How conflicted authors undermine the World Health Organization (WHO) campaign to stop all use of asbestos: spotlight on studies showing that chrysotile is carcinogenic and facilitates other non-cancer asbestos-related diseases

The silicate mineral asbestos is categorized into two main groups based on fiber structure: serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) and amphibole asbestos (crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite). Chrysotile is used in more than 2 000 applications and is especially prevalent in the construction industry. Although its use is banned or restricted in more than 52 countries, an estimated 107 000 workers die from asbestos exposure each year, and approximately 125 million workers continue to be exposed. Furthermore, ambient exposures persist to which the public is exposed, globally. Today, the primary controversies regarding the use of asbestos are the potencies of different types of asbestos, as opposed whether or not asbestos causes morbidity and mortality. The asbestos industry has promoted and funded research based on selected literature, ignoring both clinical and scientific knowledge. In this piece, we highlight a prominent example of a conflicted publication that sought to undermine the World Health Organization (WHO) campaign to stop the use of all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile asbestos. Independent and rigorous scientific data provide sufficient evidence that chrysotile asbestos, like other forms of asbestos, is a cause of asbestos-related morbidity and premature mortality     

Recent US Case of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease—Global Implications

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is a rare, fatal prion disease resulting from transmission to humans of the infectious agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. We describe the clinical presentation of a recent case of vCJD in the United States and provide an update on diagnostic testing. The location of this patient’s exposure is less clear than those in the 3 previously reported US cases, but strong evidence indicates that exposure to contaminated beef occurred outside the United States more than a decade before illness onset. This case exemplifies the persistent risk for vCJD acquired in unsuspected geographic locations and highlights the need for continued global surveillance and awareness to prevent further dissemination of vCJD.     

Surveillance of injecting‐related injury and diseases in people who inject drugs attending a targeted primary health care facility in Sydney's Kings Cross

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of injecting‐related injuries and diseases (IRIDs) and associated risk factors among people who inject drugs (PWID) attending a primary health care facility in Sydney's Kings Cross. Methods: We calculated prevalence of a wide range of IRIDs utilising data reported by 702 PWID who completed a clinician‐administered survey at their first visit. Multivariable logistic regressions identified factors independently associated with at least one episode of: i) cutaneous and ii) non‐cutaneous IRIDs. Results: Lifetime prevalence of cutaneous IRIDs was 23%. Forty‐two per cent of PWID with a history of abscess attended hospital at their most recent episode. Female gender, lifetime receptive syringe sharing (RSS), injecting while in custody, and ever injecting in places other than the arm were independently associated with reporting at least one episode of cutaneous IRIDs. Ever injecting in sites other than the arm, injecting for five or more years and lifetime history of RSS were independently associated with at least one episode of non‐cutaneous IRIDs. Conclusions: IRIDs are a substantial health issue for PWID. Their ongoing surveillance is warranted particularly in primary care settings targeting PWID to inform prevention and early management, thus reducing complications that may require hospital admission.     

新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征发病相关因素分析

目的探讨与新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征(neonatal respiratory distress syndrome,NRDS)发生相关的因素,从而为降低NRDS发病率提供临床资料。方法2011年1月-2014年3月期间选择在本院新生儿科出生并被诊断为NRDS的70例患儿作为病例组,按1∶1.2的比例收集同期出生的84例非NRDS新生儿作为对照组。回顾性收集病例组与对照组新生儿的相关临床资料,并进行单因素和Logistic回归分析。结果 1)单因素分析结果:病例组孕妇年龄和男性、宫内感染、选择性剖宫产、羊水吸入、宫内窘迫与产时窒息的比例均高于对照组(P0.05);患儿胎龄和产前使用激素的比例低于对照组的值(P0.05);2)Logistic回归分析结果:产时窒息(OR=11.3,P=0.025)、出生体重2 500g(OR=10.2,P=0.004)、选择性剖宫产(OR=6.2,P=0.002)、性别(OR=3.7,P=0.04)和孕妇年龄(岁)(OR=1.7,P0.001)是NRDS的独立危险因素;而胎龄(周)(OR=0.6,P=0.002)和产前使用激素(OR=0.1,P0.001)则是NRDS的独立保护因素。结论孕妇年龄、低出生体重、男性、选择性剖宫产和产时窒息能增加NRDS发生的风险;而长胎龄和产前使用激素能降低NRDS的发生风险。     

What do people appreciate in physicians' communication? An international study with focus groups using videotaped medical consultations

Background

The literature shows that the quality of communication is usually determined from a professional perspective. Patients or lay people are seldom involved in the development of quality indicators or communication.

Objective

To give voice to the lay people perspective on what constitutes ‘good communication’ by evoking their reactions to variations in physician communication.

Design

Lay people from four different countries watched the same videotaped standardized medical encounters and discussed their preferences in gender‐specific focus groups who were balanced in age groups.

Setting and participants

Two hundred and fifty‐nine lay people (64 NL, 72 IT, 75 UK and 48 BE) distributed over 35 focus groups of 6–8 persons each.

Main variables studied

Comments on doctors'' behaviours were classified by the GULiVer framework in terms of contents and preferences.

Results

Participants prevalently discussed ‘task‐oriented expressions’ (39%: competency, self‐confident, providing solutions), ‘affective oriented/emotional expressions'' (25%: empathy, listening, reassuring) and ‘process‐oriented expressions'' (23%: flexibility, summarizing, verifying). ‘Showing an affective attitude’ was most appreciated (positive percentage within category: 93%, particularly facilitations and inviting attitude), followed by ‘providing solution’ (85%). Among disfavoured behaviour, repetitions (88%), ‘writing and reading’ (54%) and asking permission (42%) were found.

Conclusions

Although an affective attitude is appreciated by nearly everybody, people may vary widely in their communication needs and preferences: what is ‘good communication’ for one person may be disliked or even a source of irritation for another. A physician should be flexible and capable of adapting the consultation to the different needs of different patients. This challenges the idea of general communication guidelines.     

彩色多普勒超声在乳腺癌诊断中的应用

目的:探讨彩色多普勒超声在乳腺癌疾病诊断中的诊断价值.方法:65例术后病理检查证实的乳腺癌患者,回顾性分析彩色多普勒超声的血流显像资料和诊断情况.结果:彩色多普勒超声显示,乳腺患者肿块形态多样、边界不清、肿块呈不均质低回声等.65例患者中有63例(96.9%)确诊为乳腺癌患者,与术后证实诊断准确率(100%)比较,差异无显著性(P>0.05).结论:在乳腺癌患者诊断中,彩色多普勒超声准确率高、操作简便、价格便宜,值得在临床推广应用.     

重症监护病房血管导管相关血流感染发病率及预防措施多中心调查

目的了解某市三级医院重症监护病房(ICU)中心静脉导管相关血流感染(CRBSI)预防与控制质量安全管理现状,探讨其对策。方法用自行设计的问卷,调查CRBSI防控及质量管理现状。结果8所医院ICU CRBSI发病率为4.81‰,例次发病率为5.02‰。6所(75.00%)医院具有预防CRBSI标准操作规程,2所(25.00%)医院有中心静脉导管(CVC)维护专用记录单,仅2所(25.00%)医院实施了最大无菌屏障和置管组合措施,无医院使用抗感染敷料和氯己定洗浴。结论该市三级医院ICU预防与控制CRBSI标准操作规程及落实控制措施方面存在很多问题,有待加强和改进。     

聚焦于改善医患关系的继续医学教育探讨——巴林特小组介绍及启示

巴林特小组是培训医生从精神动力学的视角关注和思考医患关系的一种训练方法。小组在组长的带领下,聚焦于案例报告者面临的医患关系困扰展开病例讨论,所有组员为案例报告者提供安全的、支持性的氛围,并阐述自己对于事件本身的深刻理解,提出建设性的问题和评论。案例报告者通过组员提供的不同视角和观点,发现自己的盲点,从中获益。除讨论形式外,组长也可以根据小组现场呈现出的医患关系和心理学动力做出"雕塑",即案例报告者和组员共同用身体语言、个体之间的位置关系代表现实中的医患关系,将隐形的人际关系可视化,一般会带来更直接的问题解决和更震撼的内心体验。巴林特小组有助于医护人员解决自己的心理问题、提高医患沟通技巧、在医护人员之间建立起有效的互动和支持,尤其在改善医患关系方面具有突出成效。因此,可以作为继续医学教育的新形式、新内容在我国医疗卫生领域推广应用。