Prognosis after liver transplantation predicted by preoperative MELD score.

The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) has been an excellent predictor of 3-month mortality among cirrhotic patients awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the preoperative MELD score predicts short-term prognosis after OLT. We enrolled 98 adult liver transplant patients performed at our center from January 2001 to December 2002. In univariate analysis of risk factors for death within 3 and 6 months after liver transplantation, serum total bilirubin, creatinine, MELD score, hyponatremia with ascites, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score were statistically significant parameters (P < .05). By logistic regression, none of the risk factors were subjected to multivariate analysis showed statistical significance. The odds ratios of the MELD score, hyponatremia with ascites, CTP score within 3 months were 0.997, 1.151, and 0.726 with 95% confidence intervals of [0.899, 1.105], [0.102, 12.959], and [0.389, 1.352], respectively. The odds ratio of MELD score, hyponatremia with ascites, CTP score within 6 months were 0.996, 0.914, and 0.764, with 95% confidence intervals of [0.901, 1.102], [0.089, 9.369], and [0.417, 1.401], respectively. Although MELD score has been a good predictor of short-term prognosis before OLT, MELD did not show an influence on the short-term prognosis after liver transplantation in this study.

Bowtie and upbeat nystagmus evolving into hemi-seesaw nystagmus in medial medullary infarction: possible anatomic mechanisms.

A 20-year-old man with bilateral medial medullary infarction showed transition of bowtie and upbeat nystagmus into hemi-seesaw nystagmus. Follow-up MRI revealed near complete resolution of the right medullary lesion. This transition of nystagmus suggests that the upbeat nystagmus was generated by bilateral lesions in the ascending pathways from both anterior semicircular canals (SCC), and that the hemi-seesaw nystagmus was caused by damage to the pathway from the left anterior SCC.

Effect of poling conditions on growth of calcium phosphate crystal in ferroelectric BaTiO3 ceramics.

Recently, ceramic materials have been given a lot of attention as candidates for implant materials, since they possess biologically favorable characteristics for osseointegration. Among them, BaTiO3 (BTO) ceramics are ferroelectric and piezoelectric after poling treatments. However, little or no information is available on the poling condition of BTO and their effect on calcium phosphate (CaP) formation. In this study, the effect of poling conditions on the formation of CaP layer was investigated. It was observed from this study that CaP was formed on negatively charged BTO surfaces. An increase in Ca/P ratio to 1.67 was observed when the poling temperature was increased above the Curie temperature. On positively charged BTO, no CaP layer was observed.