Caution! Overestimation of treatment effects of corticosteroid therapy for community-acquired pneumonia in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

It is well known that a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aims to increase the power and precision of the estimated intervention effects. However, when a meta-analysis includes a limited number of patients and a small number of events, overestimation of intervention effect estimates may occur and could cause spurious results. Although many biases can cause the overestimation, random error may be the most common cause. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) can explore the independent effect of random error on intervention effect estimates in meta-analyses and protect meta-analyses against overestimation due to random error.     

Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in acute respiratory infections.

Levels of the soluble form of the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM)-1 are elevated in severe sepsis. However, it is not known whether sTREM-1 measurements can distinguish milder bacterial infections from noninfectious inflammation. The present authors studied whether serum sTREM-1 levels differ in community-acquired pneumonia, exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and controls, and whether sTREM-1 may be used as a surrogate marker for the need for antibiotics. Serum sTREM-1 levels in 150 patients with pneumonia, COPD and asthma exacerbations and 62 healthy controls were measured. Serum sTREM-1 levels were significantly elevated in pneumonia (median 295.2 ng x mL(-1)), COPD (280.3 ng x mL(-1)) and asthma exacerbations (184.0 ng x mL(-1)) compared with controls (83.1 ng x mL(-1)). Levels were higher in pneumonia and Anthonisen type 1 COPD exacerbations than in type 2 and 3 COPD and asthma exacerbations. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for sTREM-1 as a surrogate marker for the need for antibiotics was 0.77. Serum levels of the soluble form of the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 were elevated predominantly in pneumonia and Anthonisen type 1 COPD exacerbations versus type 2 and 3 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations, asthma and controls. Serum levels of the soluble form of the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 has moderate but insufficient accuracy as a surrogate marker for the need for antibiotics in lower respiratory tract infections.     

孤立性肺结节的CT诊断

孤立性肺结节(solitary pulmonary nodules,SPN)是指肺内单发的直径≤3cm的圆形或类圆形病灶,不伴有肺炎、肺不张等其它病变[1],自有CT以来,对SPN的研究报告较多,但诊断的特异性仍未有显著性提高[2~7]。我院对SPN 52例行CT检查,分析报告如下。1材料与方法1.1临床资料2001年8月~2005年8月间52例中,男28例,女24例,年龄24~84岁,平均年龄52岁。主要症状为咳嗽、痰中带血、胸闷或胸痛,其中19例为健康体检发现。所有病例均经手术、穿刺活检或随访证实。1.2检查方法使用东芝Asteion螺旋CT机,常规扫描全肺,层厚10mm,螺距1·0,对病灶部位进行…     

微板紫外速率法漏检高值ALT标本一例

谷丙氨基转移酶（Alanine asninotrasferase，ALT）检测是采供血机构血液必检项目之一，ALT检测作为早期肝病诊断的一项非特异性指标，有助于鉴别与输血相关肝炎病毒携带者，同时可以在一定程度上弥补某些肝炎病毒标志物未被检测及“窗口期”的缺陷，有助于预防输血相关肝炎的传播。我血站实验室采用微板为载体的方法进行血清ALT检测：微板紫外速率法为初检方法；微板丙酮酸氧化酶法为复检方法。在检测过程中一例高值ALT血样，微板紫外速率法检测结果为6．6U／L，出现假阴性结果造成漏检，现报告如下：     

肝移植术后消化道出血的诊断与治疗

回顾性总结了5例肝移植术后消化道出血的临床资料,分析了其诊断及治疗效果。结果2例为消化性溃疡出血,2例为食管、胃底静脉曲张破裂出血,1例原因不明,经内科保守治疗和介入治疗,死亡2例。     

邹城市预防艾滋病健康教育效果评价

目的评价预防艾滋病健康教育与行为干预效果。方法采用问卷方式对社区居民进行预防艾滋病信息的可及性及知信行的调查。结果社区居民艾滋病知晓率为97.41%,熟悉艾滋病传播途径的87.78%,62.78%的认为艾滋病病人或感染者和正常人享有一样的入学/就业权,38.70%的人愿意与感染艾滋病的同事继续共事,60.19%的人愿意与感染艾滋病的家人继续共同生活,最近3次性行为100%使用安全套者为26.48%,82.04%的人有医疗用血安全意识,64.81%的人有医疗器械安全意识。最想获取艾滋病预防措施、传播途径、病理知识、症状表现、治疗方法、检测途径及检测方法、疫情信息,新闻、电视公益广告、专题报道、反映艾滋病病人生活的电影或电视剧、科普材料、大型公益演出人们最喜欢。结论政府重视,多部门合作,组织机构健全,宣传教育广泛,干预措施到位,成效显著。     

运用直观教学法提高学生对知识的感知

课堂讲授是高校班级授课的基本形式,在课堂讲授中起主导作用,占重要地位[1]。近年来随着高等护理教育的发展,越来越多的临床护士担任起了本科护理系的临床教学任务。而临床护士非专业教师,在教学过程中需要掌握一些教学方法与技巧,才能提高课堂讲授质量。心理学研究表明,直观是