Case mix measures and diagnosis-related groups: opportunities and threats for inpatient dermatology

OBJECTIVE: The changing healthcare environment world-wide is leading to extensive use of per case payment systems based on diagnosis-related groups (DRG). The aim of this study was to examine the impact of application of different DRG systems used in the German healthcare system. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 2334 clinical data sets of inpatients discharged from an academic dermatological inpatient unit in 2003. Data were regarded as providing high coding quality in compliance with the diagnosis and procedure classifications as well as coding standards. The application of the Australian AR-DRG version 4.1, the German G-DRG version 1.0, and the German G-DRG version 2004 was considered in detail. To evaluate more specific aspects, data were broken down into 11 groups based on the principle diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: DRG cost weights and case mix index were used to compare coverage of inpatient dermatological services. Economic impacts were illustrated by case mix volumes and calculation of DRG payments. RESULTS: Case mix index results and the pending prospective revenues vary tremendously from the application of one or another of the DRG systems. The G-DRG version 2004 provides increased levels of case mix index that encourages, in particular, medical dermatology. CONCLUSIONS: The AR-DRG version 4.1 and the first German DRG version 1.0 appear to be less suitable to adequately cover inpatient dermatology. The G-DRG version 2004 has been greatly improved, probably due to proceeding calculation standards and DRG adjustments. The future of inpatient dermatology is subject to appropriate depiction of well-established treatment standards.     

高钠血症影响重型颅脑损伤预后的临床分析及处理

目的分析并探讨高钠血症对重型颅脑损伤患者预后产生的影响及处理对策。方法对我院自2007年11月至2010年10月期间收治的78例重型颅脑损伤后伴高钠血症患者的临床资料做回顾性分析。78例患者按血清钠水平分为高血钠组及高血钠组。结果全部78例重型颅脑损伤患者中继发高钠血症者37例,发生高钠血症组的GCS评分为3～5分者30例,GCS评分为6～8分者7例,两组相比差异显著（P〈0.01）,具有统计学意义。高钠血症患者有27例死亡,10例生存,两组的病死率相比,差异亦显著（P〈0.01）,具有统计学意义。结论患者高钠血症的病情程度和GCS分值具有密切的相关性。对于高钠血症,临床工作中必须充分提高预防意识,重视其严重后果尽早采取纠正高钠血症措施,在保守治疗无效的情况下,应尽早开始血液净化治疗,改善患者的预后。     

T-cell receptor gene rearrangement in T-cell large granular leukocyte leukemia: preferential V alpha but diverse J alpha usage in one of five patients

T-gamma lymphoproliferative disease (T-gamma LPD) is a chronic disorder of mature T cells that is associated with neutropenia and autoimmune phenomena. Although the progression of the lymphoproliferation is indolent, it is often associated with a monoclonal proliferation of T- cell-type large granular lymphocytes (LGL) that manifest multiple in vitro suppressor and cytotoxic activities. We considered the possibility that the granulocytopenia or anemia might represent an autoimmune disorder mediated by the monoclonal LGL via T-cell receptor (TCR) recognition of an antigen involved in hematopoiesis. Therefore, in an effort to characterize the usage of the TCR alpha- and beta-chain genes in patients with T-gamma LPD, we cloned and sequenced TCR alpha- and beta-chain mRNAs derived from the T-cell type LGL of five patients. The five patients studied did not use a common V alpha nor a common J alpha segment. However, an unusual finding was observed in one of the patients where the occurrence of a single variable-diversity-junctional (VDJ) rearrangement of the beta chain confirmed the monoclonal origin of the LGL proliferation. In accord with this evidence for monoclonality, many of the cells studied used a common V alpha (V alpha 19.1). In contrast to this common V alpha usage, there was a marked diversity of the J alpha segments and N-region addition that were associated with the V alpha 19.1 segment. This pattern of common V alpha usage associated with different N and J alpha segments suggests an immune-mediated selection process affecting the TCR alpha chain occurring after the transformation event that established the clone. We suggest that the T-cell-type LGL malignant clone might have developed autoreactivity conferred by the selected TCR alpha chain and that this autoreactivity might be implicated in this patient's anemia.     

A granulocyte reactive monoclonal antibody, 1G10, identifies the Gal beta 1-4 (Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc (X determinant) expressed in HL-60 cells on both glycolipid and glycoprotein molecules

1G10, a monoclonal IgM antibody that identifies a differentiation antigen on human granulocytes and a subpopulation of monocytes, was found to react specifically with glycosphingolipids bearing the Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc hapten (X determinant). This carbohydrate determinant was found on both glycolipid and glycoprotein molecules isolated from HL-60 cells (a promyelocytic leukemia cell line). Thus, this highly conserved carbohydrate-defined determinant previously described on mouse embryonic and mouse and human carcinoma cells is also expressed as a tissue-specific differentiation antigen on normal human granulocytes.     

Prolonged Atrium Electromechanical Interval Is Associated with Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation After Catheter Ablation

Electromechanical Interval and Strokes After Ablations of AF . Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risk of embolic stroke. Catheter ablation of AF provides an effective therapy for patients with symptomatic and drug‐refractory AF. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the atrial electromechanical interval is useful in identifying patients at risk of stroke after successful catheter ablation. Methods and Results: A total of 279 AF patients who received catheter ablation and showed no evidence of recurrences were enrolled. Electromechanical interval (PA–PDI) was determined as the time interval from the initiation of P wave deflection to the peak of mitral inflow A wave on pulse wave Doppler imaging. The PA–PDI interval was measured for each patient after the 3‐month blanking period of catheter ablation. The clinical endpoint was the occurrence of ischemic stroke. During the follow‐up of 46.5 ± 17.2 months, 6 patients suffered from ischemic strokes. Patients with strokes had higher CHA₂DS₂–VASc scores and longer PA–PDI intervals (138.7 ± 12.4 ms vs 161.2 ± 7.7 ms, P value < 0.001) compared to those without strokes. At a cutoff point of 150 ms identified by ROC curve, the positive and negative predictive values of the PA–PDI interval to predict stroke were 86.7% and 100%, respectively. The PA–PDI interval improved the predictive performance of the CHA₂DS₂–VASc score, and the area under the ROC curve increased from 0.75 to 0.85. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the PA–PDI interval is a useful tool to identify patients with high risk of stroke after successful catheter ablation of AF. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 375‐380, April 2013)     

PCI-32765和Bortezomib对B细胞肿瘤细胞系细胞增殖、凋亡的影响及其机制的研究

本研究旨在探讨Btk抑制剂PCI-32765和蛋白酶体抑制剂bortezomib对Raji、Ramos细胞的增殖、凋亡的影响及其作用机制.PCI-32765和bortezomib单药及联合用药处理Raji和Ramos细胞后,分别运用CCK-8法及流式细胞术检测细胞的增殖与凋亡,Western blot法检测Btk、NFκB、c-IAP1、Bcl-xL、caspase-3等蛋白的表达.结果表明：①PCI-32765（0.5、1.0、2.0、3.0、4.0、5.0、6.0μmol/L）和bortezomib（10、20、30、40、50、60、80 nmol/L）处理Raji和Ramos细胞48 h,均可抑制细胞增殖,抑制率呈剂量依赖性,且两药具有协同作用;②PCI-32765（2.0μmol/L）、bortezomib（20 nmol/L）单药及联合用药处理Raji和Ramos细胞不同时间（8、12、24、36、48、72 h）,均可抑制细胞存活率,抑制率呈时间依赖性,且两药具有协同作用;③PCI-32765（2μmol/L）和bortezomib（20 nmol/L）单药及联合用药处理Raji和Ramos细胞48 h,可明显促进Raji及Ramos细胞的凋亡.Raji细胞实验结果,空白对照组、PCI-32765和bonezomib单药组、联合用药组的细胞凋亡率分别为10.34±0.53％、24.26±0.91％、43.66±1.08％与74.06±0.72％,各组间有统计学差异（P＜0.05）;Ramos细胞实验结果,空白对照组、PCI-32765和bortezomib单药组、联合用药组的细胞凋亡率分别为15.16±1.49％、71.36±0.82％、75.32±2.36％与84.30±0.91％,各组间有统计学差异（P＜0.05）;④PCI-32765和bonezomib单药处理Raji、Ramos细胞后,细胞内Btk、NFκB、Bcl-xl及c-.IAP1的表达水平较对照组降低,Caspase-3的表达水平升高,两药联用后,作用增强.结论：PCI-32765和bonezomib可以协同抑制Raji与Ramos细胞的增殖,促进其凋亡,其机制可能与抑制Btk、NFκB的活性,下调Bcl-xl及c-IAP1等抗凋亡蛋白,同时上调Caspase-3等凋亡蛋白的表达而发挥作用.     

妊娠晚期孕妇抑郁与睡眠质量的相关性研究

目的 了解妊娠晚期孕妇抑郁和睡眠质量的现况及其影响因素,探讨妊娠晚期孕妇抑郁与睡眠质量的相关性。方法 选择中卫市2所医院535名符合调查要求的孕妇进行问卷调查,采用匹兹堡睡眠质量指数量表（pittsburgh sleep quality index,PSQI）和抑郁自评量表（self-rating depression scale,SDS）评定孕妇睡眠质量及抑郁。结果 535名孕妇抑郁检出率为34.2%,睡眠障碍的检出率为20.6%。有抑郁的孕妇睡眠障碍检出率（29.0%）高于无抑郁的孕妇（16.2%）,差异有统计学意义（χ²=12.018,P=0.001）。PSQI总分和SDS得分呈正相关（r=0.680,P<0.001）。文化程度低、夫妻关系差、有孕期并发症、睡眠障碍是妊娠晚期孕妇抑郁的危险因素。有孕期并发症、担忧孩子健康、抑郁是妊娠晚期孕妇睡眠障碍的危险因素。结论 妊娠晚期孕妇睡眠质量与抑郁呈正相关,应采取综合性干预措施改善妊娠晚期孕妇的抑郁情绪和睡眠质量。