The effects of altering time delays of coupled pacing during acute atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Coupled pacing (CP), which consists of delivering a premature electrical stimulation to the heart after the effective refractory period of ventricular activation, is a novel method for controlling ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF). It also has been established that CP improves pump function by enhancing external cardiac work and myocardial efficiency. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine if two time delays for CP (short and long) would result in similar improvements in ventricular function. METHODS: In a canine model, we applied CP at two time delays (CP-S and CP-L) during two stages: sinus rhythm (SR) and acute AF. The cardiac responses to CP during SR served as the nontachycardic and nondepressed control. During both rhythms, we shortened the coupling interval until we obtained maximal contractility, designated CP-S. Next, we increased the delay until we started to see a measurable secondary contraction (left ventricular pressure development of approximately 20 mmHg). These longer delays were designated CP-L. RESULTS: Our results showed that the ventricular rate of intrinsic activation (VRIA) remained decreased despite prolongation of the time delay of CP during both AF and SR. Also, both delays of CP increased left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and dLVP/dt, which are indices of myocardial contractility. In contrast, CP increased external cardiac work only during AF. Prolonging this time delay did not markedly decrease the improvement in external cardiac work. Myocardial O(2) consumption (MVO(2)) did not significantly change as the result of CP during either SR or AF. Finally, myocardial efficiency improved during AF as the result of CP at both time delays. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, shorter time delays for CP increased contractile strength during both SR and AF. However, extending the time delay of CP had minimal effects on diminishing the improved ventricular pump function and energetics that resulted from CP during AF. Thus, the maximal enhancement of myocardial contractility via CP-S was not needed to maintain the improved ventricular function during acute AF when CP is applied.     

A framework for systematically improving occupational therapy expert opinions on work capacity

Aim:  To present an evidence-based framework to improve the quality of occupational therapy expert opinions on work capacity for litigation, compensation and insurance purposes.
Methods:  Grounded theory methodology was used to collect and analyse data from a sample of 31 participants, comprising 19 occupational therapists, 6 medical specialists and 6 lawyers. A focused semistructured interview was completed with each participant. In addition, 20 participants verified the key findings.
Results:  The framework is contextualised within a medicolegal system requiring increasing expertise. The framework consists of (i) broad professional development strategies and principles, and (ii) specific strategies and principles for improving opinions through reporting and assessment practices.
Conclusions:  The synthesis of the participants' recommendations provides systematic guidelines for improving occupational therapy expert opinion on work capacity.     

7～12岁儿童铁缺乏及补充对身体做功能力的影响

以１１６０名７～１２岁儿童为研究对象，共筛查出ＩＤＡ儿童２６９人，贫血患病率为２３．１９％。抽取６０名ＩＤＡ儿童分为二组（补铁组、安慰剂组），另选３０名正常儿童为对照组。补铁前后测Ｈｂ、ＦＥＰ、ＰＷＣ１７０、ＲＰＷＣ１７０、ＶＯ２ｍａｘ及血乳酸浓度值。补铁前，ＩＤＡ儿童反映ＰＷＣ大小的各项指标值与正常儿童之间存在显著性差异；经三个月补铁后，补铁组以上各指标值恢复正常水平。结果提示：轻度ＩＤＡ对７～１２岁儿童ＰＷＣ有明显影响，并能通过铁剂治疗得以矫正。     

创收工资—医院按劳分配的探索

遵循“各尽所能，按劳分配”的社会主义分配原则，我院对职工分配进行了积极的探索。从８０年代初起，在院内实行定量、定质的超额劳务提成。但随着医院改革不断深化，医院总收入增加，院内、外独立核算，限期还本息项目增多，原超额劳务提成办法不能适应医院发展。因此，在原有基本工资、奖励工资基础上，增设了创收工资，医院对创收工资从质量、数量、文明建设、医德医风建设等方面进行宏观调控。创收工资使科主任责、权、利落到实     

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。     

Supportive employment for individuals with chronic schizophrenia: the case for a National Health Service community-based sheltered workshop

A pilot project was established from 1992 to 1994 to provide people with chronic schizophrenia living in Dundee, Scotland, with a National Health Service sheltered workshop that would be fully integrated into the local business community. Of the 43 clients who attended the sheltered workshop, 38 agreed to take part in the project. Typical attenders were single, middle-aged men with schizophrenia. Twenty-five per cent had spent more than two years in hospital; 75% had been unemployed for more than five years. The clients' use of National Health Service day facilities more than halved while attending the workshop. Their hospital readmission rates were low (16%) compared with the local readmission rates for people with schizophrenia in Dundee (86%). A training approach based on the general principles of social skills training contributed to positive vocational outcomes for one-third of the workshop clients. The findings suggest that the onus of responsibility for providing work for many individuals with schizophrenia remains with the National Health Service, and in particular, occupational therapy. Occupational therapy staff must assess their clients effectively and provide quality training leading to opportunities for paid employment. These results have implications for the training of occupational therapy staff and also for the staffing structure in sheltered workshops. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd.     

Industrial back belts and low back pain: Mechanisms and outcomes

The recent increased utilization of industrial back belts as personal protective equipment in the workplace has generated considerable controversy among occupational health and safety professionals in the United States. The purpose of this article is to review the literature regarding proposed mechanisms of action of these devices and studies related to outcome of belt utilization in the prevention of low back pain and disability in the workplace. At the present time, neither the suspected mechanisms of action nor the efficacy of these devices in the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of work-related low back pain has been adequately demonstrated in clinical trials. As a result, generally accepted guidelines regarding the safe use of belts in the occupational setting have not been established. Based on this review it is recommended that further well-controlled, prospective, randomized clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these devices as personal protective equipment. During the interim, the decision to prescribe belts to employees in the workplace should be at the discretion of an adequately trained occupational health care provider. These devices should not be provided as an alternative to appropriate administrative and/or engineering controls.     

Health status,work limitations,and return-to-work trajectories in injured workers with musculoskeletal disorders

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe the health status and work limitations in injured workers with musculoskeletal disorders at 1 month post-injury, stratified by return-to-work status, and to document their return-to-work trajectories 6 months post-injury. METHODS: A sample of 632 workers with a back or upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder, who filed a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board lost-time claim injury, participated in this prospective study. Participants were assessed at baseline (1 month post-injury) and at 6 months follow-up. RESULTS: One month post-injury, poor physical health, high levels of depressive symptoms and high work limitations are prevalent in workers, including in those with a sustained first return to work. Workers with a sustained first return to work report a better health status and fewer work limitations than those who experienced a recurrence of work absence or who never returned to work. Six months post-injury, the rate of recurrence of work absence in the trajectories of injured workers who have made at least one return to work attempt is high (38%), including the rate for workers with an initial sustained first return to work (27%). CONCLUSIONS: There are return-to-work status specific health outcomes in injured workers. A sustained first return to work is not equivalent to a complete recovery from musculoskeletal disorders.