Thyroid Hormones and Cardiovascular Function and Diseases

Thyroid hormone (TH) receptors are present in the myocardium and vascular tissue, and minor alterations in TH concentration can affect cardiovascular (CV) physiology. The potential mechanisms that link CV disease with thyroid dysfunction are endothelial dysfunction, changes in blood pressure, myocardial systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and dyslipidemia. In addition, cardiac disease itself may lead to alterations in TH concentrations (notably, low triiodothyronine syndrome) that are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Experimental data and small clinical trials have suggested a beneficial role of TH in ameliorating CV disease. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians dealing with CV conditions with an overview of the current knowledge of TH perturbations in CV disease.     

Nonexpanded Adipose Stromal Vascular Fraction Local Therapy on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Using Allografts

Aim of the study: Adipose tissue possesses a population of multi-potent stem cells which can be differentiated to a Schwann cell phenotype and may be of benefit for treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. Effects of local therapy of nonexpanded adipose stromal vascular fraction (SVF) on peripheral nerve regeneration was studied using allografts in a rat sciatic nerve model. Materials and Methods: Thirty male white Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups (n = 10), randomly: Sham-operated group (SHAM), allograft group (ALLO), SVF-treated group (ALLO/SVF). In SHAM group left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after homeostasis muscle was sutured. In the ALLO group the left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and transected proximal to the tibio-peroneal bifurcation where a 10 mm segment was excised. The same procedure was performed in the ALLO/SVF group. The harvested nerves of the rats of ALLO group were served as allograft for ALLO/SVF group and vice versa. The SHAM and ALLO groups received 100 μL phosphate buffered saline and the ALLO/SVF group received 100 μL SVF (2.25 ± 0.45 × 10⁷ cells) locally where the grafting was performed. Results: Behavioral, functional, biomechanical, and gastrocnemius muscle mass showed earlier regeneration of axons in ALLO/SVF than in ALLO group (p < .05). Histomorphometic and immunohistochemical studies also showed earlier regeneration of axons in ALLO/SVF than in ALLO group (p < .05). Conclusions: Administration of nonexpanded SVF could accelerate functional recovery after nerve allografting in sciatic nerve. It may have clinical implications for the surgical management of patients after nerve transection.     

局麻与硬膜外麻醉下聚丙烯材料补片应用腹股沟疝修补术效果及慢性疼痛调查——基层医院经验

目的对比分析局麻与硬外麻醉下无张力修补术治疗腹股沟疝疗效,探讨基层医院在有限条件下治疗腹股沟疝更适宜的麻醉方式。方法采用前瞻性研究方法,纳入研究的患者为2016年7月至2017年1月半年来收治的102例腹股沟疝所有患者分成局麻组与硬外麻组,两组均采用疝囊高位结扎+平片无张力修补术,比较两组手术时间、术后伤口疼痛时间、术后不良反应和并发症的发生和差异;记录术后患者对麻醉效果的满意度;出院后嘱病人1周后回院复查1次,1个月、6个月、12个月、24个月电话随访1次。结果两组皮下血肿、术后伤口感染、阴囊肿胀、腹股沟神经与腹腔脏器损伤、术后伤口疼痛时间差异无统计学意义(P0.05),局麻组住院时间、住院费用、恶心/呕吐、头昏/头痛、尿潴留并发症发生率均比硬外麻组低或少,两组差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者在2年随访中各有2例出现腹股沟区疼痛,服用NSAIDs类药物好转。两组术后1月、6月、12月和24月VAS评分结果,其差异没有统计学意义(表3)。两组患者对手术中麻醉满意情况见表4,硬膜外组满意患者多于局麻组。结论基层医院实施局麻下开放式腹股沟疝平片无张力修补术可行,也不增加慢性疼痛的发生。     

Local resection of early rectal cancer

The introduction of the National Danish screening programme for colorectal cancer will result in the detection of more early rectal cancers (ERC), which may be considered for local excision. For the low risk ≤T1 cancer, the oncological outcome at local excision in smaller patient series has shown similar results to conventional surgery, but with a significantly lower rate of serious complications, morbidity and mortality. The challenge is correct preoperative staging, and a meticulous systematic histopathological staging of the excised specimen to distinguish the low risk from high‐risk cases, where rescue surgery may be considered. The establishment of a regional or national clinical database is necessary to improve the local treatment of ERC.     

Ready for action: a role for the human midbrain in responding to infant vocalizations

Infant vocalizations are among the most biologically salient sounds in the environment and can draw the listener to the infant rapidly in both times of distress and joy. A region of the midbrain, the periaqueductal gray (PAG), has long been implicated in the control of urgent, survival-related behaviours. To test for PAG involvement in the processing of infant vocalizations, we recorded local field potentials from macroelectrodes implanted in this region in four adults who had undergone deep brain stimulation. We found a significant difference occurring as early as 49 ms after hearing a sound in activity recorded from the PAG in response to infant vocalizations compared with constructed control sounds and adult and animal affective vocalizations. This difference was not present in recordings from thalamic electrodes implanted in three of the patients. Time frequency analyses revealed distinct patterns of activity in the PAG for infant vocalisations, constructed control sounds and adult and animal vocalisations. These results suggest that human infant vocalizations can be discriminated from other emotional or acoustically similar sounds early in the auditory pathway. We propose that this specific, rapid activity in response to infant vocalizations may reflect the initiation of a state of heightened alertness necessary to instigate protective caregiving.     

三联麻醉法在混合痔手术中的应用

目的:评价丙泊酚、芬太尼静脉基础麻醉联合局麻即三联麻醉法在混合痔手术中的麻醉效果及安全性。方法:将60例混合痔患者随机分为联合组和对照组,每组30例,联合组病人麻醉方式采用丙泊酚、芬太尼做基础麻醉,辅以肛周局部神经阻滞麻醉;对照组单纯采用肛周局部神经阻滞麻醉。观察并记录术中病人HR、MBP、SpO2、手术肌松程度、患者满意度、术后不良反应和尿潴留情况。结果:两组患者基础心率无差异,术中10min、20min、手术结束时心率联合组慢于对照组,P<0.05;两组患者在SpO2、MBP方面差异无统计学意义,P>0.05。联合组的肌松满意度、患者满意度均优于对照组,P<0.05;两组在尿潴留、不良反应方面差异无统计学意义,P>0.05。结论:三联麻醉法安全性较好,麻醉效果理想,患者易于接受。