Application of PACS system in the standardized residency training of cardiovascular medicine / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of PACS system (picture archiving and communication system) in the standardized residency training of cardiovascular medicine.Methods:Fifty-nine residents taking the standardized residency training of cardiovascular medicine in Changhai Hospital from 2018 to 2019 were randomly divided into PACS teaching group ( n = 30) and traditional teaching group ( n = 29). The research group adopted the PACS system for the teaching of cardiovascular medicine, and the control group took the traditional teaching method. The teaching effect was evaluated by theoretical examination, imaging examination and questionnaire. SPSS 19.0 was used for t test and chi-square test. Results:The theoretical and film reading scores of the PACS teaching group were significantly higher than those of the control group [(87.70 ± 6.52) vs. (80.55 ± 8.63); (86.67 ± 6.33) vs. (77.48 ± 10.29), P < 0.05)]. The results of the questionnaire showed that PACS teaching method was helpful for residents to master cardiovascular knowledge, arouse their learning interest and improve their clinical thinking ability. The satisfaction with the teaching method in the PACS teaching group was significantly higher than that in the traditional teaching group [(9.22 ± 0.44) vs. (8.26 ± 0.72), P < 0.05]. Conclusion:The application of PACS system in the teaching of cardiovascular medicine can significantly improve the teaching effect of residents.

Treatment Outcome and Prognosis Regarding to MR Pattern and Signal Area in Spinal Cord Injury / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: To determine the capability to predict the clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes of traumatic cervicothoracic cord injury patients based on MR images. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between the differences in MR patterns and signal areas according to Maravilla and Cohen's classification and the PACS system compared with the Frankel classification, in patients that demonstrated neurologic improvement within 1 year. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: MR is the first imaging modality that directly visualizes the extent of spinal cord derangement, and thus, it has the potential to provide an accurate diagnosis of an injury and to determine the prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images were evaluated within 3 days of trauma in 36 spinal cord injury patients. The clinical follow-up period was more than 1 year. Quantitative analysis of spinal cord lesions was performed according to the PACS system. RESULTS: According to Maravilla and Cohen's classification, 36 cases were classified as follows: 8 cases of type I, 10 cases of type II, 9 cases of type III and 9 cases of type IV. There was 1 case of type I, 8 cases of type II, 5 cases of type III, and no cases of type IV, who demonstrated neurologic improvements of more than 1 grade in the Frankel classification. An analysis of the signal areas according to the PACS system demonstrated no cases of areas greater than 100 mm2, 5 cases of areas between 50 to 100 mm2, and 9 cases of areas less than 50 mm2 who demonstrated neurologic improvement. CONCLUSION: Classification according to the differences between MR imaging and MRI signal areas in patients with spinal cord injuries demonstrated the indicators of neurologic improvement; therefore, we MR imaging can be utilized as a prognostic factor in cases of spinal cord injuries.

Radiología diagnóstica en la era tecnológica: Comparación entre dos modelos / Diagnostic radiology in the technological era: Comparison between two models

La utilización de la tecnología como auxiliar en el diagnóstico y terapéutica médica tuvo su mayor desarrollo y esplendor durante las últimas décadas del siglo XX, debido a los beneficios directos que la radiología ofreció al proceso salud enfermedad, representando sin duda uno de los campos más dinámicos de la práctica médica. Sin embargo, en sociedades con alto desarrollo científico -económico (así como en algunas otras sociedades que intentan llegar a ese nivel) algunos de los valores humanos de la práctica médica como la compasión, la misericordia, calidez y algunas habilidades clínicas para el diagnóstico han sido desplazadas a menudo por el abuso de la tecnología, favoreciendo un empobrecimiento de la relación médico paciente, el encarecimiento de insumos, así como disminución en la satisfacción en los servicios de salud. Algunos medios de diagnóstico en la radiología actual como la tomografía axial computada (TAC), la resonancia magnética nuclear (RMN) o laboratorios de alta especialización, brindan eficiencia y velocidad en el diagnóstico y representan el ideal a seguir en muchos servicios de atención a la salud en diversos niveles de atención, en países en desarrollo. Sin embargo, esta visión de la práctica médica basada primordialmente en la ponderación de la tecnología también cuenta con numerosos claroscuros; por un lado, estos medios brindan el diagnóstico cercano a la verdad nosológica de la enfermedad con precisión asombrosa, pero de la misma manera si no son utilizados con mesura y reflexivamente dejan al descubierto aspectos delicados en el área afectiva del paciente y en la calidad en la relación con el prestador de servicios.

Diagnostic Radiology is a medical specialty that has played a dynamic role in the medical arena during the last three decades of the XX century. As a part of the evolution of this specialty, medicine and society at large have received diverse benefits in areas of diagnosis and for the decision making process in the clinical practice. Modern radiology has provided numerous advances and refined tools that give more convenience speed and precise diagnosis in the current medical practice. At the present time, these technologies are part of the standard of care in the US and other industrialized countries, representing the ultimate desire or goal to reach for other healthcare systems in developing countries as well. Unfortunately, many of the clinical skills in the health care personal have not evolved at the same pace of those modern technologies, conditioning a reduction in the performance of sensitive areas to the patient's interest, such as the caring, compassion and quality of health care. It is unquestionable the value and benefits that technologies such as CA T and MRI scans ha ve brought to the standard practice in the recent time. Nonetheless, it is desirable to maintain the highest possible level of clinical skills despite the extended use of modern technologies by the health personnel, without compromising the quality of care. Yet is pending the future role and rational use for those technologies in radiology, especially in times when delivering good, reliable health care have become a priority for many health institutions worldwide. This approach would be the ultimate goal to reach in times and circumstances where health for all is the highest precious value to obtain at global level.