Quality of anastomosis in conventional on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: influence of the interrupted technique using u-clips and correlation with intraoperative graft flow patterns.

Background: The interrupted suture technique in creating graft-coronary artery anastomoses in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is hypothesized to be superior to the standard continuous technique. However, because of the increased time and knot tying involved with the interrupted technique, the continuous suture became standard. In 2000, the U-clip (a self-closing metal clip) was introduced to help in creating an interrupted anastomosis, although data regarding its clinical use are still somewhat limited.

Successful treatment of phenol poisoning with charcoal hemoperfusion.

A 50-y-old Caucasian female inadvertantly received 30 ml of 89% phenol (26.9 g, 0.44 g/kg bw) [corrected].

Profilin forms tetramers that bind to G-actin.

Profilin binds to G-actin and affects polymerization. However, regulation of profilin function is generally unknown and controversy exists regarding profilin effects on actin polymerization. Because protein-protein interactions are implicated in many cellular responses, human platelet profilin self-association and actin inter-action was examined.

Prenatal and postpartum Pap smears: do we need both?

Purpose: The need to perform a Pap smear at the time of entry to prenatal care, as well as at the postpartum check-up, is questionable. A comparison of the rates of recovery of endocervical cells and the incidence of dysplasia on the prenatal and postpartum Pap smears may be helpful in determining an optimal preventive care protocol for patients who are pregnant.

Methods: Demographic and clinical data were collected from the records of 1,377 obstetrical patients at a midwest family practice residency.

Adrenergic control of intrarenal arteries of rabbits.

A comparative study of the adrenergic control of two sequential rabbit intrarenal arteries of differing diameter [intrarenal branch artery (IRBA)-unstretched lumen diameter (ULD) approximately 300 microns and interlobar artery (ILA)-ULD approximately 250 microns] has been conducted. The neurogenic contractile response of isolated segments in relation to the maximum response to l-norepinephrine (NE) was minimal (8 Hz response approximately 30% of maximum contraction) and similar in both types of arteries. Phentolamine (PTA) (10(-6) M) blocked neurally evoked contractions of the IRBAs at 2, 4, and 8 Hz and of the ILAs at 2 and 4 Hz.