[Endovenous laser treatment of 62 patients with primary varicose veins of lower extremities].

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the experiences and results of the treatment on 62 patients with primary varicose of lower extremities with endovenous laser. METHODS: All patients were treated with endovenous laser. The laser treatment could begin when the fiber withdraw with 1 cm/2 s. The laser power was 10 - 12 w with the laser pulse duration and the interval 1 second respectively. RESULTS: The duration of follow-up varied from 2 months to 8 months. After endovenous treatment, the varicose veins and edema disappeared in all cases. The itching and uncomfortable feeling was dissipated. No morphine-like analgesic has been used and no serious complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Endovenous laser treatment of primary varicose of lower extremities is a safe and effective technique.

Plasma endothelin and nitric oxide levels in patients with acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes of plasma endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with acute pancreatitis. METHODS: The level of plasma ET was measured by radioactive-immunoassay, and NO by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The levels of ET, NO and the ET/NO ratio in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) within 24 hours in hospital were all significantly higher than those in other groups of patients [(176+/-8) pg/ml, (97+/-11) micromol/L, and 1.83+/-0.12, P<0.01]. Compared to healthy controls (N), the levels of ET and NO in patients without pancreatitis acute abdomen (NAP) and patients with mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) increased significantly (P<0.01). After appropriate treatment, the levels of ET and NO in the MAP group were lower (P<0.01). Compared with those before treatment, the levels of ET and NO in the SAP group on the 3rd and 7th day in hospital dropped significantly (P<0.01). The ET/NO ratio on the 7th day was also lower than that on admission (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The malfunction of endothelial cells and the increased ET/NO ratio may be related to the mechanism of pancreatic microcirculatory disturbance in patients with SAP; early dynamic determination of these parameters may help predict the prognosis of SAP.