The value of SCORAD and beyond. Towards a standardized evaluation of severity?

The clinical scoring systems of atopic dermatitis were analysed and compared. Some biological parameters that can correlate with the clinical score were also reviewed. After the definition of the disease based on validated clinical criteria, the second necessity was the availability of reliable severity scores to allow clinicians to verify the course of the disease and the efficacy of treatments. After many proposals, the SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis), that required more than three years of work, was the first one that was validated. SCORAD is freely available from an internet site and can be easily calculated using dedicated software. EASI (Eczema Area and Severity Index) score has also been validated but it has been modified twice. Simpler systems include SASSAD (Six Area, Six Sign Atopic Dermatitis) and TIS score (Three-Item Severity score). In parallel, biological parameters were investigated. Eosinophil cationic protein, circulating basophils, major basic protein, soluble E-selectin, antistaphylococcal enterotoxin B, immunoglobulin E titres and macrophage-derived chemokine, can correlate significantly with the clinical score. The clinicians will not benefit directly from laboratory techniques and will employ clinical scores.     

微创内固定系统治疗复杂股骨转子部骨折的初步报告

目的探讨微创内固定系统(LISS)治疗复杂股骨转子部骨折的可行性、手术技术及指征,并总结其近期临床治疗效果。方法自2005年6月～2006年5月,应用LISS治疗复杂股骨转子部骨折12例。骨折采用AO分类法,其中转子间骨折5例：31-A2．2型2例,31-A2．3型2例,31-A3．3型1例；转子下骨折7例：32-A3．1型1例,32-B1．1型3例,32-B2．1型1例,32-B3．1型2例。记录手术时间、术中出血量、术后住院时间,术后观察有无感染、下肢深静脉血栓、心肺疾患、应激性溃疡等并发症。术后1、2、3、6、12个月时常规随访。结果手术时间50～90 min,平均65 min；出血量50～400 mL,平均142 mL,术后住院时间6～15 d,平均9．3 d。无死亡病例。所有患者均未出现切口感染、下肢深静脉血栓、术后心肺疾患、应激性溃疡等并发症。12例均获得3～14个月(平均7．2个月)随访。10例在术后3个月复查骨折时达到临床愈合,1例假体周围骨折术后4个月、1例病理性骨折术后6个月达到临床愈合。所有患者在最后一次随访时均无骨折再移位、髋内翻畸形、内固定切出、内固定失败及股骨头坏死。结论微创反向使用股骨LISS从生物力学和解剖结构上都能满足股骨近端骨折内固定要求,并具有创伤小、操作简便、固定可靠、安全性高、并发症少的特点,尤其适用于老年人合并内科疾病、骨质疏松较重的转子间骨折及复杂的股骨近端骨折。熟练掌握间接复位技术,正确放置A孔导针,避免过早负重是手术成功的关键。     

Hepatocyte isolation from pig livers after warm ischaemic injury

Abstract Hepatocyte cultures have been used extensively for a wide variety of physiological, pharmacological and experimental studies. The warm ischaemic period before isolation is kept to a minimum to achieve a high yield of cells isolated and a good viability for culture. We have recently introduced a new concept of liver resuscitation after warm ischaemia that is based on a 3-h reperfusion period with an improved perfusate and simultaneous dialysis. In this study, we applied the new technique for hepatocyte isolation from livers subjected to 80 min of complete ischaemia at 37 °C. Cell yield was improved by a resuscitating perfusion from 58% to 73% and viability from 39% to 76%.     

User satisfaction with a real-time automated feedback system for general practitioners: a quantitative and qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: The GRIF automated feedback system produces real-time comments on the appropriateness of diagnostic tests ordered by general practitioners (GPs) based on recommendations from accepted national and regional practice guidelines. We investigated the experiences of GPs with this system and, more specifically, with the recommendations produced by the system as well as their views on using this system in daily practice. SETTING: We tested the GRIF system in an experiment in a laboratory setting and in a daily practice trial. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: General practitioners. INTERVENTION: In the laboratory experiment, GPs used the GRIF system to assess the appropriateness of 30 request forms. Each of the GPs was confronted with requests they had submitted to the diagnostic unit of the hospital in the past. In the field trial, the GRIF system was applied during patient consultations for 1 year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured GPs' satisfaction with the system using a questionnaire, and also conducted group discussions (in the laboratory experiment) and in-depth interviews (in the field trial) to elicit GPs' opinions of and experiences with the system. In addition, we explored GPs' reasons for not accepting the comments offered by the GRIF system. RESULTS: The results show that the GPs in the laboratory experiment had more positive attitudes towards the system compared with participants in the field trial. All discussion groups and most of the GPs in the field trial regarded receiving the immediate feedback during the test ordering process as an important advantage. The most frequently mentioned reason to reject the recommendation was disagreement with the content and/or the recommendations in the practice guidelines. CONCLUSION: Apart from securing agreement on guideline content, a prerequisite for using GRIF in daily practice on a large scale is that more attention is paid to promotion of the guidelines and their adoption, and stimulation of a positive attitude towards the practice guidelines among the users.     

采用修正正交分段线性函数求解时滞系统和卷积的方法

应用修正正交分段线性函数的时滞和反向特性，推导出求解时滞系统和卷积的公式。数字仿真表明，它具有计算简单，精度高的优点。     

Comparison and validation of scoring systems in a cohort of patients treated for perforated peptic ulcer

Background and aims The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive accuracy of different scoring systems on surgery for perforated peptic ulcer referred to an academic department of general surgery in a tertiary reference center. Patients and methods Seventy-five consecutive patients (Male/female ratio = 64:11; mean age, 44 years; range, 16–85) with perforated peptic ulcer disease were investigated. Disease severity scores and mortality predictions were calculated using the collected data during admission. Discrimination and calibration characteristics of each system, namely, the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II and III, the simplified acute physiology score II, and the mortality probability models (MPM) II, were determined by using the area under receiver operating characteristics curve and the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, respectively. Results Among the 75 patients included, there were eight (10.6%) mortalities. All systems had a reliable power of discrimination and calibration. Among the systems tested, MPM II was the best performing as far as discrimination and calibration characteristics were considered. The parameters of MPM II system that were related to systemic perfusion of the patient were significantly positive in patients who died compared to those who survived. Conclusions MPM II that predicted mortality at admission is better than the other systems in predicting mortality. Results also indicate the importance of maintenance of systemic perfusion of the patient at the early phases of peptic ulcer perforation.     

How to Effectively Implement an Indicator System to Improve Performance from a Management Perspective: The Case of Taiwan Healthcare Indicator Series (THIS) System

This study uses the Taiwan Healthcare Indicator Series (THIS) system as an example to examine which determinants would improve performance by sharing indicators from a management perspective. This study population included all 227 hospitals participating in the THIS system in 2006. A structured questionnaire was sent to the director who was responsible for the THIS system via electronic mail. A total of 111 responses were returned by February 10, 2006. Questions included current implementation and impacts of the system. Hierarchical regression models were performed to identify which variables were significantly associated with performance improvement, adjusted for hospital characteristics. Four variables significantly associated with implementing the THIS system to improve performance were ‘senior management support,’ ‘benchmarking,’ ‘making departments improve the underperforming indicators and report the improvement results in performance management meetings,’ and ‘integration with the National Health Insurance payment regulations’. This study contributes substantially to the evidence base about what works to improve performance by information sharing. Although information sharing is the basis of efforts to improve performance, senior management support and how to effectively apply the information are the most important determinants of performance enhancement.     

Regional Variation and Use of Exception Letters for Cadaveric Liver Allocation in Children with Chronic Liver Disease

The Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) score was designed to reduce subjectivity in liver allocation and to advantage patients with a higher probability of waiting list mortality. The aims of this study were to determine the impact of PELD implementation for children with chronic liver disease and to assess whether PELD met its goal of standardization of liver allocation for children. This study used data reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry for children with chronic liver disease receiving primary cadaveric liver transplant between January 2000 and December 2001 (pre-PELD) and March 2002 and July 2003 (PELD). PELD reduced the percentage of children transplanted while in an intensive care unit and as status 1. A calculated PELD score was used for allocation in only 52% of recipients. Thirty percent were status 1 at transplant and PELD scores granted by exception were used for allocation in 18% of patients. There was regional variation in PELD score at allocation and use of exception scores with a significant relationship between PELD score and percentage of exception cases. Regional variation suggests that PELD has not resulted in standardization of listing practices in pediatric liver transplantation.     

Scale-up of Adhesive Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

Pharmaceutical Research -