．05）。经颅多普勒检测结果显示：用药组的脑血流速度与对照组相比明显减慢（P〈0．05），血管痉挛得到缓解。对比两组出院后随访结果可以看出，用药组的GOS评分、KPS评分及Barthel指数预后明显好于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论初步证明急性颅脑损伤早期应用马来酸桂哌齐特可增加病变区的脑血流，改善微循环，改善颅脑损伤患者的预后。值得推广和进一步研究。     

中等强度冲击波负压暴露对豚鼠耳蜗毛细胞游离钙浓度的影响

目的:观察实验性冲击波负压(BUP)暴露对豚鼠耳蜗外毛细胞内游离钙浓度([Ca2 ]i)的影响。方法:在激光共聚焦显微镜下,用钙敏荧光探针Fluo-3作为指示剂,观察豚鼠暴露中等强度实验性BUP后耳蜗外毛细胞[Ca2 ]i的变化。结果:中等强度BUP暴露后8 h,至暴露后24 h和3 d稍有回落,但仍高于正常对照组。上述这些变化与听性脑干反应阈值的升高是一致的。结论:豚鼠暴露中等强度性BUP可引起耳蜗外毛细胞内[Ca2 ]i的明显增高,且可能是听功能损害的主要原因之一。     

The effects of altering time delays of coupled pacing during acute atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Coupled pacing (CP), which consists of delivering a premature electrical stimulation to the heart after the effective refractory period of ventricular activation, is a novel method for controlling ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF). It also has been established that CP improves pump function by enhancing external cardiac work and myocardial efficiency. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine if two time delays for CP (short and long) would result in similar improvements in ventricular function. METHODS: In a canine model, we applied CP at two time delays (CP-S and CP-L) during two stages: sinus rhythm (SR) and acute AF. The cardiac responses to CP during SR served as the nontachycardic and nondepressed control. During both rhythms, we shortened the coupling interval until we obtained maximal contractility, designated CP-S. Next, we increased the delay until we started to see a measurable secondary contraction (left ventricular pressure development of approximately 20 mmHg). These longer delays were designated CP-L. RESULTS: Our results showed that the ventricular rate of intrinsic activation (VRIA) remained decreased despite prolongation of the time delay of CP during both AF and SR. Also, both delays of CP increased left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and dLVP/dt, which are indices of myocardial contractility. In contrast, CP increased external cardiac work only during AF. Prolonging this time delay did not markedly decrease the improvement in external cardiac work. Myocardial O(2) consumption (MVO(2)) did not significantly change as the result of CP during either SR or AF. Finally, myocardial efficiency improved during AF as the result of CP at both time delays. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, shorter time delays for CP increased contractile strength during both SR and AF. However, extending the time delay of CP had minimal effects on diminishing the improved ventricular pump function and energetics that resulted from CP during AF. Thus, the maximal enhancement of myocardial contractility via CP-S was not needed to maintain the improved ventricular function during acute AF when CP is applied.     

Can Electrocardiographic Criteria Predict Adverse Cardiac Events and Positive Cardiac Markers?

OBJECTIVES: To determine electrocardiogram (ECG) predictors of positive cardiac markers and short-term adverse cardiac events in an undifferentiated chest pain population presenting to emergency departments (EDs). The authors hypothesized that specific ECG findings, other than those previously identified in higher-risk populations, would be predictive of cardiac outcomes and positive cardiac markers. METHODS: This study used data from a prospectively collected, retrospectively analyzed Internet-based data registry of undifferentiated chest pain patients (i*trACS). Logistic regression modeling was performed to determine the ECG findings that were predictive of 1) positive cardiac markers and 2) short-term adverse cardiac events. RESULTS: ST-segment elevation (STE), ST-segment depression (STD), pathological Q-waves (PQW), and T-wave inversion were associated with increased odds of percutaneous coronary intervention or catheterization, myocardial infarction, or coronary artery bypass grafting. The odds of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) measuring positive were increased if STE, STD, or PQW were present [odds ratio (OR) 2.495, 2.582, and 1.295, respectively]. A right bundle branch block tended to decrease the odds of CK-MB measuring positive (OR 0.658). A similar pattern of results was observed for troponin I (OR 3.608 for STE, 3.72 for STD, 1.538 for PQW). Troponin T showed an increased odds of measuring positive if any of STE, STD, left bundle branch block, or T-wave inversion were evident (OR 2.313, 2.816, 1.80, and 1.449, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Initial ECG criteria can be used to predict short-term cardiac outcomes and positive cardiac markers. These findings can be important aids in the risk-stratification and aggressive treatment regimens of chest pain patients presenting to EDs.     

血管内栓塞外伤性颈动脉海绵窦瘘126例随访结果

目的探讨血管内栓塞治疗外伤性颈动脉海绵窦瘘（TCCF）的近期及远期效果。方法139例TCCF患者行血管内栓塞术后3个月开始通过再次入院、邮寄调查表或电话随访．其中再次入院完成及收回调查表共64例，电话随访62例，获随访126例（90．6％）。结果126例中26例术后行MRA检查，20例行颅脑CT检查，均未见异常；10例术后半年行DSA复查，未见复发。11例复发，经再次栓塞后治愈。结论血管内栓塞治疗TCCF，术后复发率不高，临床随访即可。     

创伤后迟发性脑肿胀的临床特点与治疗

目的 探讨创伤后迟发性脑肿胀的临床特点、发病机制与治疗。方法 回顾性分析1998年1月～2005年6月年收治的17例迟发性脑肿胀患者的临床特点和救治情况。结果 所有颅脑损伤患者采用保守治疗后均有好转，但于伤后5-10d出现恶化，CT复查有脑肿胀，经加强综合脱水等治疗后16例治愈，1例死亡。结论 迟发性脑肿胀好发于对冲性额、颞叶挫裂伤伴明显蛛网膜下腔出血、硬膜下薄层血肿及早期CT有脑肿胀者。其发病机制可能与创伤后的迟发性脑血管痉挛、微循环障碍、静脉回流障碍及甘露醇作用下降等因素有关。此类患者病情隐蔽性强，应加强观察、积极行CT复查，如能早期明确诊断，保守治疗多数效果良好。