The effectiveness of voice therapy for patients with non-organic dysphonia

Forty-five patients diagnosed as having non-organic dysphonia were assigned in rotation to one of three groups. Patients in one group received no treatment and acted as a control group. Patients in the other two groups received a programme of either ‘indirect’ therapy or ‘direct with indirect’ therapy, respectively. A self-report questionnaire of vocal performance, observed ratings of voice quality, and computer-derived acoustic measurements (signal-to-noise ratio, pitch perturbation and amplitude perturbation) were carried out on all patients before and after treatment to evaluate the changes in voice quality over time. There was a significant difference between the three groups on the self-report questionnaire, voice quality ratings and pitch perturbation measurements (P = < 0.05). Thirteen out of 15 control patients showed no significant change on any of the measures. Seven patients who received indirect treatment showed significant improvement in voice quality following treatment. Fourteen out of 15 patients who received direct treatment showed significant improvement in voice quality.     

利用"分层法"评价中药复杂体系药效时有关权重设立的讨论

本文讨论了以分层法进行中药药效评价时权重设立的问题，主要由以下几部分组成：1．建立递阶层次结构；2．构造两两比较判断矩阵；3．计算单一准则下元素的相对权重；4．计算各层元素的组合权重。由于中药作用具有多途径、多靶点的特性，因此评价过程中权重的设立就占有重要位置。它直接影响对被评价对象药效作用的评判。全面解决中药作用多途径、多靶点药效学评价的数学方法，客观量化的评价中药的综合药效，是中药现代化进程中一个值得研讨的命题。     

Quality of primary health care in Saudi Arabia: a comprehensive review.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the quality of primary care in Saudi Arabia, despite the central role of primary care centers in Saudi health strategy. This study presents an overview of quality of primary care in Saudi Arabia, and identifies factors impeding the achievement of quality, with the aim of determining how the quality of Saudi primary care could be improved. METHOD: Using a systematic search strategy, data were extracted from the published literature on quality of care in Saudi primary care services, and on barriers to achieving high-quality care. RESULTS: Of the 128 studies initially identified, 31 met the inclusion criteria for the review. Studies identified were diverse in methodology and focus. Components of quality were reviewed in terms of access and effectiveness of both clinical and interpersonal care. Good access and effective care were reported for certain services including: immunization, maternal health care, and control of epidemic diseases. Poor access and effectiveness were reported for chronic disease management programs, prescribing patterns, health education, referral patterns, and some aspects of interpersonal care including those caused by language barriers. Several factors were identified as determining whether high-quality care was delivered. These included management and organizational factors, implementation of evidence-based practice, professional development, use of referrals to secondary care, and organizational culture. CONCLUSION: There is substantial variation in the quality of Saudi primary care services. In order to improve quality, there is a need to improve the management and organization of primary care services. Professional development strategies are also needed to improve the knowledge and skills of staff.     

Cost analysis of different protocols for imaging a patient with acute flank pain

The aim of this study was to analyse the costs of different diagnostic approaches to patients with acute flank pain. Four different diagnostic approaches were considered: (a) spiral CT without contrast medium (CM); (b) plain film, ultrasonography (US) and intravenous urography (IVU) – the latter procedure is used in our department in cases still unsolved following the former investigations (28 % in our experience); (c) plain film, US and spiral CT without CM (as an alternative to IVU in 28 % of cases); and (d) IVU. The cost of each procedure in a university hospital was calculated, following analysis of the differential costs of each investigation (equipment, depreciation and maintenance costs, related materials and services, radiologists, radiographers, nurses) and their common costs (auxiliary personnel and indirect internal costs). Finally, we calculated the full cost of each procedure and applied it to the different diagnostic approaches. The full cost of each approach was: (a) spiral CT without CM = 74 Euro; (b) plain film, US and IVU (28 %) = 66.89 Euro; (c) plain film, US and spiral CT without CM (28 %) = 64.93 Euro; (d) IVU = 80.90 Euro. Intravenous urography alone or in unsolved cases is not to be considered because it provides higher costs and worse diagnostic results, whereas X-ray dose to patient is almost equal between IVU and spiral CT. Spiral CT integrated to plain film and US in unsolved cases could be preferred because of lower cost and dose to patient, though reaching a diagnostic conclusion may take longer than an immediate spiral CT. Received: 29 February 2000; Revised: 22 May 2000; Accepted: 23 May 2000     

中西医结合治疗肝硬化腹水46例疗效观察

目的:观察中西医结合治疗肝硬化腹水的临床疗效。方法:将78例肝硬化腹水患者随机分为治疗组46例,对照组32例。2组均采用利尿西药治疗,治疗组加服益气养阴,健脾利水为主兼以活血软肝理气之中药,1个月为1个疗程,治疗2个疗程。结果:治疗组显效32例,有效12例,总有效率为95%;对照组显效13例,有效11例,总有效率为75%,2组比较,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。结论:中西医结合治疗肝硬化腹水疗效优于单纯西药治疗。     

Reserve nitrous oxide cylinders on anaesthetic machines. A survey of attitudes and equipment at a large DGH

The presence of reserve nitrous oxide cylinders on anaesthetic machines is not necessary and potentially hazardous, wasteful and polluting. Although reserve nitrous oxide cylinders are routinely present on the anaesthetic machines in many hospitals in the UK, it is our concern that they are not checked or maintained properly. We examined a sample of cylinders and surveyed the practice amongst the anaesthetic staff in our Department with an anonymous questionnaire. This confirmed that: (1) the equipment is not properly maintained, 68% of cylinders sampled having passed a 3-year expiry date; (2) checks are of little practical use, are not routinely performed by anaesthetists, and only 46% of respondents routinely check the nitrous oxide cylinders. In conclusion, the nitrous oxide cylinders are not properly checked or maintained and may represent a safety hazard.     

住院精神分裂症患者疗效的影响因素对照研究

目的探讨住院精神分裂症患者疗效的影响因素。方法将203例精神分裂症患者按临床疗效分组,临床痊愈和显著好转者132例为显效组,临床好转和无效者71例为对照组,采用自编《住院精神分裂症患者一般情况调查表》进行回顾性统计、分析。结果住院患者中女性、低技术工人、阴性症状突出者、病前无诱因的疗效较差(P<0.05)。其疗效与住院天数、总住院费用成正相关,与日均费用成负相关(P<0.01)。结论精神分裂症药物治疗应充分、足程,临床应重视对女性、低技术工人的治疗观察,并加强精神疾病知识健康教育,同时健全社会保障体系以提高住院精神分裂症患者的疗效。     

乙型肝炎血源疫苗免疫后16～18年的长期免疫效果定群研究

目的 评价新生儿乙肝疫苗普种预防乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染的长期免疫效果,探讨乙肝血源疫苗免疫持久性.方法 出生队列定群研究结合横断面调查的方法,对象为1987-1989年出生并接种乙肝血源疫苗的人群,用固相放射免疫法(SPRIA)法检测HBV感染标志,结果与前期数据比较分析.结果 (1)1987-1989队列的免疫人群在免疫7年、14年、18年后的疫苗保护效果分别为89.7%,94.8%和87.8%,差别无统计学意义;保护性抗体水平分别为57.37%,32.80%,36.67%,免后14、18年的抗体保持在一致水平;(2)乙肝血源疫苗接种16～18年后,平均HBsAg阳性率为1.99%;保护性抗体水平为36.67%,总表面抗体阳性率为62.91%.结论 新生儿普种乙肝血源疫苗可有效预防HBV感染,疫苗免疫18年后保护效果稳定,不必进行人群加强免疫.     

医疗服务项目实际成本与收费标准比较研究

通过对北京市4所三级甲等综合医院20个医疗服务项目的实际成本进行调查分析，主要包括平均实际成本分析、收费标准与成本的差量分析和收费标准与成本差量的极值分析、收费覆盖率分析、收费覆盖率极值分析。调查分析发现大部分项目的实际成本高于现行收费标准。为此，应完善医疗服务项目价格形成机制和健全医疗服务项目价格调整机制，建立科学有效的医疗服务项目价格评价指标体系，以确保其价格的调整效果。     

更昔洛韦、泛昔洛韦治疗带状疱疹的成本-效果分析

目的 评价更昔洛韦注射剂与泛昔洛韦胶囊治疗带状疱疹构成本及其效果。方法 将符合带状疱疹典型临床症状的门诊患者共84例，随机分为两组，分别给予更昔洛韦注射剂与泛昔洛韦胶囊治疗，副反应评价指标按卫生部1994年不良反应制定标准。结果 更昔洛韦与泛昔洛韦的治愈率分别为86．0％和82．9％，显效率分别为100％和95．1％，但泛昔洛韦的成本效果比明显低于更昔洛韦。结论 泛昔洛韦更具有成本-效果优势。