A randomized comparison of three post-tonsillectomy diets*

Traditionally, soft cold foods have been recommended after tonsillectomy to aid comfort and haemostasis but, more recently, rougher foods have been advocated to promote physiologically normal deglutition. This trial was designed to discover whether post-tonsillectomy dietary advice has any influence on recovery. 150 patients due to undergo tonsillectomy were prospectively randomized to 1 of 3 diets: mainly rough food, mainly soft food, and no advice except to eat regularly. Food consumption, analgesia intake and pain levels were recorded daily by each patient. Tonsillar fossa slough and secondary haemorrhage were evaluated 1 and 2 weeks after surgery. Results of 137 patients were obtained. There were no significant differences between the diets regarding post-operative pain, analgesic required, healing rates or secondary haemorrhage. Specific post-tonsillectomy dietary advice need not be given, other than to encourage regular eating.     

中国大动脉炎性肾动脉炎(TARA)诊治多学科专家共识

 大动脉炎（Takayasu's arteritis,TA）是中国、日本等东亚国家及地区青年女性好发的大血管炎症性疾病。TA累及肾动脉可引起大动脉炎性肾动脉炎（Takayasu's arteritis-induced renal arteritis,TARA）,导致大动脉炎性肾动脉狭窄（Takayasu's arteritis-induced renal artery stenosis,TARAS）,是青年人群发生恶性高血压、肾功能不全的首要原因。目前国内外均无TARA的临床诊治规范及指南,因此我们联合国内风湿免疫科、血管外科、心血管内科、泌尿系统内外科和放射诊断科等专家共同制定了中国大动脉炎性肾动脉炎诊治多学科专家共识,旨在规范疾病诊疗、促进多学科协作,为全科医师及不同学科医师提供临床实践指导。本共识的主要观点为：（1）TA是40岁以下高血压人群中的首要病因。（2）TARA高危人群为40岁以下高血压、腹部杂音、不明原因的肾萎缩患者。（3）TARA肾动脉中重度狭窄激活肾素-血管紧张素-醛固酮系统（renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system,RAAS）,继而导致恶性高血压、心脑血管疾病、缺血性肾病等严重并发症,是TA不良预后以及早期死亡原因之一。（4）影像学检查是诊断与评价TARA的主要手段,包括血管多普勒超声、磁共振血管造影（magnetic resonance angiography,MRA）、计算机断层血管造影（computed tomography angiography,CTA）等,数字减影血管造影（digital subtraction angiography,DSA）仍是诊断金标准。（5）对TARA应当全面评估疾病活动度、肾脏功能学以及其他重要靶器官,对临床病情严重性予以分层。（6）TARA治疗应以风湿免疫科为主导,对于中重度严重患者由多学科合作诊疗制定个体化治疗方案。（7）TARA内科治疗诱导病情缓解和维持持续缓解,主要以糖皮质激素与化学合成缓解病情抗风湿病药（conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs,cDMARDs）、生物合成缓解病情抗风湿病药（biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs,bDMARDs）联合治疗。（8）TARA外科治疗强调术前抗炎治疗并获得病情充分缓解、术后继续序贯内科治疗与评估,外科手术可获得较好的长期生存。（9）TARA合并多处血管病变,高血压可按照"脑-心-肾"依次评估并制定降压目标和降压决策。（10）对于TARA患者的妊娠风险与时机,需要多学科团队（multidisciplinary team,MDT）全面评估病情活动度,充分权衡脏器功能水平。     

ITRACONAZOLE VERSUS GRISEOFULVIN IN THE TREATMENT OF TINEA CAPITIS: A DOUBLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED STUDY IN CHILDREN

Background. Tinea capitis is a fungal infection in which topical therapy is often unsuccessful. Griseofulvin has been considered to be a first-line therapy. Other antifungal agents are the azole derivatives. Among these, itraconazole was compared with griseofulvin in children in a double-blind study. Patients and Methods. Thirty-four children and one adult with clinical signs and symptoms of tinea capitis and with positive culture and microscopy for dermatophytes have been included in a double-blind comparison between itraconazole, 100 mg daily, and ultramicronized griseofulvin, 500 mg daily. Both drugs were given for 6 consecutive weeks. The final evaluation was made 8 weeks after the end of treatment to allow the hairs to regrow. Seventeen itraconazole- and 15 griseofulvin-treated patients received the complete 6-week treatment course. Fifteen of these 17 itraconazole patients and 14 of the 15 griseofulvin patients had infections caused by Microsporum canis. Fifteen of 17 patients were cured by itraconazole (88%) and 15 of 17 patients by griseofulvin (88%). One of the patients who discontinued griseofulvin therapy after 4 weeks was clinically and mycologically cured. Two of the original 17 griseofulvin patients discontinued therapy because of vomiting. None of the itraconazole-treated children experienced side effects. Conclusions. Itraconazole is the first azole derivate that matches griseofulvin for the treatment of tinea capitis in children. The drug also appears to be better tolerated than griseofulvin.     

Diastolic myocardial wall stiffness of the left ventricle in chronic pressure overload

Five dogs were instrumented with a left ventricular (LV) micromanometer,pairs of ultrasonic crystals to measure L V short axis and LV wall thickness and an inflatable cuff around the ascendingaorta. Wall stress, midwall strain and strain rate were calculatedat rest, after acute pressure elevation, and one, two and threeweeks as well as 24 h after release of aortic constriction.Myocardial wall stiffness and viscosity were determined froma viscoelastic stress-strain model. Reference values at zeropressure were determined in all five dogs. LV end-diastolic pressure increased from 7 mm Hg at rest to25 mm Hg after acute pressure elevation, to 18 mm Hg after twoweeks and decreased to 16 mm Hg after three weeks of pressureelevation, and 11 mm Hg at release of aortic constriction. LV peak systolic pressure increased from 140 mm Hg at rest to218 mm Hg after acute pressure elevation, to 227 mm Hg afterthree weeks of pressure elevation and returned to normal (143mm Hg) after cuff release. Diastolic myocardial wall stiffnessshowed no change from 23 at rest to 19 after acute pressureelevation, but increased to 47 after one and 81 after two weeks,and it decreased to 50 after three weeks and 45 after cuff release.Myocardial viscosity increased from 0.1 at rest to 3.0 afteracute pressure elevation and remained elevated during chronicpressure elevation. The reference values at zero filling pressureshowed an increase in LV short axis (creep) from 25.6 mm atrest to a maximum of 28.9 mm after one and two weeks of pressureelevation and then decreased to 27.0 mm after three weeks. LVwall thickness at zero pressure increased from 12.8 mm at restto 13.7 mm after three weeks of pressure elevation and remainedelevated after cuff release (13.8 mm). Thus, diastolic myocardial wall stiffness increased during theinitial stages of chronic pressure overload during ventriculardilatation, but decreased when dilatation regressed and concentrichypertrophy developed. Myocardial viscosity was increased duringboth acute and chronic pressure overload. It is suggested thatthe early increase in myocardial stiffness may be more importantlyrelated to ventricular dilatation with creep than to wall hypertrophyper se.     

Unipolar and Bipolar Electrogram Characteristics Predict Exit Block during Pulmonary Vein Antral Isolation

Introduction: The usefulness of unipolar electrograms (EGMs) has been reported in assessing lesion transmurality and conduction block along ablation lines. It is unknown whether unipolar and bipolar EGM characteristics predict exit block during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) procedures. Methods and Results: Twenty patients (63 ± 7 years; 14 males [70%]) undergoing PVI with a circular mapping catheter (CMC) placed outside each PV ostium were retrospectively studied. After entrance block was achieved, pacing at each bipole around the CMC was performed to assess for absence of atrial capture (exit block). Bipolar EGMs recorded before pacing were examined for voltage, duration, fractionation, and monophasic morphology. Unipolar EGMs were examined for positive and negative amplitude, PQ segment elevation, fractionation, and monophasic morphology. The association of these parameters with atrial capture (absence of exit block) at each site was analyzed. After achievement of entrance block, only 23 of 64 PV antra (36%) exhibited exit block. Unipolar EGMs at sites with persistent capture were more likely to be fractionated and had larger negative deflections. Bipolar EGMs at sites with persistent capture showed higher amplitude, longer duration, were more likely to be fractionated, and were less likely to be monophasic. In a multivariate logistic regression model, bipolar and unipolar fractionation, bipolar duration, and lack of bipolar monophasic morphology were independently associated with persistent atrial capture. Conclusion: Specific unipolar and bipolar EGM characteristics are associated with left atrium capture after PV antral isolation. These parameters might be useful in predicting the need for further ablation to achieve exit block. (PACE 2012; 35:1294–1301)