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Two patients who received supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy to treat laryngeal cancers, underwent intra-operative electromyography analysis. After the lesion was removed and the electrodes were inserted into the remaining intrinsic laryngeal muscles, the depth of anaesthesia was carefully reduced. Gentle tactile stimulations were applied to the pharynx to trigger the reflex movement of the remaining arytenoids. Recordings were made when reflex movement was achieved.Case one: Electromyography (EMG) of the remaining arytenoid demonstrated clear phase differences indicating reciprocal activities between the adductor group (lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, interarytenoid muscle) and the abductor muscle (posterior cricoarytenoid muscle). Case two: EMG of the remaining arytenoid demonstrated reciprocal activities between the interarytenoid muscle and the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle. Activity of the lateral cricoarytenoid muscle was not evident because the muscle was excised during removal of the paraglottic space. Mobility of the arytenoid was attributed to interaction between the interarytenoid muscle and posterior cricoarytenoid muscle. Reciprocal interaction between the interarytenoid muscle and posterior cricoarytenoid muscle alone is also capable of maintaining post-operative laryngeal functions after supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that is often used for treatment of ketosis in dairy cattle in Japan. An intravenous xylitol tolerance test (IVXTT, 0.1 g/kg, bolus injection through the jugular vein) was performed in 4 non-lactating cows (n = 4) and the results were compared with those of an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) performed under equivalent conditions. The serum xylitol concentration reached a peak value (41.4±9.0 mg/dl) at 5 min, and then rapidly decreased and almost disappeared within 2 h. The C0 for xylitol was 56.9±16.6 mg/dl and the t½was 8.5±0.9 min. The administration of xylitol appeared to cause similar secretion of insulin to that caused by glucose. There was also a reduction in the concentration of free fatty acids. It seems that xylitol has value for the treatment of ketosis. However, rapid administration of xylitol appeared to have an osmotic diuretic action and might be a cause of dehydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraoperative assessment of intestinal viability following release of strangulation remains difficult. The aim of this study was to establish clinical standards for the evaluation of intestinal viability by charge-coupled device (CCD) microscopy.A rat ileus model with strangulation for between 15 and 120 min was used. The images obtained by CCD microscopy were used to calculate maximum velocity (Vmax) ratio (ratio of Vmax of blood cell transition in the experimental segment to that in the reference segment) and S ratio (the ratio of Sthe effective area of the vascular bed against the total area of the vascular bedin the experimental segment to that in the reference segment). Rats were divided into group 1, comprising animals that survived for 7 days or more, and group 2, which consisted of animals that died within 4 days.Vmax ratio and S ratio in group 1 were both significantly higher than those in group 2 (P < 001). No death occurred at a Vmax ratio of 076 or higher and an S ratio of 061 or more, while there were no survivors with a Vmax ratio of 054 or less and an S ratio of 051 or less.Vmax ratio and S ratio could be used as indices for evaluation of intestinal viability. Copyright 2003 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]