Assessing ethical problem solving by reasoning rather than decision making

Context The assessment of ethical problem solving in medicine has been controversial and challenging. The purposes of this study were: (i) to create a new instrument to measure doctors’ decisions on and reasoning approach towards resolving ethical problems; (ii) to evaluate the scores generated by the new instrument for their reliability and validity, and (iii) to compare doctors’ ethical reasoning abilities between countries and among medical students, residents and experts. Methods This study used 15 clinical vignettes and the think‐aloud method to identify the processes and components involved in ethical problem solving. Subjects included volunteer ethics experts, postgraduate Year 2 residents and pre‐clerkship medical students. The interview data were coded using the instruments of the decision score and Ethical Reasoning Inventory (ERI). The ERI assessed the quality of ethical reasoning for a particular case (Part I) and for an individual globally across all the vignettes (Part II). Results There were 17 Canadian and 32 Taiwanese subjects. Based on the Canadian standard, the decision scores between Taiwanese and Canadian subjects differed significantly, but made no discrimination among the three levels of expertise. Scores on the ERI Parts I and II, which reflect doctors’ reasoning quality, differed between countries and among different levels of expertise in Taiwan, providing evidence of construct validity. In addition, experts had a greater organised knowledge structure and considered more relevant variables in the process of arriving at ethical decisions than did residents or students. The reliability of ERI scores was 0.70–0.99 on Part I and 0.75–0.80 on Part II. Conclusions Expertise in solving ethical problems could not be differentiated by the decisions made, but could be differentiated according to the reasoning used to make those decisions. The difference between Taiwanese and Canadian experts suggests that cultural considerations come into play in the decisions that are made in the course of providing humane care to patients.     

Thyroid Artery Erosion by Esophageal Cancer: Management with Interventional Radiology

Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding because of erosion of vessels by esophageal cancer may be challenging. We present herein the angiographic images of a 49-year-old patient who was admitted with massive bleeding from a tumor-eroded inferior thyroid artery. Attempts to control the bleeding by means of flexible endoscopy and insertion of a Sengstaken–Blakemore tube had failed. The diagnosis was impressively demonstrated by multislice computed tomography with intravenous contrast in the arterial phase and multiplanar reconstructions (computed tomography angiography) and by digital subtraction angiography. The bleeding was successfully treated with superselective catheterization and coiling of the eroded vessel.     

模糊聚类分析方法在髋关节图像处理中的应用

针对医学图像的模糊特点,结合模糊连接度,提出一种新的用模糊聚类分析检测圆弧的方法,它可以精确提取出圆弧.首先把曲线按一定长度进行分段处理,分别拟合出各段的圆心坐标和半径,通过模糊关系把具有一定相似性的聚为一类,把同一类中连续的段合在一起组成新段,再进行拟合,然后再对此段两端一定范围内寻找,直至找到最佳的圆弧.这种方法已应用到股骨头轮廓圆弧的提取.     

王成荣治疗子宫内膜异位症“火热致瘀”理论探讨

王成荣研究员长于以中医药诊治子宫内膜异位症（EMT），根据其临床经验认为“火热致瘀”是EMT的基本病因、病机，且火热与瘀血互为因果、恶性循环，致使EMT病程缠绵不愈、反复复发。王老据此提出“清热解毒、化瘀散结”的治疗法则，为治疗EMT开辟了另一思路和理论。     

FK506-壳聚糖膜与体外培养雪旺细胞生物相容性的研究

目的 探讨FK506-壳聚糖膜片与培养的雪旺细胞生物相容性.方法 将生长状况和纯度较好的第3代雪旺细胞,分别传代接种于含有FK506-壳聚糖膜片、单纯壳聚糖膜片的培养皿中培养,以盖玻片作为对照组.计算3组雪旺细胞倍增时间、雪旺细胞纯度;用MTT法比较不同膜片上雪旺细胞的生长活力,绘制生长曲线;S-100免疫荧光染色.结果 雪旺细胞倍增时间对照组为5.9 d,单纯壳聚糖膜片及FK506-壳聚糖膜片组均为4.0 d;雪旺细胞纯度分别为80%、89%,93%;雪旺细胞增殖情况以FK506-壳聚糖组最佳,单纯壳聚糖组次之,对照组最差;各组雪旺细胞均呈S-100阳性,FK506-壳聚糖组与单纯壳聚糖组雪旺细胞排列呈典型的漩涡状或栅栏状.结论 FK506-壳聚糖膜片具有更显著的组织相容性与生物功能性,并保持了雪旺细胞的生物学特性.     

扩髓交锁髓内钉治疗股骨、胫骨干骨折

目的探讨交锁髓内钉治疗股骨、胫骨干骨折的临床效果.方法应用交锁髓内钉治疗不同类型的股骨干骨折18例,胫骨干骨折15例.结果33例患者随访8～24个月,平均15.2个月,33例均骨性愈合.未出观畸性愈合、再骨折、断钉及膝、踝关节僵硬等并发症.结论交锁髓内钉治疗股骨、胫骨干骨折治愈率高,并发症少,效果满意.     

清开灵注射液治疗脑血管性痴呆32例

目的观察清开灵注射液治疗脑血管性痴呆的疗效.方法将中医学辨证属于实证的64例脑血管性痴呆患者随机分为治疗组(清开灵注射液组)和对照组(脑复康组),治疗5周后,将两组治疗前后在智力障碍程度、肢体功能、血液流变学指标、中医证型疗效方面的变化进行比较.结果经治疗后治疗组和对照组相比较,智力障碍程度变化(有效率、MMSE、ADL积分)、肌力、步行能力改变有显著性差异,p＜0.05.而治疗前后组内及组间血流变指标虽有一定下降,但无统计学意义(p＞0.05).结论清开灵注射液对脑血管性痴呆患者,在改善智力障碍、肌力、步行能力方面有较好的疗效.     

输尿管上段结石的微创手术治疗

目的：探讨输尿管上段结石的治疗方法。方法：回顾性分析输尿管镜下气压弹道碎石(URSL），后腹腔镜输尿管切开取石(RLU)、经皮肾穿刺取石(PCNL)治疗输尿管上段结石患者的临床资料。其中URSL组25例，RLU组20例。PCNL组9例。结果：URSL组碎石成功18例；7例不成功，其中3例改为开放手术，1例改为后腹腔镜取石。2例行ESWL术，1例仅留置双J管。术后1个月拔管后自行排出。2例并发输尿管穿孔。RLU组取石成功18例，2例滑入肾内，经配合输尿管镜和腹腔镜直视下经皮肾穿刺取石成功，术后15例有伤口漏尿。PCNL组成功9例，无并发症。结论：USRL创伤小。术后恢复快。是治疗输尿管上段结石的较为满意的治疗方法。PCNL创伤小，取石成功率高，在结石靠近肾盂、儿童输尿管上段结石并同侧肾结石和结石以下输尿管狭窄时应优先考虑。但技术难度较大。RLU可作为URSL不成功后的辅助治疗方法。     

纸夹板内收位固定与石膏外展位固定治疗Bennett骨折的随机对照试验

目的：研究比较纸夹板内收位固定与石膏外展位固定治疗Bennett骨折的疗效差异。方法：选择2005年10月至2007年4月门诊就诊的70例Bennett骨折患者，按区组随机的方法分为试验组35例（纸夹板内收位固定）和对照组35例（石膏外展位固定）进行治疗。骨折达到临床愈合拆除固定后，对患者进行为期6个月的随访观察。分别于骨折后6、8、12、16、20及24周按改良的Gabriele评分系统对其患手功能进行量化评分比较。结果：两组的优良率在8、12、16及20周时比较试验组优于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；6周和24周时比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。两组在功能评分方面，8、12、16、20及24周时比较试验组高于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；6周时积分差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论：在Bennett骨折的治疗中，纸夹板内收位固定与石膏外展位固定相比能明显加快患手功能的恢复，而且固定轻便、舒适，患者易于接受，可以作为一种有效的固定方法在临床推广。