OBJECTIVE : To compare panel slides prepared using the phenol ammonium sulphate sediment (PhAS) method with those prepared using the N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC) method in proficiency testing.
METHODS: Pooled sputum specimens of known smear-positives BEZ235 datasheet and -negatives were divided into two parts: one part was used for preparing panel slides using the NALC method and the other using PhAS, a non-hazardous method. Respectively 413 and 384 smears of different grades were prepared in three
batches using the PhAS and NALC methods. Smear grade and quality were recorded by 121 microscopists during proficiency testing in different states. Agreement between reference and reported results was analysed using the kappa test.
RESULTS: The overall agreement was 96% for the PhAS method and 91% this website for the NALC method. There were 37 errors using the NALC method compared to 21 for the PhAS method (P < 0.223). Smear quality was equally good in both methods; however, the cell count was significantly higher in the PhAS than in the NALC method.
CONCLUSION: The PhAS method, a non-hazardous procedure with good-quality smears, may be further explored for the preparation of panel slides.”
“Surgical strategy for multilevel cervical myelopathy resulting from cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) or ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) still remains controversial. There are still
questions about the relative benefit and safety of direct decompression by anterior corpectomy (CORP) versus indirect decompression
by posterior laminoplasty (LAMP).
To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the results of anterior CORP compared with posterior LAMP for patients with multilevel cervical myelopathy.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies comparing anterior CORP with posterior LAMP for the treatment of multilevel cervical myelopathy due to CSM or OPLL from 1990 to December 2012. An extensive search of literature was performed in Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane library. The quality of the studies was assessed according to GRADE. The following outcome measures were extracted: pre- and postoperative Japanese orthopedic check details association (JOA) score, neurological recovery rate (RR), surgical complications, reoperation rate, operation time and blood loss. Two reviewers independently assessed each study for quality and extracted data. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to the mean number of surgical segments.
A total of 12 studies were included in this review, all of which were prospective or retrospective cohort studies with relatively low quality. The results indicated that the mean JOA score system for cervical myelopathy and the neurological RR in the CORP group were superior to those in the LAMP group when the mean surgical segments were < 3, but were similar between the two groups in the case of the mean surgical segments equal to 3 or more.