Blood tests: One too many? Evaluating blood requesting guidance developed for acute patients admitted to trauma and orthopaedic units

In a recently published report from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, around 20% of clinical practice which encompasses blood science investigations is considered wasteful. Blood tests including liver function tests (LFTs), C-reactive protein (CRP), coagulation screens, and international normalising ratios (INR) are frequently requested for patients who undergo emergency hospital admission. The paucity of guidance available for blood requesting in acute trauma and orthopaedic admissions can lead to inappropriate requesting practices and over investigation.Acute admissions over a period of one month were audited retrospectively for the frequency and clinical indications of requests for LFTs, coagulation screens/INR, and CRP. The total number of blood tests requested for the duration of the patient's admission was recorded. Initial auditing of 216 admissions in January 2014 demonstrated a striking amount of over-investigation. Clinical guidelines were developed with multidisciplinary expert input and implemented within the department. Re-audit of 233 admissions was carried out in September 2014.Total no. of LFTs requested: January 895, September 336 (−62.5%); coagulation screens/INR requested: January 307, September 210 (−31.6%); CRPs requested: January 894, September 317 (−64.5%). No. of blood requests per patient: January (M = 4.81, SD 4.75), September (M = 3.60, SD = 4.70). Approximate combined total cost of LFT, coagulation/INR, CRP in January £2674.14 and September £1236.19 (−£1437.95, −53.77%).A large decrease was observed in admission requesting and subsequent monitoring (p < 0.01) following the implementation. This both significantly reduced cost and venepuncture rates.     

导痰祛瘀法治疗糖尿病合并冠心病60例

目的:观察导痰祛瘀法治疗糖尿病合并冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(简称冠心病)的临床疗效。方法:选取糖尿病合并冠心病患者120例,随机分成对照组和试验组,每组60例。对照组给予万爽力盐酸曲美他嗪片口服治疗,试验组给予导痰祛瘀法治疗。结果:试验组有效率95.00%,对照组有效率70.00%,试验组优于对照组(P0.05);试验组FBG,心率、血压、E/A值改善情况均优于对照组(P均0.05)。结论:导痰祛瘀法治疗糖尿病合并冠心病疗效显著。     

临床肺部感染评分干预对VAP患者的疗效观察

目的 探讨临床肺部感染评分对VAP患者抗生素选择策略进行干预后对预后的影响.方法 采用随机、对照、临床研究.连续入选符合诊断标准的VAP患者56例,随机分为2组:A组(评分干预组,28例)临床肺部感染评分大于6分者抗生素选择策略采用降阶梯治疗方案,小于6分者采用常规升级治疗方案.B组(常规组,28例)按常规自然决定抗生素的选择和疗程.比较两组患者抗生素使用疗程、病死率及真菌定植发生率等.结果 A组抗生素使用疗程、病死率显著低于B组,B组真菌定植发生率高于A组.结论 临床肺部感染评分干预抗生素选择策略对改善VAP的疗效、预后具有良好效果.     

丹红注射液对肾病综合征患者肾血流动力学及血液黏稠状态的影响研究

目的探讨丹红注射液对肾病综合征患者肾血流动力学及血液黏稠状态的影响。方法选取2008年7月～2010年12月于某院进行治疗的64例初发原发肾病综合征患者为研究对象,将其随机分为对照组和观察组各32例,对照组采用泼尼松联合双嘧达莫进行治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上加用丹红注射液进行治疗,后将两组患者治疗前及治疗后4周的肾动脉血流动力学及血液流变学指标进行对比。结果治疗后观察组的肾动脉血流动力学及血液流变学指标的改善幅度均大于对照组,治疗后两组上述检测项目比较,P均﹤0.05,差异均有统计学意义。结论丹红注射液在改善肾病综合征患者肾血流动力学及血液黏稠状态方面均发挥着积极的作用,对于改善肾脏血液循环效果明显。     

The Effects of Smoking and Environmental Temperature on Temporary Threshold Shifts

Smoking and nonsmoking subjects were exposed either to 110- or 30-dB SPL white noise in both hot and cool ambient temperatures. Smokers evidenced less temporary threshold shift (TTS) than nonsmokers when exposed to loud noise. Nonsmokers evidenced greater TTS in the hot testing condition than in the cold condition when exposed to the loud noise. The temperature conditions did not influence the TTS of smokers. Smoking and the cold temperature both increased peripheral vasoconstriction.     

中西医结合综合疗法治疗下肢动脉硬化闭塞症临床观察

目的:观察桃红四物汤加减方内服联合中医外治疗法治疗动脉硬化闭塞症的临床效果。方法:将210例临床为动脉硬化闭塞症、辨证为瘀阻脉络型患者随机分为A组、B组和C组。三组在控制血压、血糖、血脂等基础治疗上,分别加用西药常规治疗(A组)、桃红四物汤加减方内服结合西药常规治疗(B组)及中西医结合综合治疗(C组)。检测血清凝血酶原时间(PT)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)、三酰甘油(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)水平,测量并计算各组患者治疗前及治疗后踝肱指数(ABI),通过B超测量各组患者治疗前及治疗后股浅动脉、胫后动脉和足背动脉的血管内径、峰值流速和血流量。结果:疗效显著性C组B组A组(P0.05);血脂生化指标除PT及FIB治疗前后无统计学意义(P0.05)外,其余指标均有所改善,且改善效果C组优于B组,更优于A组(P0.01);三组治疗后ABI均有改善(P0.05),且改善效果C组优于B组,更优于A组(P0.01);三组治疗后B超检测项目均有改善(P0.05),其中股浅动脉的血流量、足背动脉的峰值速度和血流量的改善效果C组及B组均明显优于A组(P0.01),但C组优于B组不明显,其余检查指标三组内每两组间的治疗效果差异均有统计学意义(P0.01),改善效果C组优于B组,更优于A组。结论:桃红四物汤加减方内服联合中医外治疗法治疗脉络瘀阻型下肢动脉硬化闭塞症可明显改善患者多项血脂生化及血流物理指标,疗效明显优于单纯西医及中药内服结合西药常规治疗。     

Association between visit-to-visit clinic blood pressure variability and home blood pressure variability in patients with chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Although both clinic blood pressure (BP) variability and home BP variability are associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease, the relationship between both BP variabilities remain unclear. We evaluated the association between visit-to-visit variability of clinic BP (VVV) and day-by-day home BP variability (HBPV) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We recruited 143 CKD patients in whom we performed HBP measurements every morning and evening over seven consecutive days. We obtained clinic BP data during 9.6?±?1.0 consecutive visits within 24 months. The associations between the variables of VVV and HPBV were examined. The CV values of clinic systolic BP (CSBP) was significantly correlated with the mean values of morning systolic BP (MSBP) and those of evening systolic BP (ESBP) (r?=?0.23, 0.20; p?=?0.007, 0.02, respectively). The CV values of CSBP was significantly correlated with the CV values of MSBP and those of ESBP (r?=?0.19, 0.31; p?=?0.02, <0.001, respectively). On the multivariate regression analysis, the CV values of CSBP was significantly correlated with the CV values of MSBP and those of ESBP [standardized regression coefficient (β)?=?0.19, 0.34; p?=?0.03, <0.001, respectively]. In conclusion, VVV showed a weak but significant association with HBPV, especially the CV values of ESBP in CKD patients. Further studies are necessary to clarify whether these different BPV elements will be alternative marker of BPV.     

The Endocrinologic Changes in Critically Ill Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

ABSTRACT

Background: Alterations in the neuroendocrine system occur during critical illness. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) itself causes hormonal changes. The aim of this study was to determine neu roendocrine hormones of COPD patients with acute respiratory failure and to investigate the relationship between hormonal changes, mortality, and morbidity.Methods: We enrolled 21 patients (13 F/8 M) with COPD exacerbation requiring artificial airway support. Blood samples were collected on admission to the ICU, and on the day of hospital discharge. Eighteen healthy people were included as controls. Results: Female patients had lower luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and free triiodothyronine (fT3), and higher prolactin (PRL) levels than controls on admission to the ICU (FSH: 70.3 vs. 29.3 mlU/mL; LH: 26.6 vs. 6.8 mlU/mL; fT3: 2.9 vs. 2.0 pg/mL; PRL: 12.4 vs. 21.3 ng/mL). Male patients had low testosterone and TSH and high PRL but only changes in TSH and PRL reached statistical significance (testosterone: 3.5 vs. 1.5 ng/mL, TSH: 1.1 vs. 0.5 ulU/mL, PRL: 9.7 vs. 14.2 ng/mL). Female patients had lower fT3 than males (fT3_female: 2.7 vs. fT3_male: 2.0 pg/mL). On follow-up, significantly elevated FSH and fT3 and decreased estradiol concentrations were documented among recovered women (FSH: 28.4 vs. 46.6 mlU/mL, fT3,: 2.0 vs. 2.6 pg/mL, E₂: 27.7 vs. 19.0 pg/mL). Patients had high C-reactive protein levels and acute physiologic and chronic health evaluation II scores. Mortality rate was 9.5% and a negative correlation between E₂ and duration of noninvasive mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay was found in male patients. Conclusion: Men and women with acute respiratory failure in the presence of COPD develop significant changes in the neuroendocrine axis. Hormonal suppression vanishes with disease improvement.