Functioning and disability 6–15 years after traumatic brain injuries in northern Sweden

Objectives –  To assess long‐term functioning and disability after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Material and methods –  Individuals (n = 88) in Norrbotten, northern Sweden, who had been transferred for neurosurgical care were assessed with internationally established TBI outcome measures 6–15 years post‐injury. Results –  There was an improvement in overall outcome from discharge from inpatient rehabilitation to follow‐up. Many individuals had a high degree of motor and cognitive functioning, which enabled them to live independently in their own home without assistance, but there remained a disability related to community reintegration and social participation. This affected their productivity and to some degree their marital stability. The remaining disability and reduced productivity were related to the age at injury and the injury severity. Conclusions –  Our data showed that individuals with a TBI can achieve and maintain a high degree of functioning many years after the injury. Increasing age and a greater injury severity contributed to their long‐term disability.     

Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis recapture clinical response during re-treatment with etanercept

Background  Patients with psoriasis experience remission and gradual reappearance of erythematous and scaly plaques and require individualized treatment over time. A goal of psoriasis treatment is to provide optimal efficacy with a flexible therapeutic regimen that may include treatment pauses.
Objectives  To determine whether patients receiving initial treatment with etanercept who then pause therapy would subsequently recapture response during re-treatment.
Patients and methods  A post-hoc analysis of 226 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis from a large multicentre trial was performed. Patients had received etanercept 50 mg twice weekly subcutaneously until a target clinical response had been achieved, then had paused treatment and eventually relapsed. They were then re-treated with etanercept 25 mg twice weekly. The number of patients recapturing a Physician Global Assessment (PGA) of psoriasis rating of ≤ 2 (clear, almost clear or mild) on first re-treatment was assessed. Patient satisfaction during the initial treatment and first re-treatment period was also determined.
Results  A total of 187 (83%) patients recaptured the target clinical response of a PGA of ≤ 2 after re-treatment. The majority of patients [219 of 226 (97%)] reported satisfaction with etanercept re-treatment. No new safety concerns emerged during re-treatment.
Conclusions  In this post-hoc analysis, patients with psoriasis who were re-treated with etanercept 25 mg twice weekly effectively recaptured clinical responses that patients found satisfactory. A flexible treatment option is available to dermatologists and patients for individualized care.     

马钱子的毒性研究进展

钱子有较明显的药效,在临床及民间多有应用,但因马钱子治疗剂量与中毒剂量较接近,其临床应用的毒副反应报道也多,限制了马钱子的广泛使用.马钱子在治疗各种疾病中疗效肯定,是具有较大开发潜力的中药.文章回顾和分析了近年来研究有毒中药马钱子的文献,总结并归纳马钱子在化学成分、毒理学、药代动力学、减毒增效方面的研究进展,为今后深入进行中药毒性,特别是马钱子的毒性研究提供相关的依据,并针对马钱子减毒增效的机制为马钱子的临床应用提供了合理性的建议.     

冬凌草单药及与化疗合用治疗食管癌205例

目的:观察冬凌草单药及与化疗合用治疗食管癌的临床疗效.方法:448例患者,均经病理细胞学和X线检查确诊为食管癌.其中早期癌76例,均采用冬凌草单药治疗.晚期癌372例,167例采用冬凌草单药治疗,205例采用冬凌草与化疗合用.结果:用冬凌草单药治疗早期食管癌患者3,5,10,13 a的生存率明显高于未治疗组(98.68% vs 51.52%,84.02% vs 28.62%,63.49% vs 11.45%,50.13% vs 8.59%;P<0.001).对于晚期食管癌,冬凌草联合化疗应用,其总有效率明显高于以PYM(BLM)为基础的单一化疗(66.82% vs 42.85%,P<0.01).冬凌草与化疗合用组与单一化疗对照组相比副作用基本相同,无明显差异(P>0.05).结论:对于早期食管癌患者,冬凌草能控制疾病发展延长生存时间;对于晚期食管癌患者,冬凌草能增强化疗的作用.     

产科危重患者多器官功能障碍综合征的临床分析

目的 :分析产科危重患者多器官功能障碍综合征 (MODS)的发病特点及诱因 ,以及与急性生理与慢性健康状况评分II(APACHEII)的关系。方法 :回顾分析 2 0 0 0年1月至 2 0 0 4年 4月转入GICU产科危重患者中发生MODS 6 6例的临床资料 ,并计算其A PACHEII评分。结果 :产科MODS患者诱因主要是产科因素 ,共 4 8例 (72 .73% ) ,死亡 7例 (14 .5 8% ) ,以重度子痫前期或子痫及产后出血为主 ;诱因 18例妊娠合并内外科疾病 ,死亡 11例 ,死亡率为 6 1.11% ,以妊娠合并心脏病和妊娠合并重症肝炎为主。产科MODS患者死亡率随着器官损害数的增多而上升 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;随着器官损害数的增多 ,APACHEII评分逐渐升高 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;APACHEII评分用于预测MODS死亡阳性率 ,2 ,3,4 ,5个器官受损害 ,其阳性率分别为 33.4 5 % ,5 7.12 % ,97.0 9% ,10 0 %。结论 :产科多器官功能障碍 /衰竭的产科主要诱因是重度子痫前期 /子痫 ,产后出血 ;产科MODS患者死亡率也随着器官损害数的增多而上升 ;APACHEII评分可在一定程度上作为评定产科MODS患者病情危重程度和预测预后的指标。     

Muscular activation patterns of healthy persons and low back pain patients performing a functional capacity evaluation test

The results of most reported studies show differences between the muscular activity of low back pain patients and healthy subjects, but the focus has usually been on trunk muscles only, and they have not involved work-related tests or exercises. The reintegration of chronic low back pain patients to job market is a common problem. Therefore assessment systems like the functional capacity evaluation (FCE) according to Isernhagen [S.J. Isernhagen, Work Injury: Management and Prevention, Aspen Publishers Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, 1988] are often used tools to determine the physical abilities and deficits of long-time incapacitated persons. The aim of the present study was to compare the healthy persons and chronic low back pain patients in performing a FCE-test and to analyse their muscular activation and motion patterns. The results indicate differences in the activation patterns of the groups in the test task “floor to waist lift” common in many occupations.     

Multi-detector CT angiography for lower gastrointestinal bleeding: Can it select patients for endovascular intervention?

This is a retrospective review of the results at our institution of using multi-detector CT angiography (CTA) to localise lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. We hypothesised that in our patient population: (i) CTA was unlikely to demonstrate bleeding in patients who were haemodynamically stable; (ii) in haemodynamically unstable patients in whom CTA was undertaken, the results could be used to select patients who would benefit from catheter angiography; and (iii) in haemodynamically unstable patients in whom CTA was undertaken, a subgroup of patients could be identified who would benefit from primary surgical treatment, avoiding invasive angiography completely. A retrospective review was conducted of the clinical records of all patients undergoing CTA for lower GI haemorrhage at our institution between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2007. Out of the 20 patients examined, 10 had positive CTAs demonstrating the bleeding site. Nine were haemodynamically unstable at the time of the study. Four patients with positive CT angiograms were able to be treated directly with surgery and avoided invasive angiography. Ten patients had negative CTAs. Four of these were haemodynamically unstable, six haemodynamically stable. Only one required intervention to secure haemostasis, the rest stopped spontaneously. No haemodynamically stable patient who had a negative CTA required intervention. CTA is a useful non-invasive technique for localising the site of lower GI bleeding. In our patient population, in the absence of haemodynamic instability, the diagnostic yield of CTA was low and bleeding was likely to stop spontaneously. In haemodynamically unstable patients, a positive CTA allowed patients to be triaged to surgery or angiography, whereas there was a strong association between a negative CTA and spontaneous cessation of bleeding.     

Coccygectomy has a favorable effect on the intensity, manifestation, and characteristics of pain caused by coccygodynia: a retrospective evaluation of 34 patients followed for 3–18 years

Background  Coccygodynia can cause severe pain and disability in patients. There are contradictions in the literature regarding the final results of coccygectomy for coccygodynia. We evaluated the long-term effects of coccygectomy on the intensity, characteristics, and manifestation of pain caused by coccygodynia to determine the adequacy of operation among treatment modalities. Materials and methods  Thirty-four patients with coccygodynia were treated by coccygectomy. In 22 cases, trauma, and in one case childbirth was the cause. 11 cases were regarded as idiopathic. The intensity, characteristics of pain, and the most painful activities were evaluated at an average of 7.6 (3–18) years of follow-up time. Results  Before the operation, all 34 patients had pain while sitting, moreover, 26 of them had pain during standing, walking, at night or a combination of these. 21 patients had intolerable or very intensive, mainly acute, sharp or burning pain. 11 patients had dyschesia, 2 had dysuria and 6 had dyspareunia. At follow-up, 7 patients were completely free of pain, 15 others had moderate, 11 medium, and only one patient had severe, but none had intolerable pain. Only seven patients had acute, sharp or burning pain postoperatively. The decrease of average pain score from 8.0 to 3.2 was significant (P < 10⁻¹²). The number of the patients with dyschesia and dyspareunia decreased from 11 to 7 and from 6 to 3, respectively. Two patients had dysuria, but their complaints did not change after the operation. One of the two patients who needed reoperation had an excellent final result, while the other remained unchanged. 12 and 16 patients (together 82%) regarded the final result of the operation excellent and good, respectively. The condition of five others did not change, while one became worse. The patients with younger age, smaller body mass index, and less co-morbidities had better final result. There were no serious complications. Conclusion  Coccygectomy for coccygodynia is a safe method to decrease the intensity of pain and other complaints of the patients. The operation can be the choice of treatment if conservative measures fail.     

217例早期胃癌扩大胃切除与淋巴结清除术的回顾分析

目的评价早期胃癌不同扩大手术的实际意义，以选择合理的胃切除和淋巴结清除范围。方法以临床病理资料完整、施行规范D2及扩大手术的217例早期胃癌患者为研究对象。分析施行不同扩大手术的原因、淋巴结清除的必要性及第Ⅱ站淋巴结转移与临床病理因素的相关性。结果胃上部癌行全胃切除术6例，No．5、6淋巴结均未见转移；联合脾、脾动脉切除2例，No．10、11p、11d淋巴结均未见转移；胃下部癌联合横结肠系膜切除3例，No．15淋巴结未见转移。以上病例术中多数误认为进展期胃癌而扩大了胃切除或淋巴结清除范围，手术时间长，术中失血较多。胃下部癌清除的第Ⅱ站淋巴结中No．11p、12a、14v均未见转移；黏膜下癌（sm癌）中，No．7、8a淋巴结转移率明显高于黏膜内癌（m癌）（P〈0．05）；淋巴管癌栓阳性者No．7淋巴结转移较阴性者明显增多（P〈0．001），No．1、13淋巴结转移仅出现在淋巴结转移高危病例（sm、癌灶大于3．0cm、凹陷型，淋巴管癌栓阳性）。结论早期胃癌不需施行淋巴结扩大清除术和联合脏器切除。早期胃上部癌不需施行全胃切除术。早期胃下部癌中No．11p、12a、14v淋巴结不需清除．但对胃下部癌淋巴结转移高危病例，应行标准D2淋巴结清除术。     

Individualized Mycophenolate Mofetil Dosing Based on Drug Exposure Significantly Improves Patient Outcomes After Renal Transplantation

Efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) may be optimized with individualized doses based on therapeutic monitoring of its active metabolite, mycophenolic acid (MPA). In this 12-month study, 137 renal allograft recipients from 11 French centers receiving basiliximab, cyclosporine A, MMF and corticosteroids were randomized to receive either concentration-controlled doses or fixed-dose MMF. A novel Bayesian estimator of MPA AUC based on three-point sampling was used to individualize doses on posttransplant days 7 and 14 and months 1, 3 and 6. The primary endpoint was treatment failure (death, graft loss, acute rejection and MMF discontinuation). Data from 65 patients/group were analyzed. At month 12, the concentration-controlled group had fewer treatment failures (p = 0.03) and acute rejection episodes (p = 0.01) with no differences in adverse event frequency. The MMF dose was higher in the concentration-controlled group at day 14 (p < 0.0001), month 1 (p < 0.0001) and month 3 (p < 0.01), as were median AUCs on day 14 (33.7 vs. 27.1 mg*h/L; p = 0.0001) and at month 1 (45.0 vs. 30.9 mg*h/L; p < 0.0001). Therapeutic MPA monitoring using a limited sampling strategy can reduce the risk of treatment failure and acute rejection in renal allograft recipients 12 months posttransplant with no increase in adverse events.