Use of a double balloon enteroscope facilitates caecal intubation after incomplete colonoscopy with a standard colonoscope

BACKGROUND: Caecal intubation is a necessary step in the complete endoscopic evaluation of the colon. Studies have estimated that experienced colonoscopists may fail to reach the caecum in up to 10% of cases. AIMS: To evaluate the utility of the double balloon enteroscope used for complete examination of the colon in patients with incomplete standard colonoscopy. PATIENTS: Twenty consecutive patients with incomplete colonoscopies within the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System. Mean age of 66 years (S.D.+/-12 years, range 46-84), 16 men. METHODS: Prospective single-centre case series on the caecal intubation rate using standard double balloon enteroscope technique in patients with previous incomplete conventional colonoscopy. RESULTS: Use of the standard double balloon enteroscope technique permitted complete colonoscopy to be achieved in 95% of the patients (19/20). Seven patients (35%) had significant pathology beyond the extent of the prior incomplete colonoscopy. We performed endoscopic mucosal resection, polypectomy or biopsy. The mean time to reach the caecum was 28 min (S.D.+/-20 min, range 6-90 min). The sedation was similar to conventional colonoscopy. No complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The double balloon enteroscope technology and technique can be used to complete examination of the colon in patients who were referred because of incomplete standard colonoscopy.     

松解及眼轮匝肌下脂肪垫转移充填矫正重睑术后睑粘连畸形

目的矫正重睑成形术后的上睑粘连、重睑较宽、眼睑上抬受限等畸形。方法另设计重睑线,彻底松解眼睑内的组织粘连,释放眶隔内脂肪及转移眼轮匝肌下脂肪垫充填。结果两年来为32例重睑成形术后畸形者用此法治疗得到满意效果。结论此方法简单易行,效果好。     

持续靶控输注异丙酚复合硬膜外麻醉用于上腹部手术探讨

目的:评价持续靶控输注异丙酚复合硬膜外阻滞有用于上腹部手术的可行性。方法:30例胃癌手术患者,ASAⅠ～Ⅱ级。随机分成靶控输注异丙酚全麻(T)组15例,靶控异丙酚复合硬膜外阻滞(T+E)组15例。结果:(T+E)组术后躁动、芬太尼、丙泊酚的用量低于(T)组(P<0.05)。异丙酚单位标准化剂量亦较低。两组苏醒时间相似。诱导后两组血压均显著下降(P<0.05),T+E组在诱导后DBP的下降幅度较T组更为显著(P<0.05),T组在探查、术毕、拨管后的SBP、DBP、MAP比(T+E)组显著增高(P<0.05)。两组诱导后至术毕BIS、SEF显著下降,两组间的比较无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:靶控输注异丙酚复合硬膜外阻滞用于上腹部手术是可行的,具有异丙酚、芬太尼的用量少、苏醒快、术后躁动少,麻醉深度易于调控,血液动力学较稳定,是一种良好的麻醉方式。     

合并异常冠状动脉法洛四联症和右心室双出口一期根治术

目的 总结合并异常冠状动脉的法洛四联症和右心室双出口一期根治术的经验，探讨有关外科技术的改进。方法1995年6月至2002年6月完成该类一期根治术12例，其中2例采取了肺动脉移位、3例在游离的左前降支下加宽右室流出道、5例改变右室切口并在冠状动脉下缝合、2例经肺动脉和右房疏通流出道。结果无手术死亡。随访3个月～6年，无晚期死亡和并发症发生。结论合并异常冠状动脉的法洛四联症和右心室双出口的一期根治手术是可行的，且效果良好，但必须采用适当的外科技术以保护异常的冠状动脉。     

Randomized clinical trial of ascorbic acid in the treatment of pressure ulcers

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of ascorbic acid supplementation, 500 mg twice daily in the treatment of pressure ulcers as an adjunct to standardized treatment.

The design consisted of a multicenter blinded randomized trial. The control group received 10 mg of ascorbic acid twice daily.

Patients from 11 nursing homes and 1 hospital participated.

Main outcome measures included wound survival, healing rates of wound surfaces, and clinimetric changes over 12 weeks.

Eighty-eight patients were randomized. Intention-to-treat analysis showed that the wound closure probability per unit time (i.e., the closure rate) was not higher in the intervention group than in the control group (Cox hazard ratio of 0.78 [90% precision interval, 0.44–1.39]). Mean absolute healing rates were 0.21 and 0.27 cm²/week in the intervention and control group, respectively (PI of the adjusted difference: −0.17 to 0.13). Relative healing rates and healing velocities did not show favorable results of ascorbic acid supplementation, either. A panel scored slides of the ulcers with a report mark between 1 (bad) and 10 (excellent). The improvement was 0.45 and 0.72 points per week in the intervention and control group, respectively (PI of the adjusted difference: −0.50 to 0.20). With another clinimetric index we could not show any differences, either.

These data do not support the idea that ascorbic acid supplementation (500 vs. 10 mg twice daily) speeds up the healing of pressure ulcers.     

Sterile surgical technique for shunt placement reduces the shunt infection rate in children: preliminary analysis of a prospective protocol in 115 consecutive procedures

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the rigid application of a sterile protocol for shunt placement was applicable on a routine basis and allowed the reduction of shunt infections (SI) in children. Materials and methods Since 2001, a rigid sterile protocol for shunt placement in children using neither antibiotic-impregnated catheters nor laminar airflow was prospectively applied at Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. For assessing the protocol efficacy before continuation, we preliminarily analyzed the results of the first 100 operated children (43 females, 57 males, 49 aged <12 months; 115 consecutive shunt placement/revision procedures). All procedures were performed by the same senior surgeon, one assistant, one circulating nurse, one anesthesiologist. The sterile protocol was rigidly imposed to these four staff members: uniformed surgical technique; limited implant and skin edge manipulation; minimized human circulation in the room; scheduling surgery as first morning operation; avoiding postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak; double gloving; procedures of less than 30-min duration; systemic antibiotics prophylaxis. We analyzed separately: (1) children carrying an increased risk of SI (n = 38) due to preoperative external ventricular drainage, CSF leak, meningitis, glucocorticoids, chemotherapy; (2) children aged <12 months; (3) procedures for shunt revision. Results Errors in protocol application were recorded in 71/115 procedures. They were mainly done by non-surgical staff, decreased with time and were medically justified in some young children. Surprisingly, no SI occurred (follow-up, 4 to 70 months). One child developed an appendicitis with peritonitis (Streptococcus faecalis) after 6 months. No SI was found. After peritonitis was cured, shunt reinsertion was uneventful. Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that a uniform and drastic sterile surgical technique for shunt placement: (1) can be rigidly applied on a routine basis; (2) can lower the early SI rate below 1%; (3) might have a stronger impact to reduce SI than using antibiotic-impregnated catheters and optimizing the operative environment such as using laminar airflow and reducing the non-surgical staff. This last issue will be evaluated further in the present ongoing protocol.     

中重型β地中海贫血基因类型分析

目的 了解中间型和重型β地中海贫血基因突变类型及其相关血液，生化变化。方法 应用反向点杂交法检测16种β地贫点突变基因，常规进行血细胞分析及其他地贫筛查试验。结果 27例中重型β地贫患者中10例为纯合子，17例为双重杂合子，10例纯合子中5例CD41-42纯合子，占50%，3例TATAnt-28纯合子，占30%；CD17纯合子和IVS-nt654纯合子各1例，各占10%，17例双重杂合子中5例为IVS-nt654/CD41-42占29.4%,3例为CD17/CD41-42，占17.6%;3例为TATAnt-28/CD41-42，占17.6%;2例为βE/IVS-nt654,占11.6%;CD17/TATAnt-28,IVS-nt654/CD17,IVS-nt654/CD1-1,1CD71-72/IVS-nt654各1例，各占5.9%。27例患者血红蛋白均低于90.0g/L。平均为58.8g/L；平均MCV为65.0fl。脆性均少于60%。结论 中重型β地中海贫血基因突变类型多样，组合类型不同，临床表现轻重不一，多呈中重度贫血，血液，生化均有明显改变，多需输血维持生命，故应做好产前诊断，预防其出生。     

腔内三重双J管引流技术治疗输尿管狭窄

目的探讨腔内三重双J管引流技术治疗输尿管狭窄的可行性. 方法 2000年3月～2003年6月,对27例输尿管狭窄采用输尿管腔内置入3根相同大小的双J管引流,术后留置10～12周. 结果 27例随访2～24个月,平均18个月.26例拔管后无腰胀、发热等症状.IVP示引流通畅,患肾积水排空好,无输尿管狭窄.1例术后6个月复查IVP,肾积水仍无改善,改开放手术.本组治疗成功率96%(26/27). 结论腔内三重双J管引流技术治疗输尿管狭窄可行.     

Quisqualate lesions of rat NBM: Selective effects on working memory in a double Y-maze

Some authors have reported that quisqualic acid lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM), although producing large cortical cholinergic losses, have little effect on memory. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of quisqualic acid lesions of the NBM on working and reference memory in a double Y-maze. Each trial started with placement into one of the two end arms of the first Y-maze, and the correct response was to go down the stem (reference memory). Access was then given to the second Y-maze, the correct response being conditional upon the side of the first Y-maze from which that trial had begun (working memory). Rats were trained to an 88% correct criterion and were then given either bilateral quisqualic acid (60 nM, 0.5 microliters) or sham lesions (0.9% saline, 0.5 microliters) of the NBM. One week postsurgery, rats were tested on the double Y-maze task with delays of 0, 5 or 30 seconds being introduced prior to both the working and reference memory choice. NBM lesions produced a 63.2 +/- 6.2% decrease of cortical choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) compared to unoperated controls. Delays affected only the working memory of the sham group. Rats with lesions showed a significant impairment of working memory at all delays, but no change in reference memory. Results indicate that quisqualic acid lesions of the NBM that produce significant reductions in cortical ChAT selectively impair working memory.