The rapid cost escalation and vast supplier-induced demands in the Chinese health care system are well-known to the health policy research community. The existing literature tends to explain the pervasive overprovision of care by financial incentives of hospitals and physicians. Behind this is a series of misaligned perverse incentives embedded in the Chinese health system for decades. With a survey of public hospital physicians in a city of Guangdong, this study re-veals that the overprovision of care, especially overprescription, is not solely driven by economic incentives, but also by physicians’ motive of avoiding potential disputes with patients, reflecting defensive medical behaviors. The survey was con-ducted in December 2013, which selected 504 licensed physicians by random sampling. The regression analysis suggests that low income and the perceived imbalance between efforts and rewards indeed contribute to physicians’ motivation of de-fensive medicine. In the meantime, their past experiences of medical disputes with patients are also found significantly as-sociated with defensive behaviors. This study has revealed the critical impacts of the escalating tension between doctors and patients in distorting physician’ behaviors, and lays out policy recommendations.

Objective To explore the dynamic changes of D-dimers during pregnancy and early puerperium (within 3 days postpartum). Methods A retrospective study was performed among 8 367 healthy women who had term singleton delivery in Women′s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University from January 2007 to December 2014. D-dimers concentrations during pregnancy and early puerprium of all the cases were collected. Data of 21 065 D-dimers tests were assigned to 5 groups according to the time of sampling, including early pregnancy (≤12 gestation weeks), middle pregnancy (12-28 gestation weeks), late pregnancy (>28 gestation weeks), 1 postpartum (within 48 hours postpartum) and 2 postpartum (48-72 hours postpartum). The D-dimers concentrations in different groups were compared. The effect of delivery mode on D-dimers of early pureperium was analyzed. The correlation between D-dimers and the thromboembolic disease was also explored. In this study, Student′s t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for statistical analysis. D-dimers concentration≤0.5 mg/L was used as the normal range. Results (1) D-dimers concentrations during pregnancy were higher than the non-pregnant women (P<0.01), but there was no statistical difference between early pregnancy and late pregnancy (P=0.820). D-dimers concentration in the 1 postpartum group was higher than that of early pregnancy group or late pregnancy group (P<0.01). But in the 2 postpartum group, it was lower than early pregnancy, late pregnancy and 1 postpartum groups. (2)D-dimers in cesarean section cases was significantly higher than in vaginal delivery cases in each period of pregnancy and early pueprium.(3)The 95%CI of D-dimers in early pregnancy, late pregnancy, 48 hours after vaginal delivery, 48-72 hours after vaginal delivery, ≤48 hours after cesarean section, 48-72 hours after cesarean section were 0.58-8.28, 0.47-11.52, 1.04-9.59, 0.87-5.22, 1.07-11.58 and 1.00-6.23 mg/L, respectively.(4)In 6 cases with thromboembolic disease, D-dimers was 6.89-19.89 mg/L, with the mean value of 13.66 mg/L. It was significantly higher than normal range. In 3 cases, all after cesarean section, with lower extremity vein thrombosis within 48 hours postpartum, the D-dimers concentrations, 9.77, 8.65 and 6.89 mg/L respectively, were in the 95%CI of the study population after cesarean section. Conclusions D-dimers concentration of 0.5 mg/L is not suitable for venous thromboembolism screening during pregnancy. D-dimers concentration in pregnancy and early puerprium is higher than non-pregnancy. It increases in the very early period postpartum and decreases with time. D-dimers should not be a routine screening test to exclude thromboembolic disease in pregnant women without high risk factors and clinical manifestation of thromboembolic disease.

Objective To investigate the risk factors and clinical manifestations of placental abruption, and to analyze the causes of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in 135584 women who delivered in Women′s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University from January 2005 to December 2015. The diagnosis of placental abruption was made in 1212 cases. According to the consistency of prenatal and postnatal diagnosis, they were divided into 3 groups.(1) The diagnosis was consistent prenatally and postnatally in 715 cases(58.99%,715/1212) as the diagnosis group.(2)In 312 cases (25.74%,312/1212), the diagnosis was made after birth as the missed diagnosis group.(3)In 185 cases (15.26%,185/1212), the diagnosis was made prenatally but excluded after birth as the misdiagnosis group. The disease classification was made, and the risk factors, clinical manifestations, lab results, the time of termination and perinatal outcomes were recorded in the 3 groups. The reasons of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis were analyzed. Results (1) In the 1212 cases, the diagnosis of placental abruption was confirmed in 1027 cases, with the incidence of 0.76%(1027/135584). The rate of missed diagnosis was 30.38%(312/1027), and the rate of misdiagnosis was 0.14%(185/134557). (2) There were significant differences in the degree of placental abruption among the 3 groups (P＜0.05). (3)Significant differences were found among the 3 groups regarding the ratio of hypertensive disorders, trauma, induced labor and advanced maternal age (all P＜0.05). (4) There were statistically significant differences among the 3 groups regarding the incidence of vaginal bleeding, persistent abdominal pain and uterine tenderness, bloody amniotic fluid, increased uterine tension and stillbirth (all P＜0.05). (5) There was no significant difference in the rate of abnormal fetal heart rate mornitoring among the 3 groups (P=0.22). The differences were statistically significant among the 3 groups when regarding the incidence of abnormal ultrasound finding and abnormal blood coagulation (P＜0.01), with the highest incidence of abnormal ultrasound in the diagnosis group (68.1%) and the highest incidence of abnormal coagulation in the misdiagnosis group (24.9%). (6)There was statistically significant difference among the 3 groups when comparing the ratio of termination of pregnancy within 24 hours (P=0.01). (7) There were statistically significant differences among the 3 groups when the ratios of postpartum hemorrhage, DIC, neonatal asphyxia and perinatal death were compared (all P＜0.05). The highest incidence of postpartum hemorrhage was in the diagnosis group (17.9%) and the lowest was in the misdiagnosis group (5.4%). The highest incidence of DIC was in the diagnosis group (3.9%) and the lowest was in the misdiagnosis group (0). The highest incidence of neonatal asphyxia was in the diagnosis group (30.6%) and the lowest was in the misdiagnosis group (7.6%). And for perinatal death, the highest incidence was in the diagnosis group (12.6%), the lowest was in the misdiagnosis group (2.2%). Conclusions Placental abruption could be misdiagnosed when depending on risk factors, such as trauma. And it could be missed diagnosis during the induction of labor. Uterine contraction, abnormal fetal heart rate mornitoring, abnormal ultrasound and abnormal coagulation function are important in the diagnosis of placental abruption.

Objective To study the influence of herbal decoction Shuxin Yin(SXY)on platelet activation of rats and mice with a- cute myocardial ischemia in order to explain its possible mechanism for treating coronary heart disease.Methods The rat model with acute myocardial ischemia and the mice model with acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion were established.The male SD rats and ICR mice,51 each,were randomized into 5 groups respectively:sham operation group,model group,low dose SXY group,high dose SXY group,ticlopidine groap.Made models and collected blood Sample after 30 days gastric infusion in succession.The flow cytome- try technique and the monoclonal antibody examination were adopted to test the mice platelet glycoprotein CD_(62)P;the radioim- munoassay was used to test rat platelet aggregation rate(PAR),fibrinogen(Fg),thromboxane B_2(TXB_2)and 6-keto-PGF_(1?) and their ratio.Results Shuxin Yin can,inhibit the high expression of CD_(62)P of mice with acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion,and de- crease PAR,Fg and TXB_2/6-keto-PGF_(1?) of rats with acute myocardial isehemia.Compared with the effect of ticlopidine,the differ- ence was not significant.Conclusion Shuxin Yin could effectively inhibiting platelet activation in rats anel mice with acute myocardial ischemia,and its effect in preventing and treating coronary heart disease might be related to the inhibition of platelet activation.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of the disagreement between transmitral pulsed wave Doppler (PWD) and mitral annulus Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) in the estimation of left ventricular (LV) filling pressures. Methods One hundred and eighty-two sinus rhythm patients without arrhythmia, congenital heart disease and valvular disease underwent routine echocardiography and synchronous electrocardiogram for assessment of LV function. Early and late diastolic velocities of LV, which were composed of e and a waves, were recorded using DTI at the mitral annulus. Six sites at the mitral annuli were selected corresponding to the septal, lateral, anterior septal, posterior, inferior, and anterior walls of LV from apical 4-, 3-and 2-chamber views. Transmitral diastolic flow velocity, which was represented by E and A wave, was measured with PWD from apical 4-chamber view. Ratio of early and late diastolic transmitral valve (MV-E/A), ratio of DTI-e/a-ann and ratio of E/e-ann were calculated, respectively. The mean value of e-ann from the above 6 sites was selected to describe the early diastolic velocities of mitral annular. Results According to the results of MV-E/A ratio and DTI-e/a-ann ratios of the 6 sites, these 182 patients were divided into 4 groups: groupⅠ(n=68): MV-E/A＜1.0, DTI-e/a-ann＜1.0 at all the 6 sites at the same time, with mean MV-E/A ratio being 0.71±0.16 and mean E/e-ann ratio 15.91±6.78; groupⅡ(n=38): MV-E/A＜1.0, DTI-e/a-ann≥1.0 at 1-6 sites among the total sites, with mean MV-E/A ratio being 0.76±0.12 and mean E/e-ann ratio 10.37±2.63; group Ⅲ(n=23): MV-E/A≥1.0, DTI-e/a-ann≥1.0 at all the 6 sites at the same time, with mean MV-E/A ratio being 1.74±0.42 and mean E/e-ann ratio 9.57±2.39; group Ⅳ(n=53): MV-E/A≥1.0, DTI-e/a-ann＜1.0 at 1-6 sites among the total sites, with mean MV-E/A ratio being 1.31±0.31 and mean E/e-ann ratio 13.27±9.46. The mean ages of group Ⅰ, Ⅱand Ⅳ were older than that of group Ⅲ. Although there was no obvious difference between group Ⅰand groupⅡ in the mean age and mean MV-E/A (P＞0.05), the mean E/e-ann was much higher in group Ⅰthan that in groupⅡ (P＜0.05). The mean MV-E/A was similar in group Ⅲ and group Ⅳ (P＞0.05), but the mean age and mean E/e-ann in the latter were older and higher than those in the former (P＜0.05), respectively. The mean age in group Ⅳ was younger than that in group Ⅰand Ⅱ, while the mean E/e-ann in group Ⅳ was higher than that in group Ⅱ, but lower than group Ⅰ (P＜0.05). Conclusion ①Ratio of MV-E/A ＜1.0 and ratios of DTI-e/a-ann ＜1.0 at all the 6 sites indicates increasing LV filling pressures; ②MV-E/A≥1.0 and DTI-e/a-ann＜1.0 at 1-6 sites among the total sites predicts a tendency of high LV filling pressures; ③Wide variability may present in those with MV-E/A＜1.0, DTI-e/a-ann≥1.0 at 1-6 sites among the total 6 sites or MV-E/A≥1.0, DTI-e/a-ann≥1.0 at all the 6 sites at the same time; ④Age of the patient has great influence on the measurement of MV-E/A ratio and DTI-e/a-ann ratio.

Objectives To study the performance of different microbial automated inoculation systems and to evaluate the performance of the Probact microbial automated inoculation and incubation system ( Probact system) and its applications in clinical microbiology laboratory.Methods A total of 160 clinical specimens, including respiratory secretions ( n=61 ) , urine ( n=49 ) , and feces ( n=50 ) , that were submitted to the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory in Peking Union Medical College Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from February 2015 to April 2015 were evaluated.These specimens were processed with conventional manual method, the Probact automated inoculation system, and PREVI Isola Inoculator.The quantity of bacterial species recovery, number of effectively isolated colonies, total number of colonies recovery per plate, and time of processing the 160 specimens by the three methods were evaluated. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test were used for statistical analysis.Results The Probact system had significantly higher quantity of bacterial species recovery (respiratory specimens 3.41 ±1.40, urine 1.92 ±0.86, and feces 1.16 ±0.79) than those by the Isola Inoculator (respiratory specimens 3.75 ±1.29, urine 2.24 ±0.97, and feces 1.92 ±0.72), (P=0.006, 0.011, <0.001).Compared to the manual method, Probact performed less quantity of bacterial species recovery for respiratory specimens(3.85 ±1.38), but higher in feces(0.80 ±0.81)( P<0.001).There is no significant differences for urine ( 1.84 ±1.23 ) ( P=0.266 ) .As for number of isolated colony, the Probact system ( respiratory specimens 12.16 ±7.72, urine 2.71 ±4.24, and feces 5.40 ±5.04 ) had significant smaller numbers than that of Isola Inoculator (respiratory specimens 16.56 ±5.76, urine 4.35 ± 4.89, and feces 8.40 ±3.70) (P<0.001,0.007,0.003).However, both system had larger numbers of isolated colonies than those by the manual method (respiratory specimens 11.30 ±8.42, urine 2.67 ±4.34, and feces 1.90 ±3.90) and the difference was significant for fecal specimens(P<0.001).Regarding the total number of colonies recovery, larger number was found by Isola Inoculator than that by the Probact system for fecal specimens, however, there were no significant differences for respiratory or urine specimens (P=0.524,0.738).Compared with manual method, the Probact system had significantly more numbers of colonies recovery for respiratory and fecal specimens ( P<0.001 ) . The total time for processing 160 specimens was shortest for manual method (281 min), followed by Probact system (419 min) and Isola Inoculator (495 min) .Conclusions The performance of the Probact system is better than the manual method but no superior to the Isola Inoculator.The Probact system can meet the clinical need in terms of full automation and standardization of specimen inoculation and prevention of bias of processing by laboratory staffs using manual method.

BACKGROUND:Pedicle screw is the major instrumentation of surgery in thoracic spine. However, there have been few reports about pedicle morphology relevant to screw insertion tracts, and few reports comparing the normal adolescents and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. OBJECTIVE:To compare the morphologic characteristics of the thoracic pedicle with regard to safe thoracic pedicle screw placement in normal adolescents and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. METHODS: Thoracic pedicles of thirty-five normal adolescents and thirty-five adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients were measured with three-dimensional reconstruction CT images. Measured parameters include (1) critical distance: the shortest distance from an entry point to the ventral cortex of the lamina. (2) Safe distance: the distance from the entry point to the tangent of the spinal canal at the medial wal of the pedicle. (3) Pedicle screw length. (4) Pedicle width. (5) Pedicle transverse angle. The dangerous area was defined as the distance between the critical distance and the safe distance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The mean critical distance was (9.2±1.0) mm for the normal adolescents, and (9.4±1.2) mm for the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Safe distances were significantly less in normal adolescents (14.7±0.8) mm than that of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis group (15.4±1.4) mm (P < 0.001). The dangerous area was (5.4±0.7) mm for the normal adolescents, which was significantly less than that of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients (6.0±1.0) mm (P < 0.001). Pedicle screw length was (36.6±4.1) mm for the normal adolescents and (37.1±5.3) mm for the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Pedicle width was (5.8±1.2) mm for the normal adolescents and (5.7±1.7) mm for the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. No significant difference in critical distance, pedicle screw length and pedicle width was found between the two groups (P=0.382, 0.135, 0.293). Pedicle transverse angle decreased gradualy from T1 to T12 in both groups. These results verify that pedicle morphology of many parameters is different between normal adolescents and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients, especialy in the apical area of the thoracic curve.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic and treatment results of arteriovenous fistula of cauda equina.Methods From January 2000 to December 2015,9 Patients with arteriovenous fistula of cauda diagnosed and treated at the Department of Neurosurgery,Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were enrolled retrospectively,including 6 males and 3 females.Their ages were 17-58 (mean 39±14) years.The diagnoses were confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or surgery (the lesions were located on the cauda equine,which were fed by the arterial supply of the nerve root,and the drainage vein flowed upward into the perimedullary vein).The clinical data,imaging data,and treatment follow-up results of the patients were analyzed.Results The patients presented with weakness of both lower extremities and disturbances of bowel movement and urination.Aminoff Logue score for spinal function was 7.2±3.2 before procedure.The median course of disease was 6.0 (4.5-18.0) months.Angiography showed that the vascular architecture types of the lesions were divided into simple fistula type and micro-nidus type.The feeding arteries were all the nerve root branches of the internal iliac artery.Three patients complicated with conical part of the intramedullary arteriovenous malformations.Eight patients were treated with endovascular embolization,one was treated by operation.No patients were treated with combined interventional surgery,and no surgery-related complications were observed.The mean follow-up duration was 20.1±6.7 months.Imaging follow-up showed that they all reached anatomic cure.Aminoff Logue score dropped to 4.6±2.8 after treatment.There were significant differences before and after treatment in Aminoff Logue score of the patients (t=4.276,P<0.05).Conclusions The nerve root arteriovenous fistula of the cauda equina can be diagnosed by DSA findings.Symptomatic patients are eligible for the indication of endovascular or surgical treatment.Anatomy and functional prognosis are satisfactory after treatment.

Objective To study retrospectively the relation of the number of all dissected and negative lymph nodes (LNs) to the prognosis of patients with stage Ⅲ rectal carcinoma after radical resection.Methods From 2002 to 2007,412 sage Ⅲ rectal carcinoma patients undergoing radical resection were enrolled.Patients were divided into five groups according to the number of dissected LNs as follows:1 to 6 lymph nodes,7 to 12 lymph nodes,13 to 18 lymph nodes,19 to 24 lymph nodes,and more than 24 lymph nodes.The association with the survival was analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival as a function of time,and survival differences were analyzed with the log-rank test.The correlation between all dissected and negative lymph nodes was analyzed.The Cox proportional hazard model were used to investigate the risk factors for stage Ⅲ rectal carcinoma.Results The 1,3 and 5 years survival rates were respectively 79.9％,59.2％ and 43.0％.The 5-year survival rates increased with the increasing number of the examined LNs and the negative LNs,the differences were significant (20.0％、26.5％ 、43.9％ 、54.2％ 、53.5％,P =0.001 ; 10.3％ 、34.8％ 、51.9％ 、56.8％ 、70.8％,P =0.000).There were 7301 LNs dissected among which 5698 were pathology negative.The dissected LNs were correlated positively with negative LNs on the Pearson's correlation test(correlation coefficients r =0.899).The total number of dissected LNs and negative LNs were independent prognostic predictors.Conclusions The total number of dissected lymph node and negative lymph nodes are significantly correlated to prognosis of staged Ⅲ rectal carcinoma patient.On premise of standard procedure,we see all dissected and negative lymph nodes as a prognostic auxiliary index.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of serumb alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)-producing gastric cancer.Methods A total of 1396 cases of gastric cancer in our hospital from 2002 to 2007 were retrospectively reviewed.The relationship between serum AFP with clinicopathological factors,survival rate,prognosis and liver metastasis were analyzed.Results There were 90 AFP-producing gastric cancer patients accounting for 6.45％ of all the gastric cancer cases during the time period.In those patients there was bigger tumor size,more T3 and T4 invasion (82.2％ vs.69.2％),higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (80.0％ vs.60.2％)and liver metastasis(6.67％ vs.1.68％),and later clinical stage than that in the AFP-negative group.The 1,3,5 year-overall survival (OS) rate in AFP-positive group were 52.2％,31.1％,20％ while those in AFP-negative group were 82.5％,59.9％,48.8％.The 1,3,5 year-disease free survival(DFS) rate in AFP-positive group were 47.8％,24.4％,15.6％ while those in AFP-negative group were 77.5％,54.8％,44.3％.The AFP-positive group had a shorter median time period than the AFP-negative group when liver metastasis happened (5 months vs.11 months).Conclusions Serum AFP-producing gastric cancer was higher malignancy,it was deeper in invasion and later in clinical stage,more patients with lymph nodes and liver metastasis,low survival rate and poorer prognosis.