Effect of Concomitantly Administered Drugs on the Control of Long Term Anticoagulant Therapy

The stability of control of long term anticoagulant therapywas studied in a group of 277 patients with respect to druginteractions. Increased instability (changes of dose/month oftherapy) was related to the number of concomitant drugs takenirrespective of, and in addition to, known specific interactions.Fluctuating cardiac status in patients requiring digoxin anddiuretic therapy was a major factor in stabilizing anticoagulantcontrol.     

对门诊老年2型糖尿病患者进行生活方式干预的效果评价

目的 探讨生活方式干预对老年2型糖尿病(T2DM)患者的疗效.方法 选取60例在该院门诊接受正规降糖药物治疗的老年T2DM患者,按自愿的原则分为干预组和对照组,干预组采用生活方式干预(饮食控制、运动治疗)和药物治疗,对照组仅采用药物治疗,于治疗前及治疗后3个月复查患者体重指数、空腹血糖、餐后2 h血糖、血脂、糖化血红蛋白.结果 干预组患者治疗后的空腹血糖、餐后2 h血糖、糖化血红蛋白、三酰甘油较治疗前改善,差异具有显著性(P＜0.05),而对照组治疗后较治疗前的各项指标无明显改善.治疗前两组间比较,各项指标无明显差异;治疗后两组间比较,干预组患者空腹血糖、餐后2h血糖、糖化血红蛋白较对照组改善,差异具有显著性(P＜0.05).结论 通过饮食控制、长期规律的量化运动等生活方式干预,可以有效地降低老年T2DM患者的血脂、血糖,使糖化血红蛋白显著下降,患者血糖水平获得较长时间的平稳控制,有利于延缓并发症的发生发展.     

Allocating a COVID‐19 Vaccine: Balancing National and International Responsibilities

Policy Points

• In this paper we propose a middle‐ground policy for the distribution of an effective COVID‐19 vaccine, between a cosmopolitan approach that rejects entirely nation‐state priority and unbridled vaccine nationalism that disregards obligations to promote an equitable global allocation of an effective vaccine over time.
• Features of the COVAX partnership, a collaboration among the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop and distribute COVID‐19 vaccines make it an appropriate framework for a middle‐ground policy.

More than 100 vaccine candidates are now in development to prevent infection from SARS‐CoV2 or serious disease from COVID‐19; many have entered clinical trials; and several are in or ready for Phase III efficacy testing. Two mRNA vaccines have been found to be more than 90% effective based on interim data analysis. The identification and development of vaccine candidates has been an extremely fast process, because of the urgent need for a vaccine to control the pandemic. In addition, when effective vaccines are identified, logistical challenges must be faced, as it will take time to produce enough to cover the world''s population. At least for the first couple of years, the demand will be much higher than the supply, and not everyone who needs a vaccine will get one. Because low‐income countries are likely to lose out in the scramble to get access to the vaccine, there have been calls for global solidarity. For example, the Group of 20 (G20), consisting of countries with the largest economies, issued the following statement: “We will expand manufacturing capacity to meet the increasing needs for medical supplies and ensure these are made widely available, at an affordable price, on an equitable basis, where they are most needed and as quickly as possible.” ¹ But there are worries that these are only empty promises. Even though the G20 statement emphasizes an equitable distribution of medical supplies, it does not actually commit funds to the poorest countries for supplies, including a global distribution of an effective vaccine; it recommends only capacity building and technical assistance and commits only to “mobilize” funds.

We are gravely concerned with the serious risks posed to all countries, particularly developing and least developed countries, and notably in Africa and small island states, where health systems and economies may be less able to cope with the challenge, as well as the particular risk faced by refugees and displaced persons. We consider that consolidating Africa''s health defense is a key for the resilience of global health. We will strengthen capacity building and technical assistance, especially to at‐risk communities. We stand ready to mobilize development and humanitarian financing. ¹

In the race to develop an effective vaccine, many experts have called for a more coordinated global approach, in which individual countries agree to abandon their national interest in securing vaccines for their own populations and hand over the responsibility to distribute the vaccine globally based on need. A group of bioethicists proposed what they term the “Fair Priority Model,” advocating vaccine distribution in three phases. ² The first phase would be devoted to reducing premature deaths and irreversible direct and indirect health impacts; the second to reducing serious economic and social deprivations; and the third to reducing community transmission. They argue that all countries should go through the three phases “approximately simultaneously.” In this model, the distribution principles are based strictly on medical and economic criteria that identify the effects of the vaccine and wealthy countries would not receive the vaccine earlier just because they have the resources to buy it.Another influential approach, proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), similarly envisages a distribution scheme in which the vaccines are distributed to countries based on the number of high‐risk groups in each country. A country should first obtain enough vaccine to cover frontline health care workers, covering 3% of the highest‐risk individuals first and then continue with other high‐risk groups such as the elderly and people with comorbidities, until 20% of each country''s population has been covered.Both the Fair Priority Model and the WHO proposal seem to disregard the relevance of national borders; that is, all countries should receive a supply of vaccines simultaneously in accordance with country‐independent criteria. Here we argue that both these approaches are untenable and that national governments have both a right and a duty to secure access to a COVID‐19 vaccine for their citizens first. Accordingly, we propose a middle‐ground policy perspective based on two premises: (1) a “cosmopolitan” approach that rejects entirely nation‐state priority is not only unrealistic but also fails to recognize that countries have a legitimate responsibility to give priority to their own citizens and residents; and (2) unbridled vaccine nationalism, without an adequately funded effort to ensure the equitable global allocation of an effective vaccine over time, is unethical and likely to be counterproductive.We present three interdependent arguments for our position. First, we believe that a prioritization framework should include a distribution scheme that can be implemented, rather than one that simply proposes general principles of distribution. Second, any viable prioritization scheme needs to start with nation‐states’ responsibility to secure the health of their populations. Third, appropriate weight needs to be given to national obligations of international assistance for low‐income countries to mobilize resources for health. We argue that the COVAX partnership provides a framework that approximates the right balance between national responsibilities for health and international commitments to global justice.     

Pain and the administration of analgesia: what nurses say

? Pain of moderate to severe intensity continues to be an important problem for many hospitalized patients. ? Nurses spend more time with patients than any other health professional group and have a key role to play in the management of patients' pain. ? This paper reports the findings from a series of focus group interviews which were undertaken to explore nurses' perceptions regarding pain and the administration of narcotic analgesia. ? Themes identified from participants' comments related to (1) the pivotal role of nurses in pain management; (2) nursing assessment and pain management decisions (3) individual factors influencing nurses' pain management decisions and (4) the influence of others on nurses' pain management decisions. ? These findings have implications for further research and the development of innovative educational strategies.     

Edward Martin (1859–1938). The founding father of modern clinical andrology

Edward Martin (1858-1938) was the first surgeon to treat successfully the problem of obstructive azoospermia, a feat that he first described in 1902. He subsequently carried out a total of 11 such operations that resulted in seven patencies and three pregnancies. He also demonstrated that the epididymis was the major site of these obstructive lesions. He pointed out the need for semen analysis in diagnosis and also demonstrated that azoospermia could have two causes, namely spermatogenic failure and ductal obstruction. He also made some important observations on sperm movement. He was probably the first clinician to demonstrate surgically ejaculatory duct obstruction, vasal atrophy and congenital absence of the vas. Most important of all, he demonstrated the need for accurate diagnosis in the treatment of male infertility. An argument is put forward that Edward Martin deserves the title of the 'Founding Father of Modern Clinical Andrology'.     

Aural symptoms and hearing loss in patients with lupus

OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus causes widespread tissue injury from deposition of immune complexes. The prevalence of aural symptoms in this disease was evaluated. METHODS: The presence of tinnitus, hearing loss, and fluctuating hearing was evaluated by a self-directed questionnaire in patients aged 65 or less from a lupus clinic. Patients reporting aural symptoms were compared with those reporting none, by use of demographics and disease duration. Comparison was also made with historic serologic data. Audiometry was offered to all patients with lupus reporting aural symptoms and was completed in 10. RESULTS: Twenty-six (31%) of 84 patients with lupus reported aural symptoms. Patients reported a combination of symptoms: unilateral hearing loss with or without tinnitus in 13 (15%) of 84 and bilateral hearing loss with or without tinnitus in 14 (17%) of 84. No statistical difference was measured between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients when compared by average age, duration of disease, history of noise exposure, head trauma, and infectious ear diseases. Statistically significant differences were detected only when comparing average creatinine and C3 levels. Of those patients tested by audiometry, 7 of 10 had abnormal pure-tone thresholds. Asymmetric findings were present in 6 of these 7 patients tested. CONCLUSION: Aural symptoms are prevalent among patients with lupus. Asymmetric symptoms and hearing loss are most common. The cause may relate to immune-complex disease and/or vasculitis. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;118:762-5.)     

The use of Roy's adaptation model applied to a patient with breast cancer

Roy's adaptation model provides a framework for holistic oncology nursing practice. In this article an overview of Roy's model is provided, and the model is applied to a patient with breast cancer for an assessment of behaviour and the stimuli influencing behaviour, and for the planning and evaluation of nursing care. Also, a comprehensive list of nursing diagnoses is categorized according to Roy's four adaptive modes.     

Sensitivity of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar patient isolates to human complement

Twenty-one Entamoeba histolytica and 56 Entamoeba dispar patient isolates were investigated for their sensitivity to the classical and alternative pathway of human complement. E. histolytica and E. dispar patient isolates were differentiated by polymerase chain reaction and hexokinase isoenzyme typing. It was found that 90.3% (±12.0%) of the trophozoites of E. histolytica were lysed after 30 min by the alternative pathway of complement in the presence of 50% human serum (19 isolates showed lysis rates higher than 80%), whereas E. dispar cells were less susceptible to the alternative pathway as 68.8% (±28.2%) of lysis occurred. However, 23 of the E. dispar isolates were lysed between 100 and 80% (90.9%±9.1%), demonstrating that about half of the tested E. dispar isolates were highly sensitive to complement lysis. Only 11 of the E. dispar isolates were proven to be 'resistant' to the alternative pathway of complement and were lysed less than 40%. These results are in conflict to earlier publications, describing resistance of E. dispar to complement lysis (Hamelmann et al. 1992, 1993).