A comparative study of the anatomical,radiological and therapeutic features of the lumbar facet joints

Summary An anatomical study of the lumbar apophyseal joints was carried out to facilitate recognition of facet joint lesions, which we now examine routinely by percutaneous arthrography. Special attention was given to the configuration of the different compartments of the joint space and to its relationships with the contents of the intervertebral foramen. The abnormalities seen on lumbar facet joint arthrography are very varied; two major groups should be stressed: synovial fringe hypertrophy and pseudodiverticular synovial ectasia. The percutaneous approach to lumbar facet joint arthrography allows it to be used a therapeutic measure, with injection of anti-inflammatory drugs into the joint space, the beneficial effects of which were confirmed in our series. The precision, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of this outpatient technique justify and should encourage its more widespread application in the diagnosis and treatment of low back pain.     

A computer and video display based system for training eccentric viewing in macular degeneration with an absolute central scotoma

A new approach designed to establish the most suitable area for eccentric viewing and to teach and train patients with severe age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to use the eccentric viewing technique is described. Using a computer and video display based system, as well as software written specifically for this purpose, we investigated and trained ten consecutive patients with AMD. The patients were 80.1 ± 5.6 years old, on average. All of them had an absolute central scotoma. Mean visual acuity was 0.035 ± 0.016. After 30 min of testing, instruction and reading on the screen, followed by 2.6 ± 0.69 one-hour training sessions, on average, with the low vision therapist, reading newspaper and book texts with the aid of hyperoculars or aplanatic systems and a very short reading distance, the patients achieved a reading speed of 58.9 ± 19.7 words/min, significantly (p<0.001) higher than the initial speed when reading on the screen, 11.5 ± 4.5 words/min.     

Infection dynamics and virus-induced apoptosis in cell culture-based influenza vaccine production—Flow cytometry and mathematical modeling

Cell culture-based influenza vaccine manufacturing is of growing importance. Depending on virus strains, differences in infection dynamics, virus-induced apoptosis, cell lysis and virus yields are observed. Comparatively little is known concerning details of virus–host cell interaction on a cellular level and virus spreading in a population of cells in bioreactors. In this study, the infection of MDCK cells with different influenza A virus strains in lab-scale microcarrier culture was investigated by flow cytometry. Together with the infection status of cells, virus-induced apoptosis was monitored. A mathematical model has been formulated to describe changes in the concentration of uninfected and infected adherent cells, dynamics of virus particle release (infectious virions, hemagglutinin content), and the time course of the percentage composition of the cell population.     

卵巢低反应患者大剂量超排卵的助孕结局

在辅助生殖助孕中通常采用控制性卵巢刺激(controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, COS),以获得适当数量的卵子用于体外受精,既希望获得理想的辅助生殖助孕成功率,又能降低卵巢过度刺激并发症.COS中约有9%~24%[1,2]的卵巢低反应发生率.卵巢低反应者获得有效卵子数少、可移植胚胎数少或无胚胎移植、取消治疗周期率高,累计成功率更低等,导致较差的治疗结局,是辅助生殖助孕中面临的棘手问题.针对卵巢低反应者,大多数辅助生殖中心仍会采用增加促性腺激素(Gn)的起始和(或)总用量以期获得提高助孕结局的目的.而大剂量Gn是否为改善低反应患者助孕结局的有效策略却仍存在争议.     

低分子肝素钙联合辛伐他汀治疗不稳定型心绞痛疗效观察

目的探讨低分子肝素联合辛伐他汀治疗不稳定型心绞痛的疗效。方法将100例不稳定型心绞痛患者随机分为对照组50例和观察组50例。对照组仅采取常规治疗（硝酸酯类、β-受体阻滞剂、钙拮抗剂、阿司匹林等），观察组在常规治疗的基础上加用低分子肝素和辛伐他汀，观察比较各组的疗效。结果观察组总有效率为90．0％，对照组总有效率为60．0％，两组疗效比较差异有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。结论低分子肝素联合辛伐他汀治疗不稳定型心绞痛取得满意的疗效。     

个体患者适形调强放疗计划模体内剂量实测验证技术的建立

目的建立个体患者适形调强放疗（IMRT）计划的模体内剂量实测验证技术。方法选择1例鼻咽癌患者，设计IMRT计划。将患者计划转移到模体上设计杂交计划。执行杂交计划时，用针点电离室测量感兴趣点的剂量，并与该点的计算剂量比较。用胶片剂量测量系统测量杂交计划中感兴趣平面的剂量，胶片与计划剂量矩阵登记后，依次进行计划，胶片分析、计划，胶片剖面分析和计划／胶片等剂量线分析。采用复合判断标准评价验证结果。结果针点电离室测量得到杂交计划单次照射的总剂量为121．5cGy，比计算值低约4％。计划，胶片分析得到高剂量、高梯度区域的距离差别均在4mm以内；计划／胶片剖面分析显示，计划与胶片在通过靶区的剖面具有较好的一致性；计划，胶片等剂量线分析显示，计划与胶片对应值的等剂量线重合良好。按照复合判断标准，该计划验证通过。结论初步建立了个体患者IMRT计划的模体内剂量实测验证技术，建立并优化了剂量登记技术、剂量归一方法和评价方法。     

Danish version of the Oswestry disability index for patients with low back pain. Part 2: Sensitivity, specificity and clinically significant improvement in two low back pain populations

In studies evaluating the efficacy of clinical interventions, it is of paramount importance that the functional outcome measures are responsive to clinically relevant change. Knowledge thereof is in fact essential for the choice of instrument in clinical trials and for clinical decision-making. This article endeavours to investigate the sensitivity, specificity and clinically significant improvement (responsiveness) of the Danish version of the Oswestry disability index (ODI) in two back pain populations. Two hundred and thirty three patients with low back pain (LBP) and/or leg pain completed a questionnaire booklet at baseline and 8 weeks follow-up. Half of the patients were seen in the primary (PrS) and half in the secondary sectors (SeS) of the Danish Health Care System. The booklet contained the Danish version of the ODI, along with the Roland Morris Questionnaire, the LBP Rating Scale, the SF36 (physical function and bodily pain scales) and a global pain rating. At follow-up, a 7-point transition question (TQ) of patient perceived change and a numeric rating scale relating to the importance of the change were included. Responsiveness was operationalised using three strategies: change scores, standardised response means (SRM) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. All methods revealed acceptable responsiveness of the ODI in the two patient populations which was comparable to the external instruments. SRM of the ODI change scores at 2 months follow-up was 1.0 for PrS patients and 0.3 for SeS (raw and percentage). A minimum clinically important change (MCID) from baseline score was established at 9 points (71%) for PrS patients and 8 points (27%) for SeS patients using ROC analyses. This was dependable on the baseline entry score with the MCID increasing with 5 points for every 10 points increase in the baseline score. We conclude that the Danish version of the ODI has comparable responsiveness to other commonly used functional status measures and is appropriate for use in low back pain patients receiving conservative care in both the primary and secondary sector.     

浙江医科大学附二院门诊处方中精神药物使用调查

本文对浙江医科大学附属二院１９９３年７月间３１３７８张合格处方进行统计分析，并用限定日剂量（ＤＤＤ）和药物使用指数（ＤＵＩ）为指标，分析镇静催眠药物使用情况。结果表明苯二氮　类药方２０６７张，占总处方量的６．５９％，巴比妥类药方４９张，占０．１６％，麻醉药方１１１张；占０．３５％。苯二氮　类药方中．女性处方量１２０２张，男性处方量８６５张，男、女组间比较有显著性差异。苯二氮　类药方多分布在神经内科，常用的药有舒乐安定和阿普唑仑。九种常用的苯二氮　类药和麻醉性镇痛药的ＤＵＩ均小于１。提示药物滥用现象少见，该院对这类药物的管理比较严格。麻醉性镇痛药中二氢埃托啡处方占６７．５７％。     

An approach to protein restriction in children with renal insufficiency

Children with mild to moderate renal insufficiency may be at an increased risk for developing glomerulosclerosis and subsequent renal failure. Low protein diets (LPD) have been shown to delay the progression of renal insufficiency in laboratory animals and may be of benefit in adult humans. The nutritional costs of a LPD in adults are reportedly minimal. We review the protein and caloric requirements of growing children and discuss the potential harmful effects and benefits of an LPD in this population. We also discuss dietary adherence and the difficulty of designing an LPD for children. We conclude that the protein content of a typical American diet can safely be reduced to, but not below, the recommended daily allowance for protein if diets are carefully planned, patients and their parents extensively counseled, and if dietary supplements are given to help meet the caloric and vitamin-mineral nutrient needs of growing children. In addition, ongoing nutritional assessment, counseling, and frequent monitoring of growth, diet and biochemical indicators of protein status are essential for maintaining the health of these children.     

Prevalence of vibration-induced white finger and assessment of vibration exposure among travertine workers in Italy

Summary Among 76 stonedrillers and stonecutters/chippers working in the Rapolano travertine quarries (Tuscany, Italy), 27 subjects (35.5%) were affected with vibration-induced white finger (VWF). The median latent period for VWF was ten years (range 0.1–26 years). A VWF prevalence of 8% was found among 60 comparable controls (P < 0.0001). Vibration measurements showed that the frequency-weighted accelerations for two rock-drills and two small chipping hammers ranged from 19.7 to 36.4 m/s². Weighted accelerations between 2.4 and 4.1 m/s². were measured on the handles of a vertical grinder and a hand cutter. Vibration data, daily exposure time and total duration of exposure period were used to calculate two indicators of vibration dose such as the four-hour, energy-equivalent, frequency-weighted acceleration (m/s²) and the vibration exposure level (dB). A significant association between the vibration exposure level and the severity of VWF stages was observed among the travertine operators. The dose-effect relationship proposed by ISO 5349 was not suitable for the data of the present study because it overestimates the risk due to hand-transmitted vibration in the travertine workers. Finally, the results of a cold test indicated that the rewarming time of fingertips to room temperature was more prolonged in the operators with VAT than in those without VWF and in the controls.