Maternal molecular hydrogen treatment attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced rat fetal lung injury

Maternal inflammation is associated with spontaneous preterm birth and respiratory impairment among premature infants. Recently, molecular hydrogen (H2) has been reported to have a suppressive effect on oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of H2 on fetal lung injury caused by maternal inflammation. Cell viability and the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined by treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contained in ordinal or H2-rich medium (HM) using a human lung epithelial cell line, A549. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: Control, LPS, and HW + LPS groups. Rats were injected with phosphate-buffered saline (Control) or LPS intraperitoneally (LPS) on gestational day 19 and provided H2 water (HW) ad libitum for 24 h before LPS injection (HW + LPS). Fetal lung samples were collected on day 20, and the levels of apoptosis, oxidative damage, IL-6, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The number of apoptotic cells, and levels of ROS and IL-6 were significantly increased by LPS treatment, and repressed following cultured with HM in A549 cells. In the rat models, the population positive for cleaved caspase-3, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, IL-6, and VEGF was significantly increased in the LPS group compared with that observed in the Control group and significantly decreased in the HW + LPS group. In this study, LPS administration induced apoptosis and oxidative damage in fetal lung cells that was ameliorated by maternal H2 intake. Antenatal H2 administration may decrease the pulmonary mobility associated with inflammation in premature infants.

Variational necessary and sufficient stability conditions for inviscid shear flow

A necessary and sufficient condition for linear stability of inviscid parallel shear flow is formulated by developing a novel variational principle, where the velocity profile is assumed to be monotonic and analytic. It is shown that unstable eigenvalues of Rayleigh's equation (which is a non-self-adjoint eigenvalue problem) can be associated with positive eigenvalues of a certain self-adjoint operator. The stability is therefore determined by maximizing a quadratic form, which is theoretically and numerically more tractable than directly solving Rayleigh's equation. This variational stability criterion is based on the understanding of Kreĭn signature for continuous spectra and is applicable to other stability problems of infinite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems.

Contralateral lower trapezius transfer for restoration of shoulder external rotation in traumatic brachial plexus palsy: a preliminary report and literature review

The importance of external rotation of the shoulder is well accepted. Patients with inadequate recovery of shoulder function after nerve transfers for a brachial plexus injury have difficulty in using their reconstructed limb. The options for secondary procedures to improve shoulder function are often limited, especially if the spinal accessory nerve has been used earlier for nerve transfer or as a donor nerve for a free functioning muscle transfer. We have used the contralateral lower trapezius transfer to the infraspinatus in three cases, to restore shoulder external rotation. All patients had significant improvement in shoulder external rotation (mean 97°; range 80°-110°) and improved disability of the arm, shoulder and hand scores. The rotation occurred mainly at the glenohumeral joint, and was independent of the donor side. All patients were greatly satisfied with the outcome. Contralateral lower trapezius transfer appears to help in overall improvement of shoulder function by stabilizing the scapula. The results have remained stable after mean follow-up of 58 months (range 12-86). No donor site deficit was seen in any patient.

Modified osteotomy (Kanaya's procedure) for congenital proximal radioulnar synostosis with posterior dislocation of radial head

Outcomes of Kanaya's procedure for congenital proximal radioulnar synostosis varied depending on the type of radial head dislocation. In our series of 14 patients with 17 forearms who underwent Kanaya's original procedure, the postoperative total rotation arc of the forearm was unsatisfactory in cases with posterior radial head dislocation. We examined the outcomes with respect to the type of radial head dislocation and radial shaft curvature. Radial shafts with a posterior radial head dislocation had only one curve and the radii of the curve were statistically smaller than those in anterior dislocated or enlocated heads, which had two curves. As a result, we modified the osteotomy site for proximal radioulnar synostosis with posterior radial head dislocation and achieved improved forearm rotation and physiological rotation of the radial head in our latest two cases.

"Obama system:" a new easy, safe, and economical technique for laparoscopic single-port surgery

INTRODUCTION

Various approaches to laparoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) have been developed to reduce pain and other complications, promote recovery, and improve cosmetic outcomes, particularly relative to conventional open or laparoscopic surgery. Three-port procedures for LESS have been reported to be superior to single-port access, but they usually require expensive, technically sophisticated instruments. To avoid these problems, we have developed a modified procedure for performing LESS with a single port, referred to as the "Obama system."

METHODS

From January 2009 through December 2010, we performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in 61 patients. Conventional LC with three ports was performed in 39 patients, LESS with a SILS Port was performed in 4 patients, and modified LESS was performed using the Obama system in 18 patients. The operative results were compared.

RESULTS

LC was successfully completed in all 61 patients, with no postoperative complications. The mean operating time was 102.3 min (C-reactive protein [CRP] ≤ 2) and 160.1 min (CRP > 2) in the 39 patients who underwent conventional LC, 108.3 min (CRP ≤ 2) in the 4 patients who underwent LESS with a SILS Port, and 116.5 min (CRP ≤ 2) and 186.5 min (CRP > 2) in the 18 patients who underwent LESS using the Obama system. No morbidity or mortality was associated with any technique.

CONCLUSION

The Obama system is easier to use and more efficient and reliable than any other technique currently available for LESS. This system is expected to greatly contribute to the further development and wider acceptance of LESS.

Development of an evaluation scale for self-monitoring by patients with heart failure

Many chronic heart failure patients are hospitalized repeatedly because many of them are still uncertain about the methods necessary for managing their own health. "Self-monitoring" is a useful concept for breaking through this vicious cycle. However, there are no suitable tools to measure aspects of self- monitoring. This study aimed at the development of an evaluation scale for self-monitoring by patients with chronic heart failure based on the concept of self-monitoring. Outpatient with chronic heart failure completed a self-administered scale comprises 2 domains and covers 38 items. Domain 1 deals with "awareness" and "measurement" of aspects of self-monitoring, domain 2 with "interpretation" of aspects of self-monitoring. The reliability and validity of this scale were thoroughly evaluated. Of the 167 patients asked to participate in the study, 142 gave valid responses. Factor analysis showed that the domain1 comprised six factors (21 items) and the domain2 four factors (16 items). Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.91 for domain1, 0.89 for domain2. The intra-class correlation coefficient of total score was 0.74 for domain1, 0.67 for domain2. Concurrent validity with the Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale was demonstrated. The scale is reasonably reliable and valid, and was proved to be useful for assessing conditions related to patient self-monitoring. Since it has become an indicator that shows to what degree patients can perceive their own health status, and nurses have been utilizing it to provide individual support to reduce the risks of exacerbated heart failure.