腰椎静脉丛三维增强MR静脉成像初步研究

目的 探讨正常人腰椎静脉系统在三维增强MR静脉造影(MRV)的显示率,初步确定正常人腰椎椎管内前静脉(AIVV)的宽度范围。观察腰椎静脉系统在各种疾病情况下的表现。方法89例MR增强扫描受检者行MRV检查,其中62例为正常志愿者。分别观察不同年龄组各个腰椎节段的椎管内、外静脉显示情况。测量AIVV的宽度。观察各种疾病时椎管内、外静脉的表现。结果除L1和L2水平的左右吻合静脉外,其他各个节段41岁以上组的静脉显示率均低于40岁以下组(P<0.05)。AIVV平均宽度从L1-5逐渐增粗;年龄、性别、左右侧差异无统计学意义。AIVV全部显示的42例正常志愿者中,AIVV的平均宽度L1-L5逐渐增粗,范围在(3.9±0.6)mm-(7.9±1.2)mm;各种疾病时,AIVV可表现为正常、受压、移位或扩张。结论 三维增强MR静脉造影能满意地显示AIVV各分支及椎管外静脉的全貌,能够显示各种病变时椎静脉相应改变,对于指导临床治疗、研究椎静脉的临床意义具有潜在价值。     

Prevalent cases in observational studies of cancer survival: do they bias hazard ratio estimates?

Observational epidemiological studies often include prevalent cases recruited at various times past diagnosis. This left truncation can be dealt with in non-parametric (Kaplan–Meier) and semi-parametric (Cox) time-to-event analyses, theoretically generating an unbiased hazard ratio (HR) when the proportional hazards (PH) assumption holds. However, concern remains that inclusion of prevalent cases in survival analysis results inevitably in HR bias. We used data on three well-established breast cancer prognosticators – clinical stage, histopathological grade and oestrogen receptor (ER) status – from the SEARCH study, a population-based study including 4470 invasive breast cancer cases (incident and prevalent), to evaluate empirically the effectiveness of allowing for left truncation in limiting HR bias. We found that HRs of prognostic factors changed over time and used extended Cox models incorporating time-dependent covariates. When comparing Cox models restricted to subjects ascertained within six months of diagnosis (incident cases) to models based on the full data set allowing for left truncation, we found no difference in parameter estimates (P=0.90, 0.32 and 0.95, for stage, grade and ER status respectively). Our results show that use of prevalent cases in an observational epidemiological study of breast cancer does not bias the HR in a left truncation Cox survival analysis, provided the PH assumption holds true.     

Marijuana use and car crash injury

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between marijuana use prior to driving, habitual marijuana use and car crash injury. DESIGN AND SETTING: Population based case-control study in Auckland, New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Case vehicles were all cars involved in crashes in which at least one occupant was hospitalized or killed anywhere in the Auckland region, and control vehicles were a random sample of cars driving on Auckland roads. The drivers of 571 case and 588 control vehicles completed a structured interview. MEASUREMENTS: Self reported marijuana use in the 3 hours prior to the crash/survey and habitual marijuana use over the previous 12 months were recorded, along with a range of other variables potentially related to crash risk. The main outcome measure was hospitalization or death of a vehicle occupant due to car crash injury. FINDINGS: Acute marijuana use was significantly associated with car crash injury, after controlling for the confounders age, gender, ethnicity, education level, passenger carriage, driving exposure and time of day (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.2-12.9). However, after adjustment for these confounders plus other risky driving at the time of the crash (blood alcohol concentration, seat-belt use, travelling speed and sleepiness score), the effect of acute marijuana intake was no longer significant (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.2-3.3). There was a strong significant association between habitual use and car crash injury after adjustment for all the above confounders plus acute use prior to driving (OR 9.5, 95% CI 2.8-32.3). CONCLUSIONS: This population-based case-control study indicates that habitual use of marijuana is strongly associated with car crash injury. The nature of the relationship between marijuana use and risk-taking is unclear and needs further research. The prevalence of marijuana use in this driving population was low, and acute use was associated with habitual marijuana use, suggesting that intervention strategies may be more effective if they are targeted towards high use groups.     

"Banned from the streets I have paid to use": an analysis of Australian print media coverage of proposals for passenger and night driving restrictions for young drivers.

OBJECTIVE: To catalogue arguments that can be anticipated in public debate when passenger and night driving restrictions are being advocated. DESIGN AND SETTING: Frame analysis of all relevant coverage of these topics in Australian print media during the three month period between June and September 2004 when intensive debate on the topic occurred. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Debating frames used in reports and commentary on passenger and night driving restrictions. RESULTS: There were 52 relevant articles published containing seven distinct frames supporting the restrictions and six opposing them. Overall, more instances of frames supporting the restrictions were published; these mostly focused on the potential for saving lives. Opposition to the restrictions focused largely on their inappropriateness as a road safety measure as well as on the importance of young people's autonomy and freedom. CONCLUSIONS: Advocates of passenger and night driving restrictions have a number of arguments available to advance their case; however, it is important to anticipate and address possible counter arguments. Future research should address the saliency of different arguments to the public and key decision makers in government.