Somatic symptoms,pain, catastrophizing and the association with disability among children with heritable connective tissue disorders

The aim of the present study was to investigate the nature and prevalence of nonspecific somatic symptoms, pain and catastrophizing in children with Heritable Connective Tissue Disorders (HCTD), and to determine their association with disability. This observational, multicenter study included 127 children, aged 4–18 years, with Marfan syndrome (MFS) (59%), Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) (8%), Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) (12%) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) (23%). The assessments included the Children's Somatization Inventory or parent proxy (CSI, PCSI), pain visual-analogue scale (VAS), SUPERKIDZ body diagram, Pain Catastrophizing Scale Child or parent proxy (PCS-C, PCS-P) and Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ-30). Data from children aged ≥8 years were compared to normative data. In children ≥ 8 years (n = 90), pain was present in 59%, with a median of 4 (IQR = 3–9) pain areas. Compared to normative data, the HCTD group reported significantly higher on the CSI (p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.85), VAS pain intensity (p ≤ 0.001, d = 1.22) and CHAQ-30 (p ≤ 0.001, d = 1.16) and lower on the PCS-C (p = 0.017, d = −0.82) and PCS-P (p ≤ 0.001, d = −0.49). The intensity of nonspecific somatic symptoms and pain explained 45% of the variance in disability (r² = 0.45 F(2,48) = 19.70, p ≤ 0.001). In children ≤ 7 years (n = 37), pain was present in 35% with a median of 5(IQR = 1–13) pain areas. The mean(SD) VAS scores for pain intensity was 1.5(2.9). Functional disability was moderately correlated to the number of pain areas (r = 0.56, p ≤ 0.001), intensity of nonspecific somatic symptoms (r = 0.63, p ≤ 0.001) and pain (r = 0.83, p ≤ 0.001). In conclusion, this study supports the need for comprehensive assessment of nonspecific somatic symptoms, pain, and disability in children with HCTD to allow tailored treatment.     

Growth hormone secretion in children and adolescents with familial tall stature

Sixty-five patients (22 boys and 43 girls) presenting with familial tall stature were investigated with regard to growth hormone (GH) secretion, both physiological and after stimulation with thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and growth hormone relasing hormone (GHRH). Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was also measured. Two groups of patients were distinguished according to their physiological secretion of GH: a high secretory group (n=49) with a mean 24 h integrated concentration of GH (IC-GH) of 5.4±2.3 g/l per minute and a large number of peaks (5.1±1.6 in 24 h), and a low secretory group (n=16) with a mean 24 h IC-GH of 2.1±0.5 g/l per minute and few peaks (3.3±1.3 in 24h). Plasma IGF-I levels and GH peak values after the TRH test were significantly higher in the high secretory group. These results indicate that familial tall stature is the consequence either of hypersecretion of GH or of hypersensivity to this hormone (IGF-I levels being normal in spite of low GH levels).     

青年肺癌的临床特点及X线诊断

目的 阐述青年人肺癌的临床表现特点,探讨青年人肺癌的X线特征,明确其诊断的重要性。方法系统回顾了53例青年人肺癌患者的临床特点及X线表现。其中男性29例,女性24例,年龄17岁—40岁,平均年龄为31.8岁。结果 53例青年人肺癌中,左肺24例,右肺28例,双肺同时发现者1例。中央型肺癌18例,周围型肺癌34例,细支气管肺泡癌1例。结论 青年人肺癌病因较复杂,无特征表现,早期正确诊断较为困难,对于久治不愈的炎性病变,有分叶状的块状影,应高度考虑青年人肺癌的可能,并作短期随访,要结合“痰、活、镜”三检早期作出正确诊断。     

浅谈医院门诊部工作的主要特点与基本要求

翔实地阐述了门诊工作的特点：服务对象与病种的复杂性及心态的多样性;医疗质量监控缺乏系统必 ;病人就诊高峰的相对集中性;门诊诊治工作的时效性与风险性;急诊抢救工作的突发性与应性;门诊业务工作的多元性、专业性和服务保障工作的整体性;门诊部管理职能的双重性,同时提出了相应的基本要求。     

40所军队医院病种病例分型质量评价结果分析

应用病例分型质量费用监控管理软件和ＳＡＳ６．１２统计软件包,对４０所军队医院５０万份病例样本资料进行深入分析,结果显示：病例分型组合数据稳定,分析结果合理。     

Practice protocol for the examination of specimens removed from patients with carcinoma of the urinary bladder, ureter, renal pelvis, and urethra

This article details a practice protocol for the examination and reporting of specimens removed from patients with carcinoma of the urinary bladder, ureter, renal pelvis, or urethra. It was created by a multidisciplinary task force of pathologists and oncologists established by the Cancer Committee of the College of American Pathologists. Documentation for the protocol was obtained from the previously published protocol, the medical literature, personal experience, and consultation with colleagues. After creation and review by the task force, the protocol was sent to 1000 randomly selected practicing pathologists as a survey. Their comments and suggestions were addressed in the final version. The protocol was approved by the Board of Governors of the College of American Pathologists.     

lschaemic heart disease: Non-invasive prediction of reperfusion and coronary artery patency by continuous ST segment monitoring in the GUSTO-I trial

In the GUSTO-I ECG ischaemia monitoring substudy, 1067 patientsunderwent continuous ST segment monitoring, using vector-derived12-lead (406 patients), 12-lead (373 patients) and 3-lead Holter(288 patients) ECG recording systems. Simultaneous angiogramsat 90 or 180 min following thrombolytic therapy were performedas a part of the prospective study in 302 patients. Infarct vessel patency was established as TIMI perfusion grades2 or 3 and occlusion as TIMI perfusion grades 0 or 1. Coronaryartery patency was predicted from ST trends up to the time ofangiography. Predictive values at 90 and 180 min after the startof thrombolysis were 70% and 82% for patency and 58% and 64%for occlusion, respectively. In retrospect, accuracy appearedgreatest (79–100%) in patients with extensive ST segmentelevation (400 µV), if both speed of ST recovery and extentof ST segment: elevation were taken into account. Although thethree recording systems differed considerably in signal processing,no significant difference in accuracy was demonstrated amongthese systems. We conclude that continuous ECG monitoring may help select highrisk patients without apparent reperfusion who may benefit fromadditional reperfusion therapy. As ST recovery may occur earlyafter the start of thrombolytics and accuracy of the test isrelated to peak ST levels, the use of on-line ECG monitoringdevices on emergency wards and cardiac care units is recommended.(Eur Heart J 1996; 17: 689–698)