Epidural block for obstetrics: Comparison of bolus injection of local anesthetic with gravity flow technique

Study Objective: To test the hypothesis that slow administration of local anesthetic into the epidural space by gravity flow reduces the incidence of signs and symptoms of unintended injection.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: Teaching hospital.

Patients: 600 ASA physical status I and II parturients scheduled for labor and delivery or elective cesarean section.

Interventions: After identification of the epidural space with pulsations of an air-fluid column, parturients for vaginal delivery (n = 380) were randomized to receive a test dose of 3 ml 3% 2-chloroprocaine with epinephrine 20 μg, two doses of 7 ml bupivacaine 0.03 % with sufentanil 1 μg/ml and epinephrine 2 μg/ml by either gravity flow (Group 1) given over 30 seconds or by bolus injection (Group 2) given over 5 seconds through the epidural needle; parturients for Cesarean delivery (n = 220) were randomized to receive a test dose and two doses of 6 ml lidocaine 2 % with sufentanil 1 μg/ml and epinephrine 2 μg/ml by either gravity flow or by bolus injection through the epidural needle. Changes in maternal heart rate (HR) and blood pressure, signs of intravascular injection, and adverse effects of epidural bupivacaine-sufentanil were recorded after each dose.

Measurements and Main Results: Gravity flow administration (Group 1) was associated with a smaller increase in mean maternal HR (p < 0.001), less hypotension (p < 0.01), sedation (p < 0.01), nausea (p = 0.01), and segmental spread (p < 0.0001) than were corresponding doses given by traditional bolus injection (Group 1) for vaginal or Cesarean deliveries. The incidence of systemic toxicity was zero of 300 (0%) with gravity flow and 4 of 300 (1.3%) by bolus injection, p = 0.12, Fisher's exact test. No patient in either group had an accidental intrathecal injection.

Conclusion: Gravity flow administration of local anesthetic-opioid solution during epidural block for obstetrics was associated with fewer signs of systemic drug absorption and cardiovascular perturbations than was the traditional bolus injection. This study supports the current opinion that slow administration of local anesthetic during epidural black contributes to fewer adverse events.     

Effect of chronic oral domperidone therapy on gastrointestinal symptoms and gastric emptying in patients with parkinson's disease

This study investigated whether domperidone could improve gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease who were receiving levodopa therapy. A total of 11 patients were studied. Following a baseline gastric emptying test, patients were treated with a starting dose of domperidone 20 mg p.o. q.i.d. A follow-up gastric emptying test was repeated at least 4 months after starting domperidone therapy. At the beginning and at each 3-month follow-up visit, symptoms of nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal bloating, heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia, and constipation were evaluated and scored on a scale of 0–3. The overall mean follow-up period was 3 years. Compared with their baseline evaluation, patients experienced a significant improvement in all symptoms (p < 0.05) except dysphagia and constipation. Gastric emptying of an isotope-labeled solid meal was significantly faster, with a baseline result of 60.2 ± 6.4% retention of isotope 2 h after the meal compared with 37.0 ± 2.2% retention during domperidone therapy (p < 0.05). Patients' global assessment of Parkinson's disease remained stable or improved. Serum prolactin was elevated in all patients after domperidone therapy (p < 0.05). Domperidone therapy significantly reduces upper gastrointestinal symptoms and accelerates gastric emptying of a solid meal, but does not interfere with response to antiparkinsonism treatment.     

Retrograde air insufflation in MRI: A technical note

Retrograde air insufflation was employed to distend the colon and the ileum in 18 patients and five volunteers for magnetic resonance examination. Good and moderate marking of the ileum was obtained in 18 cases. The colon was nearly completely distended in every case. Intraluminal tumor, mural thickening, and extraluminal lesion were outlined by intraluminal air and surrounding air-distended bowel. This study shows that retrograde air insufflation is a useful method to mark the colon and most parts of the ileum.     

可逆性胆硷酯酶抑制剂二甲氨基甲酸-5-二氢吲哚酯的合成

为了深入研究催醒宁类化合物的结构与抑酶活性的关系,设计合成了-系列1-,3-或5-位不同取代的二氢吲哚类衍生物(中间体和终产物共24个新化合物)。中间体1,3-二甲基-5-烷氧基-2-二氢吲哚酮(A)的C₃烷化。采用相转移催化方法进行;反应中还分离到三个副产物(Ⅶ～Ⅸ)。初筛结果表明:这些化合物大多有较强的抑酶活性;1,3-或5-位取代基的改变均明显影响其活性。     

Insulinoma: Selective arterial calcium injection performed to confirm localization and complete resection

A case of insulinoma is reported in a patient in whom selective arterial calcium injection (SACI) tests were performed both to confirm tumor localization before surgery and to confirm complete tumor removal during surgery. An 18-year-old woman with hypoglycemic episodes was diagnosed with an insulinoma in the pancreatic body demonstrated by celiac arteriography. In a preoperative SACI test, calcium was injected into the splenic artery (SpA), gastroduodenal artery (GDA), and superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and proinsulin levels were measured in hepatic venous samples. IRI was markedly increased after the injection of calcium into the GDA and SMA, while there was no response in IRI levels when calcium was injected into the SpA. Therefore, no occult insulinoma was revealed in the distal area fed by the SpA, although the presence of insulinoma was uncertain in the proximal pancreas. In the intraoperative SACI test, calcium was injected into the celiac artery. Insulin (determined by enzyme immunoassay) and proinsulin levels were measured in portal venous samples before and after resection of the tumor. After resection, these levels decreased in response to the calcium stimuli, confirming complete removal of the insulinoma. The SACI test was helpful to localize the insulinoma and was useful to confirm the complete removal of the tumor.     

抗棘球蚴药物研究:3-取代苯基-5-取代-1,2,4-噁二唑的合成

合成了3-取代苯基-5-取代-1,2,4-(口恶)二唑类化合物50个,经感染棘球蚴的小鼠初筛,部分化合物对棘球蚴有不同程度的作用,化合物13、28和30对棘球蚴的囊重抑制率分别为70、75.6和71.6%,其中化合物13对棘球蚴的生发层有损害作用。     

Mechanisms underlying the antidopaminergic effect of clonazepam and melatonin in striatum

Intrastriatal injection of the GABA_A antagonist, bicuculline, caused about a 75% decrease in the inhibitory effect of the central-type benzodiazepine (BZ) agonist, clonazepam or the indoleamine hormone, melatonin, on apomorphine-induced rotation in a 6-hydroxydopamine model of dopaminergic supersensitivity. Pretreatment with the peripheral-type BZ antagonist, PK 11195 (intrastriatally or intraperitoneally), also attenuated the antidopaminergic effect of these drugs but with much less potency than bicuculline. However, the combination of both bicuculline and PK 11195, injected directly into the striatum, completely blocked the antidopaminergic action of clonazepam or melatonin. These results indicate that the antidopaminergic action of clonazepam and melatonin in the striatum involves two distinct mechanisms: (1) a predominant GABAergic activation via the BZ/GABA_A receptor complex, and (2) a secondary mechanism linked to a PK 11195- sensitive BZ receptor pathway. Recent studies indicate that PK 11195 blocks BZ-induced inhibition of the adenylyl cyclase-cyclic AMP pathway in the striatum. Since cyclic AMP has been implicated in the rotational behaviour of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned animals, it is possible that the antidopaminergic action of clonazepam and melatonin also involves suppression of this second messenger. All rights reserved.     

黄芪注射液对严重创伤患者的免疫调节

目的　探讨黄芪注射液对严重创伤患者的免疫调节作用。方法　选择 5 0例严重创伤患者 (ISS ,创伤严重度评分≥16 ) ,检测应用黄芪注射液 ( 4 0ml)前后T淋巴细胞亚群血清IL 2及可溶性白介素 2受体 (SIL 2R)。结果　严重创伤患者伤后IL 2、CD4 +和CD4 +/CD8+减低 ,而SIL 2R和CD8+升高 ,黄芪治疗组在伤后 14d血中IL 2、T淋巴细胞CD4 +亚群、CD4 +/CD8+降低及SIL 2R、CD8+升高程度均低于治疗前 ,P <0 .0 5。结论　严重创伤患者伤后细胞免疫功能明显抑制 ,应用黄芪注射液可以增加机体免疫功能     

Conventional MRA and contrast- enhanced MRA of extracranial vessel segments

Summary The introduction of fast gradient systems allows a reliable visualization of the extracranial carotid vessels by the magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) which meanwhile is implemented into clinical routine. By the mainly applied time-of-flight (TOF) technique, vessels can be imaged without contrast agent (CA). Due to the application of ultra-fast gradient-echo-sequences, the first-pass evaluation of an intravenous bolus-injection of Gadolinium in the carotids from the aortic arch up to the skull base can be performed in less than 30 s. In this study, advantages and disadvantages of both techniques are discussed. For a qualitatively optimal contrast enhanced MRA (CE-MRA) timing parameters like injection delay, flow rate and the adjustment of sequence parameters have to be considered in relation to the fast venous return from the sinus to the jugular veins. First, the optimal time point of the data acquisition have been determined at a model and with a computer simulation in reference to the presence of CA in the arteries. As a result, 90 % of the contrast contribution is defined by 16 % of the symmetrically acquired central k-space lines. A measuring protocol for clinical use was obtained by a gradual variation of spacial resolution, measuring time and CA-injection parameters and was proved in normal volunteers and patients. An exact determination of the bolus-arrival-time by means of a test-bolus injection was acquired. The best qualitative results were achieved by a double-dose injection at 2 ml/s injection rate. The temporal reserves of ultra-fast sequences should be invested in the improvement of the spatial resolution. To date, further investigations related to the problem of optimal CA-application may improve the potentials of CE-MRA procedures.      

纤维组织粘合剂的实验研究

本文应用“冷沉淀”法制备纤维组织粘合剂。对纤维组织粘合剂中主要成份和含量进行了测定,并测定了主要理化性质,建立了动物实验模型,观察了实验兔对纤维粘合剂的反应。