Effects of pulsed-radiofrequency neuromodulation on the rat with overactive bladder.

AIM: To quantify the effects of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) electrical stimulations of the pudendal and pelvic nerves on the bladder function of rats with detrusor overactivity. METHODS: All rats were pretreated with a continuous transvesical infusion of 0.5% acetic acid (AA) for inducing detrusor overactivity. Intravesical pressure was recorded using cysometrography (CMG) during the continuous transvesical infusion to examine the effects of PRF electrical stimulation of the pudendal and pelvic nerves individually. In addition, the activity of caspase-3, an apoptosis marker, in the pelvic nerve was examined to evaluate the impact of PRF on nerve injury. RESULTS: According to the first CMG recording, AA treatment significantly reduced bladder capacity (BC) and intercontraction interval (ICI) to 65% and 66% of the corresponding control values, respectively. Subsequently, PRF electrical stimulation of the pelvic nerve inhibited AA-induced detrusor overactivity and significantly increased BC to approximately 102-110% and ICI to 79-92%; these effects persisted for at least 4 h. Furthermore, PRF did not cause significant neural damage to the target stimulated nerves, as demonstrated by caspase-3 activity. CONCLUSION: PRF electrical stimulation of pelvic nerves exerted a long-lasting effect of suppressing AA-induced detrusor overactivity. This modality can be used as an alternative approach for improving bladder continence in patients with overactive bladder syndrome.

Optical fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance for rapid detection of avian influenza virus subtype H6: Initial studies.

A side-polished fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor was fabricated to expose the core surface and then deposited with a 40 nm thin gold film for the near surface sensing of effective refractive index changes with surface concentration or thickness of captured avian influenza virus subtype H6. The detection surface of the SPR optical fiber sensor was prepared through the plasma modification method for binding a self-assembled monolayer of isopropanol chemically on the gold surface of the optical fiber. Subsequently, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide was activated to enable EB2-B3 monoclonal antibodies to capture A/chicken/Taiwan/2838V/00 (H6N1) through a flow injection system. The detection limit of the fabricated optical fiber sensor for A/chicken/Taiwan/2838V/00 was 5.14 × 10(5) EID50/0.1 mL, and the response time was 10 min on average. Moreover, the fiber optic sensor has the advantages of a compact size and low cost, thus rendering it suitable for online and remote sensing. The results indicated that the optical fiber sensor can be used for epidemiological surveillance and diagnosing of avian influenza subtype H6 rapidly.

Chaotic phase space differential algorithm for real-time detection of ventricular arrhythmias: application in animal model.

Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias remain the main cause of death among patients with cardiovascular diseases. Efforts have been spent on early detection of such fatal cardiac signs. We have previously reported a novel chaotic phase space differential (CPSD) algorithm in discriminating VPC, VT, and VF from normal sinus rhythm with both good sensitivity and specificity. In this article, we apply this algorithm on the rat model of calcium induced ventricular tachycardia. Peaked CPSD values can be observed along with the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia. In addition, minor ECG changes such as new onset S wave or sinus arrhythmia can also be noted on CPSD tracing. We believe that the CPSD algorithm not only is capable of detecting lethal ventricular arrhythmias, but also is potentially a good tool for long-term monitoring the change of ECG signals.

Are P values and statistical assessments in poster abstracts presented at annual meetings of Taiwan Society of Anesthesiologists relative to the characteristics of hospitals?

BACKGROUND: Many anesthesiologists in medical centers (MC) or in anesthesiologist-training hospitals (ATH) are accustomed to present their research data in the form of poster abstracts at the annual meetings of Taiwan Society of Anesthesiologists (TSA) to represent their academic gainings in a designated period of time. However, an orphaned P value without mentioning the related specified statistical test has frequently been found in these articles. The difference in presentation of statistical test after P value between MC/ATH and non-MC/non-ATH in recent three TSA consecutive annual meetings was explored in this article. METHODS: We collected the proceedings handbooks of TSA annual meetings in a period spanning 3 yrs (2003 to 2005) and analyzed the hospital characteristic of first institute-byliner in the poster abstract. Data were analyzed with Fisher's exact test and statistical significance was assumed if P < 0.05. RESULTS: Included were 101 poster abstracts with byliners of 20 hospitals. Only 2 of the 20 hospitals were accredited as non-ATH and 4 as non-MC. There were 64 (63%) abstracts without specified statistical test after P value and no significant difference was found among each category. (P = 0.47 in ATH vs. non-ATH and P = 0.07 in MC vs. non-MC). CONCLUSIONS: The basic concept of P value with specified statistical test was not applicable comprehensively in poster abstracts of the annual conferences. Based on our wishful intention, we suggest that the anesthesia administrators and senior anesthesiologists at ATH or MC, and the members of the committee responsible for running academic affairs in TSA, should pay attention to this prodigy and work together to improve our basic statistics in poster presentation.

Massive pulmonary embolism during orthopedic surgery.

A 90-year-old female patient undergoing surgery for knee and hip fractures under general anesthesia sustained cardiac arrest intraoperatively. The transesophageal echocardiography performed during resuscitation revealed massive pulmonary embolism with a 2 x 3 cm oval-shaped thrombus in the bifurcation of pulmonary artery. Anticoagulant therapy was administered immediately. Clinical symptoms were gradually improved, and transthoracic echocardiography performed 5 days later revealed no evidence of residual thromboemboli. Subsequently the patient developed liver and acute renal failures in consequence of hypoperfusion during the intraoperative resuscitation, and died of multiple organ failure 21 days after the procedure. We conclude that transesophageal echocardiography is a useful diagnostic instrument and should be utilized in high risk patient as early as possible, even before and during surgery.