A prospective randomized comparison of laparoscopic appendectomy with open appendectomy: Clinical and economic analyses.

BACKGROUND: Previous randomized studies of laparoscopic appendectomy produced conflicting recommendations, and the adequacy of sample sizes is generally unknown. We compared clinical and economic outcomes after laparoscopic and open appendectomy in a sample of predetermined statistical power. METHODS: A pre-study power analysis suggested that 200 randomized patients would yield 80% power to show a mean decrease of 1.3 days' hospitalization. One hundred ninety-eight patients with a preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis were randomized prospectively to laparoscopic or open appendectomy. Economic analysis included billed charges, total costs, direct costs, and indirect costs associated with treatment. RESULTS: Laparoscopic appendectomy took longer to perform than open appendectomy (median, 107 vs 91 minutes; P <.01) and was associated with fewer days to return to a general diet (mean, 1.6 versus 2.3 days; P <.01), a shorter duration of parenteral analgesia (mean, 1.6 versus 2.2 days; P <.01), fewer morphine-equivalent milligrams of parenteral narcotic (median, 14 mg versus 34 mg; P =.001), a shorter postoperative hospital stay (mean, 2.6 versus 3.4 days; P <.01), and earlier return to full activity (median, 14 versus 21 days; P <.02). However, operative morbidity and time to return to work were comparable. Billed charges and direct costs were not significantly different in the 2 groups ($7711 versus $7146 and $5357 versus $4945, respectively), but total costs (including indirect costs) of laparoscopic appendectomy were, on average, nearly $2400 less, given the shorter length of stay and abbreviated recuperative period ($11,577 versus $13,965). Subgroup analyses suggested the benefit of a laparoscopic approach for uncomplicated appendicitis and for patients with active lifestyles. CONCLUSIONS: While laparoscopic appendectomy is associated with statistically significant but clinically questionable advantages over open appendectomy, a laparoscopic approach is relatively less expensive. The estimated difference in total costs of treatment (direct and indirect costs) was at least $2000 in more than 60% of the bootstrapped iterations. The economic significance and implications favoring a laparoscopic approach cannot be ignored.

Two polyhydroxylated steroids from the Chinese soft coral Sinularia microclavata.

Two polyhydroxylated steroids have been isolated from the South China Sea soft coral Sinularia microclavata, and their structures were established as 24-methylenecholestane-1 alpha,3 beta,5 alpha,6 beta-tetrol and 1 alpha,3 beta,5 alpha-trihydroxy-24-methylenecholestan-6-one from spectral evidence and from comparison with two reference compounds, numersterol A and 24-methylenecholestane-1 alpha,3 beta,5 alpha,6 beta, 25-pentol, which were isolated from the soft corals, Simularia numerosa and Sarcophyton glaucum, respectively.

24xi-Methyl 5 alpha-cholestane-3 alpha,6 beta,9 alpha,25-tetrol 24-monoacetate, a novel polyhydroxylated steroid from the soft coral Sarcophyton tortuosum.

A novel polyhydroxylated steroid, named sartortuosterol A, with rare 3 alpha- and 6-hydroxyl groups, was isolated from the South China Sea soft coral Sarcophyton tortuosum Tixier-Durivault, and its structure was established as 24xi-methyl 5 alpha-cholestane-3 alpha, 6 beta, 9 alpha,25-tetrol 25-monoacetate from spectroscopic data and chemical conversions.

Studies on the mechanism of positive inotropic effect of hymoquinolone.

Mechanism of positive inotropic action of hymoquinolone (7-hydroxy-8-methoxy-4(1H)-quinolone) (Q), a new compound isolated from Chinese Soft Sinularia polydactyla and Sinularia lettoclados, was studied using radioimmunoassay. Q caused positive inotropic action accompanied by elevated cAMP level in left and right atria of guinea pig at the concentration of 0.34 mM. The evidence that Q inhibited phosphodiesterase activity and did not affect adenylate cyclase activity led to the conclusion that Q may be an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, thereby increasing cAMP level and producing positive inotropic actions.

The economics of coeliac disease: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing prevalence, the economic implications of coeliac disease are just emerging. AIMS: To assess the impact of coeliac disease diagnosis on healthcare costs and the incremental costs associated with coeliac disease. METHODS: Administrative data for a population-based cohort of coeliac disease cases and matched controls from Olmsted County, Minnesota were used to compare (i) direct medical costs 1 year pre- and post-coeliac disease diagnosis for 133 index cases and (ii) 4-year cumulative direct medical costs incurred by 153 index cases vs. 153 controls. Analyses exclude diagnostic-related and out-patient pharmaceutical costs. RESULTS: Average total costs were reduced by $1764 in the year following diagnosis (pre-diagnosis cost of $5023 vs. $3259; 95% CI of difference: $688 to $2993). Over a 4-year period, coeliac disease cases experienced higher out-patient costs (mean difference of $1457; P = 0.016) and higher total costs than controls (mean difference of $3964; P = 0.053). Excess average total costs were concentrated among males with coeliac disease ($14,191 vs. $4019 for male controls; 95% CI of difference: $2334 to $20,309). CONCLUSIONS: Coeliac disease-associated costs indicate a significant economic burden of disease, particularly for diseased males. Diagnosis and treatment of coeliac disease reduce medical costs of care suggesting an economic advantage to earlier detection and treatment.

[Protective action of blumeatin against experimental liver injuries].

Blumeatin (Blu, 5,3',5'-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-dihydro-flavone) was first isolated from Blumea balsamifera DC by Department of Chemistry, Sunyatsen University of China. Blu ip inhibited the increase of serum alanine aminotransferase (AAT) and liver triglyceride and increased serum triglyceride, beta-lipoprotein, and liver glycogen content in CCl4-intoxicated rats. Histological lesions of liver were less severe than those of hepatic injury control. Blu ip 0.65 and 3.25 mg.kg-1 inhibited the increase of serum AAT and hepatic TG in thioacetamide (TAA)-intoxicated mice. Blu ip shortened the pentobarbital sleeping time in CCl4-intoxicated mice. It suggested that Blu could protect liver against injury induced by CCl4 and TAA.

Molecular structure and absolute configuration of suberogorgin.

In the present paper it is reported that the molecular structure and absolute configuration of poisonous suberogorgin are determined by using X-ray diffraction method. The crystal of suberogorgin belongs to orthogonal system with space group D4(2)-P2(1)2(1)2(1). The crystallographic parameters are: a = 16.135A, b = 13.189A, c = 12.901A, Z = 8. The initial model of the crystal structure was solved by the direct method. The refinement of the structure parameters was carried out by using the least square method and led to a final R-factor of 0.056. In accordance with the molecular structure of suberogorgin mentioned above, the solvent effect of NMR has been further discussed and the relationship between the molecular structure of suberogorgin and its toxicity has also been preliminarily investigated.

Molecular structure and absolute configuration of the diterpene lactone, praelolide.

Praelolide is a new compound which was isolated out from the gorgonian, Menella praelonga (Ridley), collected from the South Sea of China at Zhanjiang, Guangdong. The molecular formula is C28H35O12Cl. The research result by X-ray diffraction method on the crystal structure is presented. The compound is orthorhombic with space group P2(1)2(1)2, cell dimensions a = 16.936, b = 16.709, c = 10.333 A, and Z = 4. The structure has been solved by direct method and refined to R = 0.055 for 2257 unique observable reflexions by least-squares. The molecule is composed of the major conformational isomer in which the three main rings (a six-membered ring, an eight-membered ring, a six-membered ring) take separately the form of chair-chairboat-chair, a five-membered actone ring, a C1 substitution, 4 acetate groups, and a three-membered epoxide ring. The absolute configuration of the molecule has also been determined by statistics (R factor ratio R = 1.012) and Bijvoet pairs observation. For 30 pairs of the greatest anomalous contributions the residuals are R'(+) = 0.057 for the first enantiomorph and R'(-) = 0.005 for the second one, so the latter should unambiguously correspond to the absolute configuration of the molecule.