Evaluation of a Swedish version of the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale.

There is a great need today for clinically useful instruments in the rehabilitation of chronic pain patients. The Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale measures patients' perceived self-efficacy to cope with the consequences of chronic arthritis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a Swedish version of the Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale with respect to factor structure and reliability. Twenty-five chronic pain patients and twenty-four rheumatology patients were given a Swedish version of the Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale twice within a three week interval. The three factor structure of the scale was confirmed; Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency ranged between 0.82-0.91 and test-retest correlations ranged between 0.81-0.91, showing that the instrument satisfactorily met psychometric standards.     

顺铂对结直肠癌肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞杀伤活性的影响

为在临床选择有效的免疫化疗方案提供一定的理论依据，作者以结直肠癌肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞（ＴＩＬ）和顺铂（ＣＤＤＰ）为研究对象，对１６名手术治疗的结直肠癌患者，分别观察ＣＤＤＰ体内注射及体外预处理ＴＩＬ和Ｒａｊｉ细胞对ＴＩＬ表面标志和杀伤活性的影响。流式细胞仪检测结果显示，静脉注射ＣＤＤＰ能增加结直肠癌ＴＩＬ中ＣＤ３＋／ＣＤ４＋和ＣＤ３＋／ＣＤ８＋细胞含量，同时增强ＴＩＬ体外杀伤Ｒａｊｉ细胞的活性；而体外以ＣＤＤＰ处理Ｒａｊｉ细胞能增强其对结直肠癌ＴＩＬ杀伤的敏感性。作者认为，对于联合应用ＴＩＬ和ＣＤＤＰ治疗结直肠癌的临床效果有必要进一步研究。     

How do clinicians learn to request permission for autopsies?

A postal survey of 434 clinicians at four local hospitals was undertaken in order to identify the methods by which clinicians learn how to request permission for hospital autopsies and to assess the preferred techniques and timing of relevant communication skills training. The majority of 128 responding clinicians had learnt through personal experience with some assistance from senior colleagues and peers. Few clinicians appeared to have learnt through formal training. The preferred methods for the provision of communication skills training were training in small groups (such as seminars or tutorials) and observation of clinicians at work. The most desirable time for the provision of this training was considered to be between the beginning of the final undergraduate year and the end of the pre-registration house officer year. The communication skills training provided within medical education is in need of improvement. More emphasis should be given to clinical-task- or situation-specific applications such as requesting permission for autopsies.     

骨盆骨折槽型固定器的研制及临床应用——附62例临床分析

为解决骨盆不稳定性骨折固定难，易产生并发症的难题，结合骨盆的特征进行研究，设计出一种新型骨盆骨折固定器，经62例骨盆不稳定性骨折的治疗观察，随访6个月～2年零6个月，治疗前后X线检查及临床疗效评定：治愈50例，好转12例，认为该固定器设计合理，操作简便，固定牢靠，有加压、撑开、纠正旋转等多项功能结合干一体，仅通过四枚4mm螺纹针，穿入髂骨的髂前上棘处，是一种治疗骨盆不稳定性骨折比较新颖和理想的外固定器。     

Worksite health promotion programs in the United States: progress, lessons and challenges

Worksite health promotion programs have become increasinglyprevalent in the United States, and one or more health promotionprograms are found in two-thirds of all private worksites with50 or more employees. Reasons for recent growth in program frequencyinclude increased concern for worker health, rapidly escalatingemployer payments for health care benefits to workers, and growingevidence of a strong linkage between employee health and productivity.Published results of evaluations to date suggest that worksitehealth promotion programs can have positive impacts on healthbehaviors and health status. In addition, economic analysesare suggesting that some programs can affect the slope of healthcare costs and have the potential of high cost-effectivenesscompared to some clinical interventions. A number of researchchallenges remain, particularly understanding the influencesof the worksite environment and how employee health promotionprograms affect individual and organizational productivity.     

Education in family and community health: the challenge faced by a new medical school

This paper describes the efforts of the Department of Family and Community Health at Sultan Qaboos University in providing opportunities for the development of 'hands-on' problem-solving skills appropriate for Oman. The curriculum of the Department is discussed, highlighting the unusual emphasis of this discipline in both the preclinical and clinical curriculum of the College of Medicine. The importance of continuous assessment and supervision of students is discussed. Course-work in the preclinical curriculum of the Department is kept to a minimum. Field-work forms an important part of preclinical training, where application and problem-based learning are emphasized. During the clinical years the students are exposed to an integrated series of lectures and practicals covering core knowledge in clinical medicine. Practical clinical training, over a total period of 15 weeks, takes place at a variety of sites where common problems in primary health care in Oman are handled by students under supervision.     

ROMEO: rethink organization to improve education and outcomes.

AIMS: Scarcity of resources, expertise and evidence-based models have so far limited delivery of patient-centred diabetes education. We have developed and validated a group care approach that is applicable to everyday clinical practice and cost-effective in improving metabolic control, knowledge of diabetes, health behaviours, and quality of life in Type 2 diabetes. A clinical trial (ROMEO) was planned to evaluate applicability and reproducibility of group care in other outpatients facilities and assess its impact on a larger patient population. METHODS: Multicentre, randomized, controlled clinical trial of group vs. individual care in the routine management of Type 2 diabetes. Nine hundred patient aged < 80, with diabetes of > or =1 year known duration, treated by either diet alone or diet and oral agents, will be recruited in 15 centres and followed for 4 years. Training of physicians, nurses and dietitians included preparation of operating manual and videos, interactive sessions, and evaluation of local facilities and resources. RESULTS: Primary measurements: 3-monthly HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, body weight, waist-hip ratio, yearly blood lipids, and bi-yearly assessment of knowledge of diabetes, health behaviours and quality of life. Secondary outcomes: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, evaluation of ECG for ischaemia and QT interval, hypoglycaemic and anti-hypertensive medication and cardiovascular events. Analysis will be by intention-to-treat. DISCUSSION: If ROMEO confirms that group care can be successfully implemented in different clinics, a novel clinico-pedagogic tool will have been acquired to support patient-centred education, improve lifestyle and outcomes, support team work, enhance providers' attitudes and competencies and ameliorate diabetes care organization.     

原发性强直性脊柱炎的早期临床特点

目的 探讨原发性强直性脊柱炎（ＡＳ）的早期临床特点。方法 １２０例ＡＳ的早期临床特点。结果 该组病人的发病出现１６－２０岁和３０－３５岁两上发作年龄高山峰，初发年龄较低；外周关节受累的频率较脊柱高；下肢大和骶骼关节常易受累，其中髋关节，膝关节、踝关节和胸锁关节受累的频率分别为７９％，８５％，５７％和６３％，小关节受累少见，虹膜为和主动脉关闭不全的发生率１２．５％和４．５％，未发现有前更炎和类风湿结     

Clinical response to local delivery of tetracycline in relation to overall and local periodontal conditions

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical response to local delivery of tetracycline in relation to clinical and microbiological conditions of the other teeth. 4 deep pockets were monitored in 19 subjects with multiple deep periodontal lesions and high counts of P. gingivalis. In 9 patients (XT) only 2 of the selected lesions were treated by placement of tetracycline fibers (Actisite®). while the rest of the dentition was left untreated. In the other 10 patients, all teeth were supragingivally scaled and then treated by application of polymeric tetracycline HCl containing fibers, the whole dentition was subject to full mouth scaling and root planing, and the patients rinsed with 0.2% chlorhexidine (FT). A significant reduction in mean PPD was observed in all treated sites after two months. This reduction was maintained over the following 4 months. The magnitude of the effect was significantly greater in the FT group (1.74 mm) than in the LT group (0.88 mm). The mean attachment level changes were similar after 2 months in locally and fully treated subjects. A tendency of relapse was noted for treated sites in LT patients from month 2 to 6. A level of statistical significance was not reached for this effect. Data from measurements recorded at 6 sites around all teeth in the full mouth treated patients were analyzed using multiple linear regression. This analysis showed local changes in PPD and AL were significantly and strongly correlated with the baseline value of the respective parameter at the same site. In addition, more pocket depth reduction was noted if a site was not bleeding on probing at 6 months, if the location of a site was not approximal and if the tooth was not a second molar. Sites located on second molars showed also less AL gain than sites located on other teeth. Smokers showed significantly less reduction in PPD and significantly less AL gain. Furthermore, if subjects had a high % of pockets deeper than 4 mm at baseline they showed significantly less attachment gain.     

The current status of thrombolytic therapy

Fibrinolytic therapy substantially reduces mortality from acute myocardial infarction. Patient selection is, however, important. The patient must present within 12 hours of the onset ofischaemic symptoms, have definite ECG changes of ST elevation or left bundle branch block and no contraindications. The major contraindications are those for risk of an intracerebral bleed, recent stroke, intracranial tumour or risk of a major systemic bleed. Age and hypertension are not contraindications but may modify the regimen used.
Heparin is required with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator but is optional with streptokinase.
The recent COBALT trial suggests that the accelerated weight related t-PA regimen given over 90 minutes is more satisfactory than double bolus t-PA. However, inpatients under 75 years of age, the two regimens were equivalent.
For patients suffering acute myocardial infarction, practitioners should now individualise choice of therapy, rather than give the same cocktail to all patients. The choice of regimen will depend on the cardiac risk, the stroke risk, the bleeding risk and the cost.