Digital imaging with a photostimulable phosphor in the chest of newborns

To evaluate use of a digital photostimulable phosphor imaging system in the neonatal nursery, 150 newborns were divided into three groups of 50. In the first two groups, screen-film and computed radiographs of the chest were obtained at the same radiation exposure; in the third group, computed radiographs were obtained with a 50% dose reduction (half-exposure computed radiographs). All images were blindly evaluated by three readers who scored the quality of visualization of the mediastinum, lung, bone, soft tissues, and endotracheal and nasogastric tubes, and also image density. No statistical differences in visualization of tubes existed among the three groups. Visualization of the mediastinum, lung, bones, and soft tissues was statistically significantly better on computed radiographs than on half-exposure computed radiographs; visualization of the lungs, bones, and soft tissues was statistically significantly better on screen-film radiographs than half-exposure computed radiographs. Image density was statistically better on computed and half-exposure computed radiographs than on screen-film radiographs.     

老年心力衰竭患者外周血红细胞膜脂流动性的变化及与心功能的相关性

目的观察红细胞膜脂流动性（LFU）在老年充血性心力衰竭（CHF）中的变化及其意义。方法选择CHF患者40例,正常对照者30例,用荧光分光光度计偏振技术测定外周血红细胞LFU。结果CHF组红细胞LFU明显低于正常对照组（P<0.01）;心功能越差,LFU越低（P<0.05和P<0.01）。结论红细胞LFU在一定程度上反映了CHF程度。     

益气复智颗粒对多发脑梗死性痴呆模型大鼠脑组织细胞凋亡的影响

目的 观察益气复智颗粒对多发脑梗死性痴呆模型大鼠脑皮质形态学、细胞凋亡的影响。方法 采用颈内动脉注射血栓的方法，复制多发梗死性痴呆大鼠模型，观察益气复智颗粒12．42g/kg分别于手术前、手术前后、手术后灌胃对实验动物脑皮质形态学、细胞凋亡的影响。结果 益气复智颗粒能使脑缺血后脑内神经细胞凋亡数目下降。结论 益气复智颗粒具有较好的保护脑神经元，阻断脑缺血致神经细胞死亡病理过程的作用。     

The effect of plasma solutes on total-body-water measurements via NMR.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been reported as an alternative method for quantitating deuterium oxide concentrations in the evaluation of total-body-water in humans. However, the presence of dissolved plasma proteins results in an underestimation of deuterium NMR (2H-NMR) intensity ratios, thereby causing an overestimation (5-6%) of total-body-water (TBW) values determined from nonsublimed patient plasma samples. We demonstrate that plasma samples must be corrected for the volume percentage of water in plasma. Correction of initial 2H-NMR intensity ratios with a factor of 0.93 results in intensity ratios comparable to those determined from plasma samples subjected to vacuum sublimation to remove all plasma solutes.     

CT在外伤性胃肠道穿孔急诊中的价值

目的:探讨急诊外伤性胃肠穿孔的CT征象及诊断价值。方法:收集18例经手术证实的外伤性胃肠道穿孔的临床资料及CT征象,分析与总结胃肠道破裂穿孔CT扫描的各种有价值的表现。结果:18例外伤急诊患者中,胃、十二指肠、空回肠与结肠穿孔各1,2,12,3例,其中空回肠为多处破裂,CT主要征象为腹腔散在积液征、游离气腹征、肠系膜与肠壁增厚模糊征、造影剂外溢征。结论:CT扫描在外伤性胃肠道穿孔急诊患者的检查中有定性诊断价值,综合分析各种征象,会明显提高CT的诊断正确率。     

Addressing quality of life issues in adolescents: social skills interventions.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether social skills training can improve the social interaction skills of adolescents with craniofacial conditions (CFCs) in a natural environment (school lunchroom). DESIGN: This study used a pre-post between-group comparison design. Differences between treatment and control subjects were analyzed via a repeated measures analysis of variance. SETTING: The observations were conducted in the respective school lunch-rooms of the adolescents. Social skills groups were conducted in an outpatient clinic setting. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Structured data based on 45 minutes of observation was coded for type, frequency, and duration of social contact. Specific measures included subject initiations and responses, peer initiations and responses, conversation events, total positive communication, and frequency of nondirected comments. RESULTS: Both target and peer-controlled total communication improved across time with adolescents receiving social skills intervention showing significantly more improvement than those adolescents not receiving direct social skills interventions. Adolescents receiving treatment participated in significantly more target initiated conversations lasting at least three interchanges and showed a trend toward a greater frequency of target initiations and positive responses to peer initiations. Peers were more likely to respond to treatment subject initiations after intervention. Fewer treatment subjects used nondirected communication, whereas control subjects continued to use nondirected communication at a slightly increased frequency. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence that social skills training can increase the frequency of positive social interactions with peers for adolescents with CFCs.     

Use of a violence risk assessment tool in an acute care hospital: effectiveness in identifying violent patients.

This study examined the use and effectiveness of the Alert assessment form. The form is part of the Alert system, used by one large acute care hospital to identify patients with a propensity for violence. All reported incidents of patient violence from August 1, 2003, through December 31, 2004, were included in patient charts. One hundred seventeen violent patient charts were reviewed and compared with 161 non-violent patient charts, randomly chosen from the same time period. Overall use of the Alert assessment form for violent and non-violent patients was 75.7% and 35.4%, respectively. The assessment form was found to have moderate sensitivity (71%) and high specificity (94%). It is reasonably effective in identifying potentially violent or aggressive patients when it is used according to protocol. Efforts to improve the tool are warranted, as is evaluation of its benefit in settings with low prevalence of violence. Also, greater effort must be taken to prevent violence once an aggressive patient has been identified.     

Evaluating clinical skills of RN students

A clinical performance examination was developed for basic baccalaureate nursing students and used to validate the clinical skills of registered nurses entering a baccalaureate degree program. With few exceptions, RNs returning to school demonstrated clinical competence in the secondary care area as measured by this examination. Therefore, another means of validating RN clinical skills was developed based on the evaluation criteria used for the clinical performance examination. Using employer and colleague validation, students individually documented competence in the area of practice. There was a decrease in student stress, an increase in self-esteem, conservation of the time and energy of students and faculty, and more effective use of program resources.     

特异性荧光偏振免疫法监测521例肾移植后环孢素A全血浓度3275次

目的通过监测肾移植后病人环孢素A(CsA)全血浓度 ,提出CsA在三联免疫抑制用药方案中的理想治疗窗。方法用特异性荧光偏振免疫法测定CsA全血浓度 ,对521例病人监测3275次 ,按术后时间及临床表现分组比较。结果肾移植后<1 ,、1～3、3～6、6～12个月、1～2和>2年的CsA全血谷浓度的理想治疗窗应分别为250～450、200～400、150～300、100～250、100～200和100～180μg/L。结论CsA全血浓度在上述范围内 ,中毒反应和排异反应明显减少     

血脂调节剂的研究——Ⅰ.HMG-CoA还原酶抑制剂M-8614A及MH-2688B产生菌的筛选

利用酶联免疫吸附测定法,酶标β-羟基β-甲基-戊二酸单酰铺酶A(HMG-CoA)还原酶抑制剂Compactin抗体,定向筛选血脂调节剂。从青霉M-8614菌株发酵液中分离到M-8614A。该物质理化性质及波谱解释表明与Mevastatin为同一物质。 M-8614菌株用亚硝酸盐等诱变剂处理,从诱变株MH-2688发酵液中分离到MH-2688B。该物质理化性质及波谱解释表明与Lovastatin为同一物质。