Laser-assisted outpatient septoplasty results on 120 patients

OBJECTIVE: I describe a new outpatient technique of septoplasty, advocated to minimize and simplify surgery under local anesthesia with new laser instruments especially designed. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: This quick technique takes 5 minutes and has a specific clinical application in chronic nasal obstruction due to moderate anterior septal deviation in adults. It is less invasive that traditional septoplasty and potentially more advantageous in terms of decreased patient recovery time, less morbidity, lower medical costs, and faster return to full activity. METHODS: I retrospectively review my experience with 120 patients, from August 1995 to November 1996, with a patient evaluation pre- and postoperatively, at first by a direct interview with clinical examination and acoustic rhinometry, then by a telephone interview with strictly standardized questioning. RESULTS: Of the 120 patients, a surgical success rate of 96% on the nasal obstruction was achieved. Many patients experienced improvement on other symptoms like nasal discharge, frequent sneezing, frequent headaches, recurrent rhinosinusitis, and sense of smell and sleep troubles. Observations comparing pre- and post-operative rhinometries revealed a significant increase of the size of the mean minimal cross-sectional areas (MCA) of the narrow side, at the anterior part of the nose, an increase of the mean nasal cavity volume (NCV), and a decrease of mean nasal airway resistance (NAR). CONCLUSIONS: This new technique appears to be a safe, quick, simple, predictable, bloodless, and virtually painless in-office procedure without side effects. These encouraging good preliminary results must be confirmed by further study and long-term follow-up.     

Screening for high-affinity ligands to the Src SH2 domain using capillary isoelectric focusing-electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

A solution-based microscale approach for determination of high-affinity noncovalent complexes from mixtures of compounds is presented, based on capillary isoelectric focusing coupled on-line with electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry. The studies are performed using the src homology 2 domain and tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide ligands as a model system. Tight complexes are formed in solution, preconcentrated up to 2 orders of magnitude and separated on the basis of their isoelectric points. The complexes are then dissociated in the mass spectrometer and the freed ligands identified. Picomole or less amounts of protein reagent are consumed per experiment. Structural information for the ligands involved in tight complex formation may be obtained using the MSn capabilities of the ion trap. The methodology can potentially be used to screen rapidly combinatorial mixtures of compounds for high-affinity ligands.     

Postresuscitation changes in brain free radical-mediated processes and nitric oxide synthase activity in rats: effects of individual behavior in "emotional resonance" test

Effects of 7-min cardiac arrest and individual behavior on free radical-mediated processes and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was evaluated in brains of male Wistar rats one hour and one week after resuscitation. "Emotional resonance" test was used for the behavioral selection of rats. The test includes factors of significance for rats: the choice between large and lighted or small and dark space as well as signals of pain of another rat. Free radical generation (using chemiluminescence method), superoxide scavenging/generating activity, substances reacting with 2-thiobarbituric acid and NOS activity (by measuring mononitrosyl iron complex of NO with diethyl dithiocarbamate and endogenous brain Fe2+ by electron spin resonance spectroscopy) were determined in cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus. Cardiac arrest induced oxidative stress accompanied by the loss of NOS activity, as well as compensatory changes of free radical-mediated processes in cerebral cortex. Oxidative stress was also evident in cerebellum and, to a lesser extent, in hippocampus. Most of neurochemical differences between behavioral groups were induced by cardiac arrest. These differences were global, related to a specific brain region or became apparent in cerebral lateralization of biochemical indices.     

Impact of dynamic 3D transoesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of atrial septal defects and occlusion by the double-umbrella device (CardioSEAL)

Previous research has supported theoretical claims that dichotomous thinking may be a risk factor for suicide. However, the concept of dichotomous thinking is vague, and thus far, no measures of it have been developed. This study developed a coding scheme useful on Thematic Aperception Test (TAT; Murray, 1943) protocols and applicable to other verbal productions to refine the concept of dichotomous thinking and to assess its utility as a predictor of suicidality. Suicidal patients had a significantly elevated rate of a narrowly defined type of dichotomous thinking involving diametric or polarized possibilities. However, suicidal and nonsuicidal patients did not differ on weaker forms of dichotomous thinking involving nonexclusive or nonbinary alternatives. Suicidal patients produced shorter TAT stories than nonsuicidal patients, supporting other findings in the literature that suicidal patients tend to be cognitively and affectively "shut down." Traditionally designated "suicide cards" also yielded shorter stories but did not elicit higher rates of dichotomous thinking.     

氨基磺酸盐系高效减水剂概述

从官能团的角度介绍了氨基磺酸盐系高效减水剂的结构及性能的关系;阐述了目前氨基磺酸盐系高效减水主要合成工艺,并对氨基磺酸盐系高效减水剂存在的问题进行了分析,预测了氨基磺酸盐系高效减水剂的发展趋势。     

基于CATIA软件的水工钢闸门三维设计

简单介绍了三维CAD技术的应用情况,重点介绍了应用CATIA软件设计水工钢闸门的思路、过程及使用体会,总结了使用CATIA作闸门设计的优点。     

陀螺测斜技术安全优化与应用

针对陀螺测斜技术现场应用中遇到的电缆起出携带大量稠油、下井仪器遭遇"油帽子"无法通过、马笼头部位电缆发生短路或断路等问题,研制了稠油井电缆清洁装置、加重装置、马笼头安全锁定密封装置。通过对陀螺测斜技术进行安全与优化,提高了陀螺现场应用效率,增强了安全性与科学性。