Requiring Consent vs. Waiving Consent for Medical Records Research: A Minnesota Law vs. the U.S. (HIPAA) Privacy Rule

The use of medical records in research can yield information that is difficult to obtain by other means. When such records are released to investigators in identifiable form, however, substantial privacy and confidentiality risks may be created. These risks become more common and more serious as medical records move to an electronic format. In 1996, the state of Minnesota enacted legislation with respect to consent requirements for the use of medical records in research. This legislation has been widely criticized because--it is claimed--it creates an unnecessary impediment to research. In this article, we show that these arguments rest upon misinterpretation and/or misrepresentation of the 1996 legislation. A consent requirement had actually been present in Minnesota since 1976 (though codified in a patient rights statute rather than a privacy statute). The 1996 law does not require specific consent, as often claimed, but rather only a general authorization. The campaign against the Minnesota legislation appears to have been motivated by concern with respect to the then impending federal privacy rule. The HIPAA rule, as enacted, is in fact less stringent with respect to consent than the Minnesota consent law. On the other hand, the Minnesota consent law has not been effectively applied or enforced. As we change the way we manage sensitive medical information, new efforts are needed to provide protection against the confidentiality risks in research. Patient consent is an important tool in this regard. New instrumentalities are needed to solicit and document consent.     

低强度超短波对小鼠体质及智力的影响

本实验探讨了低强度超短波对小鼠连续三代辐射,对学习、记忆、拉力、运动耐力和周围血象的影响。用81MHz,10～12V/m 的超短波进行辐射,每天辐射2小时,每周6天。结果表明:经过超短波辐射的各代小鼠与对照组相比,学习能力、记忆能力、拉力及运动耐力有明显的降低,且运动耐力有进行性降低的趋势,而经过辐射的三代小鼠红细胞、血红蛋白含量及白细胞数均明显增高,每个红细胞的血红蛋白含量则低于对照组。     

Total and free tissue factor pathway inhibitor in pregnancy hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the role played by tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in pregnancy hypertension. METHODS: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, hemostatic measurements were obtained for women with pre-eclampsia (n=51), nonproteinuric hypertension of pregnancy (n=62), postpartum pre-eclampsia 24 h after childbirth (n=31), and no hypertension (healthy pregnant controls, n=100). RESULTS: There was a significant increase in circulating free TFPI levels in women with pre-eclampsia (9.7+/-6.2 ng/mL) or nonproteinuric hypertension of pregnancy (8.3+/-5.3 ng/mL) compared with healthy controls (5.3+/-2.1 ng/mL). In women with pre-eclampsia the levels remained elevated after placental delivery (10.6+/-4.0 ng/mL). Free protein S levels were significantly higher in women with pre-eclampsia (40.0%+/-10.7%), nonproteinuric hypertension of pregnancy (37.1%+/-12.5%), or postpartum pre-eclampsia (39.3%+/-9.1%) than in healthy pregnant controls (32.2%+/-8.5%). CONCLUSION: Increased levels of the physiologically active free forms of TFPI and free protein S, 2 coagulation inhibitors, may protect women with pregnancy-induced hypertension from the risks of hemostatic activation.     

NE系列两种常用冲击波源碎石机治疗输尿管结石的疗效分析

目的分析并比较NE系列的两种冲击波源碎石机治疗输尿管结石的疗效、碎石时的疼痛程度、碎石时间及副作用。方法回顾性分析应用NE-IV型液电冲击波源碎石机治疗输尿管结石患者1290例及应用NE-VB型电磁冲击波源碎石机治疗输尿管结石患者1196例的临床资料,并进行疗效、碎石时间、碎石时的疼痛程度及副作用的比较。结果应用电磁冲击波源碎石机治疗输尿管上段结石患者的总有效率为85.4%,治疗时间23~60min,平均(35.3±5.7)min;输尿管下段结石患者的总有效率为94.6%,治疗时间3~60min,平均(30.5±6.1)min。碎石时患者的疼痛感觉轻。液电冲击波源碎石机治疗的输尿管上段结石患者的总有效率为75.7%,治疗时间25~110min,平均(38.0±9.8)min;输尿管下段结石为85.7%,治疗时间4~90min,平均(35.8±7.7)min。碎石时患者的疼痛感觉明显。此外,肾绞痛、血尿、恶心、呕吐、皮肤瘀斑等副作用明显高于电磁冲击波源碎石机治疗组。结论电磁冲击波源碎石机治疗输尿管结石疗效优于液电冲击波源碎石机,而且更安全、有效、痛苦小。     

地塞米松对内毒素作用下人脐静脉内皮细胞表达组织因子、凝血酶调节蛋白和蛋白S的影响

目的观察地塞米松(DEX)对内毒素(LPS)作用于人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)后表达组织因子(TF)、凝血酶调节蛋白(TM)和蛋白S(PS)的影响.方法24孔板培养的第1～5代HUVEC,在含不同浓度LPS和DEX的无血清培养基中培养一定时间后裂解细胞,应用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定裂解液中的TF、TM和PS含量.结果在LPS刺激下,HUVEC表达TF的量呈剂量依赖性升高,在LPS0.1μg/ml下TF的表达量为对照组的4倍(P＜0.01),同时加入0.5 μg/ml和1.0 μg/ml DEX则可使TF的表达量由128.3±25.7 pg/105细胞分别降至94.9±19.4 pg/105细胞和98.8±7.8 pg/105细胞(P＜0.05);LPS(0.01～10μg/ml)可抑制HUVEC表达TM,在LPS 10 μg/ml下,TM表达量降至对照组的60%(P＜0.05).DEX可拮抗LPS抑制HUVEC表达TM的效应,0.1 μg/ml、0.5 μg/ml和1.0 μg/ml DEX可使LPS(10 μg/ml)作用下TM的表达量由0.282±0.014 ng/105细胞分别增至0.409±0.009、0.462±0.017和0.362±0.019 ng/105细胞(P＜0.05);LPS(0～10 μg/ml)可抑制HUVEC表达PS,在LPS浓度1.0 μg/ml及10 μg/ml时,PS的表达量分别为对照组的43%和38%(P＜0.01).DEX则拮抗LPS抑制HUVEC表达PS的效应,0.5 μg/ml DEX可使LPS刺激下PS的表达量由13.1±4.8%/2×105细胞增至48.5±10.2%/2×105细胞(P＜0.01).结论LPS促进HUVEC表达TF,抑制HUVEC表达TM和PS.DEX能部分拮抗上述作用,提示DEX可能纠正内毒素血症时的高凝状态.     

Pseudo-Oversensing of the T Wave by an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: A Nonclinical Problem

Two patients are described who had pseudo-oversensing of T waves during follow-up testing of the Medtronic PCD. Each patient exhibited appropriate T wave sensing following closely coupled spontaneous QRS complexes to subthreshold stimuli without having T wave sensing following sensed or paced complexes. One patient also revealed T wave sensing following fusion beats. The occurrence of T wave sensing in these unique clinical situations was due to the auto-adjusting sensitivity threshold function used by the PCD. Recognition of this normal sensing function will prevent inappropriate reprogramming of the sensitivity or postpace refractory period, interventions that could potentially lead to ventricular tachyarrhythmia undersensing.     

A case report of deficiency in an inhibitor of calcium-dependent association of protein S with C4B-binding protein suggested by a modified crossed immunoelectrophoresis

We have experienced a coagulation factor VIII-deficient patient whose plasma has normal protein S (PS) activity and masses of free PS and its bound form in complex with C4b-binding protein (C4BP). Although the patient's plasma showed a normal ratio of free PS to PS-C4BP complex in the presence of 5 mM EDTA, the plasma gave an abnormally retarding major C4BP peak together with a major PS peak in the crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) in the presence of 2 mM CaCl₂. It was revealed that the major peak was formed by a mixture of PS-C4BP complex and free form. The addition of normal human plasma (NHP) to the patient's plasma inhibited the retardation of the major PS-C4BP complex. These suggest that the patient's plasma lacks some component(s) to inhibit Ca²⁺-dependent association of PS with C4BP.     

体外震波对骨和骨疾病的作用及其机制

体外震波（extracorporeal shock wave，ESW）于20世纪80年代中期开始用于骨科领域，目前，它作为一种非侵入性治疗方法用于治疗多种骨相关疾病。为指导其进一步用于临床治疗并提高疗效，了解它对正常骨组织的影响和对骨疾病的治疗作用及其机制非常重要。现已有不少学者对这些方面进行了相关的基础与临床研究，取得了明显进展。本文就体外震波对骨和骨疾病的作用及其机制综述如下。     

长链核酸扩增技术评价病毒灭活效果的研究

目的:探讨用长链核酸扩增技术评价病毒灭活效果的可行性.方法:针对伪狂犬病毒(pseudorabies virus,PRV)糖蛋白gD基因前后的保守区设计预计产物长短不一的5对引物,用半巢式PCR技术扩增经低pH法(4.0±0.1)、巴氏消毒法[(60±1.0)℃]和s/D法(有机溶剂/洗涤荆)处理后的PRV核酸,同时以细胞感染法做平行对照.结果:低pH对PRV核酸有破坏作用,处理时间越长,核酸损伤程度越明显,处理60 min时,6.62 lgTCID50的PRV完全被灭活.5条不同长度PCR扩增产物中,只有3.9 kb的长片段检出与细胞培养结果一致.7.25 lgTCID50的PRV经(60±1.0)℃处理20 min后即被完全灭活,7.13 lgTCID50的PRV经s/D法处理1 h后被完全灭活,但各长度核酸片段扩增均为阳性,与细胞感染试验结果不符.结论:低pH对PRV核酸的损伤程度随处理时间的延长而增加;用长链PCR(3.9 kb)技术来评价经低pH法灭活病毒的效果是可行的,而该法不适合评价巴氏消毒法和S/D法灭活病毒的效果.