The current status of surgical pilonidal sinus disease therapy in Germany

European Surgery - Treatment of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) requires a tailored approach. A national guideline was published in 2014. The current status of surgical PSD therapy...     

NT-proBNP对急性心肌梗死患者新发房颤的预测价值研究

目的探讨N末端B型脑利钠肽前体(NT-proBNP)对急性心肌梗死患者新发房颤的预测价值。方法从2008年1月至2010年12月收住我院心脏监护室的患者中入选急性心肌梗死(AMI)患者293例,按照患者住院期间是否出现房颤(AF)分为房颤组(n=43)和非房颤组(n=250)。比较两组间差异,分析血浆NT-proBNP水平对新发房颤的预测价值。结果 (1)AMI患者住院期间出现新发房颤的比例为14.7%;(2)房颤组患者NT-proBNP水平明显高于非房颤患者,且平均年龄较大,左心室射血分数、血红蛋白含量和肾小球滤过率(eGFR)均低于非房颤组;(3)多因素Logistic回归分析显示NT-proBNP可独立预测急性心肌梗死患者新发房颤(OR4.918,95%CI1.662-14.549,P=0.004)。结论血浆NT-proBNP水平可独立预测急性心肌梗死患者新发房颤的发生,可用于患者危险分层及指导早期预防治疗。     

Cardiac surgery at high altitude

Eleven children between 4 and 17 years of age underwent ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus during two medical camps in September 2003 and August 2004 at the Sonam Norboo Memorial District Hospital at Leh, Ladakh (11,400 feet above mean sea level). These children had a low mean arterial oxygen saturation while breathing room air. They were all acclimatized to high altitude. Surgery was performed under general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Patients were extubated on the table. All children survived the operation and were discharged within 5-6 days following surgery. No surgical or anaesthetic complications were encountered. Simple cardiac surgical procedures such as ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus can be performed safely at high altitudes.     

Human and animal rabies prevention and control cost in Bhutan, 2001–2008: The cost–benefit of dog rabies elimination

The objective of this study was to estimate the cost of various interventions and to quantify the economic impacts of rabies in Bhutan. Cost–benefit of dog rabies elimination versus human post exposure treatment cost was also assessed. The average direct medical cost of human post-exposure treatment (using rabies vaccine only) was estimated to be Nu. 1615 (US$ 35.65) per 5-dose Essen regimen per patient. The cost would increase to Nu. 2497 (US$ 55.13) and Nu. 19,633 (US$ 433.41) per patient when one dose of either equine rabies immunoglobulin (ERIG) or human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) is administered, respectively. The societal cost (direct medical and indirect patient expenses) per patient was estimated to be Nu. 2019 (US$ 45), Nu. 2901 (US$ 64) and Nu. 20,037 (US$ 442) using vaccine only, vaccine with ERIG and vaccine with HRIG, respectively. The average cost per dog vaccination and sterilization were estimated to be Nu. 75 (US$ 1.66) and Nu. 288 (US$ 6.36), respectively. The total direct cost of rabies and various interventions between 2001 and 2008 was estimated to be Nu. 46.95 million (US$ 1.03 million). The direct cost for intensified human PET was estimated to be Nu. 5.85 million (US$ 0.11 million) per year with a cumulated estimated costs of Nu. 35.10 million (US$ 0.70 million) while the cost of mass dog vaccination with at least 70% coverage is estimated to be approximately Nu. 10.31 million (US$ 0.21 million) at the end of 6 years. The combined cost of mass dog vaccination and human PET was estimated to be greater than the cost of human PET alone during the first 2 years of the campaign, and then would be lower than human PET cost alone after the 5th year of the campaign. The total cumulated cost of the combined strategy was estimated to be Nu. 34.14 million (US$ 0.73 million) and would be lower than the cumulated cost of human PET alone (Nu. 35.10 million, US$ 0.77 million) at the end of 6 years. Rabies represents a substantial economic impact to the Bhutanese society. Well-planned and implemented mass dog vaccination would result in elimination of rabies reservoirs in the domestic dog population and would eliminate human rabies cases. It would also reduce the recurrent expenditure on human post-exposure treatment.