Surgical aspects of autonomic dysreflexia

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a characteristic syndrome that occurs in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with lesions above the sympathetic outflow at T6 and rarely in those with lesions below T10. Symptoms are initiated by noxious stimuli below the level of injury which result in massive sympathetic discharges from the isolated cord. These produce what may be called a sympathetic storm manifest by severe life threatening hypertension. Anesthesiologists and surgeons dealing with SCI patients must know how to recognize this syndrome, how to prevent its occurrence and how to manage it aggressively. Choice of anesthesia is frequently difficult and, in particular, it may be difficult to decide which type of anesthesia is best for patients susceptible to the syndrome. Therefore, we have conducted a retrospective study of SCI patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, California, where the Spinal Cord Injury Service is one of the largest in the country.     

Relationship between ABO blood group and levels of Gal alpha,3Galactose-reactive human immunoglobulin G

BACKGROUND: The terminal Gal alpha1,3Galactose (alphaGal) determinant is present on all porcine glycoproteins and glycolipids, but is not expressed by human cells. Consequently human sera contain anti-alphaGal natural antibodies. The human blood group B antigen [Gal alpha1,3(Fuc1,2)Galactose] is differentiated from the alphaGal epitope by the presence of a fucosyl group. METHODS: To determine whether the expression of the B antigen has any effect on the level of alphaGal-reactive natural antibodies, equal numbers (n=12) of A, B, AB, and O serum samples were evaluated by ELISA and flow cytometry. RESULTS: A significant reduction in IgG alphaGal reactivity was observed with serum samples from B antigen-expressing donors (B, AB) relative to non-B antigen-expressing donors (A, O). CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with the possibility that anti-alphaGal antibodies in non-B antigen-expressing individuals include a subset that is reactive with the structurally related B antigen and that this subset is absent in B and AB individuals.     

Soy Protein Fortification Affects Sensory, Chemical, and Microbiological Properties of Dairy Yogurts

ABSTRACT: Chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties for low fat yogurts fortified with 0,1, 2.5, or 5% soy protein concentrate were determined through 1 mo storage at 5 °C. Yogurts were adjusted to equivalent total solids with nonfat dried milk. Microbiological counts, fermentation time, and final developed acidity were not affected by soy protein. Instrumental viscosity and sensory thickness, soy aroma, and soy flavor increased with soy protein addition (P 0.05). Soy flavor and aroma did not increase with storage time. Yogurt with 5% soy protein was darker, more chalky, and less sweet compared to control yogurt or yogurts with lower concentrations of soy protein (P 0.05). Yogurts with 1 or 2.5% soy protein were most similar to control yogurt.     

Laparoscopic resection of posterior gastric leiomyoma

BACKGROUND: A variety of laparoscopic procedures for the repair of abdominal wall hernias have been described. The repair described in this paper represents a modification and improvement of one approach. METHODS: Our technique employs an Origin Tacker (Origin Medsystems, Inc, Menlo Park, CA) and a Gore suture passer (W. L. Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) to secure an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) patch, (DualMesh, W. L. Gore, Flagstaff, AZ) to the anterior abdominal wall. RESULTS: This approach simplifies the repair by minimizing the number of steps required to secure the ePTFE graft to the anterior abdominal. CONCLUSIONS: We have found this to be a safe and reliable technique that may be used in the laparoscopic repair of ventral, umbilical, or inguinal hernias.     

Modified version of dissolving suture material on the basis of glycol cellulose ethers: a histological study

Investigation of manufacturing of home-produced dissolving suture material was conducted. Influence of the material on tissues in the region of threads location and on the organism as a whole was studied up. The material resolved actively, did not cause pathological changes in surrounding tissues and in general pathological processes in the organism of animals. During 180 days the majority of the suture material quantity have resolved.     

Solid-State Electrodes for Multichannel Multiplexed Intracortical Neuronal Recording

Thin-film arrays of extracellular recording electrodes have been developed for use in studies of information processing in neural structures and eventual use in closed-loop control of neural prostheses. These probes consist of a silicon substrate which supports an array of thin-film conductors. The conductors are insulated above and below with deposited dielectrics. The electrode sites are defined by openings in the upper dielectric layer and are inlaid with gold to form low-impedance recording surfaces. The probes are typically 15 pim in thickness with shank widths as narrow as 20 ?m. The probe fabrication process is compatible with the inclusion of signal processing circuitry directly on the probe substrate. A 12 channel on-chip signal processor design with per-channel gain of 100, bandwidth of 100 Hz-6 kHz, multiplexed output, and recording-site impedance check capability is described. The probes have adequate strength to penetrate the gerbil pia-arachnoid layer and have recorded single neuron activity of over 500 ?V peak-to-peak from tip, side, and mid-carrier sites. Signal-to-noise ratios as high as 10:1 have been achieved. An equivalent circuit model for the conducting leads, the recording site, and the electrode-electrolyte interface is described. Development of biocompatible insulation and encapsulation materials for long-term implantation of active probes is underway.