[Surgical treatment of obstructed superior vena cava]

From 1979 to 1989, 17 patients with obstructive superior vena cava resulted from different causes underwent various operations: azygos vein-right atrium bypass with an artificial vein (1 patient), external jugular vein-right atrium bypass (3 patients), innominate vein-right atrium bypass with the artificial veins made of autofascia (2 patients), and great saphenous veni-external jugular vein version (9 patients). Follow-up showed that version method is better than others because of good circulation and less thrombus formation.

Reduced neutrophil superoxide generation and plasma lipoperoxide levels in pigs fed with cod liver oil

Circulating neutrophils, isolated from pigs fed for 8 weeks with a diet supplemented with CLO, had an accentuated n-3 fatty acid incorporation into the plasma membrane, as evidenced by an approximately four-fold greater n-3/n-6 ratio as compared with the control diet group. Moreover, the neutrophils of the CLO fed pigs produced less superoxide when stimulated with PMA or f-MLP, as well as showing a more prolonged latency period before O2(-)-generation. In the plasma of pigs fed with CLO there were higher levels of thiobarbituric reactive material and lipofuscin, while the content of GSSG was similar in both dietary groups. The results of this study indicate that dietary supplementation with CLO reduces the activation of circulating neutrophils and favours the presence in the plasma of lipoperoxides.

Use of limited daily access to food in measuring the heat production associated with food intake in laying hens

1. Two experiments were carried out to determine the heat production associated with food intake in laying hens allowed access to food for one (experiment 2) or two hours (experiment 1) daily. 2. In experiment 1, heat production in the fed state was measured for two successive days after 46 h of food deprivation. The rate of heat production in the fasting state was measured from 47 to 69 h after feeding. 3. In experiment 2, heat production was measured at 4 fixed food intakes: 100, 70, 40 and 0 g/bird. Heat production associated with food intake, eating activity, net availability of ME and maintenance ME requirement was estimated. 4. Heat production after 46 h of food deprivation did not differ from that after 22 h of deprivation. In the hens receiving 100 g of food, heat production reached the pre-feeding level by 20 h after eating; the hens with lower food intakes reached the pre-feeding level more rapidly. It is suggested that the heat production associated with feeding had been eliminated by 22 h after eating. 5. Heat production associated with feeding was 16% of ME intake. Because the total energy cost of eating activity was only 0.8% of ME intake, the heat production associated with food intake in the limited-access hens came mainly from the effects of digestion, absorption and metabolism of the ingesta. 6. The net availability of ME was estimated to be 0.84. The estimated maintenance ME requirement was 569.6 kJ/kgW0.75 d.

Diurnal variation in heat production related to some physical activities in laying hens

1. Heat production, standing and eating activities, and hourly food intake of 4 laying hens were observed simultaneously and the effects of activity and food intake on heat production were studied. 2. Average heat production during the dark period (20.00 to 06.00 h) was 18.9 kJ/kgW0.75 h which was 33% lower than that during the light period. About 76% of the light-dark difference in the rate of heat production was probably associated with activity and posture. 3. Standing time, which included a range of behavioural activities, occupied 90% of the light period and the increased rate of heat production associated with standing was estimated to be about 18% of daily heat production. 4. Eating time occupied 40% of the light period; the heat production associated with eating activity represented about 5% of daily heat production or 3% of ME intake. 5. Because the regression of heat production on time spent eating agreed with the regression of heat production on hourly food intake, it is suggested that the energy expenditure associated with ad libitum feeding can be estimated for hens from the regression of heat production on hourly food intake.

[Wound infection after spinal surgery: analysis of 15 cases]

Fifteen of 714 patients undergoing spine surgery had postoperative wound infection, with an overall infection rate of 2.1%. There was infection rate of 0.4% in spine surgery without metal instrumentation and 2.9% in spine fusion with metal internal instrumentation. Coagulase positive staphylococcus aureus was the commonest pathogen. Factors related to infection were discussed and preventive measures were suggested. Irrigation-suction technique without removal of metal instruments and bone grafts was recommended for the treatment of postoperative infection. A high pseudarthrosis rate was found in the infected patients after spine fusion with metal instrumentation.

Order and Disorder in C 60 and K x C 60 Multilayers: Direct Imaging with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Monolayer and multilayer structures of C(60), a high temperature van der Waals solid, have been studied with scanning tunneling microscopy. Structures grown on GaAs(110) at 300 kelvin and at elevated temperatures show significantly different morphologies because of balances between thermodynamics and kinetics. Condensation onto stepped surfaces demonstrates preferred bonding and nucleation at step edges. Detailed studies of potassium incorporation in crystalline C(60) show highly ordered structures in the K(3)C(60) metallic state but disordered non-metallic structures for high potassium concentrations.

Ordered Overlayers of C60 on GaAs(110) Studied with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Studies of C(60) overlayer growth on GaAs(110) with scanning tunneling microscopy show large first monolayer islands that are locally well ordered, structurally stable, and commensurate with the GaAs surface owing to molecule-substrate interactions. Within the distorted close-packed structure, two distinct adsorption sites were identified, one of them being elevated because of stress in the C(60) monolayer.

[Intraosseous pressure measurement and bone marrow venography in idiopathic necrosis of femoral head]

Intraosseous pressure measurement and bone marrow venography were performed in 14 patients (25 hips) with idiopathic necrosis of femoral head. Increase of intraosseous baseline pressure was found in 95% of hips, positive stress test found in 91% of hips and venous stasis present in all cases. Core decompression could reduce intraosseous pressure and improve venous drainage. It was suggested that intraosseous hyperpressure and venous stasis play an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic necrosis of femoral head. The authors suggest that intraosseous pressure measurement and bone marrow venography are sensitive in revealing early stage changes of idiopathic femoral head necrosis.

[Diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic necrosis of the femoral head]

Fourteen cases, 25 hips, of idiopathic necrosis of femoral head (INFH) were included in our series. The role of radiographs, isotopic bone scanning, intraosseous pressure measurement and intraosseous venography in diagnosis of INFH was evaluated. Radiological examination cannot reveal early case, while isotopic bone scanning was more sensitive. There was increase of intraosseous pressure in most diseased hips. Intraosseous venography was abnormal in all examined hips. These two tests could therefore detect early INFH. Core decompression was performed on 21 hips. The operated hips were followed for 3.5 months to 20 months. Functional evaluation of 18 hips were good or excellent. Radiographic re-examination of 20 hips remained unchanged. The postoperative intraosseous pressure measurement and intraosseous venography in examined hips revealed a decrease of intraosseous pressure and improvement of venous drainage. Core decompression is therefore an ideal method of treatment for early INFH.

Studies on the phospholipid composition of pathogenic cell membranes of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

The membrane phospholipid and fatty acid compositions of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, a pathogen of porcine enzootic pneumoniae isolated in China, was studied by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography. The results showed that membrane phospholipids consisted predominantly of diphosphatidylglycerol. The percentage of C16 - C18 fatty acids comprised 79% of the total fatty acids, of which oleic acid as well as palmitic acid are the major fatty acids. Some differences were shown in fatty acid composition as compared with membranes of other species of Mycoplasma.