Corpus callosum and optic chiasm in early blind adults

Certain callosal dimensions, callosal areas, and the optic chiasm [OC] thickness were measured in order to detect any morphometric difference that would imply plastic changes in a selected group of adults. Seventeen early blinds were selected among a group of blind adults after performing interviews. These selected blind subjects, and 23 adults with normal vision of both genders were examined by MRI. The study was conducted in Mersin, Turkey between the years 2004 and 2006. Only 14 early blind subjects completed the MR imaging procedure. Statistically significant difference between the OC thicknesses of 2 groups was found whereas no statistically significant difference was detected for the callosal dimensions. The difference in the OC dimensions of the 2 groups may be explained by the disuse atrophy. It has been known that if a cortical area of any sense is deprived of stimulus within the critical period, then it may take on another cortical activity. The reasons for the unaffected dimensions of the corpus callosum [CC] in this study may be either the relatively small percentage of the fibers related to vision within the total CC, such as auditory function, of the "normally" visual cortex

Drainage after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroidal disorders / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the necessity of drainage after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroidal disorders.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 116 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroidal disorders were randomly allocated to be drained or not. Operative and postoperative outcomes including operating time, postoperative pain assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), total amount of intramuscular analgesic administration, hospital stay, complications, necessity for re-operation and satisfaction of patients were all assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean operating time was similar between two groups (the drained and non-drained groups). The mean VAS score was found to be significantly low in the non-drained group patients in postoperative day (POD) 0 and POD 1. The mean amount of intramuscular analgesic requirement was significantly less in the non-drained group. One case of hematoma, two cases of seroma and three cases of transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in the non-drained group, whereas one case of hematoma, two cases of seroma, two cases of wound infections and two cases of transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in the drained group. No patient needed re-operation for any complication. The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter and the satisfaction of patients was superior in the non-drained group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings suggest that postoperative complications cannot be prevented by using drains after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroid disorders. Furthermore, the use of drains may increase postoperative pain and the analgesic requirement, and prolong the hospital stay. In the light of these findings, the routine use of drains might not be necessary after thyroid surgery for benign disorders.</p>