The lateral chest X-ray: Is it necessary for emergency department patients?

To determine the utility of the lateral view of the chest in emergency department patients, records of all patients who had had 2-view chest x-rays ordered in the emergency department were reviewed retrospectively. A study radiologist recorded a reading of the posteroanterior (PA) radiograph alone. The lateral radiograph was then provided, along with the PA view, and a second reading was recorded. A comparison was then made between the first and second readings.A total of 417 sets of x-rays were included. The PA view alone successfully diagnosed or suspected 92% of pulmonary nodules, 95% of effusions, 97% of cases of emphysema, 98% of pneumonias, and 100% of cases of cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, interstitial pulmonary disease, and atelectasis.In the emergency department patient population, lateral views of the chest have minimal diagnostic yield and therefore may be used selectively to safely decrease the amount of breast radiation exposure to young women.     

阿尔及利亚地震灾后中国危重伤员远程空中转运

目的 总结紧急远程航空医疗运送的经验，分析影响空运的多种因素。方法 通过2003年5月阿尔及利亚地震灾后，中方5名危重伤员的航空转运的实践，就转运计划、医务人员和医疗设备的配置、空中监护、心理干预等对远程航空医疗运送的作用和影响进行分析和总结。结果 5名危重伤员均安全转运至目的地。结论 制订周密的转运计划和进行细致的安排是成功转运的重要条件；灾害伤员的心理干预对安全转运有着特殊意义。     

An algorithm for the automated quantitation of metabolites in in vitro NMR signals.

The quantitation of metabolite concentrations from in vitro NMR spectra is hampered by the sensitivity of peak positions to experimental conditions. The quantitation methods currently available are generally labor intensive and cannot readily be automated. Here, an algorithm is presented for the automatic time domain analysis of high-resolution NMR spectra. The TARQUIN algorithm uses a set of basis functions obtained by quantum mechanical simulation using predetermined parameters. Each basis function is optimized by subdividing it into a set of signals from magnetically equivalent spins and varying the simulated chemical shifts of each of these groups to match the signal undergoing analysis. A novel approach to the standard multidimensional minimization problem is introduced based on evaluating the fit resulting from different permutations of possible chemical shifts, obtained from one-dimensional searches. Results are presented from the analysis of (1)H proton magic angle spinning spectra of cell lines illustrating the robustness of the method in a typical application. Simulation was used to investigate the biggest peak shifts that can be tolerated.     

Sampling Patients Within and Across Health Care Providers: Multi-Stage Non-Nested Samples in Health Services Research

In order to better inform study design decisions when sampling patients within and across health care providers we develop a simulation-based approach for designing complex multi-stage samples. The approach explores the tradeoff between competing design goals such as precision of estimates, coverage of the target population and cost.We elicit a number of sensible candidate designs, evaluate these designs with respect to multiple sampling goals, investigate their tradeoffs, and identify the design that is the best compromise among all goals. This approach recognizes that, in the practice of sampling, precision of the estimates is not the only important goal, and that there are tradeoffs with coverage and cost that should be explicitly considered. One can easily add other goals. We construct a sample frame with all phase III clinical cancer treatment trials that are conducted by cooperative oncology groups of the National Cancer Institute from October 1, 1998 through December 31, 1999. Simulation results for our study suggest sampling a different number of trials and institutions than initially considered.Simulations of different study designs can uncover efficiency gains both in terms of improved precision of the estimates and in terms of improved coverage of the target population. Simulations enable us to explore the tradeoffs between competing sampling goals and to quantify these efficiency gains. This is true even for complex designs where the stages are not strictly nested in one another.     

Improving emergency obstetric care in Mozambique: the story of Sofala.

OBJECTIVE: The 5-year project in the province of Sofala was designed to improve access, quality and utilization of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) by strengthening rural hospitals and health centers and ultimately the health system's capacity to respond to emergencies more quickly and effectively. METHODS: Implementation consisted of attention to infrastructure, human resource development, transportation and communication systems, and management. Specific management aspects that were targeted for improvement included: supportive supervision, logistics for supplies, equipment and drugs, record keeping, monitoring and evaluation, and quality improvement techniques such as maternal death audits. RESULTS: Access to EmOC improved with an increase in the number of fully functional EmOC facilities from 4 to 18. The number of women with obstetric complications who were admitted for treatment in participating facilities tripled, and the proportion of those women dying declined by half. CONCLUSIONS: Close collaboration and partnership with the provincial health directorate make the sustainability of many results likely while the replication of much of the Sofala model to other provinces is promising for the national strategy to reduce maternal mortality.     

妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石的急诊腔内技术处理

目的探讨妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石急诊腔内技术处理的安全性和有效性。方法1998年6月至2005年3月,对17例妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石急症的患者行急诊腔内技术治疗。患者年龄21～35岁,平均27岁,孕周20～36周,平均29周。表现为肾绞痛反复发作11例,发热4例,急性梗阻性无尿2例。结石位于左侧5例、右侧10例、双侧2例；结石位于输尿管上段8例、中段5例、下段2例,双侧下段2例。结石大小6mm×7mm～13mm×21mm。患侧轻度肾积水6例,中度11例。行经尿道输尿管镜下气压弹道碎石14例；输尿管上段结石推至肾盂1例；因无法进镜而单纯留置双J管2例。结果17例患者的肾绞痛、发热等症状经治疗后完全消失。结石一次取净者14例(82.4%)。残留结石者3例,留置双J管至分娩后,其中1例每3个月更换双J管。未发生先兆流产或早产等情况,无输尿管穿孔及其他并发症。留置双J管后出现排尿后腰部不适1例,3d后缓解；术后肉眼血尿1例,6d后自行消失。17例均顺利生产,婴儿健康。结论经尿道输尿管镜腔内技术治疗妊娠中晚期合并输尿管结石急性发作安全、有效。     

颈动脉分叉血液动力状态的计算流体力学初步研究

目的应用计算流体力学（CFD）方法结合血管影像显示在体颈动脉分叉的血流动力状态.方法选取1例志愿者,采用Siemens多层螺旋CT机行左侧颈动脉CT血管成像检查（CTA）,扫描所得原始图像经计算机后处理后,用CFD方法计算并显示血液动力学各项指标.结果（1）该血管血液流率均值范围为0.04～0.36 m/s,颈外和颈内动脉的内侧壁（均以分叉顶点为参照）可见一高血流速区,球部可见较大片低血流速区;颈动脉分叉及颈内、外动脉近端均可见血液涡流与回流.（2）血液绝对压、静态压和动态压的均值范围分别为100 266.70～101 615.90 Pa、-10 58.34～290.88 Pa、6.12～553.25 Pa;（3）管壁切应力均值范围为0.59～5.35 Pa,在颈动脉球部及颈内动脉后壁显示大范围的低切应力区,最低约为0.25 Pa,颈外动脉前外侧壁存在一小范围低切应力区.结论CFD方法结合血管影像能计算并显示在体颈动脉分叉的个体化血液动力学指标.     

Development of computer-assisted simulation procedure to analyze receptor modulatory processes

Summary Experimentally induced changes in neurotransmitter receptors have been analyzed by means of a computer assisted simulation procedure over a wide range of free ligand concentrations. This approach allows to evaluate, for a given range of ligand concentrations, the relative influence of simultaneous variations in binding parameters (i.e. dissociation constant or K_d and in maximal number of binding sites or B_m) and to predict the net and final effect of the experimental condition on the receptor-mediated transmission line. The function representing the changes in bound values versus the respective free ligand concentrations, has been studied analytically on the basis of all the possible values that the percent changes in both K_d and B_m parameters induced by a given experimental condition can assume. A well characterized change in the pattern of bound radioligand could in this way be defined. This approach, developed to show in an immediate and clear way treatment-induce changes in receptor populations or to fit directly rough experimental data expressed as differences in bound values versus free ligand concentrations, seems to be an useful complement to the widely used saturation analysis of binding data.     

手部爆炸伤的临床分型与治疗

目的探讨手部爆炸伤新的临床分型以指导治疗、提高疗效。方法1997～2004年收治106例手部爆炸伤,按爆炸伤的严重程度和伤情特点将其划分四型：Ⅰ型：仅有皮肤灼伤、挫裂伤或手部的小面积皮肤缺损,治疗选用清创缝合或植皮修复;Ⅱ型：手部皮肤软组织缺损合并肌腱或骨关节损伤,但无手指血运障碍,治疗选用骨与关节复位固定、肌腱修复的同时必须采用皮瓣覆盖;Ⅲ型：手部广泛皮肤软组织缺损,伴有肌腱、血管、神经及骨关节损伤,手指缺血、离断或缺失,治疗必须应用显微外科技术实施血管吻合、断指再植或拇手指再造和皮瓣移植;Ⅳ型：手广泛毁损,治疗选择截肢术。结果本组Ⅰ型12例,手功能恢复正常;Ⅱ型31例,手功能恢复较好,14例遗留皮瓣臃肿或肌腱粘连,需二期治疗。Ⅲ型57例,无1例截肢,45例进行了二期功能重建手术,手功能恢复达正常的30%～80%不等;Ⅳ型6例,手功能完全丧失。结论该分型方法简明具体,便于临床判断受伤类型和选择治疗方法,并可估计愈合,对临床处理手部爆炸伤具有较好的指导意义。     

Integrated home monitoring predicts lead failure in a pacemaker dependent 4-year-old girl.

A 4-year-old girl with post-surgical complete atrioventricular block received an epicardial dual chamber pacemaker system. During further growth intermittent exit block occurred, first misinterpreted as neurological seizures. The epicardial lead was replaced using a transvenous approach, and a pacemaker with an integrated home monitoring facility was implanted. After her discharge, a rise in the pacing threshold automatically initiated an event message. On the basis of this information, the patient was called in and imminent dislodgement of the ventricular lead was diagnosed by x-ray. The lead was repositioned and was found stable over 1-year follow-up.