Accuracy of reporting endocervical component adequacy--a continuous quality improvement project

Inaccurate reporting of the absence of an endocervical (EC) component on Pap smears often results in slide rescreens, amended reports, clinician dissatisfaction, and sometimes unnecessary repeat smears. Therefore, the accuracy of reporting EC component adequacy was selected as a quality indicator for the laboratory continuous quality improvement program (CQI). The process consisted of problem identification, analysis of the situation, collection of data, implementation of solutions, and evaluation of results. The objective of the study was to determine if the accuracy of reporting EC component adequacy on Pap smears improved after application of such a program. During the first phase, 150 Pap smears originally reported with the absence of an adequate EC component and 150 smears reported with the presence of an adequate EC component were rescreened to measure the baseline accuracy of EC component adequacy reporting. The improvement process was then implemented. A cause-and-effect diagram was developed and root cause was determined. A presentation was then made to the cytology staff. Criteria for EC component adequacy were reviewed, examples were shown, and standardized marking of EC component was implemented. Following improvement actions, a second audit of 150 Pap smears reported with the absence of an adequate EC component as well as 150 smears reported with the presence of an adequate EC component was undertaken to measure change in performance in assessing EC component adequacy. For the baseline rescreening, before initiation of the CQI program, 98% accuracy was achieved with smears that were reported as adequate for EC component present. However, the accuracy with smears reported as absence of an adequate EC component was only 71%, i.e., an adequate EC component was identified in almost 1/3 of these cases on rescreen. After the implementation of improvement actions, the accuracy with smears reported with the presence of EC component remained high (98%) and the accuracy of reporting the absence of EC component was 90%. The difference of the latter before and after the implementation was statistically significant (P = 0.015, z-test). The accuracy of reporting EC component adequacy increased following the CQI process. Using reporting EC component adequacy as an example, we demonstrate that by treating clinical problems as quality control issues and applying basic quality improvement tools, a positive outcome can be effected.     

Down syndrome and trisomy 18 in the bedouins

Direct chromosome preparations of neonatal cord blood provides the unique opportunity for rapid chromosome analysis (turnaround time; 6 hr), without the necessity of bone marrow aspiration. Based on 42 samples we confirm the finding of Garnham and Sutherland [1987] for suitability of cord blood for direct chromosome preparation. Procedural modifications are provided for higher yield of cells for chromosome analysis. The procedure may well be of major significance for rapid diagnosis of neonates who suffer from aneusomy.     

Cardiac vagal tone and sustained attention in school-age children

Three hypotheses tested relationships between cardiac responses mediated via the vagus and sustained attention in a population of normal school-age children. These hypotheses addressed the theoretical relationships among resting cardiac vagal tone (using the Porges estimate of respiratory sinus arrhythmia, V), performance measures of sustained attention, and cardiac reactivity during sustained attention. Thirty-two fourth and fifth grade children performed a continuous performance task while their electrocardiograms were monitored. Children with higher resting levels of V performed better on the first 3-min block of the continuous performance task. Additionally, levels of V were significantly reduced across the blocks of the 9-min task for all children. No relationships were found between resting levels of V and change in either V or heart period during task performance. These findings support two of the three hypotheses proposed by Porges regarding individual differences in cardiac vagal tone and sustained attention.     

Components of predation defense behavior in chickens: evidence for endogenous rhythmicity

The manifestation of diurnal periodicity and the extent of its control by the photoperiod was assessed in three predation defense reactions which constitute either components or outcomes of a predator-prey interaction sequence. Two-hundred White Leghorn chicks were reared from hatching for one week in either 24L or 12L and then tested at one of two clock hours previously demonstrated to define peak and trough response for one of the components. Putative evidence was found for an endogenous source of the periodicity manifested in all reactions. Maintenance schedule did not entrain the periodicity, but simple room entry and handling elicited anti-predator reactions, the extent of which varied as a function of clock hour. A general model of predation defense behavior was proposed.     

How to improve microscopic images obtained with consumer-type digital cameras

AIM: Digital imaging is useful in conventional photography because it immediately provides images, and the image quality can be improved afterwards by the use of computer programs. The major disadvantages of consumer-type digital cameras mounted on microscopes are (i) unequal illumination through the image, and (ii) a coloured background. A computer program was specifically adapted and refined to improve images obtained with consumer-type digital cameras mounted on microscopes. METHODS AND RESULTS: An approach using a division operation between the specimen image and a background image leads to homogeneous illumination throughout the image, with automatically corrected brightness and white background. The correct colour spectrum is preserved by correction of the histogram. This approach was obtained from the freeware computer program 'Image Arithmetic'. In a test, three different consumer-type digital cameras (Sony, Nikon, Olympus) on different microscopes were used to obtain images of different types of histological specimens (cervical smear, bone marrow biopsy, and colonic biopsy). The computer program dramatically improved the quality of images obtained with all tested cameras. CONCLUSION: Using this approach, even low-cost digital cameras mounted on microscopes produce brilliant images with homogeneous illumination and a white background, the image quality being comparable with expensive cameras especially designed for microscopes.     

解剖钢板结合连续被动运动功能锻炼治疗胫骨平台骨折

目的 评价解剖钢板结合连续被动运动(CPM)功能锻炼在治疗胫骨平台骨折中的应用价值.方法 2003年5月至2005年10月本院34例胫骨平台骨折行解剖复位、解剖钢板内固定并在术后进行CPM功能锻炼.结果 术后对患者行X线检查示骨折实现解剖复位或接近解剖复位.23例患者经5～30个月随访骨折均愈合,无植骨坏死发生.CPM功能锻炼后运动功能恢复优良率为82.6%(19/23).结论 采用关节面的解剖复位、解剖钢板及牢固固定后配合术后CPM功能锻炼对于胫骨平台骨折有很好的疗效.     

Amphetamine does not affect the partial punishment effect (PPE)

The effects of amphetamine on the partial punishment effect (PPE) at one trial per day, were examined. Two groups of animals were trained to run in a straight alley. The continuously reinforced (CRF) group received food reward on every trial. The partially punished (PP) group received food reward on every trial but in addition, received footshocks of a gradually increasing intensity in the goal box on a random 50% of the trials. In the test stage, all animals received both food and footshock on each trial. dl-Amphetamine 1.5 mg/kg was administered in a 2 × 2 design, i.e. drug-no drug in training and drug-no drug in test. The partially punished animals exhibited increased persitence in running to the goal box during test, and this partial punishment effect was unaffected by amphetamine.     

Influence of exposure mode on vinyl chloride action

Rats were subjected to 4 h continuous or intermittent exposure to vinyl chloride (VC) at different time-weighted average concentrations (15, 50, 150, 500 and 15,000 mg/m³). Hepatic non-protein sulfhydryl content (NPSH) and excretion of thiodiglycolic acid (TdGA) in urine were determined. VC at concentrations from 50 mg/m³ to 15,000 mg/m³ caused a dose-dependent depression of NPSH, but no difference in the magnitude of this depression induced by continuous or intermittent exposure at the same average concentration of VC was noted. At average concentrations of 50 mg/m³ and 150 mg/m³, the urinary excretion of TdGA under continuous exposure did not differ from that under intermittent exposure, whereas at VC concentrations of 500 mg/m³ and 15,000 mg/m³ it was higher following continuous exposure.     

熏眼与按摩治疗干眼症的持续护理改进对策

目的探讨熏眼与按摩治疗干眼症的持续护理改进对策。方法选择2018年6月—2019年6月于我院接受中药熏眼与睑板腺按摩治疗的干眼症患者196例,以随机数字表法将其随机分为两组,其中对照组与研究组各98例。对照组患者接受常规护理,研究组在此基础上应用持续护理改进对策。评价两组患者的治疗效果、干眼症的复发情况,以及护理满意度。结果研究组治疗的总有效率为97.96%高于对照组90.80%(P<0.05)。研究组复发率3.06%低于对照组12.24%(P<0.05)。研究组护理满意率98.98%高于对照组90.82%(P<0.05)。结论持续护理改进对策能够保证熏眼与按摩治疗干眼症的效果,抑制疾病复发,并增强了患者对护理服务的满意度。     

优质护理对老年支气管哮喘患者生活质量影响分析研究

目的探讨优质护理对老年支气管哮喘患者生活质量的影响。方法摘选2018年9月-2019年9月期间,医院接收的老年支气管哮喘病例78例,依据随机化分组,获对照组(共39例)、试验组(共39例)。对照组先予常规性护理,而试验组在常规性护理中应用优质护理,比较两组所得的结果。结果对照组的满意度为82.05%,试验组患者满意度为97.44%,χ²=4.1235,P<0.05。试验组患者角色功能、生活自理能力、情绪状况、社会适应能力评分分别为(82.33±4.36)分、(82.33±5.36)分、(82.18±3.58)分、(77.43±3.87)分,对照组患者角色功能、生活自理能力、情绪状况、社会适应能力评分分别为(76.28±3.69)分、(69.36±1.88)分、(72.37±4.22)分、(67.21±2.97)分,t=6.1854、6.5455、5.4845、6.2170,P<0.05。结论优质护理对老年支气管哮喘患者生活质量有显著影响,经优质护理后,患者的满意度大大提高,生活质量得到了极大改善,能够获得更为理想的效果,促进其疾病康复。