Acupuncture increases parasympathetic tone, modulating HRV - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can influence Autonomic Nervous System functions. Heart Rate variability (HRV) is one widely used marker of autonomic activity. The main objective of this systematic review is to critically assess the evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) regarding the effect of acupuncture on HRV as compared to placebo methods.

Microfluidic Overhauser DNP chip for signal-enhanced compact NMR.

Nuclear magnetic resonance at low field strength is an insensitive spectroscopic technique, precluding portable applications with small sample volumes, such as needed for biomarker detection in body fluids. Here we report a compact double resonant chip stack system that implements in situ dynamic nuclear polarisation of a 130 nL sample volume, achieving signal enhancements of up to - 60 w.r.

A microwave resonator integrated on a polymer microfluidic chip.

We describe a novel stacked split-ring type microwave (MW) resonator that is integrated into a 10mm by 10mm sized microfluidic chip. A straightforward and scalable batch fabrication process renders the chip suitable for single-use applications. The resonator volume can be conveniently loaded with liquid sample via microfluidic channels patterned into the mid layer of the chip.

Approximate Counting of Graphical Realizations.

In 1999 Kannan, Tetali and Vempala proposed a MCMC method to uniformly sample all possible realizations of a given graphical degree sequence and conjectured its rapidly mixing nature. Recently their conjecture was proved affirmative for regular graphs (by Cooper, Dyer and Greenhill, 2007), for regular directed graphs (by Greenhill, 2011) and for half-regular bipartite graphs (by Miklós, Erdős and Soukup, 2013). Several heuristics on counting the number of possible realizations exist (via sampling processes), and while they work well in practice, so far no approximation guarantees exist for such an approach.

VATS therapy of chylothorax caused by leiomyomatosis complicated with tuberous sclerosis complex.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis with tuberous sclerosis complex is a rare disease. One of the most frequent complications of lymphangioleiomyomatosis is pleural effusion (chylothorax) wich can be treated with the use of VATS. Authors report a case of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis in a 56-year-old female patient with tuberous sclerosis complex with an 8-week history of recurrent chylothorax, dyspnea and debilitating weakness.

[A complicated case of spontaneous oesophageal rupture managed by transgastric drainage].

Spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus is an extremely serious condition with high morbidity and mortality. Primary surgical repair may be followed by numerous complications. A 29-year-old man had undergone primary surgical repair due to spontaneous rupture of the lower third of the oesophagus.

[The treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax--focusing on the use of videothoracoscopy].

Aims: Videothoracoscopy plays a leading role in the management of spontaneous pneumothorax. This study evaluates various treatment strategies based on early results.

Patients And Methods: In a five-year period 243 (184 male, 59 female, mean age: 37.

[Intrathoracic migration of Kirschner wires].

Orthopedic surgeons apply metallic pins to stabilize the clavicule and humerus on a daily basis. Migration of these pins into the thoracic cavity is rare. We present the case of an elderly female patient, whose right humeroscapular joint was fixed with Kirschner wires due to recurrent luxation.

[Anaesthesia of the myasthenic patients during thymectomy].

Myasthenia is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness and fatigability due to a reduction in available acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. Data of 186 patients suffering from myasthenia were collected retrospectively. All patients underwent thymectomy over a 23 years period from 1981 to 2006 without surgical mortality.

[Current issues in the diagnosis and treatment of penetrating chest trauma].

Introduction: Successful treatment of penetrating chest trauma largely depends on the accurate and rapid diagnostic work-up, as well as the adequate surgical management. The authors discuss current issues in the diagnosis and the treatment of penetrating chest injuries based on the analysis of 109 cases.

Patients And Methods: 82 men and 27 women with penetrating chest trauma were studied.

[Surgical management of sternoclavicular joint infections].

Aims: The pyogenic infection of the sternoclavicular joint is a rare disease. The treatment can be conservative (antibiotics) or surgical (exposure and drainage of the joint or its resection). The authors analyze the causative and predisposing factors, the symptoms, the diagnosis, the questions of the therapy and its efficiency.

[The role of VATS in the treatment of blunt thoracic injuries].

Aims: Video assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) is a more and more frequently used method in the diagnosis and treatment of blunt thoracic trauma. In some cases it has diagnostic and in others therapeutic effect. The authors analyze the role of VATS in the diagnosis and the treatment of 83 patients treated with haemothorax.

[Balloon dilatation of cervical anastomosis stricture after subtotal resection of the esophagus].

Aims: The stricture of the anastomosis is one of the most common complications of the subtotal esophageal resections. The authors present indications, technics and results of the endoscopic dilatation.

Patients And Methods: In a 10 year period 26 patients (22 male, 4 female, mean age of 53.

Surgical treatment of intercostal hernia with implantation of polypropylene mesh.

The intercostal hernia of the lung is a very rare extraordinary disease that requires operation because of the complaints and potential complications. The authors review cases of their operations and analyze the subsequence and treatment. Three patients have been treated for intercostal lung hernia in our treatment.

[Endoscopic stapled esophago-diverticulostomy as a new alternative to open surgery in the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum: which operation?].

Aims: The authors analyse the indications, contraindications, early and late results of two types of operations (resection of the diverticulum with crycopharyngeal myotomy and endoscopic stapled esophago-diverticulostomy) for the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum.

Patients And Methods: In a five year period 10 patients (5 male, 5 female, mean age 56.9 years) were operated for Zenker's diverticulum.

[Changes in surgical therapy of pulmonary hydatid cysts].

The lung is the second most common site of hydatid cysts after the liver. The authors analyse retrospectively the results of patients treated with pulmonary hydatid cysts in the past 18 years, considering video-thoracoscopy. Twenty eight patients were treated during this period in 31 cases.