The paper defines the quality of emergency medical care and analyzes its influencing factors from such angles as policy assurance, hospital support, organizational structure, cultivation of professional personnel, scientific management, interdisciplinary coordination, emergency care equipment, and the system of technological access. The goal is to improve the quality of emergency medical care so as to meet the needs of the broad masses of people for emergency medical care.

Objective To study the utility of inferior vena cava-collapse index (IVC-CI) for assessing fluid resuscitation for hypovolemic shock in order to look for better echocardiographic markers to assess patients' condition with hypovolemic shock,also to look for optimal guidance for the adjustment of the treatment for these patients.Methods A total of 40 patients with hypovolemic shock admitted to Emergency Department were enrolled for study.All patients were treated with 500 mL normal saline iutravenously as fluid resuscitation.The vital signs and echocardiographic findings before and after the treatment were documented.Comparison of data between pre-treatment and post-treatment was carried out.Results Of 40 patients,there were 23 male and 17 female with average age (50.00 ± 17.71) years.The time consumed for echocardiography examination was (8.68 ± 5.73) min,time required for establishing central line was (29.32 ± 8.06) min.Collapse index of inferior vena cava (IVC-CI) before and after treatment were (0.43 ± 0.16) and (0.38 ± 0.13),respectively.In hypovolemic shock group,the relationship of the peak velocity (Vpeak) of left ventricular outflow between before and after treatment was r =0.75,P =0.001.The relationship of the peak velocity of left ventricular outflow with left ventricular end diastolic volume (LEDV) before treatment was P =0.03 and after treatment was P =0.05.Conclusions (1) Between IVC-CI and the effectiveness of fluid resuscitation,there was no relationship.It was inappropriate to take IVC-CI as a marker for assessment.(2) Vpeak increased apparently after the fluid resuscitation.(3) Vpeak was proved to be associated with LEDV which supported that Vpeak is the indicator of left ventricular contractility.(4) Time consumed for echocardiography examination was shorter than that for establishing the central line in the group.

Objective To discuss the operative efficacy of anterior- and postero-decompression plus pedicle screw instrumentation through posterior approach in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures. MethodsFrom February 2006 to November 2009,28 patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture and spinal cord injury were treated with anterior-and postero-decompression plus pedicle screw instrumenattion through posterior approach.They were 19 men and 9 women,21 to 52 years of age (average,35.6 years).The fractures happened at T11 in 3 cases,at T12 in 11 cases,at L1 in 9 cases and at L2 in 5 cases.By AO classification,there were 16 cases of type A3,7 cases of type B and 5 cases of type C.By the ASIA(American Spinal Injury Association) system,6 cases were rated as grade A,12 cases as grade B and 10 cases as grade C. Bone grafting was performed according to different conditions of the patients.Results The patients were followed for 12 months to 24 months,with an average of 14 months.The X-ray examinations showed that the mean anterior border height of the injured vertebrae recovered from46.8％ ± 18.3％ of the normal height before operation to 90.3％ ± 14.2％ postoperatively; the mean posterior border height recovered from preoperative 80.4％ ± 12.4％ to postoperative 94.2％ ± 15.1％ ; and the mean cobb angle decreased from preoperative 20.1°± 11.5° to postoperative 2.7°± 2.4°. The differences between preoperation and postoperation were significant(P ＜ 0.05).According to the ASIA evaluation system,neurofunctional recovery was achieved in the cases of incomplete paralysis except in the 6 eases who had had complete spinal cord injury of Grade A. Conclusion Anterior- and posterro-decompression plus pediclescrew instrumentation through posterior approach is an effective method of treating thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Objective: To establish a new method and limit of detection for Flavonoids content in Fructus Crataegi. Methods: Flavonoids in Fructus Crataegi in 10 regions was determined by colorimetry. Results: Content of Flavonoids in samples selected from 10 regions ranged 0.84%～3.62%. Content of hyperoside by colorimetry is correlative to that by HPLC. Conclusion: The method is simple, quick and reproducible. Flavonoid content in Fructus Crataegi was designed no less than 1.0%, extraction must be performed under 60?C and dried to constant weight for 6 hours.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of the treatment of otosclerosis using laser stapedotomy with mini incision in the external auditory meatus. METHOD: Thirteen patients(15 ears) with otosclerosis evidence on clinic history. They were all operated using the laser assisted stapedotomy by mini incision in external auditory meatus because of the wide straight canal. Laser resection the tendo musculistapedius and anterior and postrior arch, breaking the articulatioincudostapedia, removing the stapes superstructure, making a hole of 6mm diameter in the rear of stapes footplate by laser drilling, implanting the corresponding length Piston artificial ossicle. RESULT: All the surgeries were successful and the operation time was about one hour. There was only one patient manifested vertigo and nausea after the operation. But the symptoms improved three days later after the expectant treatment. All the incisions were healed in the externals. There was significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative PTA. The air conduct improved in every frequent and the bone conduct improved in 1 kHz, 2 kHz and 4 kHz. CONCLUSION Laser assisted stapedotomy by mini incision in the external auditory meatus in patients having wide straight canal with otosclerosis can shorten the operation time, minimize the tissue damage, fasten the healing of the incision and reduce the complications postoperatively. In addition, the mini incision is beauty and easy to nurse.
Ear Canal ; surgery ; Humans ; Lasers ; Otosclerosis ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Prostheses and Implants ; Stapes ; Stapes Surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To study the effect of gamma irradiation on the permeability of the blood brain barrier(BBB) in rat brains. Methods:The right caudate nucleuses of Sprague Dawley rats were irradiated by OUR XGD gamma units.Maximum dosages of 20,50,75 and 160 Gy were given using a 4 mm collimator.Immunohistochemistry with antibody of serum albumin was used for detecting the extravasation of endogenous serum components.Ultrastructural changes of BBB were observed through injection of lanthanum nitrate into blood vessels. Results: Extravasation of albumin and BBB opening in the right caudate nucleuses were detected as early as 12 h after irradiation at 50,75 and 160 Gy,and were detected 1 d after irradiation at 20 Gy.Immunoreactivity and emematous water reached their maximum after 3 d, gradually decreased during the following few days,and disappeared by day 7(20,50 Gy) or day 14(75 Gy).Irradiation at 160 Gy elicited persistent extravasation of albumin and BBB opening for 14 d. Conclusion: These are transient impairments to BBB after irradiation at 20,50,75 Gy,and persistent impairments after irradiaton at 160 Gy.

Objective To investigate the epidemiology and features of severe poisoning.Methods A retrospective analysis of patients with severe poisoning admitted into the emergency intensive care unit of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from February 2008 to March 2010 was made.Results A total of 138 patients consisting of 45 males and 93 females were enrolled.The average age was 39.2 years.Committed suicide with toxic agents was the major cause of poisoning (76.8％ ),followed by alcoholism (8.7％ ) and misuse of medicine (5.8％).Of them,96.4％ patients were poisoned by swallowing poison agents,and 45.7％ patients were treated with gastric lavage and 15.2％ of patients with hemofiltration.Mortality was 3.62％.Conclusions Our study presents the current status of acute severe poisoning in the large general hospital.

Objective To provide a framework for understanding the need for a structured assessment of altered mental status (AMS) to better understand underlying causes of the mental status changes in adults and therefore potentially improve diagnostic skills and eventually management.Methods This is a prospective cohort observational study.We recruited consecutive adult patients with undifferentiated AMS at a single center tertiary care academic emergency department over 24 months.Demographical,clinical presentations,assessment approaches,cause factors,emergency treatments and outcomes were collected prospectively.Results One thousand nine hundred and thirty-four patients with AMS were recruited,this number of patients represented 5％ of the total ED census.Out of 1934 patients,1026 (53.1％) were male,908 (46.9％) were female.Mean age was (51.95 ± 15.71) years.Etiologic factors included neurological (n =641,35.0％),pharmacologic & toxicologic (n =421,23.0％),systemic and organic (n =266,14.5％),infectious (n =167; 9.1％),endocrine/metabolic (n =145,7.9％),psychiatric (n =71,3.9％),traumatic (n =38,2.1％),gynecologic and obstetric (n =35,1.9％).Total mortality rate was 8.1％ (n =156).The death rate was higher in elderly patients (≥ 60) than that in younger patients (10.8％ vs.6.9％,P =0.003).Conclusions The patient with AMS poses a challenge to physicians in ED.The most frequently encountered diagnostic category causing AMS were primary CNS disorders,intoxication,organ system dysfunction and endocrine/metabolic diseases.Fatality rate is very high.Prompt evaluation and treatment are essential to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.

Objective To explore the best treatment strategy of pyogenic brain abscesses.Methods Clinical data of 45 patients(34 males and 11 females,ages ranged from 7 to 76 years,averaged 42.6 years) with brain abscess treated from January 1999 to March 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.Among the 45 patients,there were 40 with single brain abscess and 5 with multiple brain abscess;43 with unilocular abscess and 2 with multilocular abscess.19 patients accepted the conservative treatment with the third generation cephalosporin,16 were treated with stereotactic puncture of abscess,8 treated with stereotactic puncture and drainage,and microsurgical excision was performed in 5 patients.Results Of the 19 patients treated with conservative method,16 were cured,no recurrence was found during the follow-up period(from 6 months to 5 years) in 13 patients,and another 3 were deteriorated and accepted stereotactic operation.All the stereotactic operations were carried successfully out in 24 patients(including 3 cases after expectant treatment failure) and only one patient needed another stereotactic aspiration two weeks later because of abscess recurrence after the initial operation.Epileptic seizure was found in one patient at the end of stereotactic procedure.Total removal of brain abscess was performed by microsurgical craniotomy in 5 patients.At the time of discharge,clinical symptoms disappeared or were improved remarkably,and CT or MRI re-examination disclosed the disappearance or obviously diminution of abscess in all patients.No abscess recurred during the follow-up period(from 4 months to 3 years,average 14 months) in 22 patients.Conclusion A set of treatment strategy of pyogenic brain abscesses has been proposed and stereotactic operation seems to be the most appropriate surgical choice.

Objective To study about the cardiac function of the mice suffering from sepsis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) so as to probe the physiopathologic mechanism of the cardiac dysfunction of the mice.Method Sixty male C57BL/6 mice of eight weeks old were randomly (random number) divided into four groups:one control group (n =15) and three experimental groups (n =15 in each group).The mice of control group received intra-peritoneal injection of normal saline (10 mg/kg) while the mice of experimental groups got intra-peritoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg).The cardiac function of mice (n =12) was determined by echocardiography 6 h,12 h and 24 h later,respectively.The heart,kidney and lung tissues of mice (n =6) were stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining after embedding with paraffin for observing the histopathological changes under optic microscopy.The expressions of PECAM-1 and α-SMA of the heart tissue of mice (n =3) in three groups determined by immunohistochemical method.The RT-PCR method was used to test the expressions of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and HIF-α (hypoxia-inducible factor) of the myocardium of mice.In addition,the Western blot method was employed to test the levels of p53 and HIF-1α proteins in myocardium of mice,while ELISA was utilized to detect the level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the interleukin-6 (IL-6).The data were analyzed by independent samples of t-test and one-way ANOVA respectively.Results The experiment result proved that the thickness of anterior wall of left ventricle of mice during systolic and diastolic periods increased and the inner diameter of the left ventricle also increased during the diastolic period in mice of the experimental group,while the stroke volume decreased compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The immunohistochemical method showed that the new vessels of the mice' s heart in experimental groups increased compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.05).RT-PCR showed the expressions of VEGF and HIF-1α of the mice heart of experimental group increased (P ＜ 0.05) and Western blot showed the levels of HIF-1 α and p53 proteins in experimental groups increased significantly compared with the control group.The experimental group had higher levds of VEGF,HIF-1α,and IL-6 were evidenced by using ELISA than those of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The lipopolysaccharide can lead to cardiac dysfunction.In this process,myocardium angiogenesis and apoptosis phenomenon coexists,as VEGF and HIF-1α participating in angiogenesis,whereas BAX and p53 playing a role in the process of apoptosis.