Background: Anemia is common in hemodialysis patients, and improvement in anemia management is possible with the implementation of continuous quality improvement (CQI) programs. The aim of this study is to improve anemia management in chronic hemodialysis patients using CQI. Methods: Ninety hemodialysis patients in our single center were enrolled in the study. The patients were followed up from January 2004 to October 2005. The CQI team-oriented approach was driven by a process called the ‘FOCUS-PDCA cycle plan’ (find, organize, clarify, uncover, start, plan, do, check and act). Hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin and transferrin saturation were monitored periodically. Results: By implementation of the CQI program, the proportion of patients with Hb ≧110 g/l increased from 42.2 to 60.0% (p < 0.05), and the Hb level increased from 101.2 ± 18.05 to 110.4 ± 14.23 g/l (p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients with an adequate iron status increased from 28.0 to 53.3% (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The CQI program is a useful method in the management of anemia in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms, age, gender and body weight are major determinants of warfarin dose requirements. Our previous study showed that patients with non-O blood groups required higher doses of warfarin than those with O blood groups. However, the underling mechanism was not well known.Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the influence of ABO blood group, age and gender on the values of coagulation tests in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis in Chinese Han population.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College in Southern China. Two hundreds and 35 patients with confirmed diagnosis of acute deep vein thrombosis were included. Coagulation tests were determined.Results: Of 235 patients with acute deep vein thrombosis of lower extremities, 70 patients had blood group A (29.79%), 71 patients had blood group B (30.21%), 30 patients had blood group AB (12.77%), and 64 patients had blood group O (27.23%). The study showed no difference about coagulation tests among the patients with different blood groups. Coagulation tests were not affected by age and gender.Conclusion: Our study showed that ABO blood group, age and gender had no effects on coagulation tests in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis

BackgroundWide QRS complex tachycardia (WCT) is a common arrhythmia. How to differentiate between WCTs is a challenge in clinical practice. Recently R-wave peak time (RWPT) at lead II was reported to be a helpful and simple tool for differentiating WCTs. However, it has remained unknown about the reference range of RWPT at lead II. In present study, we aimed to investigate the reference range of RWPT at lead II in Chinese healthy adults.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College in Southern China. Two thousand four hundred healthy adults aged 21–80 years with no history of structural heart diseases were included. RWPT at lead II was determined.ResultsOf 2400 healthy adults, 1200 men and 1200 women were included. The differences of age, mean heart rate and mean QRS duration at lead II between male and female were not significant. RWPT ranged from 16 to 42 ms in male while from 16 to 44 ms in female. The 95 % reference range of RWPT in normal male and female are 19.91 ~ 39.55 ms and 21.75 ~ 37.67 ms, respectively. Compared with the female, the male had a significantly longer RWPT at lead II (29.73 ± 5.01 ms vs 29.71 ± 4.06 ms in female, P = 0.000).ConclusionOur study showed that RWPT at lead II is different between male and female. The male had a significantly longer RWPT at lead II than the female.