Scientific quality of clinical research an analysis of 40 research projects in pharmacology/pharmacotherapy

Objective: The scientific quality of research is an important ethical issue. To clarify the quality of research projects in pharmacotherapy/pharmacology, 40 randomly selected research projects in pharmacotherapy/pharmacology submitted to a research ethics committee were reviewed. Results: Eight of the projects would not have contributed new knowledge nor were they necessary as controls for the results of previous research. Fifteen of the research protocols were of good quality, 15 could be used after revisions, and 10 were unfit for use. Eleven of the research projects were not finished 5 years after they were started. A written report was produced from 26 of the projects. Nine were of good quality and could be accepted for publication in a medical journal, 10 of the reports were in need of revision before publication, and 7 should not be accepted for publication. Conclusion: Research in this field ought to be improved, and ways to improve the standard of clinical trials in pharmacotherapy are dicussed. Received: 1 April 1996 / Accepted in revised form: 28 June 1996     

32例青年食管癌临床病理分析

目的：探讨青年食管癌患者的临床病理特点。方法：以病例对照方式对32例青年食管癌临床病理特点进行分析，选用同期50岁以上食管癌病例40例为对照组。结果：青年食管癌患者与老年者相比，病理分化程度低，恶性度高，早期诊断率低，生存期短。结论：青年食管癌症状隐匿，诊断率低，预后差。     

Differences in clinical characteristics between Tourette syndrome patients with and without 'generalized tics' or coprolalia

Abstract  The purpose of this study is to examine whether there are differences in clinical characteristics between Tourette syndrome (TS) patients with and without 'generalized tics' (GT) which involve the entire body, and/or coprolalia. Subjects were 64 patients (55 males and 9 females, mean age, 17.4 ± 7.2 years) who visited Tokyo University's outpatient clinic of neuropsychiatry from 1974 to 1993 and who met criteria for Tourette's disorder of DSM-III-R. Data on clinical characteristics, including tic symptoms and courses of their development, complications and developmental histories, treatment and severity, were collected by systematic chart review of all subjects. Tourette syndrome patients with 'generalized tics' tended to show multiple complex vocal tics more frequently than TS patients without GT. Tourette syndrome patients with coprolalia tended to show significantly higher rates of copropraxia, echolalia, and 'cleaning/washing' compulsion than did the TS patients without coprolalia. Tourette syndrome patients with both GT and coprolalia were classified as the severest group in terms of tic symptoms and social impairment. Tourette syndrome patients who had neither of these morbidities were classified into the mildest group in all aspects. Generalized tics and coprolalia seemed to indicate the severest end of the TS spectrum and seemed to be related with a need of intensive treatment.     

因症就诊检出早期大肠癌的临床及病理学特征

目的探讨在就诊的肛肠病人中如何提高早期大肠癌的检出率。方法在１１家医院推广对肛肠病人的四项检查程序——直肠指检，乙结镜检查，大便隐血试验，和Ｘ线气钡灌肠造影。结果在４８２１例有肛肠症状的病人中，检出大肠癌１８８例，检出率为３．９％，其中１８０例有术后病理诊断。４７／１８０例（２６．１％）属早期癌（ＤｕｋｅｓｓｔａｇｅＡ）。４１／４７例由上述四项检查作出初步诊断。初发症状为：（１）便血（２６例，持续１５．２±９．４周后就诊，肿瘤平均直径２．５８ｃｍ）；（２）大便习惯改变（９例，３３．４±１９．７周，３．３９ｃｍ）；（３）腹痛腹块（１０例，１９．２±１１．２周，５．０ｃｍ）；（４）贫血（２例，１７．２±９．９周，４．７５ｃｍ）。８／１２例的Ａ０和Ａ１期病例属便血组，并多位于直肠。４１／４７例以高、中分化腺癌为主，其中１５例伴有腺瘤癌变。术前曾作活检的２７例中，１２例未检出癌变细胞。结论四项检查对检出早期大肠癌是有效的，便血是提示早期癌最有价值的症状，加强大肠癌防治宣教，采用瘤灶多点或全瘤活检技术，高度重视大肠腺瘤和不典型增生等癌前病变，将有助于提高早期大肠癌的检出率     

Effect of chronic oral domperidone therapy on gastrointestinal symptoms and gastric emptying in patients with parkinson's disease

This study investigated whether domperidone could improve gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease who were receiving levodopa therapy. A total of 11 patients were studied. Following a baseline gastric emptying test, patients were treated with a starting dose of domperidone 20 mg p.o. q.i.d. A follow-up gastric emptying test was repeated at least 4 months after starting domperidone therapy. At the beginning and at each 3-month follow-up visit, symptoms of nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal bloating, heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia, and constipation were evaluated and scored on a scale of 0–3. The overall mean follow-up period was 3 years. Compared with their baseline evaluation, patients experienced a significant improvement in all symptoms (p < 0.05) except dysphagia and constipation. Gastric emptying of an isotope-labeled solid meal was significantly faster, with a baseline result of 60.2 ± 6.4% retention of isotope 2 h after the meal compared with 37.0 ± 2.2% retention during domperidone therapy (p < 0.05). Patients' global assessment of Parkinson's disease remained stable or improved. Serum prolactin was elevated in all patients after domperidone therapy (p < 0.05). Domperidone therapy significantly reduces upper gastrointestinal symptoms and accelerates gastric emptying of a solid meal, but does not interfere with response to antiparkinsonism treatment.     

应把防治医患纠纷作为临床医德教育的重要内容

不断强化医务人员的服务意识是消除医患纠纷的首要条件,认真培养敬业精神是避免医患纠纷的根本途径;提高道德境界是避免医患纠纷的决定因素.     

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinii

Zusammenfassung Die Pneumatosis cystoides intestinii (PCI), das Auftreten submuköser oder subseröser, gasgefüllter Zysten in der Wand des Gastrointestinaltrakts, tritt als seltene Erkrankung ohne eindeutige Geschlechtspräferenz vorwiegend in der 3. bis 5. Lebensdekade auf. Atiopathogenetisch werden unterschiedliche Faktoren diskutiert, am wahrscheinlichsten ist eine bakterielle Ursache (Clostridium perfringens) in Verbindung mit einer minimalen Unterbrechung der Mukosaintegrität. Eine pathognomonische Symptomatik gibt es nicht, das klinische Bild reicht von asymptomatischen Zufallsbefunden bis zur Hämatochezie. Die Diagnose wird durch den Nachweis der Gaseinschlüsse mittels Abdomenübersichtsaufnahme und Kolonkontrasteinlauf gestellt. Als Behandlungsmethoden für symptomatische Patienten stehen Sauerstofftherapie, Antibiotikagabe (Metronidazol) und in schweren Fällen die Resektion des betroffenen Darmabschnitts zur Verfügung.

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Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI), a condition involving submucosal or subserosal gas-containing cysts of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, is a rare entity. It is mostly diagnosed between the third and fifth decades of life without a clear sexual predominance. Different aetiopathogenetic factors are under discussion, the most probable being a bacteriologic cause (Clostridium perfringens) in combination with minimal leaks in mucosal barrier. There are no pathognomonic symptoms; the clinical picture ranges from incidental findings to haematochezia. Diagnosis is based on plain abdominal film and X-ray following barium enema. Methods of treatment in symptomatic cases are oxygen and antibiotic (metronidazole) therapies and, in severe cases, resection of the diseased part of the intestine.

     

Quality of life assessment and HIV infection: A review

In the last few years, survival of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been improved because of a decreased incidence of some opportunistic complications attributable to prophylactic treatments and antiretroviral drugs. The impact of these agents should also be reflected in the quality of life (QoL) of patients. We have reviewed this topic with an emphasis on different types of measurements such as Q-TWIST, MOS and the Spitzer score which seem to be most appropriate for this patient population. We do not think that a special type of assessment should be designed for HIV-infected persons. It would be less time-consuming to improve already existing validated scores focusing on HIV infection. QoL in intravenous drug users with HIV should be evaluated more often.     

Clinical features of childhood-onset schizophrenia with obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the prodromal phase

Abstract Thirty-nine patients with schizophrenia, diagnosed according to DSM-III-R, who were under 15 years of age, were studied in two groups; 16 subjects with obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the prodromal phase, and 23 with no obsessive-compulsive disorders. The group with obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the prodromal phase was characterized by a higher ratio of males, higher incidences of perinatal and brain computed tomography (CT) abnormalities, fewer hereditary factors, longer duration of the prodromal phase, and a higher incidence of insidious onset and negative symptoms compared with the group without such prodromal symptoms. Schizophrenic patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the prodromal phase were clinically distinct from those without, which suggests the possibility of subtype categorization.     

环丙沙星与氧氟沙星注射液治疗细菌性感染的疗效观察

以乳酸环丙沙星（ＣＰＬＸ）注射液和氧氟沙星（ＯＦＬＸ）注射液随机分组治疗各种细菌性感染４０例及４２例，并以注射用头孢噻肟钠（ＣＴＸ）治疗４９例作对照。三组平均年龄、体重、疗程及病情程度相比无显著性差异，具可比性。病种分布以消化道感染最多，共８１例，占总数的６１．８％。三组１３１例病人细菌阳性率为９４．７％。一疗程ＣＰＬＸ组、ＯＦＬＸ组、ＣＴＸ组治愈率分别为８７．２％、８３．３％、７１．４％，有效率