Surgical innovation in LMICs–The perspective from India

Surgical Innovations are central to surgical progress, and have led to exponential growth in various fields of Surgery. Surgical Innovations in Lower and Middle Income Countries are the result of creativity of frontline health workers in search of simple, safe and ethical solutions for their unique challenges. The key lies in: ‘simplifying the idea/technique/device’ to find patients' needs-driven low-cost innovative surgical solutions; which can be used on a wider scale to achieve health equity for underserved populations. Local surgeons understand the difficulties and nuances of various problems and can provide local-evidence-based customized solutions for their patients' health problems. We developed a Surgical Innovation Ecosystem allowing us to see difficulties as opportunities, learn from everyone and conduct research on what is ‘important’ rather than what is ‘interesting’. Barriers to Surgical Innovations in Lower and Middle Income Countries are well known; however, a roadmap to overcome these barriers is now available. The right balance has to be found between encouraging creativity and innovation while maintaining ethical awareness and responsibility to patients. Introduction and adoption of Surgical Innovations are governed by evidence-based principles and have to undergo a rigorous and scientific evaluation. Science of Surgical Innovations has finally come of age and is getting its due recognition and the pioneering innovators are receiving the much needed appreciation and support.     

How does measurement of platelet P-selectin compare with other methods of measuring platelet function as a means of determining the effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy?

Measurement of P-selectin on activated platelets as a means of measuring platelet function utilizing the technology described here has the advantage of not requiring immediate access to specialist equipment and expertise. Blood samples are activated, fixed, stored, and transported to a central laboratory for flow cytometric analysis. Here we have compared P-selectin with other more traditional approaches to measuring platelet function in blood and/or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from patients with acute coronary syndromes on treatment for at least 1 month with either aspirin and clopidogrel or aspirin with prasugrel. The comparators were light transmission aggregometry (LTA), VerifyNow and Multiplate aggregometry (for determining the effects of aspirin) and LTA, VerifyNow and Multiplate together with the BioCytex VASP phosphorylation assay (for the P2Y₁₂ antagonists). The P-selectin Aspirin Test revealed substantial inhibition of platelet function in all but three of 96 patients receiving aspirin with clopidogrel and in none of 51 patients receiving aspirin and prasugrel. The results were very similar to those obtained using LTA. There was only one patient with high residual platelet aggregation and low P-selectin expression. The same patients identified as “non-responders” to aspirin also presented with the highest residual platelet activity as measured using the VerifyNow system, although not quite as well separated from the other values. With the Multiplate test only one of these patients clearly stood out from the others. The results obtained using the P-selectin P2Y₁₂ Test in 102 patients taking aspirin and clopidogrel were similar to the more traditional approaches in that a wide scatter of results was obtained. Generally, high values seen with the P-selectin P2Y₁₂ Test were also high with the LTA, VerifyNow, Multiplate, and BioCytex VASP P2Y₁₂ Tests. Similarly, low residual platelet function using the P2Y₁₂ test was seen irrespective of the testing procedure used. However, there were differences in some patients. Prasugrel was always more effective than clopidogrel in inhibiting platelet function with none of 56 patients (P-selectin and VerifyNow), only 2 of 56 patients (Multiplate) and only 3 of 56 patients (Biocytex VASP) demonstrating high on-treatment residual platelet reactivity (HRPR) defined using previously published cut-off values. The exception was LTA where there were 11 of 56 patients with HRPR. It remains to be seen which experimental approach provides the most useful information regarding outcomes after adjusting therapies in treated patients.     

Enhancing medical radiation science education through a design science research methodology

Recently, there has been a call for research-informed and research-developed practice in health sciences education. This prompts the consideration of alternative suitable research approaches that could be used to enhance health sciences education practice, including medical radiation sciences education (MRSE) practice. In this discussion paper, the authors uphold design science research (DSR) methodology as a suitable research approach to enhance MRSE practice and research. An overview of the DSR methodology and an example of a project that used DSR methodology are presented to demonstrate the application of this methodology in MRSE practice and research. The paper concludes that the use of DSR methodology could be instrumental in addressing practice related challenges while developing a theoretical contribution to the discipline.     

生理性溶液对角膜上皮细胞微绒毛的影响

扫描电镜下观察了生理盐水、Hanks液及平衡盐溶液(BSS)以滴速30滴/分滴浴0.5～3小时的兔眼角膜上皮细胞微绒毛的变化。生理盐水滴浴0.5小时,角膜上皮微绒毛减少并皱缩成圆钮状;Hanks液及BSS滴浴1.5～3小时,大部分角膜上皮细胞的微绒毛保持正常的细长指状,偶见上皮细胞的微绒毛皱缩变短或呈簇状。讨论了生理性溶液对角膜上皮细胞微绒毛影响的意义。     

不同器官保存液对大鼠肝脏透明质酸吸收率的影响

目的　探讨不同器官保存液对大鼠肝脏透明质酸吸收率的影响 ,以评价它们对肝窦内皮细胞的保护作用。方法　大鼠肝脏原位灌洗后 ,分别在UW液、Celsior液或Histidine Tryptopan Ketoglutarate液 (HTK液 )中低温保存 16和 2 4h ,然后用含透明质酸的Kreb Henseleit液在 37℃下连续循环灌注 90min ,分别于灌注 0、15、30、6 0和 90min时检测肝脏对外源性透明质酸的吸收率。结果　低温保存 16h ,再灌注 0、15、30、6 0和 90min时 ,3种保存液保存的肝脏对外源性透明质酸的吸收率均为负值 ,表明肝窦内皮细胞受到一定程度的损伤 ,但UW液和Celsior液对肝窦内皮细胞的保护作用较HTK液为优 (P <0 .0 1) ;保存 2 4h者 ,UW液对肝窦内皮细胞的保护作用优于Celsior液和HTK液。结论　UW液对肝窦内皮细胞具有较强的保护作用     

Disposition and hypoglycaemic action of glipizide in diabetic patients given a single dose of nifedipine

Summary Adrenaline, when administered in dental local anaesthetic solutions, significantly reduces the plasma potassium concentration in young healthy adults. This effect occurs within 10 min of extravascular injections into the maxillary buccal sulcus and may influence the choice of local anaesthetic solution for patients receiving kaliuretic diuretics.     

含乳酸晶体液对肝移植术中病人动脉血乳酸浓度的影响

目的 探讨三种不同晶体液输入对非转流原位肝移植术中病人动脉血乳酸和酸碱平衡的影响。方法 全麻下非转流经典原位肝移植术中病人90例，男78例，女12例，年龄16-67岁，体重45～87kg，随机分为3组，术中分别静脉输入乳酸林格氏液（LR组）、生理盐水（NS组）和醋酸林格氏液（PA组）。术中胶体液和血液制品的输入根据血压（BP）、中心静脉压（CVP）和血红蛋白等进行调节。于麻醉前、门静脉阻断时、无肝期30min、门静脉开放前即刻和下腔静脉开放后5min、30min、手术结束时采动脉血测pH、剩余碱（BE）和乳酸（LA）。结果 三组晶体、胶体液和血液制品输入量差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。与麻醉前相比，三组pH于无肝期前均下降并持续至术毕（P〈0．05），BE在无肝期30min明显下降（P〈0．05），LA浓度自无肝期前开始升高并持续至术毕，新肝开放后升高尤为显著，约相当于麻醉前3倍水平（P〈0．01）。各时点三组问上述各指标差异无统计学意义。结论 非转流原位肝移植术中输入乳酸林格氏液，对动脉血LA升高的趋势无显著影响。     

Polynomial matrix solution of H2 optimal control problem for state‐space systems

A polynomial matrix solution to the H₂ output feedback optimal control problems is obtained for systems represented in state‐equation form. The proof does not invoke the separation principle but is obtained in the z‐domain. The cost function includes weighted states, which allows the so‐called standard system model problem to be solved. This encompasses the class of inferential control problems. The results also enable the two‐degree‐of‐freedom optimal control solution properties to be explored. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Evaluation of the Residual Activity of Antiseptic Handrub Lotions: An ‘In Use’ Setting Study

An evaluation of the residual activity of quick-drying agents (alcoholic solutions) used for hygienic hand disinfection is described. We looked for residual efficacy following hand disinfection with soap and water alone or followed by one of two alcoholic handrub lotions supplied from an automatic hand washing machine. The bacterial counts on the hands obtained before and within 2 successive hours after disinfection showed that alcoholic chlorhexidine was the most effective for 10 minutes after contamination of the hands. WELPAS® (alcoholic chlorbenzarconium) followed this in its immediate effect and was better than soap and water alone. There were no significant differences after 30‘ or 120‘ between the three disinfecting methods.     

Low surface tension calcium hydroxide solution is an effective antiseptic

The antimicrobial effects of a saturated calcium hydroxide solution, and in combination with 10% and 20% detergent, were evaluated on Streptococcus faecalis. Strepto-coccus sanguis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Neisseria sp., diphlheroid, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus suhtilis and Candida albicans. The saturated calcium hydroxide solution was effective against only four of the 11 microorganisms studied over a 60-min exposure time. The calcium hydroxide solutions con-taining detergent killed all 11 test organisms over a 30-min exposure time. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). No statistically significant difference in antimicrobial action was found between the 10% and 20% detergent calcium hydroxide solutions (F>0.01). However, the low surface tension (46.5 × 10^?3 Nm^?1) and high pH (10.8) of the calcium hydroxide solution with 20% detergent establish it as the more effective solution.