Gas gangrene is an emergency condition, which usually develops after injuries or surgery. This study was designed to investigate clinical characteristics, appropriate therapy, and effective control of nosocomial cross-infection of gas gangrene in Wenchuan earthquake victims. Data on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of confirmed, suspected, or highly suspected gas gangrene were collected. Sixty-seven (2.41%) cases of suspected gas gangrene were found, in which 32 cases were highly suspected of gas gangrene and 5 cases were confirmed by culture of Clostridium perfringens. Thereof, injury sites were mainly located on the limbs, and typical indications, including crepitation, severe localized pain, swelling, wound discoloration, dark red or black necrotic muscle, foul smell as well as different degrees of systemic toxic performance were common among them. After hospitalization, all patients were isolated and had surgery quickly to remove dead, damaged or infected tissue. The wounds were also exposed for drainage and washed or padded with 3% liquid hydrogen peroxide for disinfection before all diagnostic test results were available. Additionally, high doses of antibiotics (mainly penicillin) were given for the prevention of infection, and supportive therapy was applied for corresponding symptoms control. Among those cases, no fatality was reported. In summary, in post-disaster emergency relief, the diagnosis of gas gangrene should be primarily based on clinical manifestations; while patient isolation, wound debridement and disinfection, as well as antibiotics treatment, is the main measures for proper treatment and control of nosocomial infection for gas gangrene.

Objective To compare the effects of telmisartan and (or) amlodipine on the reversal left ventricular re-modeling in two-kidney one clip hypertensive rats. Methods A total of 50 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10):two-kidney one clip renal hypertensive (2KIC) model group, sham group, telmisartan (10 mg/kg) group, am-lodipine (2.5 mg/kg) group and telmisartan (10 mg/kg)+amlodipine(2.5 mg/kg) group. The model of two-kidney one clip re-nal hypertensive rats was established. The tail arterial blood pressure was detected once a week. After 20 weeks, rats were sacrificed and specimens were collected. The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was assessed. The myocardial ultrastructur-al changes were observed by electron microscope. Values of plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensionⅡ(AngⅡ) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results Compared with sham group, the levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), LVMI, PRA, AngⅡand ANP were significantly higher in 2KIC group (P＜0.01). Compared with 2KIC group, values of SBP, LVMI, PRA and ANP were significantly lower in telmisartan group and am-lodipine group (P＜0.01), but the value of AngⅡwas significantly higher (P＜0.01). The levels of SBP, LVMI, AngⅡand ANP were significantly lower in combined medication group than those of single drug medication group (P＜0.01). There was no significant difference in the plasma PRA level between those groups (P>0.05). Results of myocardial electron microsco-py showed that the left ventricular remodeling was significantly improved in combined treatment group. Conclusion Telmisartan and amlodipine can effectively improve the left ventricular remodeling induced by hypertension. There was more effective therapy using both medications together.

Gas gangrene is an emergency condition,which usually develops after injuries or surgery.This study was designed to investigate clinical characteristics,appropriate therapy,and effective control of nosocomial cross-infection of gas gangrene in Wenchuan earthquake victims.Data on diagnosis,treatment,and prevention of confirmed,suspected,or highly suspected gas gangrene were collected.Sixty-seven (2.41％) cases of suspected gas gangrene were found,in which 32 cases were highly suspected of gas gangrene and 5 cases were confirmed by culture of Clostridium perfringens.Thereof,injury sites were mainly located on the limbs,and typical indications,including crepitation,severe localized pain,swelling,wound discoloration,dark red or black necrotic muscle,foul smell as well as different degrees of systemic toxic performance were common among them.After hospitalization,all patients were isolated and had surgery quickly to remove dead,damaged or infected tissue.The wounds were also exposed for drainage and washed or padded with 3％ liquid hydrogen peroxide for disinfection before all diagnostic test results were available.Additionally,high doses of antibiotics (mainly penicillin) were given for the prevention of infection,and supportive therapy was applied for corresponding symptoms control.Among those cases,no fatality was reported.In summary,in post-disaster emergency relief,the diagnosis of gas gangrene should be primarily based on clinical manifestations; while patient isolation,wound debridement and disinfection,as well as antibiotics treatment,is the main measures for proper treatment and control of nosocomial infection for gas gangrene.