英国药学教育制度对我国药学教育发展的启示

目的:探讨英国药学教育制度对我国药学教育发展的启示。方法:分析英国药学教育制度的成功之处及其缺点,提出对我国药学教育未来发展的建议。结果与结论:英国药学教育以培训药学硕士为主,其教学内容需遵从英国药物政务局的全国统一指示性药学教学大纲,教学及考试方式以案例教学法和临床能力测验为主,有效地规范了全国的药学教育,使课程的质量和学生能力达到较高水平。这些制度对我国药学教育有正面的参考价值,也有实施的可能性。     

口腔矫治器对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征合并高血压患者血压的影响

目的探讨二维可调式口腔矫治器（OA）治疗阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征（OSAS）合并高血压患者时,对其血压的影响。方法 106例确诊为中度OSAS合并原发性高血压患者,规范口服降压药物治疗3个月以上,血压控制欠佳,采用二维可调式OA治疗;75例能按医嘱坚持OA治疗6个月以上为实验组;22例OA治疗时间少于三分之一作为对照组;9例患者间歇性OA治疗时间大于三分之一,没有纳入研究。统计分析实验组和对照组OA治疗前后呼吸紊乱指数（RDI）、最低氧饱和度（SaO2）以及平均收缩压（MSBP）、平均舒张压（MDBP）、脉压差（PP）。结果实验组RDI、SaO2均比OA治疗前明显改善,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;对照组RDI、SaO2也比OA治疗前有改善,但差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。实验组MSBP、MDBP均比OA治疗前显著下降,血压恢复到正常水平,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;而对照组MSBP、MDBP无改善（P〉0.05）。实验组OA治疗后,PP有所下降,但与治疗前比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;而对照组在6个月后PP升高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。组间比较MSBP、MDBP、PP三个血压参数：在治疗前实验组与对照组差异均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,在治疗后实验组比对照组均有下降,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论对药物降压治疗效果不理想合并中度OSAS的高血压患者,二维可调式OA治疗可有效控制血压。     

The mediating effects of structural empowerment on job satisfaction for nurses in long-term care facilities

Aims The purpose of this study was to explore the mediating effects of work empowerment on job satisfaction for nurses in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Background Previous research has noted that job satisfaction is an important factor that reflects upon the work environment and the characteristics of the job itself. It is important to link work empowerment to job satisfaction among nurses. Methods This research study used a cross-sectional design. A total of 65 nurses participated in the study. Regression models and Sobel tests were fitted to evaluate the relationship between work empowerment and job satisfaction. Results Structural empowerment mediated the effects of psychological empowerment on job satisfaction (standardized β = 0.46, Sobel test: z = 2.69, P = 0.007). Conclusions Both psychological and structural empowerment positively correlated with job satisfaction among nurses in long-term care facilities. The structural empowerment had a mediating effect on job satisfaction. Implications for nursing management The managers of long-term care facilities should create an empowering work environment for nurses by providing them with available resources and by involving them in the developmental goals of the facilities. The critical structural components of an empowered workplace can contribute to the psychological empowerment of nurses and increase their job satisfaction.     

Prevalence of anti-HCV among Chinese patients with acute and chronic liver disease

To assess whether the hepatitis C virus plays an important role in Chinese patients with acute and chronic liver disease, antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 67 patients with type A and B acute viral hepatitis, 165 patients with non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis, 438 patients with chronic hepatitis, 200 patients with postnecrotic liver cirrhosis, 72 patients with alcoholic liver disease, 55 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver, 24 patients with toxic and drug-induced hepatitis, and 20 patients with other chronic liver diseases. Anti-HCV was not detected in sera from patients with type A and B acute viral hepatitis, toxic and drug-induced hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Wilson's disease, or lupoid hepatitis. The anti-HCV prevalence was found to be highest in patients with NANB hepatitis (59% in sporadic and 73.2% in transfusion-associated), 16.4% in non-alcoholic fatty liver, 5.6% in alcoholic liver disease, 6.8% in chronic hepatitis, and 16% in postnecrotic liver cirrhosis. In patients with chronic hepatitis, the anti-HCV prevalence was significantly higher in HBsAg-negative (15/34, 44.1%) than in HBsAg-positive cases (15/404, 3.7%; P less than 0.0001). The results indicate that HCV is a major agent of NANB hepatitis and plays an important role in HBsAg-negative chronic liver disease in Taiwan.     

间断性肝门阻断下肝细胞超微结构变化和应激基因的表达研究

目的　研究间断肝门阻断对肝细胞结构及应激基因变化的影响。方法　选择 33例和 14例 (分别作为实验组和对照组 ) ,采用半定量RT PCR方法和电子显微镜技术检测肝叶切除前后应激基因TNF α、IL 6、HSP70A和HSC70的表达状况及细胞超微结构的改变。结果　热休克基因家族HSP70A和HSC70在间断肝门血流阻断组阻断前后的mRNA表达分别为 1 5± 0 2 9,2 0 3± 0 5 3(u =0 92 ,Ρ <0 0 5 ) ;1 6 9± 0 47,1 86± 0 36 (u =1 0 ,Ρ <0 0 5 )。在对照组 ,HSP70A和HSC70切肝前后的表达值分别为 1 39± 0 2 2 ,0 92± 0 3(P >0 0 5 ) ;1 32± 0 19,1 2 8± 0 2 6 (P >0 0 5 )。TNF α和IL 6在两组中无明显差异。电子显微镜下发现阻断组肝细胞及肝窦内皮细胞的超微结构保持正常。结论　间断肝门血流阻断方法能诱导肝组织热休克基因家族高表达 ,这对保持肝细胞间的稳定和正常的超微结构非常重要。     

A randomized prospective comparison of oral versus intraperitoneal ofloxacin as the primary treatment of CAPD peritonitis

Summary: Oral ofloxacin has been successfully used in our centres for the primary treatment of peritonitis complicating continous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). In view of the progressive rise in the resistance rate to ofloxacin among peritoneal bacterial isolates, a study was conducted to determine if oral ofloxacin remains a viable first line treatment for CAPD peritonitis in our centres and if the result can be improved by changing from an oral to an intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. In patients on three 2 L daily CAPD exchanges, ofloxacin given at the i.p. dosage of 200 mg loading followed by 25 mg/L of peritoneal dialysate achieved overnight trough peritoneal levels which are at least four times the minimal 90% inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of most bacterial pathogens without significant accumulation in the systemic circulation. This i.p. dosage was therefore chosen for the clinical study and the result was compared to that using ofloxacin given in the oral dosage of 400 mg loading followed by 300 mg once daily as maintenance. of all the recruited episodes, 35 were eligible for analysis. the overall primary cure rate including primary failures and relapses was 55.6% (10/18) in the oral treatment group and 70.6% (12/17) in the i.p. treatment group. the corresponding figures for gram positive bacterial (g +) infections were 36.4% and 50%, for gram negative bacterial (g -) infections were 66.7 and 80% and for culture negative infections were 75 and 80%. In culture positive cases, all treatment failures were due to resistant infections which were observed in 42.3% of all bacterial isolates, 47.1% of g + isolates and 33.3% of g - isolates. Due to the high background level of bacterial resistance among our CAPD population, ofloxacin monotherapy given either by the oral or the i.p. route can no longer be recommended for the primary treatment of CAPD peritonitis.     

Multiple miliary osteoma of the face

A case of multiple miliary osteomas of the face in a 68-year-old female with no personal history of acne or former inflammatory skin disorders is reported. The patient showed multiple painless, stone-like formations at several sites of the face. Histological, echographic and radiological investigations confirmed the presence of bone tissue in the dermal layer. Multiple miliary osteoma of the face is considered the rarest variant of primary osteoma.     

Correlation of serum HCV RNA and alanine aminotransferase levels in chronic hepatitis C patients during treatment with ribavirin

to evaluate the effect of ribavirin on serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, 22 patients with chronic HCV infection were treated with oral ribavirin 1200 mg daily in three divided doses for 4 weeks. At the end of 4 weeks treatment, the serum ALT decreased in all but one patient and became normal in three individuals. The mean pretreatment serum ALT was reduced significantly from 193 ± 45 i.u./L to 95 ± 16 i.u./L after 4 weeks therapy (P= 0.009). However, 8 weeks after cessation of treatment, the serum ALT rose to a mean value of 154 ± 21 i.u./L. The mean pretreatment serum HCV RNA was not significantly decreased at the end of 4 weeks treatment (7.0 × 10⁵vs 4.1 × 10⁵ copies/mL, P > 0.05). However, serum HCV RNA levels were decreased in 12 and increased in 10 patients at the end of 4 weeks therapy. Eight weeks after cessation of therapy, the serum HCV RNA of 22 patients rose to a mean value of 4.9 ± 10⁵ copies/mL. Six patients who continued to have elevated serum ALT and positive HCV RNA after the initial 4 weeks treatment received oral ribavirin at the same dosage for an additional 24 weeks. The serum ALT again decreased in all six patients during therapy, but rose to pretreatment values by 8 weeks after cessation of the treatment. In addition, no significant changes were noted in the mean serum HCV RNA levels during and after 24 weeks of ribavirin therapy. Our results indicate that oral ribavirin only transiently lowered serum ALT values and did not efficiently suppress HCV synthesis in patients with chronic hepatitits C infection.     

Transjugular liver biopsy: Comparison with percutaneous liver biopsy

Abstract A transjugular liver biopsy was performed on 60 patients. Specimens were successfully obtained from 57 (95%) patients. Specimens obtained from cirrhotic patients were frequently small-sized/fragmented. The wedge hepatic venous pressure and hepatic venous pressure gradient were higher in patients with small-sized/fragmented specimens than those with non-fragmented specimens (16.3 ± 6.4 vs 12.3 ± 4.9 and 10.9 ± 6.2 vs 7.3 ± 3.4 mmHg, P <0.05, respectively). During the same period of time, percutaneous liver biopsies were consecutively performed on 277 patients. The liver specimens by transjugular method were generally smaller (0.63±0.58 vs 1.50±0.86 cm, P <0.001) and more fragmented (63% vs 16%, P <0.01) than those obtained by percutaneous method. Biopsy specimens obtained for diagnosis by the former method were inadequate from 6 (10%) patients and by the latter route were inadequate from 7 (2%) patients. Subcapsular haematoma in one patient was associated with the transjugular liver biopsy. Minor complications occurred in three patients: neck haematoma in two and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia during the procedure in one. In comparison, percutaneous liver biopsy was followed by minor complications in 20 patients and major complications in four patients. It is concluded that transjugular liver biopsy is a safe, valuable and alternative procedure to obtain liver specimens, especially in patients who were contraindicated for percutaneous liver biopsy.     

Relationships between the severity of cirrhosis and haemodynamic values in patients with cirrhosis

Abstract The relationship between the severity of cirrhosis and systemic and hepatic haemodynamic values was evaluated in 193 patients with cirrhosis, most of whom were diagnosed with post-necrotic cirrhosis. It was found that the hepatic venous pressure gradient and cardiac output in Pugh's A patients (13.6 ± 4.8 mmHg and 6.2 ± 1.6 L/min, mean ± s.d.) were significantly lower than in both Pugh's B (16.8 ± 4.3 mmHg and 7.3 ± 2.1 L/min) and Pugh's C (18.8 ± 5.5 mmHg and 7.4 ± 2.3 L/min) patients ( P < 0.01), respectively. In contrast, the systemic vascular resistance in Pugh's A patients (1232 ± 369 dyn/s per cm⁵) was significantly higher than in both Pugh's B (1016 ± 345 dyn/s per cm⁵) and Pugh's C (935 ± 234 dyn/s per cm⁵) patients ( P < 0.01), respectively. Additionally, not only was there a positive correlation found between Pugh's score and cardiac output and hepatic venous pressure gradient, but a negative correlation was found between Pugh's score and systemic vascular resistance. It was also confirmed that the degree of portal hypertension and the hyperdynamic circulation were more severe in patients with ascites than in those without ascites. However, there were no statistically significant differences in hepatic venous pressure gradient among patients with F1, F2 and F3 esophageal varices (15.7 ± 4.0, 17.0 ± 4.8 and 18.0 ± 4.8 mmHg, respectively). It is concluded that in those patients with cirrhosis, the severity of cirrhosis is closely related to the degree of the hyperkinetic circulatory state and portal hypertension.