Sex‐related Disparity in Surgical Mortality among Pediatric Patients

Background. It has been reported that gender differences in cardiovascular outcomes found in adults also are present in children who undergo surgical repair for congenital heart disease. Methods. California statewide hospital discharge data 1989–99 were used to study outcomes in children <18 years undergoing cardiac surgery. Hospital discharge data were linked to death registry data to study postdischarge death within 30 days of discharge. We used logistic regression to evaluate the effect of gender on mortality controlling for age, race and ethnicity, type of insurance, household income, date and month of surgery, type of admission, hospital case volume, and various types of procedures. Results. There were 25 402 cardiac surgery cases with 1505 in‐hospital deaths (mortality rate of 5.92%). An additional 37 deaths occurred within 30 days after hospital discharge. Crude mortality rates for males (5.99%) and females (5.84%) were not significantly different. However, fewer neonates were female and females underwent a higher proportion of low‐risk procedures than males. Logistic regression revealed that females, compared with males, had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for in‐hospital mortality (OR = 1.18, P < .01) and overall (up to 30 days post discharge) mortality (OR = 1.18, P < .01). The risk‐adjusted length of hospital stay was similar between females and males while charges per hospital day were slightly higher in females than males. The prevalence of Down syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and failure to thrive were higher in females. Conclusions. Female gender is associated with an 18% higher in‐hospital and 30‐day postdischarge mortality as compared with male gender. There was no difference in length of hospital stay between males and females. The mechanism by which female gender acts as a risk factor requires further investigation.     

Littoral‐cell angioma as a rare cause of splenomegaly

We report the case of a littoral‐cell angioma of the spleen, a recently described benign vascular tumour, whose imaging and pathological characteristics have been discussed only by a few authors. The diagnosis was made after elective splenectomy. The CT images, scintigraphy and histological specimens are presented, and differential diagnoses discussed.     

药品压价只能是权宜之计

现在我们确实面临很多问题,百姓对看病贵的反应,除了百姓的直觉外还有一些指标可以反映,如国内外公认的费用水平衡量指标:卫生费用占本国GDP的百分比,目前我国卫生费用已经占到GDP的5％左右,是历史上的最高点了。但是和一些发达国家比,我们国家的卫生费用水平还是偏低的,大家普遍认为7％至 8％是相对合理的水平。     

肝门胆管癌的动态增强CT诊断

目的评价螺旋CT对肝门胆管癌的诊断价值。方法13例肝门胆管癌行螺旋CT平扫及动态增强扫描,并与手术及病理对照分析。结果11例平扫表现为肝门区低密度软组织肿块;2例表现为肝门区胆管不规则增厚,管腔狭窄。增强扫描13例有延迟强化。结论螺旋CT扫描对肝门胆管癌的诊断具有重要意义。     

肛直肠抑制反射时门静脉血中P物质变化

目的探讨肛直肠抑制反射（RAIR）时门静脉血中P物质（SP）的变化规律及外源性内脏神经对其变化的影响。方法将实验大白鼠分为7组，其中6组先按去与不去直肠肛管外源性内脏神经支配而分为不去神经和去神经两大组，每组中又按Foley导管上气囊置入直肠腔中的位置分为2、4、6cm组；同时再设1个对照组，将Foley导管置入直肠腔中，但不注水扩张球囊。检测并比较在直肠腔内刺激后，各组门静脉血中的SP值及变化情况。结果去神经组中2、4cm组与不去神经组之间及对照组之间，门静脉血中SP值变化比较，P〉0．05，差异无统计学意义。不去神经组中的6cm组与对照组及去神经组中2cm和4cm组之间SP值比较，P〈0．01，差异有统计学意义；去神经组和不去神经组中的6cm组之间SP值比较，P〈0．01，差异有统计学意义。结论直肠腔内上部的刺激不引出RAIR可能与该部位的刺激使内括约肌兴奋性递质（SP）的释放有关；外源性内脏神经对RAIR中门静脉血的SP变化有调控作用。     

《新方八阵》补真阴与补真阳用药关联性研究

用方剂计量学研究中的关联性分析法对《新方八阵》中补真阴、补真阳药物的应用与其他医家进行比较，印证了景岳重视阴中求阳、阳中求阴的思想，为方剂比较研究中关联指数与关联性分析的具体化内容之一。     

Pick’s disease with Pick bodies combined with progressive supranuclear palsy without tuft‐shaped astrocytes: A clinical,neuroradiologic and pathological study of an autopsied case

We report clinical, neuroradiologic features, and neuropathologic findings of a 76‐year‐old man with coexistent Pick’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. The patient presented with loss of recent memory, abnormal behavior and change in personality at the age of 60. The symptoms were progressive. Three years later, repetitive or compulsive behavior became prominent. About 9 years after onset, he had difficulty moving and became bed‐ridden because of a fracture of his left leg. His condition gradually deteriorated and he developed mutism and became vegetative. The patient died from pneumonia 16 years after the onset of symptoms. Serial MRI scans showed progressive cortex atrophy, especially in the bilateral frontal and temporal lobes. Macroscopic inspection showed severe atrophy of the whole brain, including cerebrum, brainstem and cerebellum. Microscopic observations showed extensive superficial spongiosis and severe neuronal loss with gliosis in the second and third cortical layers in the frontal, temporal and parietal cortex. There were Pick cells and argyrophilic Pick bodies, which were tau‐ and ubiquitin‐positive in neurons of layers II–III of the above‐mentioned cortex. Numerous argyrophilic Pick bodies were observed in the hippocampus, especially in the dentate fascia. In addition, moderate to severe loss of neurons was found with gliosis and a lot of Gallyas/tau‐positive globus neurofibrillary tangles in the caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, thalamus, substantia nigra, locus coeruleus and dentate nucleus. Numerous thorned‐astrocytes and coiled bodies but no‐tuft shaped astrocytes were noted in the basal ganglion, brainstem and cerebellar white matter. In conclusion, these histopathological features were compatible with classical Pick’s disease and coexistence with progressive supranuclear palsy without tuft‐shaped astrocytes.