Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Benzenesulfonates ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of free and pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flaps for repairing skin and soft tissue defects in limbs, neck, axillary and shoulder.

METHODSFrom October 2009 to Auguest 2011, 16 TDAP flaps were used to repair skin and tissue defects. Among them, five ipsilateral pedicled flaps were used to repair wounds in neck, axillary and shoulder. 11 free TDAP flaps were used to repair the wounds with bone or tendon exposure. In 12 cases, the flaps were pedicled with thoracodorsal artery and vein-lateral branches-perforators, in 4 cases, pedicled with thoracodorsal artery and vein-serratus anterior muscular branches-perforators. The deep fascia, the latissimus dorsi and thoracodorsal nerve were not included in all flaps. The flaps size ranged from 10 cm x 5 cm to 26 cm x 10 cm.

RESULTSAll 16 flaps survived completely with primary healing both at donor site and recipent area. After a follow-up of 3 to 24 months, all flaps gained good texture and appearance. Only linear scar was left at donor area. The shoulder could move freely.

CONCLUSIONSTDAP flap has good texture, long vascular pedicle,and reliable blood supply, leaving less morbidity at donor site. The latissimus dorsi and thoracodorsal nerve are also preserved. The pedicled TDAP flap is an ideal flap for repairing the ipsilateral skin and soft tissue defects of the neck, shoulder, axillary. The free TDAP flap is suited for repairing skin and soft tissue defects of the extremities.

Arteries ; Axilla ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Perforator Flap ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Thoracic Wall ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries ; surgery

BACKGROUND: Aspiration pneumonia remains a serious result associated with general anesthesia. Therefore, we studied the effectiveness of preanesthetic ranitidine in increasing gastric pH to prevent aspiration pneumonia. METHODS: Eighty patients scheduled for elective surgery were randomly divided into four groups with twenty patients in each group. Patients in control group were not given preanesthetic ranitidine; patients in group I received 300 mg of ranitidine orally at night before surgery, patients in group II received 150 mg of ranitidine orally both the night before surgery and one hour before surgery respecvtively and patients in group III recieved 150mg of ranitidine orally one hour before surgery. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the mean gastric pH of preanesthesia and 1 hour after anesthetic induction increased significantly in the group I, II, III (P<0.0001). There was significant increased gastric pH in the group II compared with group I and III. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that ranitidine markedly increase the gastric pH. So, we recommend that patients receiving general anesthesia would be taken Hz-antagonist such as ranitidine preoperatively.
Anesthesia, General ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Premedication ; Ranitidine*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of abdominal breathing on state anxiety, stress and tocolytic dosage for pregnant women in preterm labor. METHODS: The participants were 60 pregnant women in preterm labor who were hospitalized from April to July, 2009. Thirty participants were assigned to the experimental group and 30 to the control group. None of them had any other complications except preterm labor. The modified Mason's breathing technique was used with the experimental group 3 times a day for 3 days. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire and chart review, and analyzed with the SPSS 13.0 WIN program. RESULTS: "State anxiety of the experimental group will be lower than that of the control group" was supported. "Stress of the experimental group will be lower than that of the control group" was supported. "The Ritodrine dosage for the experimental group will be lower than that of the control group" was supported. "The Atosiban dosage for the experimental group will be lower than that of the control group" was supported. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that abdominal breathing is an effective nursing intervention for pregnant women in preterm labor.
Adult ; Anxiety/*prevention & control ; *Breathing Exercises ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Obstetric Labor, Premature/*drug therapy ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Ritodrine/therapeutic use ; Stress, Psychological/*prevention & control ; Tocolytic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Vasotocin/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects on serum homocysteine(Hcy) level,vascular function and carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) in metformin-treated diabetic patients with or without supplementation with folate and Vitamin B12.MethodsA total of 100 newly diagnosed diabetic type 2patients were divided into two groups by random digits table with 50 cases each,90 patients completed study.Forty-seven participants (control group) received a 6-month course of metformin treatment,43 patients (treatment group) received mefformin,folate and Vitamin B12 treatment.The levels of serum Hcy,endothelin-1 (ET-1),carotid IMT,large or small arterial elasticity index (C1,C2),flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery were evaluated before and after treatment.ResultsThe level of serum Hcy in control group significantly increased compared with before treatment[ (13.4 ± 2.7)μ mol/L vs.(11.1 ± 1.9)μ mol/L],hut the level of serum Hcy in treatment group significantly decreased compared with before treatment [ (9.2 ± 1.8 ) μ mol/L vs. ( 11.3 ± 2.0) μ mol/L ],there was significant difference(P ＜ 0.05 ).A beneficial effect was observed in the serum ET-1,FMD,carotid IMT and C2 in treatment group[ (20.0 ± 6.2)ng/L,( 15.8 ± 7.6)％,(0.8 ± 0.2) mm,(4.1 ± 2.1 ) ml/mm Hg ( 1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa) × 100 vs. (31.3 ±10.1 ) ng/L,(9.7 ± 4.5)％,( 1.1 ± 0.4) mm,(2.3 ± 1.0) ml/mm Hg × 100 ] (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of ET-1,FMD,carotid IMT and C2 after treatment in control group [ (24.8 ± 6.8) ng/L,( 12.9 ± 6.3 )％,(0.9 ± 0.3)mm,(3.0 ± 1.4) ml/mm Hg × 100] had significant difference compared with before treatment [ (30.6 ± 8.7)ng/L,(9.8 ± 4.6)％,( 1.0 ± 0.3) mm,(2.2 ± 0.9) ml/mm Hg × 100](P＜ 0.05).However,the results were improved significantly in treatment group than those in control group (P ＜0.05).In treatment group,significant correlation were detected between changes of Hcy and ET- 1 (r =0.43,P ＜ 0.05 ),carotid IMT(r =0.56,P ＜ 0.05),FMD (r =-0.54,P ＜ 0.05 ),C2 (r =-0.37,P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsAdministration of folate and Vitamin B12 can reduce the levels of serum Hcy and ET-1 in metformin-treated type 2 diabetic patients,which exert beneficial effect on carotid IMT,FMD and C2.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of iliofemoral endovascular therapy for the treatment of chronic ischemia of lower extremities due to arterial atherosclerosis. Methods During the period of September 2005-January 2009 percutaneous endovascular angioplasty and stent implantation were performed in 15 consecutive patients with CTA-proved chronic occlusive iliofemoral artery disease. The patients included 11 males and 4 females with a mean age of (72.1 ± 5.9) years (ranged from 61 to 82 years). Before the procedure, all patients underwent clinical and imaging assessments, including Fontaine classification, ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI), and lower limb computed tomography angiography (CTA). According to the length, morphology and location of the occlusive segment, different types of stents were employed together with pereutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) to treat the occluded lilac or superficial femoral artery. At the end of the procedure, distal angiogram was performed to assess the success of the procedure and to exclude thromboembolism or dissection complications. After PTA, the residual stenosis < 30% and/or pressure gradient < 10 mmHg were defined as technical success. Clinical success was identified when patient's clinical symptoms were improved by one or more grade according to Fontaine classification. Results Technical success was totally achieved in all patients with no occurrence of complication. Recanalization of the occluded artery was performed preferably by retrograde ipsilateral femoral artery approach in 5 patients and by contralateral access using the crossover aorta technique in 10 patients. PTA was performed in all patients after stent release to open the occluded vessel to its normal diameter. The mean length of the lilac arterial segment covered with 8 stents was (7.6 ± 1.4) cm (ranged from 6 cm to 10 cm). The mean diameter ± SD of the iliac stents was 9.5 mm ± 1.4 mm (ranged from 8 mm to 12 mm). The mean length of 5 superficial artery implanted stents was (4.5 ± 1.1) cm (ranged from 4 cm to 6 cm). The mean ABI before treatment and six months after treatment was 0.64 (range 0.41 to 0.89) and 0.76 (range 0.50 to 0.95), respectively. The difference in ABI between pre-interventional and post-interventional procedure was statistically significant (t = -4.64, P < 0.01). Clinical improvements according to Fontaine classification were obtained in all patients, in whom technical success was achieved (100%). Conclusion Endovascular interventional procedure is a safe and effective treatment for iliofemoral arterial occlusive disease due to arterial atherosclerosis. PTA combined with subsequent stent implantation can well improve the patient's quality of life as well as the hemodynamics of lower extremities, which is very important for preserving the diseased limb for a long period of time.

PURPOSE: To investigate the beneficial effect of ginkgo biloba (Ginexin(R)) on ischemic retina model by retinal vein occlusion after photodynamic injury. METHODS: Ginkgo biloba 20 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day or carboxymethyl cellulose as a control group was administrated orally from 1week before the retinal vein occlusion to 2weeks after. After rose bengal was injected through vein of tail, retinal vein was occluded with argon laser. And then venous occlusion was confirmed by fluorescein angiogram. Rats were examined by using an indirect ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography to detect reperfusion and new vessels. Eyeballs were enucleated for histological examination, retinal ganglion cell count and intravitreal glutamate level. RESULTS: The reperfusion of occluded vein was faster in the ginkgo biloba-treated group than the control group. In the ginkgo biloba-treated group, damage of the inner retina and TUNEL-positive cells were smaller than the control group on histologic examination. The concentration of retinal ganglion cells in the control group was lower than in the ginkgo biloba-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Ginkgo biloba has protective effects in experimental ischemic retina after vein occlusion.
Animals ; Argon ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium ; Fluorescein ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Glutamic Acid ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Retina ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Retinal Vein Occlusion ; Retinal Vein* ; Rose Bengal ; Veins

Objective To investigate the brain mechanisms of aging of the visual attention. Methods Through the precue-target visual search paradigm using the event-related potentials technique,16 young and 16 elderly subjects participated the electrophysiological experiment.The background was comprised of three homocentric black circles and eight English capital letters consisted of each circle.The letter “T” was designed as the target stimulus.T was a target only when it located the circle clued to the same size of the precue.For example,when the cue was the “large”,“T” may appear within 3 circles.When the cue was the “median”,“T” may appear within either the median or small circles.When the cue was small,the target “T” may appear only within the small circle. Results The reaction time of the two groups of subjects became quick with the reduction of the cue scale,while the amplitudes of P1 and N1 components of event-related potentials increased with the decrease of the cue scale.Old subjects showed longer response time than did young subjects,and the posterior P1 component was enhanced significantly and N1 component was inhibited obviously.The P2 component was manifested as significantly inhibitory effect not only in the amplitude but also in the abnormal and unstable waveform.Conclusions The cognitive function of elderly subjects declines in the research of target stimuli,which suggests that the age-related changes could lead to deficit in the posterior area of the brain to visual spatial attention (involuntary attention).