Sex‐related Disparity in Surgical Mortality among Pediatric Patients

Background. It has been reported that gender differences in cardiovascular outcomes found in adults also are present in children who undergo surgical repair for congenital heart disease. Methods. California statewide hospital discharge data 1989–99 were used to study outcomes in children <18 years undergoing cardiac surgery. Hospital discharge data were linked to death registry data to study postdischarge death within 30 days of discharge. We used logistic regression to evaluate the effect of gender on mortality controlling for age, race and ethnicity, type of insurance, household income, date and month of surgery, type of admission, hospital case volume, and various types of procedures. Results. There were 25 402 cardiac surgery cases with 1505 in‐hospital deaths (mortality rate of 5.92%). An additional 37 deaths occurred within 30 days after hospital discharge. Crude mortality rates for males (5.99%) and females (5.84%) were not significantly different. However, fewer neonates were female and females underwent a higher proportion of low‐risk procedures than males. Logistic regression revealed that females, compared with males, had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for in‐hospital mortality (OR = 1.18, P < .01) and overall (up to 30 days post discharge) mortality (OR = 1.18, P < .01). The risk‐adjusted length of hospital stay was similar between females and males while charges per hospital day were slightly higher in females than males. The prevalence of Down syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and failure to thrive were higher in females. Conclusions. Female gender is associated with an 18% higher in‐hospital and 30‐day postdischarge mortality as compared with male gender. There was no difference in length of hospital stay between males and females. The mechanism by which female gender acts as a risk factor requires further investigation.     

大鼠脑血肿周围组织半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3表达变化与尼莫地平的影响

目的：观察脑出血后血肿周围半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3的表达。及尼莫地平对其的影响。方法：实验于2004—07在大连医科大学中心实验室进行。取120只SD雄性大鼠随机分为3组：①尼莫地平组（n=50）：尾壳核注射自体股动脉血50μL复制脑出血模型，造模即刻腹腔注射尼莫地平1．6mg／kg（即8μL／g），以后每天1次。②模型组（n=50）：同前造模，术后腹腔注射等量生理盐水。③假手术组（n=20）：手术，但进针人尾壳核后不注血。各组分为术后6，24，48，72h、5d 5个时间点。造模动物醒后进行Bederson评分，评估其行为和神经功能缺陷（0—3分。评分越高，神经功能缺陷越重，评分≥2分为造模成功）。人组动物在以上5个时间点进行Bederson评分后，麻醉状态下处死取脑，经尾壳核行冠状切片，行免疫组化测定半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3表达。结果：80只大鼠进入结果分析。①Bederson评分：模型组、尼莫地平组大鼠醒后迅速出现偏瘫，24h后评分趋于稳定，至72h之间评分最高，然后逐渐下降，5d时仍有体征。模型组、尼莫地平组各时间点评分均高于对照组（P〈0．01），尼莫地平组术后48，72h评分低于模型组（P〈0.05）。②血肿周围组织半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3表达：假手术组进针侧脑组织表达很少，模型组6h后即有表达，24h达高峰，持续72h后逐渐下降，5d后仅有少量表达；尼莫地平组动态变化趋势与模型组相同，但各时间点的数值均较低，尤其是术后24～72h（P〈0．01）。结论：①脑出血后血肿周围组织中半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3表达升高，提示其与脑出血血肿周围组织损伤有一定关系。②尼莫地平降低脑出血后血肿周围组织中半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3表达，从而减轻细胞凋亡程度，对神经细胞起到保护作用，降低神经功能缺陷。     

Interdisciplinary approach to abdominal Burkitt’s lymphoma

Burkitt’s lymphoma is a high-grade, rapidly growing B-cell neoplasm. It is recognized by its aggressive course, brief median survival, and low rates of long-term survival. The authors discuss the case of a patient who acutely presented with intraabdominal complications from a new onset of Burkitt’s lymphoma. The clinical and pathological features, staging, treatment options, and survival data are reviewed. In addition, the role of surgical intervention is carefully analyzed.     

Effects of magnetic resonance imaging diffusion gradient recalled echo on a patient with an intracranial hemorrhage presenting to the emergency department.

Generally, a computed tomography scan is conducted for the diagnosis of stroke in the emergency department, because these scans are easier and faster in the detection of stroke. If there are no signs of hemorrhage on computed tomography scan, an ischemic stroke is diagnosed and treated accordingly. A magnetic resonance imaging scan may be taken in order to verify ischemic stroke. This process may lead to improper treatment and is time consuming. To address this situation, case studies are presented in which magnetic resonance imaging diffusion-weighted imaging and gradient recalled echo were performed to detect hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke and particularly, subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is undetectable with a computed tomography scan.     

Evaluation of mandibular block using a standardized method.

The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the manifestations and efficiency of mandibular block (MB) using a standardized method. In this study, 123 patients requiring MB were randomly assigned to receive MB using a repeated measures design. Mandibular block was administered in each patient by using 2.1 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100 000 epinephrine for the inferior alveolar nerve, lingual nerve, and/or buccal nerve. Clinical parameters including the electric pulp test and test for soft tissue sensation using a sharp dental explorer were assessed on both the operated side and contralateral side before and 5, 10, and 15 minutes after injection, and at the end of surgical procedure. Results of the test of the contralateral tooth served as the control group. No response to the electric pulp test at a maximum output (80 readings) was used as the criterion for pulpal anesthesia. Results obtained with electric pulp test and sharp explorer test were not significantly different during various intervals on the contralateral side, indicating the reliability of this standardized method for assessing MB. The MB technique achieved a high rate of subjective numbness (100%) according to the perception of the patients of overall numbness and lip numbness. Overall anesthetic success rates of pulpal anesthesia were 5.7% for the central incisor, 38.2% for the canine, 55.3% for the first premolar, and 90.2% for the first molar. No significant difference was found in the efficiency of anesthesia related to sex or age of the patients. A slower onset of pulpal anesthesia after MB was found for the anterior teeth than for the posterior teeth. This study suggests that the use of a standardized method might produce a clearer and more comprehensive evaluation of the efficiency and manifestations of MB.     

医药企业对电子商务营销模式的科学选择

根据电子商务在我国快速发展的形势，分析我国医药企业可选择的电子商务应用模式，研究企业进行模式选择时所需要考虑的因素，提醒医药企业选择电子商务模式时应依据自身特点积极稳妥地决策，切忌盲目一哄而上。     

Ruptured distal anterior choroidal artery aneurysm.

Ruptured aneurysms of the distal anterior choroidal artery (AchA) are extremely rare and management is dictated by clinical presentation. This report describes a rare patient with a distal AchA aneurysm and subarachnoid and intraventricular haemorrhage. A 60-year-old woman presented with a sudden onset of severe headache and vomiting. No aneurysms could be found on initial angiograms. A repeat angiogram performed 10 days after admission demonstrated an aneurysm in a branch of the cisternal segment of the left AchA without a definite neck. Surrounding vessels showed multifocal stricture and dilatation. Microsurgical clipping was not performed because the patient died suddenly due to pulmonary failure. The aetiology of the aneurysm in this case and surgical strategy are discussed.