麦冬类中药组织切片计算机三维重建图鉴

利用计算机技术实现麦冬类中药组织连续切片三维重建与动态显示,为计算机辅助生药学鉴定和教学提供了新的三维图像技术和研究资料。     

Intra-lesional injections of collagenase are ineffective in the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars.

The treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars remains difficult. Enzymatic digestion of keloid scars has been previously proposed as an effective treatment strategy for reducing the volume of keloid scars. To test this, we administered intra-lesional injections of pure collagenase (between 600 and 4500 units for each scar) into the keloid and hypertrophic scars of seven human volunteers (five keloid and two hypertrophic scars). Five patients (three keloid and two hypertrophic) received more than one injection of collagenase. The treatment resulted in a temporary reduction in scar volume for three of the patients with keloid scars. However, scar volumes for these three patients returned to the same (or greater) levels after 6 months of follow-up. Treatment with collagenase produced no change in scar volume for the two patients with hypertrophic scar. Side effects were numerous and severe including; pain, swelling, blistering, ulceration and ecchymosis at the site of injection. One patient required admission to hospital for 48 h after the first injection. Maximum length of follow-up was 6 months. None of the seven patients completed the study and returned for final follow-up at 2 years. This pilot study suggests that treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars with intra-lesional injections of collagenase is ineffective.     

THE IMPACT OF PRE-CLERKING CLINICS ON SURGICAL OPERATION CANCELLATIONS: A PROSPECTIVE AUDIT

Pre-clerking of all patients undergoing elective general surgical operations was introduced at our hospital in an attempt to reduce an unacceptably high operation cancellation rate. A prospective audit has been performed on the effect of this policy on the cancellation rate. Before the introduction of pre-clerking there was a marked seasonal variation in the number of patients who failed to attend for surgery, which could be explained by absence on holiday. This seasonal variation disappeared after the start of pre-clerking clinics, but there has been no reduction in the number of cancellations for medical reasons.     

Relationship between intracranial pressure and intracranial volume in craniosynostosis.

Premature fusion of cranial sutures in craniosynostosis has been thought to lead to craniostenosis, which in turn may lead to increased intracranial pressures. In 41 consecutive patients with craniosynostosis, intracranial pressure and intracranial volume were measured. Of the 41 patients, 38 (92.6%) had raised intracranial pressure but only 4 (9.7%) had a decreased skull volume. In the present study, there is no correlation between intracranial volume and intracranial pressure. This study confirms that the measurement of intracranial volume, a non invasive procedure, cannot be used to assess intracranial pressure and to avoid an invasive procedure.     

Impact of clinical history on fracture detection with radiography

The effect of knowledge of localizing symptoms and signs in the detection of fractures was studied. Forty radiographs of the extremities were examined twice by seven radiologists; the sessions were separated by 4 months. In 26 cases, a subtle fracture was present; 14 cases were normal. In half of the cases at each session, the precise location of pain, tenderness, or swelling was provided. The observer was asked to determine if the case was normal or abnormal (provide the exact location of the fracture) and to indicate the degree of confidence in the diagnosis. Responses were converted to a numeric scale for analysis. Analysis of receiver operator characteristic parameters indicates that clues regarding location of trauma facilitate detection of fractures. The improvement is based largely on an increased true-positive rate without an increased false-positive rate, regardless of the decision criteria of the radiologist (overall willingness to "overread" or "underread"). This has direct clinical applicability and reinforces the plea of radiologists for precise clinical information.     

雷丸多糖的抗炎及免疫刺激作用

Lei Wan, Poliporus mylittae Cook et Mass(Omphalia lapidescena Scbraet) is a kind of fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, as an antheiminthie From Lei Wan, an "active component designated as. S-4001 had been isolated.Preliminary results indicate that S-4001 belongs to D, β, 1-3 glucan with some 1-6 linkages.After administration of S-4001, significant antiinflammatory activity was found in various experimental animal models, including croton oil induced ear edema in mice and agar or yeast induced ankle swelling in rats. An inhibitory action on leucocyte migration inducced by intraperitoneal injection of CMC in rats was also observed. The plasma content of corticosterone was significantly increased, but the content of ascorbic acid in the adrenals did not change in rats given S-4001. Apart from these actions, S-4001 showed a number of immunostimulating actions such as increasing the clearance of Congo red from mice blood and potentiating the immunohemolysis reaction in 615 mice.     

Measuring maternal mortality: An overview of opportunities and options for developing countries

Background  

There is currently an unprecedented expressed need and demand for estimates of maternal mortality in developing countries. This has been stimulated in part by the creation of a Millennium Development Goal that will be judged partly on the basis of reductions in maternal mortality by 2015.