The acceptability of waiting times for elective general surgery and the appropriateness of prioritising patients

Background  

Problematic waiting lists in public health care threaten the equity and timeliness of care provision in several countries. This study assesses different stakeholders' views on the acceptability of waiting lists in health care, their preferences for priority care of patients, and their judgements on acceptable waiting times for surgical patients.     

26万女性队列人群中乳腺癌与人工流产关系的研究（上海）

目的：评估人工流产（指手术流产）对乳腺癌危险性的可能影响。方法：研究在上海267040例妇女的一项乳房自我检查随机试验的队列人群中进行，由队列研究和巢式病例对照研究两部分组成。结果：依据基线调查表采集的资料分析，人工流产不增加乳腺癌危险性。调整潜在的混淆因素后，OR=1．06（95％CI：0．91～1．25）。人工流产次数增加无危险性趋势增加。从更详细的652例乳腺癌病例和694例对照资料分析，得出相似的结果。人工流产发生在首次生育后不增加危险性；少数妇女在首次生育前人工流产以及妊娠13周后人工流产，虽然被观察到危险性有增加，但无显著性统计学意义。结论：在中国，人工流产不是乳腺癌发生的重要原因。     

What are the CD34+ cells in benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors? Double immunostaining study of CD34 and S-100 protein

To determine whether CD34 expression in nerve sheath lesions was found in a unique cell population or in a subset of nerve sheath cells, we performed double immunohistochemical staining using a standard avidinbiotin complex method with 2 separate color developing systems. We studied 40 neurofibromas and 16 neurilemomas. All lesions strongly expressed S-100 in nuclei and cytoplasm. CD34 was detected in cells having ameboid dendritic cytoplasm present in greatest numbers in Antoni B zones of neurilemomas, myxoid zones of neurofibromas, at the periphery of lobules in both tumor types, and condensed in apposition to perineurium. The CD34+ cells also were detected in normal nerves. They were infrequent in Antoni A zones of neurilemomas. No dual S-100 and CD34 expression was seen. This double immunostaining confirms the presence of a CD34-reactive non-Schwannian cell type in these neural neoplasms. As the CD34+, S-100-negative cell population is present also in normal nerves and infrequently seen in the areas of cellular neoplastic Schwann cells, CD34+, S-100-negative cells in peripheral nerve sheath tumors most likely are nonneoplastic and may have a supportive function.     

Mycotic infection of the ear (otomycosis): a prospective study

Otomycosis (fungal infection of the ear) is not uncommon clinical problem encountered in our ENT practice. It makes up to 6 per cent of all patients with symptoms of ear disease seen in the Outpatient Clinic. Of the 193 patients with a clinical diagnosis of otomycosis, 171 cases produced positive fungal isolates. In this study Aspergillus species (niger and fumigatus) have been the most common fungal pathogens. Various aetiopathological factors have been examined in detail, and the available literature reviewed. The results of the treatment by nine antifungal agents currently available in Bahrain have been analysed.     

E-SHAP: An effective treatment in selected patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

BACKGROUND:: The optimal treatment of relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin'slymphoma is unknown. The reported encouraging results of a salvageregimen, E-SHAP (etoposide 40 mg/m²/day x 4, methyl prednisolone500 mg daily x 4, cytosine arabinoside 2 gm/m² one dose andcisplatinum 25 mg/m²/day x 4), at the MD. Anderson Hospitalin Texas, which resulted in a 65% response rate, could not bereproduced in the United Kingdom (0% response). PATIENTS AND METHODS:: Twenty-six patients with relapsed (n = 16) or refractory (n= 10) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated at our Centre by amodified E-SHAP regimen (cytosine arabinoside 1 gm/m² one dose).The treatment was intended as remission induction before BMT(n = 16), as salvage by itself (n = 5) and for palliation ofsymptoms (n = 5). RESULTS:: The overall response rate was 72% (CR = 7 and PR = 11). A comparisonof Kaplan-Meier curves showed a statistically significant improvementin median relapse-free survival in patients who had previouslyachieved CR (p = 0.0012), no bulky disease (P = 0.0006) andno B-symptoms (P = 0.0004). The toxicity was acceptable: 8 instancesof febrile neutropenia, 2 of reversible renal impairment and2 symptomatic electrolyte abnormalities. No fatal toxicitieswere encountered. The median time to treatment failure was 191days and median overall survival was 190 days. CONCLUSIONS:: E-SHAP is an active combination chemotherapy when used as asalvage regimen or for remission induction before bone marrowtransplantation in selected patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin'slymphoma. Patients who previously achieved CR, with low tumourburden and no B-symptoms are the best candidates for this treatment.It has a limited palliative effect. non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, salvage chemotherapy, etoposide, cisplatinum     

Cytogenetic and cryobiology of human cocultured embryos: A 3-year experience

Purpose Coculture, which allows good-quality human blastocysts with good yields to be obtained, has been designed mainly to select the best embryos for transfers.Methods In a first attempt during coculture, we have studied by fluorescent in situhybridization the chromosomic content of the in vitroblocked embryos, using centromeric probes for chromosomes 1, 12, and 18. Close to 37% of the arrested embryos show aneuploidymosaicism.Results Freezing cocultured blastocysts gives good recovery rates after transfer (83%). The ongoing pregnancy rates per transfer (19%) are high, and the implantation rate per embryo is 13%. This compares favorably with freezing at an early stage.Conclusions We observed that the quality of the endometrium is always the limiting step, as first of all we observed wide variations according to the hormonal preparation of the patients. Moreover the implantation per embryo in the pregnant patients is very high (57%), indicating that most of the losses are directly related to the receptivity of the endometrium.Presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Fertility Society, San Antonio, Texas, November 5–10, 1994.     

The Prevalence and Timing of Obstetric Ultrasound in Victoria 1991–1992: a Population-based Study

Summary: A statewide study to ascertain the number of ultrasound scans received by women in pregnancy, to identify the proportion having a scan at 16 to 20 weeks' gestation, and to establish where the scan at 16 to 20 weeks was performed was carried out between January, 1991 and June, 1992 in Victoria. Additional data were collected by midwives and entered on the perinatal morbidity statistics form routinely completed for all births. Of 52,319 women providing responses, 3.1% did not have a scan. Of the remaining 96.9% who had a scan, 73.5% were scanned at 16 to 20 weeks'gestation. Predictors of not having a scan were maternal birthplace and higher parity: previous perinatal death(s), and attendance at nonteaching hospitals predicted the opposite. Predictors of being scanned were location of hospital (country), maternal birthplace, higher parity and maternal age (< 20 years). Substantial differences in frequency and timing were found between hospitals attended. Factors associated with the pattern of scanning are not readily explicable in terms of risk of malformations or women's choices.     

Episiotomy at the Royal Women's Hospital, Brisbane: a comparison of practices in 1986 and 1992

Objective: to determine whether the incidence of perineal outcomes, including episiotomy, at the Royal Women's Hospital (RWH) Brisbane reflected trends reported in the literature.Design: retrospective record review.Setting: RWH Brisbane.Participants: 953 women who delivered vaginally at the RWH in 1986 and 1992.Measurements and findings: there was a decline in the episiotomy rate from 65% in 1986 to 36% in 1992. This was accompanied by an increase in the incidence of intact perinea and spontaneous perineal tears. There was no difference in the incidence of spontaneous third degree tears. The decline in the incidence of episiotomy was found when other factors, such as parity, were considered, with the exception of operative vaginal delivery, where no difference in the use of episiotomy was found. There was no significant increase in the number of babies with an Apgar score of <7 at one minute of age, despite a significant reduction in the use of episiotomy when delivering these babies (55% in 1986 and 19% in 1992; P<0.001). The second stage was significantly longer in 1992 (P<0.01).Key conclusions: the findings reflect the decline in the incidence of episiotomy reported in the literature. This decline in rate was accompanied by an increase in the length of second stage and in the incidence of both intact perinea and perineal tears. Lowering the incidence of episiotomy did not result in a rise in the rate of babies with an Apgar score of <7 at one minute.