应用秩和比法研究门诊人数增长与门诊医疗质量因子的关系

目的研究医院门诊人数增长与门诊医疗质量因子的关系,找出影响门诊人数增长的主要门诊医疗质量因子。方法利用秩和比法对实例进行分析。结果影响门诊人数增长的门诊质量因子,首先是高中级职称比(χ2=32.43,P<0.05),其次是副高以上职称的坐诊工时比(χ2=31.91,P<0.05),再次是新技术项目或重大改革(χ2=28.54,P>0.05)。结论研究医院门诊人数增长与门诊医疗质量因子的关系时,秩和比法有应用推广的价值。     

Comparative study of TRUE Test and Finn Chamber patch test techniques in Singapore

This is a report on a comparative study of the reactivity of TRUE Test and Finn Chamber patch test techniques. 413 patients attending a contact dermatitis clinic in Singapore were simultaneously patch tested with panels 1 and 2 of the TRUE Test standard series and with corresponding allergens (Hermal, Hamburg) using Finn Chambers. The left/right application of the TRUE Test and Finn Chambers was randomized. The concordance of positive patch test reactions to the 2 test techniques was studied. The number of patient with positive reactions was 38% and 42% for TRUE Test and Finn Chamber techniques, respectively (n.s.). The overall concordance of positive patch test reactions was 64% (209/328). 13% (42/328) of positive reactions appeared on TRUE Test only and 24% (77/328) on Finn Chamber only. When only relevant positive reactions were considered, the concordance rate was 67%; 11.6% of positive reactions appeared on TRUE Test only and 21% on Finn Chamber only. Positive reactions to p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and neomycin were more frequent with the Finn Chamber technique than with TRUE Test, i.e., false negative reactions to PPD and neomycin were more likely to occur with TRUE Test. It appeared that the TRUE Test and Finn Chamber techniques were comparable when used for patch testing. However false negative and false positive patch test reactions can occur when using either technique.     

特发性脊柱侧凸PUMC分型的可重复性及可信度研究

目的:探讨特发性脊柱侧凸PUMC(协和)分型系统的一致性,并对影响分型一致性的因素进行分析.方法:随机选取南京鼓楼医院2004年～2006年治疗的80例特发性脊柱侧凸患者,其中男性15例,女性65例,平均年龄14.6岁(10～18岁),均有完整的术前站立位正侧位X线片及仰卧位左右Bending片共四张.由4名脊柱外科专科医生分别根据PUMC(协和)分型标准进行分型,2周后此4位医生分别对这些患者的X线片再次进行分型,收集分型结果分别作可信度和可重复性分析,计算Kappa值检验一致性并对影响分型一致性的因素进行统计分析,结果:80例患者均可用PUMC分型,分型可信度平均Kappa值为0.801,可重复性Kappa值为0.878.PUMC分型不一致中包括上胸弯的界定18次;胸弯明显时,代偿性与结构性腰弯的界定15次;腰弯明显时,代偿性与结构性胸弯的界定18次;单弯顶点的判断20次;测量角度的差异18次.结论:PUMC(协和)分型学习曲线相对较短,易于掌握且具有良好的可信度和可重复性.     

Cranial CT interpretation by senior emergency department staff

The aims of the present study were to determine the rate of misinterpretation of non‐contrast cranial CT scans by emergency specialists and trainees compared with specialist radiologists, and the proportion of misinterpretations that is consequential. A 12‐month prospective blinded cohort study was performed. One‐hundred and ninety of 1282 scans (14.8%) were misinterpreted, and 78 of these (41.1%) were of potential or actual consequence. We conclude that the performance of senior emergency department staff in non‐contrast cranial CT interpretation is no better than moderately good, and a large proportion of misinterpretations are of potential or actual clinical consequence.     

The use of genetically modified mice in cancer risk assessment: Challenges and limitations

Abstract

The use of genetically modified (GM) mice to assess carcinogenicity is playing an increasingly important role in the safety evaluation of chemicals. While progress has been made in developing and evaluating mouse models such as the Trp53^+/?, Tg.AC and the rasH2, the suitability of these models as replacements for the conventional rodent cancer bioassay and for assessing human health risks remains uncertain. The objective of this research was to evaluate the use of accelerated cancer bioassays with GM mice for assessing the potential health risks associated with exposure to carcinogenic agents. We compared the published results from the GM bioassays to those obtained in the National Toxicology Program’s conventional chronic mouse bioassay for their potential use in risk assessment. Our analysis indicates that the GM models are less efficient in detecting carcinogenic agents but more consistent in identifying non-carcinogenic agents. We identified several issues of concern related to the design of the accelerated bioassays (e.g., sample size, study duration, genetic stability and reproducibility) as well as pathway-dependency of effects, and different carcinogenic mechanisms operable in GM and non-GM mice. The use of the GM models for dose-response assessment is particularly problematic as these models are, at times, much more or less sensitive than the conventional rodent cancer bioassays. Thus, the existing GM mouse models may be useful for hazard identification, but will be of limited use for dose-response assessment. Hence, caution should be exercised when using GM mouse models to assess the carcinogenic risks of chemicals.     

Problematic alcohol use and marital distress: An interdependence theory perspective

This article reviews current literature examining problematic alcohol use and marital distress and introduces a new alcohol and marriage model within the theoretical framework of interdependence theory. Although marriage is generally associated with decreased heavy drinking and alcohol problems, many couples develop and maintain alcohol use disorders during committed relationships and marriage. When one person is affected by an alcohol use disorder, it both affects and is affected by their close relationships, particularly the relationship with their partner or spouse. While the causal connections between problematic drinking and marital distress are complex and only partially understood, available evidence demonstrates that the two problems often exacerbate each other, forming a detrimental cycle. Research using cross-sectional and longitudinal methods reveals covariation between the two as well as support for both causal directions. New models using the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) are presented and structured around the concept that these reverse temporal effects may be operating through different mechanisms and with different moderators. Thus, determinants are presented for each directional effect. Finally, avenues for future research are discussed.     

Comparison of allergen-specific IgE levels between Immulite 2000 and ImmunoCAP systems against six inhalant allergens and ten food allergens

Abstract

In vitro allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) measurement has been used as an important diagnostic tool for allergic diseases. Currently, quantitative sIgE levels are detected mainly by using ImmunoCAP and Immulite 2000 assay system. These two systems have the same calibration scale at 0–100 kUA/L, but they differ in used allergens, detection methods and automation systems. We compared 1600 paired sIgE results for 204 allergic patients, including 100 paired sIgE assay results for each of 16 allergens (Alternaria alternata, birch-alder mix, cat dander, D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, dog dander, buckwheat, crab, egg white, mackerel, milk, peach, peanut, shrimp, soybean and wheat flour). Inter-method comparison was performed for qualitative data with a cutoff of 0.35 kUA/L and a detection limit of 0.1 kUA/L, semi-quantitative class results and quantitative data. In qualitative comparisons, the overall concordance rate ranged from 81.0% to 99.0% (k: 0.599–0.949) with the cutoff value of 0.35 kUA/L. It also ranged from 80.0% to 99.0% (k: 0.521–0.951) with the detection limit of 0.1 kUA/L. The class results from these two assays showed good agreements for all allergens. For quantitative sIgE results, these two assays showed moderate positive correlations for Dog dander (r?=?0.683) and Mackerel (r?=?0.573) but high to very high correlations for the other 14 allergens (r?=?0.734–0.972). Immulite 2000 and ImmunoCAP assays demonstrated good concordance and correlation for 16 common allergens, but international standards against each specific allergen for calibration and harmonization of sIgE tests are still needed.     

Optimal survival time‐related cut‐point with censored data

In biomedical research and practice, continuous biomarkers are often used for diagnosis and prognosis, with a cut‐point being established on the measurement to aid binary classification. When survival time is examined for the purposes of disease prognostication and is found to be related to the baseline measure of a biomarker, employing a single cut‐point on the biomarker may not be very informative. Using survival time‐dependent sensitivity and specificity, we extend a concordance probability‐based objective function to select survival time‐related cut‐points. To estimate the objective function with censored survival data, we adopt a non‐parametric procedure for time‐dependent receiver operational characteristics curves, which uses nearest neighbor estimation techniques. In a simulation study, the proposed method, when used to select a cut‐point to optimally predict survival at a given time within a specified range, yields satisfactory results. We apply the procedure to estimate survival time‐dependent cut‐point on the prognostic biomarker of serum bilirubin among patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Problems and hopes perceived by mothers,fathers and physicians of children receiving palliative care

Background

The quality of shared decision making for children with serious illness may depend on whether parents and physicians share similar perceptions of problems and hopes for the child.

Objective

(i) Describe the problems and hopes reported by mothers, fathers and physicians of children receiving palliative care; (ii) examine the observed concordance between participants; (iii) examine parental perceived agreement; and (iv) examine whether parents who identified specific problems also specified corresponding hopes, or whether the problems were left ‘hopeless’.

Method

Seventy‐one parents and 43 physicians were asked to report problems and hopes and perceived agreement for 50 children receiving palliative care. Problems and hopes were classified into eight domains. Observed concordance was calculated between parents and between each parent and the physicians.

Results

The most common problem domains were physical body (88%), quality of life (74%) and medical knowledge (48%). The most common hope domains were quality of life (88%), suffering (76%) and physical body (39%). Overall parental dyads demonstrated a high percentage of concordance (82%) regarding reported problem domains and a lower percentage of concordance on hopes (65%). Concordance between parents and physicians regarding specific children was lower on problem (65–66%) and hope domains (59–63%). Respondents who identified problems regarding a child's quality of life or suffering were likely to also report corresponding hopes in these domains (93 and 82%, respectively).

Conclusion

Asking parents and physicians to talk about problems and hopes may provide a straightforward means to improve the quality of shared decision making for critically ill children.