Monitoring of lung edema by microwave reflectometry during lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo

It is still unclear whether lung edema can be monitored by microwave reflectometry and whether the measured changes in lung dry matter content (DMC) are accompanied by changes in PaO(2) and in pro-to anti-inflammatory cytokine expression (IFN-gamma and IL-10). Right rat lung hili were cross-clamped at 37 degrees C for 0, 60, 90 or 120 min ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion. After 90 min (DMC: 15.9 +/- 1.4%; PaO(2): 76.7 +/- 18 mm Hg) and 120 min ischemia (DMC: 12.8 +/- 0.6%; PaO(2): 43 +/- 7 mm Hg), a significant decrease in DMC and PaO(2) throughout reperfusion compared to 0 min ischemia (DMC: 19.5 +/- 1.11%; PaO(2): 247 +/- 33 mm Hg; p < 0.05) was observed. DMC and PaO(2) decreased after 60 min ischemia but recovered during reperfusion (DMC: 18.5 +/- 2.4%; PaO(2) : 173 +/- 30 mm Hg). DMC values reflected changes on the physiological and molecular level. In conclusion, lung edema monitoring by microwave reflectometry might become a tool for the thoracic surgeon. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Fifteen years of clinical liver transplantation

Liver transplantation in humans was first attempted more than 15 yr ago. The 1-yr survival has slowly improved until it has now reached about 50%. In our experience, 46 patients have lived for at least 1 yr, with the longest survival being 9 yr. The high acute mortality in early trials was due in many cases to technical and management errors and to the use of damaged organs. With elimination of such factors, survival increased. Further improvements will depend upon better immunosuppression. Orthotopic liver transplantation (liver replacement) is the preferred operation in most cases, but placement of an extra liver (auxiliary transplantation) may have a role under special circumstances. © 1979

A Consideration of the Relationship Between Memory As Measured by the Stanford-Binet and Reading Achievement as Measured by the California Reading Achievement Test at the Fifth Grade Level

In the remote past the reading of written and printed symbols had Its origin when man first began to use pictures and other characters to send messages and to record events. It occurred very slowly and took a lot of effort to change from picture writing to the use of letters In representing specific sounds. The Egyptians as early as twenty-five centuries before Christ had analysed words and syllables into sounds and had developed a series of symbols to represent them. As a result of the ingenuity of the Semites these sounds and symbols were the beginning of the Phoenician alphabet, which later developed In turn the Greek letters and the Roman alphabet. As the arts of writing and reading improved, they took on more significance in the social life and educational systems of the more advanced nations. An example was in Greece, where reading was a school subject of great importance long before the Battle of Marathon (490 B. C.). However, in other parts of the world the use of reading spread slowly

Midwives’ experiences of using the Obstetric Norwegian Early Warning System (ONEWS): A national cross-sectional study

Introduction: Increasing numbers of maternity units are implementing routine and standardized monitoring of all women using a form of Early Warning Score System with the aim to early detect women at risk of developing critical illness or a deterioration of their condition. The implementation in Norway is relatively new. This study aimed to describe Norwegian midwives’ experiences with the Obstetric Norwegian Early Warning System (ONEWS). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study based on an electronic questionnaire, sent to heads of midwifery at all maternity units in Norway for distribution to their clinically active midwives. Thirty-one of 48 units had implemented ONEWS for over a month. About 1020 midwives received the questionnaire, 232 (23%) responded. Results: Of the participants, 217 (93.5%) reported receiving sufficient training and 230 (99.1%) reported using the same scoring system, including the same vital parameters measured. The criteria for use of ONEWS varied between units regarding inclusion criteria and frequency of scoring. A total of 214 (92.2%) midwives agreed that ONEWS has value in the surveillance of high-risk women, while 152 (65.5%) agreed that ONEWS contributes to medicalization of the care of low-risk women. Some 166 (71.6%) midwives reported that ONEWS was time consuming and 159 (68.5%) that the measures need to be better adapted to childbearing women. Conclusions: Maternity units in Norway implementing ONEWS use an almost identical scoring system but varying criteria for whom to score and how often. Midwives considered ONEWS particularly suited for high-risk women and not for low-risk childbearing women.publishedVersio

Right Ventricular Compression Observed in Echocardiography from Pectus Excavatum Deformity

Pectus excavatum exists as varying anatomic deformities and compression of the right heart by the chest wall can lead to patient symptoms including dyspnea and chest pain with exertion. Echocardiography can be difficult but is critical to the evaluation and diagnosis of this patient population. Modifying standard views such as biplane transthoracic and 3-D transesophageal views may be necessary in some patients due to limitations from the abnormal anatomy of the deformed anterior chest wall. Apical four-chamber views when seen clearly can usually visualize any extrinsic compression to the right ventricle of the heart

Recurrent Retroperitoneal Cystic Lymphangioma

Retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma is a rare congenital malformation. The majority of lymphangiomas are present at birth and nearly all present before the age of two years. We report a case of giant cystic retroperitoneal lymphangioma in a patient who first presented with symptoms at the age of 7, underwent surgery, and who then suffered a recurrent mass 11 years later

Hemorrhagic Shock Caused by Rupture of an Intra-Abdominal Leydig Cell Tumour: Case Report

The rupture of an intra-abdominal testicular neoplasm is a rare cause of acute abdomen and massive intra-abdominal haemorrhage. We report the case of a 70-year-old male presenting a massive intra-abdominal bleeding caused by a Leydig cell tumour in an undescended testis. The clinical details and pathology of this rare testicular tumour are discussed

RESURGENCE OF THE ABREU-MILGROM-PEARCE FORMULA

This paper reexamines the formula by Abreu, Milgrom and Pearce (1991), which characterizes the maximum symmetric pure strategy equilibrium payoff of symmetric repeated prisoners' dilemma with imperfect monitoring. While the formula itself covers a limited class of equilibria of a limited class of games, we argue that the idea of the formula is richer. We demonstrate how the formula is useful for analysis of repeated games where the players observe private signals about past actions