Normal obstetric ultrasound reduces the risk of Down syndrome in fetuses of older mothers

The objective of this study is to determine whether a normal fetal morphology ultrasound scan in women older than 35 years reduces the risk of aneuploidy. We reviewed the results of amniocentesis and second trimester sonogram in all women older than 35 years from 1991 to 1995. None had prior screening. We excluded fetuses with structural anomalies. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of minor markers in detecting Down syndrome and also determined the reduction in risk of a normal sonogram. Among the 2060 women older than 35 years giving birth during the study period, 16 (0.78%) delivered an infant with Down syndrome. Of the 16 fetuses, two had no prenatal testing or ultrasound, two had invasive testing but no second trimester sonogram, five had a normal sonogram and seven had one or more sonographic markers of Down syndrome. At least 17% of women older than 35 years did not participate in prenatal testing or ultrasound. Ultrasound detected Down syndrome with a sensitivity of 59% (95% confidence interval: 45–72%), a false‐positive rate of 10.6% (9.4–11.8%) and a positive predictor value of 1 in 9. The likelihood of having normal karyotype if the sonogram was normal was 0.46 (0.31–0.61). In women older than 35 years, a normal second trimester sonogram reduces the risk of Down syndrome by more than 50%. At least 17% of women older than 35 years do not participate in prenatal testing or ultrasound.     

Predictive value of local and core laboratory echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function in patients with chronic stable angina: The ACTION study.

AIMS: To evaluate the relationship between echocardiographic cardiac function and outcome in patients with stable symptomatic angina. METHODS: Baseline echo left ventricular ejection fraction and volume data measured in a central laboratory was available for 7016 patients (92% of the total) participating in the ACTION trial (A Coronary disease Trial Investigating Outcome with Nifedipine GITS). Ejection fraction was also measured by investigators. Evaluation of the different echocardiographic variables was based on adjusted hazard ratios comparing the unfavourable limit of the 90% range of the variable concerned to the favourable limit. RESULTS: The centrally measured ejection fraction was the most powerful predictor of all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio=2.5), myocardial infarction, any stroke or transient ischaemic attack and overt heart failure (adjusted hazard ratio=4.5). The addition of either end systolic volume or end diastolic volume to ejection fraction did not materially affect the power of prediction. Compared to the central ejection fraction measurement, the investigator-measured ejection fraction was a less powerful predictor for all outcomes considered. CONCLUSION: Routine echocardiography carefully analysed by standardised methods provides useful prognostic information in patients with stable angina, including for total mortality.     

Lung function development in the first 2 yr of life is independent of allergic diseases by 2 yr

The aim of the study was to assess if lung function at birth predicts lung function at 2 yr and secondly, if lung function development was influenced by the common phenotypes of recurrent bronchial obstruction (rBO) or atopic eczema (AE) by 2 yr. Lung function was assessed at birth (n = 802) and at 2 yr within the prospective birth cohort study 'the Environment and Childhood Asthma Study' in Oslo. The 135 children with lung function measured at birth by tidal flow volume (TFV) loops and passive respiratory mechanics, who were included in a nested case-control study were reinvestigated at 2 yr with clinical examination, TFV loops (n = 90) (mean age 26.6 (3.7 s.d.) months), skin prick test and parental interview. Children were categorized into quartiles (lower, middle two, upper) according to time to peak tidal expiratory flow/total expiratory time (t(PTEF)/t(E)) at birth as well as clinical phenotype based on the presence of rBO and/or AE (ever) by 2 yr. The observed reduction in mean t(PTEF)/t(E) from birth to 2 yr within the quartiles, were not significantly different after controlling for 'regression to the mean'. t(PTEF)/t(E) at birth correlated significantly with t(PTEF)/t(E) at 2 yr, (r = 0.475, p < 0.001). Children with both rBO and AE by 2 yr had significantly lower t(PTEF)/t(E) at 2 yr (p = 0.002) and at birth (p = 0.027), compared with children with no rBO or AE. Clinical phenotype at 2 yr did not influence the change in t(PTEF)/t(E) from birth to 2 yr. This study demonstrates a clear tracking of lung function from birth, not influenced by rBO or AE by 2 yr.     

Peritoneal dialysis patient survival: a comparison between a Swedish and a Korean centre.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patient mortality remains high, and this high mortality may be due to many factors. In peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, old age, co-morbid diseases, malnutrition, low residual renal function (RRF) and a high peritoneal transport rate have been shown to influence survival, but the relative importance of these factors may differ between different patient populations. Besides, centre practice patterns may differ between centres and may influence patient survival. In addition, the literature suggests that dialysis patient survival may be better in Asian than in Caucasian patients. METHODS: The influence of centre and patient characteristics on patient survival was investigated in 132 Korean and 106 Swedish incident PD patients, who underwent initial biochemical measurements and assessment of adequacy of dialysis, nutritional status, RRF and peritoneal transport characteristics. RESULTS: At the start of PD, Korean patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes, peritoneal Kt/V(urea), peritoneal creatinine clearance and peritoneal fluid removal, and lower body mass index, RRF and dialysate to plasma creatinine concentration ratio (D/P Cr) compared with Swedish patients. Significantly more patients from Korea were placed on temporary haemodialysis before PD (100 out of 132) when compared with Swedish patients (21 out of 106). During the follow-up, there was a significantly higher rate of transfer to other units in Korea and a significantly higher rate of kidney transplantation in Sweden. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, overall patient survival did not differ and relative risk for death was also not different between the two centres even after adjustment for age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, RRF and D/P Cr. On Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis, age, diabetes, RRF and D/P Cr were found to be independent predictors of mortality in the combined cohort of patients. While age, diabetes and D/P Cr were independent predictors of mortality in Korean patients, age and RRF independently predicted mortality in Swedish patients. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in centre and patient characteristics, we were unable to confirm a survival advantage for Korean over Swedish PD patients. The results of this study suggest that the reported difference in survival between Asian and Caucasian dialysis patients may have been due, in part, to differences in centre and patient characteristics rather than to race as such. The genetic influence on patient characteristics remains, however, to be elucidated.     

葛根素对血管性痴呆患者认知功能和事件相关电位P300的影响

目的观察葛根素对血管性痴呆（VaD）患者认知功能和听觉事件相关电位P300的影响。方法将70例VaD患者随机分成两组各35例，葛根素治疗组和对照组。应用简易精神状态检查量表（MMSE）评定两组患者治疗前后认知功能状况，并进行治疗前后P300检查。同时记录药物不良反应。结果两组各35例进入结果分析。治疗前两组MMSE评分、P300的潜伏期及波幅差异无显著性（均P〉0．05）。治疗14d、30d时，两组MMSE评分显著提高（均P〈0．01），P300潜伏期均有缩短，波幅均有提高（葛根素组P〈0．01，对照组P〈0．05）；治疗后14d时认知功能改善葛根素组明显优于对照组（总有效率分别为91．4％，71．4％）（P〈0．05）。两组治疗期间无严重不良反应。结论葛根素能够改善VaD患者的认知功能，这可能与葛根素的扩血管、脑保护作用有关。     

再次肝移植治疗移植肝失功能22例报告

目的 总结再次肝移植治疗移植肝失功能的临床经验。方法 回顾分析2004年1月至2006年6月期间中山大学附属第三医院施行22例再次肝移植受者的临床资料，结合文献加以讨论。再次肝移植的原因分别为移植术后胆道并发症（12例）、移植术后肝癌复发（4例）、肝动脉栓塞（2例）、肝动脉狭窄（2例）以及乙肝复发（2例）。再次移植率为3．62％，供肝植入均采用改良背驮式肝移植技术。结果 全组无手术死亡，8例随访至今分别存活21、14、8、3个月各1例，12、1个月各2例；14例存活2周到28个月不等。首次肝移植术后8～30d行再次肝移植病人围手术期病死率最高，为66．7％；1年内死亡10例，主要死亡原因为感染（60％）。结论 再次肝移植是移植肝失功能的惟一有效的治疗方法，正确掌握手术时机及适应证，钻研手术技巧，合理的个体化免疫抑制方案以及围手术期有效的抗感染治疗是提高再次肝移植病人存活率的关键。     

保留盆腔植物神经对老年男性患者术后性功能及排尿功能的影响

目的:探讨保留盆腔植物神经的直肠癌手术对老年男性患者性功能及排尿功能的影响。方法:1999~2005年因直肠癌手术的170例老年男性患者分为PANP组(含规范的TME手术方法)和非PANP(TME规范情况不详),对两组术后性功能、排尿功能和局部复发率进行回顾性总结、比较。结果:PANP组性功能与排尿功能明显优于非PANP组,但统计学无显著差异(P<0.05)。而PANP组局部复发率低于非PANP组(P>0.05)。结论:老年直肠癌患者应重视性功能和排尿功能的保护。     

腹腔镜D3淋巴清扫联合保留盆腔自主神经直肠癌根治术对男性性功能的影响

目的 对比分析腹腔镜和开腹联合保留自主神经的D3直肠癌根治术对男性性功能的影响.方法 采用前瞻性研究的方法,将我院2006年6月至2007年10月入选的男性直肠癌患者119例随机分别进行开腹(OS组59例)和腹腔镜(LS组60例)手术,两组病例均采用联合保留自主神经的D3直肠癌根治术.在术前和术后3、6和12个月,分别采用IIEF问卷对男性性功能进行评价,对比两组病例术后性功能情况.结果 术后3次随访结果显示,LS组性功能障碍总发生率分别为23.3%、18.3%和11.6%,OS组分别为32.2%、27.1%和16.9%;两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 腹腔镜D3淋巴清扫联合保留自主神经的直肠癌根治术能够达到与开腹手术相同的效果.