Quality assurance management methods applied to a local-level primary health care system in rural Nigeria

Introduction. Management of primary health care (PHC) systems in less developed countries is often impeded by factors such as poorly trained personnel, limited financial resources, and poor worker morale. This study explored the ability of local-level PHC supervisors in rural Nigeria to use quality assurance (QA) management methods to improve the quality of the PHC system. Methods. PHC supervisors from Bama Local Government Area were trained for 3 days in the use of QA methods and tools. The supervisors targeted the supervisory system and the health information system (HIS) for improvement. Health worker performance in diarrhoea case management was assessed, using a simulated case, to measure the impact of supervision. A HIS audit assessed data collection forms used by 17 PHC facilities. Gaps in quality were monitored over a 2-month study period and flaws in work processes were modified. Results. PHC supervisors introduced a checklist during monthly visits to facilities to monitor how workers managed cases of diarrhoea. Performance in history-taking, physical examination, disease classification, treatment and counselling improved over the evaluation period. The HIS audit found that a variety of reporting forms were used at PHC facilities. After HIS reporting was standardized, the number of health facilities using a daily disease registry significantly improved during the study period. Conclusions. QA management methods were used by PHC supervisors in Nigeria to improve supervision and the HIS. QA management methods are appropriate for improving the quality of the PHC in Nigeria and in other less developed countries where at least a minimal PHC infrastructure exists.     

Bolusvs. continuous hepatic arterial infusion of cisplatin plus intravenous 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy for unresectable colorectal metastases

A multicenter, randomized Phase 2 study that compared patients, affected by colorectal liver metastases, who received intrahepatic arterial infusion with two different schedules of cisplatin, bolusvs. continuous infusion, and systemic 5-fluorouracil. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to validate results of a previous Phase 2 trial on bolus cisplatin intrahepatic arterial infusion, which reported a 47 percent response rate and a 32 percent 4-year survival rate for Gennari's Stage 2 patients, with a high rate of neurologic, gastrointestinal, and hematologic toxicity. METHODS: One hundred nine patients were randomized in a Phase 2 study to receive cisplatin intrahepatic arterial infusion (24 mg/m²/day, 15, bolusvs. continuous infusion) and systemic intravenous 5-fluorouracil (250, 375, or 500 mg/m²/day, 15; escalating doses, respectively, at cycles I, II, III, and VI). To avoid neurotoxicity a maximum of six cycles was administered. RESULTS: Preliminary results for the 78 evaluable patients are similar to those of the previous study: response rate 46 percent and at a median follow-up of 16.5 months, the overall survival was 16.5 months, with 45 percent of the patients who received more than 3 cycles alive at 3 years. Toxicity, evaluable in 99 patients, showed a decreased incidence of neurotoxicity and a tolerable gastrointestinal and hematologic toxicity, lower in the cisplatin continuous infusion arm. CONCLUSION: This study clearly shows that cisplatin intrahepatic arterial infusion is able to provide a good palliative effect with a tolerable toxicity.This study was supported in part by Pharmacia-Deltec, Italy.     

Left ventricular dysfunction during exercise in patients with angina pectoris and angiographically normal coronary arteries (syndrome X)

Left ventricular function during exercise and recovery was investigated in patients with angina pectoris, ST segment depression during exercise and angiographically normal coronary arteries (syndrome X) using a continuous left ventricular function monitor with cadmium telluride detector (CdTe-VEST). Fourteen patients with syndrome X and 14 patients with atypical chest pain without ST segment depression during exercise and normal coronary arteries (control group) performed supine ergometric exercise after administration of 740–925 MBq of technetium-99m labelled red blood cells, and left ventricular function was monitored every 20 s using CdTe-VEST. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) response was impaired (55% increase from rest to peak exercise) in 11 or 14 patients with syndrome X but in none of the control patients. Resting EF was similar in the two groups (62.1%±6.7% in patients with syndrome X, 61.9%±6.2% in controls); however, EF increase from rest to peak exercise was lower in syndrome X (–3.1±9.5% vs 14.7%±7.4%, P <0.001). After cessation of exercise, all patients showed rapid EF increase over baseline and this EF overshoot was lower (19.3%±8.3% vs 26.4%±7.3%, P <0.001) with the time to EF overshoot longer (114±43 s vs 74±43 s, P<0.05) in patients with syndrome X. Thus, in patients with syndrome X, left ventricular dysfunction was frequently observed during exercise in spite of normal epicardial coronary arteries. Correspondence to: J. Taki     

Devices for the treatment of diabetes: today

Although single or multiple daily subcutaneous injections of insulin with syringes are the mainstay of insulin delivery techniques for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, several other methods are now available. The present paper will review the main problems occurring with the classical subcutaneous insulin therapy and the possible solutions given by the use of new devices, including more particularly insulin jet injectors, pens, and portable pumps. This review has to be considered as an introduction to the presentations of this symposium devoted to implantable pumps, glucose sensors, and artificial pancreas, respectively.     

nCPAP治疗对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患者动态血压的影响

目的:探讨经鼻持续气道正压通气(nCPAP)治疗,对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征(OSAS)合并高血压患者动态血压的影响。方法:22例男性患者行多导睡眠图(PSG)监测及动态血压检查确诊为OSAS合并高血压的患者,观察nCPAP治疗前后患者动态血压、多导睡眠图等多项指标变化。结果:nCPAP治疗后患者PSG参数明显改善:睡眠时最低SaO_2从(71.0±12.3)％上升到(91.7±7.3)％(P<0.01);RDI显著降低;同时24小时血压明显下降,治疗前血压(16.5±1.6/11.6±2.3Kpa),治疗后血压(13.7±1.5/9.3±1.4Kpa)(P<0.01)。结论:经鼻持续气道正压通气治疗阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征,不但可以纠正患者的呼吸暂停,改善临床症状,而且可能降低患者的血压。     

丙泊酚及氯胺酮持续泵注与间断静注的静脉全麻比较

目的比较丙泊酚复合氯胺酮静脉泵注与间断静注的静脉全麻效果及安全性。方法　20例ASA　I～II级静脉全麻手术患者随机为I、II组,每组10例,I组为丙泊酚及氯胺酮分次静注组,II组为丙泊酚及氯胺酮持续静脉泵注组。两组术前3分钟静注丙珀酚0.6mg/kg,氯胺酮1mg/kg。I组术中当麻醉转浅时静注丙泊酚(0.6mg/kg)和(或)氯胺酮(1mg/kg),Ⅱ组术中以微泵泵注丙泊酚(1～3mg·kg-1·h-1),氯胺酮(2～4mg·kg-1·h-1)。记录麻醉前至手术进行1小时每隔5分钟测得的平均动脉压(MAP)、呼吸(R)及脉搏氧饱和度(SpO);整个手术过程中麻醉药用量。结果2麻醉期间I组MAP、R波动大,Ⅱ组较平稳;I组有4例SpO下降至88%～94%;Ⅱ组所有病人SpO达98%～100%以上,22两组比较差异有显著性。Ⅱ组人均氯胺酮及丙泊酚用量显著多于Ⅰ组。结论　氯胺酮及丙泊酚微泵泵注给药麻醉效果好,术中BP和R平稳,麻醉药用量少,安全性好。     

从金银花中提取绿原酸生产工艺的改进

目的：对金银花的提取工艺进行改进，以提高得率及降低溶剂消耗量。方法：首先用少量乙醇水溶液润湿金银花，然后加沸腾热水搅拌提取。结果：绿原酸得率为7．89％，浸膏中绿原酸含量为16．7％，均高于传统醇提及水提，但乙醇用量仅为醇提的6％。结论：新工艺对绿原酸的提取具有较大的应用价值。     

Natural changes in peritoneal equilibration test results in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients: a retrospective, seven year cohort survey

We conducted a retrospective, 7 year cohort survey to examine the natural changes in peritoneal equilibration test (PET) results in patients with long-term uneventful continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Thirty-two (17 males, 15 females) patients on CAPD with two or more standard PETs performed more than 6 months apart, in the absence of peritoneal insult, were included. Changes and pattern of PET results were evaluated by the dialysate to plasma ratio of creatinine (D:P-cre), the fourth h dialysate to instilled glucose ratio (D4:Do) and ultrafiltration volume (UF, ml). The subgroups included high (H), high-average (HA), low-average (LA), or low (L) transporters with the dividing ratios (D:P-cre) of >0.81, >0. 65 to 0.81, >0.5 to 0.65, and <0.5, respectively. The median D:P-cre significantly decreased (p = 0.04), but neither the D4:Do nor the final median UF significantly decreased. The change in D:P-cre was strongly and inversely correlated with the initial D:P-cre value (r = -0.68; p < 0.05). A similar relationship was found between the change in the final D4:Do and the initial D4:Do (r = -0.752; p < 0. 01) and between the change in the final UF and the initial UF (r = -0.875; p < 0.01). No correlation was found between the change in D:P-cre and the age of the patient, the time interval between PETs, monthly dialysate glucose exposure, or underlying diabetes/non-diabetes. The final peritoneal transport pattern was altered with 5 (15.6%) patients remaining in the extreme subgroups (H or L) and, by contrast, 84.4% (27/32) of the patients now in the averaged (HA or LA) groups (p < 0.01, chi2 test). We demonstrated a natural "centralization" migration of PET results after long-term uneventful CAPD, which may help to explain why patients with extreme PET characteristics, that is, H or L, continued to do well on CAPD.     

A Bayesian dosing method for carboplatin given by continuous infusion for 120 h

Carboplatin (CBDCA), an analogue of cisplatin, exhibits reduced toxicity but wide interpatient variability of its pharmacokinetic parameters. Individualization of the CBDCA dose is therefore necessary. Although various formulas have been developed for this purpose, major side effects have been reported on CBDCA administration by short-term infusion (0.5 or 1h). We therefore propose a new schedule of CBDCA administration. Instead of a dosing method based on the estimation of renal function when a classic administration schedule is used, we propose a pharmacokinetic dosing method (Bayesian method), whereby CBDCA is given by continuous infusion for 120 h. First, CBDCA was given to 21 patients to determine the population pharmacokinetic parameters of carboplatin. Then, on the basis of total platinum plasma concentration measurements and Bayesian estimation of pharmacokinetic parameters, it was possible to individualize the CBDCA dose within the first 24 h of the infusion. This new protocol for CBDCA administration was evaluated in 36 new patients (60 courses). Three theoretical end points at the end of the infusion were considered. For a given theoretical end point, 20 courses were taken into account. The theoretical end points (i.e., 1, 1.5, and 1.8 mg/l) were compared with the concentrations measured at the end of the infusion, which were 0.99 ± 0.10, 1.41 ± 0.13, and 1.72 ± 0.20 mg/l, respectively. This Bayesian dosing method can easily be used in clinical practice, and the determination of predictive performances has shown that the method is precise and unbiased. With no more toxicity or practical difficulties than those produced by other methods, and with acceptable tolerance, it was possible to reach a median dose that was 20% higher than the usual dose (484 ± 190 mg/m² as compared with 400 mg/m²). In conclusion, this new schedule of CBDCA administration appears to be interesting in terms of tolerance. However, new studies are required to confirm that this new scheme leads to equal or better efficacy than the classic protocol. Received: 10 December 1995 / Accepted: 15 December 1996