Objective: Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a life threatening complication after pneumonectomy. Extra thoracic skeletal muscle transposition especially latissimus dorsi muscle flap (LDMF) had been used to prevent this...Objective: Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a life threatening complication after pneumonectomy. Extra thoracic skeletal muscle transposition especially latissimus dorsi muscle flap (LDMF) had been used to prevent this complication. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of LDMF in preventing BPF developing after extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and external radiation therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Methods: Between May 1999 and Dec. 2008, 37 patients with MPM were operated upon by EPP using LDMF prophylactically to reinforce the bronchial stump, and then received external radiation therapy with or without postoperative chemotherapy. Results: The mean age of all patients was 46.7 (range 26-57) years. Twenty five patients were males and 12 patients were females. Twenty three patients had MPM of the right side and 14 patients had MPM of the left side. The peri-operative mortality was 2.7% and only few flap related postoperative morbidity were reported in the form of minor seroma and subcutaneous surgical emphysema. The median follow up was 17 (range 9-43) months. All cases completed their postoperative external radiation therapy with no reported cases of early or late BPF. Conclusion: Intrathoracic pedicled LDMF transposition is proved to be effective in prevention of BPF developing after EPP and external radiation therapy in MPM and it is advised to be a routine step in EPP in these cases and to use more sophisticated technique of postoperative external beam radiotherapy (3D conformal or IMRT) to minimize this complication.展开更多
With the concern for environmental quality and food safety, organic food products are becoming more important in the global market. In recent years the organic food industry has been expanding and sales of organic pro...With the concern for environmental quality and food safety, organic food products are becoming more important in the global market. In recent years the organic food industry has been expanding and sales of organic products have been increasing. Abundant studies have been done focusing on organic fruits and vegetables which focused on the shortage of organic live stocks. In this paper we focus our attention on organic pork products. Using a sample of 400 Thais consumers, this study proposes the contingent valuation （CV） technique to measure the willingness of individuals to pay a price premium for organic pork in Thailand. In order to obtain the mean ＂willingness to pay＂ （WTP）, a bivariate probit model was applied to provide information about the crucial variables that affect the WTP. The study revealed that variables that better approximate WTP are based on the lifestyle and knowledge about organic foods rather than the usual socioeconomic factors. The mean WTP on the premium price for organic pork is approximately 34.30 Bath per kg. In order to access the market potential this study shows that the suitable attributes of organic pork which is consistent with consumer preferences are composed of modernized and environmental packaging with special product details. Marketing this product to the buyer it should be set at a reasonable price. Stimulating the market should be done by doing sales promotion and public relations on a regularly basis. In addition, organic pork should be available in any places and convenient for customers to buy.展开更多
Objective： To observe the effect of acupuncture on some biochemical parameters in rats with exercise-induced fatigue and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture for exercise fatigue. Methods： The rat model of chroni...Objective： To observe the effect of acupuncture on some biochemical parameters in rats with exercise-induced fatigue and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture for exercise fatigue. Methods： The rat model of chronic exercise-induced fatigue was established by a 4-week increasing swimming training method The rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a scalp acupoint group, and a body acupoint group. Preventive acupuncture methods were used. Changes of exhaustive swimming time, whole blood lactic acid （LA）, creatine kinase （CK）, blood urea nitrogen （BUN）, hemoglobin （Hb） and free tryptophan/branched chain amino acid （F-TRP/BCAA） of rats in each group before and after treatments were observed. Results： Compared with the body acupoint group, there were obvious advantages of the scalp point group in increasing Hb levels and lowering BUN and LA levels （P〈0.05）, as well as in aspects of lowering CK and F-TRP/BCAA levels （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Scalp point acupuncture can improve the biochemical parameters in rats with exercise-induced fatigue, meanwhile, decrease the F-TRP/BCAA level, inhibit the 5-HT Droducine. and improve the rats＇ fatieue conseouentlv.展开更多
文摘Objective: Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a life threatening complication after pneumonectomy. Extra thoracic skeletal muscle transposition especially latissimus dorsi muscle flap (LDMF) had been used to prevent this complication. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of LDMF in preventing BPF developing after extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and external radiation therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Methods: Between May 1999 and Dec. 2008, 37 patients with MPM were operated upon by EPP using LDMF prophylactically to reinforce the bronchial stump, and then received external radiation therapy with or without postoperative chemotherapy. Results: The mean age of all patients was 46.7 (range 26-57) years. Twenty five patients were males and 12 patients were females. Twenty three patients had MPM of the right side and 14 patients had MPM of the left side. The peri-operative mortality was 2.7% and only few flap related postoperative morbidity were reported in the form of minor seroma and subcutaneous surgical emphysema. The median follow up was 17 (range 9-43) months. All cases completed their postoperative external radiation therapy with no reported cases of early or late BPF. Conclusion: Intrathoracic pedicled LDMF transposition is proved to be effective in prevention of BPF developing after EPP and external radiation therapy in MPM and it is advised to be a routine step in EPP in these cases and to use more sophisticated technique of postoperative external beam radiotherapy (3D conformal or IMRT) to minimize this complication.
文摘With the concern for environmental quality and food safety, organic food products are becoming more important in the global market. In recent years the organic food industry has been expanding and sales of organic products have been increasing. Abundant studies have been done focusing on organic fruits and vegetables which focused on the shortage of organic live stocks. In this paper we focus our attention on organic pork products. Using a sample of 400 Thais consumers, this study proposes the contingent valuation （CV） technique to measure the willingness of individuals to pay a price premium for organic pork in Thailand. In order to obtain the mean ＂willingness to pay＂ （WTP）, a bivariate probit model was applied to provide information about the crucial variables that affect the WTP. The study revealed that variables that better approximate WTP are based on the lifestyle and knowledge about organic foods rather than the usual socioeconomic factors. The mean WTP on the premium price for organic pork is approximately 34.30 Bath per kg. In order to access the market potential this study shows that the suitable attributes of organic pork which is consistent with consumer preferences are composed of modernized and environmental packaging with special product details. Marketing this product to the buyer it should be set at a reasonable price. Stimulating the market should be done by doing sales promotion and public relations on a regularly basis. In addition, organic pork should be available in any places and convenient for customers to buy.
文摘Objective： To observe the effect of acupuncture on some biochemical parameters in rats with exercise-induced fatigue and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture for exercise fatigue. Methods： The rat model of chronic exercise-induced fatigue was established by a 4-week increasing swimming training method The rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a scalp acupoint group, and a body acupoint group. Preventive acupuncture methods were used. Changes of exhaustive swimming time, whole blood lactic acid （LA）, creatine kinase （CK）, blood urea nitrogen （BUN）, hemoglobin （Hb） and free tryptophan/branched chain amino acid （F-TRP/BCAA） of rats in each group before and after treatments were observed. Results： Compared with the body acupoint group, there were obvious advantages of the scalp point group in increasing Hb levels and lowering BUN and LA levels （P〈0.05）, as well as in aspects of lowering CK and F-TRP/BCAA levels （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Scalp point acupuncture can improve the biochemical parameters in rats with exercise-induced fatigue, meanwhile, decrease the F-TRP/BCAA level, inhibit the 5-HT Droducine. and improve the rats＇ fatieue conseouentlv.
