海洛因白质脑病的CT诊断

目的：探讨海洛因白质脑病的CT特点及CT对本病的诊断价值。方法：回顾分析10例海洛因引起的白质脑病的CT表现与临床资料，男6例，女4例，年龄13-38岁。有吸毒品海洛因史2-4年。其中5例做了增强CT扫描。结果：海洛因白质脑病的CT表现为小脑齿状核、大脑后部脑白质、内囊后肢、胼胝体压部、大脑脚、中脑、桥脑对称的低密度影8例，以小脑损害为重，小脑中线两侧对称性边界的类圆形蝴蝶样病灶为特征。其中2例表现为双侧豆状核、内囊区对称性低密度灶。增强扫描无强化。结论：海洛因海绵状白质脑病的CT表现有特征性，CT对本病诊断有重要价值。     

肝豆状核变性的脑CT表现(附28例分析)

目的 分析肝豆状核变性的脑CT征像，结合其病理与临床表现进一步提高对本病的认识。方法 全部病例均行脑CT平扫，分析其表现并回顾性分析其病理变化及临床表现结果 脑CT表现主要是脑萎缩与基底节低密度影。28例中23例豆状核出现对称性带状或新月形低密度区，形如”八字”或”展翅蝴蝶”样；3例尾状核头见卵圆形低密度区；1例丘脑见对称性卵圆形低密度区；1例仅有脑萎缩表现。结论 脑萎缩与基底节低密度灶，特别是双侧豆状核区对称性低密度灶是肝豆状核变性最具有特征性的CT表现。     

海洛因所致海绵状白质脑病的影像学表现

目的阐述吸食海洛因所致海绵状白质脑病的影像学表现及CT、MR的诊断价值。方法搜集15例具有吸食海洛因病史患者的CT与MR影像资料。其中12例患者进行了MR检查，检查序列包括T1WI、TWI，FLAIR序列；6例进行了CT横断面检查。结果（1）MR表现：12例患者中，双侧幕上半球脑白质、小脑半球、内囊后肢和膝部及胼胝体压部表现为对称性均匀或不均匀的长T1低信号、长T2高信号病变，小脑齿状核形态信号正常。其中4例患者中脑中央可见椭圆形长T1、长T2信号影。（2）CT表现：双侧幕上半球、小脑半球、内囊后肢及膝部均见对称性、沿白质分布的低密度4例。双侧小脑半球类圆形，双侧内囊后肢条形对称性低密度伴左侧放射冠区多发斑片状低密度1例。双侧内囊后肢和膝部、胼胝体膝部及双侧幕上半球脑白质密度对称性减低1例。结论吸食海洛因所致海绵状白质脑病具有典型的影像学表现，MR较CT更能揭示病变的特征，高压氧治疗有助于病情缓解。     

小儿病毒性脑炎的CT诊断（附15例）

目的：15例病毒性脑炎患儿的CT资料分析，探讨CT检查对小儿病毒性脑炎的诊断价值。方法：对15例病毒性脑炎患儿的CT资料进行回顾性分析。结果：CT表现异常13例，其中双侧颢叶对称性低密度病变5例，双侧颢叶、额叶，丘脑及中脑对称性低密度伴额叶点状出血2例，双颞叶及左额叶非对称性低密度病变1例，双侧基底神经节区和丘脑对称性密度降低3例，左侧额叶密度降低2例，幕上脑萎缩性病变3例，CT表现正常2例。结论：小儿病毒性脑炎CT表现缺乏特异性，但其定位分布有一定特异性，单纯疱疹病毒性脑炎CT表现以颢叶病变为主，同时可累及其他脑区或伴出血，乙型脑炎表现为基底及丘脑的病变，流行性腮腺病毒性脑炎则CT表现可正常，故CT检查对病毒性脑炎的定性有重要的价值。     

婴儿脑型脚气病的临床与CT表现

为探讨婴儿脚气病脑的CT特征和提高临床诊断水平,作者回顾分析了7例婴儿脑型脚气病的临床和CT资料。临床上主要以抽搐、精神萎靡、目光呆滞和呕吐等症状发病。脑CT显示:双侧豆状棱(5/7)、尾状棱头部(4/7)、丘脑(2/7)及齿状核(1/7)对称性低密度区和与年龄不相符的脑萎缩。维生素B_1治疗后,临床症状体征明显改善,于入院后2～5天痊愈出院。我们认为双侧豆状核、尾状核头部、丘脑及齿状校对称性低密度病变是婴儿脚气病性脑病的一种重要的CT征象。     

一氧化碳中毒性脑病CT随访分析

目的：分析一氧化碳中毒性脑病随时间变化的CT表现。方法：回顾性分析23例中的19例一氧化碳中毒性脑病患者不同时期的CT改变。最长随访为6年。结果：一氧化碳中毒性脑病CT表现具有特征性的双侧苍白球对称性低密度。急性中毒早期脑CT表现为脑水肿．进而出现苍白球低密度．遂及时治疗，苍白球病灶逐渐缩小、清楚或消失。结论：CT检查能很好地反映病情和随访观察。     

婴幼儿脑型脚气病CT诊断(附87例分析)

目的：讨论婴幼儿脑型脚气病的CT表现，提高诊断的准确性。方法：回顾性分析87你临床证实为婴幼儿脑型脚气病的CT影像，分析其CT表现特点，CT检查方法包括平扫及增强。结果：CT表现同时为豆状核，尾状核头部对称性低密度病灶79例，仅豆状核对称性低密度病灶8例，伴发其他征象为两侧脑室前角受压79例，外部性脑积水37例，两额颞区硬膜下积液15例，颞叶或额颞顶叶对称性低密度病灶3例，增强扫描15例均无强化，CT随访39例中，10例留下后遗症患儿发现双侧对称性残余囊线形低密度灶7例，其余患儿病灶基本吸收。结论：婴幼儿脑型脚气病CT表现具有一定特征，结合临床资料能做出正确诊断。CT随访为判断预后提供重要依据。     

肝豆状核变性脑CT和MRI诊断

目的分析肝豆状核变性（HLD）的脑CT和MRI征象，进一步提高对HLD病认识及诊断的正确率。方法对临床和生化检查证实36例HLD的脑CT和MRI征象及临床表现进行回顾性分析。结果CT检查26例中主要表现为对称性基底节区低密度影。30例MRI呈对称性条状或新月形长T1长T2信号，FIR高信号、或稍短T1短T2信号，典型者依受累部位不同分别为啄木鸟、八字，展翅蝴蝶样改变等，其中病灶位于壳核30例，尾状核16例，丘脑15例，苍白球、红核各3例。黑质、大脑脚网状结构、脑桥桥核、额叶白质各2例，15例有轻度或重度脑萎缩。结论HLD脑CT及MRI最常见征象是基底节区低密度影或异常信号和不同程度脑萎缩，以双侧豆状核区对称性低密度或异常信号最具特征性。     

急性一氧化碳中毒后50例脑部改变影像学分析

目的探讨急性一氧化碳中毒迟发性脑病的影像表现特点,以提高对该病的正确诊断率。方法总结和分析经临床证实的50例急性一氧化碳中毒迟发性脑病患者的影像资料。结果 CT特点为12例双侧大脑白质低密度改变,占36.3%;6例出现双侧或单侧基底节低密度影,占18.2%;9例出现脑萎缩,占27.3%。MRI特点苍白球异常信号13例,其中11例为双侧对称性斑片状长T1长T2信号,2例分别为左右侧苍白球短T1长T2信号;脑白质异常信号8例,表现为侧脑室旁脑白质半卵圆中心大片状长T1长T2信号,分布对称;脑白质并基底节区异常信号9例,并苍白球异常信号7例,左侧内囊及右侧尾状核异常信号各1例。结论影像学CT及MRI检查对确定急性一氧化碳中毒迟发脑病病变部位及程度、鉴别诊断和预后的判断有重要的意义。     

海洛因白质脑病的影像学特点与临床观察

目的 探讨海洛因引起的海绵状白质脑病（spongiform leucoencephalopathy)的临床和影像学特点。方法 对6例海洛因白质脑病患者的临床资料和影像学检查结果进行分析。结果 患者有吸食海洛因病史，在突然戒断复又吸食后发病，有小脑症状和白质病变的体征。CT，MRI表现为对称性片状白质损害。部位在小脑，基底节，内囊后肢和半卵圆中心，脑脊液检查为阴性，结论 海洛因引起的海绵状白质脑病有自己独特的流行病学特点，根据临床征象及特征性的影像学表现；生前诊断海洛因白质脑病是可能的。     

Guns and Knives in New Mexico: Patterns of Penetrating Trauma, 1978–1993

Objective: To identify patterns of nonfatal and fatal penetrating trauma among children and adults in New Mexico using ED and medical examiner data.
Methods: The authors retrospectively sampled in 5-year intervals all victims of penetrating trauma who presented to either the state Level-1 trauma center or the state medical examiner from a 16-year period (1978–1993). Rates of nonfatal and fatal firearm and stabbing injury were compared for children and adults.
Results: Rates of nonfatal injury were similar (firearm, 34.3 per 100,000 person-years; stabbing, 35.1). However, rates of fatal injury were significantly different (firearm, 21.9; stabbing, 2.7; relative risk: 8.2; 95% confidence interval: 5.4, 12.5). From 1978 to 1993, nonfatal injury rates increased for children (p = 0.0043) and adults (p < 0.0001), while fatal penetrating injury remained constant. The increase in nonfatal injury in children resulted from increased firearm injury rates. In adults, both stabbing and firearm nonfatal injury rates increased.
Conclusions: Nonfatal injury data suggest that nonfatal violence has increased; fatal injury data suggest that violent death rates have remained constant. Injury patterns vary by age, mechanism of trauma, and data source. These results suggest that ED and medical examiner data differ and that both are needed to guide injury prevention programs.     

Interprofessional approaches to creating safe,high quality health care

Three supplementary perspectives are presented arguing that interprofessional collaboration is both necessary and desirable. Nonetheless, there are often too many serious intra-professional barriers and obstacles to interprofessional collaboration to make it successful. Some of these barriers, it is argued and illustrated, are found in the multiple ways in which professional identity is tacitly acquired and embodied in the practitioners' habitual, everyday practice. The paper then explores ways in which reflection, especially Second order reflection, can help to elucidate and overcome these obstacles, as well as increasing professional adaptability and competence.     

Systematic Reviews Published in the January 2011 Issue of The Cochrane Library

ABSTRACT

The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews is published quarterly as a DVD and monthly online. The January 2011 issue (first quarterly DVD for 2011) contains 4515 complete reviews, 1985 protocols for reviews in production, and 13,521 one-page summaries of systematic reviews published in the general medical literature. In addition, there are citations of 641,000 randomized controlled trials, and 14,018 cited papers in the Cochrane methodology register. The health technology assessment database contains over 9300 citations. One hundred and seven new reviews have been published in the last 3 months, of which five have potential relevance for practitioners in pain and palliative medicine.     

Prise en charge des entorses externes de cheville : étude clinique préliminaire sur l’efficacité du dispositif Myolux™

Ankle sprains are the most common injury of the musculoskeletal system and are associated with significant societal and economic impacts. It has been proven that classical therapeutic strategies may not be effective in preventing recurrent injuries: the recurrence rates reported in the literature can reach 73%. In order to provide an effective rehabilitation solution, a destabilizing orthosis was developed. This device is equipped with a mechanical articulator reproducing the subtalar mechanics and placed under the heel. In this paper, we present the main results of a preliminary clinical study conducted between 2004 and 2007. All subjects included in this study were treated with the abovementioned orthosis during 10 rehabilitation sessions of 30 minutes each. Data show a relatively low recurrence rate of 12% for the overall population. Moreover, it's of primary importance to note that this satisfactory ratio is largely reduced (3% of recurrence rate) for the 29 patients who performed one training session per month after the 10th initial rehabilitation sessions. Hence, the destabilizing orthosis appears to be an effective solution to prevent recurrent ankle sprains. However, joint protection requires long-term and regular training sessions. This result has motivated the development of a similar device allowing patients to perform training sessions at home. Finally, data obtained in this study are promising awaiting the final results of the comparative, multicentric and independent clinical trials currently managed by the Hospices Civils de Lyon.     

Clinical Trial Updates and Hotline Sessions presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2007

This article provides information and commentaries on trials which were presented at the Hotline and Clinical Trial Update Sessions at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2007 in Vienna. The key presentations were performed by leading experts in the field with relevant positions in the trials or registries. It is important to note that unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary data, as the analysis may change in the final publications. The comprehensive summaries have been generated from the oral presentation and the webcasts of the European Society of Cardiology and should provide the readers with the most comprehensive information of relevant publications.     

Prospects for the control of neglected tropical diseases by mass drug administration

The prospects for the control of neglected tropical diseases, including soil-transmitted helminthiasis, shistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and trachoma, through mass drug administration, are exemplified by the elimination of the trachoma as a public-health problem in Morocco. In spite of this and other striking successes, mass drug administration programs are faced with major challenges resulting from suboptimal coverage and lack of efficacy. At current suboptimal coverage rates, programs may need prolongation for an extended period, increasing costs and undermining sustainability. Community participation through health education and information appears to be crucial to improve coverage and to achieve sustainability. Implementation of complementary measures, such as vector control, improved hygiene and environmental sanitation, are important to further control transmission and to prevent re-emergence of the infection and, again, may only be achieved effectively through community-based initiatives. To reduce costs and to relieve pressure on the health system, combining neglected tropical disease programs in areas where diseases coexist and integration with existing control programs for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS is advocated. The risk of developing drug resistance is of particular concern in view of the lack of alternative drugs, and reduced treatment efficacy due to emerging resistance is evident for the soil-transmitted helminths and onchocerciasis. Given the risk for the development of drug resistance and the need for a high degree of participation, close attention should be paid to the monitoring of the coverage and efficacy of the different program components.     

Balance and Boundaries in Grief Counseling: An Intervention Framework for Volunteer Training

Volunteers or paraprofessional counselors are commonly used to provide supportive care to the bereaved. These counselors generally are trained in basic listening skills, providing a generic, nonspecific approach to intervention that remains to be proven effective. The present paper outlines a framework that provides paraprofessionals with a broader model for intervention with the bereaved. Attention to boundaries as a helper and balance in the grief recovery are central to the model. Interventions are described that provide the paraprofessional counselor with more options for tailoring their counseling strategy to the individual. These include techniques that are presumed to be more specific to the enhancement of grief recovery.     

A new method for the simultaneous analysis of unmodified and modified urinary nucleosides and nucleobases by high performance liquid chromatography

Details are given of a new, rapid and simple pre-fractionation method and an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography system suitable for parallel analysis of nucleosides and nucleobases from urine and other biological fluids. The quantitative recovery and excellent reproducibility of the method is demonstrated by analysis of representative standard RNA catabolites. The advantage of this new method for application to biological samples is discussed.     

Bacterial meningitis: an update of new treatment options

The outcome of bacterial meningitis critically depends on the rapid initiation of bactericidal antibiotic therapy and adequate management of septic shock. In community-acquired meningitis, the choice of an optimum initial empirical antibiotic regimen depends on the regional resistance patterns. Pathogens resistant to antibacterials prevail in nosocomial bacterial meningitis. Dexamethasone is recommended as adjunctive therapy for community-acquired meningitis in developed countries. In comatose patients, aggressive measures to lower intracranial pressure <20 mmHg (in particular, external ventriculostomy, osmotherapy and temporary hyperventilation) were effective in a case–control study. Although many experimental approaches were protective in animal models, none of them has been proven effective in patients. Antibiotics, which are bactericidal but do not lyse bacteria, and inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases or complement factor C5 appear the most promising therapeutic options. At present, vaccination is the most efficient method to reduce disease burden. Palmitoylethanolamide appears promising to enhance the resistance of the brain to infections.