International round robin tests on the measurement of carbon in diesel exhaust particulates

Object: Diesel soot has been recognized as probably carcinogenic to humans. Elemental carbon (also called black carbon) in soot is considered at the moment as the most significant surrogate to be measured for assessing the exposure to this pollutant. Its analysis is done by combustion in an oven and determination of the CO₂ formed, after elimination of the organic fraction of the soot by heating and/or by solvent extraction. The analysis allows determination of both fractions of the soot: “elemental carbon” (EC) and organic carbon␣(OC). The sum of EC and OC is called TC (total carbon). Method: An informal European coordination group organized two round robin tests on filter samples collected from diluted diesel emissions. The first round (RRT1) was performed on 13 different samples analyzed by ten laboratories. The range of loading was 2.5 to 150 μg/cm² of EC. No evaluation of the precision within laboratories could be made since each laboratory gave only one result per sample. Therefore a second round (RRT2) was organized with two samples and a blank filter sent in several portions to 11 laboratories. It should be stressed that each laboratory used its own method and that no standardization was planned at this stage. Results: Results of RRT1 showed that the coefficient of variation between laboratories decreased with higher loading and was around 10% to 15% for EC above about 20 μg/cm². Dispersion of the results varied and it appeared that the way OC is removed from the soot is probably the most important factor of influence. The correlation between the laboratories was good as a whole but some systematic differences could be detected. Besides the different techniques to remove the organic carbon, the pretreatment of the filter by HCl (either as a vapor or as a solution) to remove the inorganic carbonates (potential interference sources), is probably also a significant factor of influence in the dispersion of the results between laboratories. It is not yet clear from these results whether the “environmental” laboratories give different results from the “occupational” laboratories, but it is clear that their objectives differ since for the “environmentalists”, EC is not a specific marker of diesel immissions, in contrast to the “occupationalists”. Conclusion: It can be concluded that, although significant differences exist between laboratories they can be attributed mainly to the narrow distribution of the results within a single laboratory, and that the overall agreement of the results for EC and TC is fairly good. These results obtained with pure diesel engine emissions, should be complemented by field samples, but they have already achieved relevant findings in the performance of the procedures used to assess exposure to diesel soot. Received: 30 December 1996 / Accepted: 21 February 1997     

2-chloroprocaine antagonism of epidural morphine analgesia

Background: 2-chloroprocaine (2-CP) used for lumbar epidural anesthesia (LEA) reportedly decreases the efficacy of epidural morphine (EM) administered for post-cesarean section (CS) analgesia. The amount of supplemental i.v. morphine self-administered by the patient via the patient-controlled analgesia device (PCA) is used to study the interaction between EM and 2-CP.
Methods: Forty-two patients scheduled for elective CS were randomly divided into 3 equal groups, and received 2-CP, 2-CP+epinephrine (Epi, 5 μg ml^-1) or 2% lidocaine (Lido) with Epi for LEA. All patients received 5 mg EM and i.v. PCA morphine for postoperative pain. Cumulative amount of i.v. morphine used in the first 24 hours as well as the amount of the drug used during each 2-h period were noted. Nonparametric analysis of variance and Chi-squared analysis were used for statistical comparisons.
Results: The mean cumulative 24-h i.v. PCA morphine requirement in the 2-CP, 2-CP+Epi and Lido+Epi groups respectively was 20.5±24, 33.1.5±27 and 4.07±6.3 (mean±SD). The Lido+Epi group used significantly less morphine ( P = 0.01) compared to either of the 2-CP groups with no significant difference between the 2-CP groups. The maximum i.v. PCA morphine use occurred in the first 4 hours following surgery in all three groups.
Conclusion: Analgesic efficacy of EM is decreased when 2-CP is used for LEA compared to when Lido+Epi is used.     

Effects of food deprivation on cocaine base smoking in rhesus monkeys

Studies have shown that both food deprivation and response cost have important influences on the magnitude of self-administration of a wide variety of psychoactive drugs. In an attempt to extend these findings to the smoked route of drug self-administration, the effects of food allotment and fixed-ratio (FR) value were evaluated in four male rhesus monkeys trained to smoke cocaine base. In the first phase of the experiment, monkeys were trained to self-administer smoked cocaine base under a chained progressive-ratio (PR), fixed-ratio (FR) schedule during daily experimental sessions. Monkeys were required to make 20 lever-press responses and then five inhalations on a smoking spout to obtain the first smoke delivery. The lever ratio then increased to 60, 140, 300, 620, 1260, 2540, and 4940 for each successive smoke delivery. The initial lever ratio value was reset to 20 at the beginning of each daily session. The body weights of three monkeys were determined under free-feeding conditions. Monkeys were then restricted to 100 g food and, when body weights had stabilized, the daily food allotment was increased to 150 g, approximately 210 g, or greater than 400 g (satiation). As the daily food allotment and body weight increased, the mean number of smoke deliveries decreased in two of three monkeys. In the second phase of the experiment, three monkeys were maintained under either food-satiated or food-restricted conditions. Body weights were maintained at approximately 90% of their free-feeding weights under food-restricted conditions. The cost of the drug (lever FR value) was constant within each experimental session, but was increased after 3 consecutive days of stable responding. Fixed-ratio values were increased from 128 to 256, 512, 1024, and 2048. Monkeys were required to complete the lever FR value and then to make five inhalations on the smoking spout to gain access to 1.0 mg/kg per delivery cocaine base. The mean number of smoke deliveries increased at FR 256, 512, and 1024 when monkeys were food-restricted as opposed to food-satiated. Correspondingly, the mean number of responses increased under food-restricted conditions. Responding continued to increase over a wider range of FR values, and the peak number of responses was higher under food-restricted, as opposed to food-satiated conditions. These results, using the smoking route of administration, are consistent with the hypothesis that food deprivation increases the self-administration of reinforcing drugs.     

乌司他丁对门脉高压症出血病人肝功能的保护作用

目的　探讨门脉高压症出血病人肝功能变化情况 ,同时评价应用乌司他丁 (Ulinastatin ,UTI)治疗的效果。方法　将 4 6例肝硬化门脉高压症出血病人分为两组 :Ⅰ组 (n =2 2 )为一般治疗组 ,Ⅱ组 (n =2 4 )为UTI治疗组 ,分别检测Ⅰ、Ⅱ组出血后 1,2 ,4 ,7,10 ,14d血ET变化情况 ,并检测1,7,14d的肝功能。另选肝硬化门脉高压症未出血病人 (n =2 0 ) ,检测血浆ET ,作为对照组。结果　出血后 7,14d ,Ⅰ、Ⅱ组总胆红素 (TBIL)均呈先升高后下降 ,但Ⅱ组较Ⅰ组下降快 (分别P <0 0 5 ,P <0 0 1)。ALT、AST亦呈先升高后下降 ,但于出血后 14日Ⅱ组较Ⅰ组下降快 (P <0 0 5 )。Ⅰ、Ⅱ组出血后 1d血ET浓度较对照组显著升高 (P <0 0 1) ,随后逐步下降。Ⅱ组ET下降较Ⅰ组快 ,于出血后 2d(P <0 0 5 )、4d (P <0 0 1)、7d(P <0 0 5 )有显著差异。出血后 1dⅠ、Ⅱ组ET浓度与TBIL呈正相关 (r=0 734,P <0 0 1) ;Ⅰ、Ⅱ组血ET下降指数与TBIL增高指数呈负相关 (r =- 0 4 86 ,P <0 0 5 )。结论　肝硬化门脉高压症大出血后应用UTI治疗可抑制TBIL、ALT、AST、ET等的升高 ,起到保护肝脏功能的作用。     

美宝湿润烧伤膏在治疗慢性泪囊炎的应用

目的：观察美宝湿润烧伤膏(MEBO)在治疗慢性泪囊炎的应用价值。方法：对87例102只慢性泪囊炎采用泪道探通手术与MEBO置留治疗。常规泪点表面麻醉，扩张泪点，用生理盐水或氯霉素眼水冲洗鼻泪管、泪囊、泪小管，再用无菌注射器装入5ml MEBO，用5号自制泪道冲洗针沿泪道方向插入，直达泪囊推药，使鼻泪管、泪囊、泪小管内充满MEBO，一周后继续上述方法治疗，一般连续治疗2—5次。结果：治疗总有效率为100％，随访6个月，无一例复发。结论：在泪道探通手术后随即留置MEBO治疗慢性泪囊炎，临床效果良好，操作简单方便，经济有效，值得临床推广应用。     

醒脑静注射液治疗肺性脑病31例疗效分析

目的 :探讨醒脑静注射液治疗肺性脑病的临床疗效。方法 :采用随机分组对照法 ,将 6 1例肺性脑病患者分为加用醒脑静组 (治疗组 ) 31例和单纯西药治疗组 (对照组 ) 30例 ,进行疗效对比分析。结果 :治疗组治愈12例 ,有效 15例 ,总有效率 87.10 % ;对照组治愈 5例 ,有效 16例 ,总有效率 70 .0 % ,2组疗效差异有显著性(P<0 .0 5 )。从时效关系看 :治疗组对意识障碍的起效时间〔(72 .0 0± 33.94 )小时〕明显快于对照组〔(117.71± 34.70 )小时 ,P<0 .0 1〕,表现为促醒时间短 ,意识恢复正常快 ,并能达到镇静安神的作用 ;从改善原发病症状、体征及血气指标看 :治疗组在改善头痛、失眠、多语、幻觉、谵妄、狂躁及喘憋等症状方面明显优于对照组 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,对降低 Pa CO2 效果亦明显优于对照组 (P<0 .0 1)。结论 :醒脑静注射液具有开窍醒脑、行痰通瘀、镇静止痉和清热解毒等功效 ,是防治肺性脑病的安全、有效药物。     

非体外循环冠状动脉搭桥术早期疗效的探讨

目的：探讨非体外循环心脏不停跳冠状动脉搭桥术的安全性和早期临床效果。方法：自2000年7月至2002年3月51例冠心病患接受冠状动脉搭桥手术，按手术方式分为非体外循环组（n=21）和传统体外循环组（n=30)。将两组病人的术前临床资料，手术方式，术后并发症和疗效等进行对比分析。结果：两组术前临床资料无明显差异。非体外循环组手术时间，术后出血输血量，呼吸机辅助时间显少于体外循环组，并且术后心律失常的发生率明显降低（P均＜0．05），其他重要器官的并发症发生率亦低于体外循环组。两组平均随访9．6个月，心绞痛均消失，心功能改善，活动量明显增加。结论：非体外循环冠状动脉搭桥术是安全可行的，并发症少，近期疗效满意。     

山东省中小学生麻疹爆发原因的病例对照研究

为探讨山东省中小学生麻疹爆发的原因 ,采用 1∶2配比的病例对照方法对中小学生麻疹疫苗 (MV)效力进行了研究 ,同时对近年来中小学生MV接种率进行了估算。结果显示 :中小学生MV效力为 74 % ,95 %可信区间为4 7%～ 88% ;小学生MV效力明显高于中学生 ,分别为 82 %和 6 8% ;1999～ 2 0 0 1年学龄儿童的估算接种率分别为75 4 %、75 6 %和 5 5 7%。较低的MV效力和接种率是计划免疫工作薄弱地区中小学生麻疹爆发的主要原因。     

Laparoscopic nephrectomy is cost effective compared with open nephrectomy in a large county hospital.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the experience with laparoscopic nephrectomy in a large county hospital and perform a cost comparison between uncomplicated open and laparoscopic nephrectomy. METHODS: Eleven consecutive patients who underwent an uncomplicated laparoscopic nephrectomy in a large county hospital were compared with 8 patients who underwent uncomplicated open nephrectomy during the same period. Patient charts and corresponding billing records were reviewed to determine overall hospitalization cost and individual cost components. RESULTS: No perioperative complications occurred in either the laparoscopic or open group, and no statistically significant differences existed between groups with regard to patient demographics or operative parameters. The overall operating room costs favored the open nephrectomy group by dollars 1070 (P=0.003). However, the overall cost of hospitalization, surgeon professional fees, duration of hospitalization, room and board costs, laboratory, and radiology costs, pharmacy costs, intravenous solution and infusion pump costs all significantly favored the laparoscopic patient group. The mean difference in overall hospital cost between laparoscopic and open nephrectomy was dollars 1211 in favor of laparoscopy (P=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with laparoscopic nephrectomy in a large county hospital demonstrates a clear economic advantage in favor of the laparoscopic approach. Given limited funding for public hospitals and a clear patient benefit, laparoscopic nephrectomy should constitute first-line therapy when nephrectomy is indicated.     

Use of self-efficacy and dyspnea perceptions to predict functional performance in people with COPD.

This correlational and comparative study explored whether self-reports of self-efficacy and dyspnea perceptions predict the perceived level of functional performance in adults who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The convenience sample included 97 Caucasian men (52) and women (45). Participants had to have a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of less than 70% predicted, and a FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) of less than 70%. Participants were recruited from pulmonary function laboratories and from better breather support groups in a Midwestern state. Three standardized, self-report instruments, COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), the Pulmonary Functional Status and Dyspnea Questionnaire (PFSDQ), and Functional Performance Inventory (FPI) were used to measure the participants' self-report of their perceptions of self-efficacy, dyspnea, and functional performance. Dyspnea predicted 38.1% of the variance in functional performance, with self-efficacy contributing an additional 6.5% to the variance in the total sample. Self-efficacy predicted 36.5% of the variance in functional performance in men, with dyspnea contributing an additional 7.2% to the variance. However, in women, only dyspnea was a significant predictor of functional performance, at 48.5% when both dyspnea and self-efficacy were entered as independent variables. To improve patients' perceptions of functional performance, nurses can use methods such as breathing techniques and upper- and lower-body exercises that increase optimal management of dyspnea. Nurses may increase the self-efficacy of managing dyspnea by helping patients master breathing techniques and exercise through coaching and providing vicarious experiences through patient support groups or pulmonary rehabilitation programs.