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.     

益肾通淋汤对尿石病人尿中草酸钙结晶的影响

本文就益肾通淋汤对尿结石病人尿中的草酸钙结晶的影响进行了随机对照观察。结果:实验组尿中出现草酸钙结晶、大晶体、结晶聚体的例数比对照组少(P<0.01)。提示益肾通淋汤有抑制尿石病人尿中草酸钙结晶的析出、增大和聚集的作用,以及可能有预防尿结石的形成和复发的作用。     

益肾通淋汤防治草酸钙肾结石的实验研究

本文观察了益肾通淋汤对大鼠实验性草酸钙结石的防治实验。结果表明,实验组在草酸钙晶体数和聚体数、肾小管扩张数,肾钙含量等方面均少于对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01);同时观察了实验大鼠肾脏的一般组织学改变,可见对照组肾小管上皮细胞浊肿变性,甚至细胞崩解、细胞碎片,胞核和刷状堟PAS阳性物质脱落于管腔内,有的与结石晶体粘附,肾小管明显扩张,而实验组未见明显的组织学损害。因而认为益肾通淋汤可能是通过抑制草酸钙结晶的析出和聚集,改善肾组织细胞的代谢和功能,减少细胞器脱落成为结石核心和基质物质以及加速尿液排泄,促进微结石排出的途径而起到防治尿结石作用的。     

建立模拟功能状态下的下颌骨三维有限元模型

本文在三维影像重建和三维有限元分析技术的基础上，建立了正常人和颞下颌关节疾病患者正中咬合时下颌骨的三维有限元模型。下颌骨螺旋ＣＴ和有限元模型三维重建影像的几何相似性良好，加载方式符合生理状况，比较真实地反映和模拟了功能状态下颞下颌关节与牙合的受力情况。为对颞下颌关节在各种状况下的生物力学行为进行分析和研究创造了条件。     

《伤寒论》水气证治论析

就《伤寒论》水气的涵义、致病特点、形成与发病、证治等方面进行了分析和探讨。认为：水气是一个病理概念,具有病理产物和致病因素的双重性,其本质是体内停蓄之水,其致病过程具有动而不居的特点;痰饮、水肿、湿痹皆是水气为患。水气的形成机制是阳虚,阳不制阴。治疗以“温药和之”为常法,振奋阳气以祛除水气;非尽以温药和之为变法,攻逐、清热、滋阴皆在其中。     

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.