Transesophageal Echocardiographic Analysis of the Systolic Pattern of the Anterior Mitral Leaflet in Patients with Flat Chest

Transesophageal echocardiography was conducted to determine the systolic pattern of the anterior mitral leaflet in patients with flat chest, and to differentiate it from that associated with mitral valve prolapse. The fronto-sagittal index (an index of chest flattening) was determined in 50 subjects using chest radiographs, and was used to classify them into a flat chest group (index < 0.38, n = 28) and a normal chest group (index ≥ 0.38, n = 22). We then used transesophageal echocardiography to examine the anterior leaflet in these subjects. A significant positive correlation was observed between the fronto-sagittal index and the short-to long-axis diameter ratio of the left ventricle in all patients. These parameters, and the left atrial dimension were lower in the flat than the normal chest group. The clear zone area of the anterior leaflet during mid-to late-systole was significantly larger in the flat chest group. However, no intergroup differences existed in the rough zone area of the anterior leaflet or in the middle scallop area of the posterior leaflet. Mitral regurgitation was observed in 20 and 12 subjects in the flat and normal chest groups, respectively. The maximum mitral regurgitant area did not differ between the two groups. The clear zone area of the anterior leaflet increased significantly following inhalation of amyl nitrite in 22 subjects of both groups, but the other areas did not increase. The mitral regurgitant area decreased or disappeared after amyl nitrite at a similar rate in each group. Thus, the decrease in the antero-posterior dimension of the thorax in subjects with flat chest affects the systolic pattern of the clear zone of the anterior leaflet more than that of the rough zone of the anterior leaflet or the posterior leaflet. This systolic pattern in such patients differs from that associated with mitral valve prolapse.     

MANAGEMENT OF CHONDROSARCOMA INCLUDING MODULAR CERAMIC AND ALUMINA PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT

Forty-one cases of chondrosarcoma from varying sites throughout the body, and treated exclusively by one of the authors (R. L. H.) from 1972 to 1990 were reviewed. The symptoms, signs, location of tumours, treatment and progress are presented. Particular attention was paid to modular bone replacement techniques. Excision and reconstruction of the bone or joint were carried out in 17 femora, five tibia and six humeri. Comparison between this method of management and other techniques is discussed. Titanium and alumina prostheses for the hip, femur, tibia, shoulder and humerus have been designed by the senior author. These are both inert and modular, and have been found to be superior to other methods of treatment in both function and cosmesis. They do not possess the same potential donor infection risks and other disadvantages of allograft replacement. Immediate postoperative weight bearing and mobilization are possible with these systems. The Huckstep prostheses allow for bony in growth into their porous coated alumina sleeves, spacers and stems. In addition, the titanium alloy locking component for the femoral stems has an elasticity half that of other metal alloys and this was found to minimize stress shielding.     

Symmetry主动脉吻合器对大隐静脉移植物的损伤

目的　观察使用Symmetry主动脉吻合器时对大隐静脉移植物内皮有无损伤。 方法　对 10例使用Symmetry主动脉吻合器行冠状动脉旁路移植术患者进行自身对照研究。在主动脉吻合器使用前和使用后 ,切取自体大隐静脉片断 ,进行Ⅷ因子免疫组化染色 ,对照血管内皮损伤情况。结果　血管内皮细胞均匀着色 ,为深褐色颗粒 ,损伤处褐色颗粒排列中断。吻合器组内皮损伤处平均为 2 .5 5处 ,对照组为 2 .0处。结论　Symmetry主动脉吻合器对静脉内皮细胞无明显的机械损伤     

Evaluation of an aortic stent graft for use in surgery on esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta

Objective: The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate whether aortic stent grafting can be applied to the treatment of an esophageal cancer involving the thoracic aorta. Methods: The canine thoracic aorta was partially resected without aorta being clamped after emplacement of an endovascular stent graft. Study I; The aortic whole layer of 1 cm in length and 1/4 of the circumference was resected and was covered by a free fascia patch of the abdominal rectal muscle immediately after stent graft placement. Study II; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of the same size was resected on day 3, 7,14, 21, and on day 28, after the stent graft placement. The resected portion was covered by the free fascia patch in half experimental dogs, and was uncovered in the others. Study III; The aortic adventitia and the outer half of the media of 1 cm in length and 1/2 of the circumference was resected and was uncovered on day 7 after stent graft placement. Histological examinations were performed on day 28 and at one year after aortic resection. Results: The aortic wall could be resected in all cases with no complication, except in resection of 1/2 the circumference where the aorta had become narrow. There was no difference in healing of the resected portion of the aorta between with and without fascia covering. Conclusion: An aortic endovascular stent graft could be applied to surgery for an esophageal cancer involving the aorta.     

Relationships between Activators and Inhibitors of Plasminogen, and the Progression of Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: plasmin is a common activator of the known proteolytic systems involved in the aneurysmal degradation, and is reported to be associated with the expansion of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The aim of this study was to study the activating pathways of plasminogen as predictors of the progression of AAA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: one hundred and twelve of 122 male patients with a small AAA (def.: +3cm) were interviewed, examined, had blood samples taken at diagnosis, and scanned annually for 1-5 years (mean 3.5 years), and referred for surgery if the AAA exceeded 5cm in diameter.A random sample of 70 of the 112 cases had plasma levels of urokinase-like-plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue-type-plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), macrophage inhibiting factor (MIF), tumour-growth-factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), homocysteine, and serum levels of IgA-antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae (IgA-CP) and Cotinine (a nicotine metabolite) measured. Spearmans correlation analysis was used for statistics. RESULTS: the annual expansion rate correlated positively with tPA, IgA-CP and S-Cotinine; r =0.37 (p=0.002), 0.29 (p=0.006) and 0.24 (p=0.038), while PAI1, uPA, TGF-beta1, homocysteine, and MIF did not. S-Cotinine did also correlate positively with tPA, r=0.24 (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: the aortic matrix degradation in AAA may be partly caused by an activation of plasminogen by tPA, but apparently not by uPA, which usually dominates matrix degradation. Smoking seems to be a factor for this pathway, while the pathways of IgA-CP and MIF, a new marker of aneurysmal progression, seem different. The latter observations suggest that other proteolytic pathways are involved in the aortic wall degradation in AAA.     

Disc replacement using Pro-Disc C versus fusion: a prospective randomised and controlled radiographic and clinical study

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) may be considered to be the gold standard for treatment of symptomatic degenerative disc disease within the cervical spine. However, fusion of the segment may result in progressive degeneration of the adjacent segments. Therefore, dynamic stabilization procedures have been introduced. Among these, artificial disc replacement by disc prosthesis seems to be promising. However, to be so, segmental motion must be preserved. This, again, is very difficult to judge and has not yet been proven. The aim of the current study was to first analyse the segmental motion following artificial disc replacement using a disc prosthesis. A second aim was to compare both segmental motion as well as clinical result to the current gold standard (ACDF). This is a prospective controlled study. Twenty-five patients with cervical disc herniation were enrolled and assigned to either study group (receiving a disc prosthesis) or control group (receiving ACDF, using a cage with bone graft and an anterior plate.) Radiostereometric analysis was used to quantify intervertebral motion immediately as well as 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks postoperatively. Further, clinical results were judged using visual analogue scale and neuro-examination. Cervical spine segmental motion decreased over time in the presence of disc prosthesis or ACDF. However, the loss of segmental motion is significantly higher in the ACDF group, when looked at 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. We observed significant pain reduction in neck and arm postoperatively, without significant difference between both groups (P > 0.05). Cervical spine disc prosthesis preserves cervical spine segmental motion within the first 6 months after surgery. The clinical results are the same when compared to the early results following ACDF.     

人工肱骨头置换术后大结节影像学改变与肩关节功能

目的观察新鲜复杂肱骨近端骨折行人工肱骨头置换术后随访X线片上重建大结节影像的动态改变,探讨其原因及其与肩关节功能的关系。方法2002年2月至2005年7月应用人工肱骨头置换治疗新鲜复杂肱骨近端骨折68例,59例术后随访1年以上。男28例,女31例;年龄28～80岁,平均59岁。以随访中肩关节外旋正位X线片上出现大结节影像明显变化的8例为研究组,其余患者为对照组。比较两组的肩关节功能,明确大结节影像改变的临床意义。结果两组术后主动前屈上举角度、主动前屈上举肌力、主动体侧外旋肌力、SST评分以及ASES评分的差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;而主动体侧外旋角度和主动体侧内旋的差异无统计学意义。结论复杂肱骨近端骨折患者应用人工肱骨头置换术后,若随访过程中逐渐出现肩关节外旋正位X线片上大结节影像明显减小甚至消失可能预示肩关节功能恢复不佳。推测造成这种大结节改变的原因是多方面的,其中包括大结节骨块血运差导致的部分骨吸收,以及大结节骨块不愈合导致的骨块进一步移位。     

人工全髋关节置换术中偏心距重建对髋关节功能的影响

目的比较标准股骨假体行人工全髋关节置换术中股骨假体颈长和股骨距保留对偏心距重建的作用，并分析偏心距重建对软组织平衡的影响。方法68例（71髋）行初次全髋关节置换术并获得随访。术中确定双下肢等长、髋关节稳定及周围软组织紧张度适中。术后采用Harris评分评估手术结果，Cybex-6000等速测定患髋外展肌力，通过手术记录和X线片测量获得偏心距、股骨距、假体颈长、外展肌力臂，用SPSS11．5统计学软件包对数据进行分析。结果假体颈长对偏心距的影响较股骨距大（P＜0．01），并与偏心距呈正相关关系（r=0．642，P＜0．001），但两者对于Harris评分影响的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。股骨头坏死患者术后的偏心距较髋关节骨关节炎患者（P＜0．01）和股骨颈骨折患者小（P＜0．01）。颈于角与偏心距外展肌力臂比呈正相关关系（r=0．25，火0．05）。偏心距重建较好的髋关节术后外展肌力较偏心距重建不足者优（P＜0．05），且两者呈相关关系（r=0．29，P＜0．05）。结论偏心距的重建在全髋关节置换术软组织平衡中主要起到增强术后外展肌力的作用。采用标准股骨假体重建术后股骨偏心距，股骨假体颈长对人工全髋关节置换术后偏心距的重建作用大于股骨距的保留，在诸多影响因素中起到关键作用。     

异丙酚复合麻醉下髋关节置换术患者瑞芬太尼控制性降压的效果

目的探讨异丙酚复合麻醉下髋关节置换术患者瑞芬太尼控制性降压的效果。方法择期行髋关节置换术患者30例,ASA分级Ⅱ级或Ⅲ级,随机分为2组(n=15):瑞芬太尼组(R组)和硝普钠组(N组)。2组麻醉诱导气管插管后在30min内静脉输注6%羟乙基淀粉200/0.5 15ml/kg行急性高容量血液稀释,桡动脉穿刺置管监测平均动脉压(MAP)和心率(HR),颈内静脉穿刺置管监测中心静脉压,术中维持脑电双频谱指数45～55。2组于切皮前开始降压,R组和N组分别持续静脉输注瑞芬太尼0.3～0.7μg·kg~(-1)·min~(-1)、硝普钠0.5～6.0μg·kg~(-1)·min~(-1),使MAP降低到术前基础值的70%左右(60～70mm Hg)并维持至术毕。分别于急性高容量血液稀释后控制性降压前即刻(T_0)、控制性降压20min(T_1)、40min(T_2)、术毕(T_3)时抽取静脉血,测定血红蛋白(Hb)、红细胞压积(Hct)、乳酸(Lac)浓度,同时抽取动脉血,行动脉血气分析,记录开始降压至目标血压所需的时间(降压诱导时间)、停降压药后MAP恢复至基础值的时间(MAP恢复时间)及术中出血量、输血量。结果与N组比较,R组降压诱导时间、MAP恢复时间、血气分析指标及Lae水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),T_(1,2)时HR降低,出血量减少(P<0.05或0.01);N组有5例患者发生反射性心动过速,需使用艾司洛尔,T_3时有2例患者发生反跳性高血压,2组术后均未见并发症。结论异丙酚复合麻醉下髋关节置换术患者持续静脉输注瑞芬太尼0.3～0.7μg·kg~(-1)·min~(-1)控制性降压可控性好,降压及恢复平稳,且血液保护作用优于硝普钠。     

三种去神经法对清醒大鼠动脉压力感受性反射功能的影响

目的：测定急、慢性去主动脉神经（ＡＤ）、去颈动脉窦神经（ＳＤ）、同时去主动脉和窦神经（ＳＡＤ）后大鼠动脉压力感受性反射对血压控制（ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ）和心动周期控制（ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ）的影响。方法：测定ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ采用阻断动脉压力感受性反射传出通路前后，比较机体对去氧肾上腺素升压反应面积差异的方法，所得数值与改良的Ｓｍｙｔｈ方法测定的ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ值进行比较。结果：（１）大鼠ＳＡＤ后ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ为零，且代偿不明显；而ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ约为３０％，且代偿明显；（２）ＳＤ后ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ与ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ无显著差异，而ＡＤ和ＳＡＤ后ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ的作用显著大于ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ的作用。结论：（１）大鼠的ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ传入冲动全部来自于主动脉弓和颈动脉窦的压力感受器，而ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ传入冲动大部分来自于这两处的感受器；（２）主动脉神经和窦神经感受传入在ＡＢＲ－ＢＰ中的作用是相当的，并有明显的相互代偿；而在ＡＢＲ－ＨＰ中，主动脉神经的作用比窦神经重要，其代偿能力也比窦神经显著。