Low-intensity transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation reduces postoperative ileus after laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative ileus (POI) is thought to result from a disrupted sympathetic/parasympathetic balance caused by trauma or surgery. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a non-invasive technique involving stimulation of the vagal auricular branch, leading to autonomic regulation and reduced inflammation. Here, the effects of low-intensity transcutaneous auricular vagal stimulation on POI after laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer were investigated. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-four patients who received scheduled laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer were randomly allocated to the A and B groups. The A group received low-intensity (25 Hz, 50 mA) transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the right auricular branch for 20 minutes prior to anesthesia while the B group did not. The primary outcome was the incidence of POI. RESULTS: The incidence of POI in the A group was 6.25% and 20% in the B group (P=0.022). Patients in the A group showed more regular bowel sounds after 24, 36, and 48 h than those in the B group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Low-intensity transcutaneous auricular vagal stimulation reduced POI after laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer.

Epidemiological features of registered cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in urban Guangzhou from 1994 to 2000 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand epidemiological features of pulmonary tuberculosis in urban Giangzhou and tendency of its registered cases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Registered data of pulmonary tuberculosis cases in urban Guangzhou during 1994 to 2000 were collected and analyzed comprehensively with method of descriptive epidemiology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Incidence of recently smear-positive registered rate (IRSPRR) increased from 16.68 per 100,000 in 1994 to 26.27 per 100,000 in 2000, with an average annual increase of 7.86%. The highest standardized IRSPRR was 33.70 per 100,000 in Fangcun District. Average IRSPRR was 30.50 per 100,000 in males and 11.60 per 100,000 in females. IRSPRR increased with age, with a peak of 61.22 per 100,000 at age over 70, double as that at age of 50 - 69. Recently smear-positive registered case of pulmonary tuberculosis was highest in unemployment population, reaching 2529, accounting for 35.12% of the total. And, smear-positive registered rate decreased from 8.37 per 100,000 to 5.34 per 100,000, with an average annual reduction of 6.96%. Mortality of pulmonary tuberculosis decreased from 6.84 per 100,000 to 4.41 per 100,000.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is necessary to keep in minds that highly prevalent area was extended from tuberculous epidemics. It is possible that unemployment people would be fallen into high-risk population. Potential source of infection should be found out as soon as possible.</p>