We aimed to determine whether the autonomic and arousal responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were altered in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).
One hundred and sixteen patients with ...traumatic complete SCI were grouped according to the time elapsed after the injury (<3 days and >9 months) and the level of injury (above T5 and below T5): acute high (AH, n=25), chronic high (CH, n=26), acute low (AL, n=20), and chronic low (CL, n=45). Twenty-five patients without SCI served as a control group. Bispectral index (BIS) response, systolic arterial pressure (SAP), heart rate (HR), and plasma concentrations of catecholamines and arginine vasopressin were measured.
Both CH and CL groups showed a greater reduction in BIS values after induction of anaesthesia with thiopental compared with controls (P<0.05). However, BIS values after intubation increased similarly in all groups from the value measured just before laryngoscopy. SAP increased in the AL and CL and control groups but not in the AH and CH groups. HR increased significantly in all groups; though to a lesser degree in the AH compared with the other groups. Plasma norepinephrine concentrations increased in all except the AH group, but vasopressin concentrations were unchanged.
The arousal response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation as measured by BIS is not altered in SCI, but cardiovascular and catecholamine responses may be changed depending on time elapsed and the level of the injury. However, an identical dose of thiopental may reduce BIS value after intubation more profoundly in patients with chronic SCI.
Previous studies have demonstrated the role of noggin, a bone morphogenetic protein-2 inhibitor, in vascular development and angiogenesis. The authors hypothesized that noggin suppression in human ...adipose-derived stromal cells would enhance vascular endothelial growth factor secretion and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo to a greater extent than bone morphogenetic protein-2 alone.
Human adipose-derived stromal cells were isolated from human lipoaspirate (n = 6) noggin was knocked down using lentiviral techniques. Knockdown was confirmed and angiogenesis was assessed by tubule formation and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cells were seeded onto scaffolds and implanted into a 4-mm critical size calvarial defect. In vivo angiogenic signaling was assessed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.
Human adipose-derived stromal cells with noggin suppression secreted significantly higher amounts of angiogenic proteins, expressed higher levels of angiogenic genes, and formed more tubules in vitro. In vivo, calvarial defects seeded with noggin shRNA human adipose-derived stromal cells exhibited a significantly higher number of vessels in the defect site than controls by immunohistochemistry (p < 0.05). In addition, bone morphogenetic protein-2-releasing scaffolds significantly enhanced vascular signaling in the defect site.
Human adipose-derived stromal cells demonstrate significant increases in angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo with both noggin suppression and BMP-2 supplementation. By creating a cell with noggin suppressed and by using a scaffold with increased bone morphogenetic protein-2 signaling, a more angiogenic niche can be created.
This study was conducted to investigate the angles and orientation of semicircular canals, and the coplanarity of functional canal pairs.
Fluid signals in semicircular canals were reconstructed with ...three-dimensional reconstruction software using 20 temporal bone magnetic resonance images of normal subjects. The angles between each pair of semicircular canals were measured.
The mean angles between the anterior and horizontal semicircular canal plane, the horizontal and posterior semicircular canal plane, and the anterior and posterior semicircular canal plane were 83.7°, 82.5° and 88.4°, respectively. Pairs of contralateral synergistic canal planes were formed 15.1° between the right and left horizontal semicircular canal planes, 21.2° between the right anterior and left posterior semicircular canal, and 21.7° between the left anterior and right posterior semicircular canal.
Each semicircular canal makes an almost right angle with other canals, but synergistically acting functional canal pairs of both ears do not lie in exactly the same plane.
Piezoelectric ceramics with microstructure texturing were fabricated and evaluated to investigate its feasibility to use in piezoelectric energy harvesting in response to external mechanical impact. ...Textured 0.945(Bi
0.5Na
0.5)TiO
3–0.55BaTiO
3 (BNTBT) ceramics were prepared by tape casting of slurries containing a template SrTiO
3 (STO). The orientation factor of more than 60% was obtained successfully when a plate-like SrTiO
3 was used as the templates using a tape casting process. The sections perpendicular to the sheet plane of BNTBT ceramics exhibited preferentially 0
0
1 oriented orientation. Under low stress-loading, the voltage and power value of STO-added BNTBT were slightly higher than those of the specimen without STO. Meanwhile, the STO-added specimens showed excellent power over the STO-free specimen when a high stress was applied. When low stress was applied to the specimens, the reduction of piezoelectric characteristics by the addition of STO in BNTBT may be prominent in that the mixture of ferroelectric BNTBT and the non-ferroelectric STO has less ferroelectric features compared with the pure ferroelectric BNTBT. In contrast, under high field and stress signal the textured microstructure along to 〈1
0
0〉 is a feature of the improved piezoelectric behavior.
This study was conducted to help better understand the current sodium intake of Korean children and to establish children’s good eating habits through investigation of the sodium content of ...ready-to-eat foods collected from nine major amusement parks in Korea. The sodium content of a total of 322 products was analysed by using ICP and then the potential risk based on the recommended daily intake of sodium as described in the Korean dietary reference intakes was determined. The results showed that sodium content was the lowest in muffins (245 mg/100 g) and the highest in seasoned dried filefish (1825 mg/100 g). The average amounts of sodium per serving of seasoned dried filefish, tteokbokki and fish paste were 1150, 1248 and 1097 mg, respectively. The values were above 50% of the daily intake of sodium recommended by the Korean dietary reference intake. The ready-to-eat foods were also classified into high, medium and low sodium content on the basis of standards recommended by the Korean Food and Drug Administration. Most snacks were classified as high sodium foods because they exceeded “300 mg (84.5% of the total daily allowance)”. Furthermore, the meal substitution foods such as kimbab, tteokbokki, mandus, sandwiches and hamburgers exceeded “600 mg (90.3% of the total daily allowance)” and were also classified as high sodium foods. In addition, ready-to-eat foods in amusement parks are similar to foods eaten on streets and foods around school zones, which contain high sodium content; thus, the intake frequency might be high, which would induce high risk to children health. Koreans already consume a high amount of sodium daily via their usual diets. So, the sodium content in snacks and substitution foods needs to be reduced. Consequently, this study noted that parents and guardians should carefully consider their children’s consumption of ready-to-eat foods from Korean amusement parks.
Pierre Robin sequence and Treacher Collins syndrome are both associated with mandibular hypoplasia. It has been hypothesized, however, that the mandible may be differentially affected. The purpose of ...this study was to therefore compare mandibular morphology in children with Pierre Robin sequence with children with Treacher Collins syndrome using three-dimensional analysis of computed tomographic scans. A retrospective analysis was performed identifying children with Pierre Robin sequence and Treacher Collins syndrome undergoing computed tomography. Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed, and ramus height, mandibular body length, and gonial angle were measured. These were then compared with those in control children with normal mandibles and with the clinical norms corrected for age and sex based on previously published measurements. Mandibular body length was found to be significantly shorter for children with Pierre Robin sequence, whereas ramus height was significantly shorter for children with Treacher Collins syndrome. This resulted in distinctly different ramus height-mandibular body length ratios. In addition, the gonial angle was more obtuse in both the Pierre Robin sequence and Treacher Collins syndrome groups compared with the controls. Three-dimensional mandibular morphometric analysis in patients with Pierre Robin sequence and Treacher Collins syndrome thus revealed distinctly different patterns of mandibular hypoplasia relative to normal controls. These findings underscore distinct considerations that must be made in surgical planning for reconstruction.
Abstract One of the most frequently used packing materials in closed reduction of a nasal bone fracture is the hydroxylated polyvinyl acetate sponge (PVAS; Merocel® ); however this may cause ...synechia, epistaxis, and pain. Synthetic polyurethane foam (SPF; Nasopore® Forte) has recently been used in septoplasty to prevent synechia or restenosis and haematoma formation. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of PVAS and SPF on postoperative appearance and discomfort following the reduction of nasal bone fractures. We retrospectively reviewed all patient questionnaires and medical histories, and clinical photographs and computed tomography scans obtained before and after surgery. Outcomes were assessed using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, which were used to assess discomfort during the 6-month follow-up period. Postoperatively, there was no statistically significant difference in the GAIS for the two packing materials ( P > 0.05). Postoperative epistaxis was observed at a significantly lower rate in the SPF group than in the PVAS group, whereas anterior rhinorrhea and posterior nasal drip occurred at significantly higher rates following removal of packing in the SPF group ( P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that synthetic dissolvable polyurethane may be a reliable alternative material for nasal packing and postoperative management following the reduction of nasal bone fractures.