Developing a Peer Review Process for Web-based Curricula

The World Wide Web creates new challenges and opportunities for medical educators. Prominent among these are the lack of consistent standards by which to evaluate web-based educational tools. We present the instrument that was used to review web-based innovations in medical education submissions to the 2003 Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) national meeting, and discuss the process used by the SGIM web-based clinical curriculum interest group to develop the instrument. The 5 highest-ranked submissions are summarized with commentary from the reviewers.     

Clinical and Physical Evaluation of the Infertile Male: Testicular Measurement or Orchidometry/Klinische und physikalische Bewertung des infertilen Mannes: Hodenmessung oder Orchidometrie

Summary: For the quantitative determination of the testicular size or volume, two groups of apparatus are available: on the one hand, model testes, which are extremely valuable in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies during the period of pubescence, and on the other hand, measuring devices, with which the testicular dimensions can be specified. The latter instruments are helpful chiefly during the adolescent years and the diagnosis of problems surrounding fertility. The testicular volume can be calculated subsequently from the specific testicular measurements. The formula, for computing the volume of an ellipsoid, seems to be the most suitable for this purpose. Appliances also have been developed, which allow the largest (longitudinal) dimension (in mm) and the testicular volume (in cm3) to be read off simultaneously. A tonometer can be useful to quantitatively estimate the testicular consistency, which is a parameter of the testicular integrity at the level of tubular function (spermatozoa production).     

Zero-Order Release Formulation of Oxprenolol Hydrochloride with Swelling and Erosion Control

Zero-order release of oxprenolol hydrochloride was obtained by controlling the swelling and erosion of the matrix. This formulation involves only mixing of drug, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na CMC) at the ratio of 1:0.4:1.6, respectively, and compressing the mixture directly into tablets. The in vitro release pattern from this optimized matrix tablet was reproducible. Accelerated stability studies revealed that the optimized formulation remains stable for an approximately 2-year shelf life. This sustained-release (SR) tablet was evaluated in dogs, and for comparison a conventional (CV) formulation was also given at the same dose level. Plasma oxprenolol levels were monitored by a sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Significant differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters, i.e., lower C _max, higher values of t _max, MRT, AUC, and plasma concentration at 24 hr, and nearly constant plasma levels over 12 hr, indicated that the SR matrix tablet is superior to the CV rapid-releasing formulation. The in vitro release parameters and in vivo pharmacokinetics correlated well.     

病案质量问题与改进

病案作为记录医疗活动过程的重要载体,包含着各类丰富的信息。医疗服务质量评价有很多内容是通过病案实现的。作者分析了包括"三级医师查房"在内的20余项在病案中反映的医疗服务质量项目,指出影响质量判断的常见因素,并提出解决的对策与措施。     

用秩和比法对我院的10个公示病种医疗质量进行综合评价

目的对我院2005年度公示的10个病种进行医疗质量综合评价。方法采用秩和比法(RSR)进行统计分析。结果我院的10个公示病种被划分成4个医疗质量等级:老年性白内障、小儿支气管肺炎2个病种质量为优,急性阑尾炎、腹股沟疝(单侧)、子宫平滑肌瘤、剖宫产4个病种质量为良,胃大切、脑梗塞、急性心肌梗塞3个病种质量为中,脑出血1个病种质量为差。结论通过对综合指数秩和比(RSR)的计算并根据其值分级归档,反映出所研究病种之间存在着医疗质量高低的差异。控制和降低本院临床常见病种的医药费用,进行医疗全程连续性控制,为患者提供经济有效的医疗服务。     

肱骨髁间骨折的手术治疗及疗效评价

目的 探讨肱骨髁间骨折的手术方式并评价疗效。方法 1998年1月～2004年12月共手术治疗肱骨髁间骨折28例，进行随访分析。结果 28例中26例获随访，时间6个月～4年7个月，其中22例获2年以上随访。疗效评价参照casse‰。评分系统，优良率为65％。结论 骨折类型及手术方式直接影响预后。关节良好的复位和牢固的固定，以及术后早期积极的功能锻炼是得到良好疗效的保证。     

Comparative efficacy of Hanifin and Rajka''s criteria and the UK working party''s diagnostic criteria in diagnosis of atopic dermatitis in a hospital setting in North India

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (AD) depends on clinical features because no definitive diagnostic test exists. Criteria proposed by Hanifin and Rajka (Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 1980; Suppl 92: 44-47) were acceptable for hospital-based studies but were found not to be suitable for field studies. A UK working party formulated clinical diagnostic criteria that could be used in both hospital and epidemiological settings. Validation studies of the criteria showed widely variable results, probably due to different clinical settings and ethnicity. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to validate Hanifin and Rajka's criteria and to assess the comparative efficacy of their criteria and the UK working party's diagnostic criteria in the diagnosis of AD in a hospital setting in North India. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study serially included 101 patients with AD and 48 controls of paediatric age group. The study period was from July 2003 to December 2004. RESULTS: Hanifin and Rajka's criteria (sensitivity 96%, specificity 93.75%, positive predictive value 97% (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) 91.84%) had a statistical advantage over the UK working party's diagnostic criteria (sensitivity 86%, specificity 95.83%, PPV 97.75% and NPV 76.67%), with a P-value < 0.005.     

通过三年资料实证医院检验科常规项目全成本

目的弄清医院常规检验项目的实际成本,为医院及卫生主管部门进行科学管理和政府物价部门制订科学合理的收费价格体系提供科学依据。方法对某二级甲等医院检验科3年中所开展的全部7大类16个项目组169个检验项目的成本按耗材、设备折旧、劳务费、房屋折旧、业务费与后勤管理费共5大类进行实证分析。结果该科的成本构成比是:耗材成本34.1%、设备折旧24.3%、劳务费30.0%、房屋折旧4.0%、业务费与后勤管理费7.6%;检验项目的每项次平均成本为7.17元;成本最低的两类检验项目是生化及定性免疫,其项次成本分别为3.18元和4.25元;最高的则为微生物和血库,项次成本分别为48.63元和35.21元;项次成本过百元的有7项,多为输血项目;5至10倍于平均成本的28项,2至5倍于全科平均成本的22项,其余112项介于全科平均成本上下。结论实证研究是准确掌握检验项目成本的有效方法。     

Is endoscopic one‐piece mucosal resection essential for early gastric cancer?

Background: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is widely accepted as a minimally invasive treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC) in Japan. However, the criteria for EMR must be strictly adhered to otherwise patients will miss the chance for additional therapy. We assess the important factor in expanding the indication of EMR. Methods: We investigated 1101 EGCs that had been resected by EMR at the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH), Tokyo, Japan, according to the indication recommended by Japanese Gastric Cancer Association (JGCA) and the expanded indication proposed by NCCH. Curability and local recurrence of the EMRs were assessed related to the applied indication and the number of resected specimens. Results: The recurrence rate of non‐evaluable resection was higher than that of evaluable resection (P < 0.0001). Eighty‐three lesions among 772 lesions in the JGCA group were non‐evaluable. Thirty‐seven leisons among 329 lesions in the NCCH group were non‐evaluable. There was no difference in the rate of non‐evaluable resection between JGCA and NCCH groups (P = 0.8329). However, the rate of curative resection was lower in the NCCH group than in the JGCA group (P = 0.0009). In piecemeal resection, there was no difference in the rate of non‐evaluable resection between JGCA and NCCH groups (P = 0.0527). In one‐piece resection, the rate of non‐evaluable resection was lower in the NCCH group than the JGCA group (P = 0.0137). Conclusion: Based on our series of cases, we propose one‐piece resection as a gold standard for EMR because it enables accurate histological evaluation, even in the EMR, according to the expanded indication.     

A framework for systematically improving occupational therapy expert opinions on work capacity

Aim:  To present an evidence-based framework to improve the quality of occupational therapy expert opinions on work capacity for litigation, compensation and insurance purposes.
Methods:  Grounded theory methodology was used to collect and analyse data from a sample of 31 participants, comprising 19 occupational therapists, 6 medical specialists and 6 lawyers. A focused semistructured interview was completed with each participant. In addition, 20 participants verified the key findings.
Results:  The framework is contextualised within a medicolegal system requiring increasing expertise. The framework consists of (i) broad professional development strategies and principles, and (ii) specific strategies and principles for improving opinions through reporting and assessment practices.
Conclusions:  The synthesis of the participants' recommendations provides systematic guidelines for improving occupational therapy expert opinion on work capacity.