Shortening peel-away sheaths prior to dialysis line insertion--potential decrease of patient risk.

Placement of tunnelled dialysis lines is effective using ultrasoundand fluoroscopic guidance [1] and has a higher success ratethan ‘blind’ insertion [2]. After the ultrasound guided access into a neck vein, wires andcatheters are guided in to a suitable position in the     

IMPROVED BALLOON‐TIPPED TRANS‐ANAL ILEUS TUBE

Background: For management of bowel obstruction due to colorectal cancer, endoscopic trans‐anal decompression technique has been first reported by Lelcuk et al. in 1986 using balloon dilatation technique. Since then, various types of trans‐anal decompression tubes have been clinically used for patients suffering from left side obstructing colorectal cancer as an emergent decompressing device. At present, two types of trans‐anal ileus tube (trans‐anal decompression tube) have been available for clinical use, but they have two main problems that are late colon perforations caused by the tip of the tube and tube obstruction by stool. Methods: Analysis on three late colon perforations experienced with the use of conventional devices drew possible improvements to make a trans‐anal ileus tube less harmful. To overcome the pitfalls inherent to conventional tubes, the author has developed an improved trans‐anal ileus tube with a balloon installed at the very end of the tube (‘balloon‐tipped type’) made of silicone, measuring 1200 or 1700 mm in total length and 22 Fr in outer diameter. It has been used for 12 cases with obstructing colorectal cancer etc. and its outcomes were compared with those obtained by the use of conventional trans‐anal ileus tube. Results: No late perforations have been encountered, but tube obstruction did occur in one of 12 cases. Conclusion: The new trans‐anal ileus tube with a balloon installed at the tip of ileus tube is considered to be safer and especially effective in preventing late colon perforation and tube obstruction.     

妇女叶酸增补中需要关注的问题

妇女围孕期增补叶酸能够有效预防神经管缺陷等疾病的发生。随着对叶酸研究的不断深入，叶酸补充中出现了诸多问题。本文简要综述了叶酸在服用方式以及基础和临床研究中出现的值得讨论、已经引起关注和需要进一步研究探讨的问题，并提出了深入研究叶酸可能的发展趋势。     

Iniencephaly and long-term survival: a rare case report

Introduction Iniencephaly, a neural tube defect involving occiput and inion and combined with rachischisis of the cervical, thoracic spine, and retroflexion position of the head is a very rare congenital abnormality of the fetus–newborn with a 0.1–10 of 10,000 prevalence. This abnormality’s prognosis is thought to be dismal. This abnormality can be associated with other abnormalities such as anencephaly, encephalocele, hydrocephalus, cyclopia, absence of the mandible, cleft lip and palate, cardiovascular disorders, diaphragmatic hernia, renal abnormalities, overgrowth of the arms compared to the legs, and club food and gastrointestinal atresia. Discussion Most of the patients are dead born, and the others die in a few hours. There are only six previously documented long-term survivors. In our case, our patient with iniencephalic signs and findings is still living. She is 2 years old now. We think that this patient presents a mild form of iniencephaly.     

Thyroid Artery Erosion by Esophageal Cancer: Management with Interventional Radiology

Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding because of erosion of vessels by esophageal cancer may be challenging. We present herein the angiographic images of a 49-year-old patient who was admitted with massive bleeding from a tumor-eroded inferior thyroid artery. Attempts to control the bleeding by means of flexible endoscopy and insertion of a Sengstaken–Blakemore tube had failed. The diagnosis was impressively demonstrated by multislice computed tomography with intravenous contrast in the arterial phase and multiplanar reconstructions (computed tomography angiography) and by digital subtraction angiography. The bleeding was successfully treated with superselective catheterization and coiling of the eroded vessel.     

鼻胃管胃肠减压在择期腹部手术中的应用价值

鼻胃管胃肠减压曾被常规应用于择期和急诊的腹部手术后，目的是预防急性胃扩张的发生、治疗梗阻、降低吻合口压力等。但是，鼻胃管置入也会带来一些副作用，如呼吸道并发症、胃-食道反流、体液和电解质的丢失、声带的损伤，以及越来越被重视的患者的不适感。近年来的研究结果也对择期的腹部手术后常规应用鼻胃管胃肠减压提出不同的看法。现重新评价应用鼻胃管胃肠减压的理论基础及相关临床研究的结果，并对鼻胃管胃肠减压在择期腹部手术中的价值作一综述。     

Myelin-axon relationships established by rat vagal Schwann cells deep to the brainstem surface

The central-peripheral transitional zones of rat dorsolateral vagal rootlets are highly complex. Peripheral nervous tissue extends centrally for up to several hundred micrometers deep to the brainstem surface along these rootlets. In some instances this peripheral nervous tissue lacks continuity with the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and so forms an island within the central nervous system (CNS). In conformity with the resulting complexity of the CNS-PNS interface, segments of vagal axons lying deep to the brainstem surface are myelinated by one or more intercalated Schwann cells, contained in peripheral tissue insertions or islands, at either end of which they traverse an astroglial barrier. Intercalated Schwann cells are thus isolated from contact or contiguity with the Schwann cells of the PNS generally. They are short, having a mean internodal length of around 60% of that of the most proximal Schwann cells of the PNS proper, which lie immediately distal to the CNS-PNS interface and which are termed transitional Schwann cells. The thickness of the myelin sheaths produced by intercalated Schwann cells is intermediate between that of transitional Schwann cells and that of oligodendrocytes myelinating vagal axons of the same calibre distribution. This is not due to limited blood supply or to insufficient numbers of intercalated Schwann cells, the density of which is greater than that of transitional Schwann cells. These factors are unlikely to restrict expression of their myelinogenic potential. Nevertheless, the regression data show that the setting of the myelin-axon relationship differs significantly between the two categories of Schwann cell. Thus, the myelinogenic response of Schwann cells to stimuli emanating from the same axons may differ between levels along one and the same nerve bundle. Mean myelin periodicity was found to differ between sheaths produced by intercalated and by transitional Schwann cells.     

Neurosarcoma of the face: MRI

Neurosarcoma is a rare tumour originating from the sheath of peripheral nerves. Facial lesions have been reported in about 20 patients. We describe the MRI appearances of neurosarcoma with histological correlation in three patients. The lesions lay in the submandibular region, the left parapharyngeal space and the right orbit. MRI showed a well-defined mass with mixed components. The lesions were moderately heterogeneous on T1-weighted images in two cases and on T2-weighted images in all cases. Gadolinium enhancement occurred in all cases to variable degrees. In two cases, small high signal foci were seen on T2-weighted sequences. MRI appearances of neurosarcoma are not specific. Received: 3 September 1996 Accepted: 26 November 1996     

近节指骨段屈肌腱鞘不同范围损伤对肌腱功能的影响

目的 探索手指屈肌腱在近节指骨段不同范围损伤时对屈指肌腱功能的影响。方法 采用12只成人尸体手指。实验分为:第一阶段屈指肌腱完整,以后四个阶段依次沿近节指骨掌侧小线闭开小央1/4、1/2、3/4及全长。在掌指关节被动屈80°和掌指关节屈80°同时近侧指关节屈100°时,测量指浅屈肌腱(FDS)和指深屈肌腱(FDP)的滑动距离。根据肌腱力臂和滑动距离的关系,得出屈指肌腱在掌指关节处和近侧指间关节及肌腱在近节指骨段的弓弦畸形程度。结果 腱鞘中央1/4切开时,指屈肌腱的滑动距离、力臂均无显著变化;1/2切开后,单纯屈曲掌指关节时的FDS腱和掌指、近节指间关节屈曲时的FDS、HDP腱的滑动距离和力臂较腱鞘完整时显苫增大(P<0.05);切开3/4长度后,FDS、FDP腱滑动距离均有统计学意义变化,FDS、FDP腱力臂平均增加8～9％;全切开腱鞘,FDS、FDP腱滑动距离变化正统计学上有高度显著性(P<0.01),两腱力臂分别增加16％和15％。随腱鞘切开范围增大,FDS、FDP在近节指骨段的弓弦畸形程度也越来越大。结论 从肌腱的生物力学变化可见,近节指骨段腱鞘的小范围损伤如中间1/4以内损伤时,对肌腱功能影响小,可以不予修复;若损伤超过1/2长度,尤其对腱鞘全长损伤,应予以修复以恢复肌腱功能。     

Are common mutations of cystathionine β-synthase involved in the aetiology of neural tube defects?

Mildly elevated maternal plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels (hyperhomocysteinemia) have recently been observed in some neural tube defect (NTD) pregnancies. Plasma levels of Hcy are governed by both genetic and nutritional factors and the aetiology of NTDs is also known to have both genetic and nutritional components. We therefore examined the frequency of relatively common mutations in the enzyme cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), which is one of the main enzymes that controls Hcy levels, in the NTD population. Neither the severely dysfunctional G307S CBS allele nor the recently reported 68 bp insertion/I278T CBS allele was observed at increased frequency in the cases relative to controls. We therefore conclude that loss of function CBS alleles do not account for a significant proportion of NTDs in Ireland.