Lucian Leape on Patient Safety in U.S. Hospitals

PURPOSE: To describe and discuss the status of patient safety in U.S. hospitals. METHODS: Personal interview. This report is part of a series of discussions with a leading expert on patient safety. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Some improvements have been made in the past 10 years. But changes have not been adequate. Continuing barriers include the punitive environment in hospitals, physicians' denial of the scope of the problem, lack of national leadership, and lack of systems thinking.     

援外针灸临床综述(二)

介绍我国援外医疗队在 3 6个国家以 17种治疗方法为主治疗 40多种病的概况。     

Serum IgA and IgG functional antibodies and their subclasses to Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular antigen found in two aged‐matched cohorts of children with and without otitis media with effusion

Serum IgA and IgG functional antibodies and their subclasses to Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular antigen found in two aged‐matched cohorts of children with and without otitis media with effusion The relationship between acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion (OME) is uncertain and the aetiology of OME is multifactorial. Otitis media with effusion may be an inflammatory condition; both bacteria and viral infections could play a part in this inflammation. The four bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Staphylococcus aureus and Branhamella catarrhalis cause 60% of the infections whereas S. pneumoniae accounts for up to 35%. IgA provides the dominant surface response to polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide antigens, of which IgA₂ is the main subclass. Once the mucosa has been breached, most protection is provided by IgG. IgG₂ acts mainly against bacterial capsular antigens. This study looked at two groups of 50 children with and without OME who were aged between 3 and 10 years. The aims were to determine if, firstly, the levels of the serum immunoglobulins were different in the two groups, secondly whether these children made the appropriate antibody response to the capsular antigen to S. pneumoniae (PCP), and finally if there was a delay in the maturity of the IgA response. The total IgG, IgA and all subclass levels were measured using radial immunodiffusion. Levels of functional IgA and IgG were measured using ELISAs (25 patients in each group). The results were analysed with non‐parametric tests. The immunoglobulin levels were within the normal levels for both groups. There were very good correlations between the IgG total anti‐PCP and the IgG₂ anti‐PCP (R > 0.9, p = 0.001). There was a good correlation between the levels of both IgG total and IgG₂ anti‐PCP against IgA total anti‐PCP in both groups (R > 0.85, p > 0.01). This confirms a normal antibody response between both groups of patients. The ages of the controls and patients (50 samples) were correlated with increasing titres of circulating functional antibodies (P = 0.001). This is highly suggestive of a normal age‐related response. In conclusion, the findings were contradictory to our original hypothesis that there is a subtle difference in surface protection between children with and without OME. We believe that a previous history of recurrent acute otitis media is unrelated to the development of OME after 3 years of age.     

Investigations into the C‐deuteriation of aryl alkyl ketones using urea as a pro‐base in the presence of a deuterium donor

Results are reported on the regioselective C‐deuteriation of a series of enolates derived from the deprotonation of aryl alkyl ketones using dilithiated urea as the pro‐base in the presence of a suitable deuterium donor. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

急诊左半结肠一期切除吻合术25例治疗体会

目的探讨急诊左半结肠切除一期肠吻合的可行性。方法腹腔探查完后，用布带结扎横结肠，游离肠系膜后，于预切除肠段的上端切开作肠外减压，挤压排空粪便，切除病变肠管，端端吻合，术后作肛管扩张，停留肛管引流，胃肠减压。结果全部病人预期痊愈出院，无发生吻合口漏和腹腔污染。结论该法有利于吻合口的愈合，增加左半结肠一期切除吻合的安全性，减少第2次手术痛苦，可推荐为左半结肠急诊切除一期吻合的良好方法。     

Pediatric lupus versus adult lupus role of the laboratory

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the archetypical immunologic disease. Approximately 20% of patients present in the first two decades of life. This article highlights some of the differences between pediatric and adult onset lupus.Children are defined as different from adults on the basis of age. Lupus presents with different gender ratios based on hormonal or pubertal status with more significant skewing toward female patients in the childbearing years. Female patients in the childbearing years appear to have a higher relative risk for mortality. Despite this, children have greater disease severity at onset based on the number of patients who present with significant organ inflammation, the amount of corticosteroids required and the abnormalities in lupus serologies including autoantibodies and low complements. Children present frequently with congenital and acquired complement defects. Children have an increased risk of infections that can be confused with lupus. They have a higher risk of serious pneumococcal infection and may have less protection from vaccinations received at the time of disease onset.The clinical immunology laboratory is critical in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric SLE. The rapid analysis and transfer of laboratory results can be life saving for the child with suspected new onset lupus. The laboratory is also helpful in determining disease activity through analysis of immunologic trends over time in pediatric lupus patients. This is especially important in the noncompliant adolescent patient who has a correlation between disease activity and lupus serologic tests. Finally, the clinical immunology laboratory is an important tool for better understanding of the immunologic phenomena associated with lupus and of disease pathophysiology.     

中西医联合治疗单纯疱疹性角膜炎的疗效观察

目的 :探讨单纯疱疹性角膜炎是中西医联合用药的治疗方法。方法 :本组 10 0例 ( 10 6只眼 )单纯疱疹性角膜炎患者应用抗病毒药物联合清热解毒中药的疗效观察。结果 :本组病例治疗后总有效率 82 .0 8%。结论 :中西医联合治疗措施是我们对单纯疱疹性角膜炎治疗的一项新的探讨。     

盐酸托烷思琼预防脑动脉瘤栓塞术后恶心呕吐的观察

目的:观察盐酸托烷思琼对预防脑动脉瘤栓塞术患者术后恶心呕吐(PONV)的有效性和安全性。方法:选择行颅内动脉瘤栓塞术患者45例,随机分为3组,每组15例,于手术结束前30分钟A组患者缓慢静注盐酸托烷思琼5mg,B组患者缓慢静注盐酸托烷思琼3mg,C组患者给予生理盐水。术后观察并记录以下指标:(1)术后24h内恶心呕吐发生率及强度;(2)术后2、8h镇静评分(OAA/S);(3)术后2、8h平均动脉压(MAP),心率(HR);(4)各组不良反应的发生情况。结果:术后24h内两治疗组恶心呕吐发生率显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01)。托烷思琼5mg组恶心呕吐发生率略低于3mg组,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:托烷思琼可降低脑动脉瘤栓塞术患者术后恶心呕吐的发生率。托烷思琼3mg不仅可以减少药物用量,而且能减少副作用的发生,是一种经济、有效、安全的止吐方法。     

Kawasaki Disease in a Father and Son

The pathogenesis and etiology of Kawasaki disease are unknown, but some studies suggest increased genetic susceptibility. The case is presented of an infant with Kawasaki disease whose father suffered from the same illness 21 years previously. The A, B and C loci of the HLA antigens were examined.