Severe odontogenic infections

Background : Severe odontogenic infections are serious potentially lethal conditions. Following the death of a patient in the authors' institution this study was initiated to determine the risk factors, management and outcome of a consecutive series of patients.
Methods : All patients admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital under the care of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit with odontogenic infections in calendar year 2003 were investigated. Detailed information relative to their pre-presentation history, surgical and anaesthetic management and outcome was obtained and analysed.
Results : Forty-eight patients, 32M, 16F, average age 34.5, range 19 to 88 years were treated. All presented with pain and swelling, with 21 (44 per cent) having trismus. Forty-four (92 per cent) were as a result of dental neglect and four (8 per cent) were regular dental patients having endodontic treatment which failed. Of those known to have been treated prior to presentation, most had been on antibiotics. Most patients had aggressive surgical treatment with extraction, surgical drainage, high dose intravenous antibiotics and rehydration. The hospital stay was 3.3 (range 1–16) days. Patients requiring prolonged intubation and high dependency or intensive care (40 per cent) had longer hospitalization. No patient died and all fully recovered.
Conclusion : Severe odontogenic infections are a serious risk to the patient's health and life. Management is primarily surgical with skilled anaesthetic airway management. Antibiotics are required in high intravenous doses as an adjunct and not as a primary treatment.     

Loneliness among elderly people living in Stockholm: a population study

The purpose was to investigate experienced loneliness among the elderly. The material included 1725 people, aged 75 and over. The study describes relationships between loneliness, social network, cognitive function and health. Thirty-five per cent experienced loneliness, and a higher percentage was found among women. A gradual increase in loneliness was found up to the age of 90, after which a levelling was found. Elderly persons living together with a partner experienced less loneliness. There were no significant differences between those with and without children. Ten per cent reported not having any friends and, of these, one out of two experienced loneliness. A high frequency of experienced loneliness was found among elderly people with reduced cognitive function. Subjectively experienced bad health and loneliness were strongly related to each other, i.e. a person who experienced loneliness did usually not feel completely healthy.     

The impact of hormone replacement therapy on quality of life and willingness to pay

Objective To measure the gain in quality of life due to hormone replacement therapy for women with mild and severe menopausal symptoms.
Design Prospective study where data on quality of life and willingness to pay were collected by interview.
Setting Department of Gynaecology at Sodertalje Hospital near Stockholm.
Participants One hundred and four women aged 45 to 65 years treated for menopausal symptoms for at least one month.
Methods Quality oflife was measured by the time tradeoff and rating scale methods. The willingness to pay for hormone replacement therapy was investigated using the contingent valuation method.
Main outcome measures The quality adjusted life year weight measured with the rating scale and time tradeoff methods, and willingness to pay.
Results The increase in the quality adjusted life year weight due to hormone replacement therapy for women with mild symptoms was 0.26 according to the rating scale method and 0.18 according to the time tradeoff method. For women with severe symptoms the quality adjusted life year weight increased by 0.50 according to the rating scale method and by 0.42 according to the time tradeoff method. The mean willingness to pay for hormone replacement therapy per month was 2300 Swedish krone for women with mild symptoms and 4800 Swedish krone for women with severe symptoms (£1 = 10.3 Swedish krone).
Conclusions Hormone replacement therapy leads to a major improvement in quality of life for women with menopausal symptoms. Both for women with mild and severe menopausal symptoms the willingness to pay for the treatment also greatly exceeds the costs, indicating that hormone replacement therapy is economically beneficial for women with menopausal symptoms.     

Ploidy profile of morphologically normal squamous epithelium adjacent to high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

We have investigated the ploidy profile of morphologically normal mucosa adjacent to high grade CIN (   n = 16  ) and also from normal cervix ( n = 18). DNA ploidy was assessed using flow cytometry and image analysis. All cases were diploid by both modalities. Our results show that morphologically normal squamous mucosa has a stable ploidy profile even when it lies adjacent to high grade CIN. This finding supports the view that high grade CIN is a neoplastic expansion of transformed cells rather than the result of a field change effect.     

王氏保赤丸治疗痞满证30例临床观察

用王氏保赤丸治疗痞满证(慢性胃炎、功能性消化不良)患者30例,观察临床症状改善和不良反应。疗程10天。结果：临床症候改善总有效率为93．3％,单项主症总有效率为93．3％,单项次症明显改善,对大便不畅疗效最为明显。提示王氏保赤丸对痞满证的疗效满意。     

自发性高血压大鼠血红素氧合酶的基因表达

目的 :探讨高血压时血红素氧合酶 -一氧化碳系统的状态。方法 :选取自发性高血压大鼠 (SH R)及与之相匹配的正常血压大鼠 (WKY)各 8只 ,应用 RT-PCR技术检测主动脉血管平滑肌细胞血红素氧合酶基因表达。结果 :SHR的血管平滑肌细胞血红素氧合酶基因表达较 WKY明显降低。结论 :血红素氧合酶基因表达降低在高血压的发病中可能具有重要作用     

对阜阳汉简《万物》所载药物与疾病的整理

本文依据阜阳汉简《万物》的存文,就《万物》中有关医药卫生方面的内容,以药物和疾病为纲,做了比较系统的整理和归类,首次提出了《万物》所载药物约110种,所涉及的疾病40多种。文中并对《万物》有关内容做了一些注释和考证。