Evaluation of computerized analysis of the propagation of human duodenojejunal contractions

Abstract Detection of peristalsis in the human small intestine has been limited in the past by both the available measurement techniques and the complexity of this activity. Recent developments in ambulant recording have provided a means of monitoring the occurrence of intestinal contractions at multiple sites in the small bowel, but the problem of complexity remains. Using digital data recorded from an intra-luminal strain-gauge transducer in the proximal gut, an algorithm was implemented to identify and classify contractile events within the small bowel. By modelling propagated activity the effect of varying transducer spacing and the number of transducers used was assessed. The question of variability of apparent velocity of peristaltic contractions was examined using successive cross-correlation calculations to extract underlying phase differences between samples of 512 minutes of manometric recording over 150 mm of human small bowel. The effective velocity was found to have a median value of 14 mm sec^-1 and an inter quartile range of 12–18 mm see^-1). It is proposed that, in dynamically tracking variations in phase difference between adjacent recording sites, cross-correlation techniques should be used to control the parameters used for the recognition of propagated contractile events and thereby improve the specificity of this process.     

Epidemiology of limb-body wall complex in Japan

Limb-body wall complex is a malformation of body and limbs with craniofacial defects. We describe here the epidemiology of this complex using the population-based registry data in the Kanagawa Birth Defects Monitoring Program during the period 1982–1991. Eleven infants (11/428,599 births) with the complex were ascertained in the study. The incidence and spectrum of the defects observed in our cases were similar to those of other studies. The parental ages in the study group were not significantly different from those in the general population. No teratogenic agents and factors were identified in the present study. Most cases were diagnosed prenatally. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

冶金炼铁炉前工人职业性皮损调查研究

冶金炼铁炉前工人职业性皮损调查研究关虹，王溪鸿，杨玉萍（辽宁省本溪钢铁公司劳动卫生研究所，１１７０２１）作者对炼铁炉前工人＂熊猫眼＂样皮损病因及特异部位皮损进行研究，为改善劳动条件，防治职业性皮肤病提供一些依据。以某炼铁厂５号炉前工人为观察组，以炼钢...     

肌电图对腰神经后根节段定位作用的实验研究

目的:探讨应用肌电图行大鼠腰神经后根节段定位的方法。方法:通过电生理的方法,依次电刺激L3￣L5脊神经后根,分别记录大鼠双侧下肢主要肌肉的肌电图像,测量最早出现的感觉神经动作电位(SNAP)最大波幅值。结果:刺激L3脊神经后根,于股四头肌记录到的波幅峰值(480.8±255.9μV)显著高于其它各组肌肉(P<0.01)。刺激L4脊神经后根,于下肢四组肌肉记录到的CMAP最大波幅平均值均>100μV,其中在股四头肌(305.2±131.5μV)、胫骨前肌(340.2±310.4μV)记录到的波幅峰值显著高于在股二头肌(142.4±144.7μV)、腓肠肌(138.2±127.6μV)记录到的波幅峰值(P<0.01)。刺激L5脊神经后根,于股二头肌(377.5±264.4μV)、腓肠肌(168.4±126.7μV)记录到的波幅峰值显著高于其它各肌群记录到的波幅峰值(P<0.01)。结论:电刺激不同脊神经后根,在大鼠下肢不同肌肉记录到的SNAP的波幅峰值存在差异,综合分析记录到的SNAP的波幅峰值,可作为腰神经后根节段定位的参考。     

Cell mediated immunity (CMI) and post transplant viral infections — Role of a functional immune assay to titrate immunosuppression

Cell mediated immunity (CMI) was assessed by the ImmuKnow assay in 12 patients after kidney transplantation, who presented with viral infection. Treatment included lowering of immunosuppression in all cases and antiviral treatment if indicated. The assay was repeated during the follow up. The ImmuKnow assay at time of presentation of viral infections was 56.8 ± 58.2 (range 3–178; median 22) ATP ng/ml. With the clearance of viral infection and lowering of immunosuppression, the assay showed an increase in the level of CMI at 194.5 ± 118.9 (range 53–409; median 150) ATP ng/ml. There was viral clearance or stabilization in all cases and there was no incidence of allograft rejection. The ImmuKnow assay of CMI can be used to titrate initial immunosuppression reduction and its subsequent increase, in patients with viral infection after transplantation.     

The effect of oral appliance therapy on blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of oral appliance (OA) therapy on ambulatory blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Eleven OSA patients who received OA therapy were prospectively investigated. Ambulatory blood pressure was measured for 20 h from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 noon the next day using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor. The Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) was measured in the pretreatment and posttitration periods. The OA was titrated to reach a therapeutic jaw position over 2 to 8 months, and posttitration measurements were repeated. At posttitration, the RDI was significantly decreased from a mean (SD) of 24.7 (20.1) to 6.1 (4.5). Significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were found for the 20-h periods, and systolic blood pressure (SBP), DBP, and MAP while asleep. The mean values were 79.5 (5.5) to 74.6 (6.0) for DBP and 95.9 (5.4) to 91.2 (5.9) for MAP, for over a 20-h period, and 118.4 (10.0) to 113.7 (9.1) for SBP, 71.6 (8.0) to 67.2 (7.9) for DBP, and 88.4 (8.0) to 83.9 (7.5) for MAP, while asleep. This study suggests that successful OSA treatment with an OA may also be beneficial to lower blood pressure in OSA patients, as previously suggested for nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy. This study was conducted in the Division of Orthodontics, The University of British Columbia, Canada     

南京口岸1987—1993年艾滋病监测报告

本文报道了南京卫生检疫局1987～1993连续7年对南京口岸重点人群进行艾滋病监测的情况．7年来南京局共监测各类标本43085份，在外籍留学生中检出HIV感染者2例，另外还检出4份进口人血丙种球旦白HIV抗体阳性．该局对检出的2侧HIV感染者及4份阳性进口人血丙种球旦白进行了游行病学调查和处理．并对艾滋病监测管理的有关问题进行了探讨．     

A ring electrode to record extraocular muscle activities during skull base surgery

Summary A ring-shaped electrode was developed and used in 20 patients to record evoked electromyographic responses directly from the extraocular muscles during skull base surgery. Intra-operative monitoring with this electrode helps the surgeon to localize the nerves that innervate the extraocular muscles precisely and to refrain from disturbing important neural structures during operations. Such monitoring also provides some insight into the pathophysiology of the dysfunction of these nerves resulting from skull base lesions.     

Adaptive group sequential design for phase II clinical trials: A Bayesian decision theoretic approach

Bayesian decision theoretic approaches (BDTAs) have been widely studied in the literature as tools for designing and conducting phase II clinical trials. However, full Bayesian approaches that consider multiple endpoints are lacking. Since the monitoring of toxicity is a major goal of phase II trials, we propose an adaptive group sequential design using a BDTA, which characterizes efficacy and toxicity as correlated bivariate binary endpoints. We allow trade‐off between the two endpoints. Interim evaluations are conducted group sequentially, but the number of interim looks and the size of each group are chosen adaptively based on current observations. We utilize a loss function consisting of two components: the loss associated with accruing, treating, and monitoring patients, and the loss associated with making incorrect decisions. The performance of our Bayesian modeling, and the operating characteristics of decision rules under a wide range of loss function parameters are evaluated using seven scenarios in a simulation study. Our method is illustrated in the context of a single‐arm phase II trial of bevacizumab, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.