The clinical encounter as local moral world: Shifts of assumptions and transformation in relational context

In this study we consider the process of the clinical encounter, and present exemplars of how assumptions of both clinicians and their patients can shift or transform in the course of a diagnostic interview. We examine the process as it is recalled, and further elaborated, in post-diagnostic interviews as part of a collaborative inquiry during reflections with clinicians and patients in the northeastern United States. Rather than treating assumptions by patients and providers as a fixed attribute of an individual, we treat them as occurring between people within a particular social context, the diagnostic interview. We explore the diagnostic interview as a landscape in which assumptions occur (and can shift), navigate the features of this landscape, and suggest that our examination can best be achieved by the systematic comparison of views of the multiple actors in an experience-near manner. We describe what might be gained by this shift in assumptions and how it can make visible what is at stake for clinician and patient in their local moral worlds—for patients, acknowledgment of social suffering, for clinicians how assumptions are a barrier to engagement with minority patients. It is crucial for clinicians to develop this capacity for reflection when navigating the interactions with patients from different cultures, to recognize and transform assumptions, to notice ‘surprises’, and to elicit what really matters to patients in their care.     

Influence of moderate hypothermia on cerebral oxygenation in pigs with intracranial hypertension

BACKGROUND: Moderate hypothermia is one of the effective therapeutic methods for head injury in recent years, there are many mechanisms of moderate hypothermia for brain protection, and its influence on cerebral oxygenation is also one of them. OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of moderate hypothermia on cerebral oxygenation of animals with acute intracranial hypertension, and further investigate the protective mechanism of moderate hypothermia. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital affiliated to the Medical College of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. MATERIALS: Twenty healthy little pigs, either male or female, weighing 4.5–5.5 kg, were used. Neurotrend-typed multiparameter monitoring system (Diametrics Company, British); CMA/100 micro-injection pump (Carnegie Company, Sweden). METHODS: The experiment was conducted in the Changzheng Hospital affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA in November, 2001. The pigs were randomized into two groups: the normothermia group (control group, n =10) and moderate hypothermia group (n =10). ① Bilateral femoral arteries were separated, one was connected to pressometer for monitoring mean arterial pressure (MEP), and the other for analysis of blood gases [including peripheral blood pH value, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), HCO3–]. ② Rectal temperature was monitored with mercurial thermometer. ③ Intracranial pressure was monitored using Camino optic ICP probe placed in the subdural space. ④ Neurotrend multiparameter monitoring sensor was inserted into the white matter for about 4 cm to determine cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP, CPP=MAP(ICP), brain tissue partial oxygen pressure (PO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), HCO3– and brain temperature. The rectal temperature of animals in the moderate hypothermia group was lowered to 34 ℃ using ice bags, and the body temperature was maintained at 33–35 ℃ for 2 hours. The changes of the parameters were observed continuously, and the pigs in the normothermia group were not treated with cooling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① MAP, ICP, rectal temperature, CCP; Indexes of cerebral oxygenation detected with Neurotrend-typed multiparameter monitoring system; ② Results of blood gases analysis in the moderate hypothermia group. RESULTS: All the 20 pigs were involved in the analysis of results. ① MAP, ICP, rectal temperature, CCP and indexes of cerebral oxygenation: In the moderate hypothermia group, the ICP after cooling was obviously lower than that before cooling [(3.31±1.19), (5.33±0.95) kPa, P < 0.05], CCP was higher, brain tissue PCO2 [(12.03±1.73), (10.59±2.01) kPa, P < 0.05], and brain tissue pH value was higher [(7.03±1.63), (9.40±1.30) kPa, P < 0.05], whereas the brain temperature was decreased as compared with that before cooling [(34.9±0.3), (37.2±0.2) ℃, P < 0.05]. ② Results of blood gases analysis in the moderate hypothermia group: There were no significant differences in the parameters of peripheral arterial blood gases analysis before and after cooling in the moderate hypothermia group (P > 0.05) CONCLUSION: Moderate hypothermia will not impair the cerebral oxygenation, and it can reduce brain tissue CO2 and decrease brain tissue acidosis.     

平阳霉素加地塞米松局部注射治疗婴幼儿血管瘤

目的探讨平阳霉素+地塞米松局部注射治疗婴幼儿血管瘤的疗效。方法将平阳霉素8 mg+地塞米松5 mg+2%利多卡因1~2 ml+生理盐水3~8 ml稀释后,行血管瘤内注射至肿胀发白为限,1次平阳霉素用量不超过8 mg。观察2周,视瘤体颜色及硬度决定是否继续用药,直至瘤体开始变硬萎缩为止,平阳霉素注射总量不超过40 mg。近两年来,用该方法治疗1~8个月龄婴幼儿体表增生期血管瘤36例,其中颜面部24例,胸部3例,背部2例,上肢5例,足2例;草莓状血管瘤30例,混合型血管瘤6例。血管瘤最小面积0.6 cm×1.2 cm,最大面积23.0 cm×12.0 cm。结果1次注射治愈2例,2~3次注射治愈25例,4~5次治愈9例,其中局部坏死1例(为足背足底大面积草莓状血管瘤),经换药及手术愈合。随访6~19个月,未见复发,除1例遗留瘢痕外,其余全部无瘢痕愈合。有效率达100%。结论平阳霉素+地塞米松局部注射治疗婴幼儿血管瘤,具有疗效显著、简便易行、安全可靠等优点,是治疗增生期血管瘤首选方法之一,值得推广。     

新型加速器放疗网络的研制及其临床应用

目的研制新型加速器放疗网络。方法采用服务器-客户端模式．服务器采用SQL—Server2000为数据库服务软件，客户端使用VC＋＋6．0语言编写．通过RTP—Link以及DICOMRT和新型加速器连接传输病人治疗参数资料。结果成功研锚的新型加速器放疗网络包括病人资料管理模块、定位计划管理模块、定位图像预处理模块、靶区勾画模块、计划设计管理模块（包含MLC（多叶光栅）设计以及低熔点挡铅设计）和治疗参数输出（包括报表打印、连接加速器）。结论网络系统操作简单，适合新型全数字化加速器的常规放射治疗管理．是科室常规放疗治疗的质量保证（QA）和质量控制（QC）的有效工具。     

Control of post anaesthetic shivering with nefopam hydrochloride in mildly hypothermic patients after neurosurgery

Postoperative shivering may be prevented by maintaining normothermia intraoperatively or it may be treated using specific drugs. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of nefopam hydrochloride (nefopam) to that of clonidine and meperidine in patients undergoing elective neurosurgical procedures. Three groups of patients were included in the study. Patients in group A (60) received i.v., at random, 20 mg of nefopam, 50 mg of meperidine or 150 μg of clonidine in the immediate postoperative period. The incidence of shivering and the time at which shivering ceased were noted, along with central temperature and main haemodynamic changes. Group B (20) received i.v., at random, either 10 mg of nefopam or saline before awakening from anaesthesia. The effects of nefopam on central temperature, oxygen consumption (Vo₂), carbon dioxide production (VcO₂), basal metabolic rate (BMR) and energy expenditure (EE) were investigated. Group C (10) received i.v. 20 mg of nefopam during surgery: cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and electroencephalogram (EEG) were monitored. In group A nefopam stopped shivering in 95% of patients when compared to meperidine and clonidine, which were effective in 32% and 40% of patients respectively. In group B, only 10% of patients receiving nefopam had postoperative shivering, Vo2, VcO2 and EE were significantly lower in patients treated with nefopam than those in the control group. No changes in CSFP, CPP or EEG were observed in group C. In conclusion, nefopam seems to be more effective than clonidine or meperidine in quickly suppressing shivering, without producing significant adverse reactions.     

重复腋路臂丛麻醉不同穿刺定位法的效果比较

目的：观察应用不同穿刺定位法施行重复腋路臂丛阻滞麻醉效果。方法：３２４例随机分为两组，在局麻药浓度、容量相同的情况下，Ａ组采用一针穿刺单次给药逐次移位定向挤压法，１６２例中，臂丛阻滞７３０次；Ｂ组采用一针穿刺单次给药法，１６２例中，臂丛阻滞６７０次。结果：在诱导时间、维持时间和阻滞完全方面，Ａ组均明显优于Ｂ组。结论：臂丛神经处于椎前筋膜及其延续的筋膜间隙中，因此，一针穿刺单次给药能获得有效的阻滞。     

Regulation of local sweating in sleep-deprived exercising humans

Summary Thermoregulatory sweating [total body (m _sw,b), chest (m _sw,c) and thigh (m _sw,t) sweating], body temperatures [oesophageal (T _oes) and mean skin temperature (T _sk)] and heart rate were investigated in five sleep-deprived subjects (kept awake for 27 h) while exercising on a cycle (45 min at approximately 50% maximal oxygen consumption) in moderate heat (T _air andT _wall at 35° C. Them _sw,c andm _sw,t were measured under local thermal clamp (T _sk,1), set at 35.5° C. After sleep deprivation, neither the levels of body temperatures (T _oes,T _sk) nor the levels ofm _{sw, b},m _{sw, c} orm _{sw, t} differed from control at rest or during exercise steady state. During the transient phase of exercise (whenT _sk andT _sk,1 were unvarying), them _{sw, c} andm _{sw, t} changes were positively correlated with those ofT _oes. The slopes of them _{sw, c} versusT _oes, orm _{sw, t} versusT _oes relationships remained unchanged between control and sleep-loss experiments. Thus the slopes of the local sweating versusT _oes, relationships (m _{sw, c} andm _{sw, t} sweating data pooled which reached 1.05 (SEM 0.14) mg·cm^–2·min^–1°C^–1 and 1.14 (SEM 0.18) mg·cm^–2·min^–1·°C^–1 before and after sleep deprivation) respectively did not differ. However, in our experiment, sleep deprivation significantly increased theT _oes threshold for the onset of bothm _{sw, c} andm _{sw, t} (+0.3° C,P<0.001). From our investigations it would seem that the delayed core temperature for sweating onset in sleep-deprived humans, while exercising moderately in the heat, is likely to have been due to alterations occurring at the central level.     

Endometrial carcinoma: Does the addition of intracavitary vault caesium to external beam therapy postoperatively result in improved control or increased morbidity?

A retrospective analysis of treatment for endometrial carcinoma is reported here. From 1987 to 1989, 138 patients were referred to the oncology department following total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for endometrial cancer. Forty-seven patients were not prescribed postoperative radiotherapy; 31 had Stage I well differentiated adenocarcinoma with minimal myometrial invasion, while the remaining 16 patients were considered unfit for postoperative radiotherapy. There were no instances of local relapse amongst the 31 patients with minimal myometrial invasion.The remaining 91 patients all received external beam irradiation to the pelvis and, according to the preference of the individual therapist, 51 were prescribed additional intracavitary vault caesium-137. Patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy were analysed according to whether or not they received additional intracavitary vault caesium. The two groups were also analysed for incidence of vaginal vault recurrence and treatment related morbidity.In the group receiving additional intracavitary treatment more patients had Stage II or III disease (P<0.05), and had greater depth of myometrial invasion (P<0.05). Vaginal vault recurrence was not observed in patients receiving intracavitary therapy in addition to external beam therapy. Four patients (10%) receiving external beam therapy alone developed vaginal vault recurrence.The incidence of Kottmeier-Perez grade 2 or 3 bowel toxicity following treatment was significantly higher in those patients receiving combined treatment (18% vs. 2.5%; P<0.03). There was also a higher incidence of vaginal stenosis in the group receiving both external beam and intracavitary therapy (21% vs. 3%; P<0.05). There was only one instance of grade 2 bladder toxicity in the external beam and intracavitary treatment group and none in the external beam therapy alone group.In conclusion, postoperative radiotherapy for Stages I-III endometrial carcinoma was carried out in a non-randomized manner by two regimens; either external beam therapy alone or external beam therapy with additional intracavitary vaginal caesium. The combined therapy gave significantly better local control but resulted in significantly more late bowel and vaginal morbidity.     

亚低温对戊四氮诱导癫痫发作的影响

目的观察戊四氮诱导癫痫发作的形式变化及不同温度下癫痫大鼠海马组织病理学的变化和计数CA3区残存的神经元数量.方法雄性SD大鼠分为上述不同温度的四组,用冰袋降温、白炽灯泡升温的方法来控制温度.将控制好温度的大鼠用戊四氮诱导癫痫发作,在相同的时间内观察大鼠发作形式的变化.HE染色后观察海马区组织病理学的改变,并选择组织学损害最明显的区域在高倍镜(40×10)下计数神经元的丢失.结果高温状态下癫痫发作程度最重,神经元丢失最严重,低温下癫痫发作程度较轻,神经元丢失也较少,亚低温下癫痫发作程度最轻,持续时间也最短,神经元丢失最少.结论亚低温对癫痫大鼠有脑保护作用.     

An alternative mechanism of actions for neuroleptic and antidepressant drugs

It has earlier been proposed by the author that the aetiology of schizophrenic symptomatology may be due to the presence of abnormally connected interhemispheric fibres which link specialised functions in the brains of schizophrenics that are not connected in normal subjects, and that the neuroleptic drugs may produce their action through a local anaesthetic-like effect in suppression of conduction in these fibres. This line of thought has been extended here to consider the possible mechanism of action of the neuroleptic drugs in more detail, as well as that of the tricyclic antidepressant drugs which are derivatives of the phenothiazine group. Pharmacological similarities with the local anaesthetics both structurally and functionally have been considered, as well as the effects that these drug groups may have in common with the lithium salts. It has been suggested that these drugs all produce their primary effect on cell membranes, though not necessarily at the synapse, that the time course of their clinical effect may correlate with their incorporation into various cell membranes within the CNS, and that they may thus bring about a fundamental alteration in cell membrane microstructure. The possible role of electroconvulsive therapy has also been considered. The corollary of this argument is that the affective disorders may be genetically determined diseases of cell membrane microstructure.