高分辨率CT对颞部疾病的检查价值

目的：探讨高分辨率CT（HRCT）对颞部疾病的检查价值。方法：对43例颞部疾病患者行常规CT和高分辨率CT（HRCT）检查所获图像对比分析，并讨论HRCT的检查技术和图像后处理。结果：HRCT对病变的显示率及病变引起骨质破坏的程度，病变边缘，轮廓的显示均明显优于常规CT，尤其能清楚显示常规CT难以显示的中耳及内耳的细微结构，结论：高分辨率CT是颞部疾病的首选检查方法，使用高分辨率CT对颞部疾病的检查给临床提供更多，更准确的诊断信息。     

Intratemporal vascular tumors: detection with CT and MR imaging

The diagnostic contributions of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were compared in 12 patients with benign intratemporal vascular tumors (hemangioma or vascular malformation). The tumors included six in the internal acoustic canal and six in the geniculate ganglion region. Clinical and histologic correlations were made. Two of the six patients with tumors in the internal acoustic canal underwent CT, and both required gas cisternography to show the tumor. Five patients in that group underwent MR imaging, and all five studies showed the tumor. All six patients with geniculate ganglion tumors underwent CT. Results in one study were questionable, and five showed the tumor. Five patients in this group underwent MR imaging, but the MR findings were positive in only two cases. MR imaging should therefore be performed before CT in the evaluation of facial nerve dysfunction, as it demonstrated all tumors in the internal acoustic canal and some in the geniculate ganglion region. If MR findings are negative, CT should then be performed to rule out a possible geniculate ganglion lesion.     

骨巨细胞瘤的MRI诊断价值

目的探讨骨巨细胞瘤的MRI表现特点及其病理基础。资料与方法搜集经手术病理证实的12例骨巨细胞瘤患者资料，分析其MRI征象并与病理结果对照。结果T1WI上肿瘤实体表现为低、等信号，T2WI上为不均匀高信号，Gd-DTPA增强扫描呈中度到明显强化。此外，MRI还可显示肿瘤内坏死、出血、含铁血黄素沉着等。结论MRI能够提供比较全面的影像学信息，可提高对骨巨细胞瘤诊断的准确性。     

Novel proteins with binding specificity for DNA CTG repeats and RNA CUG repeats: implications for myotonic dystrophy

While an unstable CTG triplet repeat expansion is responsible for myotonic dystrophy, the mechanism whereby this genetic defect induces the disease remains unknown. To detect proteins binding to CTG triplet repeats, we performed bandshift analysis using as probes double- stranded DNA fragments having CTG repeats [ds(CTG)6-10] and single- stranded oligonucleotides having CTG repeats ss(CTG)8 or RNA CUG triplet repeats (CUG)8. The source of protein was nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts of HeLa cells, fibroblasts and myotubes. Proteins binding to the double-stranded DNA repeat [ds(CTG)6-10], were inhibited by nonlabeled ds(CTG)6-10, but not by a non-specific DNA fragment (USF/AD-ML). Another protein binding to ssCTG probe and RNA CUG probe was inhibited by nonlabeled (CTG)8 and (CUG)8. Nonlabeled oligos with different triplet repeat sequences, ss(CAG)8 or ss(CGG)8, did not inhibit binding to the ss(CTG)8 probe. However, when labeled as probes, the (CAG)8 and (CGG)8 bound to proteins distinct from the CTG proteins and binding was inhibited by nonlabeled (CAG)8 or (CGG)8 respectively. The protein binding only to the RNA repeat (CUG)8 was inhibited by nonlabeled (CUG)8 but not by nonlabeled single- or double-stranded CTG repeats. Furthermore, the CUG-BP exhibited no binding to an RNA oligonucleotide of triplet repeats of the same length but having a different sequence, CGG. The CUG binding protein was localized to the cytoplasm, whereas dsDNA binding proteins were localized to the nuclear extract. Thus, several trinucleotide binding proteins exist and their specificity is determined by the triplet sequence. The novel protein, CUG-BP, is particularly interesting since it binds to triplet repeats known to be present in myotonin protein kinase mRNA which is responsible for myotonic dystrophy.      

Duke Surgery Research Central: an open-source Web application for the improvement of compliance with research regulation

Background  

Although regulatory compliance in academic research is enforced by law to ensure high quality and safety to participants, its implementation is frequently hindered by cost and logistical barriers. In order to decrease these barriers, we have developed a Web-based application, Duke Surgery Research Central (DSRC), to monitor and streamline the regulatory research process.     

Diagnosis of metastatic lesions to the stomach by salvage cytology

Summary Secondary neoplasms of the stomach are rare and are often clinical and diagnostic problems. Three patients with bleeding volcano-like ulcers were diagnosed by combined endoscopic salvage cytology and surgical biopsy as having metastatic submucosal lesions from hematologic spread. The combination of endoscopic appearance, clinical findings, and tissue and cytologic examination can lead to the correct diagnosis. The results from these cases support the utility of this cytologic technique in combination with biopsy in this clinical setting.     

Board development in two hospitals: lessons from a demonstration

A recently concluded demonstration project examined efforts to improve the effectiveness of nonprofit boards. This article focuses on the interventions at two participating healthcare organizations and examines the outcomes of these efforts. Changes made at the Alpha Health Care system included: reduction in the number of boards, term limits established for board members, election of new board chairs for two of the fewer boards, reduction in the size of those boards, implementation of a consent agenda, and reorganization of the boards' committee structure. Fewer changes were implemented at the Beta Hospital, where several initiatives were started but only some of which were retained by the projects' conclusion. Key factors limiting the extent of changes there were the modest interest in an active board by a new CEO and the limited investment of trustees in change. The article concludes with a discussion of lessons learned about board assessment, the use of retreats to initiate board development, and the importance of time management and CEO support to strengthen board effectiveness.     

The hospital community benefit standards program and health reform

This article suggests that the community hospital can be an important key to health reform at the local level; that community benefit guidelines are acceptable to hospitals and community leaders in a 49-site national demonstration program; and that these guidelines can prove useful for communities in moving toward health reform. Types of community involvement by hospitals are categorized, and examples of each type are developed. Community benefit programs can be a promising approach to effectively respond at the local level to the problems of poor health status, lack of access to care, and increasing health care costs. Addressing financing of care without attention to changes in the delivery system will not lead to effective health reform.