Peritoneal dialysis patient survival: a comparison between a Swedish and a Korean centre.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patient mortality remains high, and this high mortality may be due to many factors. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, old age, co-morbid diseases, malnutrition, low residual renal function (RRF) and a high peritoneal transport rate have been shown to influence survival, but the relative importance of these factors may differ between different patient populations. Besides, centre practice patterns may differ between centres and may influence patient survival. In addition, the literature suggests that dialysis patient survival may be better in Asian than in Caucasian patients. METHODS: The influence of centre and patient characteristics on patient survival was investigated in 132 Korean and 106 Swedish incident PD patients, who underwent initial biochemical measurements and assessment of adequacy of dialysis, nutritional status, RRF and peritoneal transport characteristics. RESULTS: At the start of PD, Korean patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes, peritoneal Kt/V(urea), peritoneal creatinine clearance and peritoneal fluid removal, and lower body mass index, RRF and dialysate to plasma creatinine concentration ratio (D/P Cr) compared with Swedish patients. Significantly more patients from Korea were placed on temporary haemodialysis before PD (100 out of 132) when compared with Swedish patients (21 out of 106). During the follow-up, there was a significantly higher rate of transfer to other units in Korea and a significantly higher rate of kidney transplantation in Sweden. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall patient survival did not differ and relative risk for death was also not different between the two centres even after adjustment for age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, RRF and D/P Cr. On Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis, age, diabetes, RRF and D/P Cr were found to be independent predictors of mortality in the combined cohort of patients. While age, diabetes and D/P Cr were independent predictors of mortality in Korean patients, age and RRF independently predicted mortality in Swedish patients. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in centre and patient characteristics, we were unable to confirm a survival advantage for Korean over Swedish PD patients. The results of this study suggest that the reported difference in survival between Asian and Caucasian dialysis patients may have been due, in part, to differences in centre and patient characteristics rather than to race as such. The genetic influence on patient characteristics remains, however, to be elucidated.     

综合实践教学模式的实施与护生综合能力的培养

目的在《护理学基础》教学中，运用整体护理思维，探讨课堂综合实践教学模式的实效性，以提高护生的职业素质和能力。方法随机确定实验班和对照班，对照班采取传统的实践教学模式授课，实验班采取小群体综合实践模式教学。结果实验班护生的规范操作能力、沟通能力和知识运用能力与对照班比较有显著提高。结论小群体综合实践教学模式对护生综合能力的培养具有实际意义。     

环境线索对戒断期海洛因依赖者神经电生理的影响

Objective To explore the changes of craving and neuro-electrophysiological reactions under the exposure of heroin-related cues in abstinent heroin dependents.Methods In this self-controlled study,382 abstinent heroin dependent patients watched video of heroin smoking and injecting situations,and in the meantime were exposed to herein simulacrum and apparatus after relaxation exercises.The neuroelectrophysiological reactions were mcagured with a multi-biofeedback instrument before and after the cue exposed.Self-reported craving was also assessed before and after cue exposed.Results The craving were increased[(18±22)mm vs.(29±29)mm,P＜0.01]after cue exposures compared to pre-exposure,EMG[(12±7)μN vs.(14±10)μV,P＜0.01]and SC[(6.8±4.3)μS vs.(7.4±4.3)μS,P＜0.01]also increased.But the percentages of δ,θ,α,SMR,low β,high β decreased compared to that under the cue exposures[8:(10.8±4.7)%vs.(9.7±4.4)%,P＜0.01;0:(6.8±2.0)%vs.(6.3±2.0)%,P＜0.01;α:(4.8±1.8)%vs.(4.5±1.7)%,P＜0.01;SMR:(3.0 ±1.2)%vs.(2.8±1.2)%,P＜0.01;low β:(2.6±1.1)%vs.(2.5±1.1)%,P＜0.01 and high β:(4.6 ±1.5)%vs.(4.5±1.5)%.P＜0.05].Conclusions The results indicate that drug-related cue induce heroin craving and electrophysiological reactions.     

Fat and water separation in balanced steady-state free precession using the Dixon method.

In this work the feasibility of separating fat and water signals using the balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) technique is demonstrated. The technique is based on the observation (Scheffler and Hennig, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2003;49:395-397) that at the nominal values of TE = TR/2 in SSFP imaging, phase coherence can be achieved at essentially only two orientations (0 degrees and 180 degrees ) relative to the RF pulses in the rotating frame, under the assumption of TR < T2, and independently of the SSFP angle. This property allows in-phase and out-of-phase SSFP images to be obtained by proper choices of the center frequency offset, and thus allows the Dixon subtraction method to be utilized for effective fat-water separation. The TR and frequency offset for optimal fat-water separation are derived from theories. Experimental results from healthy subjects, using a 3.0 Tesla system, show that nearly complete fat suppression can be accomplished.     

The Application of Topical Anesthesia Combined with Subconjunctival Anesthesia for Glaucoma Surgery

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, reliability and analgesia effect of topical anesthesia combined with subconjunctival anesthesia in anti-glaucomatous surgery.Methods: Two hundred and four cases (357 eyes) underwent anti-glaucomatous surgeries under topical anesthesia with 0.5％ Alcaine eye drops combined with subconjunctival anesthesia with 2％ Lidocaine. The analgesic effect was analysed with visual analogue pain scale.Results: Among all of 357 eyes, 62 eyes underwent peripheral iridectomy, 67 eyes underwent simple trabeculectomy, 167 eyes underwent compound brabeculectomy and 12 eyes nonpenetrating trabecular surgery. The effects of anesthesia were as follows: 304 eyes (85.2％) were painless (Grade Ⅰ), 50 eyes (14.0％) were slight painful (Grade Ⅱ), and 3 eyes (0.8％) were more painful (Grade Ⅲ) during surgery. And no severe complications were observed in all the cases during surgery and postoperatively. Amaurosis fugax was not observed in the glaucoma patients at the late stage with narrow vi     

Myocardial Depressant Effects of Desflurane: Mechanical and Electrophysiologic Actions In Vitro

Background: The authors determined whether desflurane altered myocardial excitation-contraction coupling and electrophysiologic behavior in the same manner as isoflurane and sevoflurane.

Methods: The effects of desflurane on isometric force in guinea pig ventricular papillary muscles were studied in modified standard and in 26 mm K+ Tyrode solution with 0.1 [mu]m isoproterenol. Desflurane effects on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release were also determined by examining its actions on rat papillary muscles, guinea pig papillary muscles in low-Na+ Tyrode solution, and rapid cooling contractures. Normal and slow action potentials were recorded using a conventional microelectrode technique. Ca2+ and K+ currents of guinea pig ventricular myocytes were examined.

Results: Desflurane (5.3% and 11.6%) decreased peak force to approximately 70% and 40% of the baseline, respectively, similar to the effects of equianesthetic isoflurane concentrations. With isoproterenol in 26 mm K+ Tyrode solution, desflurane markedly depressed late peaking force and modestly depressed early peak force. The rested state contractions of rat myocardium or guinea pig myocardium in low-Na+ Tyrode solution were modestly depressed, whereas rapid cooling contractures were virtually abolished after desflurane administration. Desflurane significantly prolonged the action potential duration. Desflurane reduced L-type Ca2+ current and the delayed outward K+ current but did not alter the inward rectifier K+ current.     

Graves病介入栓塞治疗的病理研究

目的观察Graves病栓塞后的甲状腺组织动态病理变化。方法15例甲状腺动脉150 mm聚乙烯醇（PVA）微粒及平阳霉素栓塞治疗的Graves病患者,于术前、术后7天、3个月、6个月、1年、3年分别行甲状腺穿刺活检,共行44次穿刺活检,其中动脉栓塞术前15例、栓塞术后7天2例、3个月3例、6个月6例、1年5例次、3年13例次。结果栓塞后7天主要表现为凝固性坏死;栓塞后3-6个月表现为纤维组织增生变性和淋巴细胞浸润,滤泡灶性坏死为主;栓塞后1-3年主要表现为间质纤维组织增生明显和滤泡萎缩,部分散在增生滤泡被纤维间质分隔包裹,难以形成腺小叶结构,滤泡周围血管网减少。结论经甲状腺动脉栓塞治疗Graves病,甲状腺组织的病理变化是在栓塞后近期内主要表现为急性缺血坏死,然后表现为持续的慢性炎性破坏、滤泡萎缩、部分滤泡增生被明显增生的纤维组织分隔包裹的变化过程。提示微循环栓塞能肯定地破坏甲状腺组织,达到治疗Graves病较好的疗效。     

Pain management in ambulatory surgery.

Successful ambulatory surgery is dependent on analgesia that is effective, has minimal adverse effects, and can be safely managed by the patient at home after discharge. A number of studies have identified that the provision of effective postoperative analgesia is inadequate for a significant proportion of patients. The following discussion details the current available analgesic options for ambulatory surgery patients and the rationale for their use. Preemptive analgesia should be given to all patients unless there are specific contraindications. Consideration should be given to the use of long-acting oral COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and long-acting oral opioids to treat postoperative pain. A standardized multimodal postdischarge analgesic regimen tailored to the patient's expected postoperative pain levels should be prescribed. Patient follow-up by telephone questionnaire will confirm those surgical procedures that result in mild or moderate-to-severe postoperative pain and the effectiveness of treatment plans.     

超声引导下VacoraTM旋切系统的实验研究

目的探讨VacoraTM真空辅助活检系统的准确性和安全性,为临床应用奠定基础。方法选用里脊肉和鱼丸作为实验材料,根据鱼丸大小将实验分为5组:0.5、0.8、1.0、1.5及2.0cm组,每组鱼丸3~5个。采用VacoraTM活检系统,先行灰阶超声扫查肌肉后将鱼丸置入肌肉中,超声扫查置入的鱼丸,同轴套管针在超声引导下插入鱼丸底部,在套管针引导和超声监视下行旋切真空抽吸术;旋切后取出采样腔内的组织标本,用超声检查肌肉内的残腔,确定无鱼丸残留声像图。结果每次旋切组织条比较完整,其大小为20.0mm×0.6mm,旋切次数随鱼丸大小的增加而增加;0.5、0.8、1.0、1.5及2.0cm组里脊肉内鱼丸全部切除的平均旋切次数分别为12、15、19、26和31。所用的平均时间分别为15、18、23、27和34min。结论VacoraTM真空辅助活检系统定位准确、取样完整、操作简便。可为良恶性病变的诊断提供足够量的病理检查标本,为良性病变的完全切除提供具有潜在价值的手段。     

Comparison of the effects of three different combinations of general anesthetics on the electroretinogram of dogs

The objective of this study is to compare the effects of three different anesthetic combinations on the electroretinogram in the same animals under similar laboratory conditions. Thiopental–isoflurane (TI), medetomidine–ketamine (MK), and xylazine–ketamine (XK) were used on each of 12 healthy miniature schnauzer dogs (MS) with a period of at least 3 weeks in between subsequent anesthesia protocols, using the Dog Standard Protocol. The scotopic ERGs consisted of scotopic low stimulus strength (S) responses designated S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after dark adaptation, respectively, and scotopic standard stimulus strength (S-ST) responses. The photopic ERGs consisted of a photopic single flash (P) response and 31 Hz flicker (P-FL) responses. For S-ST (2.5 cd s/m²), the amplitude of the a-wave using TI was significantly lower than that using MK (adjusted P = 0.05) and XK (adjusted P = 0.03), and the implicit time of the a-wave was significantly shorter than that using MK (adjusted P = 0.04). For P (2.5 cd s/m²), the amplitude of the b-wave using XK was significantly higher than that using MK (adjusted P = 0.01). The implicit times of the b-wave using TI was significantly longer and shorter than that of MK for S1, S2 and P-FL and for S4 and S-ST, respectively, and than that of XK for S2 and P-FL and for S5 and S-ST, respectively. The results of the present study showed that TI affected both the amplitude and the implicit time of the a-wave for S-ST and the implicit time of the b-wave relatively more so than was the case when using XK or MK. Therefore, it appears that either XK or MK could be advantageous to use rather than TI for clinical studies.