COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF NO-SCALPEL VASECTOMY AND STANDARD INCISIONAL VASECTOMY

No-scalpel vasectomy employs a refined method of dissection and delivery of the vas deferens. We compared no-scalpel vasectomy with standard incisional vasectomy in 176 patients over a 33 month period. The haemorrhage rate was 1.08 per cent for no-scalpel vasectomy compared with 11.9 per cent for standard vasectomy (p < 0.005). The infection rate was 3.26 per cent for no-scalpel vasectomy as against 14.28 per cent for standard vasectomy (p < 0.01). There was a 37.5 per cent reduction in operating time and a substantial reduction in pain during and after the procedure when no-scalpel vasectomy was performed and also there was no failure of vasectomy. No-scalpel vasectomy is a satisfactory alternative to standard vasectomy with fewer complications and increased patient acceptability.KEYWORDS: Male sterilization, Vasectomy     

Growth monitoring: testing the new guidelines

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of recent guidelines from the UK joint working party of child health surveillance recommending that all children be measured at age 5 and again between 7 and 9 years of age to determine how many normal school age children are likely to be referred for specialist assessment. METHODS: The longitudinal data of 486 children measured by school nurses in a community setting were examined and compared with measurements made in a research setting by a single, skilled observer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of children identified as having abnormal stature (< 0.4th or > 99.6th centile) and abnormal growth rate height standard deviation score (HSDS) change > 0.67). RESULTS: The community survey identified seven (1.4%) children as having abnormal stature (four short, three tall), 11 (2.3%) were identified as "slow growing", and nine (1.9%) increased their HSDS by more than 0.67. These results were comparable to data collected in ideal research conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Following the recommendations would not result in an excess number of inappropriate referrals. However, this study highlights several unresolved issues such as interobserver variability and time interval between measurements. A large scale prospective study should be considered to establish realistic and cost-effective criteria before implementation of a national screening programme.     

Cytokeratin phenotypes at the dento-gingival junction in relative health and inflammation, in smokers and non-smokers

OBJECTIVES: The cells of the junctional epithelium (JE) provide and maintain the epithelial attachment, and remain morphologically and phenotypically distinct from oral sulcular (OSE) and external oral epithelia (EOE), from which they may be regenerated de novo. Expression of cytokeratins (CK) in human epithelia has been shown to be highly site-specific, implying a functional role. The aims of this study were to differentiate between the cyto-keratin profiles of JE, OSE, EOE and pocket epithelia (PE) in health and disease, in smokers and non-smokers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cytokeratin profiles of 40 samples of healthy and clinically inflamed human gingival tissue taken from 15 smokers and 25 non-smokers were studied by immunocytochemistry. Cryostat sections of fresh frozen gingival tissues were stained with a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and visualised by a biotin-Streptavidin-peroxidase complex technique.
RESULTS: JE and PE expressed an identical range of cytokeratins irrespective of the inflammatory or smoking status, with the exception of CK4 expression, which tended to be increased in smokers. The OSE and EOE expressed non-cornifying and cornifying differentiation cytokeratins respectively, but in the presence of inflammation, both these epithelia showed increased expression of CK19 at a basal level in association with expression of one or more of the simple cytokeratins. JE/PE expressed CK17 in external layers only, approximating the tooth surface. All epithelia expressed CK6,16 the markers of high cell turnover.
CONCLUSIONS: CK19 was a consistent differentiation marker for JE and PE.Expression of CK8,18 was enhanced by inflammation. CK4 expression increased in association with smoking. Markers of differentiation were not always co-expressed equally within a pair. Pairs were not always completely mutually exclusive with frequent co-localisation.     

Multivariate Analysis of Clinical Factors in Restenosis after Coronary Stenting

Ojbective To find the independent predictors for restenosis after coronary stenting. Methods Quantitative angiography was performed on 60 cases (67 successfully dilated lesions) after angio-plasty over 6-months follow-up, and both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were done to i-dentify the correlations of restenosis with clinical factors. Results The total restenosis rate was 31. 3% (21 of 67 lesions), and according to univariate analysis the patients who underwent coronary stenting≥ 3. 5mm had a lower rate of restenosis ( P < 0. 01). Collateral circulation to the obstruction site, high maximal inflation pressure, smoking and the less minimal lumen diameter after PTCA made the rate of restenosis higherower ( P < 0. 05) . Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that coronary stenting ≥3. 5mm had a low rate of restenosis, but high maximal inflation pressure and smoking made the restenosis rate higher. Conclusion Coronary stent size, maximal inflation pressure and. smokin     

Patel S,Turner PR,Stubberfield C,Barry E,Rohlff CR,Stamps A,McKenzie E,Young K,Tyson K,Terrett J,Box G,Eccles S,Page MJ. Hyaluronidase gene profiling and role of HYAL‐1 overexpression in an orthotopic model of prostate cancer. International Journal of Cancer 2002;97(4): 416–424.

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in International Journal of Cancer; 2002; 97(4) 416–422.     

海南省性罪错妇女11年性病感染情况调查分析

目的 通过对11年来性罪错人员性病感染情况的调查分析,掌握性病在性罪错妇女中流行的特点,为政府部门对性病防治政策的制定提供科学依据。方法 对1990年元月至2000年12月海南省妇女收容教育所被收教的性罪错妇女进行性病检查,统计其各种性病的发病人数,然后进行分析。结果 11年中共收教4780人,其中感染淋病、非淋菌性尿道炎(宫颈炎)、尖锐湿疣、梅毒、生殖器疱疹、HIV共2967例,阳性率为62．07％,其中非淋菌性尿道炎(宫颈炎)1826例(38．20％)、淋病469例(9、81％)、梅毒414例(8．7％)、尖锐湿疣246例(5．14％)、生殖器疱疹11例(0．23％)、HIV阳性1例(0．02%)。结论 性罪错妇女六种性病的患病率很高,达62．07％,其中非淋菌性尿道炎(宫颈炎)为其主要病种,淋病的患病率逐年下降,梅毒的患病率逐年上升,尖锐湿疣基本稳定,其流行特点值得我们重视。     

甲状腺机能亢进症危险因素病例对照研究

目的 探讨各危险因素与甲亢的关系。方法 对三亚地区110例甲亢采用1：2配比的病例对照研究,资料处理采用条件Logistic回归分析.结果 甲亢发病与下列5因素关系密切：家庭年收入(OR=2．055)、食用碘盐(OR=2．133)、喜食海产品(OR=2．183)、感染(OR=2．382)、家庭生活事件(OR=3．017) 结论 家庭生活事件、感染、喜食海产品、食用碘盐、家庭年收入增高等是甲亢的危险因素。     

New universal precaution aspiration tray

A new tray has been designed for use during procedures involving needles and other sharp objects. The tray includes a foam adhesive pad, marked into 10 sections, into which the sharp objects can be placed point first. After the procedure, the objects can be safely withdrawn by their handles and then discarded. The tray has been used in more than 250 procedures.