中国针灸腧穴与尼泊尔传统医学生命点的对比研究

中国和尼泊尔的传统医学理论体系都有悠久的历史, 且两者的治疗手段都源自相同的哲学和理论基础。在使用自然疗法治疗疾病的过程中, 两种医疗体系均提出了人体的重要位置点的理论, 即中医的经络腧穴理论和尼泊尔传统医学中的生命点理论。初步将中国针灸腧穴以及尼泊尔传统医学中的生命点的进行对比研究, 为今后两者的结合应用提供依据。     

游戏教学法在学龄前儿童用力肺活量检查中的应用

目的 探讨游戏教学法在学龄前儿童用力肺活量检查中的应用效果.方法 选择2012年1月至2013年12月在我科肺功能室进行肺功能检查的学龄前儿童317例,随机分成两组,对照组118例,其中男82例,女36例;观察组199例,其中男133例,女66例.对照组儿童在做肺功能前由技术操作人员向患儿讲解操作规范、程序、如何用力、如何配合并演示,教导患儿用口深吸气一直到肺总量位置,然后以最快速度吹气,直到能够看见时间容积曲线显示呼气相平台之后,再用最快速度吸气至肺总量位置,然后用一张8cm×21 cm的小纸条让患儿练习直到把纸吹飞.观察组患儿采用游戏教学法,即让患儿先观看电脑画面,操作人员调出游戏软件中的蜡烛画面,一边让患儿看电脑里吹蜡烛的情景,一边做示范用力吹气,重点强调吹气时一定要用最大的力气尽量可能的长时间吹气,就像吹蜡烛一样,只有这样才能把蜡烛全部吹灭,吹灭的蜡烛越多获得的分数就越高,以奖励游戏的形式鼓励患儿进行检查.每一个患儿测定6次,每次间隔2分钟,不成功者休息20分钟再重新测试,2小时以内能完成并达到质控标准的视为成功,2小时内不能达到质控标准的视为不成功,记录患儿肺功能测定的成功率,比较两组患儿进行肺功能检查的成功率.结果 对照组118例中成功完成操作者78例,占66.1％,不成功者40例,占33.9％;观察组199例中成功者160例,占80.4％,不成功者39例,占19.6％.2组结果比较,x2值为8.096,P值为0.004,差异有显著性.结论 在学龄前儿童用力肺活量检查中,游戏教学法可以有效提高检查的成功率.     

FEV1/FEV6 is effective as a surrogate for FEV1/FVC in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background and objectiveChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) causes substantial morbidity and mortality across the globe. Diagnosis of COPD requires post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70 as per GOLD Guidelines. FVC maneuver requires a minimum of 6 seconds of forceful expiration with no flow for 1 second for an accepted effort, which lacks any fixed cut-off point. This leads to discomfort, especially in advanced COPD and old aged population. We conducted this study to find the utility of FEV1/FEV6 as a surrogate for FEV1/FVC, the correlation between the two ratios, and the fixed cut-off value of FEV1/FEV6 for COPD diagnosis.MethodsThis was a prospective, cross-sectional study approved by the institutional ethics committee conducted from January 2017 to November 2018. Consented patients above 18 years suspected of COPD underwent Spirometry as per ATS guidelines. FEV1, FEV6, FEV1/FEV6 and FEV1/FVC ratios were recorded from the best acceptable maneuver.ResultsOut of 560 screened patients, 122 diagnosed as COPD. The correlation coefficient between the post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio and FEV1/FEV6 ratio was 0.972 (p < 0.01). The relationship between the post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio and FEV1/FEV6 ratio (linear regression analysis) was found out as: FEV1/FVC = ?1.845 + 1.009(FEV1/FEV6). Using this formula, the post-bronchodilator FEV1/FEV6 value of 71.845 was obtained corresponding to the post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC value of 70.00.ConclusionWe found a positive correlation coefficient (r = 0.972, p < 0.001) between the FEV1/FEV6 and FEV1/FVC ratios and the cut off value of 71.845 (p < 0.01) for the post-bronchodilator FEV1/FEV6 ratio for the diagnosis of COPD. Thus FEV1/FEV6 should be used as a surrogate for FEV1/FVC for the diagnosis of COPD.     

Survey to determine the efficacy and safety of guideline-based pharmacological therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients not previously receiving maintenance treatment

Objective: To investigate the potential beneficial effects of guideline-based pharmacological therapy on pulmonary function and quality of life (QOL) in Japanese chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients without prior treatment.

Research design and methods: Multicenter survey, open-label study of 49 Japanese COPD patients aged ≥ 40 years; outpatients with >10 pack years of smoking history; ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁)/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 70%; predicted FEV₁ < 80%; treated with bronchodilators and/or inhaled corticosteroids as maintenance therapy until week 48.

Main outcome measures: The primary endpoint was change in pulmonary function (trough FEV₁, trough FVC); secondary endpoints were QOL and physical activity at 48 weeks after initiation of therapy.

Results: Airway reversibility was confirmed in untreated patients. Significant changes over time were not observed for FEV₁ and FVC, indicating lung function at initiation of treatment was maintained during the observation period. COPD assessment test scores showed statistical and clinical improvements. Cough, sputum, breathlessness, and shortness of breath were significantly improved.

Conclusions: Lung function and QOL of untreated Japanese COPD patients improved and improvements were maintained by performing a therapeutic intervention that conformed to published guidelines.     

New insights into the clinical signs of supraventricular tachycardia: The “sign of lace‐tying”

Background

Supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) are a common arrhythmia therefore an accurate diagnosis is of clinical importance. Although an ECG performed during tachycardia greatly aids diagnosis, patient history and predisposing factors also improve diagnostic accuracy.

Methods

This prospective study included 100 consecutive patients undergoing electrophysiological study for SVT with the aim to reassess their clinical characteristics and describe frequent predisposing factors, such as the “sign of lace‐tying” that to our knowledge has not previously been reported. Each patient completed an extensive questionnaire (70 questions) during their hospital stay.

Results

Our series comprised: 67% of patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT); 24% with an accessory pathway; and 9% presented atrial tachycardia. Half of the population were male and 29% of the cohort presented hypertension. Syncope during tachycardia appeared in 15% of patients, dizziness in 52% and thoracic pain in 59%. We encountered a predisposing risk factor for SVT in 53% of cases; with 32% exhibiting an anteflexion of the trunk termed the “sign of lace‐tying.” Data also showed that younger patients tended to present AVRT and regular pounding in the neck appeared only in patients with AVNRT.

Conclusions

Overall, our study has highlighted the importance of considering clinical signs and patient characteristics both before and during SVT for the precise diagnosis of paroxysmal SVT. Furthermore, 32% of patients presented the “sign of lace‐tying” or body position change before SVT, implying a diagnosis of SVT.

     

COPD急性期患者血清白介素13及胱抑素C水平与肺功能的关系

目的：观察慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)急性期患者血清白介素13(IL-13)及胱抑素C(CysC)水平变化,探讨COPD患者血清IL-13、CysC水平与肺功能的关系。方法慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性期患者56例作为观察组;对照组为健康体检者27例。两组均采集空腹肘静脉血,采用ELISA法测定血清IL-13、CysC水平。观察组于入院24 h内测定肺功能。结果观察组血清IL-13、Cys-C水平明显高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组血清IL-13、CysC水平与用力肺活量(forced vital capacity,FVC)之间均呈负相关(r=-0.849、r=-0.787,P<0.05);IL-13、CysC水平与最大呼气流量(peak expiratory flow,PEF)之间均呈负相关(r=-0.788、r=-0.698,P<0.05)。结论慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性期患者血清IL-13、CysC水平明显高于正常健康人,血清IL-13、CysC水平与肺活量均呈负相关。     

The McConnell Sign is Seen in Patients With Acute Chest Syndrome

Bedside ultrasound is often used as a part of the evaluation of patients who are critically ill. The McConnell sign is an important echocardiographic finding in some critically ill patients with pulmonary embolism and an acute right ventricular infarct. We present 3 critically ill patients with confirmed acute chest syndrome who showed the McConnell sign on echocardiography. In patients with sickle cell disease presenting with chest pain and shortness of breath, the presence of the McConnell sign does not narrow the differential diagnosis between pulmonary embolism, an acute right ventricular infarct, and acute chest syndrome.     

Prevalence and predictors associated with severe pulmonary hypertension in COPD

Background

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is one of the most common complications of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), but its severe form is uncommon. Various factors play an important role in the occurrence and severity of pulmonary hypertension in patients.

Recent US Case of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease—Global Implications

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is a rare, fatal prion disease resulting from transmission to humans of the infectious agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. We describe the clinical presentation of a recent case of vCJD in the United States and provide an update on diagnostic testing. The location of this patient’s exposure is less clear than those in the 3 previously reported US cases, but strong evidence indicates that exposure to contaminated beef occurred outside the United States more than a decade before illness onset. This case exemplifies the persistent risk for vCJD acquired in unsuspected geographic locations and highlights the need for continued global surveillance and awareness to prevent further dissemination of vCJD.     

非接触式医疗监测雷达研究进展

介绍了非接触式医疗监测雷达相比于传统的呼吸和心电监护仪的优势,从3种不同雷达体制的角度总结回顾了近10 a来医用生命监测雷达系统的研究现状,概括比较了呼吸和心跳信号的提取、分离、杂波抑制等算法,并指出了各种算法的优缺点,最后对非接触式生命监测雷达的发展趋势进行了探讨和展望.