Research on severe maternal morbidities and near-misses in Brazil: what we have learned

The occurrence of complications during pregnancy depends less on the degree of human development than differences in the way complications in pregnancy are detected and managed. It is the quick diagnosis and correct management that really contribute to the enormous differences in maternal mortality ratios between countries and regions. Understanding of the determinants of maternal mortality may be improved by studying cases of severe maternal morbidity. In this paper, various approaches to the concept of severe maternal morbidity and near-misses are discussed, and the relationship between these and maternal deaths. Although no consensus has been reached on a strict definition of near-miss or severe maternal morbidity, we show that the definitions used may be tailored to support diverse objectives, including monitoring progress, epidemiological surveillance and auditing of health care. We conclude that the versatility of the concept, the greater frequency of cases available for study and the possibility of interviewing the survivors of severe complications all support the value of studying severe maternal morbidity to help guide local efforts to reduce maternal mortality. Although this may almost be a reality in developed countries, it continues to represent an important and difficult challenge to overcome in places where its benefits would be most evident.     

外科治疗纵隔原发神经源性肿瘤的手术径路评价

目的　探讨外科治疗原发纵隔神经源性肿瘤的手术径路。方法　 1963年 3月至2 0 0 3年 9月外科治疗原发纵隔神经源性肿瘤 91例。所有病例均于术前行X线胸片检查 ,其中 65例行CT或磁共振检查。根据肿瘤的大小、部位及其是否向椎管内延伸选择不同的手术入路 ,其中胸后外侧切口 84例 ,半哈壳状切口 2例 ,高位胸后侧切口 4例 ,胸后外侧加脊柱旁切口 1例。所有病例均经病理证实并行 6个月～ 15年的术后随访。结果　本组手术切除率 97.8% ( 89/91) ,术后并发症发生率 4.4% ( 4 /91) ,无手术死亡病例。术后病理诊断良性肿瘤 79例 ( 86.8% ) ,恶性肿瘤12例 ( 13 .4% )。 1例神经纤维瘤 2年后复发经再次手术切除治愈 ;恶性肿瘤平均生存 3 8.1个月。结论　适当的手术径路是提高纵隔原发神经源性肿瘤切除率的关键。     

图表比较教学法在微生物学教学中的应用

图表比较教学法作为微生物学教学的直观教学手段在本科教学中占有十分重要的地位，是形象思维和抽象思维两种思维方式的协调统一。有利于反映各知识层面的内在联系，可使学生加深对知识的理解，增强分析和综合问题的能力，以利于提高教学质量。     

Effects of simplifying choice tasks on estimates of taste heterogeneity in stated-choice surveys

Researchers usually employ orthogonal arrays or D-optimal designs with little or no attribute overlap in stated-choice surveys. The challenge is to balance statistical efficiency and respondent burden to minimize the overall error in the survey responses. This study examined whether simplifying the choice task, by using a design with more overlap, provides advantages over standard minimum-overlap methods. We administered two designs for eliciting HIV test preferences to split samples. Surveys were undertaken at four HIV testing locations in San Francisco, California. Personal characteristics had different effects on willingness to pay for the two treatments, and gains in statistical efficiency in the minimal-overlap version more than compensated for possible imprecision from increased measurement error.     

应重视口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤的综合序列治疗

口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤约占全身恶性肿瘤的3％，虽然所占比例不高，但l大l其解剖部位特殊．涉及美观和重要的生理功能，冈此对患者机体和心理的影响不容忽视。早期（Ⅰ、Ⅱ期）口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤无论采用手术和（或）放射治疗，均能取得良好效果。但遗憾的是，大多数患者就诊时，已属局部一区域晚期（Ⅲ、Ⅳ期）。由于受到局部解剖和维持功能的限制，单纯通过扩大手术切除范围和改进现有手术技术，除能改善患者生存质量外，已无法提高此类患者的生存率，延长其生存时间。     

颈椎管哑铃形肿瘤的显微外科治疗

目的探讨不同入路显微手术切除颈椎管哑铃形肿瘤的手术方法,总结其主要优点和术后并发症情况。方法2004年5月至2006年7月共收治16例颈椎管哑铃形肿瘤,其中5例肿瘤最大径超过5cm。5例巨大肿瘤中4例位于上颈段,采用侧方改良的极外侧入路（后外侧肌间入路）, 1例外院手术复发的巨大肿瘤位于中颈段,采用分次后正中和前路联合切除并行后方和前方内固定加前方植骨融合;1例肿瘤椎管外部分向前方生长,采用颈前入路切除后行前方植骨融合加内固定,其余10例采用后正中入路,其中1例超过中线的肿瘤采用全椎板切除加椎管成形,7例半椎板切除, 1例复发肿瘤原路切除,1例未切除椎板切除肿瘤。结果手术全切肿瘤14例,次全切2例。所有病例术后症状均有明显改善,其中2例巨大肿瘤患者术后出现低氧血症,重新气管插管后逐渐恢复, 1例巨大肿瘤患者术后脑脊液漏皮下积液,经穿刺置管引流数日后恢复正常。其中12例随访9-18个月,无一例复发或出现脊柱不稳定的情况。结论对于颈椎管哑铃形肿瘤,应尽可能采用创伤小的手术方式,在切除肿瘤的同时,减少棘突、韧带、椎板以及小关节的破坏,减小创伤和对脊柱稳定性的破坏,预防脊柱后凸和侧凸畸形的发生。极外侧入路适用于微创切除体积较大的高颈段椎管哑铃形肿瘤,较小的肿瘤可以采用后正中入路半椎板开窗手术,对骨质破坏严重者需在切除肿瘤后行内固定手术。