Self-selection of enrollers at the creation of a managed care organization

Factors affecting choice between a managed care organization(MCO) and a fee-for-service insurance plan were examined whenthe University of Geneva health insurance plan was transformedinto an MCO, in October 1992. A case-control study using a mailedquestionnaire (response rate 84%) was conducted to compare formermembers who joined the MCO (joiners, n=421) to former memberswho opted out in order to keep fee-for-service coverage (non-joiners,n=222). Non-joiners were more likely to be women (odds ratio(OR) from multivariate model was 1.15, p=0.50), to be born inSwitzerland (OR=2.04, p<0.01), to have an annual income >75,000Swiss francs (OR=2.00, p<0.01), to have a personal physician(OR=1.96, p<0.01) and to have consulted a specialist (OR=1.69,p=0.02) or used unconventional medicine (OR=4.59, p<0.01)in the past year. During the previous year, non-joiners hadmore health care visits than joiners (14.6 versus 9.1, p=0.01).Non-joiners reported better mental health and fewer complainedof persistent fatigue (OR=2.18, p=0.03). The choice of healthplan was strongly influenced by socio-demographic characteristics,past patterns of health services utilization and health status.The self-selection process was paradoxical: MCO joiners hadused fewer health care visits than non-joiners, but their self-reportedhealth status was worse. The differences we have observed betweenself-selected populations have important implications for thefinancial performance of competing health care delivery systems.     

颈椎前路钢板在脊髓型颈椎病前路手术中的作用

目的 评价内固定在脊髓型颈椎病前路减压中的作用。方法 143例脊髓型颈椎病患者经前路减压后自体髂骨植骨，带锁钢板内固定。获得随访病例132例，随访时间平均20个月，观察术后神经功能恢复情况，植骨融合率，椎间高度及颈椎生理曲度恢复情况。结果 单节段与两节段病变者术后3月均获得骨性愈合，融合率为100％，16例3节段病变者融合体为81．3％，内固定并发症为5／132(3．8％)。术后椎间高度与生理曲度均获得满意重建。JOA记分平均改善率65．8％。结论 在脊髓型颈椎病前路减压手术中应用带锁钢板内固定可有效维持椎间高度和生理曲度，并有助于后路间接减压。     

基于组合不变量配准的数字减影算法

在现代医学中，DSA是X光片血管可视化技术的重要组成部分之一，在DSA中图像配准对消除运动伪影起着关键作用。运用一种基于组合不变量的相似度测量的模板匹配和弹性TPS算法配准减影方法，并根据实际情况有所改进。经过试验证明这种方法可以自动并有效地去除运动伪影，其速度和血管图像质量均比较理想。     

生物胶复合物加解剖钢板内固定治疗胫骨平台骨折

目的探讨生物胶复合物加解剖钢板内固定治疗胫骨平台骨折的临床效果。方法采用切开复位、生物胶复合物植骨加解剖型支撑钢板内固定治疗胫骨平台骨折28例,受伤至手术时间5～10d,植入复合物量为3～8g。结果所有患者均获随访,随访6～24个月,全部骨折均获得临床愈合,未见关节面下陷,生物胶复合物中羟基磷灰石未见移动及吸收,治疗效果参照M echant评分标准,优13例,良11例,可3例,差1例,总优良率达85.3%。结论生物胶复合物加解剖钢板内固定治疗胫骨平台骨折的临床效果良好。生物胶复合物具有较强的成骨能力,可修复骨缺损。     

The universal algorithm of maturation for secretory and excretory protein precursors.

During maturation, most proteins undergo different posttranslational modifications. In most simple cases, signal peptidases remove the signal or leader peptide from the precursors of the secretory proteins during their translocation across the ER membrane. For biologically active proteins, such as enzymes, regulatory and defense proteins, toxins, etc., additional maturation-regulating mechanisms were shown to proceed with limited proteolysis of inactive precursors by specific enzymes. A number of specific enzymes from different cell types selectively cleave proproteins at specific processing sites. In this work, we analyzed the sequences of protein precursors synthesized in the excretory glands of different animals and identified new, non-traditional processing sites. They differ from the motifs previously identified in secreted proteins' precursors and enabled us to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the conversion of protein precursors into the final products (mature proteins). We also found that in animals, the maturation mechanism of secretory and excretory proteins and the set of enzymes involved are species specific. The processing sites identified in protein precursors in this study are useful for a more detailed genome analysis and more accurate mature protein sequence prediction.     

应用弯形麦氏接骨板治疗股骨粗隆下骨折(附28例报告)

作者应用改制的弯形麦氏接骨板内固定治疗股骨粗隆下骨折28例。经随访3～6个月,平均4个月骨折达临床愈合,14～20个月,平均16个月达骨性愈合。优良25例,优良率为89.3％。认为改制的弯形麦氏接骨板内固定牢固可靠。除严重粉碎性骨折一般不需外固定,病人可早期活动,加速骨折愈合。     

Increased reactivity to chemical but not to heat noxious stimuli in mice producing anti-idiotypic antibodies for substance P

Mice immunized against anti-substance P (anti-SP) monoclonal antibodies produced anti-SP anti-idiotypic antibodies (SPAb2). In a previous report. SPAb2 antibodies were found to have in vitro biological activity i.e. to behave either as agonists or as antagonists for substance P (SP) depending on the biological test. In this study, the involvement of SPAb2 in vivo biological activity has been tested. Because of the possible implication of SP in the generation and transmission of nociceptive information, we have tested the responsiveness of SPAb2 responding mice in behavioral nociceptive tests. SPAb2 mice showed very small behavioral variations in the hot plate test as compared with a control group of mice immunized against an unrelated monoclonal antibody. In the formalin test, however, SPAb2 mice displayed a significant increase in paw licking time, which was significantly correleted with SPAb2 serum concentration. These results are discussed in terms of the use of SPAb2 as pharmacological tools for studying the biological properties of SP receptors and more generally of auto anti-idiotypic antibodies in modulating behavior responses.     

Expanding Our Strategies to Study the Process of Change

The conceptual and methodological framework proposed by Doss (this issue) makes valuable suggestions for strategic choices in future research. This commentary addresses conceptual and terminological distinctions adopted by Doss, as well as his criticism of add-on/ dismantling studies. We also suggest research topics and methodological developments that could be integrated in Doss's framework to further expand understanding of therapeutic change.     

髋臼钛板加颗粒植骨治疗髋臼严重骨缺损

[目的]探讨髋臼钛板加颗粒植骨治疗髋臼严重骨缺损的临床效果。[方法]应用该技术治疗27例患者，髋臼骨缺损分型（AAOS分类）Ⅰ型6例，ⅡC型4例，Ⅲ型17例；术前髋关节Harris评分平均37分，术后根据临床及x线进行评估。[结果]所有患者均采用该方法重建髋臼，术后假体脱位1例，原因是重建钛板前倾过多与大粗隆发生撞击，经凿去部分粗隆骨质消除撞击因素后治愈。其余病例无并发症，平均随访3a，Harris评分平均87分。X线无1例患者的髋臼骨床、移植骨、重建钛板和聚乙烯内衬交界面出现透亮带。[结论]髋臼钛板加颗粒植骨可有效修复髋臼骨缺损，为假体提供坚强的初始固定，具有恢复髋关节旋转中心的作用。     

颈前路带锁钛板在脊髓型颈椎病手术中的应用

目的评价脊髓型颈椎病前路减压后应用带锁钛板内固定的价值。方法对51例脊髓型颈椎病患者采用前路减压、取自体髂骨植骨和颈椎带锁钛板内固定治疗。结果随访43例,平均随访时间2a,术后3个月植骨块获得骨性融合,颈椎椎间高度和生理曲度维持满意,感觉、肌力明显恢复,钛板及螺钉无松动及断裂现象。结论脊髓型颈椎病前路减压术后应用带锁钛板内固定能促使植骨块融合,有效地维持椎间高度和颈椎生理曲度,有较高的应用价值。