Tuberculous peritonitis: a review of thirty-five cases.

The clinical course of 35 patients with tuberculous peritonitis notified in Kandy (Sri Lanka) over a 6-year period has been reviewed. The maximum incidence occurred in the age group 21 to 40 years and the female/male ratio was 3:2. Clinical features were non-specific and the main presenting features were fever (68.5%), abdominal pain (65.7%), abdominal distension (54.2%), abdominal mass (54.2%) and ascites (45.7%). The symptoms were of insidious onset and 85% had symptoms for more than one month. Chest X-ray revealed abnormality suggestive of tuberculosis in 47%. Intra-abdominal tuberculosis was suspected in 43% of 26 patients before laparotomy. Four of the 32 patients given anti-tuberculous drugs died. Overall mortality was 20%.     

Physician staffing patterns and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: a systematic review

Context  Intensive care unit (ICU) physician staffing varies widely, and its association with patient outcomes remains unclear. Objective  To evaluate the association between ICU physician staffing and patient outcomes. Data Sources  We searched MEDLINE (January 1, 1965, through September 30, 2001) for the following medical subject heading (MeSH) terms: intensive care units, ICU, health resources/utilization, hospitalization, medical staff, hospital organization and administration, personnel staffing and scheduling, length of stay, and LOS. We also used the following text words: staffing, intensivist, critical, care, and specialist. To identify observational studies, we added the MeSH terms case-control study and retrospective study. Although we searched for non–English-language citations, we reviewed only English-language articles. We also searched EMBASE, HealthStar (Health Services, Technology, Administration, and Research), and HSRPROJ (Health Services Research Projects in Progress) via Internet Grateful Med and The Cochrane Library and hand searched abstract proceedings from intensive care national scientific meetings (January 1, 1994, through December 31, 2001). Study Selection  We selected randomized and observational controlled trials of critically ill adults or children. Studies examined ICU attending physician staffing strategies and the outcomes of hospital and ICU mortality and length of stay (LOS). Studies were selected and critiqued by 2 reviewers. We reviewed 2590 abstracts and identified 26 relevant observational studies (of which 1 included 2 comparisons), resulting in 27 comparisons of alternative staffing strategies. Twenty studies focused on a single ICU. Data Synthesis  We grouped ICU physician staffing into low-intensity (no intensivist or elective intensivist consultation) or high-intensity (mandatory intensivist consultation or closed ICU [all care directed by intensivist]) groups. High-intensity staffing was associated with lower hospital mortality in 16 of 17 studies (94%) and with a pooled estimate of the relative risk for hospital mortality of 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.82). High-intensity staffing was associated with a lower ICU mortality in 14 of 15 studies (93%) and with a pooled estimate of the relative risk for ICU mortality of 0.61 (95% CI, 0.50-0.75). High-intensity staffing reduced hospital LOS in 10 of 13 studies and reduced ICU LOS in 14 of 18 studies without case-mix adjustment. High-intensity staffing was associated with reduced hospital LOS in 2 of 4 studies and ICU LOS in both studies that adjusted for case mix. No study found increased LOS with high-intensity staffing after case-mix adjustment. Conclusions  High-intensity vs low-intensity ICU physician staffing is associated with reduced hospital and ICU mortality and hospital and ICU LOS.      

Menstrual disorders in a Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology Clinic: patient presentations and longitudinal outcomes

OBJECTIVE. To study the presentations, diagnoses, and outcomes in adolescents with menstrual disorders. DESIGN. Prospective cohort study. SETTING. Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology Clinic, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS. A total of 577 adolescents aged 14 to 19 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. The presentations and diagnoses of adolescents with menstrual disorders were reviewed and their menstrual outcomes determined by a telephone survey. RESULTS. In all, 47% presented with menorrhagia, prolonged menstruation, and short menstrual cycles; 27% had secondary amenorrhoea, 12% had dysmenorrhoea, 11% had oligomenorrhoea, and 3% had primary amenorrhoea. Significant diagnoses included congenital genital tract anomalies, premature ovarian failure, anorexia nervosa, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Polycystic ovarian syndrome was diagnosed in 16% of the cohort. In all, 24% of these 577 patients had abnormal menstrual cycles 4 years later. Direct logistic regression analysis indicated a cycle length of more than 35 days at presentation (adjusted odds ratio=2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-4.5), previous diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (adjusted odds ratio=2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.4), and current body mass index of 23 kg/m(2) or higher (adjusted odds ratio=1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-3.0) were risk factors for persistently long menstrual cycle exceeding 35 days. Adolescents who were screened out with a definitive diagnosis after initial assessment were at low risk of persistently long menstrual cycles at follow-up (adjusted odds ratio=0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.8). CONCLUSIONS. Adolescent menstrual disorders should not be ignored. Long cycle, diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome at first consultation, and a current body mass index of 23 kg/m(2) or higher were statistically associated with persistent problems.     

Clinical presentations and outcomes of Penicillium marneffei infections: a series from 1994 to 2004.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with Penicillium marneffei infections in a regional hospital in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: A regional and tertiary human immunodeficiency virus-referral hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: Those who had penicilliosis during the inclusive period January 1994 to February 2004. RESULTS: Forty-seven immunocompromised patients (44 being human immunodeficiency virus-positive) with penicilliosis were retrospectively studied. Fever, malaise, and anaemia were the commonest presentations. Most diagnoses were obtained from blood cultures (83%) and lymph node biopsies (34%). Five (11%) died, death being attributable to penicilliosis; four (9%) of them had received no specific antifungal treatment due to late presentation and late diagnosis. The CD4 count of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients upon diagnosis of penicilliosis was low (median, 20.0 cells/mm3). Most (70%) patients received amphotericin B as an induction treatment, followed by oral itraconazole, although a smaller proportion (21%) received oral itraconazole only. All surviving human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients took highly active antiretroviral treatment and oral itraconazole as secondary prophylaxis after treatment of penicilliosis. The prognosis appeared satisfactory with early diagnosis and administration of appropriate antifungal therapy. Relapse ensued in two (4%) of the patients only. CONCLUSION: Penicillium marneffei infection in immunocompromised patients is a serious disease with significant mortality if not diagnosed early and treated with appropriate antifungal drugs. Simple investigations like blood culture enable the diagnosis in the majority of cases. Immunocompromised patients who have been successfully treated should receive oral itraconazole as a maintenance therapy to prevent relapse.     

结核性脊髓炎临床特征分析及诊断(附4例报告)

结核性脊髓炎是中枢神经系统结核感染中比较少见的类型,临床表现不典型,诊断缺乏特异性.2010年1月至2015年7月第二军医大学长海医院共收治第一诊断为结核性脊髓炎的患者4例.本研究总结分析了结核性脊髓炎的临床特点、脑脊液及影像学表现,以期为其早期诊断及治疗提供依据.     

Effects of computerized clinical decision support systems on practitioner performance and patient outcomes: a systematic review

Context  Developers of health care software have attributed improvements in patient care to these applications. As with any health care intervention, such claims require confirmation in clinical trials. Objectives  To review controlled trials assessing the effects of computerized clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) and to identify study characteristics predicting benefit. Data Sources  We updated our earlier reviews by searching the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Inspec, and ISI databases and consulting reference lists through September 2004. Authors of 64 primary studies confirmed data or provided additional information. Study Selection  We included randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of a CDSS compared with care provided without a CDSS on practitioner performance or patient outcomes. Data Extraction  Teams of 2 reviewers independently abstracted data on methods, setting, CDSS and patient characteristics, and outcomes. Data Synthesis  One hundred studies met our inclusion criteria. The number and methodologic quality of studies improved over time. The CDSS improved practitioner performance in 62 (64%) of the 97 studies assessing this outcome, including 4 (40%) of 10 diagnostic systems, 16 (76%) of 21 reminder systems, 23 (62%) of 37 disease management systems, and 19 (66%) of 29 drug-dosing or prescribing systems. Fifty-two trials assessed 1 or more patient outcomes, of which 7 trials (13%) reported improvements. Improved practitioner performance was associated with CDSSs that automatically prompted users compared with requiring users to activate the system (success in 73% of trials vs 47%; P = .02) and studies in which the authors also developed the CDSS software compared with studies in which the authors were not the developers (74% success vs 28%; respectively, P = .001). Conclusions  Many CDSSs improve practitioner performance. To date, the effects on patient outcomes remain understudied and, when studied, inconsistent.      

Gastroesophageal reflux: clinical presentations, diagnosis and management.

Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux occurs daily in an estimated 7% of adults and weekly or monthly in 29%. Untreated it can lead to esophageal erosions, ulceration and stricture formation. The pathogenesis is often multifactorial: defects in the function of the lower esophageal sphincter, esophageal clearance mechanisms and gastric emptying combine to produce frequent lengthy periods during which the lower esophagus is bathed in regurgitated acid. In most patients reflux disease is easily recognized as recurrent heartburn, regurgitation or dysphagia, or a combination. When acute chest pain or respiratory illness is the primary presenting complaint the patient needs particularly careful investigation to determine whether the symptoms are due to a primary cardiac or respiratory condition, are secondary to gastroesophageal reflux alone or represent a combination of disorders. Endoscopy with biopsy and long-term pH monitoring are the most reliable ways of determining whether reflux disease is present. Additional investigations, such as exercise testing, cardiac catheterization or inhalation challenge, may be needed in patients with cardiac or respiratory symptoms. Treatment should follow a stepped-care approach and in most patients should begin with changes in lifestyle, including dietary manipulation, reducing alcohol and cigarette consumption, and raising the head of the bed, together with appropriate use of antacids or alginate-antacid combinations. H2-receptor antagonists and agents to improve both gastric emptying and the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter may be added in sequence. Most patients will respond well to this regimen. Surgery should be considered only for those with intractable symptoms or with complications (e.g., stricture formation, bleeding, development of dysplastic epithelium in those with Barrett's esophagus, or secondary pulmonary disease that does not respond to medical management). It is successful in 85% of well-selected patients and has few complications.     

Effective physician-patient communication and health outcomes: a review.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether the quality of physician-patient communication makes a significant difference to patient health outcomes. DATA SOURCES: The MEDLINE database was searched for articles published from 1983 to 1993 using "physician-patient relations" as the primary medical subject heading. Several bibliographies and conference proceedings were also reviewed. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and analytic studies of physician-patient communication in which patient health was an outcome variable. DATA EXTRACTION: The following information was recorded about each study: sample size, patient characteristics, clinical setting, elements of communication assessed, patient outcomes measured, and direction and significance of any association found between aspects of communication and patient outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of the 21 studies that met the final criteria for review, 16 reported positive results, 4 reported negative (i.e., nonsignificant) results, and 1 was inconclusive. The quality of communication both in the history-taking segment of the visit and during discussion of the management plan was found to influence patient health outcomes. The outcomes affected were, in descending order of frequency, emotional health, symptom resolution, function, physiologic measures (i.e., blood pressure and blood sugar level) and pain control. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the studies reviewed demonstrated a correlation between effective physician-patient communication and improved patient health outcomes. The components of effective communication identified by these studies can be used as the basis both for curriculum development in medical education and for patient education programs. Future research should focus on evaluating such educational programs.     

Effects of clinical decision-support systems on practitioner performance and patient outcomes: a synthesis of high-quality systematic review findings

Objective

To synthesize the literature on clinical decision-support systems'' (CDSS) impact on healthcare practitioner performance and patient outcomes.

Design

Literature search on Medline, Embase, Inspec, Cinahl, Cochrane/Dare and analysis of high-quality systematic reviews (SRs) on CDSS in hospital settings. Two-stage inclusion procedure: (1) selection of publications on predefined inclusion criteria; (2) independent methodological assessment of preincluded SRs by the 11-item measurement tool, AMSTAR. Inclusion of SRs with AMSTAR score 9 or above. SRs were thereafter rated on level of evidence. Each stage was performed by two independent reviewers.

Results

17 out of 35 preincluded SRs were of high methodological quality and further analyzed. Evidence that CDSS significantly impacted practitioner performance was found in 52 out of 91 unique studies of the 16 SRs examining this effect (57%). Only 25 out of 82 unique studies of the 16 SRs reported evidence that CDSS positively impacted patient outcomes (30%).

Conclusions

Few studies have found any benefits on patient outcomes, though many of these have been too small in sample size or too short in time to reveal clinically important effects. There is significant evidence that CDSS can positively impact healthcare providers'' performance with drug ordering and preventive care reminder systems as most clear examples. These outcomes may be explained by the fact that these types of CDSS require a minimum of patient data that are largely available before the advice is (to be) generated: at the time clinicians make the decisions.     

Reye''s syndrome: a clinical review

Reye's syndrome is a virus-associated biphasic disease that causes acute encephalopathy in infants and children. Epidemiologic and experimental data support the hypothesis that it is a multifactorial disease of modern civilization. Just as young patients seem to be recovering uneventfully from the first phase of the illness, usually a nonspecific viral-like illness such as a respiratory tract infection or gastroenteritis, the second phase, encephalopathy, starts unexpectedly, with vomiting and sensorial changes. Identifying the syndrome early ;in the second phase and referring the child to a specialized centre with the experience, staff and facilities to manage this phase has improved the numbers and neurologic condition of survivors, though the overall mortality is still about 20%. Therapy is primarily directed at facilitating adequate cerebral perfusion pressure.     

Smooth muscle tumors of the appendix and colon: a collective review of the world literature.

In this collective review, we compiled all reported cases of smooth muscle tumors of the colon/appendix in the world literature from 1959 to 1989. Our goal was to make more accurate conclusions about these tumors based on our increased data pool.     

子宫内膜异位症与不良妊娠结局的Meta分析

目的 系统性评价子宫内膜异位症（EMS）是否增加不良妊娠结局的发病风险,为子宫内膜异位症的围生期监护提供指导。方法 计算机检索2010年1月1日—2020年12月31日在中国知网（CNKI）、中国生物医学文献数据库（CBM）、万方数据库、维普数据库、the Cochrane Library、PubMed、Embase和Web of Science数据库中妊娠结局的相关研究,研究类型为队列和病例对照研究。对符合质量标准的研究结果进行Meta分析。采用RevMan 5.3软件进行分析。结果 最终纳入10项研究,纳入研究对象共2 107 633例。Meta分析结果显示：子宫内膜异位症组不良妊娠结局风险显著增加,包括妊娠期高血压疾病[■=1.19(95%CI:1.14,1.25),P <0.05]、死胎[■=1.66(95%CI:1.53,1.80),P <0.05]、胎盘早剥[■=1.84(95%CI:1.14,2.97),P <0.05]、前置胎盘[■=3.31(95%CI:2.55,4.31),P <0.05]、产后出血[■=1.30(95%CI:1.01,1.6...