Alteration of Ligamento-Muscular Reflex Patterns After Cutaneous and Periarticular Desensitization of the Basal Thumb Joint: An Electromyographic Study.

Purpose: Stimulation of the dorsoradial ligament (DRL) of the first carpometacarpal joint (CMC-1) has shown a ligamento-muscular reflex pathway between the DRL and CMC-1 stabilizing muscles in healthy volunteers. However, it remains unclear how this ligamento-muscular reflex pattern is altered after anesthetizing sensory skin receptors and administering a further periarticular block around the CMC-1 joint, which may influence the dynamic aspects of joint stability.

Methods: Ligamento-muscular reflexes were obtained from the extensor pollicis longus, abductor pollicis longus, abductor pollicis brevis, and the first dorsal interosseous muscles in 10 healthy participants after establishing superficial anesthesia of the skin around the CMC-1.

Impact of the post-anesthetic care unit opening hours on fast-track success in cardiac surgery.

Background: Fast-track (FT) treatment in cardiac anesthesia is a state-of-the-art technique. The aim of our study was to compare FT treatment in a post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) with limited opening hours with a PACU opened for unlimited hours. Primary endpoints were extubation time (ET), length of stay (LOS) in PACU and LOS in intermediate care unit (IMC).

Design for risk control: the role of usability engineering in the management of use-related risks.

The majority of medical device incident reports can primarily be attributed to use error. Greater attention to human factors and usability during development of a medical device could improve this situation. However, recent studies have shown that companies do not find the application of a sound usability engineering process according to international standards a simple task.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with overactive bladder and urgency incontinence in men.

Study Objective: To investigate the incidence of overactive bladder (OAB) and urgency incontinence (UI) in men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Design: Prospective questionnaire study

Setting: Saarland University Hospital

Patients: All male patients who underwent full-night in-laboratory polysomnography between November 2006 and April 2007.

Interventions: Overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, Short-Form (ICIQ-SF).