Clinical Evaluation of a New Type of Centrifugal Pump

Abstract: The major problems with existing centrifugal pumps are leakage, mechanical trauma, and thrombus formation. In consideration of these problems, a new compact centrifugal pump system was developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the new centrifugal pump system clinically. Ten patients underwent open heart surgery with a centrifugal pump or a roller pump. During surgery, hemodynamic and hematological data were obtained. A pulsatile assist device in the pump circuit was used in patients with severe heart disease. There was neither operative death nor hospital mortality, and there was no difference with regard to hemodynamic data between the two groups. The centrifugal pump group, however, had significantly lower hemolysis, especially during prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass. This centrifugal pump could also create sufficient pulsatile flow with a pulsatile assist device. Postoperative macroscopic and microscopic findings demonstrated the smooth surface of the pump without thrombus formation. This centrifugal pump system might be useful for prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass.     

国产ELISA试剂盒应用于兴奋剂控制中的hCG检测

本文介绍用国产酶免定量药盒测定血、尿样中ｈＣＧ含量的一种ＥＬＩＳＡ方法。该方法特异性好、经济可靠而且简便快捷，适用于运动员尿样的兴奋剂检测。文中还报道了该方法应用于测定两例志愿者注射ｈＣＧ后的血、尿样及国际奥委会医学委员会１９９４年水平考试和１９９５年资格复试ｈＣＧ阳性尿样的结果，并讨论了测得值与其它试剂盒测定结果的差异及原因。     

阳江高本底地区居民健康流行病学调查数据库与统计分析方法

目的 研究应用计算机数据库技术及先进统计分析方法,对阳江高本底地区10多万人20余年的健康随访研究资料和剂量学调查资料进行储存、管理和分析。方法 通过调研和比较分析,确定采用Foxbase系列数据库管理系统按专题建立数据库,借助于ID号实现记录连接；一般统计分析由SAS完成；交叉分组人年列表由Epicure中的Datab完成；癌症相对危险分析用AMFIT程序。结果 建立了40MB的各专题研究库,主要包括：10余万人的人口学数据库(1979～1995)、1.2万人的死因数据库(1979～1995)和526个村庄6783户、5273人的剂量数据库。提出了动态群组研究资料(1979～1986)与固定群组研究资料(1987～1995)的合并方法：首选方法是建立假想的基于记录连接的以1979年为起点的(固定)群组。另一方法是将不同阶段群组研究的人年表分层直接相加。计算了每个成员基于卧室内、起居室内、室外村平均剂量率与性别-年龄别居留因子的累积剂量。完成了以性别、atainedage、随访年代及剂量交叉分组的人年列表,对癌症死亡资料(1979～1990)进行了危险分析。结论 应用计算机数据库管理系统与统计分析技术使阳江高本底地区研     

Comparative study of TRUE Test and Finn Chamber patch test techniques in Singapore

This is a report on a comparative study of the reactivity of TRUE Test and Finn Chamber patch test techniques. 413 patients attending a contact dermatitis clinic in Singapore were simultaneously patch tested with panels 1 and 2 of the TRUE Test standard series and with corresponding allergens (Hermal, Hamburg) using Finn Chambers. The left/right application of the TRUE Test and Finn Chambers was randomized. The concordance of positive patch test reactions to the 2 test techniques was studied. The number of patient with positive reactions was 38% and 42% for TRUE Test and Finn Chamber techniques, respectively (n.s.). The overall concordance of positive patch test reactions was 64% (209/328). 13% (42/328) of positive reactions appeared on TRUE Test only and 24% (77/328) on Finn Chamber only. When only relevant positive reactions were considered, the concordance rate was 67%; 11.6% of positive reactions appeared on TRUE Test only and 21% on Finn Chamber only. Positive reactions to p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and neomycin were more frequent with the Finn Chamber technique than with TRUE Test, i.e., false negative reactions to PPD and neomycin were more likely to occur with TRUE Test. It appeared that the TRUE Test and Finn Chamber techniques were comparable when used for patch testing. However false negative and false positive patch test reactions can occur when using either technique.     

Integration of new regulatory strategies into the network of an endocrine control system: limitation of androgen secretion by rat testis is achieved by substrate-dependent modulation of P450XVII enzyme concentration and catalytic efficiency.

In addition to the well-known control circuits involved in the regulation and adaptation of testicular androgen biosynthesis, it is proposed that two new control strategies are involved in the maintenance of steady-state testosterone secretion rates by testicular Leydig cells. Cytochrome P450XVII (steroid-17 alpha-monooxygenase/steroid-17,20-lyase), one key enzyme in steroid hormone biosynthesis, responds to external human choriogonadotropin stimulation with an oxygen-dependent and substrate flux-dependent inactivation and decomposition, and increased substrate availability decreases the efficiency of androgen formation in favour of abortive intermediate leakage. These results are discussed as a paradigm of substrate-dependent modulation of cytochrome P450 activities.     

Temporary closure of the abdominal wall (laparostomy)

The definitive closure of the abdominal wall, i.e., a closure of the fascial layer and skin may not be favorable in the treatment of numerous surgical conditions, e.g., peritonitis, trauma, or mesenteric ischemia. In these cases, the abdominal wall is temporarily closed, and a laparostomy is created to facilitate re-exploration or to prevent abdominal compartment syndrome. Regarding the technique and material used for the temporary closure, no prospective randomized data exists, but mesh materials are commonly used. They provide drainage of infectious material, permit visual control of the underlying viscera, facilitate access to the abdominal wall, preserve the fascial margin, enable healing by secondary intention, and allow mobilization of the patient. In the case of decreasing intra-abdominal pressure, meshes can be trimmed to centralize the rectus muscle and to facilitate definitive closure. Non-absorbable meshes have been frequently reported to cause enteric fistulae and persistent infection necessitating mesh explantation. While these infectious complications appear to occur less frequently with the use of absorbable materials, these meshes will finally lead to an incisional hernia, requiring repair with non-absorbable mesh after a period of 6–12 months. Nevertheless, in the complex situation requiring a temporary abdominal wall closure, use of absorbable mesh material is common and represents the state of the art. Electronic Publication     

What is the HACCP (hazard analysis critical control point) approach and how can it be applied to enteral tube feeding?

The HACCP (hazard analysis critical control point) concept is now widely applied in the food industry and provides a structured and critical approach to the identification and control of hazards that may affect food safety. It has shifted the emphasis for control from retrospective end-product testing to the effective control of raw materials and key processing operations.
This paper discusses how the HACCP approach can be applied to enteral feeding. This involves each unit assembling a multidisciplinary team of personnel involved in enteral feeding. This team will then carry out a detailed analysis of the process from selection of ingredients and feeding systems through to consumption of the feed by the patient by constructing a flow chart that relates specifically to each unit. They can then identify and assess the hazards associated with the handling of the product at each stage in the process. This will enable them to identify the points where control over an identified hazard can be achieved (critical control points, CCP) such as quality of ingredients, design of administration systems, preparation and distribution of the feeds and the procedures involved in the assembly and manipulation of the systems. Control and monitoring procedures can then be specified and implemented at relevant stages in the process. The major strengths of the HACCP procedure are that it entails a team effort from key personnel involved in the full range of activities associated with the product and each detailed analysis is specific to each unit's practices and resources and can be continually reviewed and modified in response to changing circumstances.     

Control over uplifts and hassles and its relationship to adaptational outcomes

The relationship of perceived control over daily uplifts and hassles to depression and restraint was examined in a sample of 140 middle-class sixth graders. Results indicated that greater control over uplifts was associated with better functioning and lower control over hassles with poorer functioning, even after partialing out the respective number of uplifts and hassles reported. Moreover, when directly compared, control over uplifts showed more powerful associations with adaptational outcomes than did control over hassles. In a separate analysis, the number of uplifts over which children reported high control showed opposite relationships to adaptational outcomes than did the number of uplifts over which children reported low control. A different pattern appeared for hassles. Although the number of hassles with low control was associated with poorer functioning, the number of hassles over which children had high control was unrelated to adaptational outcomes. The possibility that control operates somewhat differently for positive and negative events is discussed.This research was supported by a grant to the second author from the Stanford Center for the Study of Families, Children and Youth. The authors are grateful to Rachelle Hacket for data analysis, Tom Gehring for data collection, and Susan Nolen-Hoeksema for critical comments.     

Interpretation of functional series expansions

While much research has been devoted to the implementation and application of Volterra and Wiener functional series expansions in the identification and characterization of biological systems, little effort has been focused on the fundamental problem of interpreting the resulting kernels. This paper describes the application of the series to the components of a known model of the human pupil control system. As more complicated elements are put together, insight into kernel interpretation is built up incrementally until the total system is identified. Practical limitations and methods are also discussed.     

温州地区近6年907例精神病司法鉴定案例分析

目的　探讨近 6年精神病司法鉴定案例的特征。方法　对浙江温州鹿城精神病医院1998～ 1999年 (A组 ) 2 0 2例 ,2 0 0 0～ 2 0 0 1年 (B组 ) 36 8例 ,2 0 0 2～ 2 0 0 3年 (C组 ) 337例进行对照研究。结果　近 6年 ,女性和无业构成比上升 (P <0 .0 1)。责任能力评定下降 ,服刑能力、民事行为能力评定上升 (P <0 .0 1)。精神损伤评定构成比上升 (P <0 .0 5 )。诊断为精神分裂症、情感性精神病逐年上升(P <0 .0 1)。无责任能力评定上升 (P <0 .0 1) ,完全责任能力评定下降 (P <0 .0 1)。法院委托鉴定上升 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　近 6年中精神病司法学呈现不同的特点 ,并逐步向规范化、法规化迈进 ,服务范围和对象将会扩大