Practical value of a new serum digitoxin assay

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new fluorescence polarization immunoassay, TDx, for digitoxin by comparing the results of this assay with those of a radioimmunoassay (RIA). Thirty-three serum samples were obtained from 15 patients during, and for 4 weeks after, a 4-week course of digitoxin therapy. Each sample was separated by centrifugation, coded, and frozen until analysis. At the time of analysis, each sample was divided and analyzed simultaneously by TDx and RIA. Nine samples yielded results less than 2 ng/ml (limit of assay sensitivity) by one or both methods and were excluded from further data analysis. Linear regression analysis of the results of the remaining 24 paired samples (x = TDx, y = RIA) revealed a strong correlation coefficient of r2 = 0.95, slope = 0.95, and a y intercept of -0.99 (y = -0.99 + 0.95x). Additionally, the TDx results were lower than the RIA values in only five of 33 paired samples; and these occurred in four patients who had a significantly lower mean estimated creatinine clearance than that of the other 11 patients (39.0 +/- 9.1 ml/min/1.73 m2 vs. 63.3 +/- 11.8 ml/min/1.73 m2, p less than 0.01). The TDx system is a comparable alternative to the RIA method, but differences in specificity and sensitivity may exist and should be evaluated more thoroughly.     

Ischemic rat brain extracts induce human marrow stromal cell growth factor production

Intravenous administration of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in rats provides functional benefit. We tested the hypothesis that these functional benefits are derived in part from hMSC production of growth and trophic factors. Quantitative sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of hMSCs cultured with normal and MCAo brain extracts were performed. hMSCs cultured in supernatant derived from ischemic brain extracts increased production of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). These neurotrophins and angiogenic growth factors increased in a post‐ischemia time‐dependent manner. The hMSC capacity to increase expression of growth and trophic factors may be the key to the benefit provided by transplanted hMSCs in the ischemic brain.     

An etiological and clinicopathological study of early syphilis in oropharynx]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of the early stage treponema pallidum infected tissue in ear, nose, oropharynx and larynx and to raise relevance ratio of syphilis in nose and oropharynx and enhance doctor's self-protection awareness. METHODS: The histopathologic characteristics were studied by using HE staining, Warthin-Starry (W-S) staining was adopted to examine the treponema pallidum(TP) in lesion issue and its exudates smear for 12 cases biopsy tissues of suspicious syphilis. The diagnosis was confirmed by venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL), rapid plasma reagin circle test(RPR), treponema pallidum hemagglutination test(TPHA) and fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption test (FTA-ABS). Treat with curing syphilis methods which published by nation. RESULTS: In the 12 cases mucous membrane specimen, the squamous epithelium proliferated, neutrophilic granulocyte infiltrated, within inherent membrane generous plasmacyte and lymphocyte infiltrated. W-S staining: plenty of treponema pallidum were found inside mucous membrane epithelium and exudate smear. Serology examination: 11 cases VDRL(++++), 7 cases RPR (+), 11 cases TPHA(+), 1 case FTA-ABS(+). After systemic treatment, 11 cases are clinically recovered. All patients serology become negative. CONCLUSION: W-S staining method can directly demonstrate histopathologic characteristics in early syphilis, in intrinsic membrane numerous plasmacyte infiltration. Combining with specific syphilis serology examination could increase diagnosis rate of syphilis in nose and oropharynx.     

The concept of culture: A core issue in health disparities

Contemporary discourse contains numerous examples of use of the concept of culture by social and behavioral scientists. Simple reification, where the speaker makes culture into a thing capable of action exemplifies one usage in public discourse. Some quantitative social scientists attempt to characterize people’s cultural identities by means of a single categorical variable, which often “lumps” people into categories such as “Hispanic” or “Black” that in fact have numerous culturally bounded subcategories. Approaches that emphasize cultural process are preferable to those who attempt to categorize; more complex measures of acculturation help investigators to make convincing analyses of circumstances in which health disparities occur. Examples in which investigators make appropriate use of cultural characterizations demonstrate their utility in investigating health disparities in Haitian American women, injecting and noninjecting drug users, Hispanic youth, and adult Hispanics at risk of HIV infection. Focus on culture in the study of health disparities can identify entanglements between structural factors such as poverty and lack of education and cultural factors such as beliefs about health. Qualitative methods coupled with quantitative methods have great potential to improve investigators’ grasp of cultural nuance while capturing the distribution of qualitatively derived behaviors.     

Discussing options between patients and health care professionals in genetic diagnosis: ethical and legal criteria

The specific characteristics of genetic data lead to ethical-legal conflicts in the framework of genetic diagnosis. Several international organisations, including UNESCO and the Council of Europe, have enacted rules referring to the use of genetic information. This paper discusses possible legal and ethical criteria that could be used in genetic testing.     

强化过程控制和精细化管理保证护理质量持续改进

质量管理是医院生存和发展的战略战术。质量就是生命,质量就是效益,21世纪护理质量的起步要求是护理质量管理者应在缺陷预防和质量持续改进方面做出尝试,护理管理者应在推行精细化管理,强化护理过程控制方面做出努力,以满足广大病人的健康服务需求。1质量发展及其概念1.1护理质量管理的发展阶段美国护理质量管理大体经历了3个历史性发展阶段:20世纪70年代“质量控制阶段”,20世纪80年代“质量保证阶段”,20世纪90年代“质量促进阶段”。质量控制阶段的主要特点:①由质量管理人员发现已出现的质量问题,然后做出处理;②技师评价方式为依照标准…