Why step in? Shifting justifications for bystander behaviors through interventions with youth in the Middle East

Research shows positive bystander intervention effectively mitigates bullying experiences. Yet, more evidence regarding bystander responses to bias-based social exclusion (BSE) is needed in intergroup contexts, especially in the majority world and in areas of intractable conflict. This study assessed the effectiveness of skills and skills + contact-based interventions for BSE among 148 Palestinian Citizens of Israel (Mage = 10.55) and 154 Jewish-Israeli (Mage = 10.54) early adolescents (Girls = 52.32%) in Tel Aviv-Yafo. Bystander responses were assessed by participants' reactions to hypothetical BSE scenarios over three time points. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed both interventions significantly increased positive and decreased negative bystander responses, with changes maintained at the follow-up. The opposite result pattern emerged for the control group. Findings suggest that both interventions can effectively encourage youth to publicly challenge BSE, even amidst intractable conflict.

Primary repair with no flaps for lower lip defects (30-80 %) after cancer excision

Reconstruction of the lip is a necessary procedure when lip tumors are excised. Although many good techniques have been described, they often have disadvantages such as necrosis and extensive suture lines. In our approach, we aim to minimize the suture line and avoid tissue necrosis for medium-sized lip defects (30-80 %). This is a surgical technique report from a single center. After tumor resection, we made a bilateral 15 mm horizontal skin and mucosa incision from the angles of the lip to the lateral sides. The mucosa and skin were dissected from the underlying muscle, and the muscle was cut approximately 15 mm on each side. The lip defect was then closed and sutured in four layers. Finally, the released mucosa was sutured to the corner of the incised skin. We followed the patients for 36 months and found that their speech intelligibility, sensation, mobility, and aesthetic satisfaction were preserved. The scars were also less pronounced compared to flaps, and there were no signs of edema or drooling. In conclusion, our technique offers many advantages for moderate defects of lower lip tumors. By avoiding the use of flaps, we eliminate the complications associated with flap surgery while achieving aesthetically satisfactory results. However, further evaluation by other surgeons is necessary to fully examine the technique's benefits.

Perioperative antinociceptive effects of tramadol. A prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison with morphine

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of tramadol and morphine for intra- and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study 100 patients were allocated randomly into two groups. Ten minutes before induction of anaesthesia, patients in group 1 received 100 mg tramadol and those in group 2 received 10 mg morphine i.v. Anaesthesia was induced with 5 mg.kg-1 thiopental and was maintained with O2, N2O plus isoflurane with additional doses of tramadol or morphine as decided by the attending anaesthetist. Postoperatively, patients in group 1 and group 2 received tramadol and morphine, respectively, from a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device. Pain, analgesic consumption, vital signs and side effects were recorded postoperatively for 24 hr.

RESULTS

Intraoperative consumption of tramadol and morphine were 137 +/- 37 and 12.2 +/- 3 mg, respectively. Compared with morphine, patients receiving tramadol had higher blood pressures and required greater mean ETisQ to control haemodynamic variables (P < 0.05). Postoperatively, there were no differences in observer pain score or visual analogue pain score during the first 24 hr between groups except at 30, 45, and 90 min where patients in the tramadol group reported higher pain scores (P < 0.05). The cumulative, 24 hr PCA consumption was 111 +/- 93 and 7.5 +/- 6.6 mg of tramadol and morphine, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no difference between the use of tramadol and morphine to treat pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 90 min after the end of surgery. Morphine was more effective than tramadol as an intraoperative analgesic.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis during infancy and childhood: cost analysis and review of current indications

Eleven consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LCs) were performed between January 1994 and June 1996 compared with seven open cholecystectomies (OCs) performed previously at King Khalid University Hospital. The comparison included surgical, clinical, and economic factors, together with a review of the literature. In the laparoscopic group the main indication for cholecystectomy was symptomatic gallstones. Other indications include mucocele of the gallbladder and chronic cholecystitis. A total of eight children in both group had sickle cell disease. The first two LCs were performed in the presence of an experienced laparoscopic surgeon. There is a learning curve to pass through with LC. The operating time for LC ranged between 65 and 135 minutes (mean +/- SD 89.81 +/- 21.89 minutes). There was no major morbidity or mortality. The average postoperative parenteral analgesia required for LC (50.45 +/- 24.57 mg) was significantly less than for OC (135.14 +/- 62.02 mg), and the mean length of hospitalization for LC was significantly shorter than that for OC (1.68 +/- 0.46 vs. 6.07 +/- 0.30) days. Although the average operative cost per LC (2522 SR) was significantly more expensive than for OC (350 SR), the ultimate cost of LC was significantly less than for OC (5790.00 +/- 787 vs. 12,343 +/- 139 SR) because the total period of hospitalization was much shorter. In conclusion, LC is safe, effective, and less expensive than OC and therefore is the approach of choice for cholecystectomy in children.

Trauma cases admitted to the surgical intensive care unit--progress and outcome

A review of the trauma admissions to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh during the period from 30 October 1984 to 29 October 1989 was made. A total of 181 cases constituting 15.7% of the total surgical admissions to the unit during that period were recognised. The main cause of the trauma was road traffic accidents (83.4%). The male to female ratio in this group was 6.3:1. Thirty patients died in the SICU, 16 died within 24 hours of admission to the unit and the remaining 14 developed multiple organ failure prior to death. Positive cultures from different sites were obtained from 50% of them. Recommendations are made to improve the management of similar cases.

Surgery for postintubation tracheal and tracheosubglottic stenotic lesions

Postintubation tracheal stenosis is a recognized problem. Although its incidence has recently decreases, it is still a difficult complication to treat. We have reviewed our experience with 10 patients with tracheal stenosis over the last five years between 1990 and 1995. There were seven male and three female patients with an average age of 14.2 +/- 4 years (range 6 to 48 years). Resection and reconstruction with primary anastomosis was performed in seven patients, while conservative treatment with dilatation was performed in two patients. One patient refused surgery. Operations performed included resection of tracheocricoid segment with tracheothyroid anastomosis (N=3) and tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis (N=4). The resected airway segment ranged from 3 cm to 6 cm. In view of the intense inflammatory and fibrotic process in and around the stenotic segment, the practice of tracheostomy for the relief of postintubation acute tracheal obstruction should not be taken lightly, as it adds not only to the severity of the inflammatory process, but also increases the length of the tracheal segment to be resected. Postoperatively, all patients were extubated; this was accomplished by the end of surgery in six patients, while the seventh patient was extubated three weeks later. There was no mortality in this series. When normal functional activity and airway patency were taken as two parameters to judge the outcome of surgery, results were good in six (86%) patients and satisfactory in one. These results support the validity of one-stage reconstruction approach as one alternative for the treatment of postintubation tracheal and tracheosubglottic stenotic lesions.

Midazolam for caudal analgesia in children: comparison with caudal bupivacaine

In a randomized, double-blind study we have examined the analgesic efficacy of caudal administration of midazolam, bupivacaine, or a mixture of both drugs in 45 children, undergoing inguinal herniotomy. They were allocated randomly into three groups (n = 15 in each) to receive a caudal injection of either 0.25% bupivacaine 1 ml.kg-1 with or without midazolam 50 micrograms.kg-1 or midazolam 50 micrograms.kg-1 with normal saline 1 ml.kg-1. There were no differences in quality of pain relief, postoperative behaviour or analgesic requirements between the midazolam group and the other two groups. Times to first analgesic administration (paracetamol suppositories) were longer (P < 0.001) in the bupivacaine-midazolam group than in the other two groups. Further, the bupivacaine-midazolam group received fewer (P < 0.05) doses of paracetamol than the bupivacaine group. Side effects such as motor weakness, respiratory depression or prolonged sedation were not observed in patients who received caudal epidural midazolam only. We conclude that caudal midazolam in a dose of 50 micrograms.kg-1 provides equivalent analgesia to bupivacaine 0.25%, when administered postoperatively in a volume of 1 ml.kg-1 for children following unilateral inguinal herniotomy.

Interactions between mivacurium and atracurium

We have studied the interaction between atracurium and mivacurium. The dose-response relationships of atracurium, mivacurium and their combination were studied in 96 ASA I or II patients during thiopentone-fentanyl-nitrous oxide-isoflurane (1.2% end-tidal) anaesthesia. Neuromuscular block was recorded as the evoked thenar mechanomyographic response to train-of-four stimulation of the ulnar nerve (2 Hz at 12-s intervals). The dose-response curves were determined by probit analysis. Isobolographic and algebraic (fractional) analyses were used to assess quantitatively the combined effect of equipotent doses of atracurium and mivacurium and to define the type of interaction between these drugs. Isobolograms were constructed by plotting single drug ED50 points on the dose co-ordinates and a combined ED50 point in the dose field. The calculated doses producing 50% depression (ED50) of the first twitch height were 50.5 (95% confidence intervals 48.9-52.1) and 20.8 (20.3-21.3) micrograms kg-1 for the atracurium and mivacurium groups, respectively. Isobolographic and fractional analyses of the atracurium-mivacurium combination demonstrated zero interaction (additivism). An additional 26 patients anaesthetized with thiopentone-fentanyl-nitrous oxide-isoflurane were allocated randomly to receive either atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1 (n = 13) or mivacurium 0.15 mg kg-1 (n = 13). Additional maintenance doses of mivacurium 0.1 mg kg-1 were administered to patients in both groups, whenever the first twitch recovered to 10% of control. The duration of the first maintenance dose of mivacurium to 10% recovery of the first twitch was greater (P < 0.0005) after atracurium (25 (21.8-28.5) min) than after mivacurium (14.2 (11.9-16.6) min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Uptake of exogenous human papilloma virus L1 DNA by oocytes and detection by the polymerase chain reaction

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine if oocytes were capable of taking up exogenous DNA such as human papillomaviral (HPV) DNA and evaluate the zona pellucida as a barrier to the entry of foreign DNA into the oocyte.

METHODS

The experiment consisted of four groups of hamster oocytes exposed to HPV DNA fragments: Group A, zona-free oocytes (n = 5); Group B, oocytes with an intact zona pellucida (n = 5); Group C, oocytes fixed in 4% buffered formalin solution for 20 min (n = 5); and Group D, zona-free oocytes (n = 4). Group C oocytes served as an internal control to ensure adequate washing of the oocytes after incubation.

RESULTS

The zona pellucida was not a barrier to foreign DNA molecules. The PCR did not detect L1-HPV and beta-globin gene sequences in the untreated hamster oocyte. Uptake of the smaller DNA fragments such as that amplified from the beta-globin region was independent of active oocyte cell processes.

CONCLUSION

Oocytes cultured in vitro can passively take up exogenous DNA fragments. The results suggest a possible role of oocytes as vectors for foreign DNA.

Pipecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade during nitrous oxide-fentanyl, enflurane, isoflurane, and halothane anesthesia in surgical patients

This study was designed to determine the capacity of several anesthetics to augment pipecuronium neuromuscular blockade. The potency of pipecuronium was determined with single-bolus administration of 20-50 micrograms/kg in 160 patients. Patients were anesthetized with N2O/O2 (60:40) supplemented with fentanyl (4-5 micrograms/kg), halothane (0.8%), isoflurane (1.2%), or enflurane (1.7%). Neuromuscular blockade was measured by an acceleration-responsive transducer (the Accelograph, Biometer International, Odense, Denmark). Responses were defined in terms of percent depression in first-twitch height and train-of-four response, and the dose-response curves were constructed after probit transformation of the responses. The dose-response curves were found to be parallel for both first twitch height and train-of-four responses. The dose-response lines for the enflurane and isoflurane groups were displaced significantly (P less than 0.01) to the left of the line for the fentanyl-N2O group. The calculated doses producing 50% depression of first twitch height were 21.9, 21.2, 18.9, and 17.8 micrograms/kg for the N2O-fentanyl, halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane groups, respectively. Corresponding calculated doses for 50% depression of train-of-four response were significantly smaller (15.5, 14.4, 13.7, 11.9 micrograms/kg, respectively). The enhancing effects of the volatile anesthetics were reflected by significant prolongation of the clinical duration of neuromuscular blockade by pipecuronium. It is concluded that the potency of pipecuronium is enhanced more by enflurane and isoflurane than halothane or fentanyl-N2O anesthesia.

Induction dose-responses studies with propofol and thiopentone

The relative potencies of propofol and thiopentone were assessed using different indicators of induction of anaesthesia: abolition of the response to verbal commands and eyelash stimulation. Log-probit dose-response curves for these end-points were determined 30, 60 and 90 s after induction in 96 unpremedicated ASA group I patients. For propofol, ED50 values for abolition of the response to verbal commands and eyelash stimulation at different time intervals were in the ranges 1.16-1.42 and 1.23-1.72 mg kg-1, respectively; corresponding ED95 values were 2.18-2.67 and 2.42-3.27 mg kg-1, respectively. For thiopentone, the calculated ED50 values for verbal commands and eyelash stimulation at the same time intervals were 1.81-2.23 and 3.55-3.40 mg kg-1; corresponding ED95 values were 5.11-6.29 and 6.41-6.70 mg kg-1, respectively. The potency ratio of propofol to thiopentone observed in this study varied from 1:1.27 to 1:2.88. It is concluded that a dose-response curve reflecting one end-point of anaesthesia cannot be used to define another end-point of anaesthesia.

Myasthenia gravis and pipecuronium--report of two cases

The use of pipecuronium in two patients with myasthenia gravis undergoing thymectomy is described. Neuromuscular function was monitored throughout using the train-of-four (TOF) mechanical twitch response. The cumulative dose-response to pipecuronium was determined in both patients during nitrous oxide-oxygen-narcotic anaesthesia. Both patients were sensitive to pipecuronium. The ED50 doses of pipecuronium were 11.6 and 11.1 micrograms.kg-1 and the ED95 doses were 35 and 33.3 micrograms.kg-1 in patients #1 and 2 respectively. Edrophonium 1 mg.kg-1 and neostigmine 0.06 mg.kg-1 were administered to patients #1 and 2 respectively for antagonism of residual neuromuscular blockade at 25 per cent spontaneous recovery of first twitch (T1) of the TOF stimulation. As with other non-depolarizing muscle relaxants pipecuronium in reduced dosage and with careful neuromuscular monitoring can be used to provide surgical relaxation safely in patients with controlled myasthenia gravis.

Ketamine for caudal analgesia in children: comparison with caudal bupivacaine

Fifty children undergoing inguinal herniotomy were allocated randomly to three groups to receive a caudal injection of either 0.25% bupivacaine 1 ml kg-1 with or without ketamine 0.5 mg kg-1 or ketamine 0.5 mg kg-1 with normal saline 1 ml kg-1. There was no significant difference in quality of pain relief, postoperative behaviour or analgesic requirements between the ketamine group and the two other groups. The bupivacaine-ketamine mixture provided better analgesia than the bupivacaine solution alone. Side effects such as motor weakness or urinary retention were not observed in the ketamine group.