超声造影对Ⅰ期子宫内膜癌肌层浸润的诊断价值

目的 探讨CEUS对Ⅰ期子宫内膜癌肌层浸润的诊断价值。 方法 回顾性分析37例Ⅰ期子宫内膜癌患者的CEUS表现及肌层浸润情况,并与术后病理结果进行对照。 结果 CEUS示Ⅰa期4例,Ⅰb期20例,Ⅰc期13例。以病理结果为金标准,CEUS诊断Ⅰa期子宫内膜癌的敏感度、特异度、准确率、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为75.00%(3/4)、93.94%(31/33)、91.89%(34/37)、60.00%(3/5)、96.88%(31/32);Ⅰb期的敏感度、特异度、准确率、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为85.00%(17/20)、82.35%(14/17)、83.78%(31/37)、85.00%(17/20)、82.35%(14/17);Ⅰc期的敏感度、特异度、准确率、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为84.62%(11/13)、95.83%(23/24)、91.89%(34/37)、91.67%(11/12)、92.00%(23/25)。 结论 CEUS在判断Ⅰ期子宫内膜癌肌层浸润情况及术前分期中有较高价值。     

应用阴道彩色多普勒超声诊断子宫内膜癌并分期

目的 探讨经阴道彩色多普勒超声(TVCDS)在子宫内膜癌诊断及分期中的临床应用价值。方法 应用TVCDS筛查713名子宫内膜癌高危者,测量子宫内膜厚度,观察子宫内膜形态、内膜与肌层交界面弱回声晕的完整性,观察病灶的部位、大小、回声、边缘是否规整及内部血流,判断肌层浸润深度。根据国际妇产科联盟(FIGO)分期方法,将子宫内膜癌分为Ⅰ~Ⅳ期,并将TVCDS诊断与手术病理结果对照分析。结果 TVCDS诊断子宫内膜癌109例,其中104例经手术病理证实,TVCDS对子宫内膜癌诊断和分期的符合率分别为95.41%(104/109)和98.08%(102/104)。104例患者中,98例内膜厚度5.6~56 mm,6例内膜无增厚但存在宫腔积液。肿瘤分期与肿瘤血供丰富程度呈正相关(r=0.6994,P<0.01),肿瘤分期越高,血供越丰富。结论 应用TVCDS诊断子宫内膜癌并进行分期,可为临床制定治疗方案、判断预后提供可靠依据。     

超声造影鉴别诊断子宫内膜良恶性病变

目的 探讨CEUS时相及时间-强度曲线(TIC)鉴别诊断子宫内膜良恶性病变的价值。 方法 回顾性分析47例阴道不规则出血或排液患者,其中23例为子宫内膜癌(恶性组),24例为良性病变(良性组),分析其CEUS表现及TIC参数,并进行统计学比较。 结果 灌注时相:恶性组中52.17%(12/23)早于肌层灌注,47.83%(11/23)同步或晚于肌层灌注;良性组中16.67%(4/24)早于肌层灌注,83.33%(20/24)同步或晚于肌层灌注,二者差异具有统计学意义(P=0.028)。洗出时相:恶性组中82.61%(19/23)早于肌层洗出,良性组62.50%(15/24)早于肌层洗出,差异具有统计学意义(P=0.037)。良性组与恶性组子宫内膜的造影剂到达时间(AT)差异无统计学意义(P >0.05),达峰时间(TTP)及达峰强度(PI)的差异有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。 结论 子宫内膜良恶性病变的CEUS时相与TIC参数具有一定特征性,联合应用二者能够为临床提供丰富的信息,有助于鉴别良恶性子宫内膜病变。     

DWI及动态增强MRI鉴别诊断Ⅰa期子宫内膜癌与子宫内膜息肉

目的 探讨DWI及动态增强MRI（DCE-MRI）鉴别诊断Ⅰa期子宫内膜癌与子宫内膜息肉的价值。方法 回顾性分析经本院病理证实、并接受DWI及DCE-MRI检查的60例Ⅰa期子宫内膜癌和38例子宫内膜息肉患者资料。分析并比较病变的ADC、相对表观扩散系数（rADC）、达峰时间（TTP）、最大增强对比率（MCER）、90 s与60 s增强对比率差（ER_{90 s-60 s}）和时间-信号强度曲线（TIC）类型。评价DWI和DCE-MRI鉴别Ⅰa期子宫内膜癌与子宫内膜息肉的效能。结果 Ⅰa期子宫内膜癌与子宫内膜息肉的ADC[（0.76±0.17）×10^-3 mm²/s vs（1.33±0.20）×10^-3 mm²/s]、rADC（0.58±0.07 vs 1.02±0.13）、TTP[（76.47±13.37）s vs（101.86±14.62）s]、MCER[（119.48±42.51）% vs（178.32±88.24）%]、ER_{90 s-60 s}[（7.12±14.15）% vs（44.67±27.99）%]差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示,鉴别Ⅰa期子宫内膜癌与子宫内膜息肉的ADC、rADC、TTP、MCER及ER_{90 s-60 s}阈值分别为0.904×10^-3 mm²/s、0.74、81.5 s、159.01%和19.25%,曲线下面积（AUC）分别为0.984、1.000、0.966、0.718和0.937。60例Ⅰa期子宫内膜癌中,Ⅰ型TIC 26例,Ⅱ型31例,Ⅲ型3例;38例子宫内膜息肉中,Ⅱ型TIC 9例,Ⅲ型29例,二者差异有统计学意义（χ²=57.167,P<0.001）。结论 DWI及DCE-MRI在Ⅰa期子宫内膜癌和子宫内膜息肉的鉴别诊断中具有重要价值,ADC、rADC、TTP、MCER、ER_{90 s-60 s}可作为有效的定量指标。     

ADC值对子宫内膜癌宫颈浸润的诊断价值

目的 探讨磁共振扩散加权成像(DWI)表观扩散系数(ADC值)对子宫内膜癌宫颈浸润的诊断价值。方法 实验组:选取经病理证实有宫颈浸润的子宫内膜癌患者26例;对照组:随机选取无宫颈浸润的子宫内膜癌患者26例。分别测量每例患者宫腔内癌灶、宫颈内口、外口的ADC值,进行ROC分析。结果 实验组宫腔内癌灶的ADC均值 ,与宫颈内口的ADC均值 差异无统计学意义(t=－0.45,P=0.66)。对照组宫腔内癌灶ADC均值 显著低于宫颈内口的ADC值 ,差异有统计学意义(t=－6.86,P＜0.001),与实验组宫腔内癌灶ADC均值比较差异无统计学意义(t=0.74,P=0.47)。以宫颈内口ADC值进行ROC分析,曲线下面积为0.86,最佳诊断界值为1.02×10^－3 mm²/s,敏感度为73.1%,特异度为96.2%。结论 DWI有助于诊断子宫内膜癌宫颈浸润。     

超声造影鉴别诊断子宫内膜增生与早期子宫内膜癌

目的 探讨CEUS鉴别诊断子宫内膜增生与早期子宫内膜癌的价值。方法 对32例I期子宫内膜癌患者（子宫内膜癌组）、29例子宫内膜增生患者（子宫内膜增生组）及30名健康志愿者（正常对照组）进行子宫内膜CEUS检查,用QLab定量分析软件进行定量分析,获取时间-强度曲线（TIC）及相关灌注参数到达时间（AT）、达峰时间（TTP）、上升时间（RT）、基础强度（BI）、峰值强度（PI）和强度相对值（EI）。结果 与正常对照组比较,子宫内膜增生组所有参数差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）,子宫内膜癌组PI、EI、AT、TTP、RT差异有统计学意义（P均<0.05）,BI差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 CEUS对于定性诊断子宫内膜增生与早期子宫内膜癌具有一定临床价值。     

超声造影与磁共振弥散加权成像对Ⅰ期子宫内膜癌肌层浸润的对比研究

目的 运用超声造影和磁共振弥散加权成像两种技术探讨Ⅰ期子宫内膜癌肌层浸润病灶的图像特征,并对子宫内膜癌进行分期评估.方法 运用超声造影和磁共振成像两种技术分别对74例(超声造影组和磁共振成像组各37例)病理证实为Ⅰ期子宫内膜癌伴有肌层浸润患者术前影像表现及诊断准确率进行对比分析.结果 (1)术前超声造影诊断Ⅰa期(3例)、Ⅰb期(17例)和Ⅰc期(11例)子宫内膜癌31例,与病理诊断符合率为83.8%(31/37);31例子宫内膜癌病变超声造影表现:Ⅰa期(3例):病变区子宫内膜呈不均匀性低或等增强,与肌壁分界清,肌壁呈均匀性强化;Ⅰb期(17例):病变区子宫内膜呈不均匀性中等或高增强,与肌壁分界不清,受累肌壁厚度≤1/2肌层厚度;Ⅰc期(11例):病变区子宫内膜呈不均匀性高或中等增强,与肌壁分界不清,受累肌壁厚度＞1/2肌层厚度,内膜及受累肌壁增强及消退多早于正常肌壁.(2)术前磁共振弥散加权成像诊断Ⅰa期(3例)、Ⅰ b期(18例)和Ⅰ c期(10例)子宫内膜癌31例,与病理诊断符合率亦为83.8%(31/37);31例子宫内膜癌病变磁共振弥散加权成像表现:Ⅰa期(3例):病变的子宫内膜呈不均匀高信号,结合带完整;Ⅰb期(18例):病变的子宫内膜呈不均匀高信号,结合带中断且子宫肌层内缘边界不清,受累肌壁呈不均匀性高信号,受累肌壁厚度≤1/2肌层厚度;Ⅰc期(10例):病变的子宫内膜呈不均匀高信号,结合带中断且子宫肌层内缘边界不清,受累肌壁呈不均匀性高信号,受累肌壁厚度＞1/2肌层厚度.(3)以病理诊断结果为金标准,术前超声造影与磁共振弥散加权成像评估Ⅰ期子宫内膜癌浸润肌层深度诊断的准确率均为83.8%(31/37).结论 术前正确认识超声造影与磁共振弥散加权成像图像特征有助于正确诊断Ⅰ期子宫内膜癌,超声造影对子宫内膜癌肌层浸润的诊断及术前分期与磁共振弥散加权成像的诊断及术前分期有相同价值.     

MRI术前诊断子宫内膜癌宫颈间质浸润

目的 探讨MRI术前诊断Ⅱ期子宫内膜癌宫颈间质浸润的价值及MR动态增强扫描在定位宫颈内口中的意义。方法 回顾性分析经手术病理证实的107例子宫内膜癌患者资料。以手术后病理分期为金标准,采用Fisher's确切概率法分别评价术前MRI和分段诊断性刮宫对Ⅱ期、>Ⅱ~Ⅳ期子宫内膜癌宫颈间质浸润的诊断效能,分析MRI和分段诊刮诊断对Ⅱ期子宫内膜癌宫颈间质浸润的敏感度、特异度、准确率、阳性预测值和阴性预测值。观察动脉期宫体肌层与宫颈肌层强化特点。结果 MRI和分段诊刮对Ⅱ期内膜癌宫颈间质浸润的诊断效能差异有统计学意义(P=0.03),对>Ⅱ~Ⅳ期差异无统计学意义(P=0.36);MRI术前诊断Ⅱ期子宫内膜癌宫颈间质浸润的敏感度、特异度、准确率、阳性预测值和阴性预测值为56.25%(9/16)、97.80%(89/91)、91.59%(98/107)、81.81%(9/11)、92.71%(89/96)。宫体肌层与宫颈肌层在动脉期形成清晰的分界面。结论 MRI术前评估Ⅱ期子宫内膜癌宫颈间质有较大价值,优于分段诊断性刮宫。在动态增强扫描动脉期,宫体肌层与宫颈肌层强化差异形成的分界面有助于宫颈内口的定位,有助于MRI发现宫颈间质浸润。     

CT与全身核素骨显像联合诊断单发骨转移瘤

目的 评价全身骨显像、CT及二者联合诊断在单发骨转移病变定性诊断中的价值。方法 对102例全身骨显像表现为单发异常核素分布的恶性肿瘤患者行骨病变部位CT扫描。全身骨显像、CT及二者联合分别做出诊断,并与随访结果和病理对照。结果 102例患者,经随访和病理证实有53例为骨转移瘤。全身骨显像、CT与二者联合诊断骨转移瘤灵敏度分别为90.57％(48/53)、86.79％(46/53)、100%(53/53);特异度分别为61.22％(30/49)、97.96％(48/49)、91.84％(45/49);准确率分别为76.47％(78/102)、92.16％(94/102)、96.08％(98/102);阳性预测值分别为71.64%(48/67)、97.87%(46/47)、92.98%(53/57);阴性预测值分别为85.71%(30/35)、87.27%(48/55)、100%(45/45)。CT诊断特异度、准确率及阳性预测值优于全身骨显像(P＜0.05)。二者联合诊断特异度、准确率及阳性预测值明显优于单纯全身骨显像(P＜0.05),灵敏度和阴性预测值明显优于单纯CT(P＜0.05)。结论 CT有助于区分全身骨显像单发病变的良恶性。全身骨显像与CT联合诊断可明显提高肿瘤患者单发骨转移瘤的诊断准确率。     

MRI对前列腺癌诊断准确性的系统评估

目的 通过随访评估MRI诊断前列腺癌的准确性。方法 对因前列腺特异性抗原(PSA)异常而接受前列腺MR检查的612例患者进行随访。结果 随访对象中396例在MR检查后3个月内接受首次穿刺或手术,其中发现前列腺癌183例。MR检查结果与穿刺或手术后病理结果有显著相关性(χ²=106.04,P<0.05)。MR检查诊断准确率75.25％(298/396),敏感度83.06％(152/183),特异度68.54％(146/213),阳性预测值69.41％(152/219),阴性预测值82.48%(146/177)。MRI分期为B期者穿刺阳性率为52.21％(59/113),C期、D期者穿刺阳性率分别为86.17%(81/94)和100%(12/12)。在213例3个月内穿刺未发现前列腺癌患者中,随访期内新发现前列腺癌12例,其中6例(6/67,8.96%)MRI曾诊断为癌,6例(6/146,4.11%)MRI曾诊断为非癌。612例患者中共发现前列腺癌195例,失访134例。结论 MRI对C期及D期的前列腺癌患者有较大诊断价值;对1次穿刺未发现肿瘤而MRI提示异常的患者需定期复查。     

Determination of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB activity in serum using immunological inhibition of creatine kinase M subunit activity. Activity kinetics and diagnostic significance in myocardial infarction.

This is a new method for the determination of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB activity in serum. The method uses direct activity measurement of creatine kinase B subunit activity after blocking of CK-M subunit activity by inhibiting antibodies. The test takes no longer than 15 min. The method yields an intra-serial C.V. of 2.0-12.9%, and a C.V. from day to day of 5.5%. The detection limit is 3.4 U/l creatine kinase MB. In the 95 cases with proven myocardial infarction several types of creatine kinase MB activity kinetics could be determined. The percentage of creatine kinase MB of peak CK-total is 6-25%, with a mean of 11.1%. The amount of creatine kinase MB with respect to total CK activity after reinfarction is higher than the amount after initial infarction.     

俯卧位通气对高海拔地区肺复张治疗无效急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者氧合的影响

目的 探讨俯卧位通气对高海拔地区肺复张术(RM)治疗无效急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)患者的治疗作用.方法 从海拔2260m的地区医院筛选RM治疗无效的41例ARDS患者[平均氧合指数( PaO2/FiO2)较RM前升高＜20％视为RM无效],依不同病因分为肺内源性ARDS组(ARDSp组)和肺外源性ARDS组(ARDSexp组),每组再按信封法随机分为俯卧位组和仰卧位组,即ARDSp俯卧位组(11例)、ARDSp仰卧位组(9例)、ARDSexp俯卧位组(10例)、ARDSexp仰卧位组(11例).在通气前及通气1、2、3、4h监测动脉血氧分压( PaO2)、PaO2/FiO2、静态顺应性(Cst)、气道阻力(Raw)的变化.结果 通气lh时,ARDSexp俯卧位组PaO2/FiO2( mm Hg,l mm Hg=0.133 kPa)即较通气前显著升高(157.4±40.6比129.3±48.7,P＜0.05),并随通气时间延长呈持续增高趋势,4h达峰值(219.1 ±41.1);且ARDSexp俯卧位组通气3h内PaO2/FiO2较其他3组显著增高,另3组间则差异无统计学意义.ARDSp俯卧位组、ARDSexp俯卧位组通气4h时PaO2/FiO2均较相应仰卧位组显著增高(208.8±39.7比127.4±47.1,219.1±41.1比124.9±50.8,均P＜0.05).4组通气前后Cst无显著改变,各组间差异也无统计学意义.ARDSp俯卧位组通气4h时Raw(cmH2O·L-1·s-1)较通气前显著降低(6.8±1.7比10.7±1.8,P＜0.05),且明显低于其他3组;其他3组各时间点Raw组内及组间比较差异均无统计学意义.结论 俯卧位通气作为ARDS机械通气重要策略之一,可以改善RM无效高原ARDS患者的氧合,为抢救患者赢得宝贵的时间.     

Digital imaging among medical facilities

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the USA operates a network of 172 medical centres which all utilize a hospital information system (HIS) which has been developed and is currently maintained by the VA. During the past several years, an image management and communication module has been developed, installed and clinically utilized at the Washington DC and Maryland VA Medical Centres. This image management and communication system, referred to as the decentralized hospital computer program (DHCP) imaging system, is fully integrated with a commercial picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The system is utilized to capture, archive, and display all images generated within the hospital including radiology, nuclear medicine, pathology, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, and dermatology, intraoperative photographs, ECG data, and a limited number of paper documents. The ultimate goal of the project is to have all patient text and image data available at any clinical workstation to any authorized user anywhere within the network of medical centres. Clinical requirements for an imaging workstation include ease of use, rapid and reliable access to the complete set of patient information, and images which are of acceptable quality to meet the requirements of the user and the subspecialty. Patient confidentiality and data security must be safeguarded at all times. Integration of the images with the remainder of the patient's database was found to be critical to the success of the project. The experience at the Washington and Maryland facilities suggests that an imaging system that is successfully integrated with a hospital information system can provide substantial clinical and economic benefits both within and among medical centres. Clinical acceptance and utilization of the system has been excellent, particularly in diagnostic radiology where DHCP Imaging has been interfaced to a commercial PAC system. Based upon this initial experience, the VA has begun to deploy the system throughout its large network of medical centres.     

Myocardial elastography at both high temporal and spatial resolution for the detection of infarcts

Myocardial elastography is a novel method for noninvasively assessing regional myocardial function, with the advantages of high spatial and temporal resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this paper, in-vivo experiments were performed in anesthetized normal and infarcted mice (one day after left anterior descending coronary artery [LAD] ligation) using a high-resolution (30 MHz) ultrasound system (Vevo 770, VisualSonics Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada). Radiofrequency (RF) signals of the left ventricle (LV) in longitudinal (long-axis) view and the associated electrocardiogram (ECG) were simultaneously acquired. Using a retrospective ECG gating technique, 2-D full field-of-view RF frames were acquired at an extremely high frame rate (8 kHz) that resulted in high-quality incremental displacement and strain estimation of the myocardium. The incremental results were further accumulated to obtain the cumulative displacements and strains. Two-dimensional and M-mode displacement images and strain images (elastograms), as well as displacement and strain profiles as a function of time, were compared between normal and infarcted mice. Incremental results clearly depicted cardiac events including LV contraction, LV relaxation and isovolumetric phases in both normal and infarcted mice, and also evidently indicated reduced motion and deformation in the infarcted myocardium. The elastograms indicated that the infarcted regions underwent thinning during systole rather than thickening, as in the normal case. The cumulative elastograms were found to have higher elastographic SNR (SNR(e)) than the incremental elastograms (e.g., 10.6 vs. 4.7 in a normal myocardium, and 6.0 vs. 2.4 in an infarcted myocardium). Finally, preliminary statistical results from nine normal (m = 9) and seven infarcted (n = 7) mice indicated the capability of the cumulative strain in differentiating infracted from normal myocardia. In conclusion, myocardial elastography could provide regional strain information at simultaneously high temporal (>/=0.125 ms) and spatial ( approximately 55 microm) resolution as well as high precision ( approximately 0.05 microm displacement). This technique was thus capable of accurately characterizing normal myocardial function throughout an entire cardiac cycle, at the same high resolution, and detecting and localizing myocardial infarction in vivo.     

Guns and Knives in New Mexico: Patterns of Penetrating Trauma, 1978–1993

Objective: To identify patterns of nonfatal and fatal penetrating trauma among children and adults in New Mexico using ED and medical examiner data.
Methods: The authors retrospectively sampled in 5-year intervals all victims of penetrating trauma who presented to either the state Level-1 trauma center or the state medical examiner from a 16-year period (1978–1993). Rates of nonfatal and fatal firearm and stabbing injury were compared for children and adults.
Results: Rates of nonfatal injury were similar (firearm, 34.3 per 100,000 person-years; stabbing, 35.1). However, rates of fatal injury were significantly different (firearm, 21.9; stabbing, 2.7; relative risk: 8.2; 95% confidence interval: 5.4, 12.5). From 1978 to 1993, nonfatal injury rates increased for children (p = 0.0043) and adults (p < 0.0001), while fatal penetrating injury remained constant. The increase in nonfatal injury in children resulted from increased firearm injury rates. In adults, both stabbing and firearm nonfatal injury rates increased.
Conclusions: Nonfatal injury data suggest that nonfatal violence has increased; fatal injury data suggest that violent death rates have remained constant. Injury patterns vary by age, mechanism of trauma, and data source. These results suggest that ED and medical examiner data differ and that both are needed to guide injury prevention programs.     

Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Morphine

Morphine, the most widely used mu-opioid analgesic for acute and chronic pain, is the standard against which new analgesics are measured. A thorough understanding of the pharmacokinetics of morphine is required in order to safely and effectively use this analgesic in a wide variety of patients with different levels of organ function. A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify literature published between 1966 and January 2002 relevant to the pharmacokinetics of morphine. These publications were reviewed and the literature summarized regarding unique and clinically important elements of morphine disposition relative to its parenteral administration (including intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, epidural and intrathecal administration), absorption profile (immediate release, controlled release, and sublingual/buccal, and rectal administration), distribution, and its metabolism/ excretion. Special populations, including infants, elderly, and those with renal/liver failure, have a unique morphine pharmacokinetic profile that must be taken into account in order to maximize analgesic efficacy and reduce the risk of adverse events.     

手转胎头术失败的原因与分娩结局临床分析

目的 探讨手转胎头术失败的原因与分娩结局.方法 选择2008年1月至2010年12月于我院住院分娩的持续性枕横位、枕后位产妇198例,根据行手转胎头术后结果分为成功组126例、失败组72例.比较两组分娩结局,对比分析失败原因.结果 失败组胎儿体质量≥3500 g的发生率[76.4％(55/72)]明显高于成功组[31.7％(40/126)],差异有统计学意义(x2=30.177,P=0.001)、失败组宫缩乏力发生率[58.3％(42/72)]高于成功组[38.1％ (48/126)],差异有统计学意义(x2=7.569,P=0.006)、失败组骨盆临界或轻度狭窄发生率[38.9％ (28/72)]高于成功组[23.8％(30/126)],差异有统计学意义(x2 =5.030,P=0.002)、失败组手转胎头时机不当(宫口开大＜6 cm、胎头位于坐骨棘上及宫口开大8～10 cm、胎头位于坐骨棘下≥2 cm)发生率[61.1％(44/72)]高于成功组[38.9％(49/126)],差异有统计学意义(x2=9.084,P=0.003).失败组母儿并发症(产后出血、产褥病率、胎儿窘迫、新生儿窒息)发生率高于成功组(x2 =9.586,P=0.002、x2=9.334,P=0.002、x2=5.910,P=0.015、x2=5.240,P=0.022)、失败组剖宫产发生率[72.2％(52/72)]明显高于成功组[34.1 ％(43/126),x2=26.641,P=0.001)].结论 手转胎头术能使难产变顺产,降低剖宫产率,减少母儿并发症,但须积极预防、处理导致手转胎头术失败的原因,对矫正失败后继续矫正及试产应慎重.     

Evidence-Based Pain Management and Palliative Care in Issue Four for 2009 of The Cochrane Library

ABSTRACT

The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews is published quarterly. Issue 4 for 2009 contains 4027 complete reviews, 1906 protocols for reviews in production, and 11447 one-page summaries of systematic reviews published in the general medical literature. In addition, there are citations of 600,000 randomized controlled trials, and 12,200 cited papers in the Cochrane methodology register. The health technology assessment database contains over 7500 citations. This edition of the Library contains 90 new reviews, of which 19 have potential relevance for practitioners in pain and palliative medicine.