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.     

人心和山羊心脏上、下腔静脉肌袖大体解剖

目的:观测人和山羊上、下腔静脉肌袖结构特点,为治疗局灶性心房颤动积累解剖学资料。方法:采用大体解剖方法观测人心(20例)和羊心(40例)的上、下腔静脉及其表面的心肌纤维。结果:人心上腔静脉肌袖的长和宽分别为(1.91±0.39)cm、(2.41±0.26)cm,下腔静脉肌袖的长和宽分别为(1.32±0.32)cm,(3.06±0.52)cm;羊心上(前)腔静脉肌袖的长和宽分别为(1.41±1.00)cm、(1.05±0.26)cm,下(后)腔静脉肌袖的长和宽分别为(0.81±0.48)cm,(1.03±0.28)cm。人和羊心脏的上腔静脉肌袖出现率均为100%;下腔静脉肌袖的出现率分别为88.89%和98%。肌纤维多数来源于右心房前后壁,也有来自于左心房或左右心房的。结论:①上腔静脉肌袖是人和羊普遍存在的解剖结构,人的下腔静脉肌袖出现率明显低于羊,可能是上腔静脉肌袖引起局灶性心房颤动多于下腔静脉肌袖的解剖学基础。②上腔静脉肌袖是构成左右房的又一重要通路。     

Ectopic cervico-mediastinal thymoma confirmed by flow cytometric analysis of tumor-derived lymphocytes

Ectopic cervical or cervico-mediastinal thymomas are very rare and most of them are asymptomatic, except for the presence of a cervical mass. We present the case of a 71-year-old man with an ectopic cervico-mediastinal thymoma threatening superior vena cava syndrome. He had a slight headache and presented with venous dilatation on the chest wall. A computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance, imaging of the chest demonstrated a mass extending from the right neck to the hilum, that indented the trachea and compressed and displaced the brachiocephalic veins anteriorly. Under a right hemicollar incision and median sternotomy, the mass was resected en bloc together with the thymus. The resected specimen was an encapsulated mass measuring 11×7×4 cm. The pathological diagnosis was type AB, non-invasive thymoma, confirmed by 3-color flow, cytometry of tumor-derived lymphocytes. Flow cytometry using biopsy material may contribute to the preoperative diagnosis of ectopic thymoma.     

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.     

Superior vena cava syndrome and syncope in an implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipient.

We describe the case of a recipient of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator with multiple syncopal episodes due both to superior vena cava obstruction and electrical instability. These complications occurred in the presence of two transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads. The patient has been managed conservatively with anticoagulants and new antiarrhythmic drugs with improvement in both his clinical problems.     

Results of a survey of the role of multidisciplinary team coordinators for colorectal cancer in England and Wales

OBJECTIVE: Over the last 6 years, multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) have been established and play a key role in organizing the delivery of cancer care in the UK. There are no published data on the roles of their co-coordinators. To seek the views of colorectal multidisciplinary team co-ordinators (MDTCs) on what they do and how they do it. METHOD: Questionnaires were sent to the colorectal MDTC, or equivalent, in all 180 NHS hospital trusts in England and Wales where colorectal cancer surgery is performed. RESULTS: There was a 70% response rate. Seventy-one per cent of trusts now have a dedicated MDTC, whereas in 2002, only 40% had one. MDTCs generally keep their information on databases, but these differ, and are not coordinated with data entry into the national colorectal cancer database of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland. In only 26 trusts does the MDTC communicate decisions to primary care, and the patients seem almost completely excluded from this process. CONCLUSION: The recently formed national MDTC Forum should grasp the opportunity of coordinating all of this well-intentioned but pluralistic activity to the benefit of patients, primary care and hospital teams. An effective MDTC with a robust database will be the key in achieving cancer waiting time targets with useful audit, thereby improving patient care.     

舟月骨间韧带在腕尺桡偏时舟月骨三维运动中的作用

目的 观察在腕关节尺桡偏运动时,舟月骨间韧带(scapholunate interosseous ligament,SLIL)及其各亚区分级切断后对舟骨与月骨三维运动的影响,从亚区水平对SLIL在舟月骨三维运动中的作用进行研究.方法 取12例新鲜冰冻成人上肢标本(左、右侧各6例),共分为正常对照组、断SLIL近侧组、断SLIL近+背侧组、断SLIL近+掌侧组、SLIL全断组(每组6例).采用三维激光扫描及图像重建技术,测定在腕关节尺桡偏时舟骨与月骨的三维运动数据,并进行统计学处理.结果 在正常腕关节做尺桡偏运动时,舟、月骨同时也做尺桡偏运动,但还伴有明显的屈伸方向上的运动;与此同时,舟、月骨还做一定的旋前、旋后活动.在切断近+掌和近+背侧亚区组,舟月骨的活动受到影响.全切断SLIL会导致舟骨掌屈度增加,月骨掌屈活动减弱.结论 采用三维激光扫描及图像重建技术可准确测定腕舟月骨的三维活动度,从SLIL亚区水平上进行的研究表明,部分或全部切断SLIL后会对舟月骨的掌屈程度产生明显影响,但SLIL近侧亚区在控制舟、月骨的活动上不起主要作用.     

多层螺旋CT三维重建在左肾静脉压迫综合征中的临床应用

目的探讨多层螺旋CT(MSCT)三维重建在左肾静脉压迫综合征中的诊断价值。方法应用16层螺旋CT对11例左肾静脉压迫综合征病例进行泌尿系增强多期扫描,并获得各种后处理图像。结果11例左肾静脉压迫综合征病例均可见肠系膜上动脉(SMA)压迫左肾静脉(LRV)的征象。CT多平面重建(MPR)直观地显示了腹主动脉(AO)与SMA之间的夹角(α),最大为21.88,°最小为12.86°,平均为17.95°。CT横断位图像显示扩张的左肾静脉直径为12~15.3 mm,平均为13.26 mm;LRV受SMA压迫狭窄处直径为3.0~4.0 mm,平均为3.26 mm。左侧卵巢静脉或睾丸静脉直径为2.1~2.6 mm,平均为2.2 mm。5例增强扫描肾实质期(后期)显示双肾实质密度相差20 HU以上。结论MSCT在胡桃夹综合征诊断中具有明显的优势。     

Neurons in the Primate Superior Colliculus are Active Before and During Arm Movements to Visual Targets

The activity of single neurons in the superior colliculus was recorded while a rhesus monkey made arm movements to visual targets located on a screen in front of him. It was found that the activity of a subpopulation of cells was clearly related to these arm movements. The neurons began to discharge either with the onset of the movement, during the movement period, or well before the onset of electromyogram (EMG) activity and movement, and could be active for the entire duration of EMG activity. While the discharge pattern of some of these'reach'neurons was not different for movements to different target positions, other cells showed graded changes in activity depending on the direction of movement. The peak discharge rate could rise to > 100 impulses/s. Some units received somatosensory input; other reach cells exhibited a visual response and/or presaccadic activity. It is likely that the primate superior colliculus is not only involved in the initiation and control of orientating movements of the eyes but also in reaching movements of the arms.     

H—TdR前体掺入技术在复方中药抗癌制剂研究中的应用

将一种快速、灵敏、可靠、简便的抗癌活性微量测定技术——~3H—TdR前体掺入技术用于复方中药抗癌制剂制备工艺筛选,短期内即拟定出较合理的工艺,经临床及14项生物学指标综合评定,该制剂疗效好,无明显的毒副作用。表明把一些快速、灵敏的医学检测技术引入药物制备工艺、质量标准及稳定性研究,可克服由于活性成分不清楚带来的一些困难,拓宽了研究途径,提高了研究水平。