[The efficacy of intermittent pneumatic compression in the prevention of venous thromboembolism in medical critically ill patients].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in medical critically ill patients.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted. One hundred and sixty-two medical critically ill patients were randomly assigned to IPC group and control group by random number table after admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) from June 2008 to June 2010.

Protective effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on auditory hair cells after noise exposure.

The purpose of this study was to observe the protective effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the cells of the inner ear using in vivo experiments. The studies were carried out using guinea pigs in which bFGF or artificial perilymph was perfused into the cochlea. The compound action potential (CAP) was measured before and after exposure to a sound simulating an explosion.