Nerve conduction as a means of estimating early post-mortem interval

Summary Methods in current practice for ascertaining time of death are largely based on the cooling of the body after death and are somewhat unreliable. A theoretica relationship is known to exist between the decline in the properties defining nerve conduction and time after death caused by the gradual cessation of metabolic activity in nerves. A number of such properties were measured in rats during life and after death. In most cases the relationship was found to be inconsistent. The chronaxie of the strength duration curve for the sciatic nerve was, however, found to increase consistently and reproducibly in a linear fashion over the first 90 min after death to a plateau value which was maintained beyond 135 min. These findings are discussed as the possible basis of a forensic method of determining the duration of the “post mortem interval” within the first few hours after death.      

小儿氨基酸注射液治疗胎儿宫内发育迟缓的探讨

经临床鉴定静脉内注射小儿氨基酸对治疗胎儿宫内发育迟缓具有肯定效果。在Ｂ超监视下，使用小儿氨基酸的孕妇组于用药期间，胎儿生长参数ＢＰＤ和ＨＣ显著高于使用成人氨基酸的孕妇组。１０例足月娩出胎儿体重均达到甚至超过２．５ｋｇ。由此得出结论：使用小儿氨基酸注射液对于改善胎儿宫内发育迟缓优于成人氨基酸。     

Recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of cancer-related anaemia

Abstract: The efficacy and safety of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) were tested when given subcutaneously (s.c.) in an escalating dose of 2000–10,000 units (U) daily in 60 patients with cancer-related anaemia (CRA). A positive response, defined as an increase in haemoglobin more than 2 g/dl and independence of blood transfusions, was observed in 23 of 48 evaluable patients (48%) within a median of 8 wk. In detail, rhEPO corrected anaemia in 11 of 14 patients (79%) with malignant lymphoma, in 8 of 15 patients (53%) with multiple myeloma and in 4 of 10 patients (40%) with a solid tumour. The median dose of rhEPO in successful cases was 5000 U daily. Four patients with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia and 5 with myelodysplastic disorder failed to respond to rhEPO. No patient had any severe side effects. Pretreatment serum erythropoietin levels appeared to be a weak predictor for response to rhEPO treatment. In conclusion, rhEPO seems to be safe and effective in correcting CRA in certain groups of patients.     

Hepatic-pericardio-phrenic collateral (natural shunt) in a patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome

Hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction, Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), leads to portal hypertension and to the development of collaterals that bypass the obstruction. Described here is a BCS patient with an unusually large transdiaphragmatic collateral between the left hepatic and left innominate veins, which decompressed the oesophageal varices. This has not been reported earlier in the literature.     

Long-term results of open reduction for residual subluxation in congenital dislocation of the hip: A new open reduction method involving 360° circumferential capsulotomy

We report satisfactory results with a new operative treatment, conducted via an extensive anterolateral approach, involving 360 degree circumferential capsulotomy, for residual subluxation in congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH). Long-term radiographic results of this procedure (group A) were compared retrospectively with the results of partial capsulotomy (group B), which preserved the posteroinferior joint capsule. The mean center edge angle in group A (22.5°) was greater than that in group B (16.0°). Satisfactory results were achieved in 11 of 15 hips (73%) (Severin class I or II) in group A, and in 5 of 12 hips (42%) in group B. These results suggest that whole circumferential capsulotomy can remove obstacles to complete reduction, and that acetabular development can be expected in hips reduced by the procedure, without the performance of innominate osteotomy. We believe that our technique is a useful alternative for the treatment of residual subluxation in CDH.     

Introducing expert systems to medical students using esta, Expert System Teaching Aid

Medical students are allocated little curriculum time for exposure to expert systems. ESTA, a computer model of an expert system, was developed to make best use of this time. The nature of the students' interaction with ESTA is described, and their reactions to the expert system concepts and the place of expert systems in medicine are presented. A discussion of these reactions draws some conclusions about teaching expert systems in particular, and computers in general, in the basic medical course.     

Eight years'' experience with a structured clinical examination

A structured clinical examination has been an integral component of the final-year examinations conducted by the Departments of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Adelaide for the last 8 years. It has been used as an alternative to the traditional clinical examination. This paper describes the results of ongoing student and examiner surveys carried out to determine their views and satisfaction with this new approach. It also briefly discusses the feasibility of introducing such an examination into a conventional medical school environment. The surveys showed a remarkable level of acceptance and support by both students and examiners. This positive reaction has been maintained over the 8-year period. The main reasons seem to be its perceived relevance and fairness. Students also appear to be directing their learning in a direction thought desirable by teachers. No significant problems have been encountered with the practical implementation of the method.     

芬太尼／哌替啶致Oddi括约肌痉挛的探讨

２００例择期胆囊切除＋术中胆道造影患者分二组；芬太尼１７ｕｇ／ｋｇ静注（Ｆ组，ｎ＝１００）、哌替啶１ｍｇ／ｋｇ静注。评价两种麻醉性镇痛药致Ｏｄｄｉ括约肌痉挛的发生率，结果：８例病人造影剂不能通过Ｏｄｄｉ括约肌、十二指肠不显影，胆总管下端显示“鸟嘴样”或“假结石”影像，后者３例病人胆总管探查阴性，静注纳络酮０．４ｍｇ后，全部病例造影剂顺利进入十二指肠。结论：硬膜外麻醉辅用小剂量芬太尼／哌替啶时Ｏｄｄ     

Self-directed learning in anatomy: incorporation of case-based studies into a conventional medical curriculum

This paper reports an attempt to develop self-directed learning skills in second-year medical students by introducing case-based projects into the gross anatomy course at a long-established medical school. The programme and students' responses to a questionnaire completed at the end of the year are presented. Information on the various resources used by students to find information is given. The performance of students in the case-based components of the course has been evaluated and also in the more traditional end-of-year written examination. The data confirm that students have recognized that the projects were about obtaining a deeper understanding of the anatomy, and the programme appears to have promoted the use and study of library texts.