Quantitative computer‐assisted digital‐imaging upper airway analysis for obstructive sleep apnoea*

This was a prospective study of a new objective method which quantitatively analyses the upper airways in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Video‐nasopharyngoscopic examinations of the upper airways of 45 patients were carried out with an endoscopic calibrator. Images of the upper airway during quiet respiration and Mueller's manoeuvre in erect and supine positions were digitized by computer to generate the actual dimensions of obstructive sites. Measurements by the new method were validated by comparing 90 pairs of videoendoscopic images with upper airway magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements at two identical levels. Quantitative precision is 100% for the retropalatal level and 95.6% for the retrolingual level with a tolerance of 0.5 cm² between the two methods. The absolute mean of the difference between the two methods of measurement is 0.08 cm² at the retropalatal level and 0.18 cm² at the retrolingual level. The agreement between the digital‐imaging videoendoscopic and MRI measurements was 93.3% for the retropalatal level and 95.6% for the retrolingual level. Quantitative computer‐assisted digital imaging is a reliable, cost‐effective clinical method of upper airway evaluation in OSA patients. This method allows us to examine the dynamic and static morphology objectively, measure surgical outcomes of upper airway, opening up new avenues for OSA management.     

Use of brief psychiatric screening measures in a primary care sample

Patients seen in primary medical clinics report higher rates of major depression [Pérez-Stable et al., 1990: Arch Intern Med 15:1083-1088], and panic disorder [Sherbourne et al., 1996b: Von Korff et al., 1987: Arch Gen Psychiatry 44:152-156] than the general population. Primary care staff therefore need efficient methods of identifying patients with psychiatric disorders. The current study evaluates the use of several brief psychiatric screening measures for identifying patients with major depression and/or anxiety disorders. Participants were 213 primary care patients who received the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and two new instruments, the Autonomic Nervous System Questionnaire (ANS) for assessing panic disorder and the Social Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ) for assessing social phobia. Participants received both the screening instruments and a structured diagnostic interview. Results suggest that the CES-D is a useful measure for detecting psychopathology, but it is not particularly specific to depression, the ANS was a highly sensitive and reasonably specific measure for panic disorder, and the SPQ was reasonably sensitive and specific for social phobia. The BAI was a relatively poor screening measure that added no significant information beyond the other measures.     

中美高等教育评估比较研究

通过中美高等教育评估制度的比较,分析其不同的内涵、目的、历史、机构及类型,从而对我国的高等教育评估制度提出合理化建议,促进一个完善的、科学而公正的、适合中国国情的评估制度的建立。     

Prognostic factors in maxillary sinus and nasal cavity carcinoma

AIMS: The aim of the present study is to define prognostic factors, particularly the impact of treatment on paranasal sinus and nasal cavity malignancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with maxillary antrum and nasal fossae malignancies. A maxillectomy classification as performed to treat malignancies in our institution is described. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors was done using the Cox's model. RESULTS: One hundred and nine patients were evaluated. Squamous cell carcinoma was found in 62 cases and in 95 patients the epicentre of the tumour was located in the maxillary antrum. Ten patients were treated with surgery only, 39 patients with surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy, 37 cases received only radiotherapy, and 18 received radiotherapy followed by surgery; in five cases a combination of chemo-radiotherapy was used. Multivariate analysis identified T classification, orbit invasion, N classification, site of origin of tumour in nasal fossae, and no surgical resection as independent prognostic factors (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: T4 tumours with orbit invasion present bad prognosis as compared to other T4 tumours. Surgical resection should be included in the treatment strategy. Because of the high frequency of lymph-node metastasis, neck treatment should be considered in T4 tumours.     

肝硬化并发重度食管静脉曲张的临床预测与评估

目的 回顾性研究肝硬化重度食管静脉曲张的临床预测方法与评估。方法 收集2002年1月～2004年12月收住我院的肝硬化31例，重度食管静脉曲张者20例（64．5％），无静脉曲张者11例（35．5％），入院时行胃镜直视和腹部超声检查，并除外已行内镜下曲张静脉硬化剂或皮圈结扎治疗者。记录外周血小板计数、B超下脾脏长径及门静脉宽度、胆红素、白蛋白和凝血酶原时间等各项检查结果，并按Child-Pugh分级法对患者进行评分，相关数据进行统计分析。结果 外周血血小板数值和脾脏长径与食管重度静脉曲张之间有显著相关性（P分别为0．042和0．024），血清总胆红素值、白蛋白、凝血酶原时问、Child-Pugh值及超声下门脉宽度与食管静脉曲张程度之间则无显著相关性（P值分别为0．141、0．952、0．095、0．088和0．124）；与无静脉曲张患者相比较，血小板计数〈60000个／mm^3判断食管重度静脉曲张的敏感性和特异性分别为60％和为80％，脾脏长径〉150mm判断重度静脉曲张的敏感性和特异性分别为65％和92．9％。结论 血小板计数和脾脏长径作为非侵入性方法可用于预测肝硬化患者有无重度食管静脉曲张。     

Mycotoxin Exposure in Children through Breakfast Cereal Consumption in Chile

Mycotoxins are unavoidable contaminants produced by fungi in food, especially grains. This study aimed to measure the occurrence and levels of total aflatoxins (AFs); ochratoxin A (OTA); zearalenone (ZEN); fumonisins B1, B2, and B3 (FUM); deoxynivalenol (DON); and T-2/HT-2 toxins in the four most commonly consumed breakfast cereals in Chile and to assess mycotoxin exposure and risk in children aged 2 to 13 years due to cereal consumption. In this study, a total of 110 batches with three subsamples of the four brands were sampled in supermarkets from November 2019 to June 2021. Samples were analyzed by Veratox^® ELISA (Neogen). Exposure was assessed by estimated daily intake (EDI) considering the levels found in a modified lower bound (mLB) and upper bound (UB). Risk was estimated by margin of exposure (MOE) in the case of OTA and AFs and hazard quotient (HQ) for the rest of the mycotoxins. No T2/HT2 toxins were detected. Few samples had quantifiable levels of ZEN, FUM, and DON except for brand 1, with a mean (standard deviation, SD) of 54 (20), 1552 (351), and 706 (218) ng/g, respectively. In addition, three FUM samples and one DON sample had values over the Chilean regulation. Brands 2, 3, and 4 had quantifiable levels of AFs, with mean (SD) values of 1.3 (0.1), 2.1 (0.6), and 1.9 (0.4) ng/g, respectively. Brand 3 had quantifiable levels of OTA, with a mean (SD) of 2.3 (0.4) ng/g. Estimated exposure indicated a risk of AFs in all scenarios, and of FUM for brand 1 consumption, OTA and DON for brand 3 consumption, and OTA for brand 4 consumption in the mLB worst-case scenario. In general, mycotoxin levels were below the Chilean regulatory limits, but most of them were above the EU regulation for processed cereal-based food in young children. Because the risk was higher in the 2- to 5-year-old children, we recommend special regulations for this group in Chile.     

干扰素调节因子 5、粒细胞 -巨噬细胞集落刺激因子在细菌性肺炎病儿血清中的表达及预后价值

目的探讨干扰素调节因子 5(interferon regulatory factor 5,IRF5)、粒细胞 -巨噬细胞集落刺激因子( granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor,GM-CSF)在细菌性肺炎病儿血清中的表达变化及疾病预后价值。方法选取 2019年 4月至 2021年 5月中国人民解放军联勤保障部队第九二八医院收治的细菌感染性肺炎病儿 96例作为细菌组,同期非细菌感染性肺炎病儿 88例作为非细菌组,另外选取健康体检儿童 96例为对照组,收集检测三组病儿基本临床资料。检测血清中 IRF5、GM-CSF及其组间差异;采用 Pearson法分析细菌性肺炎病儿血清 IRF5、GM-CSF水平与病情指标的相关性;应用受试者操作特征曲线(ROC曲线)分析 IRF5、GM-CSF及二者联合预测细菌性肺炎预后的价值。结果细菌组血清 IRF5水平［(38.85±13.86)ng/L］显著高于非细菌组［( 11.15±4.37)ng/L］和对照组［( 10.76±1.55)ng/L］,且重症组高于轻症组( P<0.05);细菌组血清 GM-CSF水平［(54.73±16.56)ng/L］显著低于非细菌组［(246.73±28.94)ng/L］和对照组［(250.64±55.67)ng/L］,且重症组低于轻症组( P<0.05)。重症组气促、吐沫、三凹征、肺部明显湿啰音比例、 C反应蛋白( C-reactive protein,CRP)、白细胞水平显著高于轻症组、非细菌组(P<0.05)轻症组、非细菌组 CRP水平显著高于对照组( P<0.05),非细菌组 CRP水平显著高于对照组( P<0.05)。血清 IRF5水平与 CRP、,白细胞、临床肺部感染评分( clinical pulmonary infection score,CPIS)均呈正相关( r=0.34、0.36、0.41,P<0.05)血清 GM-CSF水平与 CRP、白细胞、 CPIS均呈负相关( r=-0.40、-0.32、-0.45,P<0.05)。预后不良组血清 IRF5水平高于预后良好,组,血清 GM-CSF水平低于预后良好组( P<0.05)。 ROC曲线显示, IRF5、GM-CSF对预后预测的 AUC分别为 0.90、0.87,二者联合对预后预测的 AUC为 0.96,明显高于二者单独诊断,(Z联合 vs.IRF5=2.86,P=0.004;Z联合 vs.GM-CSF =2.24,P=0.025),其灵敏度、特异度分别为 90.32%、90.77%。结论细菌性肺炎病儿血清 IRF5水平升高, GM-CSF水平降低,二者在评估病情进展及疾病预后预测方面具有较高的价值。