Improving emergency obstetric care in Mozambique: the story of Sofala.

OBJECTIVE: The 5-year project in the province of Sofala was designed to improve access, quality and utilization of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) by strengthening rural hospitals and health centers and ultimately the health system's capacity to respond to emergencies more quickly and effectively. METHODS: Implementation consisted of attention to infrastructure, human resource development, transportation and communication systems, and management. Specific management aspects that were targeted for improvement included: supportive supervision, logistics for supplies, equipment and drugs, record keeping, monitoring and evaluation, and quality improvement techniques such as maternal death audits. RESULTS: Access to EmOC improved with an increase in the number of fully functional EmOC facilities from 4 to 18. The number of women with obstetric complications who were admitted for treatment in participating facilities tripled, and the proportion of those women dying declined by half. CONCLUSIONS: Close collaboration and partnership with the provincial health directorate make the sustainability of many results likely while the replication of much of the Sofala model to other provinces is promising for the national strategy to reduce maternal mortality.     

妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石的急诊腔内技术处理

目的探讨妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石急诊腔内技术处理的安全性和有效性。方法1998年6月至2005年3月,对17例妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石急症的患者行急诊腔内技术治疗。患者年龄21～35岁,平均27岁,孕周20～36周,平均29周。表现为肾绞痛反复发作11例,发热4例,急性梗阻性无尿2例。结石位于左侧5例、右侧10例、双侧2例；结石位于输尿管上段8例、中段5例、下段2例,双侧下段2例。结石大小6mm×7mm～13mm×21mm。患侧轻度肾积水6例,中度11例。行经尿道输尿管镜下气压弹道碎石14例；输尿管上段结石推至肾盂1例；因无法进镜而单纯留置双J管2例。结果17例患者的肾绞痛、发热等症状经治疗后完全消失。结石一次取净者14例(82.4%)。残留结石者3例,留置双J管至分娩后,其中1例每3个月更换双J管。未发生先兆流产或早产等情况,无输尿管穿孔及其他并发症。留置双J管后出现排尿后腰部不适1例,3d后缓解；术后肉眼血尿1例,6d后自行消失。17例均顺利生产,婴儿健康。结论经尿道输尿管镜腔内技术治疗妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石急性发作安全、有效。     

In vivo fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging of human skin tumours

The feasibility of using in vivo autofluorescence for the diagnosis of skin cancer was evaluated. In vivo fluorescence measurements were performed on healthy human volunteers, and patients with different types of benign and malignant skin tumours. Fluorescence spectra as well as fluorescence images were acquired. The excitation-emission matrix of normal skin (n=3) showed a broad peak at the shortest excitation wavelength (365 nm) and at 440 nm fluorescence wavelength, smoothly decreasing towards longer excitation and fluorescence wavelengths. Non-melanoma skin tumours (n=31) and control skin excited with 375 nm showed a broad fluorescence band from 400 to 700 nm, peaking around 436 nm. No significant differences in measurements between tumours and the corresponding control sites were found. A large spatial variation in the fluorescence intensity was observed both in the tumours and in the control sites. Standard deviations found ranged from 0.15 to 1.5 times the mean fluorescence. Fluorescence images, excited with 375 nm and taken with an image intensified CCD camera, on eight malignant melanomas and eight benign pigmented lesions did not indicate any fluorescence intensity distribution specific to the malignancy of the lesion. Neither the shape of the fluorescence spectra, nor the spatial distribution of the fluorescence intensity showed any signature specific to the histopathological nature of the lesions investigated. Optical diagnostics of skin tumours using the autofluorescence does not seem to be feasible at the present time.     

手部爆炸伤的临床分型与治疗

目的探讨手部爆炸伤新的临床分型以指导治疗、提高疗效。方法1997～2004年收治106例手部爆炸伤,按爆炸伤的严重程度和伤情特点将其划分四型：Ⅰ型：仅有皮肤灼伤、挫裂伤或手部的小面积皮肤缺损,治疗选用清创缝合或植皮修复;Ⅱ型：手部皮肤软组织缺损合并肌腱或骨关节损伤,但无手指血运障碍,治疗选用骨与关节复位固定、肌腱修复的同时必须采用皮瓣覆盖;Ⅲ型：手部广泛皮肤软组织缺损,伴有肌腱、血管、神经及骨关节损伤,手指缺血、离断或缺失,治疗必须应用显微外科技术实施血管吻合、断指再植或拇手指再造和皮瓣移植;Ⅳ型：手广泛毁损,治疗选择截肢术。结果本组Ⅰ型12例,手功能恢复正常;Ⅱ型31例,手功能恢复较好,14例遗留皮瓣臃肿或肌腱粘连,需二期治疗。Ⅲ型57例,无1例截肢,45例进行了二期功能重建手术,手功能恢复达正常的30%～80%不等;Ⅳ型6例,手功能完全丧失。结论该分型方法简明具体,便于临床判断受伤类型和选择治疗方法,并可估计愈合,对临床处理手部爆炸伤具有较好的指导意义。     

Comparison of redox and D29 phage methods for detection of isoniazid and rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Rapid, accurate and inexpensive methods are essential to detect drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and allow timely application of effective treatment and precautions to prevent transmission. The proportion method, the MTT and Alamar Blue redox methods, and the D29 mycobacteriophage assay, were compared for their ability to detect resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin. When tested against a panel of known M. tuberculosis strains, the redox methods and the D29 assay showed good sensitivity and specificity compared to the proportion method, suggesting that they could be useful alternatives for identifying multidrug resistance in M. tuberculosis.     

Integrated home monitoring predicts lead failure in a pacemaker dependent 4-year-old girl.

A 4-year-old girl with post-surgical complete atrioventricular block received an epicardial dual chamber pacemaker system. During further growth intermittent exit block occurred, first misinterpreted as neurological seizures. The epicardial lead was replaced using a transvenous approach, and a pacemaker with an integrated home monitoring facility was implanted. After her discharge, a rise in the pacing threshold automatically initiated an event message. On the basis of this information, the patient was called in and imminent dislodgement of the ventricular lead was diagnosed by x-ray. The lead was repositioned and was found stable over 1-year follow-up.     

Breast cancer surveillance — a cost-effective strategy

Summary The effectiveness of a surveillance program for breast cancer recurrence in extending survival is predicated on two assumptions: 1) most recurrences are detected at an early stage at surveillance visits; and 2) the early treatment of recurrence offers a better chance of cure or longer survival. However, the data suggest that neither of these two assumptions is correct, and that postoperative follow-up of patients with breast cancer is expensive and does not significantly extend survival.This minisymposium was presented December 8, 1992, at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, and was sponsored by educational grants from Amgen and from Bristol-Myers Oncology Division.     

Postgraduate school of obstetrics and gynecology and nongovernmental organizations: is collaboration possible?

We report the collaboration between the First Postgraduate School of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Milan, Italy, and the nongovernmental organization “Emergency” that operates through its own hospitals in countries devastated by armed conflicts. The collaboration was centered on the maternity clinic that Emergency opened in 2003 in northern Afghanistan. After a woman resident spent 5 months on-site, the collaboration is now extended to all residents with a group with four areas of intervention: guidelines, clinical records and data collection, drugs and medical devices, and teaching material. In addition, it offers consultation by e-mail for any clinical issue that might arise.