An Environmental Scan of the National and Provincial Diagnostic Reference Levels in Canada for Common Adult Computed Tomography Scans

Several regulatory bodies have agreed that low-dose radiation used in medical imaging is a weak carcinogen that follows a linear, non-threshold model of cancer risk. While avoiding radiation is the best course of action to mitigate risk, computed tomography (CT) scans are often critical for diagnosis. In addition to the as low as reasonably achievable principle, a more concrete method of dose reduction for common CT imaging exams is the use of a diagnostic reference level (DRL). This paper examines Canada's national DRL values from the recent CT survey and compares it to published provincial DRLs as well as the DRLs in the United Kingdom and the United States of America for the 3 most common CT exams: head, chest, and abdomen/pelvis. Canada compares well on the international scale, but it should consider using more electronic dose monitoring solutions to create a culture of dose optimization.     

儿童外科教学方法实践及探讨

目的探讨儿童外科的教学特点及教学方法,提高儿外科医生的总体执业水平,促进儿童外科学的发展。方法通过分析四川大学华西医院多年儿童外科疾病的临床教学实践经验,总结出适合医学生、初级儿童外科专科医生的实用的教学方法及经验。结果结合儿童外科特有的疾病特点所总结出的故事式讲述教学、典型病例教学、漫画形式学习、比较学习法及多媒体素材教学五种方式是非常适合儿童外科教学的方法。能够加深记忆,提高兴趣,轻松快捷,事半功倍的掌握相关医学专业知识。结论独特有趣的儿童外科教学方法可提高医学生及儿童外科初级从业者的学习兴趣、专业知识和执业水平。     

Steep Decrease of Gender Difference in DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison of Two Nation-wide Surveys Conducted 10 Years Apart in Korea

While decreasing trend in gender differences in alcohol use disorders was reported in Western countries, the change in Asian countries is unknown. This study aims to explore the shifts in gender difference in alcohol abuse (AA) and dependence (AD) in Korea. We compared the data from two nation-wide community surveys to evaluate gender differences in lifetime AA and AD by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Face-to-face interviews using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) were applied to all subjects in 2001 (n=6,220) and 2011 (n=6,022). Male-to-female ratio of odds was decreased from 6.41 (95% CI, 4.81-8.54) to 4.37 (95% CI, 3.35-5.71) for AA and from 3.75 (95% CI, 2.96-4.75) to 2.40 (95% CI, 1.80-3.19) for AD. Among those aged 18-29, gender gap even became statistically insignificant for AA (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.97-2.63) and AD (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.80-2.41) in 2011. Men generally showed decreased odds for AD (0.55; 95% CI, 0.45-0.67) and women aged 30-39 showed increased odds for AA (2.13; 95% CI 1.18-3.84) in 2011 compared to 2001. Decreased AD in men and increased AA in women seem to contribute to the decrease of gender gap. Increased risk for AA in young women suggests needs for interventions.     

Insights from examination of hearts from adults dying suddenly to the understanding of congenital cardiac malformations

Congenital heart disease is a rare but important finding in adults who experience sudden death. Examination of the congenitally malformed heart has historically been considered esoteric and best left to those with expertise. The Cardiac Risk in the Young cardiovascular pathology laboratory based at St George's University of London has now received over 6,000 cases. Of these, 21 congenitally malformed hearts were retained for research and educational purposes. Hearts were assessed using sequential segmental analysis, and causes of death were adjudicated based on thorough macroscopic examination and histology. Congenital malformations that were encountered included atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, and transposition of the great arteries in both its regular and congenitally corrected variants. Findings also included hearts with mirror-imaged and isomeric atrial appendages. Direct causes of death included myocardial fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and hemorrhage. A small but notable proportion did not reveal a substrate for arrhythmia, raising the question of whether the terminal event was due to the congenital heart disease itself, or an underlying channelopathy. Here, we demonstrate the value of simple sequential segmental analysis in describing and categorizing the cases, with the concept of the “morphological method” serving to identify the distinguishing features of the cardiac components. Clin. Anat. 33:394–404, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

顶空气相色谱-质谱法测定布南色林原料药中遗传毒性杂质

目的：建立顶空气相色谱-质谱法测定布南色林原料药中甲磺酸甲酯、甲磺酸乙酯和甲磺酸异丙酯3种遗传毒性杂质含量的方法。方法：采用顶空气相色谱-质谱法，以甲磺酸丁酯为内标，按内标标准曲线法进行甲磺酸甲酯、甲磺酸乙酯和甲磺酸异丙酯的含量测定。色谱条件：DB-WAX毛细管色谱柱（30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm）；程序升温，初始柱温为40℃，维持3 min，升温速率为30℃·min^-1，终止温度150℃，保持2 min；进样口温度为110℃；载气（He）流速为0.6 mL·min^-1；进样量为1 mL；进样方式为分流进样，分流比为20：1。质谱条件：电子轰击离子源（EI），扫描方式为选择性离子检测；离子源温度为200℃；接口温度为150℃；电子能量为70 eV；溶剂延迟1 min。结果：3种杂质成分之间的分离度均大于2.0；甲磺酸甲酯、甲磺酸乙酯、甲磺酸异丙酯检测质量浓度线性范围均为0.025~3.0 μg·mL^-1（r ≥ 0.998 5）；精密度、稳定性、重复性试验的RSD<5%；加样回收率分别为93.40%~101.40%（RSD为3.2%，n=9）、92.80%~99.70%（RSD为2.5%，n=9）和96.30%~100.75%（RSD为1.6%，n=9）。结论：该方法简便、准确、灵敏、迅速，可用于布南色林原料药中3种遗传毒性杂质的测定。     

在手术室护理教学中应用目标教学法的效果观察

目的探讨目标教学法在手术室护理教学中的应用效果。方法选取2017年10月-2018年10月期间80名手术室的实习护生,按照完全随机对照原则分组,对照组(n=40)采用传统带教法,观察组(n=40)采用目标教学法,分析技能操作考核成绩、护生对教学方式的满意度评分以及教师对学生表现的满意度评分。结果观察组技能操作考核成绩、护生对教学方式的满意度评分以及教师对学生表现的满意度评分高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论在手术室护理教学中应用目标教学法效果较好,有助于护生将理论与实践更好地结合,进而有效提高实习质量以及护生的临床思维能力。     

Characteristics of Adolescents with Differing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Phenotypes

Study ObjectiveTo analyze clinical, metabolic, hormonal, and ultrasound characteristics of adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes.DesignWe performed a retrospective analysis of quality improvement data. We divided patients according to phenotype on the basis of clinical or biochemical diagnosis of hyperandrogenism (HA), irregular menstruation (IM), and presence or absence of polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) on pelvic ultrasound (PUS) images, if obtained. The 5 resulting groups were: (1) HA/IM/normal PUS, n = 28; (2) HA/PCOM, n = 10; (3) IM/PCOM, n = 18; (4) HA/IM/PCOM, n = 40; and (5) HA/IM/no PUS obtained, n = 80. We compared parameters between groups using the nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum test.SettingBoston Children's Hospital, 2012-2016.ParticipantsOne hundred seventy-six girls and young women aged 11-25 years.InterventionsNone.Main Outcome Measures(1) Clinical, metabolic, and hormonal characteristics; and (2) PUS measurements.ResultsGroups with HA had significantly higher acne scores, Ferriman-Gallwey scores, and total and free testosterone concentrations than groups without HA. Significant differences in hemoglobin A1c were found between the IM/PCOM and HA/IM/PCOM groups (5.1% vs 5.3%; P = .01) and the IM/PCOM and HA/IM/no PUS groups (5.1% vs 5.3%; P < .01). In patients who had ultrasound performed, 49/94 (52.1%) met PCOM criteria on the basis of ovarian size, 37/94 (39.4%) on the basis of follicle number, and 27/94 (28.7%) on both; 10/94 (10.5)% had incidental findings on ultrasound, with 2 patients requiring further management.ConclusionLimited differences in clinical, metabolic, and hormonal characteristics exist between adolescents with different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome, and are mostly related to the presence or absence of HA. Of patients with ultrasound examinations, only 2 had clinically actionable incidental findings.