OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and catecholamine levels.

METHODSCatecholamines levels in maternal and fetal blood were determined in 116 patients with PIH and 40 normal control subjects using high performance liquid chromatography. The normal control subjects and PIH cases were selected from patients at term pregnancy receiving elective cesarean section.

RESULTSPlasma norepinephrine (NE) levels were significantly higher in patients with severe PIH than those in control subjects (P < 0.05). Both patients and control subjects had higher NE levels in the umbilical artery blood than in the umbilical vein blood (P < 0.05). NE levels in the umbilical artery blood were five times higher than those in the maternal blood.

CONCLUSIONThe pathogenesis of PIH may relate to catecholamine concentrations in fetus.

Catecholamines ; blood ; Female ; Fetus ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare and evaluate the effectiveness of two kinds of medical drainage bag.

METHODS206 patients were randomly divided into two groups each of which consisted of 103 patients. All the data including four indices, such as the time required to replace the drainage bags, the incidence of the bags detached, draining fluid splashing rates during the replacement of the bags, patient and medical staff satisfaction, were collected and analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe time required to replace the drainage bags, the incidence of the bags detached and draining fluid splashing rates during the replacement of the bags of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05), while the patient and medical staff satisfaction were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt is convenient, quick and time and effort saving to use the neotype medical drainage bags. Hence, the use of neotype medical drainage bags could help to improve the work efficiency, effectively prevent occupational injuries and protect health care workers.

Adult ; Aged ; Drainage ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged