Motility Disorders after Roux-en-Y Gastrojejunostomy

About 30% of patients who have a Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy after gastrectomy suffer from abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting of food and bloating made worse by eating. This syndrome, called the Roux stasis syndrome, is caused, in part, by a motility disorder of the Roux limb. Transection of the jejunum during the construction of the limb separates the limb from the natural small intestinal pacemaker located in the duodenum. Ectopic pacemakers then appear in the limb and trigger retrograde contractions in its proximal portion. These contractions slow transit through the limb and result in Roux stasis. Current nonsurgical treatment of the syndrome includes the use of prokinetic agents and intestinal pacing, neither of which has demonstrated long-term benefits. A near-total gastrectomy may speed upper gastrointestinal transit somewhat, but stasis in the Roux limb often persists. Our current approach aims at preventing the syndrome by the use of an ‘uncut’ Roux limb, an operation which preserves myoneural continuity between the duodenal pacemaker and the Roux limb and so prevents the appearance of ectopic pacemakers and stasis in the limb.     

急性期介入低频重复经颅磁刺激对缺血性脑卒中患者上肢运动功能的影响

目的 探讨急性期介入低频重复经颅磁刺激(rTMS)对缺血性脑卒中患者上肢运动功能的影响。 方法 选取急性期缺血性脑卒中患者82例,按照随机数字表法将其分为对照组和试验组,每组41例,研究过程中每组均脱落1例,最终对照组和试验组各纳入40例。2组患者均给予常规康复治疗,试验组予以低频rTMS治疗,对照组予以rTMS假刺激治疗。治疗前、治疗4周后,采用Fugl-Meyer量表（FMA）上肢部分、Wolf运动功能评价量表（WMFT）、改良Barthel指数（MBI）、运动诱发电位(MEP)潜伏期和波幅评价2组患者的上肢运动功能。 结果 治疗前,2组患者FMA评分、WMFT评分、MBI评分、MEP波幅和潜伏期比较,差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。治疗4周后,2组患者的FMA、WMFT、MBI评分和MEP波幅均较组内治疗前明显改善（P＜0.05）,且试验组治疗4周后的FMA［(39.20±7.36)分］、WMFT［(54.43±9.28)分］、MBI［(62.18±9.53)分］、MEP波幅［（0.74±0.08）mV］改善较对照组显著（P＜0.05）。 结论 急性期介入低频rTMS可改善缺血性脑卒中患者的上肢运动功能,提高日常生活活动能力。     

上肢机器人虚拟情景训练联合头针对脑卒中患者认知功能障碍的影响

目的 探讨上肢机器人虚拟情景训练联合头针对脑卒中后认知功能障碍的影响。 方法 选取脑卒中后认知功能障碍（PSCI）患者90例,按照随机数字表法分为对照组、头针组、综合组,每组30例。对照组给予常规认知和康复训练,头针组给予常规认知和康复训练联合头针治疗,综合组给予常规认知和康复训练、头针治疗和上肢机器人虚拟情景训练。治疗前和治疗4周后（治疗后）,采用简易精神量表（MMSE）和蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）评估3组患者认知功能,同时采用改良的Barthel指数（MBI）评估3组患者日常生活活动能力。 结果 治疗后,3组患者的MMSE评分、MoCA评分和MBI评分较组内治疗前均明显改善（P<0.05）。头针组治疗后,仅MMSE评分和MBI评分显著优于对照组治疗后（P<0.05）。综合组治疗后的MMSE评分为（22.03±0.96）分,MoCA评分为（15.07±1.48）分,MBI评分为（73.10±8.45）分,均显著优于头针组和对照组治疗后（P<0.05）。 结论 上肢机器人虚拟情景训练联合头针可显著改善PSCI患者的认知功能,并提高其日常生活活动能力。     

应用小鼠胚胎肢芽培养方法研究重铬酸钾的发育毒性

采用小鼠胚胎前肢芽培养方法研究重铬酸钾对小鼠的发育毒性。结果表明:重铬酸钾浓度在2 .0mg .L- 1 以上时,前肢芽器官的发育和分化受到影响,并且随着重铬酸钾浓度的增加,肢体中各软骨的发育分化越差,Neubert 评分得分越少,呈剂量- 效应关系。说明重铬酸钾为小鼠胚胎发育毒性物质     

A single technique to correct various degrees of upper lid retraction in patients with Graves' orbitopathy

BACKGROUND: Several lengthening techniques have been proposed for upper eyelid retraction in patients with Graves' orbitopathy and variable rates of success have been reported. Most authors recommend different procedures for different degrees of retraction, but cannot prevent residual temporal retraction in a significant number of cases. The modified levator aponeurosis recession described by Harvey and colleagues, in which the lateral horn is cut completely, seems to be an exception to this rule, but was evaluated in a limited number of cases only. METHOD: The authors further modified Harvey's technique by dissecting the aponeurosis together with Müller's muscle of the tarsus and the conjunctiva medially only to the extent necessary to achieve an acceptable position and contour of the eyelid in upright position. They also used an Ethilon 6.0 suture, instead of Vicryl, on a loop. It is placed between the tarsal plate and the detached aponeurosis to prevent spontaneous disinsertion. This modification was used in 50 Graves' patients (78 eyelids) with a upper lid margin-limbus distance ranging from 1 to 7 mm and evaluated using strict criteria. RESULTS: A perfect or acceptable result was obtained in 23 of 28 patients (82%) with bilateral retraction and in 18 of 22 patients (82%) with unilateral retraction. Seven eyelids were overcorrected (too low) and three undercorrected, necessitating reoperation. All other eyelids had an almond-like contour and a lid crease of 10 mm or less. No complications except subcutaneous haematomas were seen. Two patients showed a recurrence of lid retraction 9 months after the operation. CONCLUSION: This technique is safe and efficacious and can be used for all degrees of eyelid retraction.     

Differential cardiorespiratory response to combined exercise with different combinations of forearm and calf exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine whether cardiorespiratory responses to combined rhythmic exercise (60 contractions · min^–1) was affected by different combinations of upper and lower limb exercise in seven healthy women. Six different rhythmic exercises were compared: 6-min rhythmic handgrip at 10% of isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) (H10); 6-min rhythmic plantar flexion at 10% MVC (P10); exhausting rhythmic handgrip at 50% MVC (H50); exhausting rhythmic plantar flexion at 50% MVC (P50); H50 was added to P10 (P1OH50); and P50 was added to H10 (H10P50). Exercise duration, after handgrip was combined with plantar flexion (P10H50), was shorter than that of H50, although the exercise duration of HIOP50 was not significantly different from P50. No significant difference was found between the difference from rest in oxygen uptake ( O₂) during H10P50 and the sum of O₂ during H10 and P50. Also, the differences from rest in forearm blood flow ( FBF) and calf blood flow ( CBF) during H10P50 were not significantly different from FBF in H10 and from CBF in P50. In contrast, O₂ in P10H50 was lower than the sum of O₂ in P10 and H50 (P < 0.05), and J FBF in P10H50 was lower than that in H50 (P < 0.05) , while CBF was not significantly different between P1OH50 and P10. The changes in heart rate from rest (d HR) during the combined exercises were lower than the sums of HR in the corresponding single exercises (P < 0.05). These results demonstrated an inhibitory summation of several cardiorespiratory responses to combined exercise resulting in a reduction in exercise performance which would seem to occur easily when upperlimb exercise is added to lower limb exercise.     

Experimental approach to the pathogenesis of the anomalies of amniotic disease

By intra-adnexal injection of glucose in the rabbit embryo, we were able to stimulate all the anomalies associated with "Amniotic Disease". Since we were even able to obtain amniotic bands, this study provides an excellent experimental model of this disease. Resulting lesions occur early in development, corresponding to the first trimester of human gestation. All of the anomalies can ultimately be explained by the destruction of the most superficial cells: epiblastic cells of the embryo and the amnion, subjacent mesenchyme, and endothelial cells. The subsequent lack of interaction between these cells and the importance of the anatomical localizations of resulting hematomas can lead to the pathogenetic approach to this disease. In light of the present study, the disease appears to be caused by an external factor within the amniotic fluid. The exact nature of the destructive agent(s) remains a mystery in man.     

Value of a radionuclide limb blood flow technique in the assessment of percutaneous balloon and dynamic angioplasty

In a prospective study, a radionuclide technique was used to evaluate the limb blood flow (LBF) changes in 30 patients undergoing dynamic (n=15) or balloon (n=15) angioplasty for arterial occlusions or stenoses, respectively. The results were compared with Doppler Ankle Brachial Index (DABI) and treadmill exercise tests. Whilst LBF values (ml of blood flow per 100 ml of limb volume per min) were significantly lower in limbs with arterial occlusion than stenosis (4.5±0.46 and 6.4±0.74, respectively; P<0.05), DABI provided no discrimination. Immediately after balloon angioplasty, there was a fall in DABI, from 0.60±0.05 to 0.47±0.04 (P<0.05), which rose 24 h later to 0.73±0.02 (P<0.01). Following dynamic angioplasty, DABI improved from 0.60±0.05 to 0.66±0.02 (P<0.05). At 3 weeks, the LBF improved from 4.6±0.66 to 11.1±0.53 (P<0.001) following dynamic angioplasty and from 6.2±0.68 to 8.53±0.81 (P<0.001) following balloon angioplasty. Normal LBF (> 10 ml/100 ml per min) was achieved in 80% of patients who underwent successful dynamic angioplasty but in only 36% of the balloon group (P<0.05, ²-test). Reproducibility of repeated LBF measurements in control limbs was superior to that of DABI. This was indicated by a lower coefficient of variation, 13.8% compared with 25.2%, and a higher correlation coefficient, r=0.79 compared with 0.27. Treadmill exercise tests were invalid or impossible in 30% of all occasions. There was a good correlation between the improvement in maximum walking distance on the treadmill and that in LBF (r=0.84, P<0.05). In conclusion, measurement of LBF using radionuclide technique is a potentially valuable method for the assessment of patients undergoing percutaneous angioplasty. LBF results are reproducible and correlate well with the improvement in walking ability, which cannot always be assessed objectively. Offprint requests to: A.A. Gehani     

Abnormal single motor unit behavior in the upper motor neuron syndrome

We studied the discharge pattern of single motor units (SMUs) in the left and right biceps muscles from a patient with nonspastic weakness of the left arm. Detailed statistical analysis of the behavior of discharge patterns of 4 of 4 single motor units on the affected side showed abnormalities with characteristic features of an upper motor neuron lesion. Five out of 5 single motor units recorded from the right biceps were normal. An upper motor neuron lesion affecting the left arm, predicted by our results, was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which showed a lesion in the right precentral gyrus. It appears that changes in single motor unit firing characteristics, caused by an upper motor neuron lesion, can be detected at a time when there is no evidence of increased "tone" and/or hyperreflexia (spasticity) in the affected extremity.     

Esophageal pressure and apnea hypopnea index in sleep-disordered breathing

Severity of negative esophageal pressure (Pes) and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) were investigated in six cases of upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and 11 cases of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The severity of negative Pes was represented by the highest peak (Pes Max) and the number of increased episodes (more than 13.5 cmH2O) per h (NPesI13.5). There was no significant correlation between Pes indices and AHI. Pes Max and NPesI13.5 were not different among severe OSAS (AHI > 30), mild OSAS (AHI < 30) and UARS. Apnea hypopnea index failed to represent the severity of negative Pes, which is an important aspect of the pathophysiology of sleep-disordered breathing.