Screening mammography, public perceptions, and medical liability

PURPOSE: To outline the most common sources of raising malpractice claims in screening mammography and to discuss the related medical litigation issues in the light of the evidence-based medicine. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Electronic and manual search of the relevant literature. RESULTS: The most common cause of malpractice is the delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. The plaintiff must establish that the radiologist was negligent and the delay in diagnosis caused injury to the patient. Literature shows that mammography does not always detect breast cancer, and even skilled radiologists may periodically miss malignant lesions. Also, delay in diagnosis does not always affect treatment and prognosis. Over-promotion of screening mammography has made disproportionately difficult for a defendant radiologist to prevail in a malpractice lawsuit. Thus, screening mammography is at stake, although it saves lives. The public and legal system should be educated about biological processes, medical practice, and the limitations of screening mammography. CONCLUSION: If mammography is to survive medical litigation and continue to save lives a major reform in public perception, in the stance of the mass media, and in the ability of legal system to understand medicine is required. Physicians and medical associations have an important role to play.     

Anti‐infliximab antibody status and its relation to clinical response in psoriatic patients: A pilot study

Although the mechanisms underlying the loss of response to infliximab are not completely understood, the formation of antibodies to infliximab (ATI) are thought to play a role. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of ATI in psoriatic patients and to evaluate its relationship to the clinical response. Fifteen patients with psoriasis were treated with infliximab (5 mg/kg) every 8 weeks after an initial three‐dose induction treatment. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit was used for analyzing the presence of ATI in sera. Effectiveness assessments included the change in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) compared with study entry. Five (33.3%) patients developed ATI. While 5.9 ± 3.2 infliximab infusions achieved a fall in the PASI score from a mean of 20.4 ± 8.3 to 5.3 ± 2.4 in ATI‐negative patients, these values changed from 23.3 ± 11 to 10 ± 4.9 after 9 ± 5.2 infusions in ATI‐positive patients. Our results suggested that ATI measured in psoriatic patients are of clinical importance. Therefore, monitoring for the induction of ATI and rescue strategies should be developed to avoid or to maintain a delay in ATI development.     

天水饮治疗中风急性期疗效观察

目的 :观察中药天水饮治疗中风急性期的疗效。方法 :将 93例中风急性期患者随机分成 2组 ,2组一般治疗相同 ,治疗组 62例加用天水饮 ,病程 1周内每日 2剂 ,1周后每日 1剂。对照组 3 1例加用尼可林 0 .5 g静滴及 2周内加用 2 0 %甘露醇静滴 ,2周后加服步长新脑心通治疗。 2组治疗 3 0日后进行疗效比较。结果 :治疗组愈显率为 79.0 4 % ,病程 10日内见效率为 62 .90 % ;对照组愈显率为 5 1.61% ,病程 10日内见效率为3 8.71% ,2组比较均有显著性差异 ( χ2 =7.3 9,P<0 .0 1和 χ2 =4 .88,P<0 .0 5 )。结论 :天水饮可改善病变区脑循环 ,增强脑细胞活力 ,促进语言及肢体功能恢复 ,对中风急性期有良好的疗效     

高位胸段硬膜外阻滞治疗顽固性心绞痛及其对循环内皮细胞的影响

目的观察高位胸段硬膜外阻滞(TEA)对顽固性心绞痛(FAP)的治疗效果及循环内皮细胞(CEC)数量。方法20例FAP患者接受TEA治疗,观察疗效和心电图变化,并于TEA治疗前及治疗结束时检测血浆CEC的变化。结果TEA治疗后心绞痛缓解率100％,心电图ST段压低导联数和ST压低值显著减少(P<0．05),CEC显著减少(P<0．01)。结论TEA治疗FAP疗效满意,并可能通过保护血管内皮细胞起作用。     

广州管圆线虫病的临床预后

目的 :探讨 1997年 10～ 11月间 ,温州市区暴发的广州管圆线虫病的临床预后。方法 :入选病例符合如下条件 :(1)于 1997年 9月中旬～ 11月中旬期间急性起病 ;(2 )头痛和 (或 )游移性躯干四肢皮肤抚摸痛 ;(3)周围血液或脑脊液中嗜酸性粒细胞增高和 (或 )广州管圆线虫虫体抗原抗体阳性 (EL ISA法 ) ;(4)病前一个月内有食用未熟的淡水螺肉或贝虾史 ;(5 )排除其它蠕虫移行症。采用统一设计的随访调查表 ,由专人对符合上述标准的 35例 ,通过电话和(或 )面访 ,进行为期 1.5年的随访。结果 :全组无死亡 ,无复发 ,无严重残疾或并发症 ,遗留症状轻微 ,以局限性的主观或客观根性感觉障碍为主。主观症状多于客观体征。早期神经根痛严重者 ,后遗根性感觉异常较多。结论 :该组病例远期预后良好 ,病程自限。病性较重者多数可遗留轻微局限性感觉异常或感觉减退 ,可能与广州管圆线虫蚴对脊髓后根神经髓鞘直接或间接损害以及虫体死亡后致局部肉芽肿形成有关     

Normalization of cellular zinc levels in patients with Down's syndrome does not always correct low thymulin levels

Retrospective analysis of five Down's syndrome (DS) patients who presented with recurrent infection revealed that all had initial low thymulin levels. Three patients had low cellular zinc levels that normalized after zinc replacement. Contrary to previous studies, thymulin levels were persistently low in four of five DS patients despite maintaining or achieving normal cellular zinc levels. A primary thymic epithelial defect may be responsible for the persistent thymulin deficiency in DS patients.     

The smear layer: a phenomenon in root canal therapy

When the root canals are instrumented during endodontic therapy, a layer of material composed of dentine, remnants of pulp tissue and odontoblastic processes, and sometimes bacteria, is always formed on the canal walls. This layer has been called the smear layer. It has an amorphous, irregular and granular appearance under the scanning electron microscope. The advantages and disadvantages of the prescence of smear layer, and whether it should be removed or not from the instrumented root canals, are still controversial. It has been shown that this layer is not a complete barrier to bacteria and if delays but does not abolish the action of endodontic disinfectants. Endodontic smear layer also acts as a physical barrier interfering with adhesion and penetration of sealers into dentinal tubules. In turn, it may affect the sealing efficiency of root canal obturation. When it is not removed, the durability of the apical and coronal seal should be evaluated over a long period. If smear layer is to be removed, EDTA and NaOCI solutions have been shown to be effective, among various irrigation solutions and techniques, including ultrasonics, that have been tested. Once this layer is removed, it should be borne in mind that there is a risk of reinfecting dentinal tubules if the seal fails. Further studies are needed to establish the clinical importance of the absence or presence of smear layer.     

Labyrinthine ossification: etiologies and CT findings

Ossification of the membranous labyrinth (labyrinthitis ossificans) develops as the final result of many inflammatory processes, for example, meningitis, blood-borne septic emboli, middle ear infection, and cholesteatoma. Labyrinthine ossification may also occur as a result of previous labyrinthectomy or secondary to trauma. Seven cases of labyrinthine ossification accompanied by severe vertigo and total hearing loss in the affected ear are discussed. The computed tomographic appearance of varying degrees of ossification, the clinical and surgical circumstances from which this disorder may develop, and the various approaches to labyrinthectomy are described.