确定桥梁评估目标可靠指标的生活质量分析法

结构可靠度理论越来越多地被用到桥梁设计、评估与管理领域。其中一个重要的参数———目标可靠指标的取值直接影响分析结果的可靠性。采用近年发展起来的基于风险分析的生活质量准则,结合对既有公路桥梁的时变可靠度分析提出了确定桥梁评估实时的目标可靠指标的方法。通过对一座我国路网常见的简支梁桥的实例分析,阐述了该方法的过程。算例分析表明,基于生活质量分析确定的目标可靠指标考虑了不同发达水平的社会承担桥梁失效风险的能力与期望,较规范校准法的目标可靠指标取值要更合理。本文方法可为基于可靠度和风险的既有桥梁评估和管理提供理论基础。

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy matters in daily life

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy is a neuro-cognitive dysfunction which occurs in an epidemic proportion of cirrhotic patients,estimated as high as 80% of the population tested. It is characterized by a specific,complex cognitive dysfunction which is independent of sleep dysfunction or problems with overall intelligence. Although named "minimal",minimal hepatic encephalopathy(MHE) can have a far-reaching impact on quality of life,ability to function in daily life and progression to overt hepatic encephalopathy. Importantly,MHE has a profound negative impact on the ability to drive a car and may be a significant factor behind motor vehicle accidents. A crucial aspect of the clinical care of MHE patients is their driving history,which is often ignored in routine care and can add a vital dimension to the overall disease assessment. Driving history should be an integral part of care in patients with MHE. The lack of specific signs and symptoms,the preserved communication skills and lack of insight make MHE a difficult condition to diagnose. Diagnostic strategies for MHE abound,but are usually limited by financial,normative or time constraints. Recent studies into the inhibitory control and critical flicker frequency tests are encouraging since these tests can increase the rates of MHE diagnosis without requiring a psychologist. Although testing for MHE and subsequent therapy is not standard of care at this time,it is important to consider this in cirrhotics in order to improve their ability to live their life to the fullest.

Analysis of surgical and perioperative complications in seventy-five right hepatectomies for living donor liver transplantation

AIM: To present an analysis of the surgical and perioperative complications in a series of seventy- five right hepatectomies for living-donation (RHLD) performed in our center. METHODS: From January 2002 to September 2007, we performed 75 RHLD, defined as removal of a portion of the liver corresponding to Couinaud segments 5-8, in order to obtain a graft for adult to adult living-related liver transplantation (ALRLT). Surgical complications were stratified according to the most recent version of the Clavien classification of postoperative surgical complications. The perioperative period was defined as within 90 d of surgery. RESULTS: No living donor mortality was present in this series, no donor operation was aborted and no donors received any blood transfusion. Twenty- three (30.6%) living donors presented one or more episodes of complication in the perioperative period. Seven patients (9.33%) out of 75 developed biliary complications, which were the most common complications in our series.CONCLUSION: The need to define, categorize and record complications when healthy individuals, such as living donors, undergo a major surgical procedure, such as a right hepatectomy, reflects the need for prompt and detailed reports of complications arising in this particular category of patient. Perioperative complications and post resection liver regeneration are not influenced by anatomic variations or patient demographic.

Role of Kasai procedure in surgery of hilar bile duct strictures

AIM:To assess the application of the Kasai procedure in the surgical management of hilar bile duct strictures.METHODS:Ten consecutive patients between 2005 and 2011 with hilar bile duct strictures who underwent the Kasai procedure were retrospectively analyzed.Kasai portoenterostomy with the placement of biliary stents was performed in all patients.Clinical characteristics,postoperative complications,and long-term outcomes were analyzed.All patients were followed up for 2-60 mo postoperatively.RESULTS:Patients were classified according to the Bismuth classification of biliary strictures.There were two Bismuth Ⅲ and eight Bismuth Ⅳ lesions.Six lesions were benign and four were malignant.Of the benign lesions,three were due to post-cholecystectomy injury,one to trauma,one to inflammation,and one to inflammatory pseudotumor.Of the malignant lesions,four were due to hilar cholangiocarcinoma.All patients underwent Kasai portoenterostomy with the placement of biliary stents.There were no perioperative deaths.One patient experienced anastomotic leak and was managed conservatively.No other complications occurred perioperatively.During the follow-up period,all patients reported a good quality of life.CONCLUSION:The Kasai procedure combined with biliary stents may be appropriate for patients with hilar biliary stricture that cannot be managed by standard surgical methods.

Diagnosis and treatment of acute rejection in the first case of human living-related small bowel transplantation with a long-term survival in China

AIM： To report the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of acute rejection in the first case of living-related small bowel transplantation with a long-term survival in China. METHODS： A 18-year-old boy with short gut syndrome underwent living-related small bowel transplantation, with the graft taken from his father （44-year old）. A segment of 150-cm distal small bowel was resected from the donor. The ileo-colic artery and vein from the donor were anastomosed to the infrarenal aorta and vena cava of the recipient respectively. The intestinal continuity was restored with an end-to-end anastomosis between the recipient jejunum and donor ileum, and the distal end was fistulized. FK506, MMF and prednisone were initially used for post-transplant immunosuppression. Endoscopic observation and mucosal biopsies of the graft were carried out through the terminal ileum enterostomy; serum was collected to detect the levels of IL-2R, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8. The change of the graft secretion and absorption was observed. RESULTS： Acute rejection was diagnosed promptly and cured. The patient was in good health, 5 years after living- related small bowel transplantation. CONCLUSION： The correct diagnosis and treatment of acute rejection are the key to the long-term survival after living-related small bowel transplantation.

A systematic review: How to choose appropriate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures in routine general practice?

In more recent times, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measurements have formed an important part of as- sessing the quality of routine care in general practice. For a measure to have clinical usefulness it must not only be valid, appro- priate, reliable, responsive, and capable of being interpreted, but it must also be simple, fast to complete, easy to score, and provide useful clinical data. The Two-step method of choosing appropriate measures is introduced. Then through comparison of generic instruments with disease-specific instruments, we can conclude that sometimes a combination of generic and disease-specific HRQOL measures may be more appropriate for monitoring changes in a patient’s health status due to an intervention.

Coronary revascularization in the elderly with stable angina

A proportion of elderly with coronary artery disease is rapidly growing. They have more severe coronary artery disease, therefore, derive more benefit fi＇om revascularization and have a greater need for it. The elderly is a heterogeneous group, but compared to the younger cohort, the choice of the optimal revascularization method is much more complicated among them. In recent decades, results has improved dramatically both in surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）, even in very old persons. Despite the lack of evidence in elderly, it is obvious, that coronary artery bypass surgery （CABG） has a more pronounced effect on long-term survival in price of more strokes, while PCI is certainly less invasive. Age itself is not a criterion for the selection of treatment strategy, but the elderly are often more interested in quality of life and personal independence instead of longevity. This article discusses the factors that influence the choice of the revascularization method in the elderly with stable angina and presents a complex algorithm for making an individual risk-benefit profile. As a consequence the features of CABG and PCI in elderly patients are exposed. Emphasis is centered on the frailty and non-medical factors, including psychosocial, as essential components in making the decision of what strategy to choose. Good communication with the patients and giving them unbiased information is encouraged.

Clinical observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture for chronic functional constipation

Methods Two Qihai （气海 CV Objective To discuss the efficacy of acupuncture for groups of points were applied alternatively to 90 cases by chronic functional constipation acupuncture： （1） Tianshhu （CFC）. ST 25）, 6）, Shemgjfuxu （上巨虚 ST 37）, etc. （2）Zhongliao （中髎 BL 33）, Xiadiao （下髎 BL 34）, Dachangshu （大肠俞 BL 25）, etc. Electroacupuncture was applied in combination at Zhongliao （中髎 BL 33）, Xialiao （下髎 BL 34）, Tianshu（天枢 ST 25） and Shamgjuxu （上巨虚 ST 37）, once a day, 10 treatments made one session. By constipation diary of patients, frequency of going to stool, straining severity, time of once bowl evacuation, a sense of incomplete bowel emptying, stool quality, a sense of defecation and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life questionnaire （PAC-QOL）, as well as the changes before and after treatment were observed. Results After treatment, the apparent improvements were achieved in frequency of going to stool, straining severity, time of once bowl evacuation, a sense of incomplete bowel emptying, a sense of defecation and score of PAC-QOL as compared with those before treatment （all P〈0.01）. The total effective rate was 67.7% （61/70）. The acupuncture effieacies were various on CFC of different dynamic mechanisms. The efficacy on slow transit constipation （STC） was superior to that caused by spastic pelvic floor syndrome （SPFS-C） （P〈0.05）, the efficacy on constipation caused by irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-C） was superior to that on either SPFS-C or constipation caused by relaxant pelvic floor syndrome （RPFS-C） （both P〈0.05）. Of 52 eases in effective follow-up, 1 month after treatment, 3 eases were cured, 6 eases markedly effective, 23 eases effective, and 20 cases failed; 3 months after treatment, 3 eases were cured, 5 eases markedly effective, 16 cases effective and 28 cases failed. Conclusion Acupuncture has definite efficacy on CFC with definite etiology, loci and diagnostic classification. But, the efficacies are different due to various dynamic mechanisms. A further optimized treatment program is required to improve the efficacy on SPFS-C and RPFS-C.

Randomized controlled trial on chronic functional constipation treated with grain-shaped moxibustion and acupuncture

Objective To compare the differences of therapeutic effects of chronic functional constipation treated with the combined therapy of moxibustion and acupuncture and simple acupuncture. Methods One hundred cases of constipation were randomly divided into an acupuncture-moxibustion group and a simple acupuncture group with 50 cases for each group. Two groups of acupoints were adopted every other day alternatively for both groups. Point group 1： Tiansha （天枢ST 25）, Daheng （大横 SP 15）, Qihai （气海 CV 6）, Guanyuan （关元 CV 4）, Ztisanli （足三里 ST 36）, Shangjhxu （上巨虚 ST 37） and Sanyinjiao （三阴交 SP 6）. Point group 2： Zhsngliao （中髎 BL 33）, Xiatliao （下髎 BL 34）, Dachangsha （大肠俞 BL 25）, Shenshu （肾俞 BL 23） and Pisha （脾俞 BL 20）. Acupuncture was the only therapy adopted for acupuncture group on all the above mentioned points. While, for acupuncture-moxibustion group, moxibustion with grain-shaped moxa cones was applied on Qihai （所海 CV 6）, Zusatnli （足三里 ST 36）, Datchangshu （大肠俞 BL 25） and Pishu （脾俞 BL 20）, and acupuncture was applied on the rest points. Clinical therapeutic effect, clinical score of constipation, quality of life and score of psychological symptoms were observed before and after the treatment. Results The total effective rate in acupuncture-moxihustion group was 74.0%（37/50）, which was superior to that （52.0%, 26/50） in acupuncture group （P〈0.05）. The clinical scores of constipation, quality of life and scores of psychological symptoms of both groups improved after the treatment. For clinical scores of constipation, degree of difficulty in bowel movement, duration of defecation, abdominal pain, difficulty in exsufflation, incomplete sensation after defecation, obstruction sense of anus, purgative prescription dependence, score of life quality and psychological symptoms of acupuneture-moxibustion group were all better than those of simple acupuncture group （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. Conclusion The combined therapy of both moxibustion with grain-shaped moxa cones and acupuncture is safe and effective in treatment of chronic functional constipation, and the effect is superior to simple therapy of acupuncture.

Observations on the Treatment of 37 Cases of Senile Prostate Hyperplasia with Acupuncture

Objective： To investigate the curative effect of acupuncture on senile benign prostate hyperplasia. Methods： The patients were given acupuncture treatment for 10-30 times; International prostate symptom score （IPSS） and quality of life index （QOL） were used to assess IPSS and QOL scores of the patients before and after treatment. Results： Before treatment IPSS and QOL of the patients were 22.1±6.7 and 4.5±0.6 respectively, and after treatment were 9.1±4.3 and 1.9±1.1 respectively, there were very significant differences in IPSS and QOL between pre-treatment and post-treatment（P〈 0.01）. Conclusion： Acupuncture can relieve the clinical symptoms of prostate hyperplasia and raise the patients＇ quality of life.

Adjunctive effects of acupressure therapy on pain and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis:an interventional study

Objective To investigate the effect of acupressure therapy as an adjunctive therapy to pharmacological treatment on pain and health-related quality of life(QOL)among knee osteoarthritis(KOA)patients.Methods One hundred KOA patients were recruited from the orthopedic out-patient clinic of the institute.The patients were allocated randomly(flipping-coin simple randomization method)into an intervention group(n=50)and a control group(n=50).Patients in the intervention group received acupressure therapy along with pharmacological treatment.Patients in the control group did not receive acupressure therapy but continued their pharmacological treatment.Changes in pain(visual analog scale,VAS)and QOL(short-form 36-item health survey,SF-36)scores at baseline(A0),during training session(A1),follow-up at the 3rd month after training(A2)and follow-up at the 6th month after training session(A3)were collected and examined.Multiple regression analysis was used to check the relationship between pain and SF-36 domains.Results The VAS score of participants in the intervention group decreased at A3(P=0.001).Scores of physical functioning(PF),role limitations due to emotional problems(RE)and mental health(MH)of SF-36 in the intervention group improved more as compared with the control group.Patients in the intervention group with improvement in VAS(pain)score showed greater changes in mean scores of all domains of SF-36 from baseline(all P<0.05).Except bodily pain(BP),the other domains of SF-36 were negatively correlated with pain score.Conclusion Acupressure therapy with pharmacological treatment can improve health-related QOL and pain among KOA patients.