Intelligent dialogue based on statistical models of clinical decision-making

The independence Bayesian model has been used widely in computer programs designed to support clinical decision-making. A reasoning strategy has been developed to enable these programs to conduct clinically pertinent dialogue and explain their reasoning. It has been implemented in a program for the diagnosis of acute abdominal pain based on the Bayesian model of de Dombal et al. Several features of the dialogue design have been adopted from artificial intelligence research, including shared initiative and critiquing. The program adopts a flexible goal-driven strategy, attempting to confirm the clinician's diagnosis or rule out the likeliest alternative. Symptoms and signs are selected in order of their expected weights of evidence in favour of the hypothesized disease.     

儿童羟基磷灰石义眼台植入的临床分析

目的:观察儿童羟基磷灰石义眼台植入的临床效果。方法:回顾性分析不同原因造成眼球摘除的31例患儿,其中男性 21例,女性 10例,年龄 3岁～14岁,平均 8.2岁,采用义眼台一期植入 20例,义眼台二期植入 11例,植入直径 18mm义眼台者 17例,植入 20mm义眼台者 14例。结果:31例患儿术后 1例结膜裂开,5例出现轻度上睑沟凹陷,随访 1年～8年,所有患者无感染、无排斥、无义眼台暴露,运动好,外观满意。结论:儿童患者应尽可能一期植入义眼台,采用巩膜包裹义眼台植入的 3岁～6岁患儿选择 18mm直径的义眼台,而 7岁～14岁患儿尽量接近成人选用 20mm直径的义眼台。注意手术操作、术后用药及护理可减少术后并发症。     

关节镜下人工韧带重建前交叉韧带的临床初步体会

目的探讨关节镜下应用LARS人工韧带重建前交叉韧带的可行性及近期疗效. 方法用法国产LARS人工韧带对16例前交叉韧带(anterior cruciate ligament,ACL)损伤行关节镜下ACL重建术.等距点钻胫骨、股骨骨道,将肌腱拉入骨道,韧带游离部分位于关节腔内,拉紧后2枚螺钉固定韧带,合并损伤同期处理. 结果手术时间51～86 min,平均64 min.术后无滑膜炎、韧带断裂、活动明显受限等并发症.16例均随访1.5～6个月,平均3.8月.按照IKDC评分标准:术前C级6例,D级10例;术后A级6例,B级9例, C级1例(χ2=6.264,P<0.05).Lysholm膝关节功能评分术前36～76分,(63.7±7.3)分;术后86～97分,(94.8±9.6)分(t=10.356,P<0.05). 结论关节镜下LARS人工韧带重建ACL,操作简便,可使膝关节获得即时稳定性,早期康复锻炼,最大限度的防止关节功能受限,近期疗效满意.     

Viscoelastic properties of acid- and alkaline-treated human dermis: a correlation between total surface charge and elastic modulus

BACKGROUND: One of the major mechanical functions of collagenous tissues is the storage, transmission and dissipation of elastic energy during mechanical deformation. In skin, mechanical energy is stored during loading and then is transmitted and dissipated, which protects skin from mechanical failure. Thus energy storage (elastic properties) and dissipation (viscous properties) are important characteristics of extracellular matrices. METHODS: A uniaxial incremental stress relaxation test method has been used to characterize the time-dependent (viscous) and time-independent (elastic) properties of human dermis. Viscoelasticity was investigated in processed human dermis that was equilibrated at pHs of 3.0, 7.4 and 11.0 in an effort to study the link between electrostatic interactions within the collagen matrix and macroscopic tissue properties. RESULTS: Our results show that the solution pH and the charge on collagen significantly affected the high-strain elastic behavior of dermis; the elastic behavior of skin has previously been shown to be directly correlated with axial stretching of the collagen triple helix in crosslinked collagen fibrils. A positive linear correlation existed between the high-strain elastic modulus and both pH (R(2)=0.96) and the total number of charged residues on collagen (R(2)=0.93). These results provide in vitro/ex vivo evidence that charged groups on the surface of collagen molecules in processed human skin influence the high-strain elastic properties of dermis and are likely to be involved in elastic energy storage. CONCLUSION: It is proposed that the pH and charged residue dependency of the elastic modulus suggests that charged pair interactions and repulsions within and between collagen molecules are involved in elastic energy storage during stretching at high strains. It is hypothesized that elastic energy storage is associated with the stretching of pairs of charged amino acid residues that are found primarily in the flexible regions of collagen molecules.     

Design of a Centrifugal Blood Pump with Magnetic Suspension

Abstract: A new concept blood pump, whose impeller is suspended by permanent magnets and a mechanical pivot without seals or ball bearings, is presented in this paper. The primary aim of the blood pump is an application to implantable artificial hearts. The prototype model is of a centrifugal type with a four-vaned semiopen impeller 50 mm in diameter. Since this mechanism has no seals or ball bearings, flow stagnation or heat generation that might cause blood cell denaturation is expected to be small. The results of performance testing for the prototype model 2 were satisfactory regarding pump head and efficiency. The radial-suspension magnets and the magnetic coupling were stable. As a result, the present mechanism has been verified to be a candidate applicable to implantable artificial hearts.     

A Biomechanical Double Sac (Pericardium-Pebax) for Specially Shaped Artificial Ventricles: A Computerized Study to Evaluate Its Mechanical and Volumetric Properties

Abstract: For original ovoid shaped artificial ventricles. a biomechanical double sac consisting of a biological sac (porcine pericardium) as the blood contact interface and a synthetic sac (Pebax 3533) as the mechanical support to assume systolic-diastolic dynamic constraints was conceived. The volumetric and mechanical properties were assessed with a three-dimensional modeling of Pebax sacs and computerized simulations of their systolic distortions for both right and left ventricular configurations. The stresses and strains of these sacs were represented as quantitative mappings for a maximum end-systolic state and were below the respective threshold values above which the Pebax material is jeopardized for permanent structure impairment. After fatigue tests applied on Pebax strips under the alleged working conditions of Pebax sacs, the material structure was unchanged and maintained its intrinsic mechanical properties. The theoretical maximum stroke volumes were 74.4 cm³ and 62.4 cm for the left and right ventricular configurations, respectively. With these mechanical and volumetric features, the biomechanical double sac concept was considered valid and could be provided for a consequent specific total artificial heart.     

不同部位静脉注射对无痛人工流产术的影响

目的 :观察不同部位静脉注射对无痛人工流产术的影响。方法 :随机将 2 0 0例要求行无痛人工流产术的患者分成二组 ,一组静脉注射部位为手背静脉组 ,另一组静脉注射部位为肘部浅静脉 (贵要静脉或肘正中静脉 )组 ,观察静脉推注异丙酚时患者的注射部位有无疼痛症状。结果 :肘部浅静脉注射部位疼痛感明显轻于手背静脉 ,肘部浅静脉注射部位的麻醉起效时间快于手背静脉 ,两组差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 )。结论 :选择肘部浅静脉注射异丙酚可减轻患者注射部位的疼痛 ,可在短时间内取得理想的麻醉效果。     

Invasive ventilation in the emergency department: Part 2: Implications for patient safety

The use of mechanical ventilation in the Emergency Department requires adequate resources in order to maintain patient safety and avoid potential risks. Moreover, developments in technology require increased knowledge of mechanical ventilation techniques to address the complexity of decision-making involved. Organisational issues and system factors have the potential to negatively impact on the ability of the emergency service to provide optimum care to patients receiving mechanical ventilation. These issues include staffing and skill-mix, demand on emergency services, role-delineation, scope of practice, and current mechanisms for monitoring of quality and safety. Furthermore, in response to advances in ventilator technology, current education programs for both nursing and medical staff require review to ensure that they provide comprehensive information about the types of ventilation techniques now available and the relative risks and benefits associated with their application.This article is the second in a two-part series and explores the educational and organisational factors that impact upon safety and quality of care delivered to patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the emergency department. Recommendations for future policy development, curriculum review and reporting mechanisms to support further research in the application of mechanical ventilation in the emergency department are made.     

Cora Rotary Pump for Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Device: Biomaterial Aspects

Abstract: Our group is developing a left ventricular assist device based on the principle of the Maillard-Wankel rotative compressor: it is a rotary, not centrifugal, pump that produces a pulsatile flow. Stringent requirements have been defined for construction materials. They must be light, yet sufficiently hard and rigid, and able to be machined with high precision. The friction coefficient must be low and the wear resistance high. The materials must be chemically inert and not deformable. Also, the materials must be biocompatible, and the blood contacting surface must be hemocompatible. We assessed the materials in terms of physiochemistry, mechanics, and tribology to select the best for hemocompatibility (determined by studies of protein adsorption: platelet, leukocyte, and red cell retention: and hemolysis, among other measurements) and biocompatibility (determined by measurement of complement activation and toxicity, among other criteria). Of the materials tested, for short- and middle-term assistance, we chose titanium alloy (Ti₆AI₄V) and alumina ceramic (Al₂O₃) and for long-term and permanent use, composite materials (TiN coating on graphite). We saw that the polishing process of the substrate must be improved. For the future, the best coating material would be diamond-like carbon (DLC) or crystalline diamond coating.