Clinical Acumen: Brief Report: Therapeutic Manipulations in Severe Nocturnal Asthma. A Nonconventional Approach in a Severe High-Risk Asthmatic

A patient with severe nocturnal asthma of multifactorial pathogenesis with high-risk features leading to several episodes of nocturnal respiratory arrests is described. Despite aggressive conventional therapy with broncho-dilators and glucocorticoid agents, the patient had progressive worsening within the year prior to admission. After a nonconventional approach consisting of: high-dose inhaled steroids, afternoon dose of prednisone, addition of troleandomycin therapy, high-dose inhaled ipratropium at bedtime, maximizing serum theophylline concentrations in the early morning, and nasal CPAP through the night; the patient's pulmonary functions were optimized with minimal or no reduction in morning FEV₁, and decreased airways hyperresponsiveness to methacholine.     

大剂量甲基强的松龙冲击治疗急性脊髓损伤疗效分析

目的研究大剂量甲基强的松龙(MP)治疗急性脊髓损伤的临床效果.方法对87例急性脊髓损伤患者进行回顾性研究,根据伤后时间并按自愿选择用药原则分为应用MP治疗组(MP组,45例)和未应用MP治疗组(对照组,42例),以ASIA分级标准进行分级,并比较疗效和并发症.结果两组患者在治疗前后感觉及运动功能均有明显改善(P＜0.05).但MP组的感觉及运动功能恢复均优于对照组(P＜0.05).MP治疗组中24h治疗组(A组)与48h治疗组(B组)并发症发生率比较无显著性差异(P＞0.05),而MP组与对照组比较并发症的发生率明显增加,有显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论早期应用MP大剂量冲击治疗急性脊髓损伤是一项有效措施,但会显著增加患者治疗中并发症的发生率.     

Identifying incident cases of parkinsonism among veterans using a tertiary medical center.

To better understand the impact of incident Parkinson's disease (PD) on the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA) and to develop methods applicable to future epidemiological research, we performed a medical record review study at a tertiary referral VHA medical center. Searching the local data base, we identified 782 veterans with diagnostic codes for PD or secondary parkinsonism (SP) between 1998 and 2000. Based on structured medical record review, a movement disorders specialist confirmed diagnoses for incident parkinsonism cases. Among the 782, 191 incident parkinsonism cases were identified (100 PD, 75 SP, and 16 Parkinson's Plus). Incident PD cases were older at diagnosis (74.5 vs. 70.4 yr; P < 0.05) and more likely to be white (81% vs. 62; P < 0.07) than incident SP cases. Diagnostic codes were insufficient to distinguish between incident PD and SP (positive predictive value, 57% and 39%, respectively), and VHA sources failed to identify 21% of confirmed deaths among the incident PD cohort by November 2004. Although the large number of incident cases identified suggests PD is an important cause of disability among elderly VHA users, observed limitations of VHA sources for identifying incident PD cases and determining their vital status should be considered when designing future studies.     

Analysing managerial responses in face-to-face contacts

Executive nurse managers, as well as other nurse managers, spend much time responding verbally to people. Whether or not their responses are effective in these situations remains an unexplored area in nursing administration. The author describes a research-based framework to analyse managerial actions. Five types of actions, three non-exploratory and two exploratory, were identified through previous research using Orlando's theory as the framework. Subsequent research suggests nurses prefer that their managers use exploratory action. The article contains discussion on how specific types of actions facilitate or thwart problem identification.     

Toward Improved Instruction in Hearing Health at the Elementary School Level

ABSTRACT: The role public elementary schools have in educating children about hearing and hearing conservation is underscored by the high incidence of hearing loss in society and by the deleterious effect on communication and learning that hearing impairment causes in children. A survey to assess the extent and estimated effectiveness of the education regarding hearing and hearing conservation provided to children was conducted. One hundred sixty regular elementary school teachers returned a questionnaire, and their responses revealed that hearing and hearing conservation concepts were being taught in most classrooms. However, their responses questioned the effectiveness of the methods and materials used to teach these concepts. The findings of the survey suggest three ways to improve teaching in this area: provide in-depth instruction about the causes of hearing impairment; use more hands-on activities; and provide teachers with more resources to supplement instruction.     

门静脉高压症胃病与幽门螺杆菌感染关系的临床研究

目的 :探讨门静脉高压症胃病与幽门螺杆菌感染的关系。方法 :对 68例门静脉高压症胃病患者的上消化道粘膜病理改变、出血状况及与幽门螺杆菌感染之间的关系进行分析。结果 :肝功能受损越重 ,门静脉高压症胃病患者的病理改变越明显。在重度门静脉高压症胃病患者中 ,幽门螺杆菌的检出率为 69.44% ,而在轻度患者中 ,幽门螺杆菌的检出率为 43.75% ,两者比较有显著性差异 (χ2 =4.57,P<0 .0 5)。结论 :门静脉高压症胃病与幽门螺杆菌感染有一定的关系 ,病症越重 ,幽门螺杆菌的检出率越高