Objective To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic rectal resection (LR) in elderly and younger patients with rectal cancer. Methods From January 2008 to March 2009, 76 patients with rectal cancer undergoing elective rectal resection were included in this study. Older than 70 years named elderly group, in which LR was given to 16 cases, and open resection (OR) to 18 cases. Younger than 70 years named younger group, in which LR was performed in 23 cases, and OR in 19 cases. The results after LR and OR in rectal cancer between 2 groups of patients were compared. Results No surgery-assisted death occurred in either group. In 2 groups, ventilation time, intake food time and hospitalization after operation in LR were shorter than those of OR (P＜0.05， P＜0.01); intraoperative blood loss and the proportion of postoperative analgesia in LR were less than those of OR in 2 groups (P＜0.01); there were no significant differences between LR and OR (Pgt;0.05) in mean operation time or number of lymph node resected. In addition to the incision infection rate, the other complications rates and the postoperative life self-care rate between LR and OR were no significantly different in younger group (Pgt;0.05). In the elderly group, every complication rates of LR were lower than those of OR (P＜0.05), oppositely, the postoperative life self-care rate was higher (P＜0.01). Conclusions LR of rectal cancer can be applied to both elderly and younger patients. It is suggested that advanced age should not be the contraindication for LR, and by contrary elderly patients may be particularly indicated for lower postoperative complications rate compared to open surgeries.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Metformin (MET) on the anxiety behavior of mice with Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced epilepsy and the mechanisms. MethodsSixty male 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group (Normal), Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) model control group (TLE-con), TLE + MET treatment group (TLE-MET), and normal mice + MET intervention group (MET-con) (n=15/group). In the TLE-con group and the TLE-MET group, mice were injected intraperitoneally with PTZ every other day to establish the TLE model, while mice in the Normal group and the MET group were given the same dose of normal saline. During PTZ administration, mice in the TLE-MET treatment group and the MET-con group were intraperitoneally injected with MET at 200 mg/(kg·d) every other day, for 14 times in a total of 28 days. The mice in the Normal group and the TLE-con group were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of normal saline. Open field test (OFT) and elevated cross maze (EPM) were used to evaluate the anxiety behavior of mice in each group, and the Western blotting analysis was performed to detect expression of Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in brain tissues. ResultsCompared with the Normal group, the TLE-con group showed decreased times in the open arm in the EPM test (P<0.01) and in the center of open field in the OFT test (P<0.01), while MET intervention could increase the times of epileptic mice in the central area and the open arm (P<0.05). Compared with the Normal group, the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB in the cerebral cortex in the TLE-con group was increased significantly (P<0.05), while MET intervention could partially decrease the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB in the cerebral cortex of epileptic mice (P<0.05). ConclusionMET may improve the anxiety behavior of epileptic mice by reducing the inflammatory TLR4–NF-κB pathway.
Objective To analysis the risk factors for lower airway bacteria colonization and ventilator-associated pneumonia ( VAP) in mechanically ventilated patients. Methods A prospective observational cohort study was conducted in intensive care unit. 78 adult inpatients who underwent mechanical ventilation( MV) through oral endotracheal intubation between June 2007 and May 2010 were recruited. Samples were obtained from tracheobronchial tree immediately after admission to ICU and endotracheal intubation( ETI) , and afterward twice weekly. The patients were divided naturally into three groups according to airway bacterial colonization. Their baseline characteristics, APACHEⅡ score, intubation status and therapeutic interventions, etc. were recorded and analyzed. Results In the total 78 ventilated patients, the incidence of lower airway colonization and VAP was 83. 3% and 23. 1% , respectively. The plasma albumin( ALB) ≤29. 6 g/L( P lt; 0. 05) , intubation attempts gt; 1( P lt; 0. 01) were risk factors for lower airway colonization. In the patients with lower airway colonization, preventive antibiotic treatment, applying glucocorticoid and prealbumin( PA) ≤ 69. 7 mg/L were risk factors for VAP ( P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusions The risk factors for lower airway colonization in ventilated patients were ALB≤29. 6 g/L and intubation attempts gt; 1. And for lower airway colonized patients, PA ≤ 69. 7 mg/L, preventive antibiotic treatment and applying glucocorticoid were risk factors for VAP.
Objective By investigating the employment situation and intentions of medical students, to provide scientific evidence for guiding students’ employment by relevant departments, and to give references for formulating reasonable medical personnel training and distribution policy by health administrations. Methods The medical students of Grade 2005 in Lanzhou University were investigated by using a self-designed questionnaire. Results Among 397 questionnaires distributed, 337 were returned (84.8%). The analyses showed, when hunting a job, 45% of the respondents thought the “opportunities for personal development” was the most important factor, 61% thought the influence of parents’ or family’s desires was “greater” or “extremely greater”, 85% thought the job matching their majors was “important” or “very important”, 57% thought it is “easier” to get a content job by their majors, 51% held that the “fewer opportunities” were the most unfavorable conditions for working in township hospitals, 68% wouldn’t directly choose township hospitals after graduation, and 67% still gave up the choice even if an official position was provided. Conclusion The medical students attach great importance to the opportunities for their personal development, but they lack self-consciousness in choosing the occupation. They are optimistic about the employment but lack passion for primary hospitals. Meanwhile, they aren’t familiar with national policy guidance; their employment fields are narrow.