Skilled birth attendant competence: an initial assessment in four countries, and implications for the Safe Motherhood movement.

OBJECTIVES: Percentage of deliveries assisted by a skilled birth attendant (SBA) has become a proxy indicator for reducing maternal mortality in developing countries, but there is little data on SBA competence. Our objective was to evaluate the competence of health professionals who typically attend hospital and clinic-based births in Benin, Ecuador, Jamaica, and Rwanda. Methods: We measured competence against World Health Organization's (WHO) Integrated Management of Pregnancy and Childbirth guidelines. To evaluate knowledge, we used a 49-question multiple-choice test covering seven clinical areas. To evaluate skill, we had participants perform five different procedures on anatomical models. The 166 participants came from facilities at all levels of care in their respective countries. Results: On average, providers answered 55.8% of the knowledge questions correctly and performed 48.2% of the skills steps correctly. Scores differed somewhat by country, provider type, and subtopic. Conclusion: A wide gap exists between current evidence-based standards and current levels of provider competence.     

Sevelamer hydrochloride with or without alphacalcidol or higher dialysate calcium vs calcium carbonate in dialysis patients: an open-label, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Sevelamer hydrochloride was recently proposed as a phosphate binder to prevent hypercalcaemia in place of calcium alkaline salts in dialysis patients. So far, it has been evaluated only in patients receiving calcitriol, without comparison with CaCO(3) alone, although the latter was found to be as effective as the combination of calcitriol and Al(OH)(3) in suppressing parathyroid hormone (PTH) without inducing hypercalcaemia and to have a better lowering effect on serum phosphate. Moreover, this bile salt binder may decrease serum 25-OH vitamin D. Therefore, we compared for 5 months two strategies for controlling moderate hyperparathyroidism: CaCO(3) alone vs sevelamer in conjunction with measures to increase calcium balance. METHODS: Forty-two patients were randomized: 21 continued their treatment with 4.8 g/day CaCO(3) and 21 were switched to sevelamer (initial dose: 2.4 g/day, increased to 4.4 g/day). Each month, when serum-corrected calcium decreased below 2.30 mmol/l, dialysate calcium was increased or alphacalcidol was given at each dialysis session, according to serum PO(4) levels. The following parameters were monitored: serum Ca, PO(4), bicarbonate and protein, weekly; and serum PTH, 25-OH vitamin D and total, LDL and HDL cholesterol monthly. RESULTS: Except for higher serum phosphate at month 1, lower serum bicarbonate at month 2 and lower LDL cholesterol at month 5 in the sevelamer group, no difference was found between the two groups. Compared with baseline levels, PTH increased and 25-OH vitamin D decreased significantly in both groups, these two parameters being inversely correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Given comparable control of plasma calcium, phosphate and 25-OH vitamin D, PTH control is comparable in both strategies. Sevelamer does not induce greater vitamin D depletion than CaCO(3). The transient decrease of serum bicarbonate after discontinuation of CaCO(3) in the sevelamer group suggests a less optimal prevention of acidosis. The sevelamer-induced decrease in LDL cholesterol gives this drug a potential advantage in cardiovascular prevention.     

视神经半损伤后复合神经营养因子辅助再生的动态PVEP研究

目的：探讨视神经（optic nerve,ON）损伤后的自然修复再生和用脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）及睫状神经营养因子（CNTF）互补辅助再生的图形翻转视觉诱发电位（PVEP）变化特征，寻找ON有效再生的新途径。方法：将40只猫作为实验对象，术前随机平均分4组：正常对照组，球后ON半径切断组（ON1／2I）、ON半径切断并定时向玻璃体内玻璃体内注射BDNF和CNTF复合因子辅助再生组（ON1／2I＋BF）。经眶外侧入路行手术开眶，在球后5mm处测量ON直径数值，并用宝石卡尺刀行ON半径切断术。ON1／2I＋BF组在术后即日注射BDNF和CNTF复合液（10ng），并在以后注射等量BDNF和CNTF复合液，2次／w。在ON损伤后1个月、4个月和8个月，3次行PVEP动态检测，结果：在ON1／2损伤后1个月时，与N组相比，ON1／2损伤各组PVEP的N1－P1振幅显著降低和P1潜时延迟；ON1／2IT ON1／2I＋PS组与ON1／2I＋BF组比较，也出现了PVEP的N1－P1振幅降低和P1潜时的延迟。在ON1／2损伤后第4个月时，ON1／2I组和ON1／2I＋PS与N组比较，其PVEP的P1潜时显著延迟（P＜0．001，P＜0．001）和N1－P1幅度显著降低（P＜0．001，P＜0．001）。而ON1／2I＋BF组与N组比较，两者PVEP的P1潜时和N1－P1幅度差异虽然具有显著性（P＜0．05），但与ON损伤后1个月时同组动物的PVPEP测试结果比较，已开始出现恢复型曲线图谱，两者的差异亦有显著性（P＜0．05，P＜0．01）。在ON1／2损伤后8个月后，ON1／2I组和ON1／2I＋PS组的PVEP的P1潜时仍然显著延迟，N1－P1幅度仍然显著降低，未见明显的恢复型曲线图出现。而ON1／2I＋BF组PVEP的P1潜时和N1－P1幅度与ON损伤后4个月时的PVEP测试结果比较，差异却具有显著性（P＜0．01）；与ON1／2切断组和ON1／2I＋PS组比较，差异也具有显著性（P＜0．01），与N组比较，其PVEP的P1潜时未见延迟（P＞0．05），但N1－P1幅度仍低于正常对照组（P＜0．05）。结论：（1）视神经1／2损伤后可以添加条件因素辅助其再生，BDNF和CNTF对促进视神经损伤后的再生有调节局部微环境和互补促生长作用。（2）视神经1／2损伤前后，其有视觉电生理学的动态变化特征，主要表现为：在ON损伤后，PVEP的P1潜时重度延迟和N1－P1波幅值大幅度衰减，而当应用神经营养因子拮抗视神经损伤效应后的1个月、4个月和8个月时，则逐渐出现PVEP的P1潜时恢复和N1－P1波幅值的提高。这说明1／2损伤的ON在BDNF和CNTF的互补作用下，可以修复再生和恢复其视觉信息的传导功能。BDNF和CNTF对促进视神经损伤后的轴突再生有互补促生长作用。     

非穿透性小梁切除术治疗开角型青光眼

目的 研究非穿透性小梁切除术治疗开角型青光眼的手术效果。方法 对20例26眼开角型青光眼行非穿透性小梁切除术,术后观察眼压、结膜滤枕及前房反应等情况,随访1～12个月。结果 术后各期平均眼压均低于术前平均眼压,差异有显著性(P<0.05)术。前平均眼压26.26mmHg,术后3个月、6个月、9个月、12个月平均眼压分别为15.47mmHg、16.89mmHg、19.14mmHg、18.50mmHg。16眼结膜形成滤性手术典型滤过泡,10眼结膜疏松无滤过泡形成。26眼均无前房出血,术后前房反应轻。结论 非穿透性小梁切除术能有效地降低开角型青光眼的眼压,术后并发症少,可作为此类青光眼病人手术的选择。     

Noonan syndrome associated with central giant cell granuloma

We report a case of Noonan syndrome associated with central giant cell granuloma. The patient was a 101/2-year-old boy with the chief complaint of proptosis of the right eye. He also had various malformations such as short stature, webbed neck, pectus excavatum, cubitus valgus, pulmonary valve stenosis and patent foramen ovale, a characteristic face appearance and cryptorchidism and so on. Chromosome analysis showed a 46, XY karyotype. A computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass originated from the lateral wall of the right maxillary sinus. The patient underwent Caldwell-Luc operation. Histological examination of the mass showed the characteristics of central giant cell granuloma. This case report describes a patient with the features of the recently described Noonan-like/multiple giant cell lesion syndrome.     

活动性结核标志物'H-多肽的实验与临床研究

本题研究是经免疫学途径直接检测人体感染结核菌的情况，为现代结核病的实验诊断、临床监测、流行病调查提供了一个全新的检验指标。作者首先发现了一种仅存在于活动性结核病患者体液中的蛋白成份—活动性结核标志物（ＡｃｔｉｖｅＴｕｂｅｒｃｕｌｏｓｉｓＭａｒｋ—ＡＴＭ）１Ｈ—多肽；并为之创立了独特的检测方法，经四年多临床１９４６０例样本调查中确定了ＡＴＭ的临床价值。将ＡＴＭ检测与ＯＴ皮试、酶联免疫ＥＬＩＳＡ、ＤＮＡ探针、ＰＣＲ基因扩增技术及典型病例组患者行Ｘ线计算机断层摄影（ＣＴ）、磁共振像（ＭＲＩ）等多组对比试验中，实验与临床研究资料分析证明：ＡＴＭ检测的总敏感度为８６．０６％、特异度９６．２４％、准确度９３．４５％、诊断效率为８２．８２％、批内ＣＶ１．２％、批间ＣＶ２．０％、Ｐ＜０．０５。经ＮＭＲ光谱分析结构含有ＣＣＨ２官能团。     

三吡萘啶对伯氏疟原虫ANKA株超微结构的影响

受染伯氏疟原虫ＡＮＫＡ株小鼠ｉｇ三吡萘啶游离碱１１ｍｇ／ｋｇ给药后１ｈ可见少数滋养体复合物层次增多且断裂，皱缩，并出现间隙，食物泡融合增大，２ｈ后进一步加剧，且疟原虫髓样物也增多，线粒体肿胀，４ｈ后出现变化的原虫更明显增多，８ｈ后绝大多数滋养体结构多已瓦解，仅留上膜残体及大小不等的空泡，总之，其超微结构的变化与咯萘啶作用甚为相似。     

Relative weight of glucose, insulin and parathyroid hormone in the urinary loss of phosphate by chronically diabetic rats

This report deals with the relationships between glucose (G) and insulin on the tubular transport of phosphate (P) in chronically diabetic rats with high plasma levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Alloxan-induced diabetes leads to phosphorus depletion of the soft tissues. This phenomenon appears associated with weight loss and negative P balances caused by the increased urinary P excretion. Administration of 2 IU of insulin/100 g body weight (bw) to diabetic rats normalized their P balance and body weight. The effect of parathyroid function on the P metabolism of diabetic rats was investigated with balance experiments. Diabetic rats, intact or thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX), have a greater urinary excretion of P than their controls. However, in control rats, the ratio intact:TPTX for urinary P is 1.0:0.76, showing the antiphosphaturic effect of parathyroid ablation. For diabetic animals, on the other hand, the ratio is 1.0:1.44. The simultaneous deficit of insulin and PTH thus quadruples the urinary P loss, instead of compensating for each other. The contribution of insulin deficit and hyperglycemia to the defect in tubular reabsorption (TRP) was investigated with clearance experiments (done on anesthetized, perfused rats). Five experimental groups were used: Controls (C), diabetics (D), controls+glucose (C+G), diabetics+insulin (D+I) and diabetics+insulin+glucose (D+I+G). All experimental groups showed a linear relationship between the TRP of P and G. The regression equation for C is significantly different (F=40.1, P<0.001) from that of D animals. The slope value measure the number of μmoles of P per μmol of G reabsorbed. For C and D rats, the ratio P:G approximates 1:4 and 1:20, respectively. The increase in P:G ratios represents the competition between both substrates for tubular resorption. Glycemias up to 11 mM (C and D+I) exist concurrent with the P:G ratio 1:4. Glycemias above 25 mM (D, C+G and D+I+G) produce a P:G ratio of 1:20. Fractional excretion of P (FEP) increased significantly in untreated, chronically diabetic rats (0.47± 0.12 vs controls=0.05±0.01, P<0.001). After a single intramuscular injection of insulin, the FEP decreased as a function of insulin levels. To normalize the FEP of diabetic rats in short-term experiments, insulin had to be administered in doses that produce plasma insulin levels 25 times greater than normal. The general information afforded by the present experiments shows that in untreated, chronically diabetic rats, insulin deficit plays an indirect role. The absence of PTH enhances the effect of hyperglycemia. The latter and the concurrent tubular overload of glucose are the cause of hyperphosphaturia in these animals. Received: 10 September 1996 / Accepted in revised form: 18 April 1997     

Labyrinth Exploration, Emotional Reactivity, and Conditioned Fear in Young Roman/Verh Inbred Rats

An inbreeding program has been carried out with the Swiss sublines of Roman high- and low-avoidance rats since 1993. The present study reports the first experiments conducted with young animals of those inbred strains (RHA-I/Verh and RLA-I/Verh, respectively) from the sixth and seventh inbreeding generations. The results confirmed expected behavioral profiles. Compared to the RHA-I/Verh strain, RLA-I/Verh rats showed decreased entries into the illuminated central arena of an hexagonal tunnel maze, as well as decreased spontaneous locomotor activity and increased defecations, in two independent experiments. Young RLA-I/Verh females explored less than did their RHA-I/Verh counterparts during session 1 of a conditioned-fear experiment preceding shock administration, and in session 2 (conducted 24 h after the application of three footshocks), they showed greater conditioned behavioral inhibition (i.e., reduced amount of rearing), as well as higher defecation scores, than did RHA-I/Verh females.Karl Bättig tragically and unexpectedly died on December 27, 1996     

Luminal transport step of para-aminohippurate (PAH): transport from PAH-loaded proximal tubular cells into the tubular lumen of the rat kidney in vivo

 Proximal tubular cells were loaded for 10 s with [³H]para-aminohippurate ([³H]PAH) by microperfusing the peritubular capillaries with Ringer solution containing 0.05 mmol/l PAH. Immediately thereafter [³H]PAH influx from cells into a column of equilibrium solution injected into the oil-filled tubular lumen was measured by re-aspirating the fluid after 1–10 s of contact time. The rise of luminal PAH concentration within 2 s of contact time was almost linear, reaching a luminal / capillary concentation ratio of 1.6 after 2 s and of 3.2 after 5 s. The 2-s PAH concentration ratio was not changed when different manoeuvres were applied to depolarize proximal tubular cells. Also, the 2-s PAH concentration ratio was not influenced by varying the luminal pH from 6.0 to 8.0 or the luminal Cl^–concentration from zero to 134 mmol/l or when either 5 mmol/l urate or 25 mmol/l lactate was in the luminal perfusate. A decrease in the 2-s PAH concentration ratio, i.e. trans-inhibition, was observed when 25 or 50 mmol/l HCO₃ ^–(–50%) was in the luminal perfusate. Trans-inhibition was also seen with 5 mmol/l of the following substituted benzoates: 2-hydroxy-benzoate (–58%), 2-methoxy-benzoate (–46%), 2-hydroxy-benzoate-acetyl ester (–36%), 2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitro-benzoate (–48%), 3,5-dichloro-benzoate (–49%), and 2,3,5-trichloro-benzoate (–45%). No effect was seen with benzoate, 3-hydroxy-benzoate, 2-chloro-benzoate, 2-nitro-benzoate, 2,5-dinitro-benzoate, 3-sulfamoyl-benzoate and 4-sulfamoyl-benzoate. However, analogues of the latter two compounds possessing two additional side groups, such as furosemide and piretanide, or a hydrophobic moiety, such as probenecid, were inhibitory (by –62, –41 and –49% respectively). Phenoxyacetate had no effect; however, it inhibited if in addition it had three chloro groups, as in 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetate (–71%) or a hydrophobic carbamoyl side group, as in mersalylic acid (salyrgan, –75%). Benzene-sulfonate trans-inhibited (–33%), as did phenolsulfonphthalein (phenol red, –39%) and sulfofluorescein (–55%). However, the trans-inhibitory effect of the corresponding carboxy-compounds was absent (phenolphthalein) or weaker (fluorescein, –42%). The trans-inhibitory effect of the uricosurics ethacrynic acid (–53%), tienilic acid (–55%) indacrinone (–72%) and benzbromarone (–42%) could be attributed to two chloro or bromo side groups on the benzene ring. Other trans-inhibiting uricosuric substances were indomethacin (–42%), sulfinpyrazone (–38%), losartan (–80%) its metabolite EXP 3174 (–55%), and AA 193 (–65%). These organic acids, with pKa values between 2.8 and 4.9, possess chloro and sulfin groups, as well as heterocyclic 5-ring and hydrophobic ring or chain areas. No significant effect was seen with 5 mmol/l PAH, 2-oxo-glutarate, DIDS, cGMP, prostaglandin E₂, cortisol, benzylamiloride, pyrazinoic acid and 25 mmol/l lactate. Our data indicate that in situ the secretory luminal PAH transport proceeds in a non-rheogenic fashion, per exclusionem by anion exchange. The observed trans-inhibition of PAH secretion seems to correlate with the affinity for the luminal PAH transporter and, for uricosuric substances, with their uricosuric potency. Received: 15 October 1996 / Received after revision: 17 December 1996 / Accepted: 18 December 1996