In vitro contracture test for diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia following the protocol of the European MH Group: Results of testing patients surviving fulminant MH and unrelated low-risk subjects

Background: Determination of sensitivity and specificity of the in vitro contracture test (IVCT) for malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility using the European MH Group (EMHG) protocol has been performed in some laboratories but only on a small sample from the combined EMHG. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to determine combined EMHG sensitivity and specificity of the test. Methods: Results of IVCT of patients with previous fulminant MH and normal, low-risk subjects (controls) were collected from 22 centresof the EMHG. IVCT was performed according to the EMHG protocol. Patients were included inthe study if the clinical crisis had a score of at least 50 points with the Clinical Grading Scale. Low-risk subjects were included provided they did not belong to a family with known MH susceptibility, they had not developed any signs of MH at previous anaesthetics, and they did not suffer from any neuromuscular disease. For inclusion of both MH patientsand low-risk subjects, at least 1 muscle bundle in the IVCT should have twitches of 10 mN(1 g) or more. For evaluation of individual tests, only muscle bundles with twitch heights of 10 mN (1 g) or more were used. Results: A total of 1502 probands had undergone IVCT because of a previous anaesthesia with symptoms and signs suggestive of MH. Of these, 119 had clinical scores of 50 and above. From these 119 MH-suspected patients and from 202 low-risk subjects, IVCT data were collected. Subsequently, 14 MH-suspected patients were excluded from further analysis for thefollowing reasons: In 3 patients, the suspected MH episode could be fully explained by diseases other than MH; in 11 MHS patients, IVCT was incomplete (n=l), data were lost (n=3), or none of the muscle bundles fulfilled twitch criteria (n=7). Of the remaining 105 MH-suspected patients, 89 were MHS, 10 MHEh, 5 MHEc, and one MHN. Thus, we observed a diagnostic sensitivity of the IVCT of 99.0% if the MHE group is considered susceptible(95% confidence interval 94.8–100.0%). Of the 202 low-risk subjects, 3 were MHS, 5 MHEh, 5 MHEc, and 189 MHN. This gives a specificity of the IVCT of 93.6% (95% confidence interval 89.2–96.5%). Conclusion: The IVCT for diagnosis of MH susceptibility in Europe has a high sensitivity and a satisfactory specificity.     

Treatment of dual diagnosis patients: A relapse prevention group approach

The authors describe the successful use of an adjunctive group psychotherapy for substance-abusing patients with major psychiatric disorders (bipolar, schizophrenia, schizoaffective, psychotic depression, and atypical psychosis). The group utilizes a psychoeducational approach that focuses on substance abuse causes and consequences, principles of recovery, and relapse prevention strategies. Eight patients with prolonged histories of abuse of cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs were enrolled in this weekly group treatment at a community mental health center drug treatment program, while continuing in treatment with their current case manager or primary therapist. Six of the eight patients achieved periods of stable abstinence, documented by self-report, urine toxicology screens, continued group attendance, and improved social functioning. Case examples are utilized to illustrate the group process.     

Comparison of stress-only vs. stress/rest with technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile myocardial perfusion imaging

Unlike conventional thallium-201 myocardial imaging, technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) requires separate stress and rest injections. We prospectively studied 148 consecutive patients referred for myocardial perfusion studies to determine the diagnostic value of rest images once normal exercise or dipyridamole tomographic images had been obtained. In patients referred with no history of previous myocardial infarction in whom the diagnosis of coronary artery disease was suspected, 45 of 109 (41%) patients had normal stress tomographic images. Obtaining rest images did not alter the final interpretation in any of these cases. From this we infer that in patients with normal images after exercise or dipyridamole administration and no past history of myocardial infarction, ^99mTc-MIBI rest images are not required. This provides several advantages including increased speed of diagnosis, decreased patient radiation exposure, improved cost efficiency and decreased demand on tomographic camera time. Offprint requests to: A.Y. Fung     

An analysis of paediatric diagnostic decision-making: how should students be taught?

This study assesses the relative importance of history, examination and investigations in paediatric diagnosis, in the Paediatric Out-patient Department of the Central Middlesex Hospital, London, by means of a questionnaire-based record of 94 consecutive referrals. A diagnosis identical to the final diagnosis was made in 76% of referrals after taking a history. The general practitioner had proposed a diagnosis in 45% in the referral letter. Clinical examination changed the diagnosis in only 15% but increased diagnostic confidence in 33%. Ninety-one per cent of cases were diagnosed without recourse to investigations. Forty-two per cent of children referred had investigations performed. In the majority of paediatric cases the provisional diagnosis reached after taking a history was identical to that after examination or results of investigations were known. Although examination provided a final diagnosis in only 15% of all cases it played an important role in adding confidence in 33%. More educational effort should therefore be directed at clinical history-taking skills and the subsequent purpose of examination.     

子宫内膜活检在不孕症诊治中的评价(附1278例临床与病理分析)

本文报道了子宫内膜活检在诊治不孕症中的作用,并分析了1278例原发性不孕症患者子宫内膜活检后的临床诊断与病理学阳性的关系。其中无排卵性内膜85例占6.2％,黄体功能欠缺50例占3.9％,子宫内膜增生症21例占1.6％,子宫内膜炎8例占0.6％和内膜结核24例占1.8％。文中还对不孕的原因作了进一步的分析与讨论,提出了不孕症的诊治意见。     

母血中胎儿有核红细胞的荧光原位杂交法在产前诊断中的可行性探讨

探讨荧光原位杂交法（FISH）对母血中胎儿有核红细胞（NRBC）进行无创性产前诊断的可行性。20例孕龄15-20周的孕妇外周血经不连续密度梯度离心、制片、显微镜下识别并共计数NRBC及定位，然后行Y染色体的FISH检测。结果发现10例孕男性胎儿的孕妇外周血细胞涂片中每例均有阳性杂交信号出现；阳性率为60％（24/40）。10例孕女性胎儿的孕妇外周血细胞涂片中1例出现阳性杂交信号；阴性率为95％（38/40），假阳性率仅为5％（2/40）。结果提示FISH法对于用母血中分离到的胎儿细胞进行染色体异常的无创性产前遗传学检查具有重要意义。     

新生儿胃穿孔18例诊治报告

目的 :探讨新生儿胃穿孔的诊断、治疗效果及预后因素。方法 :对 1 8例新生儿胃穿孔病例诊断、治疗及预后因素进行分析。结果 :1 8例患儿均有拒奶、腹胀、呕吐、呼吸困难等症状。腹部立位 X线片示膈下有大量游离气体。其中单纯穿孔 6例 ,多发穿孔 4例 ,胃壁缺损 7例 ,全胃壁缺如 1例。单纯及多发胃穿孔行胃修补术 ,3例同时行胃造痿术。胃壁肌层缺损行病变组织切除、胃壁修补及胃造痿术。 1例全胃壁肌层缺如仅行腹腔引流术。本组存活 8例 ;死亡 1 0例 ,病死率 5 5 .5 6%。死亡原因为多脏器功能衰竭、DIC。结论 :新生儿胃穿孔预后差 ,且受发病时间、就诊时间、病变严重程度等综合因素影响     

原发性十二指肠肿瘤43例诊治分析

目的　探讨原发性十二指肠肿瘤 (PTD)的诊断和治疗。方法　回顾性分析我院 1995 2 0 0 3年间 4 3例PTD的临床资料。结果　十二指肠镜确诊率为 85 .7% ,B超检查的阳性率为 5 5 .6 % ,CT检查阳性率为 80 % ,肿瘤位于十二指肠降段 (乳头部或其对侧 ) 35例 ,占 81.4 % ,2例平滑肌瘤切除术后存活 5年以上 ,1例乳头部腺瘤行肿瘤局部切除术后半年出现黄疸 ,病因不详。 4例间质瘤均健在且生存 16 2 1个月 ,36例原发性十二指肠恶性肿瘤中胰头十二指肠切除 18例 ,节段切除 1例 ,手术切除率为 5 1.2 %。结论　B超、CT、纤维十二指肠镜检查是诊断PTD的主要手段。手术切除是最基本有效的治疗方法。对于良性肿瘤可行局部肿瘤切除、十二指肠节段切除或经内镜切除。对于恶性肿瘤 ,胰十二指肠切除术是首选术式。     

Multiple primary malignancies in Japanese patients with renal cell carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate the incidence, nature and prognosis of multiple primary malignancies involving renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in Japan. METHODS: Between 1975 and 1998, 319 patients underwent an operation for RCC at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. The incidence of other primary malignancies was determined and classified as antecedent, synchronous or subsequent. Follow-up was obtained by thorough chart review or telephone interview, and ranged from 0 to 276 months (median 49.0 months). To analyze the influence of other primary malignancies on prognosis, overall and cause-specific survival rates of the patients with an antecedent or synchronous malignancy were compared to the remaining patients. RESULTS: Of the 319 patients there was at least one other malignancy in 38 patients (12%). Four patients had two other malignancies. The other malignancies were antecedent in 13, synchronous in 19 and subsequent in 10 patients. Twenty-two patients had gastrointestinal cancer. In cases of antecedent or synchronous diagnosis of other primary malignancies, RCC was commonly incidental, small or low-stage. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model showed that, for overall survival, the presence of other antecedent or synchronous malignancies was the second most significant prognostic factor, following the pathological stage of RCC. CONCLUSIONS: In Japanese patients with RCC, the incidence of other primary malignancies was not uncommon and these malignancies contributed to the prognosis of these patients. Therefore, the malignant potential of individual tumors should be paid careful attention in the management of these patients.     

基于混合遗传算法的心脏病决策支持系统研究

将遗传算法和 BP算法相结合 ,建立了一个基于混合遗传算法的心脏病决策支持系统来鉴别诊断五种常见心脏病 (冠心病 ,高血压性心脏病 ,风湿性心脏病 ,慢性肺原性心脏病和先天性心脏病 )。一个含有 35 2份心脏病的数据库用来构建和测试了该系统。实验结果表明 ,构建的系统对这五种心脏病均有较好的诊断识别率 ,系统的平均识别准确性达 90 .6 % ,各疾病的用户准确性和程序准确性均大于 85 .0 % ,表现出良好的心脏病的临床诊断决策支持能力