Clinical and manometric evaluation of anorectal function following low anterior resection with low anastomotic line using an EEA™ stapler for rectal cancer

Anorectal function was evaluated in eight patients who had low anterior resection of the rectum with a low anastomotic line, using an EEA^™ stapler, with determination of function based on periodic manometric studies and clinical symptoms. Immediately following surgery all patients suffered from frequent bowel actions and soiling. These symptoms improved with time and most patients could enjoy almost normal daily life by the sixth postoperative month. One month after surgery, anal canal resting pressure and maximum squeeze pressure were significantly reduced and rectoanal inhibitory reflex was absent; neither showed a distinct tendency to improve thereafter. Rectal sensation and reservoir capacity, which also were seriously impaired, recovered satisfactorily by the time of the six-month examination. This suggests that an improvement of clinical symptoms following this operation is dependent upon the recovery of reservoir capacity and sensation of the neorectum, and that this operative procedure is a functionally acceptable option for low rectal cancer.     

Evaluation of CHIP (iproplatin) in recurrent pediatric malignant solid tumors

CHIP (325 mg/M²), a second generation cisplatin derivative, was administered intravenously every 3 weeks to 85 pediatric patients with recurrent sarcomas (19), osteosarcomas (20), neuroblastoma (23), germ cell tumors (10), and other malignant tumors (7). Thirty-eight of them had been previously exposed to cisplatin. Partial remissions were only observed in 3 of 23 (13% SE=7%) patients having neuroblastoma. Severe thrombocytopenia (65%) and neutropenia (35%) were the dose limiting factors.     

地方性氟中毒家猪胫骨形态计量学的初步研究

本文应用 Mop-Videoplan 图象分析仪对氟中毒家猪胫骨进行了骨计量学的初步研究。四环素双标记后将家猪胫骨制备成骨磨片,在荧光及普通光学显微镜下测量了一系列骨计量学参数。结果表明,氟中毒导致家猪胫骨髓腔面皮质新骨体积明显增加,但其增加程度不与血氟呈正相关。新骨体积增加可能是造成临床 X 线氟骨症表现骨髓腔狭窄的原因。骨动力学研完表明,氟中毒造成四环素双标记明显减少,这可能与氟抑制骨组织的转换过程有关。     

Haemoglobin at time of referral prior to dialysis predicts survival: an association of haemoglobin with long-term outcomes

Haemoglobin (Hgb) levels are known to be associated with numerousadverse outcomes in both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and non-CKDpatients. This analysis evaluates the association of baseline haemoglobinlevels on survival in CKD patients, who are followed by nephrologists,irrespective of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), prior to initiationof renal replacement therapy (RRT) and erythropoietin hormonereplacement therapy. Analysis of data from the provincial database (PROMIS, PatientRegistration and Outcome Management Information System) in BritishColumbia, Canada, was undertaken. Records used for the analysisincluded all CKD patients at first registration: GFR <60ml/min/1.73 m², not yet on dialysis, starting from May 1998to October 2002, and who had complete data (defined as age andgender, diabetic status, eGFR and Hgb levels). The primary objective of this study was to determine the associationof Hgb and survival controlling for eGFR at first registrationvalue, age, gender and diabetic status. Multivariate Cox proportionalhazards analysis with time to death as outcome variable wasperformed. The cohort included 3028 patients: the mean age was 65 years,28% were diabetic, and the mean eGFR in the cohort was 21 ml/min/1.73m². The cohort is representative of the BC CKD and dialysispopulation regarding ethnicity: 64% Caucasian, 32% Asian. Medianfollow-up was 27 months, 1 year survival was 0.92, 2 year survivalwas 0.85. Hgb at initial registration is a statistically independentpredictor of survival (RR = 0.875 for every 10 g/l, 95% CI:0.835–0.917, P = 0.0001), after adjusting for age, gender,diabetic status and baseline eGFR. Further analysis, controllingfor RRT, demonstrated a similar association between Hgb andsurvival (RR = 0.853 for every 10 g/l, 95% CI: 0.799–0.910,P = 0.0001), after adjusting for above variables. Substantialvariation in Hgb values exists at all GFR levels. These findings underscore the importance of evaluating Hgb atall GFR levels, and the need to study the impact of modificationof Hgb at different GFR levels on survival.     

Factors associated with recovery and recurrence of depression in older people: A prospective study

The Liverpool Continuing Health in the Community Study has followed up 1070 elderly community subjects over 6 years. In the first year 123 subjects had case-level depression. Three years later 49 (39.8%) of the previously depressed were recovered, 33 (26.8%) were depressed, 16 (13%) were not available for interview and 25 (20.3%) were dead. This study looks at factors associated with the 3-year outcome of patients who were depressed at year 0. Two outcome groups that were compared were a recovered depression group and a recurrent/persistent depression group. The factors that were significantly associated with a recurrence of depression (or persistent depression) at year 3 were bereavement of a close figure in the 6 months before interview, loneliness and life dissatisfaction at year 3. A variety of traditional risk factors for depression (including age, marital status, physical ill-health and incapacity) failed to attain significance in predicting recurrent or persistent depression. When combined, both recovered and recurrently depressed groups at year 3 had significantly higher levels of pain and a higher number of serious upsets in the past 6 months and 6 weeks compared to a compared to a control group. The depressed at year 0 were more likely to have entered more dependent forms of accommodation by year 3.     

A case-control study of major congenital heart defects in Sweden — 1981–1986

This paper reports the results of a case-control study of major congenital heart defects (CHD) in Sweden. During the period 1981–1986, 1,324 such cases were identified and 2,648 controls were selected. Some common maternal characteristics and exposures were studied using information from prospectively collected data. Possible associations with CHD were found for previous perinatal death, maternal diabetes, epilepsy, hydramnios and disproportion between fetus and pelvis. More specific associations were observed between previous spontaneous abortion, epilepsy, hydramnios and truncus anomalies and between diabetes and septal anomalies. However, no associations were found with involuntary childlessness, contraceptive use, or smoking.Abbreviations ASD atrial septal defect - CHD congenital heart defect - CI confidence interval - CoA coarctation of the aorta - DORY double outlet right ventricle - ECD endocardial cushion defect - HLHS hypoplastic left heart syndrome - IUD intrauterine device - LMP last menstrual period - OC oral contraceptive - OR odds ratio - PDA patent ductus arteriosus - TGV transposition of the great vessels - VSD ventricular septal defect     

Social participation and life-style: A longitudinal and cohort study

This study focuses on changes occurring in one area of life-style, social participation during retirement. The population consisted of four cohorts, born in 1905–06, 1909–10, 1917–18, and 1921–22. In the longitudinal study the members of the oldest cohort were interviewed five times at the ages of 66, 70, 74, 78 and 82 years. In the cohort study the subjects were interviewed at the age of 66. Interests decreased after the age of 78 among men and women. Also, formal social participation declined with age among men and women. There were no cohort differences among men, but among women formal social participation was higher in the younger cohorts than in the older ones. In the longitudinal study education correlated positively with the interests index at almost all ages among both men and women. In the cohort study correlations between interests index and education were lower in the younger cohorts than in the older ones.Paper originally presented at the XIVth International Congress of Gerontology, Acapulo, Mexico 18–23 June 1989.     

^60Co消毒与高温高压消毒胚胎骨的实验研究

在12只健康家兔下颌骨体部的两侧各造成0.7cm×0.5cm×0.3cm的骨缺损区，分别置入^60Co消毒的胚胎骨和高温高压消毒的胚胎骨，发现高温高压消毒可以替代^60Co消毒胚胎骨进行移植，为临床提供了一种新的用作同种异体移植胚胎骨的消毒方法。     

Perception and social consequences of tuberculosis: A focus group study of tuberculosis patients in Sialkot, Pakistan

Treatment defaulting is one of the major causes of the failure of TB control programs. In Bethania Hospital. Sialkot, defaulting rates are high: 72% for the standard 12 months course and 56% for the 8 months course. Attrition is especially important in the first weeks of treatment: < 70% of the patients start the 10th week of treatment. A focus group discussion study has been carried out to gain a better understanding of the impact of social stigmatization, treatment cost and pregnancy on defaulting. The study population consisted of 3 male and 3 female groups each with 8 hospitalized TB patients. The study shows that TB is perceived as a very dangerous, infectious and incurable disease. This perception has many social consequences: stigmatization and social isolation of TB patients and their families; diminished marriage prospects for young TB patients, and even for their family members; TB in one of the partners may lead to divorce. Due to fear patients often deny the diagnosis and reject the treatment. While both male and female TB patients face many social and economical problems, female patients are more affected. Divorce and broken engagements seem to occur more often in female patients. Females are usually economically dependent on their husbands and family in law, and need their cooperation to avail of treatment. The belief that pregnancy enhances the risk for relapse decreases their marriage prospects. Pregnancy is also a reason for stopping TB treatment as both are considered as incompatible. The findings of this study reveal the urgent need for a health education campaign to convince the general population that tuberculosis is curable. All health care providers should act as destigmatizers.