Objective To investigate the effect of L-carnitine injection on oxidative stress and clinical efficacy in patients with acute anterior ST segment elevated myocardial infarction ( STEMI ) and received primary percutaneous coronary intervention .Methods 70 patients with acute anterior wall STEMI undergoing primary PCI in our hospital were randomly divided into the L-carnitine treatment group and the control group.Patients in both groups received same standardized treatment including aspirin , clopidogrel, statins, ACEI/ARB etc.after PCI.Serum levels of superoxied dismutase ( SOD ) and malondialdehyde ( MDA) were measured at arrival and 7 days after PCI.Laboratory results and echocardiography finding were compared.Results (1) The serum SOD levels in both groups were elevated on day 7 after treatment (P<0.05).The serum SOD level on day 7 in the L-carnitine treatment group was higher than the control group (P<0.05).(2) The serum MDA levels in both groups were lower 7 days after treatment (P<0.05).The serum MDA level in the treatment group was lower than the control group (P<0.05).(3) Echocardiography exam on day 7 showed left ventricular end diastolic diameter ( LVEDd) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were more significantly improved compared with the control group (P<0.05).Conclusions For AMI patients receiving primary PCI , L-carnitine injection can increase serum SOD concentration and reduce the production of MDA , showing inhibiting effects on oxidative stress and has protective effect on myocardia .

Antimony ; urine ; Flow Injection Analysis ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; methods ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods

BACKGROUND:To determine if elderly frequent attenders are associated with increased 30-day mortality, assess resource utilization by the elderly frequent attenders and identify associated characteristics that contribute to mortality. METHODS:Retrospective observational study of electronic clinical records of all emergency department (ED) visits over a 10-year period to an urban tertiary general hospital in Singapore. Patients aged 65 years and older, with 3 or more visits within a calendar year were identified. Outcomes measured include 30-day mortality, admission rate, admission diagnosis and duration spent at ED. Chi-square-tests were used to assess categorical factors and Student t-test was used to assess continuous variables on their association with being a frequent attender. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted on all significant independent factors on to the outcome variable (30-day mortality), to determine factor independent odds ratios of being a frequent attender. RESULTS:1.381 million attendance records were analyzed. Elderly patients accounted for 25.5％ of all attendances, of which 31.3％ are frequent attenders. Their 30-day mortality rate increased from 4.0％ in the first visit, to 8.8％ in the third visit, peaking at 10.2％ in the sixth visit. Factors associated with mortality include patients with neoplasms, ambulance utilization, male gender and having attended the ED the previous year. CONCLUSION:Elderly attenders have a higher 30-day mortality risk compared to the overall ED population, with mortality risk more marked for frequent attenders. This study illustrates the importance and need for interventions to address frequent ED visits by the elderly, especially in an aging society.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the optimal insertion position of the Coflex lumbar interspinous dynamic stabilization device.

METHODSSix fresh adult human cadaveric lumbar spine specimens (L1-L5) were mounted in a materials testing machine by embedding to clamps with L1 and L5 vertebrae. L3-4 motion segment of each specimen was operated by selective decompression and Coflex interspinous device insertion. The L3 and L4 vertebrae was inserted one needle attached with four marker points respectively, which were used to record the range of motion (ROM). Each lumbar spine specimen was tested according to the loading sequence at 5 groups: intact (keeping lumbar ligamenta and facet joints intact) group, partial destabilized (resection of L3-4 interspinous ligamenta, ligamentum flavum, facet capsule, and bilateral resection 50% of L3 inferior facets) group, 10 mm insertion (distance between apex of U-shaped Coflex and dural sac was 10 mm)group, 5 mm insertion (distance was 5 mm)group, and 0 mm insertion (distance was 0 mm)group. Each lumbar spine specimen was tested repeatedly 3 times according to a loading sequence consisting of flexion, extension, left/right lateral bending, left/right axial rotation, loaded with pure moments of 8 N·m, and was recorded the ROM of operative segment at the third time. ROM of 5 groups in 6 directions respectively were analyzed with one-way ANOVA test and multiple comparisons were based on LSD method.

RESULTSThe means ROM of 5 groups were not all equal in flexion, extension, left/right lateral bending, left/right axial rotation (F = 8.472, 18.301, 7.700, 12.473, 16.809, 6.624; all P < 0.01). The 10 mm insertion group had significant high ROM in 6 directions than the intact group (t = 3.80, 3.82, 4.49, 5.60, 4.96, 2.98, all P < 0.01), but it was no difference comparing with the partial destabilized group (P > 0.05). The ROM of the 5 mm and 0 mm insertion group were no significant differences comparing with the intact group in flexion, extension, left/right axial rotation (P > 0.05), but it were significant differences comparing with the partial destabilized group in the same directions (5 mm insertion group: t = 3.19, 6.34, 5.26, 3.43, all P < 0.01; 0 mm insertion group: t = 4.21, 6.68, 5.81, 3.72, all P < 0.01). There were significant differences in the ROM of left/right lateral bending between the 5mm/0mm insertion groups and the intact group (5 mm insertion group: t = 3.71 and 5.22, all P < 0.01; 0 mm insertion group: t = 3.44 and 4.95, all P < 0.01), but there were no differences comparing with the partial destabilized group in the same directions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe insertion of Coflex interspinous dynamic stabilization device can maintain the stability of a partially destabilized specimen back to an intact one in flexion, extension and axial rotation when distance between apex of U-shaped Coflex and dural sac was ≤ 5 mm, but can't return the stability in lateral bending. The Coflex can't return the stability of a partially destabilized specimen back to an intact one in 6 directions when distance between apex of U-shaped Coflex and dural sac was ≥ 10 mm.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Screws ; Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Ligamentum Flavum ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery