摘要:

Venous congestion is a constant threat in the survival of free flaps, pedicled flaps, tissue replantations and traumatized tissue. Leech therapy has proved effective in salvaging much of these compromised tissues. To be effective, leeches must be both readily available and hungry, requirements not always easily met. Our investigation seeks to establish a means to return sated leeches to their previous unfed, hungry state for reuse.Sated leeches were purged of their blood meals by placement in 3% hypertonic saline or by gentle finger pressure, then exposed to serotonin 0 μM (control), 10 μM, 30 μM or 90 μM for 20 min. Subsequent rehiring/refeeding was observed and analysed.Leeches bathed in serotonin rebit or reattached at nearly four times the rate of unexposed leeches; 30%vs8% respectively. Biting, however, is not refeeding. Overall, 41 leeches were treated with serotonin with four (10%) refeeding. Those that refed consumed a significantly smaller blood meal than the initial feeding; 50% ± 47% SDvs348% ± 143% SD of original body weight. None of the control group refed.As a method for routinely reusing leeches, serotonin bathing cannot be recommended. In the immediate postoperative period with the sudden emergence of venous congestion requiring leech therapy, but with an inadequate number available, this 1% refeed rate after 10 μM serotonin exposure could potentially determine the success or failure of the flap/replantation until fresh leeches are made available.

ISSN:0957-5235    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

TenAeromonas hydrophilainfections following postsurgical leech applications have been reported. These cases indicate that postsurgical wounds and damaged tissue can provide entry for either acute or delayedA. hydrophilainfection. These infections can range from localized cellulitis to progressive myonecrosis and sepsis. These infections may occur with measurable frequency in groups of patients exposed to leeches. Based on this review, it is recommended that leeches be applied only to tissue with a reasonably certain arterial supply- that patients receive antibiotics againstA. hydrophilaprior to leech administration; and that consideration be given to prolonged antibiotic administration to patients discharged home with open wounds or questionably viable tissue after leech administration.

ISSN:0957-5235    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A decrease in intra-platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) may be a possible marker for primary thrombocytosis and there are several different methods for the measurement of platelet 5-HT content (e.g. fluorimetry, high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay). The present study has shown that, in laboratories with radioprotected areas, radioimmunoassay of 5-HT is a simple method which correlates well with a standard fluorimetric technique and yields satisfactory results in patients with thrombocytosis.

ISSN:0957-5235    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We describe a program GENESRCH which has been written to enable the design of efficient restriction fragment analysis of DNA from patients with heredirary disorders. The program identifies homology of DNA sequences up to 20 base pairs in length, calculates the fragment sizes and indicates the position of enzyme restriction sites within the gene of interest.GENESRCH is written in the BASIC language and will run on any IBM-compatible PC with a parallel printer. A hard disc is recommended for efficient storage and retrieval of data. An example of the use of the program is cited.

ISSN:0957-5235    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0957-5235    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID