Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
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Propolis (bee glue) was found to have antibacterial activity against a range of commonly encountered cocci and Gram-positive rods, including the human tubercle bacillus, but only limited activity against Gram-negative bacilli. These findings confirm previous reports of antimicrobial properties of this material, possibly attributable to its high flavonoid content.
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Bier introduced his intravenous technique of local anaesthesia to facilitate palliative surgery on the elbow or knee. He cannulated a suitably large vein in the vicinity of the joint to inject procaine after first isolating the operating site with a proximal and a distal tourniquet. This extra containment of the local anaesthetic solution made it feasible to flush out any unfixed drug with saline before release of the main tourniquet, an advantage which has been lost in the currently fashionable technique of intravenous regional anaesthesia (IVRA) involving a single tourniquet above the elbow or knee and a fine butterfly needle in a vein on the dorsum of the hand or foot. A modern version of Bier's original method is described, conveniently called an intercuff block (ICB), which reintroduces the possibility of effective flushing, offers better operating conditions and engenders new ideas for further study.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Postoperative nausea is relieved by acupressure.
One hundred and sixty-two general surgical patients were prospectively randomized to one of three treatments for postoperative nausea and vomiting: (1) acupressure using elasticated bands containing a plastic button to apply sustained pressure at the P6 (Neiguan) point above the wrist, (2) control dummy bands without the pressure button and (3) antiemetic injections of prochlorperazine with each opiate given and as required. All patients received papaveretum injections as required for pain, and additional prochlorperazine injections were prescribed if nausea was not controlled in groups 1 and 2. ⋯ The incidence of postoperative vomiting, and the need for unplanned antiemetic injections was also reduced by acupressure but this was not statistically significant. Acupressure can work and should be investigated in other clinical situations.