Genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis in Urine Specimens Will Facilitate Large Epidemiological Studies

The serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis-positive urine specimens (n = 81; as detected by PCR and ligase chain reaction) were successfully analyzed in 94% of cases by omp1 PCR-based RFLP analysis. The use of urine specimens and this simple and sensitive typing method will greatly facilitate epidemiological studies of C. trachomatis serovar distribution in asymptomatic C. trachomatis infections in both females and males.     

To what extent does IQ 'explain' socio-economic variations in function?

Background  

The aims of this study were to examine the extent to which higher intellectual abilities protect higher socio-economic groups from functional decline and to examine whether the contribution of intellectual abilities is independent of childhood deprivation and low birth weight and other socio-economic and developmental factors in early life.     

高效液相色谱法测定右旋儿茶素血浆浓度及药代动力学参数

本文建立了体液中右旋儿茶素的RP-HPLC测定方法。采用C_(18)键合相硅胶为填料的固相提取柱进行样品预处理,右旋儿茶素的提取回收率为79.8%.应用二极管阵列检测器对色谱峰纯度进行鉴定。该法精密度好,方法回收率近100%,日内、日间的变异系数为2.4～5.6%,血浓69.6～1160 ng/ml范围内呈线性关系,r=0.9993。家兔静注右旋儿茶素18mg/kg,其药代动力学过程符合二室模型,分布相半衰期为0.129 h,消除相半衰期为1.19h。     

The role of the nurse in active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide

The researchers wanted to obtain insight into the cooperation between physicians and nurses with regard to active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EAS). In study I a stratified random sample of 203 clinical specialists, 152 general practitioners (GPs) and 50 nursing home physicians (NHPs) participated. In study II a random sample of 521 GPs was drawn from the province of North Holland and a random sample of 521 GPs was drawn from the rest of the Netherlands. For study III all NHPs were approached. Data were collected by means of an interview in study I. In studies II and III an anonymous, postal questionnaire was used. Approximately half of the GPs did not consult with nurses about a patient's request for EAS, the intention to administer EAS, and the actual administration. In 5% of cases, the NHPs and the specialists did not consult with nurses concerning these aspects. The GPs and NHPs indicated in 4% and 3% of the cases, respectively, that nurses administered the lethal drug(s) to the patients; the corresponding figure for the specialists was 21%. Almost all GPs and NHPs and about three-quarters of the specialists thought that nurses should never be allowed to administer EAS.     

Central nervous system involvement in early and late syphilis: the problem of asymptomatic neurosyphilis

Patients with syphilitic infections are at risk of development of symptomatic neurosyphilis. Adequate treatment with 2.4-7.2 x 10(6) units benzyl penicillin-G intramuscularly within 1 year after infection will rule out this risk. However, more than 1 year after infection this treatment is not fully reliable. In asymptomatic CNS involvement (asymptomatic neurosyphilis) only intravenous penicillin treatment is considered to be adequate in the prevention of neurosyphilis. In this study we redefined criteria for this condition by comparing serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of symptomatic neurosyphilitic patients with those of latent syphilitic patients without CNS involvement. Diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization and of Centers of Disease Control for asymptomatic neurosyphilis (positive CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, combined with raised CSF cell count and/or protein content) were studied and compared with some newer parameters such as signs of intrathecal treponemal antibody production (Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay and intrathecal Treponema pallidum assay index), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) index. The results of this study in 203 syphilitic patients revealed that either a positive CSF-VDRL or combination of a raised IgG and/or IgM index with an elevated CSF cell count both are useful criteria for "ruling-in" asymptomatic neurosyphilis.     

Laboratory test form design influences test ordering by general practitioners in The Netherlands.

The effect of listing fewer laboratory tests on the test request form on test-ordering behavior of a group of 47 Dutch general practitioners was studied. The number of laboratory tests ordered by this experimental group during a 12-month period was recorded. The usual, old standard form was used by a control group of 28 general practitioners in a different region. After having used the old, standard form with 178 tests for 5 months, the experimental group received forms listing only 15 hematological and chemical tests plus several urine and feces tests, and space was allowed for "others." A comparison of the experimental and control periods showed that the number of tests ordered monthly in the experimental group was reduced by 18%. When the usual standard form was re-introduced, the general practitioners quickly returned to their old pattern. Results revealed that fixed and often unsound routine influences the use of additional diagnostic procedures. In addition, limiting and restructuring the test-ordering forms may break the routine but does not essentially modify the rationale of test-ordering behavior.