保存12周的红细胞

现代液体红细胞保存体系运行良好,使一个国家供应的异体红细胞安全、廉价,并且有效率达到95％。现代红细胞保存系统在临床上用途广泛,如可为自身输血提供血液,可为战场上的手术输送血液,避免献血者接触新生儿,显然如果延长红细胞的保存期将会有更大的益处。然而,由于衰老的红细胞具有使血流不畅,细胞破裂后一些有毒性的脱出物可能使外伤病人的死亡率增加和导致输血相关急性肺损伤(TRALI),进一步研究建立更好的红细胞保存体系仍然很重要。     

Ectopic pregnancy with postcoital contraception – a case report

The incidence of ectopic pregnancies is increasing. Common risk factors are tubal pathology, previous tubal surgery, previous ectopic pregnancy, intrauterine device use and embryo transfer. Levonelle-2^®, a progesterone-only postcoital contraceptive works by a combination of mechanisms including ovulation inhibition, prevention of fertilization, and inhibition of implantation. It is 85% effective and there have been 12 reported cases of ectopic pregnancy in the UK with its use. It is believed that progesterone slows the intratubal migration of the fertilized ovum. In the case reported here, a woman presented with an ectopic pregnancy after use of Levonelle-2 as postcoital contraception; there were no clinical predisposing risk factors. In the absence of any histological evidence of tubal damage, we suspect that the levonorgestrel from Levonelle-2 could have been responsible for delayed embryo transfer which resulted in the ectopic pregnancy.     

Making short-term international medical volunteer placements work: a qualitative study

Background

International medical volunteering has grown in recent decades. It has the potential to benefit and harm the volunteer and host countries; but there is a paucity of literature on the impacts of international medical volunteering and a need to find ways to optimise the benefits of such placements.

Aim

In this study, one example of international medical volunteering was examined involving British GPs on short-term placements in Nepal. The intention was to explore the expectations and experiences of the local health workers, volunteers, and host organisation to try and understand what makes volunteer placements work.

Design

Qualitative study of key informant interviews.

Setting

Stakeholders of a short-term international medical volunteer (IMV) placement programme in Nepal.

Method

Key informant interviews were carried out via face-to-face or telephone/internet interviews with five previous volunteers, three representatives from a non-governmental organisation providing placements, and five local health workers in Nepal who had had contact with the IMVs. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using standard thematic framework approaches.

Results

All the stakeholders had their own specific motives for participating in the IMV programme. The relationship between volunteers and the Nepalese health workers was complex and characterised by discrepant and occasionally unrealistic expectations. Managing these different expectations was challenging.

Conclusion

Contextual issues and cultural differences are important considerations in medical volunteer programmes, and this study highlights the importance of robust preparation pre-placement for the volunteer and host to ensure positive outcomes.     

Antimicrobial, Wound Healing and Antioxidant Activities of Anthocephalus Cadamba

Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. Syn A. chinensis (Lamk) A. Rich (Rubiaceae) is ethnomedicinally widely used in the form of paste by tribe in western Ghats for treating skin diseases. In this context, antimicrobial potential of A. cadamba against a wide range of microorganisms was studied. To validate the ethnotherapeutic claims of the plant in skin diseases, wound healing activity was studied, besides antioxidant activity to understand the mechanism of wound healing. The alchoholic and aqueous extract of this plant showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activity against almost all the organisms: Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and four fungi Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum—dermatophyte fungi, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus nidulans—systemic fungi, with especially good activity against the dermatophyte (Trichophyton rubrum) and some infectious bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus) with an MIC of 2.5 µg/disc. The results show that A. cadamba extract has potent wound healing capacity as shown from the wound contraction and increased tensile strength. The results also indicated that A. cadamba extract possesses potent antioxidant activity by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity.     

Focal fatty infiltration of the liver simulating metastatic disease

Two cases are reported in which multiple, well-defined lesions of the liver, as seen on computed tomographic (CT) scans and sonograms, were thought to represent metastatic malignancy. Results from radionuclide scans and biopsies (and surgery in one case) indicated the correct diagnosis was fatty infiltration of the liver. Focal fatty infiltration should be considered in cases of multiple discrete hepatic lesions, especially in patients with a predisposing condition. Radionuclide studies and biopsies may be needed to confirm the diagnosis by CT.     

实证医学与中医药研究和开发

临床疗效是衡量一切防治措施价值的最高准则,也是决定一个医疗卫生体系效益的最基本因素。实证医学的核心就是任何有关疾病防治的整体策略和具体措施的制定都应基于现有最严谨的关于其临床疗效的科学证据之一。使用无效甚至有害的防治措施在伦理上是不能接受的,更是对人类宝贵医疗资源的浪费。因此,中医药研究和开发应从临床疗效的验证开始。机理的研究、有效成份的探索和剂型的改进是重要的,但应以证实临床有效为前提。本文从 ４个方面进行了论证： １、一个防治措施若没有防治作用,就没有其相关的作用机理可被发现,也没有其相关的有效成份可被探索,更没有改进剂型的必要。２、中医药临床疗效评价,为从中医药中开发新药提供一个经济的、快捷的途径。因为它节省了用于无临床疗效的药物的临床前研究所需要的大量资源。同时也大大缩短了一个新药从开发到临床使用的时间。３、中医药临床疗效评价具有巨大的经济效益。临床上无效的防治措施被淘汰,而有效的被进一步推广。从而一个医疗体系会因减少使用无效的防治措施而提高效益。４、对中医药临床疗效的评价也是对其理论体系在实践上的检验。     

Effect of prothrombin complex concentrates on factor VIII inhibitor levels

Factor VIII inhibitor levels were measured on 261 occasions in 76 hemophilia-A inhibitor patients before and after prothrombin complex concentrate infusion at 13 treatment centers. A rise in inhibitor level to at least twice the pretreatment value occurred in 35 treatment episodes (13.5%), in 27 patients (36%). In 16 patients (21%), such an anamnestic immune response occurred with the first treatment. Factors predisposing to anamnestic responses may include patient idiosyncrasy, low pretreatment inhibitor levels, and exposure to concentrate over several days.