Measurement of the average radiation dose to the local skin and thyroid gland during intracranial aneurysm coil embolization

IntroductionIntracranial aneurysm coil embolisation is a fluoroscopically guided procedure associated with high radiation dose. The increase in the number of coil embolisation procedures raises concern for the amount of radiation and the associated radiation risks to the patients. This research study was conducted to determine the average radiation dose to patients’ thyroid glands and local skin during intracranial aneurysm coil embolisation and to establish preliminary local diagnostic reference levels for this procedure. In this paper, local skin dose refers to the absorbed radiation dose on the areas of the skin exposed to radiation during intracranial aneurysm coil embolisation, namely neck, face and scalp.MethodsThis study employed air-kerma area product meters to determine the local skin dose and diagnostic reference levels during intracranial aneurysm coil embolisation. In addition, thyroid radiation doses were measured using thermo-luminescent dosimeters on a phantom during simulation of embolisation procedures.ResultsThe local skin doses as determined by air-kerma area product ranged between 33 and 125 Gy.cm2. The mean thyroid dose was 9.87 mGy. The established local diagnostic reference level was 52.1 Gy cm², 17.8 min’ fluoroscopy time and 503 image frames.ConclusionThe average air-kerma area product values and the proposed diagnostic reference levels were lower than most published values for intracranial aneurysm coil embolisation.Implications for practiceThe established local diagnostic reference levels are recommended for use as radiation dose optimisation tool at the research site. The findings of this study cannot be generalised or applied to other hospitals. The complexity of the embolisation procedures was not classified for this study. Further research on diagnostic reference levels for intracranial aneurysm coil embolisation, taking into account the complexity of the procedures, is recommended.     

Multi-institution assessment of the use and risk of cardiovascular computed tomography in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease

BackgroundCardiac computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Variability of practice and of comprehensive diagnostic risk across institutions is not known.MethodsFour centers prospectively enrolled consecutive pediatric CHD patients <18 years of age undergoing cardiac CT from January 6, 2017 to 1/30/2020. Patient characteristics, cardiac CT data and comprehensive diagnostic risk were compared by age and institutions. Risk categories included sedation and anesthesia use, vascular access, contrast exposure, cardiovascular medication, adverse events (AEs), and estimated radiation dose.ResultsCardiac CT was performed in 1045 pediatric patients at a median (interquartile range, IQR) age of 1.7 years (0.3, 11.0). The most common indications were arterial abnormalities, suspected coronary artery anomalies, functionally single ventricle heart disease, and tetralogy of Fallot/pulmonary atresia. Sedation was used in 8% and anesthesia in 11% of patients. Peripheral vascular access was utilized for 93%. Median contrast volume was 2 ​ml/kg. Beta blockers were administered in 11% of cases and nitroglycerin in 2% of cases. The median (IQR) total procedural dose length product (DLP) was 20 ​mGy1cm (10, 50). Sedation, vascular access, contrast exposure, use of cardiovascular medications and radiation dose estimates varied significantly by institution and age (p ​< ​0.001). Seven minor adverse events (0.7%) and no major adverse events were reported.ConclusionCardiac CT for CHD is safe in pediatric patients when appropriate CT technology and expertise are available. Scans can be acquired at relatively low radiation exposure with few minor adverse events.     

医学参考系统在我国IVD企业的应用与思考

基于量值溯源的参考系统是检验医学领域重要的研究课题,也是体外诊断产品(IVD)企业提升产品质量和影响力的重要研究方向。检测结果的准确性和可靠性是临床科学诊断、治疗、预防疾病的重要保障。文章从IVD企业的角度对医学参考系统的基础情况和分类进行简要的阐述,从参考测量程序、参考物质、一致化研究3个方面介绍了参考系统在中国IVD企业中的应用;对目前参考方法和参考物质数量无法满足企业和临床应用需求、IVD行业对量值溯源和标准化的理解还不够完善、可提供参考测量服务的实验室网络缺乏等方面的问题进行归纳,期望为检验医学参考系统相关研究者提供参考。     

国际辅助技术服务的政策架构、核心内容和发展研究

目的 研究联合国和世界卫生组织(WHO)辅助技术服务的政策架构与核心内容,比较不同经济发展水平国家辅助技术发展现状,探讨未来辅助技术政策与服务发展。方法 基于联合国和WHO辅助技术的相关政策与理论架构,运用WHO健康服务体系构成要素的理论,分析国际辅助技术服务的政策架构与主要内容,比较全球不同经济发展水平国家辅助技术服务政策、辅助产品和服务发展,探讨国际辅助技术的政策与创新技术发展热点。结果 辅助技术服务是康复服务的重要组成部分,发展辅助技术服务是实现联合国可持续发展目标三“确保健康的生活方式,促进各年龄段人群的福祉”的关键步骤。联合国和WHO发布的辅助技术服务相关指南提供了辅助技术服务政策,其核心架构是基于联合国《残疾人权利公约》有关辅助技术内容,并具体表现在WHO《世界残疾报告》《全球残疾行动计划》《健康服务体系中的康复》和《健康服务体系中的康复：行动指南》以及WHA 71.8号有关辅助技术的决议《改善获得辅助技术的机会》等核心文件中。国际辅助技术政策核心内容旨在构建以人为本的综合保健服务,强调将辅助技术纳入公共卫生医疗体系和康复服务范畴,根据WHO健康服务的六大核心构成要素建立和发展辅助技术服务,从而提高获取优质辅助技术机会,以实现全民健康覆盖,并且在辅助产品和辅助技术服务领域,倡导技术和服务创新,形成5P辅助技术模式。高收入国家和中低收入国家在辅助技术服务政策、辅助技术产品提供以及服务覆盖率方面都面临诸多困难,存在着较大差异。未来各国辅助技术发展热点主要是采用WHO提出的5P模式进行政策和服务提供以及技术变革,辅助技术产品开发、辅助技术服务模式的创新将是未来发展的热点。结论 国际社会有关辅助技术的政策是以联合国《残疾人权利公约》为核心,并以联合国及WHO发表的辅助技术服务的相关政策文件为基础形成的,其主旨在于发展辅助技术服务,为残疾人、老年人和其他功能障碍者提供及时、适当和可负担的辅助技术服务,改善他们的健康并提升生活质量和福祉。要将辅助技术纳入全民健康覆盖,并通过初级卫生保健加强服务提供,以实现联合国可持续发展目标三全民健康覆盖的目标,实现辅助技术服务全覆盖。发展辅助技术,要将辅助技术纳入康复服务的范畴,在WHO健康服务体系的六大构成要素架构下,完善辅助技术服务的治理,通过多种机制为辅助技术服务进行筹资,培训康复人才从事辅助技术工作,改善辅助技术的服务提供,提升服务的质量,将辅助技术纳入基本医药技术,建立适应辅助技术发展的健康信息系统并对辅助技术服务提供监测。在世界不同地区,由于经济和社会发展水平的差异,辅助产品和技术服务的发展水平存在着很大差异,在获得辅助技术服务时遇到很大挑战。需要制定相关的政策、规划,并进行技术和服务创新。未来辅助技术发展将围绕辅助技术的5P模式进行产品和服务提供领域的改革以及技术创新,以提升辅助技术服务的覆盖率、有效性、可及性和可负担性,在全民健康覆盖架构下,将辅助技术服务融入健康服务体系,实现全民辅助技术服务全覆盖,提升辅助技术服务的质量和辅助技术消费者的福祉。     

UPLC法同时测定柴胡疏肝散水煎液冻干物中8个成分的含量

目的:建立柴胡疏肝散水煎液冻干物中8个成分含量同时测定的方法。方法:采用超高效液相色谱法对6批柴胡疏肝散水煎液冻干物样品中8个成分芍药内酯苷、芍药苷、阿魏酸、柚皮苷、橙皮苷、苯甲酰芍药苷、甘草酸、α-香附酮进行含量测定。色谱柱为Phenomenex,流动相为0.1%甲酸水-乙腈梯度洗脱,检测波长为250 nm,柱温为30℃,流速为1 mL/min,进样体积为10μL。结果:芍药内酯苷、芍药苷、阿魏酸、柚皮苷、橙皮苷、苯甲酰芍药苷、甘草酸、α-香附酮的检测质量浓度线性范围分别3.606~8.414、23.988~55.972、1.218~2.842、35.964~83.916、12.009~28.021、1.194~2.786、3.609~8.421、5.294~12.352μg/mL(r=0.999 5~0.999 9),定量限分别为0.206、0.178、0.256、0.168、0.196、0.242、0.268、0.157μg/mL;精密度试验、稳定性试验(12 h)、重复性试验中的RSD均<2%(n=5或6),回收率分别为97.93%、98.18%、96.57%、97.61%、98.51%、97.45%、98.14%、96.91%(RSD均<2%);6批样品中芍药内酯苷、芍药苷、阿魏酸、柚皮苷、橙皮苷、苯甲酰芍药苷、甘草酸的平均含量分别为59.258、429.237、23.173、625.847、200.424、15.048、67.620μg/g,α-香附酮因具有挥发性未检测出。结论:建立的含量测定方法简便,结果稳定、可靠、准确,可为柴胡疏肝散水煎液冻干物的质量控制提供参考。     

Dairy consumption is associated with lower plasma dihydroceramides in women from the D.E.S.I.R. cohort

AimIn the D.E.S.I.R. cohort, higher consumption of dairy products was associated with lower incidence of hyperglycaemia, and dihydroceramide concentrations were higher in those who progressed to diabetes. Our aim here was to study the relationships between dairy consumption and concentrations of dihydroceramides and ceramides.MethodsIn the D.E.S.I.R. cohort, men and women aged 30–65 years, volunteers from West-Central France, were included in a 9-year follow-up with examinations every 3 years, including food-frequency questionnaires. Two items concerned dairy products (cheese, other dairy products except cheese). At each examination, dihydroceramides and ceramides were determined by mass spectrometry in a cohort subset; in the present study, the 105 people who did not progress to type 2 diabetes were analyzed, as the disorder per se might be a confounding factor.ResultsHigher consumption of dairy products (except cheese) was associated with total plasma dihydroceramides during the follow-up, but only in women (P = 0.01 for gender interaction). In fact, dihydroceramide levels were lower in women with high vs low consumption (P = 0.03), and were significantly increased during follow-up (P = 0.01) in low consumers only. There was also a trend for lower ceramides in women with high dairy (except cheese) intakes (P = 0.08). Cheese was associated with dihydroceramide and ceramide changes during follow-up (P = 0.04 for both), but no clear trend was evident in either low or high consumers.ConclusionThese results show that, in women, there is an inverse association between fresh dairy product consumption and predictive markers (dihydroceramides) of type 2 diabetes.