Eureka-project: ‘totally implantable artificial larynx’: progress report

Objective. The European Eureka project ‘Artificial larynx’ aims at realizing an implantable artificial larynx, consisting of artificial vocal folds, artificial epiglottis, tissue connector for tracheal fixation and valve mechanism to switch between breathing and speaking. The last part has been realized. Because its functioning is identical to a tracheostomal valve, it was tested as such. Materials and methods. The device consists of two valves: a speech valve, that will be open during normal breathing and closed by strong expiration and a cough valve that opens during coughing and closes automatically during inhalation. Magnets keep the valves in the breathing position. The magnetic force can be varied. Several prototypes have been tested in vitro and in situ. Results. The prototypes showed good in vitro behaviour. The range of adjustability of speech and cough was wide enough, flow resistance acceptable. This was confirmed by preliminary in vivo experiments. Patients were enthusiastic; hands-free speaking and coughing is possible. Conclusion. Numerous problems have to be solved to produce an artificial larynx. Each solution generated up till now, however, can already be applied to improve the existing rehabilitation process of laryngectomized patients.     

Ocular torsion induced by static visual stimulation and static whole body roll

Objective. This study was aimed to improve the reliability of clinical statolith testing by quantifying the influence of visual orientation and stimulation on the statolith-ocular reflex. Materials and methods. Ocular torsion was induced in 12 healthy adults by visual stimulation and by static whole body roll with and without simultaneous visual orientation. Visual stimulation was achieved by a horizontal grating oscillating sinusoidally in a frontal plane. Visual orientation during whole body roll was established by mounting an illuminated horizontal grating either on a tilting device (head-fixed) or on the wall in the frontal plane (earth-fixed). Results. No eye torsion was observed in static visual tilts of the grating. Dynamic visual stimulation elicited substantial eye torsion. Static whole body roll in the dark induced static ocular counter-rolling. Visual orientation either head- or earth-fixed did not affect the amplitude or gain of the body roll induced ocular counter-rolling. Conclusion. Dynamic visually induced torsional eye movements can be used to test the ability of the oculomotor system to generate torsional eye movements prior to quantifying the statolith-ocular reflex. Simultaneously visual information does not affect the gain of the static statolith-ocular reflex.     

Postischemic spontaneous hyperthermia and its effects in middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat

This study examined the time course and effects of postischemic spontaneous hyperthermia after transient and permanent focal ischemia. Rats underwent a 90-min, 120-min, or permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Body temperatures started rising 15-20 min after MCAO and reached 39-40.5 degrees C during the first hour. Sustained hyperthermia was observed during the rest of the first 24 h. In another experiment, rats were subjected to the same interventions, but a normothermic body temperature was maintained. Spontaneous hyperthermia significantly increased the infarct volumes measured 48 h after MCAO in all groups. Reperfusion 2 h after the onset of ischemia was not beneficial in the hyperthermic animals in contrast to the normothermic group. We also examined the effect of spontaneous hyperthermia on the temporal progression of infarcted and penumbral areas 4, 12, or 48 h after MCAO. During spontaneous hyperthermia, penumbral areas became infarcted areas more rapidly, which was most expressed at 4 h. These findings demonstrate that severe spontaneous hyperthermia can occur in rats after MCAO and that it not only increases the infarct volumes in both transient and permanent ischemia, but also accelerates the incorporation of penumbral areas into necrotic areas, which significantly decreases the window of opportunity for therapeutic interventions.     

内耳畸形与耳蜗骨化患者的耳蜗植入

目的探讨先天性内耳畸形与耳蜗骨化患者耳蜗植入术的有关问题.方法对我院2002年10月～2004年2月间行耳蜗植入术的8例内耳畸形和2例耳蜗骨化的患者进行回顾性分析.结果4例大前庭水管综合征患者术中有外淋巴液搏动;3例Mondini畸形和1例共同腔畸形患者术中出现井喷;1例耳蜗部分骨化患者术中误将电极插入内听道后纠正;另一例耳蜗部分骨化患者植人短电极.1例Mondini畸形患者术后发生少量脑脊液耳鼻漏,保守治疗3月后痊愈,其余患者无并发症.所有患者均成功开机.结论对于内耳畸形或耳蜗骨化的患者,耳蜗植入术前详细的影像学评估,对术中困难的充分估计和正确、规范处理是手术成功的基本条件.     

耳穴压籽促进儿童生长发育

目的：促进儿童生长发育。方法：治疗组,耳穴压籽,对照组,服用长治市制药厂生产的小儿健脾丸。结果：治疗组,107．7±6．7cm,对照组,106．3±3．7cm,经统计学处理：具有高度显著性（P〈0．01）。结论：治疗组明显优于对照组。     

试论中风后吞咽障碍与中气的关系

现代医学认为吞咽的过程需要吞咽肌强有力的收缩才能完成。中医虽无吞咽障碍病名,但从脾主肌肉及患者临床表现来看,表明它与中气关系密切。这一认识可为中医药治疗中风后吞咽障碍提供理论依据。     

《傅青主女科》学术特色举隅

《傅青主女科》学术特色体现在以下四方面:①别出心裁,补中寓散治带下;②匠心独运,升降结合调月事;③运筹帷幄,养血保精求子嗣;④注重二天,健脾固肾愈胎病。     

279例耳闷胀感的病因分析

目的 探讨产生耳闷胀感的部位和原因。方法 收集耳闷胀感为主诉的279例362耳,对患耳的临床表现、鼓室导抗图、纯音测听和咽鼓管功能进行分析。结果 362耳中鼓室导抗图A型203耳、B型111耳、C型33耳以及鼓膜穿孔15耳。纯音测听表现为传导性聋、感音神经性聋、混合性聋以及正常者分别是83耳、8l耳、105耳和93耳。在362耳中,咽鼓管功能异常208耳,在A型鼓室导抗图203耳中,咽鼓管功能异常67耳。结论 产生耳闷胀感的病变部位包括外、中、内耳和面神经的病变,其中以分泌性中耳炎、各种原因引起的感音神经性聋和“咽鼓管狭窄症”为多。