Discussing options between patients and health care professionals in genetic diagnosis: ethical and legal criteria

The specific characteristics of genetic data lead to ethical-legal conflicts in the framework of genetic diagnosis. Several international organisations, including UNESCO and the Council of Europe, have enacted rules referring to the use of genetic information. This paper discusses possible legal and ethical criteria that could be used in genetic testing.     

38例腰腿痛患者影像学检查及结果分析

目的 合理应用影像学检查,探讨腰腿痛的病因诊断,为临床治疗提供依据.方法 对38例腰腿痛患者进行随访,观察普通照片后经CT、MRI及B超等复查的最后诊断,对比进行分析.结果 单纯普通照片对椎间盘脱出、椎管狭窄、骶部硬膜外囊肿、股骨头无菌坏死、梨状肌损伤等疾病缺乏直接征象,不能作为诊断依据.结论 应用CT、MRI现代影像技术,同时借助B超、肌电图等相关检查,是确诊腰腿痛病因的有效方法.     

Policy Perspective on Housing and HIV/AIDS

For persons battling HIV/AIDS a stable place to live may decide the length and quality of life itself. It is nearly impossible for a person on the streets to engage in a needed continuous AIDS treatment regimen when the very basic question of where that person will rest his or her head when darkness comes in just a few hours is unresolved. When danger lurks on the streets, when cold numbs the limbs, when tiredness overwhelms the mind, when fear breaks the spirit, a place to call home would make all the difference.     

Constructing osteoarthritis through discourse – a qualitative analysis of six patient information leaflets on osteoarthritis

Background  

Health service policy in the United Kingdom emphasises the importance of self-care by patients with chronic conditions. Written information for patients about their condition is seen as an important aid to help patients look after themselves. From a discourse analysis perspective written texts such as patient information leaflets do not simply describe the reality of a medical condition and its management but by drawing on some sorts of knowledge and evidence rather than others help construct the reality of that condition. This study explored patient information leaflets on osteoarthritis (OA) to see how OA was constructed and to consider the implications for self-care.     

Factors affecting aseptic loosening of 4750 total hip arthroplasties: multivariate survival analysis

Background  

Total hip arthroplasty is a successful surgery, that fails at a rate of approximately 10% at ten years from surgery. Causes for failure are mainly aseptic loosening of one or both components partially due to wear of articular surfaces and partially to design. The present analysis aimed to identify risk factors and quantify their effects on aseptic failure.     

A skin abscess model for teaching incision and drainage procedures

Background  

Skin and soft tissue infections are increasingly prevalent clinical problems, and it is important for health care practitioners to be well trained in how to treat skin abscesses. A realistic model of abscess incision and drainage will allow trainees to learn and practice this basic physician procedure.