Early Stroke Recognition: Developing an Out-of-hospital NIH Stroke Scale

Objective : To develop an abbreviated and practical neurologic scale that could assist emergency medical services or triage personnel in identifying patients with stroke.
Methods : A prospective, observational, cohort study was performed at university-based EDs. Participants were 74 patients treated in a thrombolytic stroke trial and 225 consecutive non-stroke patients evaluated during 4 random 12-hour shifts in the ED. Scores on the NIH Stroke Scale were obtained for all patients by physicians. Items of this scale were modified and recoded to a binomial (normal or abnormal) scale. Serial univariate analyses using χ² were performed to rank items. Recursive partitioning was then performed to develop the decision rule for predicting the presence of stroke.
Results : Three items identified 100% of patients with stroke: facial palsy, motor arm, and dysarthria. An Abbreviated NIH Stroke Scale based on these items had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 92%. A proposed Out-of-hospital NIH Stroke Scale consisting of facial palsy, motor arm, and a combination of dysarthria and best language items (abnormal speech) had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88%.
Conclusion : Using the derivation data set, a proposed Out-of-hospital NIH Stroke Scale had a high sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients with stroke when performed by physicians in this group of 299 ED patients. Prospective studies of other health care professionals using the scale in the out-of-hospital arena are needed.     

一期切开挂线术治疗肛周脓肿305例

采用一期切开挂线术治疗肛周脓肿３０５例，全瓿期治愈，无发生肛瘘及并发症者。作者认为手术成功的关键是正确处理内口及原发灶，良好通畅的切口引流以及合理的术后处理，对提高疗效，防止复发有重要意义。     

Endocrinology: Gonadotrophins and prolactin rise after bilateral oophorectomy for benign conditions

The aim of this study was to analyse the changes in folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactinconcentrations in the 3 months following oophorectomy in pre-menopausalwomen operated on for benign gynaecological conditions. Includedin this analysis were 21 women (mean age 47 years, range 46–52)who underwent bilateral oophorectomy plus hysterectomy for fibroidsor ovarian cysts. Plasma concentrations of FSH, LH and prolactinwere measured before and on days 2, 4, 6, 14 and 30 after surgery;in 10 cases measurements were made on day 60, and in five caseson day 90 after surgery. Hormone concentrations were measuredin duplicate daily samples, and immunoenzymatic assay kits wereused for all the immunoassays. The FSH and LH concentrationsincreased constantly after surgery. Mean prolactin concentrationsalso increased from 12.1 ng/ml before surgery to 31.5 ng/mlon day 14 after bilateral oophorectomy, but decreased thereafterto 18.2 ng/ml on day 30, 10.9 ng/ml on day 60 and 6 ng/ml onday 90. In conclusion, transient (2–3 weeks) increasedprolactin concentrations are observed after surgical castration.     

Renal allograft immunosuppression: II. A randomized trial of withdrawal of one drug in triple drug immunosuppression

Abstract. A prospective randomized study was conducted to evaluate the impact of four different conversion protocols on graft outcome in long-term follow-up. Between January 1986 and May 1987, 128 patients with first cadaveric kidney allografts were randomized at the time of transplantation to four treatment groups of 32 patients each, to be assigned 10 weeks post-transplantation. During the first 10 weeks, all patients received triple therapy with low-dose azathioprine (Aza), cyclosporin (CyA), and methylprednisolone (MP). After 10 weeks, one group continued with triple therapy (group A) while the three other groups received different combinations of two drugs, namely, Aza and CyA (group B), Aza and MP (group C), or CyA and MP (group D). Withdrawal of MP (group B) or especially of CyA (group C) was associated with 4/29 (14%) and 10/28 (36%) acute rejection episodes, respectively, for 60 days after conversion. All rejections were mild and reversible. There were no rejections after Aza withdrawal or in the group that continued on triple therapy during the corresponding time period. The most common reason for dropping out after withdrawal, for those patients who could not continue on the originally randomized medication, was azathioprine intolerance (n= 12). Five patients were switched back to triple therapy after CyA withdrawal due to rejection. Steroid intolerance was rare and CyA in low doses was very well tolerated. At 1 year there were no statistically significant differences in graft survival between groups A, B, C, and D-81 %, 88%, 88%, and 88%, respectively-or in patient survival-88%, 88%, 88%, and 97%, respectively. For those patients continuing with the originally randomized treatment protocol, there were no differences in patient or graft survival either, the means being 91% and 89%, respectively. The most common cause of death after withdrawal was cardiovascular in nature, and there were no more fatal infections under triple drug treatment than with double drug regimens. There were no statistically significant differences in mean serum creatinine values at 1 year. The median serum creatinine values for groups A, B, C, and D were 112, 132, 133, and 133 μmol/l, respectively. At 1 year the mean CyA dose in the groups that continued with CyA was 3. 5–4. 2 mg/kg per day and CyA concentrations were equal.     

Successful triplet pregnancy in a patient with a unicornuate uterus with a cavitary communicating rudimentary horn

In a patient with primary infertility, ovulation was inducedby monitored stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophins(HMG) because of polycystic ovarian disease. Infertility work-uphad shown a unicornuate uterus with a cavitary communicatingrudimentary horn. The husband showed a varicocele-related moderateoligoasthenoterato-zoospermia. A triplet pregnancy occurredin a third HMG ovulation induction cycle combined with intra-uterineinsemination of the husband's washed semen. The pregnancy wascarefully monitored, and measures to prevent premature deliverywere taken. Because of the patient's obvious discomfort in thepresence of premature labour, Caesarean section was performedat 33 weeks gestation and three healthy infants were delivered.This is the first report of a successful triplet pregnancy ina women with a unicornuate uterus. The reproductive and obstetricoutcome of this condition in general, and in the case of multiplepregnancy, is discussed.     

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.     

左心室造影功能成像的临床应用

为探讨左心室造影功能成像的价值与限度，我们选择冠脉及左心室造影者38例行左室功能成像，观察左室壁运动情况并与节段法室壁运动定量分析比较。结果示左室收缩正常18例，其各节段EF值平均39％，节段性收缩减弱7例，无收缩3例，矛盾收缩4例，普遍性收缩减弱6例，病变节段的EF值平均5～19％，明显低于正常者（P＜0．01）。结论：左室功能成像效果直观且客观，可作为室壁运动定量分析的一个重要补充。     

中西医结合治疗坏死性筋膜炎

本文积累了１９８１～１９９４年近十余年的临床资料，总结了中西医结合治疗坏死性筋膜炎的临床治疗经验。指出坏死性筋膜炎是一种少见的严重的软组织感染，发展迅速，病死率高，应引起临床医生的高度警惕，做出早期诊断是非常必要的。提出了扶正祛邪的中西医结合的整体治疗方案，全身治疗与局部处理相结合。对患处要采取早期，这时的多切口引流，给＂邪＂以出路。取得良好的疗效。