Length of hospital stay and associated costs for olanzapine vs. haloperidol in the treatment of schizophrenia relapse in Germany

We examined the number of days spent in hospital due to a relapse of schizophrenia and the associated costs for patients treated with olanzapine or haloperidol. Twenty-one German psychiatric hospitals participated in this retrospective study. Data on the last hospitalisation following a relapse of schizophrenia were documented for equal numbers of patients on olanzapine and haloperidol. Matching for time since diagnosis and severity of symptoms was performed. Data were collected on 136 matched pairs. Total length of time spent in hospital was the same on average for patients in both groups (median about 5 weeks), but olanzapine patients spent nearly 1 week less in the in-patient setting than haloperidol patients, resulting in a saving of Euro 411 per patient. Our findings are consistent with those of randomised clinical trials in concluding that olanzapine is preferable to haloperidol in terms of the direct cost of treating schizophrenia. Andrea Spannheimer Kendle GmbH & Co. GMI KG, Stefan-George-Ring 6, 81929 Munich, Germany, e-mail: spannheimer.andrea@kendle.com     

Hygiene in Operationsabteilungen – Empfehlungen des Nationalen Referenzzentrums für Krankenhaushygiene

Zusammenfassung. Viele Hygienema?nahmen in Operationsabteilungen sind durch wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen nicht belegt. Die in dieser Arbeit vom Nationalen Referenzzentrum für Krankenhaushygiene, das 1996 vom Bundesgesundheitsministerium eingerichtet wurde, zusammengestellten Empfehlungen stützen sich auf die Ergebnisse wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen und trennen so die unbedingt notwendigen von den weniger bzw. nicht sinnvollen Ma?nahmen.

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Summary. Many hygienic procedures performed in operation units are not supported by scientific investigations. The following recommendations by the National Reference Center for Hospital Epidemiology, founded by the German Ministry of Health in 1996, are based on the scientific literature and separate necessary from less necessary and unnecessary procedures.

     

Internet tools in the medical classroom

Summary: The Internet contains a vast amount of medically relevant information. In order to access this information, however, many networks require one to master applications written in UNIX, an operating system considered by many not to be user friendly. Although these tools may be available on the campus, it is difficult to teach their use unless there is some immediate benefit to the already busy user. From that standpoint, it is important for instructors to realize that common UNIX applications can be utilized as classroom tools to significantly enhance the learning experience by facilitating teacher/student communication. Also, whilst the student enjoys greater communication with the instructor (and with other students) he/she is also becoming adept at using information management tools.     

An experimental model for canine visceral leishmaniasis

Seven mixed-breed dogs were challenged with either promastigotes or amastigotes of Leishmania donovani infantum strains recently isolated from naturally infected dogs. Different routes and numbers of parasites were utilized and each dog was monitored for at least 1 year post-infection. Anti-parasite specific antibody levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbence, immunofluorescence, crossed-immune electrophoresis and Western blotting on crude antigen. Western blotting on two pure parasite proteins, dp72 and gp70-2, was also done. Mitogenic and antigen-specific stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes was monitored; and the haematological, clinical and parasitological parameters measured. Dogs challenged with amastigotes exhibited a more pronounced humoral response to leishmanial antigens. Only in one case was strong antigen-specific proliferation detected. Clinical signs of disease, including hypergammaglobulinaemia, enlarged lymph nodes and the presence of parasites, were also more apparent in the dogs challenged with amastigotes. None of the seven dogs died. Serum antibodies to leishmanial antigens were apparent between 1.5 to 3 months following challenge and correlated with the appearance of enlarged lymph nodes, hypergammaglobulinaemia and the presence of parasites in tissue biopsies. Serum antibodies remained chronically high in these dogs throughout the period of the study. Only one dog (1/3) challenged intravenously with promastigotes and the dog challenged intradermally with amastigotes produced transient antibody responses to leishmanial antigen.     

日晒海盐工人机体内高镁反应

报道福建某盐场从事日晒海盐生产人工机体内高镁对心血管系统的影响，通过现场空气、饮水、主良的镁含量测定，并对进入机体途径进行分析，得出空气、卤水接触、饮水为机体镁增高的主要来源。不同对象头发镁含量测定结果显示，以接触卤水、劳动强度大的盐工最高，并随机体内镁含量增高，出现血压偏低、心率减慢、心电图Ｐ－Ｒ间期延长、ＱＲＳ波增宽、Ｔ波高尖等机体高镁反应，与临床高镁血症相似。     

305例老年死亡病例医院感染回顾性调查

本文结果表明,305例老年死亡病例医院感染的发病率为33.8％。感染最多部位为肺部(66.9％),其次为尿路感染(19.4％)。高龄患者,侵袭性操作、多种抗生素联合应用,激素疗法等是诱发医院感染的危险因素。58.8％的病原菌为革兰氏阴性杆菌,37.2％为真菌。31株病原菌药敏结果显示耐药率为33.3％。本文指出合理应用抗生素是预防医院感染的重要措施之一。     

Clinical experience with minimal flow xenon anesthesia

Xenon is a more potent anesthetic than nitrous oxide, and gives more profound analgesia. This investigation was performed to assess the potential of xenon for becoming an anesthetic inspite of its high manufacturing cost. Seven ASA I—-II patients undergoing cholecystectomy (n = 4), hernia repair (n = 2), or mammoplasty (n=l) were studied. Denitrogenation by 15–20 min of oxygen breathing under propofol anesthesia was followed by fentanyl–supplemented xenon anesthesia administered via an automatic minimal flow system which held the oxygen concentration at 30%. Xenon anesthesia lasted 76–228 min and 8–14 1 of xenon (ATPD) was used, of which 5.6–8.1 1 was expended during the first 15 min. Anesthesia appeared to be satisfactory, and the patients woke up rapidly after xenon was discontinued. The automatic system made minimal flow xenon anesthesia easy to administer, but nitrogen accumulation is still a problem. Assuming a xenon price of 10 US $ per litre, the average cost for xenon was about 65 US $ for the first 15 min and then about 25 USS for each subsequent hour of anesthesia.     

三甲达标中“护理管理软件系统”的建立及应用

本文系统地分析和总结了该院在上等达标中，“护理管理软件系统”的应用概况。通过对照标准逐项设计，收集、整理资料，目前已形成了科学的护理软件系统管理模式，并纳入惯性运行，为护理部管理及决策提供了科学的第一手资料。     

The uses of a patient-based dietetic data-collection systern

The F.I.P. (Financial Information Project) dietetic package allows the collection of basic patient data, which then can be processed to give valuable clinical and management information for use by all dietitians in a dietetic department. The advent of the Korner Reports (DHSS, 1984a) and their implementation highlighted the need to computerize certain aspects of data collection in dietetic departments. Within the West Midlands Regional Health Authority a group of dietitians worked with the Regional Management Services Department to adapt a community nursing system, F.I.P., for use by dietitians. The system was piloted for all paramedical services in 1987 with one health district (North Warwickshire) piloting the dietetic package. It is now used by a range of dietetic and paramedical departments. This paper outlines the system and its uses.