Laparoscopic appendectomy in the pediatric age group: comparative study between LigaSure and monopolar diathermy

Background Various techniques such as endoloops, endoscopic linear cutting staplers, electrothermal vesselsealing system (LigaSure), Harmonic scalpel, clips, and bipolar coagulation have been used for the division of the mesoappendix during laparoscopic appendectomy. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential benefits and limitation of LigaSure and electrocautery in laparoscopic appendectomy (LA).Patients and methods Forty patients with clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis admitted to the Pediatric Surgery Unit at the Alexandria University Children’s Hospital between September 2008 and September 2010 were included in this study. The patients were assigned to two groups according to the mesoappendix dissection device: LigaSure and monopolar diathermy (MD) groups. The primary outcome measures (operating time, conversion rate, length of hospital stay, bleeding during dissection, port site infection, and readmissions) were compared.Results LA was performed in 40 patients with acute appendicitis. Twenty cases were in the LigaSure group and 20 cases were in the MD group. The mean operative times were 33.05 min and 43.80 min in the LigaSure and MD groups, respectively. Bleeding during appendicular dissection as roughly estimated by the mean number of needed irrigations were 1.60 and 1.95 for the LigaSure and MD groups, respectively. No statistically significant differences regarding hospital stay, rate of infection, readmissions, or conversion to open appendectomy were found, whereas significant differences were observed in operative time and bleeding.Conclusion The use of LigaSure for dissection of the mesoappendix shortens the operative time, and significantly decreases bleeding during LA. We believe that LigaSure is a safe and useful tool for mesoappendix dissection during LAKeywords: children, laparoscopic appendectomy, LigaSure, monopolar diatherm

Simultaneous determination of meloxicam and bupivacaine via a novel modified dual wavelength method and an advanced chemometric approach

Abstract This study presents two spectrophotometric methods; a novel dual wavelength—derivative spectrophotometry and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) for the simultaneous determination of a fixed dose combination of bupivacaine (BUP) and meloxicam (MEL) in a ratio of 30:1. The extended UV spectrum of MEL enables its direct determination at λmax 360 nm with no interference from BUP. The determination of BUP was unfeasible directly because the UV spectra of both drugs are moderately overlapped over the wavelength range of 250–450 nm, thus new chemometric based spectrophotometric methods should be developed for its determination. Dual wavelength-derivative method was employed based on using first derivative spectra. The selected dual wavelengths for determination BUP were 274.6 nm and 374.6 nm where the dA/dλ amplitudes differences for MET are equal to zero. MCR-ALS is advanced chemometric tool that enables analysis of multicomponent samples in complex matrices with high resolution based on the decomposition of signal/spectral data into the pure spectra and corresponding concentration profile. The figures of merits for MCR model show that there is a good agreement between the actual and predicted concentrations for MEL and BUP. The methods were validated and statistically compared with a reported HPLC method

Effect of cow colostrum on the performance and survival rate of local newborn piglets in Benin Republic

peer reviewedaudience: researcher, professional, studentThe effect of bovine colostrum, including its thermally labile compounds, on the survival and growth performance of local breed piglets reared by their mother, in Benin, was evaluated over a 49-day trial. Three groups of 16 piglets, stemming from two primiparous sows belonging to a unique traditional farm, were respectively fed for the first 48 h of life with either bovine colostrum heated to 85 °C for 30 min, or thawed bovine colostrum, or colostrum from the mother. Thereafter, the animals that received bovine colostrum turned back to their mother. At day 21, almost all piglets from the group that received heated colostrum died. The highest total weight gain was obtained in the group that received thawed bovine colostrum (P ˂ 0.01), followed by the group left with the mother. Corresponding average daily gains (ADGs) were 56, 34 and 2 g/day, respectively (P ˂ 0.05). At the end of the trial, the treatment effect was highly significant on the survival of piglets (100% in the thawed colostrum group vs. 00 and 50%, respectively, in the heated colostrum group and in the group left with the mother). At day 49, numerically higher weight and ADGs were obtained in the group that received thawed cow colostrum. Thawed bovine colostrum improved the growth performance and piglet survival in the local pig breed in Benin, probably owing to thermally labile components. Bovine colostrum may be used in our farms in order to reduce pre-weaning mortality, improve the profitability of livestock farmers, and ensure survival of traditional farms. The use of bovine colostrum on farms could be facilitated by collaboration between pig farmers and bovine farmers. It could also be facilitated by the creation of a colostrum bank