Determinants of health-service use by low-income people.

Poverty influences health status, life expectancy, health behaviours, and use of health services. This study examined factors influencing the use of health-related services by people living in poverty. In the first phase, 199 impoverished users of health-related services in 2 large Canadian cities were interviewed by their peers. In the second phase, group interviews with people living in poverty (n = 52) were conducted. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Diverse health-related services were used to meet basic and health needs, to maintain human contact, and to cope with life's challenges. Use of services depended on proximity, affordability, convenience, information, and providers' attitudes and behaviours. Use was impeded by inequities based on income status. To promote the health of people living in poverty, nurses and other health professionals can enhance the accessibility and quality of services, improve their interactions with people living in poverty, provide information about available programs, offer coordinated community-based services, collaborate with other sectors, and advocate for more equitable services and policies.     

Challenges in accessing multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities in Canada

PURPOSE: The objective of this survey was to examine the services offered by multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities (MPTFs) across Canada and to compare access to care at these MPTFs. METHODS: A MPTF was defined as a clinic that advertised specialized multidisciplinary services for the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic pain, having a minimum of three different health care disciplines (including at least one medical speciality) available and integrated within the facility. The search method included approaching all hospital and rehabilitation centre administrators in Canada, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or similar body in each province. Designated investigators were responsible for confirming and supplementing MPTFs from the preliminary list for each province. Administrative leads at each eligible MPTF were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire regarding their MPTF infrastructure, clinical, research, teaching and administrative activities. RESULTS: Completed survey forms were received from 102 MPTFs (response rate 85%) with 80% concentrated in major cities, and none in Prince Edward Island and the Territories. The MPTFs offer a wide variety of treatments including non-pharmacological modalities such as interventional, physical and psychological therapy. The median wait time for a first appointment in public MPTFs is six months, which is approximately 12 times longer than non-public MPTFs. Eighteen pain fellowship programs exist in Canadian MPTFs and 64% engage in some form of research activities CONCLUSION: Canadian MPTFs are unable to meet clinical demands of patients suffering from chronic pain, both in terms of regional accessibility and reasonable wait time for patients' first appointment.     

眶骨延长术治疗眼球突出的实验研究

目的探讨眶骨延长术扩大眶容积治疗眼球突出的可行性。方法1年龄山羊6只,环行截开右侧眶壁,于眶上壁放置延长器,侧向延长1.5cm,经大体、X线、干骨标本及组织学观察成骨情况。结果6只山羊眶骨得到不同程度的侧向延长,延长侧随着眶骨容量的增加,眼球突度较自身对照侧为小。结论眶骨延长术可造成山羊眶骨侧向移位,有可能成为治疗眼球过度突出的方法之一。     

骨髓输液在PICU的应用探讨

目的　探讨骨髓输液在PICU的适应证、方法及临床效果。方法　选择PICU危重症建立静脉通道困难患儿 30例 ,采用 7号骨穿针或 7～ 9号头皮针于胫骨粗隆下 1～ 2cm穿刺、固定 ,接入医嘱液体 ,记录穿刺所需时间、入液速度及生命体征变化、并发症等。结果　 2 8例 1次成功 ,2例用头皮针者有堵塞 ,换针后重新穿刺成功 ,穿刺、固定到接入液体平均时间 (30± 10 )s。速率 :一般压力 (8± 3)ml (kg体重·h) ,加压下 (17± 6 )ml (kg体重·h) ,所有病例均达到了医嘱要求。骨髓输液持续时间 3～ 2 2h ,无 1例出现并发症。结论　骨髓输液在PICU危重症抢救中可迅速建立液体通道 ,争取抢救时间。头皮针比骨髓穿刺针易于固定 ,使用更方便     

胫骨平台骨折合并内侧副韧带损伤的诊治体会

[目的]探讨胫骨平台骨折伴膝内侧副韧带损伤的诊断及治疗方法。[方法]回顾性分析本院1996年1月~2005年12月期间收治的52例胫骨平台骨折合并重度内侧副韧带损伤病例,并对有随访的49例(保守治疗21例,手术治疗28例)进行分析。[结果]随访10个月~9年(平均1.7年),按照Schatzker分型:Ⅱ型39例,Ⅲ型6例,Ⅵ型4例。骨折均切开复位内固定,对韧带损伤的治疗分为2组,保守治疗组21例,膝关节功能:优11例,良9例,差1例。手术治疗组28例,Ⅰ期修复19例:优17例,良2例。Ⅱ期修复9例:优5例,良3例,差1例。[结论]胫骨平台骨折合并内侧副韧带损伤Ⅰ期修复效果理想。     

Toxic effects of Fusarium mycotoxin butenolide on rat myocardium and primary culture of cardiac myocytes.

Mycotoxin toxicosis has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of Keshan disease (KD), an endemic cardiomyopathy prevailing in some regions of China. Butenolide (4-acetamido-4-hydroxy-2-butenoic acid gamma-lactone, CAS No. 16275-44-8), a mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species such as Fusarium tricinctum and Fusarium graminearum, is frequently detected from the cereals in the endemic areas of KD. The present study is undertaken to investigate whether this mycotoxin can induce myocardial damage. Exposure of primary culture of cardiac myocytes to butenolide resulted in significant cytotoxicity, manifested by changes in cell morphology and decreases in cell viability. Consistent with the in vitro findings, distinct myocardial toxicity in vivo was observed after administration of rats by gavage with butenolide (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) for 2 months, and the myocardial injuries were characterized by focal necrosis of myocardium and fragmentation of myofiber. Butenolide also induced significant oxidative damage to the myocardium in vitro evidenced by a concentration-dependent lipid peroxidation in the myocardial homogenates, whereas antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) provided significant protections against this oxidative effect. Taken together, these results clearly reveal that butenolide possesses the potential to induce myocardial toxicity. The present findings may reinforce the hypothesis that toxicosis by mycotoxins is one of the etiological factors for KD.     

Abdominal nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in a university hospital in Taiwan from 1997 to 2003.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Abdominal nontuberculous mycobacterial infection is a rare condition. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)-associated peritonitis is the most common manifestation of infection due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). There are limited data on the clinical manifestations of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection. This study investigated the diagnostic features, clinical presentation, mycobacteriology, treatment and outcome of all abdominal NTM infections treated over a 7-year period at a major teaching hospital in Taiwan. METHODS: The medical records of all patients with a diagnosis of abdominal NTM infection from January 1997 through to December 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: All 11 patients with abdominal NTM infections identified during the 7-year period were included. Among these patients, six were male and five were female, with a mean age of 64.5 years. The disease manifested as peritonitis (9 patients, 82%), splenic abscess (1, 9%), or perirenal abscess (1, 9%). Most patients (73%) had underlying malignancy, most often hepatoma (45%). Immunocompromised status (liver cirrhosis, malignancy, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) was noted in 10 patients (91%). None of our patients who developed NTM peritonitis had received CAPD. The peritoneal fluid appearance varied considerably, with no particular predominance of clear, turbid, bloody, or chylous findings. Rapidly growing mycobacteria were the major etiology (46%) of abdominal NTM infection, and Mycobacterium abscessus played a major role (27%). Overall, eight patients died, and only one patient survived longer than 1 year. Seven patients (64%) died before diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Abdominal NTM infection is frequently overlooked because of its rarity and nonspecific symptoms, with consequent delays in diagnosis and treatment. In immunocompromised patients with ascites from any cause (liver cirrhosis, malignant ascites, etc.), NTM peritonitis should be considered early in the differential diagnosis of symptoms including fever, abdominal pain and weight loss. The poor prognosis of abdominal NTM infection appears to be related to the severity of underlying conditions, most often malignancy.     

肝移植术后胆道并发症的介入治疗

目的 探讨原位肝移植术后胆道并发症的介入治疗疗效。方法 回顾性分析我院2002年6月至2005年9月诊治的173例原位肝移植患者的临床资料。结果 术后出现胆道并发症14例（8．1％），其中胆管狭窄6例．胆管狭窄合并胆漏1例，胆泥淤积或结石3例，肝断面胆漏2例（劈离式肝移植患者），T管拔除后胆漏1例，Oddi括约肌功能失常1例。除1例胆道狭窄再次行肝移植，因发生严重感染导致肝功能衰竭死亡外．其余患者经介入治疗均获得满意的效果。结论 介入治疗是诊断和治疗肝移植术后胆道并发症的首选方法。