Autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for poor prognosis patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Twenty patients with poor prognosis B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) underwent uniform high-dose chemoradiotherapy followed by rescue with multiple monoclonal antibody-purged autologous bone marrow (BM) (12 patients) or T-cell-depleted allogeneic BM from HLA-identical siblings (8 patients) in a pilot study to assess the feasibility of BM transplantation (BMT) in this disease. All had poor prognosis disease by either staging, BM pattern, tumor doubling time criteria, or cytogenetics. All patients achieved remission criteria (defined as < or = 2 adenopathy, absence of splenomegaly, < or = 20% of the intertrabecular space involved on BM biopsy) before BMT. Despite the use of fludarabine, a median of three treatment regimens were required to achieve BMT eligibility. After BMT, all patients achieved complete hematologic engraftment. Toxicities were not significantly different between autologous versus allogeneic BMT. Two toxic deaths were observed. Of 19 evaluable patients, 17 clinical complete clinical remissions (89%) were observed, with 2 patients (1 allogeneic and 1 autologous) exhibiting persistent BM disease. Complete clinical remissions were documented at the phenotypic and molecular level for the majority of patients in whom dual fluorescence for CD5 and CD20 (15 of 15; 100%) and Ig gene rearrangements (11 of 14; 79%) were performed. Although long-term follow-up is needed to assess any potential impact on the disease-free and overall survival of these patients, this study shows the feasibility of using high-dose chemoradiotherapy and BMT in patients with poor prognosis B-CLL.     

The diagnostic value of the fibrinogen/fibrin fragment E antigen assay in clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis

We have evaluated the fibrinogen/fibrin fragment E antigen assay as a diagnostic test in patients with clinically suspected venous thrombosis by comparing the results of this assay with venography in 272 patients. The result of the fragment E antigen assay was elevated in 79 of 80 patients with positive venograms for recent venous thrombosis (sensitivity 99%) and within the normal range in 161 of 192 patients with normal venograms (specificity 84%). The fragment E assay was also evaluated in 130 medical and surgical controls without evidence of venous thrombosis by leg scanning and the test was found to be relatively nonspecific. However, in the patient group under study, a correct clinical diagnosis of no thrombosis, based on a normal fragment E result, was made in 161 of 162 cases (negative predictive value of 99%). Therefore, a normal test result effectively excludes a diagnosis of venous thrombosis in clinically symptomatic patients. The assay, as currently performed, is technically demanding and takes 24 hr to complete. Therefore, it will have to be simplified before it can be applied to clinical practice.     

Susceptibilities of Oral Microbes to Some Medicinal Herbs

目的：检测某些中草药对口腔微生物的抑制杀灭作用。方法：制备七种中草药液提取物,将水浸液提取物分别加至培养基中,观察各种口腔微生物的生长速度,确定水浸 液提取物的最小抑菌量。结果：夏枯草、金银花、厚朴、菊花、威灵仙、秦艽的水浸液提取物对所试验的口腔微生物生长无明显抑制作用,而黄连的水浸液提取物有明显的抑制作用。尤其对牙周致病菌牙龈卟啉菌（初始抑菌量０．２５０ｍｇ／ｍｌ）、伴放线放线杆菌（初始抑菌量０     

State of the art and recommendationsKangaroo mother care: application in a high‐tech environment

Since Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) was developed in Colombia in the 1970s, two trends in clinical application emerged. In low income settings, the original KMC model is implemented. This consists of continuous (24 h/day, 7 days/week) and prolonged mother/parent–infant skin‐to‐skin contact; early discharge with the infant in the kangaroo position; (ideally) exclusive breastfeeding; and, adequate follow‐up. In affluent settings, intermittent KMC with sessions of one or a few hours skin‐to‐skin contact for a limited period is common. As a result of the increasing evidence of the benefits of KMC for both infants and families in all intensive care settings, KMC in a high‐tech environment was chosen as the topic for the first European Conference on KMC, and the clinical implementation of the KMC model in all types of settings was discussed at the 7th International Workshop on KMC. Kangaroo Mother Care protocols in high‐tech Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) should specify criteria for initiation, kangaroo position, transfer to/from KMC, transport in kangaroo position, kangaroo nutrition, parents’ role, modification of the NICU environment, performance of care in KMC, and KMC in case of infant instability. Conclusion: Implementation of the original KMC method, with continuous skin‐to‐skin contact whenever possible, is recommended for application in high‐tech environments, although scientific evaluation should continue.     

Donor sepsis is not a contraindication to cadaveric organ donation

Systemic donor infection is regarded as being an absolute contraindication to cadaveric organ donation for transplantation. This is largely due to fear of transmitting pathogenic organisms to the immunosuppressed recipient. However, due to the current shortage of organs available for transplantation, clinicians are faced with the option of using organs from 'non-ideal' donors, such as those patients with documented evidence of infection. We report the successful outcome of six orthotopic liver transplants, 11 renal transplants, one combined heart lung transplant and one simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant with organs from eight donors in whom bacterial meningitis (n = 7) and acute bacterial epiglottitis (n = 1) were the antecedent causes of death.      

The Effects on Health Behavior and Health Outcomes of Internet-Based Asynchronous Communication Between Health Providers and Patients With a Chronic Condition: A Systematic Review

Background

In support of professional practice, asynchronous communication between the patient and the provider is implemented separately or in combination with Internet-based self-management interventions. This interaction occurs primarily through electronic messaging or discussion boards. There is little evidence as to whether it is a useful tool for chronically ill patients to support their self-management and increase the effectiveness of interventions.

Objective

The aim of our study was to review the use and usability of patient-provider asynchronous communication for chronically ill patients and the effects of such communication on health behavior, health outcomes, and patient satisfaction.

Methods

A literature search was performed using PubMed and Embase. The quality of the articles was appraised according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) criteria. The use and usability of the asynchronous communication was analyzed by examining the frequency of use and the number of users of the interventions with asynchronous communication, as well as of separate electronic messaging. The effectiveness of asynchronous communication was analyzed by examining effects on health behavior, health outcomes, and patient satisfaction.

Results

Patients’ knowledge concerning their chronic condition increased and they seemed to appreciate being able to communicate asynchronously with their providers. They not only had specific questions but also wanted to communicate about feeling ill. A decrease in visits to the physician was shown in two studies (P=.07, P=.07). Increases in self-management/self-efficacy for patients with back pain, dyspnea, and heart failure were found. Positive health outcomes were shown in 12 studies, where the clinical outcomes for diabetic patients (HbA1c level) and for asthmatic patients (forced expiratory volume [FEV]) improved. Physical symptoms improved in five studies. Five studies generated a variety of positive psychosocial outcomes.

Conclusions

The effect of asynchronous communication is not shown unequivocally in these studies. Patients seem to be interested in using email. Patients are willing to participate and are taking the initiative to discuss health issues with their providers. Additional testing of the effects of asynchronous communication on self-management in chronically ill patients is needed.     

低潮气量和呼气末正压在肝肺综合征患者肝移植期的临床应用

目的:终末期肝硬化患者肝病晚期常合并肝肺综合征,伴随低氧血症出现,在肝移植期间进行针对性的通气治疗和管理,对于降低肝移植期的肺部并发症,甚至降低死亡率具有重要的临床意义。文章综合分析低潮气量和低呼期末正压通气对肝移植期间呼吸治疗的作用及其愈后。资料来源:应用计算机检索1970-01/2007-07MEDLINE及万方数据库有关肝移植期间呼吸治疗方面的文献。中文检索词包括"肝移植,肝肺综合征,潮气量,正压呼吸";英文检索词有"liver transplantation,hepato-pulmonary zsyndrome,Tidal ventilation,end-expiratory positive pressure mechanical ventilation"。包括临床研究(不限观察对象的年龄、性别、种族)和基础研究,不限体内或体外研究。资料选择:共收集到1310篇文献,阅读全部文章的文题和大部分文章的摘要,选择肝肺综合征病理改变和通气治疗方面的文献。排除重复性研究和Meta分析类文章。资料提炼:共得到符合纳入条件的文献159篇,排除1141篇。选择其中27篇英文文献及4篇中文文献进行分析。资料综合:①肝肺综合征发病机制错综复杂,术中血流动力学变化及新肝期内毒素、炎性介质、内环境改变等均易发生顽固性低氧血症,甚至出现通透性肺水肿,导致呼吸和心功能衰竭。这些变化是多因素共同作用的结果,在众多发病机制中,肺不张、门肺分流、通气减少或灌流增加均可使通气/灌流比值降低,是导致低氧血症的重要原因。②目前关于肝肺综合征主要是药物处理文献较多,但呼吸治疗报道尚未见到。③根据临床表现术前动脉血氧分压<60mmHg(1mmHg=0.133kPa),动脉二氧化碳分压在正常范围,以及新肝期供肝炎性介质释放,类似于急性呼吸窘迫综合征,因此临床处理均采用呼吸治疗,小潮气量和呼气末正压治疗效果及预后较好。结论:肝肺综合征患者肝移值围手术期应用小潮气量和呼气末正压机械治疗,可降低术后肺部并发症和重症监护时间。     

Knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention: a cross-sectional and comparative study among nurses

Background  

Pressure ulcers are a common, painful and costly condition. Results of a 1991 study into the knowledge among Dutch hospital nurses on the usefulness of measures to prevent pressure ulcers showed moderate knowledge. Results were confirmed by subsequent studies. In recent years, Dutch guidelines have been updated and the attention given to pressure ulcer care has been increased. This was expected to improve pressure ulcer care and to increase nurses' knowledge. The aims of the current study were to investigate (1) how much nurses employed in Dutch hospitals know about the usefulness of 28 preventive measures considered in the most recent national pressure ulcer guideline; (2) whether differences in knowledge exist between nurses working in hospitals that audit pressure ulcers and those employed in hospitals that do not; and (3) to study whether knowledge among Dutch hospital nurses regarding the usefulness of preventive measures had changed between 1991 and 2003.