Validation of Probabilistic Linkage to Match De-identified Ambulance Records to a State Trauma Registry

Objectives: To validate the accuracy of using probabilistic linkage for matching de‐identified ambulance records to a state trauma registry. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis. Three thousand nine hundred nineteen true matches between ambulance and state trauma registry data from 1998 to 2003 were identified by deterministic matching on trauma identification number and verified by human review. Two thousand thirty‐eight ambulance records from trauma patients not meeting criteria for a true match, and an identical number of trauma registry records randomly selected from the one local county served by a different EMS provider, were included as nonmatches. There were 17 variables considered for linkage, which included the following: age, gender, race, county, hospital, date, rural setting, call and arrival times, mechanism, penetrating injury, vital signs, intubation, and intoxication. Probabilistic linkage was used to link the two data sets, using seven different combinations of common variables (maximum, 17; minimum, 4). The sensitivity and specificity of identifying true matches and nonmatches (95% confidence intervals [95% CI]) were calculated for each combination of variables. Results: Using all 17 available variables, 3,766 of 3,919 true matches were appropriately linked (sensitivity, 96.1%; 95% CI = 95.4% to 96.7%), with eight mismatches (specificity, 99.6%; 95% CI = 99.2% to 99.8%). Sensitivity fell below 95% with < 15 variables; however, sensitivity was very dependent on the inclusion of variables with high discriminatory power. Specificity remained >98% regardless of the number of variables included. Conclusions: Probabilistic linkage is a valid method for matching ambulance records to a trauma registry without the use of patient identifiers; however, the sensitivity of identifying true matches is critically dependent on the number and type of common variables included in the analysis.     

Post–traumatic Alzheimer''s disease: preponderance of a single plaque type

The cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown. Several factors have been proposed including head trauma. At present, the link between head injury and a subsequent neurodegenerative process is largely circumstantial, except in the case of dementia pugilistica (punch drunk syndrome) found in boxers. Recent studies have shown that the brains of boxers with this syndrome contain large numbers of 'diffuse' beta-protein immunoreactive plaques. We supposed that this plaque type might be associated with trauma induced Alzheimer-like degeneration. In order to test this hypothesis we have re-investigated a previously reported case of post-traumatic premature Alzheimer's disease. Immunocytochemistry using antibodies to amyloid beta-protein revealed large numbers of 'diffuse' non-Congophilic plaques with little or no neuritic component. A similar preponderance of this plaque type is present in the brains of boxers with dementia pugilistica. Our observations support the idea of a trauma induced Alzheimer-like degenerative process and indicate that such a condition is associated with a marked preponderance of 'diffuse' plaques.     

增龄过程中心脏径限的变化及其影响因素

为探讨年龄增长及伴随的一些生理性变化对心脏径限的影响,对300余例20—81岁(平均46±16岁)的正常成人进行了超声心动图研究。多元逐步回归及协方差分析表明,左室壁厚度随年龄俱增,而左室舒张未期内径变化不大;室间隔/左室后壁厚度比值亦渐有增长,反映了室间隔的随龄增长稍快于左室后壁,故在增龄过程中,左室流出道稍有缩小;左房、主动脉根部和右室内径均有随年龄而增长的变化。二尖瓣舒张期 EF 斜率随年龄增长渐有下降,可能反映了左室顺应性的降低及二尖瓣弹性的减退。此外,一些心脏测值有性别差异,不少径限尚与体格大小或血压水平有相关关系。对于不同年龄组间心脏径限差异的原因,以及心脏径限彼此间的关系进行了分析和讨论,认为在临床上评价心脏径限正常与否和异常程度时,应考虑年龄、性别、体格大小、血压等因素的影响。     

Cerebrospinal fluid cells in multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases: an immunocytochemical study

Summary Determinations of mononuclear cell subsets in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), using monoclonal antibodies against surface antigens which identified pan T-cells, helper/inducer T-cells, cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells and Ia-positive cells, were performed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), other neuroimmunological diseases (NID), infectious diseases (INF) of the central nervous system and with other neurological diseases. Whereas there was an elevated helper T/suppressor T ratio in CSF of patients with NID (Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, cerebral vasculitis), no other significant differences could be detected between the different groups of patients. Our results suggest that analysis of these mononuclear cell subsets in CSF is not helpful in discriminating between MS and other neurological diseases and that in MS patients changes in disease activity are not clearly indicated by fluctuations in the different CSF cell subsets. Further studies will be needed to confirm our findings in NID patients and to understand the diagnostic and theoretical implications.     

Fetal behavior in multifetal pregnancies studied by four-dimensional sonography

Rapid improvements in the capacity of data processing due to technological breakthroughs in processor engineering is the basis of spatial imaging. Spatial imaging is the main benefit of three-dimensional sonography and it is used for visualization of fetal anatomy in three dimensions. Modern machines are capable of performing spatial imaging in near real time, called four-dimensional sonography. Four-dimensional sonography in multifetal pregnancies can be used for detection and evaluation of intertwin contacts, because it allows simultaneous visualization of both fetuses and assessment of their motor activity. The main benefits of four-dimensional sonography include: accurate recognition of an isolated motor activity of a single fetus; distinguishing between spontaneous and stimulated motor activity; and spatial visualization of the intertwin area.     

体外膜肺联合血液滤过治疗肺肾衰竭的实验研究

目的 观察体外膜氧合器（ECMO）联合高容量血液滤过（HVHF）对急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）、急性肾功能衰竭（ARF）的治疗作用。 方法 采用实验犬32只，随机分为A、B、C、D 4组。静脉注射油酸复制ARDS模型及双侧输尿管结扎复制急性肾功能衰竭模型。A组用ARDS呼吸机治疗；B组ARDS用ECMO治疗；C组ARDS＋ARF用HVHF治疗；D组ARDS＋ARF用ECMO联合HVHF治疗。监测血气、血流动力学以及血生化等指标。 结果 治疗后B组氧分压（PaO2）逐步上升，在治疗4 h后高于A组[（95.58±8.14） 比（82.79±12.37） mm Hg，P < 0.05]； C组PaO2治疗中较成模时无明显改善；D组PaO2呈逐渐上升趋势，在各时间点均高于C组（P < 0.05）。各组血流动力学指标在治疗中保持稳定。C、D组HVHF治疗后Scr、BUN明显降低[C组：Scr (320.89±65.42) 比(655.04±181.22) μmol/L，BUN (20.42±6.65) 比（41.53±10.59）mmol/L；D组：Scr (334.15±45.97)比（697.48±101.66） μmol/L，BUN (19.12±6.39) 比（39.10±11.60） mmol/L，P均< 0.01]。 结论 ECMO可以有效地改善ARDS低氧血症，联合HVHF可以提供肺肾功能联合支持。     

Prevalence of traumatic injuries to the permanent incisors in candidates for orthodontic treatment

Abstract  – The dental records made on presentation of 1367 consecutive patients (731 females and 636 males) for orthodontic treatment at a private orthodontic practice between 1998 and 2002 were examined for data relating to trauma to the permanent incisors. The results showed that 10.3% of these patients had suffered from dental trauma before the onset of orthodontic treatment. The highest prevalence of dental trauma was determined in the 11–15 years age group, corresponding to the dental developmental stage of the late mixed dentition. The most frequently affected teeth were the maxillary central incisors (79.6%), and the most common types of trauma were fracture of enamel–dentin without pulpal involvement (42.7%) and fracture of enamel (33.8%). Compared to patients with normal overjet and adequate lip coverage, the frequency of dental trauma was significantly higher in patients with increased overjet and adequate lip coverage ( P  = 0.028) or with increased overjet and inadequate lip coverage ( P  = 0.003). The results of the present study indicate that a significant percentage of candidates for orthodontic treatment, and especially those with increased overjet and inadequate lip coverage, suffer trauma to their permanent incisors before the onset of orthodontic treatment. It might also be concluded that preventive orthodontic treatment of such patients should be initiated and completed before the age of 11, i.e. in the early to middle mixed dentition.     

带桡神经浅支营养血管蒂的桡骨茎突骨(膜)复合瓣转位术

目的介绍一种修复掌、指骨缺损合并皮肤软组织缺损的新型手术方法。方法自2002年以来应用桡神经浅内侧支营养血管的骨(膜)皮瓣修复手部皮肤软组织缺损合并掌指骨缺损12例,该复合瓣以桡骨茎突和第2掌骨头的连线为轴心线,以桡神经浅内侧支营养血管构成筋膜蒂。皮瓣最大6cm×3cm,最小3cm×2cm;骨(膜)瓣最大3cm×1.5cm,最小2cm×1.5cm。结果术后12例复合瓣全部成活,创面一期修复,X线显示骨缺损和骨不连在术后2～3个月达到骨愈合,但6例有不同程度的掌指关节活动受限,经康复治疗后好转;术后随访8～12个月,手部外形及功能均较满意。结论桡神经浅内侧支营养血管骨(膜)皮瓣的设计合理,血供可靠,操作简便,适用于修复手背部皮肤软组织缺损合并第1、2、3掌骨和拇、食指指骨近节部分缺损。     

马来酸桂哌齐特在颅脑损伤患者的治疗效果观察

目的通过随机分组对照观察探讨马来酸桂哌齐特对颅脑损伤患者的治疗效果。方法100例急性闭合性颅脑损伤患者，分为对照组和用药组，各50例病人。分析对比治疗后对照组和用药组的实验室各项检查指标：血液流变学，TCD检查结果等变化情况。并且对出院后3—6个月随访调查结果进行比较分析。结果治疗后血液流变学检查中，用药组（马来酸桂哌齐特组）各项指标均低于对照组（P〈0．05）。经颅多普勒检测结果显示：用药组的脑血流速度与对照组相比明显减慢（P〈0．05），血管痉挛得到缓解。对比两组出院后随访结果可以看出，用药组的GOS评分、KPS评分及Barthel指数预后明显好于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论初步证明急性颅脑损伤早期应用马来酸桂哌齐特可增加病变区的脑血流，改善微循环，改善颅脑损伤患者的预后。值得推广和进一步研究。