A new dimension to observations in minirhizotrons: A stereoscopic view on root photographs

Summary With a stereoscope, as used for the inspection of aerial photographs, sequential photographs of roots obtained by the endoscope method from minirhizotrons can yield much more information than hitherto. A series of photographs shows that most of the roots seen in a minirhizotron in grassland grew on the surface of the lexan tube, while there was a gap between the roots and the soil. Decay of the extensive root hair zones around the roots may make new root growth in the gap between rhizotron wall and soil invisible. Some consequences of these observations for the endoscope method are discussed.     

An extraction free modified o-phthalaldehyde assay for quantifying residual protein and microbial biofilms on surfaces

Abstract

Biological contamination of surfaces in industry and healthcare is an important vector of disease transmission. Current assays for detecting surface-adherent contamination require extraction of biological soil. However, physical inaccessibility or poor solubility may limit recovery. Here, how the o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) protein assay can be modified to measure residual protein (modeled with bovine serum albumin) or biofilm on a surface without extraction is described. The assay limit of detection (LOD) for protein was 1.6 µg cm^?2. The detection threshold for Staphylococcus epidermis biofilm was 117 µg cm^?2. The clinical utility of the method was demonstrated for measurements taken from clinically used endoscopes. Since this method is more sensitive than extraction-based testing, clinical results should not be compared with conventional benchmarks. By enabling direct detection and quantification of soils in complex or hard-to-reach areas, this method has potential to improve the margin of safety in medical and industrial cleaning processes.     

超声定位腔镜深筋膜下交通支离断术联合湿性换药技术治疗下肢静脉性溃疡

目的:探讨彩超定位下的腔镜深筋膜下交通支离断术(SEPS)联合湿性换药技术治疗下肢静脉性溃疡(VU)的方法及效果。方法:回顾性分析了8例VU患者共8条C6级下肢SEPS手术联合湿性换药技术的方法和效果。术前用彩色多普勒超声对功能不全交通支(ICPV)行体表定位,进行SEPS+大隐静脉高位结扎剥脱术+硬化剂注射术,术后湿性换药技术溃疡换药。结果:超声准确定位下SEPS联合湿性换药术后所有C6级患肢VU均在短期内愈合,随访期间无溃疡复发。结论:SEPS联合湿性换药技术治疗VU术后安全,疗效确切,并发症少。     

内窥镜获取大隐静脉对冠状动脉旁路移植术后桥血管通畅率的影响

目的:比较研究冠状动脉移植术中应用内窥镜获取大隐静脉及传统切开方式获取大隐静脉术后桥血管通畅率。方法:选择2012年2月~2013年2月在我院接受冠状动脉旁路移植术患者的临床资料,根据手术方式的不同,将患者分为内窥镜组(EVH,n=178)和开放手术组(OVH,n=202)。术后1年行冠脉CT检查,观察两组患者桥血管通畅情况。结果:术中无不良事件发生。EVH组术中共计完成静脉桥血管总数为376支,平均每例2.11支。术后1年行冠脉CT检查,失访19例(静脉桥血管43支),发生桥血管再狭窄总数为21支/共333支,平均每例为0.0631支。OVH组术中共计完成静脉桥血管总数为458支,平均每例2.27支。术后1年行冠脉CT检查,失访11例(含静脉桥血管31支),发生桥血管再狭窄总数为26支/共427支,平均每例为0.0609支。统计学分析显示两组间比较无明显统计学差异,P0.05。结论:冠状动脉移植术中应用内窥镜获取大隐静脉与传统切开方式获取大隐静脉相比较,在术后1年时桥血管通畅率无明显统计学差异。     

内镜辅助经口咽前路减压后路融合一期手术治疗寰枢椎脱位

目的:探讨显微内窥镜下经口咽入路前路减压同时一期后路融合治疗寰枢椎脱位的手术方法,评价该手术方法的临床效果。方法:2005年2月至2006年6月对11例有手术指征的寰枢关节脱位患者,其中外伤齿状突骨折畸形愈合4例、先天性寰枕融合畸形1例、齿突发育不良并不连6例。全组均有不同程度的颈脊髓压迫引起的不同程度的肢体运动、感觉障碍;ASIA分级C级3例、D级8例。行显微内窥镜辅助下经口咽入路前路减压,术中颅骨牵引复位后一期后路融合。结果:11例均获得脊髓充分减压,9例获解剖复位、2例部分复位,无术中和术后并发症;所有患者的临床症状均有明显改善,四肢运动功能不同程度的恢复,A- SIA分级1例C级恢复至D级,2例C级恢复至正常,8例D级恢复至正常。内固定无松脱、无断裂及再脱位,植骨融合良好均获得骨性融合。术后随访6月-18个月,平均12个月,效果良好。结论:显微内镜下经口咽入路前路减压,具有视野清晰、操作精确、损伤小的优点;充分前路减压可以术中即刻复位、一期后路融合,避免了二次手术。     

内镜辅助鼓膜成形术与显微镜辅助鼓膜成形术的比较分析

为了揭示内窥镜辅助下和显微镜辅助下鼓膜成形术的疗效差异,本研究共纳入70例慢性化脓性中耳炎患者进行研究,其中35例应用内镜辅助鼓膜成形术(观察组),35例应用显微镜辅助鼓膜成形术(对照组),观察两组的手术时间、术中出血量、气骨导差、干耳时间、鼓膜穿孔及并发症。研究结果显示,观察组的手术时间显著低于对照组((34.54±6.34)min vs.(45.25±8.25)min,p=0.022);观察组的术中出血量显著低于对照组((8.87±2.11)mL vs.(15.22±3.07)mL,p=0.003)。两组患者术后6个月的的气骨导差无显著差异((13.67±2.31)vs.(14.25±3.03),p=0.326)。观察组中干耳时间<1个月的患者为22(62.86%)例,对照组为13(37.14%)例,两组差异显著(p=0.031)。两组患者的鼓膜穿孔率无显著差异(p=0.555)。观察组的并发症(8.57%)发生率显著低于对照组(28.57%)(p=0.031)。本研究表明,在治疗慢性化脓性中耳炎过程中,与显微镜下鼓膜成形术相比,应用耳内镜辅助鼓膜成形术可有效减少手术时间和术中出血量,缩短干耳时间,并具有更少的并发症。     

Comparative endoscopic and SEM analyses and imaging for biofilm growth on porous quartz sand

The paper presents an endoscope technique to provide a non-destructive detection and imaging of biofilms on porous sand grains without disturbing the system. This in situ observation of biofilm growth was carried out by inserting an endoscope into the reactor after introducing the substrate into a water-saturated quartz sand-packed reactor. As the microbes grew on the media surface with time, an expansion was presented in biofilm area. In this way, the growth of biofilm on porous sand grains could be continuously captured. The expanding of the biofilm image was observed, and the biofilm on the sand grains was measured by image analysis of biofilm cross-sections. In order to further identify the biofilm growth, at the end of experiment the packed reactor was dismantled and biofilms along with the aquifer material were sampled for the biofilm growth observation by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The biofilm thickness was also measured by image analysis of biofilm cross-sections. The results demonstrated significant spatial variations in mean biofilm thickness (106.2 ± 12.54 m to 243.5 ± 26.53 m) and thickness variability (0.07–0.12) using image analysis of SEM. However, the mean biofilm thickness measurements done by image analysis of SEM were about 60–82% smaller compared with those by image analysis of endoscopy. This is because of the dehydration and alteration of the biofilm material after dismantling the reactor for SEM observations. In comparison, we found that the endoscope image could provide a first-hand observation of biofilm growth without disrupting the system, while the SEM image could give a better resolution.     

Maxillary sinusitis in Medieval Chichester,England

Maxillary sinusitis is a common medical complaint, affecting more than 30 million people per year in the United States alone. Very little palaeopathological work on this disease has been carried out, probably because of the enclosed nature of the sinuses in intact skulls and the lack of a suitable method for examination. This study tested the hypothesis that maxillary sinusitis was more common in people with leprosy than in people without it in Medieval England. The prevalence of maxillary sinusitis by age and sex was recorded in 133 individuals, some diagnosed as being leprous, derived from a later Medieval (12th to 17th centuries AD) urban hospital population at Chichester, Sussex, England using both macroscopic and endoscopic methods of examination. Of the 133 individuals with one or both sinuses available for examination, 54.9% (73) had evidence of bone change within the sinuses. There was no difference in prevalence between those with leprosy and those without, although clinical studies suggest that over 50% of lepromatous leprous individuals may develop sinusitis. Comparison with another study on Medieval British sites with a 3.6% prevalence (3 of 83) indicates that the prevalence at Chichester is much greater. The problems with diagnosing sinusitis are addressed and reasons behind the high frequency in this study are discussed. Aetiological factors predisposing to maxillary sinusitis are considered with reference to possible environmental conditions prevailing in the later Medieval period in Britain. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.