香港脑损伤患者的出院后服务

目的:建立针对脑损伤患者及其看护者的可负担、易获取的出院后电话跟进服务,并为发展区域内有成本效益的连续监护体制提供实证基础。方法:本研究从香港大学玛丽医院脑外科招募35名成年脑损伤患者和26名看护者。参与者在出院后第4周和第12周各接受一次结构化的电话访谈。有调整能力不足风险的患者与看护者将被送交进一步的医疗咨询或心理干预。患者的生理和认知功能,以及患者与看护者的情感功能、知觉到的社会支持和对当前所提供的服务的满意程度都被列入调查。结果:大部分患者报告他们的生理状况有明显改善。相当多的患者在出院后经历过认知困难并报告所接受到的社会心理支持不足。大多数看护者报告在看护期间健康、情感功能和社会生活受损。患者与看护者都对服务表示满意,看护者的满意程度更高。结论:脑损伤患者及其看护者都受益于出院后电话跟进服务。两者都同意该项服务有助于识别有调整能力不足风险的个体,并提供及时的建议和情感支持。看护工作会明显损害看护者的生理、情感功能和社会生活,提示需要为他们提供关于看护技巧、生活调整和压力管理的意见与建议。     

Determination of Working Length of Root Canal

Background

This study was undertaken to determine the working length of root canal by microprocessor controlled impedance quotient apex locator and conventional radiographic method.

Methods

Patients whose teeth were to be extracted were selected for this study. A total of 100 teeth in the same or different patients were identified. Biomechanical preparation of the canal was done for smooth negotiation of the entire canal. The electrode of the Root ZX™ was attached to the selected file and the length adjusted till the beep of the Root ZX™ indicated the apical foramen. The electrode was removed but the file was stabilized with the help of soft gutta percha. An intraoral periapical (IOPA) radiograph was taken using basic guidelines. The tooth was then extracted under local anaesthesia along with the file in the tooth. A window was cut on one surface of the root apex approximately 4mm from the apex to expose the root canal. The file tip was identified. The distance of the file tip from the apex was measured under 3X magnification and the reading recorded. Similarly the distance from the file tip to the radiographic apex was measured on the radiograph under magnification and the reading recorded. All the readings were tabulated. The actual distances measured between the extracted tooth, the electronic apex locator and on the radiograph were compared using a paired ‘t’ test to determine the accuracy of each method in relation to the minor diameter.

Result

It was observed that the radiographic method had a significant variation from the electronic method when compared to the actual measurement on the extracted tooth.

Conclusion

The electronic method is a more accurate method as compared to radiographic method for determination of working length of the root canal.Key Words: Working length, Root canal, Cementodentinal junction, Electronic apex locators     

Second‐line treatment in the Malawi antiretroviral programme: high early mortality,but good outcomes in survivors,despite extensive drug resistance at baseline*

Objectives

The Malawi antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme uses the public health approach to identify ART failure. Advanced disease progression may occur before switching to second‐line ART. We report outcomes for patients evaluated and initiated on second‐line treatment in Malawi.

Methods

Patients meeting Malawi immunological or clinical criteria for ART failure in two large urban ART clinics were evaluated for virological failure (viral load >400 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL) and, if failure was confirmed, initiated on second‐line ART (zidovudine/lamivudine/tenofovir/lopinavir/ritonavir). Patients were seen monthly and laboratory evaluations were performed quarterly and as needed. We performed logistic regression modelling to identify factors associated with mortality, mortality or new HIV illnesses, and virological suppression at 12 months.

Results

Of the 109 patients with confirmed virological failure, five patients died prior to initiation, three declined switching and 101 patients initiated second‐line treatment. Over 12 months, 10 additional patients died, 34 patients experienced 45 HIV‐related events, and 19 patients experienced grade 3 or 4 toxicities. Among survivors, 85.2% had HIV‐1 RNA<400 copies/mL at 12 months. While power to distinguish differences was limited, response rates were similar regardless of baseline resistance level. The median CD4 count increase was 142 cells/μL. World Health Organization clinical failure at baseline [odds ratio (OR) 3.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–10.59] and body mass index <18.5 (OR 4.43; 95% CI 1.15–17.12) were risk factors for death. Baseline CD4 count <50 cells/μL was associated with increased risk for death or morbidity at 12 months (OR 2.57; 95% CI 1.01–6.52).

Conclusions

Second‐line treatment in Malawi was associated with substantial mortality, morbidity and toxicity but, among survivors, virological outcomes were favourable.     

老年病筛查与预防

世界正在步人老龄化社会,2000年≥60岁的人口占总人口的10%;预计2050年这个数字将升至2l%.因此老年人群的预防保健需求日益凸显出来,但预防医学研究很少涵盖≥65岁人群.本文对引起死亡的疾病和影响因素,老年病筛查和预防进行了详细的论述.     

A randomized clinical trial comparing vaginal misoprostol versus cervical Foley plus oral misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction

We compared labor induced by vaginal misoprostol versus a supracervical Foley catheter and oral misoprostol. Singleton pregnancies at > or = 24 weeks' gestation were randomized to either an initial 25-microg dose of intravaginal misoprostol, followed by 50-microg intravaginal doses at 3- to 6-hour intervals, or a supracervical Foley balloon and 100 microg of oral misoprostol at 4- to 6-hour intervals. Primary outcome was time from induction to delivery. One hundred twenty-six women were randomized to vaginal misoprostol alone (group I) and 106 women to Foley and oral misoprostol (group II). The groups were similar in age, weight, gestational age, parity, indication for induction of labor, and oxytocin use. Cesarean delivery rates at 37% and cesarean indications were similar ( P = 0.25). The time from induction to delivery in group II (12.9 hours) was significantly shorter than that in group I (17.8 hours, P < 0.001). Uterine tachysystole occurred less often in the vaginal misoprostol group (21% versus 39%, P = 0.015). Compared with vaginal misoprostol, delivery within 24 hours was significantly more likely with a Foley balloon and oral misoprostol. The use of terbutaline and peripartum outcomes were similar in the two groups.     

Adnexal and cul-de-sac abnormalities: transvaginal sonography

Sixty-seven patients selectively chosen from 354 undergoing conventional transabdominal (TA) sonography for evaluation of a clinically suspected adnexal mass subsequently underwent transvaginal (TV) sonography either because the TA sonograms were technically suboptimal or because it was not possible to characterize with certainty an abnormality identified with TA sonography. TV sonography added diagnostically useful information in 25 of 28 patients with cystic pathologic changes in the adnexa uteri. Eight of 12 patients with tuboovarian abscess and nonspecific adnexal masses visualized with TA sonography had tube-shaped fluid collections characteristic of pyosalpinx identified with TV sonography. TV sonography added diagnostically useful information in all seven patients with diseases of the cul-de-sac (rectouterine fossa) and allowed differentiation of adnexal from primary uterine disease in three patients with TA sonograms on which findings were equivocal. It also expedited the diagnosis of a tubal pregnancy in ten of 14 patients and was useful in the detection of adhesions and perforated intrauterine devices. These results indicate that adjunctive TV sonography can provide important diagnostic information.