Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of different airway humidification methods in patients with tracheotomy in weaning process. Methods Twelve patients with tracheotomy in the medical intensive care unit ( MICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sue Yat-sen University fromSeptember 2008 to August 2009 were enrolled in which 45 case /times weaning tests in three different humidification ways were performed( 15 cases in each group) . Wet square gauze method was used in group A and traditional intermittent wet fluid drip method was used in group B. In group C, MR850 humidifier device, RT200 Venturi tube and T tube device were used to perform humidification. Comparisons were carried out between the three groups on sputum viscosity, comfort of patients before and after humidification, length of weaning time, frequencies of irritating coughs and phlegm formation during test period. Sputum viscosity was evaluated by airway secretion score ( AWSS) .Results There was no significant difference of sputum viscosity assessed by AWSS in group A before and after humidification( P gt; 0. 05 ) while AWSS was significantly increased in group B and group C ( P lt;0. 01) , implied that sputum viscosity was significantly lower than that of group A ( P lt;0. 05) . The scores of patients’comfortwere 3. 0 ±0. 4, 5. 0 ±1. 2, and 8. 0 ±1. 7 in groups A, B, and C respectively which mean that the patients in group C felt more comfortable than those in group A and group B ( P lt;0. 01) . Cough frequencies of groups A, B and C per hour were 0. 8,2. 6,and 0. 4 times/hour respectively in which the frequency of group B was significantly higher than those of group A and group C ( P lt;0. 01) . The frequency of phlegm formation in group A was 7 times in 15-times offline record, which was significantly higher than those in group B and group C ( P lt;0. 01) . Conclusions For the patients with tracheotomy in weaning process, MR850 humidifier device, RT200 Venturi tube and T tube device for humidification is superior in reducing sputum viscosity and phlegm formation, improving patient comfort, and reducing the occurrence of irritating cough.
Objective To review the progress and application of peripheral nervous microelectrode. Methods The recent articles on peripheral nervous microelectrode were extensively reviewed. The classification, the progress of the peripheral nervous microelectrode and its utilizable prospect in the control of electronic prosthesis were summarized. Results The microelectrodes had favorable functions of selective stimulation and recording. It provided an information transmitting interface between the electric prosthesis and peripheral nerves. Conclusion Peripheral nervous signal is a feasible signal source to control electronic prosthesis.
Objective To investigate the velvet antler polypeptide (VAP) on sciatic nerve regeneration in rats through local administration and VAP-PLGA compound membrane. Methods The 3, 15 mg/g of VAP-PLGA compound membranewere prepared by compounding VAP and PLGA, respectively. Seventy-two Wistar rats, male or female, aged 3-6 months and weighing (250 ± 50) g, were selected to make the model of sciatic nerve section. Then, all rats were randomized into 4 groups (n=18): group A in which nothing was given after anatomosis, group B in which 1 mL of VAP at the concentration of 10 mg/L was injected into the gastrocnemius muscle medial for every other day, group C in which 3 mg/g of VAP-PLGA compound membrane was given to the nerve anastomotic stoma and group D in which 15 mg/g of VAP-PLGA compound membrane was given to the nerve anastomotic stoma. The sciatic adhesion degree observation, electrophysiological examination, immunohistochemical staining and hemi-quantity calculation and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) retrograde tracing were conducted 2, 4 and 6 weeks after operation, respectively. Results All rats survived to the end of the experiment, without foot ulcer or neuroma. Severer nervous adherence was observed in group A, mild adherence in group B, and no adherence in groups C and D 2, 4 and 6 weeks after operation, respectively. The recovery rate of the evoked potential of triceps surae in groups B, C and D was better than that in group A (P lt; 0.01), group D was superior to groups B and C (P lt; 0.05) at each time point. No significant difference between group B and group C (P gt; 0.05) 2, 4 weeks after operation was detected, but group C was superior to group B (P lt; 0.05) 6 weeksafter operation. For the regenerative fiber axon and the expression of myelin sheath TGF-β1 and IGF antigen, the staining intensity in groups B, C and D was higher than that in group A at each time point (P lt; 0.05), and there were significant differences between group D and groups B and C 6 weeks after operation (P lt; 0.05), but no difference between groups B and C (P gt; 0.05). The HRP retrograde tracing showed that the myelinated nerve fiber stained by HRP gradually increased as time passed by and myelinated nerve fiber stained by HRP in groups B, C and D was much more than that in group A, and group D was superior to the other groups. No significant difference between group B and group C was detected. Conclusion To apply VAP through either local administration or VAP-PLGA compound membrane around the attached site of nerve anastomosis is capable of promoting nerve regeneration, which has an obvious dose-effect relationship with the dose of VAP. Meanwhile, VAP-PLGA compound membrane can prevent the nerve adhesion.