Lucian Leape on Patient Safety in U.S. Hospitals

PURPOSE: To describe and discuss the status of patient safety in U.S. hospitals. METHODS: Personal interview. This report is part of a series of discussions with a leading expert on patient safety. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Some improvements have been made in the past 10 years. But changes have not been adequate. Continuing barriers include the punitive environment in hospitals, physicians' denial of the scope of the problem, lack of national leadership, and lack of systems thinking.     

肿瘤干细胞的研究进展

肿瘤具有异质性的特征，随着研究的深入，越来越多的证据提示肿瘤组织中也存在少量具有干细胞性质的肿瘤干细胞，于是人们在此基础上提出了肿瘤干细胞学说，肿瘤干细胞已成为当今肿瘤研究领域的热点。目前，已经从白血病、脑肿瘤、乳腺癌、恶性黑色素瘤及前列腺癌等多种恶性肿瘤中初步分离鉴定出肿瘤干细胞。肿瘤干细胞学说的提出，使得靶向性杀伤肿瘤干细胞从而根治肿瘤成为可能。     

Slow-wave photic stimulation relieves patient discomfort during esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Background and Aim: Although pretreatment with a sedative drug is effective in relieving pain during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), such drugs can cause significant side‐effects. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of slow‐wave photic stimulation on discomfort and/or pain felt during EGD. Methods: Forty consecutive patients (25 men and 15 women) who underwent diagnostic EGD in our hospital were included in the study. Twenty patients received photic stimulation for 25 min, and underwent electroencephalographic recording, in addition to the usual premedications. Twenty control patients received the same treatment but without photic stimulation. All patients evaluated the discomfort/pain felt during endoscopy against a five‐grade scale in comparison with what they had experienced in their previous examination. Results: Patients with an improved discomfort/pain score were 18/20 and 3/20 in the treated and control groups, respectively. Overall comparison of pain scores between both groups was significant (P < 0.0001). The proportion of slow‐wave activity recorded in patients’ electroencephalograms significantly increased in the treated group compared to control values (36.6 ± 6.8% vs 29.1 ± 3.4%, P < 0.001). There was a close correlation between the degree of discomfort/pain felt during endoscopy and the proportion of slow‐wave activity (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Slow‐wave photic stimulation shows promise as a treatment for relieving the discomfort and/or pain felt by patients undergoing EGD.     

移情对建立新型医患关系伦理模式的利与弊

在现代社会这样一个转轨时期，医患矛盾越来越突出，如何缓和医患关系、建立新型医患关系伦理模式成为大家共同关心的课题。作者从移情的角度入手，阐述了新型医患关系伦理模式的内涵，分析了移情对于缓和医患关系有哪些有利之处与不利之处，并提出了如何适度利用移情的方法，使其发挥最大作用。     

老年患者不稳定性股骨转子间骨折的术式选择

目的探讨不同的内固定方式在老年患者不稳定性股骨转子间骨折治疗中的应用。方法参照Evans分型,85例老年患者股骨转子间骨折,不稳定性77例,稳定性8例,分别应用不同内固定治疗,其中Gamma钉20例、重建钉25例、动力髋部螺钉(DHS)和动力髁部螺钉(DCS)40例。结果术后随访79例,均获得骨折愈合,愈合时间4～7个月,平均5.2个月,其中大于5°髋内翻者有12例。根据患者骨折愈合、关节活动、主观感觉与生活能力恢复等因素制定疗效评定标准,优良率为84.8%(67例)。未发生因本手术所致内科合并症加重或患者死亡。结论髋内翻是老年患者不稳定性股骨转子间骨折内固定术后的主要并发症。Evans分型对选择内固定具有指导意义。结合老年患者骨质疏松情况,针对不同骨折类型选用适当的内固定器械,可以提高不稳定性转子间骨折的疗效。     

Left ventricular fibroma in an aged patient: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 77-year-old man with a left ventricular tumor originating from the papillary muscle of the left ventricular wall, in whom a successful tumor resection with mitral valve replacement was performed. The pathological diagnosis of the tumor was confirmed as cardiac fibroma. His postoperative course was uneventful and he is currently well with no signs of recurrence 2 years after surgery.