Identifying potential indicators of the quality of end-of-life cancer care from administrative data.

PURPOSE: To explore potential indicators of the quality of end-of-life services for cancer patients that could be monitored using existing administrative data. METHODS: Quality indicators were identified and assessed by literature review for proposed indicators, focus groups with cancer patients and family members to assess candidate indicators and generate new ideas, and an expert panel ranking the meaningfulness and importance of each potential indicator using a modified Delphi approach. RESULTS: There were three major concepts of poor quality of end-of-life cancer care that could be examined using currently-available administrative data (such as Medicare claims): institution of new anticancer therapies or continuation of ongoing treatments very near death; a high number of emergency room visits, inpatient hospital admissions, or intensive care unit days near the end of life; and a high proportion of patients never enrolled in hospice, only admitted in the last few days of life, or dying in an acute-care setting. Concepts such as access to psychosocial and other multidisciplinary services and pain and symptom control are important and may eventually be feasible, but they cannot currently be applied in most data systems. Indicators based on limiting the use of treatments with low probability of benefit or indicators based on economic efficiency were not acceptable to patients, family members, or physicians. CONCLUSION: Several promising claims-based quality indicators were identified that, if found to be valid and reliable within data systems, could be useful in identifying health-care systems in need of improving end-of-life services.     

Mechanisms of Panax ginseng in preventing rat pheochromocytoma cells from apoptosis

Aims of the study

Although ginseng root possesses dominant central therapeutic effects and has recently undergone investigations for treating different neuronal diseases, most of its mechanisms are still unknown. Therefore, the neuroprotective mechanisms of ginseng were studied.

Materials and methods

The protection afforded by different methanol extracts of Panax ginseng (PG) was tested in a serum deprivation-induced apoptotic model using neuronal-like pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. An MTT assay, annexin V-FITC staining, and Western blots were, respectively, applied to identify the viability of cells, the apoptotic form of cell death, and the activity of antiapoptotic signaling.

Results

The known antiapoptotic PI3-K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways in this system were ruled out due to failure of LY 294002 and PD 98059 to block the protection by PG. A protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor was found to block the protection by PG and PG-induced CREB phosphorylation, suggesting that the PKA/CREB pathway mediates the protective effect of PG. Downregulation of classical and novel PKCs failed to block the protection by PG, while an atypical PKC inhibitor blocked protection by PG.

Conclusions

PKA and atypical PKC are important for the protection afforded by PG in preventing serum deprivation-induced PC12 cell apoptosis.     

Magnetic nanoparticle labeling of mesenchymal stem cells without transfection agent: cellular behavior and capability of detection with clinical 1.5 T magnetic resonance at the single cell level.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of labeling human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) by ionic superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) without a transfection agent and verifying its capability to be detected with clinical 1.5 T magnetic resonance (MR) at the single-cell level. Human hMSCs were incubated for 24 h with an ionic SPIO, Ferucarbotran. The labeling efficiency of hMSCs was determined by iron content measurement spectrophotometrically, and the influence of labeling on cell behavior was ascertained by examination of cell viability using the trypan blue exclusion method, cell proliferation analysis using MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) change, differentiation capacity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production measured by dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) fluorescent probe. Labeled hMSCs were scanned under 1.5 T MRI with three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) T(2)-weighted gradient echo (GRE) pulse sequences. Human hMSC labeling without transfection agent was efficient. The iron content in hMSCs was 23.4 pg Fe/cell. No significant change was found in viability, proliferation, MMP change, ROS production, or differentiation capacity. About 45.2% of the hMSCs could be detected using 1.5 T MRI at the single cell level with 3D GRE and four repetitions.     

发育性偏颌畸形的整形外科矫治

目的探讨发育性偏颌畸形的外科矫治方法。方法通过对21例发育性偏颌畸形患者的畸形部位与程度，分别采用LefortⅠ型截骨、下颌升支矢状劈开、颏部水平截骨、下颌骨外板截除、下颌骨外板移植等项整形手术治疗，并就该类患者颌面结构特征、手术方式的选择及疗效进行了回顾性分析。结果自1997年7月至2003年10月共治疗发育性下颌偏斜畸形21例，根据不同的类型采用相应的手术方法，获得了满意面部形态和殆功能。结论发育性偏颌畸形，根据不同类型运用相应的措施，通过恢复面部骨性轮廓支架和殆关系，配合术前术后的正畸治疗，可获得满意的临床效果。     

Post-injury regeneration in rat sciatic nerve facilitated by neurotrophic factors secreted by amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells.

Amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to secrete neurotrophic factors that are able to promote neuron survival in vitro. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of neurotrophic factors secreted by rat amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells on regeneration of sciatic nerve after crush injury. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were used. The left sciatic nerve was crushed with a vessel clamp. Rat amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells embedded in fibrin glue were delivered to the injured nerve. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunocytochemistry were used to detect neurotrophic factors secreted by the amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells. Nerve regeneration was assessed by motor function, electrophysiology, histology, and immunocytochemistry studies. Positive CD29/44, and negative CD11b/45, as well as high levels of expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glia cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), nerve growth factor, and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) were demonstrated in amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells. Motor function recovery, the compound muscle action potential, and nerve conduction latency showed significant improvement in rats treated with amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells. ELISA measurement in retrieved nerves displayed statistically significant elevation of CNTF and NT-3. The immunocytochemical studies demonstrated positive staining for NT-3 and CNTF in transplanted cells. The histology and immunocytochemistry studies revealed less fibrosis and a high level of expression of S-100 and glial fibrillary acid protein at the crush site. Rat amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells may facilitate regeneration in the sciatic nerve after crush injury. The increased nerve regeneration found in this study may be due to the neurotrophic factors secreted by amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells.     

硫酸氢氯吡格雷改善慢性稳定型心绞痛患者阿司匹林抵抗的临床研究

目的研究硫酸氢氯吡格雷（秦嘉）对慢性稳定型心绞痛阿司匹林抵抗患者的治疗价值。方法610例慢性稳定型心绞痛患者依照血小板聚集率分为阿司匹林敏感（AS）者和阿司匹林抵抗（AR）者，将138例AR者随机分为阿司匹林治疗组（AR—A组）、泰嘉治疗组和泰嘉联合阿司匹林治疗组（AR～C组）。472例AS者中随机选取40例设为对照组。4组患者给予严格的药物治疗后随访1年，观察4组患者在治疗前后的血小板聚集率变化，以及治疗后缺血性心脑血管病的发生率和出血性事件的发生率。治疗1月后行12导联24h动态心电图检查，计算24h内缺血型ST段变化的次数、持续时间、心肌缺血总负荷。结果泰嘉可以有效地降低慢性稳定型心绞痛AR患者的血小板聚集率（P〈0．01）；较少发生缺血性心脑血管事件（P〈0．01），且不增加出血事件的发生（P〉0．05）。对存在AR的慢性稳定型心绞痛患者，单用泰嘉和联合服用阿司匹林治疗，其缺血性ST段变化的次数、持续时间及心肌缺血总负荷明显低于单用阿司匹林治疗（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）。结论泰嘉与阿司匹林联合使用不仅安全，而且能提高慢性稳定型心绞痛AR患者的临床疗效。     

Clinicopathological Feature and Surgical Outcome of Choledochal Cyst in Different Age Groups: The Implication of Surgical Timing

Background/aims  Surgical resection of choledochal cysts (CC) has become standard treatment. However, surgery is not universally recommended in early infancy and/or asymptomatic patients. In order to investigate the optimal timing of CC excision, we analyzed clinicopathological data and surgical results from different age groups. Material and methods  This retrospective review included 107 patients (77 females, 30 males) who underwent CC resection at the National Taiwan University Hospital between January 1988 and December 2005. Patient demographic, clinical, and surgical data were collected and analyzed. Results  The patients were divided into three groups according to age at the time of surgery: <1 year old (group I, n = 26), 1−16 years old (group II, n = 48), and >16 years old (group III, n = 33). About two thirds of the patients in group I had jaundice, while abdominal pain related to inflammation was the commonest symptom in groups II and III. Group I suffered significantly fewer surgical complications and less severe liver fibrosis than groups II or III. Conclusion  CC surgery in infancy and in asymptomatic patients is safe and may prevent the complications of this condition. The results support a recommendation for early excision.     

第一、二鳃弓综合征颜面不对称的整形外科矫治

目的探讨第一、二鳃弓综合征面部不对称畸形的整形外科矫治方法。方法根据第一、二鳃弓综合征患者临床及X线所示面部双侧不对称情况,采用健侧下颌骨外板去除、颧骨截骨降低;患侧下颌体、颧骨应用健侧下颌骨外板贴附植骨或高密度多孔聚乙烯(Medpor)假体置入等术式,配合颏部水平截骨颏成形术,以缩小面部双侧宽度的差异,矫治颜面不对称畸形。结果共矫治23例,经6个月至3年的术后随访观察,双侧面部宽度差异明显缩小,正面观面部不对称明显改善。结论第一、二鳃弓综合征面部骨骼发育畸形是三维方向的,双侧面骨宽度的差异,是造成正面观面部不对称的重要因素,根据受术者的具体情况,采用以上术式的组合,扩充患侧或同时缩窄健侧骨骼,进行面部骨性支架重建,可以取得良好的矫治效果。     

Assessing the capacity to make everyday decisions: a guide for clinicians and an agenda for future research.

Assessing the capacity of patients to make decisions about their functional problems has substantial ethical, clinical, and financial implications. The growing population of older adults with cognitive impairment either in the community or in long-term care and medical facilities increase the importance of adequately assessing this capacity. This review examines the current approaches to making this assessment, demonstrates how they are incomplete, and considers potential approaches for improving these evaluations. Future research should develop and validate methods to identify patients with impaired capacity to make everyday decisions. These data will supplement functional, cognitive, and medical assessments.