Pesticide assessment: Protecting public health on the home turf

Pesticide regulation is examined in the context of Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s assessment of the chlorophenoxy herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for turf. 2,4-D is the most common herbicide used to kill weeds in grass.The medical literature does not uniformly indicate harms from herbicides. However, the balance of epidemiological research suggests that 2,4-D can be persuasively linked to cancers, neurological impairment and reproductive problems. These may arise from 2,4-D itself, from breakdown products or dioxin contamination, or from a combination of chemicals.Regulators rely largely on toxicology, but experiments may not replicate exposures from 2,4-D application to lawns because environmental breakdown products (eg, 2,4-dichlorophenol) may not accumulate and selected herbicides are possibly less contaminated. Dioxins are bioaccumulative chemicals that may cause cancer, harm neurological development, impair reproduction, disrupt the endocrine system and alter immune function. No dioxin analyses were submitted to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, and the principal contaminants of 2,4-D are not among the 17 congeners covered in pesticide regulation. Independent assessment of all dioxins is needed, in tissues and in the environment.The 2,4-D assessment does not approach standards for ethics, rigour or transparency in medical research. Canada needs a stronger regulator for pesticides. Potentially toxic chemicals should not be registered when more benign solutions exist, risks are not clearly quantifiable or potential risks outweigh benefits. Until landscaping pesticides are curtailed nationally, local bylaws and Quebec’s Pesticide Code are prudent measures to protect public health. Physicians have a role in public education regarding pesticides.     

超声电丛刺治疗后急性脑梗死患者神经功能缺损及实验室相关指标的变化

目的:观察超声电丛刺头穴丛刺法治疗急性脑梗死的效果,以及治疗前后体感诱发电位指标及血液生化指标变化。方法:①选择2003-01/2005-06在沈阳脑科医院神经内科住院的急性脑梗死患者261例,男160例,女101例。均为首次患病,且对治疗方案知情同意。将上述患者随机分为2组:丛刺治疗组131例,对照组130例。②丛刺治疗组:采用超声电丛刺治疗仪于头部电丛刺顶区(运动区),以100～200Hz疏密波电针通过6～8h,1次/d,1个疗程30次。对照组:均予以常规脑血管病药物同等治疗。丛刺治疗组和对照组均干预30d。两组疗效判定标准:治疗后神经功能缺损评分减少91%～100%为基本恢复,减少46%～90%为显著进步,减少18%～45%为进步。③采用酶联免疫法测定血浆α-颗粒膜蛋白水平;应用放射免疫法测定血浆血栓素A2水平;采用酶联免疫吸附法双抗体夹心法测定血浆D-二聚体水平;采用免疫透射比浊方法测定脂蛋白(a)水平。应用神经电生理检测仪检测体感诱发电位。④计数和计量资料差异比较采用χ2检验和t检验。结果:急性脑梗死患者261例均进入结果分析。①丛刺治疗组131例中:基本恢复31例,显著进步80例,进步15例,总有效率为96%(126/131);对照组130例:基本恢复14例,显著进步68例,进步12例,总有效率为72%(96/130);丛刺治疗组总有效率明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。②丛刺治疗组治疗后血浆α-颗粒膜蛋白、血栓素A2、D-二聚体和脂蛋白(a)含量较治疗前明显降低(P<0.01)。③丛刺治疗组治疗后体感诱发电位的波潜伏期与传导时间较治疗前明显缩短(P<0.01)。结论:超声电丛刺治疗急性脑梗死效果显著,可显著改善急性脑梗死患者体感诱发电位指标及血液生化指标。     

Safety and reliability of external fixation for basicervical and intertrochanteric fractures in high-risk elderly patients

Forty elderly patients with basicervical and pertrochanteric fractures were managed with uniplanar AO external fixator under regional anaesthetic block of the femoral nerve and lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh from April 2003 to March 2006. The mean age of the patients was 67.9 ± 5.5 years. External fixator application was performed under radiological control after closed reduction had been obtained. Comorbid factors, duration of surgery, duration of hospitalisation, complications, walking ability, time to union and mortality rate were recorded. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 12 ± 4.5 months. Superficial pin tract infection occurred in 13 patients, healing in varus >10° and with shortening >2 cm occurred in six patients, and one patient suffered a spontaneous ipsilateral femoral neck fracture after removal of the fixator. The mean time for union was 10.4 ± 1.2 weeks. Rapid union rate and minor complications obtained in the present study are comparable to those obtained with standard internal fixation techniques. Minimal intraoperative blood loss, short operative time and early patient mobilisation are advantages signifying uniplanar external fixator application under regional anaesthetic block to be a viable option in treatment of basicervical and pertrochanteric fractures in high-risk elderly patients.     

生物可降解性尿道内支架修复战伤性尿道狭窄的研究

目的建立战伤性尿道狭窄动物模型,探讨生物可降解性尿道内支架对其进行重建修复的可行性。方法将新西兰雄兔28只分为两组,实验组(n=20):以定位爆炸法建立尿道狭窄模型。一月后行逆行尿道造影、尿道镜检查,并切除狭窄段尿道,行病理组织学观察证实。后置入人工合成生物可降解尿道内支架,置入术后2、4、8、12周分别行逆行尿道造影、尿道镜检查以及尿流动力学检测。并在以上各时间点处死5只动物,取狭窄处尿道组织,观察组织学修复重建情况。对照组(n=8):于实验组爆炸处理后4周和支架置入12周,分别取对照组4只动物与实验组对比观察。结果实验组所有动物爆炸后4周在尿道球部狭窄形成稳定狭窄模型(狭窄段长5～10 mm,尿道腔缩窄50%以上)。尿道内支架置入后2周,组织学观察见黏膜上皮新生迹象,并有炎性细胞浸润;4周时上皮新生明显,炎性细胞消失;8周时出现尿道平滑肌细胞再生,12周时见损伤后尿道组织结构完全修复,与正常尿道组织比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。。同时间点尿道镜检查证实尿道腔隙、黏膜形态结构无异于正常对照组。尿流动力学检测显示两组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。。结论应用成功建立的战伤性尿道狭窄动物模型,证实生物可降解性尿道内支架能作为修复战伤性尿道狭窄的理想材料,具有损伤小,易操作,功能恢复快的特点。     

腹腔镜规则性左肝外侧叶切除术15例

目的探讨腹腔镜左肝外侧叶切除术的可行性。方法2004年12月-2006年8月对病灶位于左肝外侧叶原发性肝细胞癌10例，肝海绵状血管瘤3例，结肠癌肝转移2例，腹腔镜下应用电刀或超声刀、线性切割器等切除左肝外侧叶。结果15例均在完全腹腔镜下行规则性左肝外侧叶切除，无中转开腹。手术时间65—120rain，平均100min；术中出血量50—100ml，平均80ml。肿瘤全部完整切除，无破裂，完整取出标本的边界距肿瘤切缘1cm以上，术后病理证实切端未见癌细胞侵犯。术后无出血及胆漏，术后腹腔引流管3—4d。术后住院3—5d。12例肝癌术后随访1-20个月，平均12．5月，未见肝内复发及手术切口肿瘤种植，所有患者均健康存活。结论腹腔镜规则性左肝外侧叶切除可行、安全。     

腹腔镜肝右后叶囊肿开窗引流术35例报告

目的：探讨肝右后叶肝囊肿的腹腔镜处理方法。方法：1998年1月～2005年12月对35例有症状的肝右后叶囊肿（21例主要位于Ⅵ段，14例主要位于第Ⅶ段）采用四孔法行囊肿开窗引流术。囊肿位于肝右后叶上段者采用肝上入路，胆囊牵引钳或三叶钳推压肝脏使其向前向下，暴露肝后囊肿，囊肿开窗，修剪带蒂大网膜放入囊肿。囊肿位于肝右后叶下段者采用肝下入路，超声刀切开肝结肠韧带，右三角韧带及肝肾间疏松组织，胆囊牵引钳抬起肝脏，囊肿开窗，大网膜放入囊腔引流。结果：35例肝右后叶肝囊肿均在腹腔镜下完成肝囊肿开窗引流术，无中转开腹手术。15例采用肝上入路，20例采用肝下入路。手术时间30～95min，平均46min。无手术并发症。35例病理检查结果均为先天性肝囊肿。术后症状均消失。术后住院2～5d，平均3．8d。35例随访6～36个月，平均34个月，33例无复发，2例（为肝上入路病例）囊肿未完全消失，但较术前明显缩小，无明显症状，观察半年未见增大。结论：肝下及肝上入路囊肿开窗引流是腹腔镜下处理肝右叶肝囊肿的有效方法。     

微波子宫内膜去除术与子宫切除术治疗异常子宫出血的疗效比较

目的 比较微波子宫内膜去除术(MEA)和子宫切除术(AH)治疗异常子宫出血的疗效.方法 将异常子宫出血80例分为MEA组和AH组各40例,比较两组临床疗效、手术时间、术中出血及手术前后白细胞变化. 结果 MEA和AH治疗异常子宫出血的有效率无显著差异(39/40 vs 40/40,χ2=0.000,P=1.000).MEA手术时间短[(4.8±1.2)min vs(102.5±34.6)min,t=17.848,P=0.000];术中出血少[0 ml vs(138.3±40.6)ml,t=21.544,P=0.000]. 结论 MEA是一种治疗异常子宫出血有效且微创的手术.     

Update on the management of neuromuscular block: focus on sugammadex

Steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs), such as rocuronium, are widely used in clinical anesthesia and emergency medicine to facilitate endotracheal intubation and artificial ventilation and to allow surgical access to body cavities. Reversal of neuromuscular blockade is important for the acceleration of patient recovery and prevention of postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade and reduces the incidence of severe morbidity and mortality associated with anesthesia management. Sugammadex is the first selective relaxant binding agent (SRBA) and has been designed to reverse the steroidal neuromuscular blocking drug rocuronium. Encapsulation of the rocuronium molecule by sugammadex results in a rapid decrease in free rocuronium in the plasma and subsequently at the nicotinic receptor at the motor endplate. After encapsulation, rocuronium is not available to bind to the nicotinic receptor in the neuromuscular junction. This promotes the liberation of acetylcholine receptors, and muscle activity reappears. This new concept of reversal of neuromuscular block induced by rocuronium (or vecuronium) led to impressive results in animal and phase 1 and 2 studies. Sugammadex is currently in phase 3 clinical studies and may be commercially available by 2008.     

Pathways from first health care seeking to diagnosis: obstacles to tuberculosis care in rural China.

OBJECTIVE: To examine health care seeking pathways for patients with tuberculosis (TB) and barriers related to these pathways in counties under the National TB Control Programme in rural China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two counties of east China in 2004-2005. A total of 557 TB patients were recruited and interviewed by physicians at the time of TB diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 557 participants, 13.3% had presented to a specialised county TB dispensary (CTD) directly after onset of symptoms, 31.4% had first sought care at a village health station and 51.2% had visited a township or county hospital first. The proportion of referral by a first health care provider to a CTD was highest in county level hospitals (73.5%) and lowest in village health stations (21.7%). The most prompt pathway from first health care seeking to TB diagnosis was to visit a CTD directly, with a median provider's delay of only one day. There was an increase in provider's delay when more health facilities were involved. CONCLUSION: To improve direct referral from general health care providers, especially village health care workers, to TB specialists would significantly shorten the delays in TB diagnosis in rural China.