Ulysses contracts for the doctor and for the patient

Research subjects participating in randomised clinical trials have a right to drop out of a study without specifying any reason for this. However, leaving a trial may be contradictory to their own general interests in medical research since drop outs may lead to biased conclusions and loss of valuable medical information. We suggest in this paper that self-binding “Ulysses contracts” that are non-exploitative and based on autonomous decisions by research subjects as well as by investigating doctors should be implemented with stopping rules adjusted to the needs of different kinds of randomised clinical trials.     

Clinical criteria for the diagnosis for PSP

In attempts to improve the accuracy of its clinical identification, investigators have proposed numerous diagnostic criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy(PSP). We compared with six different sets of previously published criteria for the clinical diagnosis of PSP. Among of them, the NINDS-SPSP criteria are a most prominent diagnostic standard. But in the clinical area, the NINDS-SPSP criteria have some weak point. We plan to make up this point for using the neuroimaging techniques.     

动态脑电图对昏迷患者预后的评估价值

目的研究动态脑电图对昏迷患者预后评估的价值。方法采用回顾性分析的研究方法,选取2013年3月²014年3月我院收治的昏迷患者69例,对所有患者实施动态脑电图检查,并观察脑电图分级以及Glasgow评分的关系、脑电图分级和Glasgow评分与昏迷程度的关系。结果脑电图的分级和Glasgow评分具有负相关关系,Glasgow评分越低,患者脑电图的分级越高。Glasgow评分越低患者昏迷的程度也越深。结论动态脑电图对昏迷患者的预后具有评估价值,可以提高昏迷患者预后的判断。     

Editorial for the special issue of the Chinese Association for the Study of Pain

The Ministry of Health of China officially issued a document, adding the first level diagnosis and treatment discipline “Algology” in the list of diagnosis and treatment subjects of medical institutions on July 16, 2007. As the most important pain academic organization in China, the Chinese Association for the Study of Pain has made outstanding contributions in promoting the development of pain discipline and in establishing pain standards and disease diagnosis and treatment guidelines. In this special issue, under the leadership of Yan-Qing Liu, Chairman of the 7^th Committee of the Chinese Association for the Study of Pain, nine consensus and one guideline were included.     

Finding the tools for the job

Steve Kelsey uncovers some of the key challenges facing ward sisters and calls for a more structured development to support the role.     

Scenario-Long-term Care for the Elderly Long-term Care for the Elderly in Japan

To improve understanding of clinical care and nursing in all world regions, with this issue of Image we introduce scenarios in which an author in one country portrays a national situation, then several from other world regions respond.