AIM To investigate the effects of thiopental sodium on nitric oxide synthases (NOS) activity and nitride oxide (NO) in different rats cerebral synaptic membrane. METHODS Forty SD rats were divided randomly into five groups. The animals were injected introperitoneally (ip)thiopental sodium 30 mg?kg -1 or normal saline 10 ml?kg -1 (control group ) respectively. These rats were immediately decapitated before (induction group) and after (anaesthetic group) having disappeared righting reflex, and when righting reflex appeared again (recovery group), and completely conscious (awake group). In order to prepare synapsis, brain tissues were dissected on ice, then homogenized and centrifuged. NOS activity and NO was estimated by spectrophotometry. RESULTS Thiopental sodium 30 mg?kg -1 ip significantly inhibited NOS activity of cortex, brain stem and synaptic membrane as compared with that of normal saline group( P

ObjectiveTo evaluate long-term outcome of laryngeal reinnervation using the main branch of the ansa cervicalis for the treatment of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) caused by thyroid surgery. MethodsFrom Oct.1990 to Jan.2010,a total of 325 UVFP patients who underwent main branch of ansa cervicalis-to-recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) anastomosis were enrolled in the study.We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of the reinnervation surgery using videostroboscopy,vocal function assessment (acoustic analysis,perceptual evaluation and maximum phonation time ),and laryngeal electromyography. ResultsVideostroboscopy showed that the glottic closure,vocal fold edge,vocal fold position,phase symmetry and regularity were significantly improved postoperatively. The vocal function parameters (GRBAS scale,jitter,shimmer,noise to harmonics ratio and maximum phonation time) were also significantly improved postoperatively ( P ＜ 0.01 ),as compared to corresponding preoperative values.Voice recovered to a normal level in 93.5％(304/325)patients,and the effective rate was 98.8％ (321/325). Postoperative laryngeal electromyography confirmed successful reinnervation of laryngeal muscle. CondusionsLaryngeal reinnervation using the main branch of ansa cervicalis is a feasible and effective approach for treatment of UVFP patients caused by thyroid surgery,with satisfactory long-term results.

Objective: To observe the effect of mild-warm moxa stick moxibustion on fatigue, immune state and quality of life (QOL) in sub-health population. Methods: A total of 120 cases were randomly allocated into a moxibustion group (n=60) and a Chinese patent medicine (CPM) group (n=60). People in the moxibustion group were intervened with mild-warm moxa stick moxibustion, once a day; while people in the control group took oral Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan (Spleen/stomach-supplementing and Qi-boosting Pill), 3 doses a day. Two months made up a course of treatment. The fatigue, immune state and QOL were then observed after one treatment course, followed by a 12-month follow-up. Results: A total of 115 cases completed the clinical trial. After intervention, the fatigue scores, immune parameters and QOL scores were significantly increased in both groups, showing statistical significances (P<0.05). There were between-group significant differences in fatigue score, levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG, natural killer (NK) cell activity and QOL score (P<0.05). After the 12-month follow-up, there were still significant between-group differences in fatigue score, physical health, psychological, social relationships and overall perception of QOL and overall perception of health (P<0.05). Conclusion: Mild-warm moxibustion can markedly improve the fatigue, immune state and QOL in sub-health population.

BACKGROUND:Artificial femoral head replacement provides a new idea for the repair of unstable intertrochanteric fracture. Artificial prosthesis replacement may affect original femoral biomechanical stability and lead to a variety of adverse consequences. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the stress distribution of femoral head replacement in the treatment of unstable femoral intertrochanteric fractures with three-dimensional finite element analysis. METHODS:One male old volunteer was randomly selected from population who underwent health examination. The left femur was scanned with spiral CT, and the three-dimensional finite element models of the human femur and prosthesis were established. The three-dimensional finite element model was used to simulate the actual working conditions of human climbing stairs, and the stress distribution of the bone channels around the surface of the femur and the prosthesis was analyzed with three-dimensional finite element analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Under normal condition, the stress of the human femur was in a consistent state. Stress changed gradualy from the proximal end to the distal end. The stress of the prosthesis was concentrated in the middle section. The prosthesis of inner stress distribution was analyzed to obtain stress distribution of prosthesis and femur cancelous bone interface. The analysis found that stress change trend was consistent. The results suggest that artificial femoral head replacement does not have a significant effect on the overal stress distribution of the human femur, and the overal stress distribution does not change, and the maximum stress region is located in the middle of the whole femur. After the reconstruction, the stress concentration of the femur is not observed.

Objective To design a new Chinese mandarin version of speech sample text for perceptual assessment .Meth-ods The speech sample text included all phonemes and limit number of words .The correlation analysis of the constituent rati-os of all phonemes was performed between the speech text and the ones in Chinese language reported by the institute of Acous-tics Chinese Academy of Sciences using Pearson's correlation coefficient and Spearman correlation coefficient .And their differ-ences were tested by paired sample t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test .Legibility was alsotested .Results Our speech sarrple text contained 21 vowel ,38 consonant and 4 tones .The proportions of vowel ,consonant and tone in the speech text had high correlation with those in Chinese language (for proportions of vowel ,the Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0 .908 and Spearman correlation coefficient was 0 .775 ,P<0 .01 ,respectively ;for proportions of consonant ,the Pearson's correlation co-efficient was 0 .802 and Spearman correlation coefficient was 0 .808 ,respectively ,P<0 .01 ;for proportions of tone ,the Pear-son's correlation coefficient was 0 .967 and Spearman correlation coefficient was more than 0 .999 ,respectively , P< 0 .01) . There was no difference in the proportions of vowel ,consonant and tone between them(P>0 .2) .The value of legibility was 2 , indicating legibility of the speech sample text was good .Conclusion The new Chinese mandarin version of speech sample text can be used in perceptual assessment .The value for perceptual assessment still needs further clinical research .

Objective To prospectively investigate the association between serum uric acid concentration and the risk of brain infarction in Chinese adults.Methods In this prospective cohort study,a total of 95 738 participants (aged 18-98 years old) were included and were categorized into sex-specific quintiles according to serum uric acid concentration which were collected during 2006-2007 by health examinations.The study was followed up for an average of 4 years.We used Cox regression models to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and their 95％ confidence intervals (CI).Results (1) Higher concentrations of serum uric acid were associated with older age,obesity,higher blood pressure,higher serum concentrations of total cholesterol,triglycerides,and high sensitivity C-reactive protein,smoking,alcohol drinking,history of hypertension,hyperlipidemia and atrial fibrillation,and antihypertensive medication use.(2) The incidence of brain infarction for sex-specific quintiles were 0.84％ (33/3913),0.35％ (14/3985),0.44％(17/3888),0.54％ (21/3909),0.91％ (35/3860) in women (x2 =15.676,P =0.003) and 1.18％(180/15 238),1.26％ (191/15 170),1.11％ (170/15 323),1.45％ (221/15 216),1.82％ (277/15 236)in men (x2 =36.641,P =0.000).(3) After adjusting for potential confounders,including age,body mass index,blood pressure,fasting plasma glucose,total cholesterol,triglyceride,smoking,alcohol,and medical history of major chronic conditions and antihypertensive medication use,the HR (95％ CI) of brain infarction across serum uric acid quintiles were 2.06 (1.14-3.72),0.91 (0.45-1.84),1.00 (ref),1.11 (0.58-2.09),1.31(0.73-2.34) in women and 1.07 (0.86-1.34),1.02 (0.47-2.25),1.00 (ref),1.23(1.00-1.52),1.24(1.01-1.52) in men.Conclusions In this prospective cohort study,we find a U-shaped relationship between serum uric acid concentrations and brain infarction,a higher risk of developing brain infarction in association with low or high serum uric acid concentrations.Women with lowest or highest serum uric acid concentrations and men with higher serum uric acid concentrations are more likely to develop brain infarction.This probably because women have lower serum uric acid concentrations relative to men.Confirmation of our findings in larger cohorts with longer follow-up duration is warranted.

Objective To study the curative effects and characteristics of vocal cord shallow lamina propria resection on the treatment of vocal cord leukoplakia .Methods A total of cases of vocal cord leukoplakia were re-ceived vocal cord mucosa stripping surgery (69 cases) and vocal superficial lamina propria resection with or without suture (69 cases) respectively during January 2006 - December 2011 ,and all cases were taken dynamic laryngosco-py and voice acoustic analysis before surgery ,at 2 weeks ,4 weeks ,6 weeks ,8 weeks ,3 months ,6 months ,and 12 months after surgery .We observed the curative effects and characteristics after operation of two different surgery on the treatment of vocal cord leukoplakia with precancerous lesions .Results Two week after operation ,the vocal cords mucous wave ,vocal cords vibration symmetry ,regularity ,total hoarseness degree (G) ,Jitter ,Shimmer , NHRvaluesinthe2groupsweresignificantlylowerthanthoseofpreoperation(P<0.05),buttherewerenosignif-icant differences between the two groups(P>0 .05) .The three main index of dynamic laryngoscope ,voice acoustic parameters at 4 weeks after operation were significantly lower than those at 2 weeks after operation in the vocal cord mucosa stripping surgery group ,the difference were statistically significant (P<0 .05) ,but it showed no statistical difference between the group at 6 weeks after operation and the groups at other time points (P>0 .05) .The three main index of dynamic laryngoscope ,voice acoustic parameters at 6 weeks after operation were significantly lower than those at 2 ,4 weeks after operation in the vocal cord shallow lamina propria resection group ,the difference were statistically significant (P<0 .05) ,but it showed no statistical difference between the group at 8 weeks after operation and the groups of other time points (P>0 .05) .The voice restoration was faster in the vocal cord mucosa stripping surgery group .The recurrence rate was lower in the vocal cord shallow lamina propria resection group than those in the traditional vocal cord mucosa stripping surgery group ,the difference was statistically significant (P<0 .05) . Conclusion The vocal cord shallow lamina propria resection is a minimally invasive operation for the treatment of vocal cord leukoplakia ,with low recurrence rate and good the voice recovery .

Objective To study the experimental results of selective reinnervation of posterior cricoarytenoid(PCA) muscles by upper root of unilateral phrenic nerve.Methods Eight beagle dogs were used in this experiment.The left recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs) were severed and anastomosed with upper root of phrenic nerve, and the intralaryngeal adductor branch was cut and sutured into the belly of the ipsilateral PCA muscle. The right RLNs were kept intact, and were used as control group.Videolaryngoscopy and electromyography (EMG) were performed at preoperative, immediately after surgery and 6 months after surgery.After completion of all physiologic testings,the dogs were sacrificed and bilateral PCA muscles and intralaryngeal part of recurrent laryngeal nerves were harvested, then histological examination was carried out.The laryngeal nerve was stained with toluidine blue and the morphology of the axons was observed under light microscope.Results Preoperatively, the movement of bilateral vocal folds were normal in all dogs.The left vocal folds were fixed immediately after surgery, 6 months after surgery, the left vocal folds in all 8 dogs recovered inspiratory abductive movement.Spontaneous and evoked electrical activities of the reinnervated PCA muscles could be recorded in all cases during inspiration preoperatively.The left PCA muscles were electrical silent during normal inspiration, and evoked activities were not induced immediately after surgery.Spontaneous electrical activities and evoked electrical activities were recorded 6 months after surgery, and had no significant difference when compared with those of postoperative (P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the cross-sectional area of the bilateral posterior cricoarytenoid muscles fibers after the masson staining.Muscle collagen relative cross-sectional area and collagen relative cross-sectional area and muscle/collagen cross-sectional area ratio difference were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Nerve pulp numbers of left and right sides of the recurrent laryngeal nerves had no significant difference (P>0.05).Conclusion Selective reinnervation of posterior cricoarytenoid muscles by the upper root of unilateral phrenic nerve can restore inspiratory vocal fold abduction to a satisfactory extent and avoid aberrant regeneration.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the surgical effect and complications of arytenoid resection in bilateral vocal cord fold paralysis(BVFP) patients via endoscopic laser approach and external cervical approach. METHOD: A total seventy-eight BVFP patients who underwent arytenoid resection surgery via endoscopic laser approach (laser group, n=30) or external cervical approach (external cervical group, n=48) were enrolled in this study. Videostroboscopy, vocal perception evaluation, maximum phonation time (MPT) text were preformed in all patients both preoperatively and postoperatively. The decannulation rate was also calculated. RESULT: Videostroboscopy showed that vocal fold on the operated side in both groups could abduct to various extent postoperatively, which showed significant difference when compared with preoperative abductive movements (P<0. 05). Postoperative glottal closure showed various increment in both groups. However, when with preoperative glottal closure, external cervical group showed significant difference (P < 0. 05), while laser group showed no significant difference (P> 0. 05). Postoperative videostroboscopy showed no significant difference in vocal fold position and glottal closure between these two groups(P>0. 05). Vocal perceptual evaluation(RBH score) showed a significant deterioration in voice quality postoperatively in both groups respectively (P<. 05). Postoperative MPT values showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>. 05). However, they were significantly shorten/shorter than preoperative ones in these two groups respectively (P<0. 05). The overall decannulation rate were 90. 0% and 95. 8% for laser group and external cervical group respectively. In Both groups, patients presented aspiration symptoms postoperatively, except one patient of external cervical group who developed pneumonia due to recurrent aspiration. CONCLUSION Arytenoid resection surgery via both endoscopic laser approach and external cervical approach can both enlarge glottic area so as to solve respiration problems, in BVFP patients. Two kinds of surgery have obvious voice damage.
Arytenoid Cartilage ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Lasers ; Neck ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; surgery ; Vocal Cords ; physiopathology ; Voice Quality

Background Given the increasing number of patients who require dual antiplatelet (DAP) therapy and electrophysiological device (EPD) placement, perioperative antiplatelet management is a current challenge. In this study, we investigated the incidence of pocket hema-toma formation after EPD placement in patients undergoing DAP therapy or an alternative low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) regimen. Methods This clinical observational study was performed from July 2010 to July 2012. In total, 171 patients were enrolled in the analysis after meeting the inclusion criteria. These patients were divided into two groups: 86 patients were treated with DAP therapy at the time of device implantation, and the DAP therapy was discontinued for 5 to 7 days and replaced with enoxaparin before device implantation in the other 85 patients. Adenosine phosphate (ADP)-mediated platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation were tested preoperatively. We compared the incidence of pocket hematoma between the two groups and the association of pocket hematoma develop-ment with ADP-mediated platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation.Results The incidence of pocket hema-toma in the patients who continued DAP was lower than that in the patients who replaced the dual antiplatelet regimen with LMWH (3.49%vs. 16.47%, respectively;X2 = 6.66,P < 0.01). Among the patients who continued DAP therapies, the rate of ADP-mediated platelet aggre-gation inhibition in patients with pocket hematomas was higher than that in patients without pocket hematomas. None of the patients under-going DAP or enoxaparin therapy developed pocket infection, thromboembolic events, or other serious complications. Multiple logistic re-gression analysis revealed that LMWH therapy was an independent risk factor for the development of pocket hematoma (RR = 0.054, 95%CI = 0.012-0.251). Furthermore, patients undergoing LMWH therapy were 5.1-fold more likely to develop pocket hematomas than were DAP-treated individuals.Conclusion Continuance of DAP therapy does not increase the risk of pocket hematoma formation after EPD placement.