Sick day management using blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) compared with urine ketone monitoring reduces hospital visits in young people with T1DM: a randomized clinical trial.

AIMS: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening acute complication of Type 1 diabetes, may be preventable with frequent monitoring of glycaemia and ketosis along with timely supplemental insulin. This prospective, two-centre study assessed sick day management using blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) monitoring compared with traditional urine ketone testing, aimed at averting emergency assessment and hospitalization. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three children, adolescents and young adults, aged 3-22 years, and their families received sick day education. Participants were randomized to receive either a blood glucose monitor that also measures blood 3-OHB (blood ketone group, n = 62) or a monitor plus urine ketone strips (urine ketone group, n = 61). All were encouraged to check glucose levels > or = 3 times daily and to check ketones during acute illness or stress, when glucose levels were consistently elevated (> or = 13.9 mmol/l on two consecutive readings), or when symptoms of DKA were present. Frequency of sick days, hyperglycaemia, ketosis, and hospitalization/emergency assessment were ascertained prospectively for 6 months. RESULTS: There were 578 sick days during 21,548 days of follow-up. Participants in the blood ketone group checked ketones significantly more during sick days (276 of 304 episodes, 90.8%) than participants in the urine ketone group (168 of 274 episodes, 61.3%) (P < 0.001). The incidence of hospitalization/emergency assessment was significantly lower in the blood ketone group (38/100 patient-years) compared with the urine ketone group (75/100 patient-years) (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Blood ketone monitoring during sick days appears acceptable to and preferred by young people with Type 1 diabetes. Routine implementation of blood 3-OHB monitoring for the management of sick days and impending DKA can potentially reduce hospitalization/emergency assessment compared with urine ketone testing and offers potential cost savings.     

Prognostic factors for early clinical failure in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia

For patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), clinical response during the first days of treatment is predictive of clinical outcome. As risk assessments can improve the efficiency of pneumonia management, a prospective cohort study to assess clinical, biochemical and microbiological predictors of early clinical failure was conducted in patients with severe CAP (pneumonia severity index score of >90 or according to the American Thoracic Society definition). Failure was assessed at day 3 and was defined as death, a need for mechanical ventilation, respiratory rate >25/min, PaO2 <55 mm Hg, oxygen saturation <90%, haemodynamic instability, temperature >38 degrees C or confusion. Of 260 patients, 80 (31%) had early clinical failure, associated mainly with a respiratory rate >25/minute (n = 34), oxygen saturation <90% (n = 28) and confusion (n = 20). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, failure was associated independently with altered mental state (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.75-5.80), arterial PaH <7.35 mm Hg (OR 4.29, 95% CI 1.53-12.05) and PaO2 <60 mm Hg (OR 1.75, 95% CI 0.97-3.15). A history of heart failure was associated inversely with clinical failure (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.96). Patients who failed to respond had a higher 28-day mortality rate and a longer hospital stay. It was concluded that routine clinical and biochemical information can be used to predict early clinical failure in patients with severe CAP.     

县级医院医疗仪器管理对策

医疗仪器在疾病诊断和医疗中的作用越来越大,完善的管理不仅可提高仪器的使用寿命和安全性,关系到医院的经济效益和社会效益,更关系到患者的利益.文章结合实际,提出县级医院医疗仪器管理对策.     

ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF A DIEULAFOY‐LIKE LESION IN A DUODENAL DIVERTICULUM

We present a 70‐year‐old man who had two episodes of melena during the preceding 8‐year period. He had a Dieulafoy‐like lesion in a diverticulum in the third portion of the duodenum. While emergency endoscopy revealed neither apparent blood nor clots around the diverticular orifice, there was a non‐bleeding vessel in the fundus of the diverticulum. The vessel ceased bleeding after argon plasma coagulation and, since then, the patient has not experienced bleeding. In cases of gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin, duodenal diverticulum should be considered as a possible source of bleeding, even when endoscopy discloses no apparent bleeding.     

从SARS流行看医院危机管理

医院是一个高风险的组织，在复杂、多变的市场环境中，危机是一种连续发生的常态。要借鉴SARS危机管理的经验教训，树立预警性反危机理念，尽量减少危机发生。要提高医院危机管理能力和水平，尽量减少危机造成的损害。要善于把危机变成推动医院发展的契机。     

岗位业绩导向的医院薪酬设计

基于现代管理理论和医院的实际情况，设计了一种以岗位和业绩为导向的医院薪酬制度。该设计的主要特点是：①薪酬结构以岗位工资和绩效工资为主体，同时兼顾稳定和逐步过渡原则，原档案工资的固定部分(约占档案工资的60％)保留。②岗位工资采用全院统一的等级薪酬结构，等级的评定基于全院统一的指标体系和权重，岗位工资每年随绩效考核结果在工资带宽中升降；③绩效工资与岗位等级和绩效考核紧密挂钩，考核的依据是全院统一模式的岗位绩效合同；④整个薪酬设计建立在岗位调查、岗位评价和岗位说明书等的科学规范的工作基础之上。     

The development and evaluation of Student Training, Education and Practice for Dietetics CD-ROM: a computer-assisted instruction programme for dietetic students

The Student Training, Education and Practice for Dietetics (STEP‐DIET) CD‐ROM was developed at the University of Surrey to prepare dietetic students for the practical dietetic training component of their Nutrition/Dietetics degree. This study aimed to evaluate student response to the programme and its effectiveness as a teaching tool, based on the evaluation framework of D.L. Kirkpatrick (Evaluating a Course, 2nd edn. London, Kogan Page). Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were employed, with 41 dietetic students, separated by year group, completing questionnaires and taking part in six focus groups, at the University of Surrey. Student attitudes towards the instruction method and the STEP‐DIET programme itself were investigated, in conjunction with their perceived learning achievements. Students rated the programme highly in terms of design and content, however, there was a reluctance to accept computer‐assisted instruction (CAI) as a sole teaching method. A number of learning achievements relevant to dietetic practice were reported including a perceived increase in ability to conduct a dietetic interview and an increased understanding of the management of Type 2 diabetes. In general students reacted positively to the STEP‐DIET programme and it was perceived by students to be effective in preparing them for the practical component of their dietetic training.     

综合医院医务人员感染SARS情况对比分析

目的：分析在防治SARS工作初期、后期医务人员感染SARS的差异和采取的对策，为减少综合医院内医务人员SARS的感染提供参考。方甚：对本院自2003年3月24日至6月2日SARS诊断治疗任务中发生的医务人员的感染原因和采取的对策进行回顾性分析。结果：防治SARS工作初期，急诊科交叉感染和在SARS隔离病房等与SARS患者密切接触的工作岗位，共有17名医务人员感染，及时隔离治疗，均已痊愈，未造成医护人员的进一步交叉感染：经加强防护培训，改善工作条件，在防治SARS工作后期，仅发生2名护工感染，亦已痊愈，派出非典医疗队实现零感染。结论：综合医院内医务人员感染SARS的问题严峻，加强医院内的全员防护培训，按岗分区管理，改善医务人员的工作条件和病人的隔离观察环境，做好监督检查，积极应对，可以减少医务人员的SARS感染。