Eight years'' experience with a structured clinical examination

A structured clinical examination has been an integral component of the final-year examinations conducted by the Departments of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Adelaide for the last 8 years. It has been used as an alternative to the traditional clinical examination. This paper describes the results of ongoing student and examiner surveys carried out to determine their views and satisfaction with this new approach. It also briefly discusses the feasibility of introducing such an examination into a conventional medical school environment. The surveys showed a remarkable level of acceptance and support by both students and examiners. This positive reaction has been maintained over the 8-year period. The main reasons seem to be its perceived relevance and fairness. Students also appear to be directing their learning in a direction thought desirable by teachers. No significant problems have been encountered with the practical implementation of the method.     

芬太尼／哌替啶致Oddi括约肌痉挛的探讨

２００例择期胆囊切除＋术中胆道造影患者分二组；芬太尼１７ｕｇ／ｋｇ静注（Ｆ组，ｎ＝１００）、哌替啶１ｍｇ／ｋｇ静注。评价两种麻醉性镇痛药致Ｏｄｄｉ括约肌痉挛的发生率，结果：８例病人造影剂不能通过Ｏｄｄｉ括约肌、十二指肠不显影，胆总管下端显示“鸟嘴样”或“假结石”影像，后者３例病人胆总管探查阴性，静注纳络酮０．４ｍｇ后，全部病例造影剂顺利进入十二指肠。结论：硬膜外麻醉辅用小剂量芬太尼／哌替啶时Ｏｄｄ     

芸香甙对大鼠内囊血肿的治疗作用

芸香甙是黄酮类化合物，就其对大鼠内囊血肿的保护作用进行了初步研究。在内囊血肿大鼠模型上，芸香甙５０、１００ｍｇ．ｋｇ＾－１可以明显改善大鼠的神经症状，降低神经症状和评分；芸香甙显著降低脑组织的丙二醛含量和提高超氧化物歧化酶的活性。     

一种胰岛素抵抗的糖尿病特殊类型报告

报告５例对胰岛素抵抗的糖尿病特殊类型病例，其均具有胰岛素应用指征，但使用胰岛素后血糖却反而上升，逐渐增加胰岛素用量，则血糖值亦呈上升趋势。对该类病人的治疗，首先停用胰岛素，改用自制中药制剂及优降糖、降糖灵治疗，取得了良好效果。     

Self-directed learning in anatomy: incorporation of case-based studies into a conventional medical curriculum

This paper reports an attempt to develop self-directed learning skills in second-year medical students by introducing case-based projects into the gross anatomy course at a long-established medical school. The programme and students' responses to a questionnaire completed at the end of the year are presented. Information on the various resources used by students to find information is given. The performance of students in the case-based components of the course has been evaluated and also in the more traditional end-of-year written examination. The data confirm that students have recognized that the projects were about obtaining a deeper understanding of the anatomy, and the programme appears to have promoted the use and study of library texts.     

Immunoassays for proteins alkylated by nicotine-derived N-nitrosamines

Polyclonal antibodies recognizing the pyridyloxobutyl (POB) moiety of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) were produced in rabbits immunized either with POB-bovine albumin or POB-Sepharose. The POB intermediates necessary to modify the protein were generated by alkaline (pH 9.0) treatment of the synthetic precursor 4-(carbethoxynitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone. In a competitive enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), 70 pmole NNK inhibited 50% of the binding of the anti-POB antibodies to POB-protein absorbed on microtiterplates. This 50% inhibition varied from 70 pmole to 200 nmole using a series of NNK analogues, depending on the integrity of the POB moiety. Immunological techniques initiated in this study detect NNK-protein conjugates or measure the quantity of POB groups liberated upon alkaline or acid treatment of NNK modified protein.     

Improved sib-pair linkage test for disease susceptibility loci

An improved sib-pair test for linkage is introduced which is superior to the previously proposed tests. The test is derived from the standard chi-squared goodness of fit statistic by restricting the alternative hypothesis to the genetically possible. Critical values are given and exact power comparisons are made with the previously proposed tests. The new test is shown to be more powerful for finite samples as well as being asymptotically uniformly most powerful. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

保定地区首次证实为流行性出血热疫源地

保定地区1934年首次经血清学证实有EHF病例发生,并从疫区鼠类中查到EHF抗原,其阳性率分别为:褐家鼠4.85%,黑线姬鼠1.95%,大仓鼠0.79%,小家鼠0.51%,褐家鼠可能是我区的主要传染源。疫区健康人群血清EHF抗体阳性率为1.37%,女性显著高于男性。     

Neuroprotection with felbamate: a 7- and 28-day study in transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils

The use of glutamate antagonists and GABA agonists may protect neurons from the effects of transient ischemia. Felbamate is a new antiepileptic drug with glutamate antagonist and GABA agonist properties, We tested the efficacy of felbamate in a gerbil model of transient forebrain ischemia. Damage assessment was done with silver staining at 7 and 28 days after 5 min of bilateral carotid occlusion, Cerebral cortex, hippocampus (CA1 and CA4), thalamus and striatum were evaluated on a 4-point scoring system, The animals sacrificed at 28 days were also tested in a water-maze task to assess recovery of function, The initial dose of felbamate (300 mg/kg) was given 30 min before the ischemic insult in one set of animals and 30 min after the insult in another set of animals. There were 8 animals tested per group (total: 48 animals). There was significant neuronal protection with the use of felbamate, both before and after ischemia in all regions of the brain. Protection was seen in animals sacrificed at 7 and 28 days, Protection was moderate when felbamate was used before ischemia. It was highly significant when felbamate was given 30 min after the insult. Behavioral studies however did not show any difference in the felbamate treated animals versus the saline treated controls. The structural protection with felbamate was very significant when used in the post-ischemic period. This window for protection merits further evaluation in relation to the clinical setting of stroke.     

Congenital defects of lower limbs and associated malformations: A population based study

As part of a detailed study of limb defects and associated patterns of congenital malformations, cases with lower limb deficiencies were analysed separately. We identified a total of 130 cases with deficiencies of the lower limbs without defects of the upper limbs. This gives an incidence of 1.07/10,000 livebirths, or 1/9,337 for this group of limb defects. Most common were femur deficiencies and deficiencies of the foot. A preponderance of males was found in the group of transverse defects of the leg (fibula/tibia deficiencies) and central axis deficiencies, while females had significantly more often longitudinal tibia defects and preaxial ray defects. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.