Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in normotensive awake subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

Cardiovascular autonomic function in normotensive awake patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome was studied in 21 normotensive (mean age 48 ± 14 years), drug-free men with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Cardiovascular reflex tests with continuous blood pressure monitoring and biochemical indices were performed the morning after a standard polygraphic sleep recording. A group of 20 agematched (mean age 49 ± 19 years) normal subjects was used as controls. The obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients showed higher heart rate and noradrenaline plasma levels (p < 0.05) at rest and a higher blood pressure response to head-up tilt (p < 0.01), suggesting sympathetic overactivity. Respiratory arrhythmia, baroreflex sensitivity index and Valsalva ratio were significantly lower in the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome group (p < 0.01) whereas the decrease in heart rate induced by the cold face test was significantly higher (p < 0.05) showing a blunting of reflexes dependent on baroreceptor or pulmonary afferents with normal or increased cardiac vagal efferent activity. These abnormalities in autonomic regulation may predispose obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients to cardiovascular complications like hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias.     

Duration of postlaparoscopic pneumoperitoneum

Background: Patients who present with abdominal pain after recent laparoscopic surgery present a diagnostic dilemma when pneumoperitoneum is present. Previous studies do not define the duration of postlaparoscopic pneumoperitoneum. In this study, we attempted to define the duration of laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum and to identify factors which affect resolution time. Methods: We followed 57 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (34), inguinal herniorraphy (20), or appendectomy (three). Serial abdominal films were taken until all residual gas was resolved. Results: Thirty patients resolved their pneumoperitoneum within 24 h; 16 patients resolved between 24 h and 3 days; nine patients resolved between 3 and 7 days; two patients resolved between 7 and 9 days. Mean resolution time for all patients was 2.6 ± 2.1 days. There was no apparent difference in resolution time between the three types of procedures; however, the sample size may be insufficient. Duration of the pneumoperitoneum did not correlate with gender, age, weight, initial volume of CO₂ used, length of time for the procedure, or postoperative complications. Sixteen patients had bile spillage during cholecystectomy which significantly reduced the duration of postoperative pneumoperitoneum (p < 0.008), resulting in a mean resolution time of 1.3 ± 0.9 days. While 14 patients reported postoperative shoulder pain, no correlation was found between the presence or duration of shoulder pain and the extent or duration of pneumoperitoneum. Conclusions: We conclude that the residual pneumoperitoneum following laparoscopic surgery resolves within 3 days in 81% of patients and within 7 days in 96% of patients. The resolution time was significantly less in patients sustaining intraoperative bile spillage during cholecystectomy. There was no correlation found between postoperative shoulder pain and the presence or duration of the pneumoperitoneum. Received: 22 March 1996/Accepted: 12 July 1996     

The desipramine-induced growth hormone response and the dexamethasone suppression test in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Ten patients with DSM-III-R obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) underwent the desipramine (DMI) growth hormone (GH) stimulation test as well as the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). The results were compared with the responses in a group of matched healthy controls. The GH response to DMI did not differ between patients and controls and 9 of 10 patients showed cortisol suppression in response to dexamethasone. The data suggest that neither alpha 2 adrenergic dysfunction nor DST non-suppression are features of primary OCD.     

REM sleep behavior disorder and vocal cord paralysis in Machado-Joseph disease.

We evaluated the occurrence of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) and vocal cord abductor paralysis (VCAP) in a group of 9 Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) patients. RBD was diagnosed by clinical history plus audiovisual polysomnography in 4 men and 1 woman (55%). While dreaming, 4 fell out of the bed and the other injured his arms. Laryngoscopy detected bilateral VCAP in 1 patient with stridor who required emergency tracheotomy, and partial vocal cord abductor restriction in 2. RBD and VCAP are two potentially injurious conditions that should be considered part of the clinical spectrum of MJD.     

凝血机制紊乱在SIRS发展中的作用

凝血机制紊乱在全身炎症反应综合症(SIRS)发展、恶化过程中起重要作用．对SIRS时凝血系统紊乱的形成机制、在SIRS发生发展过程中的作用及其对病情危重程度的预测价值作一综述．     

Bright dawn simulation compared with bright morning light in the treatment of winter depression.

In a randomized cross-over design, 7 patients with winter depression were treated with a week of a bright (1700 lx) dawn simulation (0400 to 0600) and a week of standard bright (1700 lx) morning (0600 to 0800) light therapy. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores decreased significantly for the standard light therapy (18.9 to 6.6) but not for the bright dawn therapy (18.0 to 11.3). Early morning awakening was a frequent side effect with the bright dawn simulation. Although dawn simulation at a lower illuminance may be an effective treatment, the bright dawn used in this study showed only a nonsignificant trend to lower depression ratings. The illuminance of dawn simulation should be adjusted to minimize side effects.     

交感神经亢进引起的心电图改变

植物神经功能失调多见于一些中青年女性 ,临床症状表现为心悸、心前区不适、脉压差小、心电图示 T波异常 ,口服硝酸甘油可缓解 ,体格检查未发现异常     

Recurrent locking of knee joint caused by intraarticular migration of bioabsorbable tibial interference screw after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction

Two cases are reported in which, after ACL reconstruction with autologous hamstring grafts, tibial polylactide interference screws migrated into the knee joint. Clinically, both patients presented with recurrent locking of the joint. In one case, a broken 15 mm-long tip of the screw was found intra-articularly. In the other case, the whole screw had migrated into the joint cavity. The degradation process of polylactic acid, operative technique and bone quality are discussed as possible reasons for these complications.     

急性脑血管病与代谢紊乱的关系

目的　探讨急性脑血管病与代谢紊乱的关系。方法　对 2 72名上海地区正常人及 92 3例急性脑血管病 (5 0 3例脑梗死、4 2 0例脑出血 )患者住院的基线资料进行分析。结果　① 5 0 3例脑梗死、4 2 0例脑出血患者的年龄、体重指数 (BMI)、血压、血糖、低密度脂蛋白 (LDL)值均高于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 )。②脑梗死、脑出血患者中 ,伴高血压者分别为 95 .0 %、97.1% ;伴高血糖者分别为 4 4 .0 %、39.7% ;伴高三酰甘油 (TG) /低高密度脂蛋白 (HDL)分别为 34.8%、38.1% ;③脑梗死、脑出血患者中 ,合并代谢综合征者分别占 14 .7%、16 .7% ;合并 2种代谢紊乱者分别占 4 6 .9%、4 3.1% ;合并 1种代谢紊乱者分别占 36 .0 %、38.8% ;无代谢紊乱者仅分别占2 .4 %、1.4 %。④脑梗死、脑出血患者中 ,除代谢紊乱者血压均显著高于对照组及无代谢紊乱者外 ,合并 2种以上代谢紊乱患者中BMI、血糖、TG均高于对照组及无代谢紊乱者 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　急性脑血管病患者多伴有多种代谢紊乱 ,因而 ,有效控制代谢紊乱与预防脑血管病的发生、发展及其预后有关     

血液病患者对健康教育需求的调查与分析

目的　探讨血液病患者及家属对健康教育的需求。方法　选择 4 35例患者填写调查问卷 ,同时随机选择 4 35例患者家属进行了解 ,对结果进行处理。结果　患者及家属对健康教育的需求很高 ,主要集中在治疗、自我保健等方面。结论　针对不同患者的个体差异制订不同的健康教育内容 ,提高了护理质量 ,使患者受益 ;增强了护理人员专业素质 ;建立了新型的护患关系。