Acute pericarditis

There are many causes of acute pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium) and diagnosis is often difficult owing to the dynamic nature of the disease. History and physical examination, augmented by radiographic and ECG studies, will allow the diagnosis to be made in the majority of cases. The ECG typically undergoes a four-stage evolution, and frequent reassessment of the patient is essential. Outpatient treatment is usually successful, although a subgroup of these patients require hospitalization.     

Évaluation médico-économique du baclofène intrathécal chez les patients présentant une spasticité chronique sévère

A medicoeconomic evaluation of continuous intrathecal baclofen (Lioresal^®) infusion for symptomatic treatment of severe spinal spasticity was realised using a monocentric, comparative, retrospective approach where subjects were their own controls (n = 22). Study results confirm the efficacy of baclofen on symptoms, functional status of patients and on a non specific quality of life scale. Conversely, use of baclofen lead to a 67% increase of average annual costs of care for these patients and reaches around 173,500 French francs (~29,000 US$)/year. Such a cost seems to be acceptable with respect to clinical benefits. © 1998 Elsevier, Paris     

Effect of rectal distension on gallbladder emptying and circulating gut hormones

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of upper gut motility, including a delay of gastric emptying and small bowel transit, found in patients with constipation may be secondary to factors originating in the colon or rectum as a result of faecal stasis. The aim was to determine if stimulation of mechanosensory function by rectal distension affects postprandial gallbladder emptying and release of gastrointestinal peptides participating in control of upper gut motility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight healthy volunteers were studied with an electronic barostat and a plastic bag positioned in the rectum. Intrabag pressure was maintained at minimal distension pressure + 2 mmHg on one occasion and on a pressure that induced a sensation of urge on the other. Gallbladder volume and plasma concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK), pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and peptide YY (PYY) were measured before and after ingestion of a 450-kcal mixed liquid meal. RESULTS: Rectal distension enhanced maximum gallbladder emptying from 66 +/- 7% to 78 +/- 5% (P < 0.05). Distension tended to increase integrated plasma PYY from 77 +/- 30 pM min to 128 +/- 40 pM min in the first hour after the meal (P = 0.08) and it suppressed integrated plasma PP from 1133 +/- 248 pM min to 269 +/- 284 pM min in the second hour (P < 0.05). Integrated plasma CCK concentrations were not significantly affected. CONCLUSION: Mechanosensory stimulation of the rectum enhances postprandial gallbladder emptying and influences postprandial release of gut hormones involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility in healthy subjects. These mechanisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of the upper gastrointestinal motor abnormalities observed in constipated patients.     

实时三维超声心动图容积-时间曲线测定冠心病患者左室峰值排空率的价值

目的探讨实时三维超声心动图（TR-3DE）容积-时间曲线（VTC）测定冠心病患者左室峰值排空率（PER）的应用价值。方法应用TR-3DE的左室VTC测量34例冠心病患者和34例正常人的PER,并进行比较;分析冠心病患者左室PER与射血分数（EF）的相关性。结果冠心病患者的PER明显小于正常对照组（P〈O．001）．与EF呈显著正相关（r=0．875）。结论TR-3DE VTC可以准确测量左室PER。能反映冠心病患者左室整体收缩功能状况。     

Quantitative measurements of second harmonic Doppler using ultrasound contrast agents

Quantitative measurements of second harmonic and first harmonic Doppler were carried out using two ultrasound contrast agents, Albunex^® and FS069. The RMS amplitudes of the Doppler shift spectra were measured as a function of the concentration of the agents, frequency and transmitted acoustic pressure. The results showed that, for a given lot of contrast agent investigated, FS069 was able to produce higher levels of first and, especially, second harmonic signals compared to Albunex. Under the same experimental conditions, the RMS Doppler amplitude (RDA) of FS069 was 3.8 ± 0.8 dB higher than Albunex at first harmonic and 12.6 ± 0.8 dB higher at second harmonic. The ratio of the second harmonic to first harmonic RDA, which we called R₂/R₁, decreases at a rate of 7 dB/MHz for both agents with increasing frequency. The difference in the value of R₂/R₁ between FS069 and Albunex at any frequency was approximately 4.5 dB. R₂/R₁ was found to increase linearly as a function of the transmitted acoustic pressure for both agents. Simulations using the Rayleigh-Plesset equation show a decrease of R₂/R₁ at a rate of 5 dB/MHz. Comparison of experimental results with theory indicates that the shell elasticity parameter may be an increasing function of the mean diameter of the bubbles.     

饮食教育预防骨科术后病人便秘的研究

目的:探讨饮食教育对骨科术后病人进食结构的影响,预防便秘的发生.方法:将骨科择期手术的116例术后病人随机分为实验组57例,对照组59例.实验组于术前1d及术后第2日分2次接受专门的饮食教育,对照组接受常规指导.记录病人术后6d内的进食种类、量及排便情况.结果:实验组术后第1、2日主食进食量及第3日蔬菜进食量均明显高于对照组(t=2.33、2.02、2.02,P均＜0.05);术后便秘评分,实验组3.06±3.61,对照组5.04±3.62(t=2.99,P＜0.05);与便秘相关的多因素的多元线性逐步回归分析显示,术后第1日主食量与术后便秘评分呈直线负相关.结论:对病人进行饮食教育能够有效降低骨科术后病人便秘评分,即饮食教育能够降低术后便秘的发生;饮食结构不合理可能主要由术后主食类、蔬菜类的量不足造成.因此进行饮食教育时应强调术后适宜的主食量和蔬菜量,特别应重视病人术后第1日的进食情况.     

Diagnostic approach to constipation impacts pediatric emergency department disposition

Objectives

Constipation is a common cause of abdominal pain in children presenting to the emergency department (ED). The objectives of this study were to determine the diagnostic evaluation undertaken for constipation and to assess the association of the evaluation with final ED disposition.

皮肤原位再生复原技术结合可调脉宽倍频Nd∶YAG激光治疗黄褐斑的临床疗效观察

目的 观察皮肤原位再生复原技术结合可调脉宽倍频Nd∶YAG激光治疗黄褐斑的临床疗效,并总结临床经验.方法 应用皮肤原位再生复原技术结合可调脉宽倍频Nd∶YAG激光治疗黄褐斑380例,根据评定标准对治疗结果进行评价.结果 380例黄褐斑患者经治疗后基本治愈272例,显效57例,好转51例,无效0例,有效率86.58%.结论 皮肤原位再生复原技术结合可调脉宽倍频Nd∶YAG激光治疗黄褐斑疗效确切,该技术值得临床推广.     

中文版便秘患者症状自评量表的信度与效度研究

目的评价中文版便秘患者症状自评量表(PAC-SYM)的信度、效度和反应度。方法采用中文版PAC-SYM量表、便秘患者生活质量自评量表(PAC-QOL)、简明健康调查问卷(SF-36)和ZUNG焦虑、抑郁自评量表(SAS/SDS)对155例功能性便秘患者进行问卷调查,其中20例患者1周后重测,39例患者接受生物反馈治疗后再次采用PAC-SYM量表评估,对测量结果进行信效度分析。结果中文版PAC-SYM量表内部一致性信度Cronbach′sα系数为0.81～0.91,重测信度组内相关系数(ICC)为0.79～0.91;该量表内容效度指数(CVI)为0.82;中文版PAC-SYM量表总分及各维度得分与SF-36、PAC-QOL、SAS/SDS总分均显著相关(均P<0.01);生物反馈治疗后,PAC-SYM量表总分及各维度得分均较治疗前显著降低(均P<0.01)。结论中文版PAC-SYM量表具有较好的信度、效度和反应度,可用于中国功能性便秘患者症状评估及疗效评价。