Ethics and Society: Filiation in assisted reproduction: potential conflicts and legal implications

Filiation, or a person's parentage, is one of the major componentsof someone's identity, often with important implications forthat person's welfare in social and personal terms. Fertilityspecialists are enjoined to consider the welfare of the child,and this is a legal requirement in assisted reproduction techniquesin the UK. This paper is in three parts, discussing some ofthe potential problems regarding filiation of the prospectivechild born of assisted reproduction techniques, in relationto the use of gametes and embryos. The first two parts concentrateon the status of children born as a result of treatment givenposthumously, and on filiation problems associated with donationof gametes or embryos, and surrogacy. The third part comparesBritish and French legislation with special regard to the welfareof the child, as well as underlining the common trends and principlesenunciated in both legislations. This is particularly appropriateat a time when the European Society for Human Reproduction andEmbryology is about to issue ethical guidelines in assistedreproduction, and when both the Council of Europe and the EuropeanCommission have commissioned studies on the implications ofthe assisted techniques, including those concerning status ofthe potential children.     

骨髓腔静脉造影在特发性股骨头坏死诊断中的应用

本文介绍17例（34髋）特发性股骨头坏死、4例（4髋）正常人骨髓腔静脉造影所见。发现25髋有异常改变,并经病理证实。作者认为:①骨干返流;②2支或2支以上静脉不显影;③多条静脉明显变细;④干骺端瘀积是股骨头坏死的造影表现,前二者是可靠的诊断依据。造影结果提示髓腔静脉造影是一种安全而敏感的诊断技术。     

颈外动脉栓塞在耳鼻咽喉科的应用

在耳鼻咽喉科手术中应用颈外动脉栓塞法１０例，形成栓塞组，并把单纯颈外动脉结扎１０例作为对照组。结果表明：栓塞组较对照组术中出血量显著减少，有利于病灶彻底清除，因而有提高治愈率减少复发率的作用。掌握栓塞位置、栓塞剂用量和注射速度是防止并发症的关键。     

Localized wall thickening of the gallbladder mimicking a neoplasm

Clinical diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis is made based on diffuse hyperechoic thickening of the gallbladder wall as shown by ultrasonographic examination. We herein report three cases of chronic cholecystitis showing localized hypoechoic thickening of the gallbladder wall that mimicked gallbladder cancer by ultrasonography. Histologically, hypertrophy of the muscularis propria was a common characteristic finding in these three patients. A smooth surface of the inner hypoechoic layer of the thickened wall was considered to be a reliable finding in the differential diagnosis between this type of chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder cancer.     

原发性小肠肿瘤诊断治疗的临床分析(附58例报告)

目的探讨原发性小肠肿瘤临床特型、病理分型及诊治经验。方法回顾性分析1993年10月。2003年10月收治的有完整资料的58例原发性小肠肿瘤病例。结果本组包括13例(22．4％)良性肿瘤，45例(77．6％)。小肠良性肿瘤均行局部肠段切除，除2例死于其它疾患外，余11例健在；小肠恶性肿瘤患者中，院内死亡6例，仅11例能行根治性肠切除，37例行化疗(总有效率83．4％)，随访33例(随访率89．5％)，存活5年以上者14例(5年生存率42．4％)，多为T细胞性非何杰金淋巴瘤。结论原发性小肠肿瘤恶性所占比例较高，缺乏特征性的临床表现及有效的诊断手段，易致长期延误诊治，预后甚差；对原因不明的腹痛、消化道出血及定位不明的腹部包块患者及早行剖腹探查是避免小肠肿瘤长期误诊、改善患者预后的可靠手段。     

鱼腥草治疗上呼吸道感染的疗效观察

目的探讨鱼腥草治疗上呼吸道感染所致发热病人的疗效。方法将确诊的病例随机分为2组,治疗组和对照组各30例。治疗组给予鱼腥草、青霉素钠静滴,对照组用病毒唑、青霉素钠静滴。结果治疗组退热时间多在2d以内,对照组多在2d后。治疗组症状消失时间多在5d以内,对照组多在5d以后。差异有统计学意义。结论用鱼腥草和青霉素静滴可缩短发热时间,且症状消失快。     

胃胆宁汤治疗胆汁反流性胃炎54例

目的:观察自拟胃胆宁汤治疗胆汁反流性胃炎的临床疗效。方法:选符合标准的该病患者82例,随机分为两组,治疗组54例予自拟胃胆宁汤,对照组28例用吗丁啉片及雷尼替丁,两组治疗4周为1疗程。结果:治疗组痊愈20例,显效13例,有效16例,无效5例,总有效率为90.74%(95%CI=83.01%～98.48%);对照组痊愈5例,显效6例,有效9例,无效8例,总有效率为71.43%(95%CI=54.70%～88.16%);两组综合疗效比较,有显著性差异(u=2.3027,P=0.0215)。结论:自拟胃胆宁汤治疗胆汁反流性胃炎疗效优于吗丁啉及雷尼替丁,其收益为OR=0.25(95%CI=0.07～0.87),NNT=5(95%CI=2.78～37.88)。     

Psychological Functioning, Nonadherence and Health Outcomes After Pediatric Liver Transplantation

The present study empirically assessed the relationships between adherence behaviors and HRQOL, parent and child psychological functioning and family functioning, and investigated the relationship between adherence behaviors and health outcomes in children who were within 5 years of their liver transplantation. Participants included 38 children (mean = 8.5 years, range 28 months to 16 years) and their parent/guardian(s). HRQOL and psychological functioning were examined using well-validated assessment measures. Measures of adherence included the rate of clinic attendance and standard deviations (SDs) of consecutive tacrolimus blood levels, which were collected and evaluated retrospectively. Measures of child health status included the frequency of hospital admissions, liver biopsies, episodes of rejection and graft function for the year prior to study participation. Results indicated that nonadherence was related to lower physical HRQOL, more limitations in social and school activities related to emotional and behavioral problems, parental emotional distress and decreased family cohesion. Nonadherence was also related to frequency and duration of hospitalizations, liver biopsies and rejection episodes. These results suggest that empirically based assessment of HRQOL, parenting stress and family functioning may help identify patients at risk for nonadherence, and may allow for the need-based delivery of appropriate clinical interventions.     

Changes in International Normalized Ratio (INR) and Model for Endstage Liver Disease (MELD) Based on Selection of Clinical Laboratory

Priority for liver transplantation is based on the Model for Endstage Liver Disease (MELD) score, a mathematical function which includes international normalized ratio (INR). We present an analysis to determine the lab-to-lab variation in INR at 14 clinical laboratories across the United States. We performed a survey to identify representative clinical laboratories across the United States, where INR was measured in the determination of MELD score. Five 'standard' samples for INR were formulated and were sent to the 14 clinical laboratories to determine variation in INR and MELD score. Among the 14 clinical laboratories, the range in INR for the five samples was: sample 1 (1.2-2.0), sample 2 (1.4-2.5), sample 3 (1.7-3.4), sample 4 (1.9-3.7) and sample 5 (2.4-5.1). The range in calculated MELD score was: sample 1 (8-14), sample 2 (10-17), sample 3 (12-20), sample 4 (14-21) and sample 5 (16-25). The selection of the clinical laboratory used to determine INR may result in substantial changes in MELD score independent of severity-of-illness. These data suggest that further review of interlaboratory variation in MELD should be undertaken because of the potential impact on prioritization for liver transplantation.     

Dosimetric Characteristics of the Siemens IGRT Carbon Fiber Tabletop

In this work, the dosimetric characteristics of a new commercial carbon fiber treatment table are investigated. The photon beam attenuation properties of the Siemens image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) tabletop were studied in detail. Two sets of dosimetric measurements were performed. In the first experiment a polystyrene slab phantom was used: the central axis attenuation and the skin-sparing detriment were investigated. In the second experiment, the off-axis treatment table transmission was investigated using a polystyrene cylindrical phantom. Measurements were taken at the isocenter for a 360° rotation of the radiation beam. Our results show that the photon beam attenuation of the Siemens IGRT carbon fiber tabletop varies from a minimum of 2.1% (central axis) to a maximum of 4.6% (120° and 240° beam incidence). The beam entrance dose increases from 82% to 97% of the dose at the depth of maximum for a clinical 6-MV radiation field. The depth of maximum also decreases by 0.4 cm. Despite the wedge cross section of the table the beam attenuation properties of the IGRT tabletop remain constant along the longitudinal direction. American Association of Medical Dosimetrists.