中药雾化对慢性单纯性鼻炎鼻腔粘膜微循环血流量的影响

目的:探讨中药雾化吸入对慢性单纯性鼻炎患者鼻腔粘膜微循环血流量的影响。方法:60例患者采用复方丹参、鱼腥草注射液超声雾化治疗3疗程。分别于治疗前后采用吸入性氢气清除法测定鼻粘膜微循环血流量的变化。结果:慢性单纯性鼻炎鼻粘膜微循环血流量较健康对照组明显减低,经雾化治疗后得到明显改善,其差异有极显著性意义(P<0.01)。结论:慢性单纯性鼻炎患者经中药雾化治疗后鼻粘膜微循环血流量明显增加,临床效果较好。     

Infertility: Enhancement of outcome from intracytoplasmic sperm injection: does co-culture or assisted hatching improve implantation rates?

In two separate prospectively randomized trials, intracytoplasmicsperm injection (ICSI) cycles were studied in a controlled mannerto monitor the effects of either bovine oviductal epithelialcell co-culture (n = 119) or assisted hatching by zona drilling(n = 100). In the first study, immediately following ICSI, alleggs were placed directly either onto partial monolayers ofbovine oviductal cells or into regular culture medium. Althoughthe embryo developmental rate was apparently compromised inpart by the presence of the co-culture cells, ultimately therewere no significant differences in either the viable pregnancyrate (31.6% co-culture versus 29.0% control) or the embryonicimplantation rate (11.4% co-culture versus 13.6% control). Assistedhatching also had no significant impact on ICSI cycle outcomein terms of either the viable pregnancy rate (30.0% assistedhatching versus 32.0% control) or the embryonic implantationrate (8.5% assisted hatching versus 13.5% control). However,in female patients aged 235 years, assisted hatching appearedto convey a marginally significant benefit in terms of boththe viable pregnancy rate (35.5% assisted hatching versus 11.1%control) and the embryonic implantation rate (103% assistedhatching versus 3.1 % control). It seems that the overall improvementof ICSI cycle outcome cannot be achieved by the general applicationof either co-culture or assisted hatching. Nevertheless, itis possible that there remain specific patient groups that mightbenefit from selected use of either of these modalities.     

外科手术计算机辅助导航技术

外科手术计算机辅助导航即利用计算机图形图像技术对放射影像学资料进行处理 ,重建二维或三维的医学图像模型 ,同时结合各种空间定位技术 ,在医师的双眼、手术工具及患者的头部之间建立一个实时的环路 ,实现手术过程中器械位置的实时或准实时显示。我们综述了外科手术计算机辅助导航系统的发展历史和研究现状 (重点阐述了其系统结构和关键技术 ,包括空间定位技术、图像处理与显示技术、系统配准技术、头部定位技术等 (最后给出了手术导航系统的发展趋势     

Integrated medical informatics with small group teaching in medical education

National Taiwan University College of Medicine (NTUCM) introduced small groups of teaching and basic-clinical integrated courses for medical students in 1992. By using computer network and multimedia techniques, this study tried to overcome barriers to learning in small group teaching. The Department of Medical Informatics of NTUCM established campus networking and computer classrooms and provided Internet and intranet network services including mail, netnews, bulletin board systems (BBS), world wide web (WWW), gopher, ftp and local file servers. To implement an interactive learning environment, the authors first tried mail lists, newsgroups and BBS. Next an integrated learning system prototype on the WWW was developed to provide functions including online syllabus, discussion boards simulated to BBS, online talk, interactive case studies, virtual classroom with video on demand (VOD) and Internet medical resources. The results showed that after the medical students completed the required course of medical informatics and had good network access using a network to communicate with each other became a daily practice. In the future, the system will extend to the tutoring of clinical practice and continuing medical education. The authors expect a national medical education network and more international cooperation and exchange.     

Prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in 2078 infertile couples referred for assisted reproductive techniques

BACKGROUND: This study analyses the prevalence of karyotype changes and Yq11 microdeletions among couples referred for assisted reproduction techniques. METHODS: Prior to receiving either IVF or ICSI treatment, each partner of 2078 infertile couples was screened for karyotype changes by GTG-banding technique on peripheral lymphocytes. No subject presented with obvious phenotype of chromosomal rearrangement. All the oligo/azoospermic men with normal karyotype were further investigated by PCR for Yq11 microdeletions. RESULTS: Eighty-two out of 2078 couples (3.95%) had one partner carrying a chromosomal change, and 10 out of 202 (4.95%) men showed Yq11 microdeletions. The chromosomal rearrangements were 44 (2.1%) translocations, 23 (1.1%) gonosomal mosaics, six (0.3%) 47,XXY, five (0.24%) marker chromosomes, three (0.14%) inversions and one (0.05%) duplication. Frequency of anomalies in men and women were similar: 42 and 40 cases respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Partners of infertile couples requiring IVF or ICSI treatment appear to be affected by higher frequency of chromosomal rearrangements than the general population. Categories with greater risk were represented by men with sperm cell count <20 x 10(6) sperm/ml, and women with history of pregnancy loss.     

Laser-assisted zona pellucida thinning prior to routine ICSI

BACKGROUND: In MII oocytes showing difficult oolemma breakage, ICSI can cause an increase in the degeneration rate. This may be overcome by laser-assisted ICSI using a 5-10 micro m opening in the zona pellucida for injection. However, such a small opening might impair the hatching process, especially if assisted hatching is applied in addition. In order to prevent this, the present study used routine injection through an area of zona pellucida in which laser zona thinning had been applied, providing for both a reduced mechanical stress to the oocyte and assisted hatching. METHODS: This prospective study involved 100 cycles with 1016 MII oocytes. Conventional ICSI (control group) was compared with a modified laser-assisted ICSI (study group) in sibling oocytes. In the latter group oocytes were injected through an extended area of zona thinning. RESULTS: Degeneration rate was significantly lower in the study group (P < 0.004). There were no differences in fertilization, or formation and quality of blastocysts. In the study group embryo quality on day 2 was significantly better (P = 0.004) and herniation of day 5 blastocysts was increased (P = 0.005). Rates of implantation and pregnancy were not affected. However, on day 3 laser-assisted ICSI proved beneficial (P = 0.038) in terms of clinical pregnancy rate. CONCLUSIONS: The new method combines a less invasive ICSI technique with assisted hatching. Our preliminary data indicate that in addition to an improved oocyte survival, this new approach increases the hatching rate in vitro, which may explain the increase in pregnancy rate, at least in day 3 transfers.     

Bacterial colonization of the uterine cervix and success rate in assisted reproduction: results of a prospective survey

BACKGROUND: Overgrowth of bacteria in the birth canal is associated with an increased risk of late miscarriage, preterm labour, post-partum endometritis and low birthweight. Conception rates in assisted reproduction treatments (ART) remain frustratingly low. We examined whether the nature of bacterial flora, found in the uterine cervical canal at embryo transfer, is associated with the rate of conception in ART. METHODS: We sampled for bacteriological culture the cervical canal of 204 patients who underwent embryo transfer. Of these, 139 (68%) were of fresh embryos, following recent vaginal oocyte retrieval and prophylactic antibiotic therapy, and 65 (32%) of frozen-thawed embryos, without any vaginal intervention in the preceding days. Bacteriological work-up included identification, colony count and antibiotic susceptibility profile. Conception was correlated with bacterial type and colony count. RESULTS: In 75 patients (36.8%) sterile cervical cultures or lactobacillus were recorded. Of these 75 patients, 23 (30.7%) conceived, whereas among the 129 in whom any pathogenic micro-organism was recovered only 21 (16.3%) conceived (P = 0.002). No difference in colonization was found between women who underwent frozen-thawed versus fresh embryo transfer (57 and 67% respectively). Any Gram-negative colonization was associated with no conception. All Gram-positive, and 90% of the Gram-negative bacteria, were sensitive to augmentin. CONCLUSIONS: Failure to conceive in ART is significantly associated with bacterial colonization of the uterine cervix.     

Infertility in the third millennium: implications for the individual, family and society: condensed meeting report from the Bertarelli Foundation's second global conference

Primary infertility is a key issue in the developed world, while the developing world has high rates of secondary infertility. The impact of HIV/AIDS on fertility is insufficiently explored. One of the most important barriers to access to infertility treatment is cost; at the same time the role of social and cultural factors in restricting access should not be underestimated. IVF has become the standard therapy for female infertility, and ICSI for infertility of the male partner. However, the use of these therapies should not be initiated without a thorough investigation and, whenever possible, individual diagnosis of the underlying causes of infertility. Multiple gestation remains one of the most challenging and controversial issues in the treatment of infertility. Current IVF practices are often blamed for this; in this respect, attention should also be focused on the role of ovarian stimulation in ovulation induction. National guidelines and national registries for assisted reproductive technology (ART) are becoming more widespread and are expected to play an important role in promoting best practice in ART in the future.