The Technical Efficiency of Hospitals under a Single Payer System: The Case of Ontario Community Hospitals

Using DEA, we investigated the impact of ownership, size, and location on the relative technical efficiency of community hospitals in Ontario, which has a single payer system. Consistent with Hansmann's theory of non-profit organizations and contrary to US-based research, we find no significant differences in efficiency across ownership types (government, religious or secular non-profit). Nor do we find significant differences in efficiency by size or location. Our findings suggest that model formulation and differences in payer mix across types of hospitals in the US have a strong influence on the measurement of the hospital ownership–efficiency relationship.     

单核苷酸多态性、环境因素与肝细胞肝癌遗传易感性的关系

肝细胞肝癌(HCC)的发生和演进是一个多基因、多因素的复杂过程,是遗传与环境因素相互作用的结果。单核苷酸多态性(SNP)作为第三代遗传标记,充分反映了个体间的遗传差异,决定了个体对疾病的易感性,正成为肝癌遗传易感性研究的重要工具。     

Comparative study on the gastrointestinal- and immune- regulation functions of Hedysari Radix Paeparata Cum Melle and Astragali Radix Praeparata cum Melle in rats with spleen-qi deficiency,based on fuzzy matter-element analysis

ContextHedysari Radix Praeparata Cum Melle (HRPCM) and Astragali Radix Praeparata Cum Melle (ARPCM) are used interchangeably in clinics to treat spleen-qi deficiency (SQD) symptom mainly including gastrointestinal dysfunction and decreased immunity, which has unknown differences in efficacy.ObjectiveTo investigate the differences between HRPCM and ARPCM on intervening gastrointestinal- and immune-function with SQD syndrome.Materials and methodsAfter the SQD model was established, the Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into nine groups (n = 10): normal; model; Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi Pills; 18.9, 12.6 and 6.3 g/kg dose groups of HRPCM and ARPCM. Gastrointestinal function including d-xylose, gastrin, amylase vasoactive intestinal peptide, motilin, pepsin, H⁺/K⁺-ATPase, Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) and immune function including spleen and thymus index, blood routine, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgA, IgG and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) were detected. Finally, the efficacy differences were analysed comprehensively by the fuzzy matter-element method.ResultsIn regulating immune, the doses differences in efficacy between HRPCM and ARPCM showed in the high-dose (18.9 g/kg), but there were no differences in the middle- and low- dose (12.6 and 6.3 g/kg); the efficacy differences were primarily reflected in levels of IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IgM in serum, and the mRNA expression of IL-6 and IFN-γ in the spleen. In regulating gastrointestinal, the efficacy differences were primarily reflected in the levels of D-xylose, MTL, and GAS in serum, and the mRNA and protein expression of SGLT1 and GLUT2 in jejunum and ileum.Discussion and conclusionsHRPCM is more effective than ARPCM on regulating gastrointestinal function and immune function with SQD syndrome. Therefore, we propose that HRPCM should be mainly used to treat SQD syndrome in the future.     

Assessment of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony by phase analysis of ECG-gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has shown benefits in patients with severe heart failure. However, at least 30% of patients selected for CRT by use of traditional criteria (New York Heart Association class III or IV, depressed left ventricular [LV] ejection fraction, and prolonged QRS duration) do not respond to CRT. Recent studies with tissue Doppler imaging have shown that the presence of LV dyssynchrony is an important predictor of response to CRT. Phase analysis has been developed to allow assessment of LV dyssynchrony by gated single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging. This technique uses Fourier harmonic functions to approximate regional wall thickness changes over the cardiac cycle and to calculate the regional onset-of-mechanical contraction phase. Once the onset-of-mechanical contraction phases are obtained 3-dimensionally over the left ventricle, a phase distribution map is formed that represents the degree of LV dyssynchrony. This technique has been compared with other methods of measuring LV dyssynchrony and shown promising results in clinical evaluations. In this review the phase analysis methodology is described, and its up-to-date validations are summarized.     

TAS1R3 and TAS2R38 Polymorphisms Affect Sweet Taste Perception: An Observational Study on Healthy and Obese Subjects

Background: The inter-individual differences in taste perception find a possible rationale in genetic variations. We verified whether the presence of four different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding for bitter (TAS2R38; 145G > C; 785T > C) and sweet (TAS1R3; −1572C > T; −1266C > T) taste receptors influenced the recognition of the basic tastes. Furthermore, we tested if the allelic distribution of such SNPs varied according to BMI and whether the associations between SNPs and taste recognition were influenced by the presence of overweight/obesity. Methods: DNA of 85 overweight/obese patients and 57 normal weight volunteers was used to investigate the SNPs. For the taste test, filter paper strips were applied. Each of the basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter) plus pure rapeseed oil, and water were tested. Results: Individuals carrying the AV/AV diplotype of the TAS2R38 gene (A49P G/G and V262 T/T) were less sensitive to sweet taste recognition. These alterations remained significant after adjustment for gender and BMI. Moreover, a significant decrease in overall taste recognition associated with BMI and age was found. There was no significant difference in allelic distribution for the investigated polymorphisms between normal and overweight/obese patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that overall taste recognition depends on age and BMI. In the total population, the inter-individual ability to identify the sweet taste at different concentrations was related to the presence of at least one genetic variant for the bitter receptor gene but not to the BMI.     

抗转铁蛋白受体单链抗体原核表达载体的构建和表达

目的 构建抗转铁蛋白受体(TfR)单链抗体原核表达载体，为进一步研究其效应奠定基础。方法 从抗TfR单克隆抗体重链和轻链可变区基因的克隆载体pGEM-T-VH和pGEM-T-VL中扩增重链可变区(VH)和轻链可变区(VL)基因，用重叠延伸PCR的方法，在VH和VL基因间引入连接短肽(Linker)，构建VH-Linker-VL的单链抗体(single chain Fv，scFv)基因。经NcoⅠ和NotⅠ酶切后亚克隆到原核分泌型表达载体pUCl9／119上，转化和筛选后，阳性细菌经IPTG诱导表达。间接免疫荧光法(IFA)及抗体封闭试验鉴定其抗体活性。结果 凝胶电泳可见重叠延伸PCR扩增产物约700bp条带，SDS-PAGE鉴定表达产物的分子量为27kD左右，与scFv的理论值一致，IFA及抗体封闭试验证明表达产物有抗人TfR的活性。结论 本研究成功地构建并表达了抗人TfR scFv，为抗人TfRscFv的应用奠定了基础。     

Shank3基因多态性与汉族儿童孤独症的病例对照研究

目的 探讨Shank3基因的单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)与汉族儿童孤独症的相关性.方法 采用Illumina CNV 370-Duo芯片和Illumina 610芯片对455例孤独症患者(孤独症组)和1 097例无孤独症及相关精神疾病儿童(对照组)的Shank3基因SNPs位点进行基因分型检测,对基因分型数据采用haploview4.1软件进行关联分析.结果 Shank3基因的rs736334、rs8137951位点的等位基因频率和rs9616816-rs736334的G-G、A-A及rs715586-rs8137951的G-A单体型频率在两组间的传递比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),但经1 000次模拟置换检验后的结果比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 Shank3基因与汉族儿童孤独症的致病不存在相关性,Shank3基因可能不是汉族儿童孤独症的易感基因.     

中药内服外薰配合电针治疗单纯性肥胖96例临床观察

目的 观察中药内服外薰配合电针治疗单纯性肥胖的临床疗效.方法 192例单纯性肥胖患者随机分成治疗组和对照组各96例,治疗组采取中药内服及中药薰蒸配合电针治疗;对照组采取普通针刺治疗,均为每周3次,隔天1次,4周为1个疗程,共治疗两个疗程,观察两组治疗前后体质量指数(BMI)及腰臀比值(WHR)及治疗效果.结果 经过2个疗程治疗后,治疗组痊愈48例、显效34例、有效10例、无效4例、总有效率95.8％,对照组分别为18例、32例、34例、12例、87.5％,经Ridit分析,治疗组平均Ridit值=0.6080,对照组平均Ridit值=0.3920,U=5.889(P＜0.01).两组治疗后BMI、WHR较治疗前均有明显改善(=2.44、2.03、2.44、2.03,均P＜0.01),两组治疗后差异均无统计学意义.结论 中药内服外薰配合电针治疗,能有效提高单纯性肥胖的临床疗效,是一种效果理想的临床减肥疗法.     

Joint analysis of individual participants’ data from 17 studies on the association of the IL6 variant -174G>C with circulating glucose levels,interleukin-6 levels,and body mass index

Background. Several studies have investigated associations between the -174G>C single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1800795) of the IL6 gene and phenotypes related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but presented inconsistent results.

Aims. This joint analysis aimed to clarify whether IL6 -174G>C was associated with glucose and circulating interleukin-6 concentrations as well as body mass index (BMI).

Methods. Individual-level data from all studies of the IL6-T2DM consortium on Caucasian subjects with available BMI were collected. As study-specific estimates did not show heterogeneity (P>0.1), they were combined by using the inverse-variance fixed-effect model.

Results. The main analysis included 9440, 7398, 24,117, or 5659 non-diabetic and manifest T2DM subjects for fasting glucose, 2-hour glucose, BMI, or circulating interleukin-6 levels, respectively. IL6 -174 C-allele carriers had significantly lower fasting glucose (?0.091 mmol/L, P=0.014). There was no evidence for association between IL6 -174G>C and BMI or interleukin-6 levels, except in some subgroups.

Conclusions. Our data suggest that C-allele carriers of the IL6 -174G>C polymorphism have lower fasting glucose levels on average, which substantiates previous findings of decreased T2DM risk of these subjects.