Enhancing Patients' Wayfinding and Visitation Experience Improves Quality of Care

PurposeTo understand the impact of wayfinding challenges on patient hospital visitation experience, organizational costs, and emerging technology trends that may alleviate wayfinding challenges.DesignA review of literature on the relationship of wayfinding to patient's hospital visitation experience.MethodsA literature search identifying issues associated with wayfinding challenges in complex health care facilities was conducted. Case examples are provided to illustrate that the removal of barriers can improve the wayfinding experience. This review also informs technology trends that may effectively facilitate wayfinding in complex health care facilities.FindingsLarge hospital complexes exhibit many characteristics comparable to the physical features of a city environment. These complexities present challenges to patients to navigate to their destinations. An effective wayfinding system is a collection of tools that combines permanent signage, printed information, landmarks, architectural features and design elements, and human interactions. Navigational technology modeling holds the promise to aid patients and individuals with visual and cognitive challenges to find their way to their desired destinations effectively and efficiently, and improves their quality of life.ConclusionsImproved patient travel time correlates to reduce idled nursing time, with cost savings accrued to organization. Research shows that wayfinding mobile applications hold the promise of improving patients' hospital visitation experience.     

Congenital Heart Disease in Adolescents With Gluteal Muscle Contracture

Gluteal muscle contracture (GMC), presented with hip abduction and external rotation when crouching, is common in several ethnicities, particularly in Chinese. It remains unclear that the reasons why these children are weak and have no choice to accept repeated intramuscular injection. Here, we found some unique cases which may be useful to explain this question.We describe a series of special GMC patients, who are accompanied with congenital heart disease (CHD). These cases were first observed in preoperative examinations of a patient with atrial septal defect (ASD), which was proved by chest X-ray and cardiac ultrasound. From then on, we gradually identified additional 3 GMC patients with CHD. The original patient with ASD was sent to cardiosurgery department to repair atrial septal first and received arthroscopic surgery later. While the other 3 were cured postoperative of ventricular septal defect (VSD), tetralogy of fallot (TOF), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), respectively, and had surgery directly.The study gives us 3 proposals: (1) as to CHD children, it is essential to decrease the use of intramuscular injection, (2) paying more attention to cardiac examination especially cardiac ultrasound in perioperative period, and (3) taking 3D-CT to reconstruct gluteal muscles for observing contracture bands clearly in preoperation. However, more larger series of patients are called for to confirm these findings.     

持续低剂量率照射后HepG2细胞的ATM磷酸化

目的 探讨持续低剂量率照射下HepG2细胞共济失调毛细血管扩张症突变基因(ATM)磷酸化的变化规律。方法 应用间接免疫荧光、Western blot技术检测持续低剂量率(8.28 cGy/h)照射下HepG2细胞ATM磷酸化蛋白的表达;采用集落形成法观察持续低剂量率照射对HepG2细胞增殖活性的影响。 结果持续低剂量率照射30 min后,ATM即已发生磷酸化,持续照射6 h时,ATM磷酸化蛋白表达量最多,以后逐渐减弱。使用Wortmannin抑制ATM磷酸化后,降低了持续低剂量率照射下肝癌细胞的存活分数。结论在持续低剂量率照射中后期ATM磷酸化减弱,提示持续低剂量率照射具有增加HepG2细胞辐射敏感性的潜能。     

^1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy screening for animals with acute cerebral infraction suitable forthrombolytic therapy

BACKGROUND: As a non-invasive technique which can provide comprehensive biological information, 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) may provide valuable reference data for irreversible recovery or reversible changes in ischemic tissue after stroke. OBJECTIVE: To monitor and evaluate the effect of the urokinase thrombolytic therapy after experimental acute cerebral ischemia by 1H-MRS technology and investigate its adaptability. DESIGN: Randomly controlled animal study. SETTINGS: Shenzhen Hospital of Peking University and National Key Laboratory of Pattern and Atom & Molecular Physics, Wuhan Physics and Mathematics Institute, Chinese Academy of Science. MATERIALS: Eleven healthy adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, weighing 260–300 g and of both genders, were supplied by Experimental Animal Center of Tongji Medical Collage, Huazhong University of Science and Technology [SCXK (e) 2004-007]. 4.7T superconducting nuclear magnetic resonance meter was provided by Brucker Company. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in Shenzhen Hospital of Peking University and National Key Laboratory of Pattern and Atom & Molecular Physics, Wuhan Physics and Mathematics Institute, Chinese Academy of Science from August 2003 to December 2005. ① The rats were randomly divided into 30-minute self-thrombo-embolism group (n =6) and 60-minute self-thrombo-embolism group (n =5). Six rats in 30-minute self-thrombo-embolism group were occluded with clot embolus for 30 minutes and 5 rats in 60-minute self-thrombo-embolism group were occluded for 60 minutes. 10 000 U/kg urokinase was dissolved in 2 mL saline and the operation lasted for 5 minutes. ② 1H-MRS was performed before thrombolysis and at 3 hours and 24 hours after successful embolization. The metabolic changes of N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid (NAA)/phosphocreatine (PCr) + creatine (Cr), choline phosphate (Cho)/PCr+Cr and lactic acid (Lac)/PCr+Cr in the region of interests were analyzed. ③ The T2W image was conducted 24 hours after the thrombolytic therapy with TR=500 ms and TE=25 ms. ④ The subjects were sacrificed immediately after 1H-MRS and the brain tissues were cut into pieces and stained with HE method; in addition, pathological changes were observed under optic microscope. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Metabolic changes of NAA/PCr+Cr, Cho/PCr+Cr and Lac/PCr+Cr in the region of interests; ② T2W image at 24 hours after the thrombolysis; ③ pathological observation of brain tissue. RESULTS: Eleven rats were all involved in the final analysis. ① Metabolic changes in the region of interests : In 30-minute self-thrombo-embolism group, the Lac peak emerged immediately after the embolism, but the ischemic zone decreased 3 hours after the thrombolytic therapy (0.252±0.01, 0.603±0.01, P < 0.01). Lac/(PCr+Cr) ratio was 0.290±0.01 at 24 hours after thrombolysis, which was higher than that at 3 hours after thrombolysis (P < 0.01). The NAA/ (PCr+Cr) ratio decreased significantly at 3 hours after the thrombolysis as compared with that before thrombolysis (0.922±0.16, 1.196±0.01, P < 0.05). In 60-minute self-thrombo-embolism group, the Lac/(PCr+Cr) ratio was higher at 3 hours after thrombolysis than that before thrombolysis (0.846±0.12, 0.601±0.11, P < 0.05) and the NAA/(PCr+Cr) decreased at 3 hours after the embolism. Fluctuation of NAA/ (PCr+Cr) ranged from 0.68 to 0.75 before thrombolysis and from 0.71 to 0.75 at 3 hours after thrombolysis. ② T2W image: T2W image showed that 2 subjects in 30-minute self-thrombo-embolism group whose Lac/NAA was higher than 0.7 suffered from intracranial hemorrhage. This meant that the subjects with Lac/NAA > 0.7 were more likely to suffer from intracranial hemorrhage. ③ Histological and morphological examinations: Optic microscope demonstrated that interspace surrounding nerve cells was widened at ischemic center; neurons were swelling; nucleus was stained lightly; pyknosis and mesenchymal edema were mainly observed in lateral cortex of brow and vertex and in lateral part of corpus striatum. CONCLUSION: ①Compound parameters in ischemic area before thrombolysis should be regarded as an important predicting marker for thrombolytic therapy, effect evaluation and termination. ② 1H-MRS combining with other imaging technique is a detecting way for screening cases who are suitable for thrombolytic therapy.     

妊娠期妇女外阴阴道念珠菌病的病原学和治疗研究

目的 调查孕妇外阴阴道念珠菌病(vulvovaginal candidiasis，VVC)的发病率，对检出的VVC进行病原学和治疗研究。方法 连续对产科门诊1000例孕妇进行VVC发病情况调查。对分离的念珠菌进行体外抗真菌药物敏感试验。对66例VVC患者应用咪康唑栓治疗，400mg／d，6d为一疗程。结果 孕妇VVC的发病率为12．7％(127／1000)。37．4％(374／1000)的孕妇以往有VVC病史，0．6％的孕妇为复发性VVc。127例VVC中，白念珠菌、光滑念珠菌、热带念珠菌和克柔念珠菌分别占87．1％、9．9％、1．5％和1．5％。有4例患者同时感染2种念珠菌。114株白念珠菌对咪康唑、克霉唑、氟康唑、伊曲康唑、制霉菌素耐药率依次为10．5％、2．6％、6．1％、7．9％和0。13株光滑念珠菌对咪康唑和制霉菌素均敏感，对克霉唑、伊曲康唑和氟康唑均敏感或剂量依赖敏感。应用咪康唑栓治疗的患者在治疗完成后1～2周及4～6周的病原学治愈率分别为84．8％和80．3％。结论 VVC是孕妇的常见病，白念珠菌仍然是主要致病菌，其次为光滑念珠菌。常用抗真菌药物对引起VVC的念珠菌存在不同程度的耐药率，应用咪康唑栓治疗孕妇VVC效果满意。     

肥厚性硬脑膜炎的临床表现及影像学特征

目的探讨肥厚性硬脑膜炎的临床表现及影像学特征。方法通过4例肥厚性硬脑膜炎的病例报告及相关文献资料的临床表现及影像学特征来进行总结和讨论。结果肥厚性硬脑膜炎主要表现为头痛、脑神经麻痹,MRI表现为硬脑膜增厚呈线条状或斑块状,增强扫描后肥厚的硬脑膜强化。结论肥厚性硬脑膜炎可表现为多种临床过程,MRI表现较具特征性,结合临床表现有利于肥厚性硬脑膜炎的早期诊断。     

慢性肾功能不全患者行冠状动脉搭桥术围术期处理

目的：探讨慢性肾功能不全患行冠状动脉搭桥术的安全性。方法：回顾性分析1996年6月至2001年6月收治的15例慢性肾功能不全患行冠状动脉搭桥术的临床资料，并复习献。结果：9例患术后早期肾功能指标较术前差；6例患术后早期肾功能技术前无明显变化。围术期腹透4例，血透2例，其中1例行术中血透，肾功能指标均有所改善。全组无术中死亡，1例枚后第三天死于多器官功能衰竭。结论：术前肾功能不全的患，经过积极的术中及围术期处理，大多可以安全渡过肾功能衰竭关，接受冠状动脉搭桥术，达到改善症状延长生命的目的。