2007年10月31日 星期三

嘉言

  A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided.

  分裂之家不能持久。我相信政府不能容忍一半奴役和一半自由的情況。我不認為聯邦會解散--我不認為這個家會衰落--但是我確信分裂會終止。

  1858年林肯競選伊利諾州參議員,時在六月17日對共和黨大會所發表的演說,引喻聖經的話(如上)所做的開場白。

  很類似台灣的情況,但願我能有林肯當時的信心。祈盼主能讓公平正義在台灣這塊土地展現,讓不公不義消失,祈求主與台灣人同在。阿門。

dyc

2007年10月7日 星期日

清領時期台灣的械鬥聯想

讀過台灣清領時期的歷史,械鬥,大概是不可能不提的一個部分,我看過的書本上大多將械鬥歸因於年青人血氣方剛、族群利益以及清廷刻意的引某族以壓制某另一族,而其中,我覺得最後一項應該是清朝領台時期,械鬥會經常發生的最為重要原因。

當人民/百姓有糾紛發生時,政府的司法單位如果不能秉公處理,以法為準時,人民/百姓是不會信任該司法制度的,不信任的結果就是會回歸到最原始的手段--看誰拳頭大,或者說『勝者為王,敗者為寇』;因為清政府刻意的想讓台灣內部保持混亂,要不就是挑起漳泉械鬥,要不就是閩客械鬥,讓台灣保持混亂的話,就沒空搭理『反清復明』的活動,而且這樣一來,台灣本島也不會一直的『搞獨立』想脫離清朝的統治,所以最後的辦法就是:讓台灣內部自己亂!說真的,清廷的這招也真的一個漂亮,而他本身又是個掌政者,只要在某個族群旁說說加入戰局後的好處以及政府當局會給予什麼樣的獎賞,重利之下必有勇夫,結果,當然就很容易分化這塊土地上的人民。(雖說,這塊土地上的人民怎麼那麼蠢,這麼容易被分化?不過,到現在的世界外交/政治角力仍然玩著同樣一套把戲時,也不得不說,這個把戲對人心理的拿捏確實有其效果…)

如此一來,政府在某些方面的行為必不為人民(不論是獲得利益者或者是利益被剝削者)所信任,到最後,大部分的群眾就會走向以力取勝的方式(我猜,這大概也是為什麼18、19世紀各國移民一離開母國,就會有幫派在所移民地區產生的原因),而這些都是由於人民不信任衙門/司法體制的關係。畢竟,在清帝國的統治下,司法確實是為王權服務的單位(要不老包斬王室成員,為什麼會被認為是不可思議的事?),當王權有所偏頗的時候,司法的公正也就很難取信於人民,於是,百姓寧願去爭勇鬥狠,至少,在認為己方是正確的一方時,有機會勝,而不是走進不可信任的衙門/法庭,得到偏頗的判決。

而以當今台灣的司法人員來看,他們是否有何乎他們的法學教育所教導的行為自有其良心與社會的公評,只是我一介小民所看到,所感覺到的偏坦行為,讓我個人覺得『相信司法皇后的貞操』是件可笑的情事。而以司法人員的所做所為,人民對其的信任也將逐漸打折,當人民不再信任司法,而寧願私下『解決』時,我們還需要司法機關嗎?或者說,我們到時還需要那麼『多』的司法人員嗎?而到時,台灣又會變成什麼樣子呢?

dyc

2007年10月6日 星期六

讀詩有感

在捷運上看到一些詩詞的創作
有些技癢(雖然,也沒什麼技:p)
所以寫下這首五絕

四時

春來萬物生
夏至百獸息
金風消暑氣
寒雨養生機

2007年9月30日 星期日

沒有權力,沒有義務

…北美殖民地人民認為英國國會無權通過法規在殖民地徵稅,蓋北美殖民地並無代表出席英國會。…殖民地人民拒絕納稅的最大根據便是「無代議士不納稅」("No taxation without representation")。他們認為必須有代表他們利益的人出席的國會,始有向他們抽稅之權…

既然我們不是聯合國的一員,我們為什麼要負聯合國所認定國家應盡的義務啊?
身為地球的一份子,為受到污染的環境盡一份心力是應該的,可是出些錢給聯合國幫助非洲國家這種事,不能自己(成立基金之類,總是會有方法的)來嗎?

總之,既然非自願性的被UN排除,為何還要盡被排除組織所規定的義務呢?

dyc

more about Ch'ing era

  During the regime of the Ch'ing dynasty in Taiwan, there is an old saying--"an attempted uprising every three years and a revolt every five years." Why? The reason is simple for me. To avoid revoluting the government of the Ch'ing court, they played two-hand tricks among the groups in Taiwan. And those officials from the mainland only wanted to get much more money, therefore, they didn't care about the life of the people living in Taiwan. Taiwan people can't believe the government and have to deal with those conflicts happened among each group. That's why there is always fights with weapons between groups of people (especially mobs or gangsters) during that era.
  Similar situation? If the judges of the hall of Justice can't let people believe, the following condition would be like the ruling under the Ch'ing court.

dyc

The Ch'ing Era

It is always the best policy to speak the truth--unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar.- Jerome K. Jerome

  Today I finish Chapter 2 of the book, Island in the stream-- a quick case study of Taiwan's complex history. And again, I would like to write down what I feel when I read. Before taken by the Ch'ing court, the Cheng's supporters had a dispute about the succession. One group wanted to focus on managing Formosa and the other wished to continue the struggle with the Ch'ing regime. The later one won the battle and the Ch'ing government took it after the debate. What a familiar situation in Taiwan now! The inner part of Taiwan now separates into 2 groups too. One wants to be independent of China and the other wants to be union with China. Don't know which one would win now. But I don't think to be part of China would be great. Since China government can't take good care on their own people now, how can they handle when additional 24 million people join them? But this is only what I think. I don't have the right greater enough to decide that.

  
The coming era after the Cheng's ruling is the Ch'ing dynasty. But at first the Ch'ing court has a debate about keeping or abandoning the island. The reason to abandon this island is--it was a small island isolated from China adn continued to be a den of pirates, deserters, rebels and criminals fleeing justice. But the other group has its reason to keep the island too. That is--Formosa had abundant resources that could be utilized; and it could provide a buffer zone or shield to southeast China. And as we know, the keeping group won the debate and started its 212 years (1683-1895) ruling. But the Ch'ing took a passive ruling policy on Taiwan. It wasn't engaged in managing Formosa and there was boundary lines established to prevent intermarriage and communications between immigrants and aborigines.
  
  I feel strange all the time when reading the chinese history. The ruling government always thought other races are barbarians and recognized themselves outstanding than others. This maybe true when their lives are better than other races (though still can't name others barbarian...). But when it comes to the modern history it would be ridiculous to think like that. The one who feels inferior express himself arrogantly. That's what I think about China and its people...

The era of global navigation

What experience and history teaches us is that people and governments have never learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it--Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

  Island in The Stream -- a quick case study of Taiwan's complex history, is a book I bought several years ago. The authors arranged the history of Taiwan into 4 chapters. I just finished the first chapter and read several pages of the following chapter. I feel a little sad -- why all the names about this island are given by those people not living and born on this land? But from this book, it provided some evidence to prove Taiwan is not part of the mainland. Anyway, that is not my point.
  The attempt we read history is to avoid making the same mistake, especially those has happened in the histories. But as the quote above, we human beings never really learn the lesson the history taught. However, what I can do after reading is to record what I learned. At least, not to let those happen in my life.
  In the chapter 1 of this book, i got some statements to think. Those statements are :

    ... This rapid increase of population strained the food supply. To resolve this, Cheng confiscated all of the land previously possessed by the Dutch East India Company and transferred it to his regime. ... from the segment "Formosa, the Ming Invasion"

  What a familiar situation in1945 when the KMT government took Taiwan, colonized by Japan for 50 years. The government did the same thing as the Cheng era did-- to confiscate all the fortune left by Japanese government, and even the civilian property. Though the following empire, the Ch'ing dynasty, did not do the same thing. But can't i say that history shows its black humor to those who didn't take lessons? Otherwise, I can't tell that what the Communist China would do if they get Taiwan. Do something as the Ch'ing court did? or have their own plans? If they want to let Taiwan remain the contemporary situation, we Taiwanese can handle it well now. If they China can't give more better future vision, why do we have to become part of them?
  Come back to the following story in this book. Under the ruling of Cheng, the government also devloped a severe tax system, and made the people feel they were no better off than under the Dutch. If I didn't misunderstand, it means the Cheng's government treated these Han people worse than the Dutch "colonizer" did! When we read the hisotry of 'China', we always can find that Chinese government treats their men worse than foreigners. Not mention things long time ago, when it comes to the War of the Resistance Against Japan the KMT government exploded the dam of yellow river and lead to many people died. Even the Communist Part has done the same things -- black food, car, public works and so on-- to 'deal with' their people and tell the foreign countries-- what the China government exports is better than those left in their own country. Therefore, I'm sure not to become a civilian of China would have better treatment from China government and my own country can ensure I have my basic rights.
  
  The paragraphs above are just the records of the thoughts when i read the beginning of this book.

dyc

quotes from igoogle

  The test of courage comes when we are in the minority.
  The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.

-- Ralph W. Sockman

  today, i read this quote from igoogle (i think the quotes function of igoogle is cool!!). and i think there is still something needs to add and that is in whatever situation, we have to accept the results as long as we participate in games.
  when the appeals we asked failed, we have to accept the condition and try to find out why we fail, but not to do something like a spoiled child.
  all the time i think why the politicians take their people to demonstrate but do not take them home. why they stir up their people's emotion but don't ease them. these politicians ask their people to do the first statment said (to have courage) but never tell them what kind of rules they should follow.
  and i, one of the silence masses, have to accept the test of tolerance. i have to suffer the inconvenience made by those politicans and their followers. when will be the test end? hope it would pass as soon as possible.

dyc

ps. who is Ralph W. Sockman?

Reverend Ralph Washington Sockman (October 1, 1889August 29, 1970) was the senior pastor of the United Methodist Christ Church in New York City. He was a famous orator for his NBC radio programme, National Radio Pulpit, which aired from 1928 to 1962. --from wikipedia

2007年9月16日 星期日

軟組織感染及其治療--part 4

嘉義榮民醫院感染科主任 蔡宗宏

肌炎、肌肉膿瘍(Pyomyositis)
肌炎及肌膿瘍可以肇因於外傷或為自發性的。可以是單一病灶或為多發性的。肇因於外傷或自發性的都以金黃色葡萄球菌最多。在台灣還有兩隻細菌要特別注意。一是克雷白氏菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae),一是沙門氏菌(Salmonella)。前者是台灣糖尿病患的特色。可以發生肝膿瘍合併其它轉移性病灶。偶而單獨出現肝以外其它病灶。此外據筆者觀察,由於台灣肝病特別多,肝的吞噬過濾功能缺陷可能也與這隻細菌的猖獗有關。沙門氏菌是台灣河川地養豬業氾瀾的特產。南台灣尤為猖獗。另外國外槍傷,外傷特別多。受傷的組織容易發生缺血壞死合併厭氧菌感染。有時會發展成氣性壞疽(gas gangrene)細菌以Clostridium屬的為主。Clostridium septicum在國外的文獻中與大腸癌有關。造成肌肉感染後也會形成gasgangrene。不過在台灣這類厭氧菌感染不多。台灣的厭氧菌造成壞疽多發生在糖尿病人下肢的感染。這類感染的處理原則與一般感染相似。除了取得檢體做染色、培養,另外要注意肌肉持續腫脹到一定程度時會造成 compartmentsyndrome。要請外科做fasciotomy減壓以免影響到組織的血流。抗生素的選擇則要根據革蘭氏染色及培養結果來修正 (表五)。另外要注意這些細菌有沒有合併其他部位的感染,要一併處理。常見的並存感染如金黃色葡萄球菌:心內膜炎、骨髓炎;沙門氏菌:骨髓炎;克雷白氏菌:肝膿瘍。

人畜咬傷:
人畜咬傷所造成的問題包括外觀破損(尤其是臉部)、急性細菌性軟組織感染,病毒性傳染病。不同的動物咬傷所感染的微生物不同。常見的致病菌主要來源有二。一、是人體皮膚表面的細菌。如金黃色葡萄球菌、A群鏈球菌。二、是動物口中的常在菌。由於不同的動物口中的細菌略有不同,因此須分別論述。

一、昆蟲咬傷
昆蟲叮咬所造成的局部紅腫大多是一種過敏反應。偶而遇到蜘蛛咬傷會造成較大片的組織壞死,引起繼發性的感染。這類感染大多是由皮膚上的細菌造成。如金黃色葡萄球菌、A群鏈球菌。治療時只要針對這些細菌就可以了。

二、蛇類咬傷
被毒蛇咬傷後可能因為毒液而引發局部的組織破壞及損傷。這類傷口感染的致病菌與蛇類的口中微生物菌叢相同。不過確實的菌種統計資料並不齊全。在美國被嚮尾蛇咬傷的人數最多。因為蛇類吞食其獵物後,往往口中會有獵物的排泄物。因此蛇類口中的微生物常與糞便的菌叢類似。如E.coli、Proteus mirabilis、Bacteroides fragilis。Pseudomonasaeruginosa也看得到。也有一些感染的病例報告與污水中的細菌相關。如 Salmonellaarizonae、Aeromonashydrophila等。有一些蛇類的毒液天生就能殺死厭氧菌以外的其他細菌。所以當這些蛇咬傷後,傷口感染的大多是厭氧菌。因為統計數字不多所以蛇咬傷後的傷口感染還是要做一下染色及培養來決定用那一種抗生素。

三、海中生物螯咬
如果是被水母一類的海中生物螯咬,通常還是以毒素所引起的不適最多。除局部紅腫有時還會有神經麻電感。除非引起大範圍組織損傷,否則感染的機會小。若是淡水魚咬傷,可能引起Aeromanas hydrophila的感染。若是海水魚則以Vibriovulnificus最多。這兩種感染尤其肝臟有問題的人更要小心。

四、鼠咬傷
可造成鼠咬熱。潛伏期約七天。臨床症狀包括發燒、畏寒、頭痛、紅疹、局部淋巴腺腫大、關節炎等。致病菌為念珠狀鏈桿菌(Streptobacillus moniliformis)及小螺旋體(Spirilumminor)。治療藥物為青黴素。

五、猿猴類咬傷
猿猴類咬傷通常會造成較嚴重的組織損傷。細菌的種類由於統計數字不多,故不詳。不過抗生素的選用應當與人所咬傷差別不大。比較特別的是有的猴子會傳染 Herpes simiaevirus給人類。咬傷後不須特別給預防性藥物。如確定感染可給予aciclovir治療。

六、貓狗咬傷
貓狗咬傷須特別注意的有狂犬病,由狂犬病毒引起;貓抓病,由Bartonellahenselae引起。比較特別的細菌有Pasteurella multocida、Capnocytophaga canimorsis、Staphylococcus intermedius及Eikenella corrdens。這些都是貓狗嘴裡常有的細菌。Capnocytophaga canimorsis特別發生在狗咬傷。Penicillin類藥物就有效。但如有被咬的人有肝硬化或脾臟切除可能會發生心內膜炎、腦膿瘍、腦膜炎,甚至死亡。這隻細菌須培養14天且生長較挑易。用巧克力培養基比較容易培養出來。貓、狗咬傷都有可能有Pasteurella屬的細菌感染。 Penicillin同樣有效。貓嘴裡Staphylococcusintermedius特別多。容易被鑑定成 Staphylococcusaureus。Penicillin效果較差。除了這些以外人體皮膚上的Staphyloccusaureus、 Staphylococcusepidermidis及厭氧菌都是咬傷後可能的致病菌。選擇抗生素時也應加以考慮。因為Eikenella及 Pasteurella第一代cephalosporin及penicillinase-resistant penicillin如oxacillin及clinaamycin、erythromycin、aminoglycoside等感受性低,故抗生素的選擇以penicillin類藥物加上beta-lactamas inhibitor為首選。此外也可選用cephamycin類的藥物如cefoxitin及對厭氧菌效果較好的fluoroquinolone類藥物如 levofloxacin等。這類感染如果用clindornycin+gentamicin或cefazolin+gentomicin+ metronidazole這樣的組合並不好。因為會漏掉許多重要的細菌。不過如果染色及培養顯示感染的菌種較單純,根據敏感試驗來選藥也是可以的。

七、人咬傷
人咬傷所引起的感染通常比動物咬傷更為嚴重。不只四肢,包括乳房、乳頭、生殖器、嘴唇顏面部都有可能咬傷。打架時握緊的拳頭被咬傷特別稱做 clenched-fistinjury。一般而言手部的咬傷因為肌腱、筋膜、神經等特別密集且細緻,故咬傷後的感染較嚴重,也不好處理。人的嘴巴所產生的傷口有46%為嗜氧及厭氧菌的混合感染。單純嗜氧或厭氧菌感染各27%。重要的細菌包括草綠色鏈球菌、金黃色葡萄球菌、A群鏈球菌、 Eikenellacorrodens及厭氧菌。抗生素的選擇與貓狗咬傷相似(表六)。由於clenched-fistinjury常往手臂近端漫延,造成嚴重的感染及日後的功能障礙,因此即使是毫不起眼的傷口也不可等閒視之。
處理人或貓狗的咬傷,首先要詳細評估並記錄是否有穿透到骨頭或關節、肌腿、神經功能如何,以做為日後的參考。傷口應該用大量生理食鹽水沖洗。患肢應抬高。必要時打splint。若咬傷已超過八小時,可能已發生感染。除顏面部怕以後影響外觀外,一般不建議馬上縫合。若有以下情形,建議使用3~5天預防性抗生素禝8小時以內的中到重度傷口,秃可能穿透骨頭或關節,秡手部傷口,稆免疫不全(如肝病,使用類固酵),税傷口接近人工關節,穃傷口在生殖器官附近。是否給予破傷風或狂犬疫苗則須視個案狀況做決定。
結論
軟組織感染可由輕微的毛囊炎到致命的感染。臨床醫師應對危險的感染表徵有所認識,才不會貽誤治療的時機。同時應了解台灣特有的流行病學,才能對症用藥,給予最好的治療。

軟組織感染及其治療--part 3

嘉義榮民醫院感染科主任 蔡宗宏

壞死性筋膜炎(Necrotizing fasciitis)
壞死性筋膜也是軟組織感染的一種,不同於蜂窩組織炎的是臨床病程快速而嚴重。致病細菌種類特殊。會造成壞死性筋膜炎的細菌分為兩群。一是A群鍵球菌(Streptococcuspyogenes)。也就是俗稱的噬肉菌。其二是厭氧菌及腸內菌為主的混合性感染。若要再分出一類的話前面所提到的創傷弧菌及嗜水產氣單胞菌也可能形成壞死性筋膜炎。臨床上若有禝嚴重的疼痛,秃全身性的敗血症候,秡水泡產生,稆皮膚壞死、瘀黑,税組織間有氣體產生穃極度的水腫,穐病程進展快速,都要考慮皮膚以下的的筋膜甚至肌肉已受侵犯。A群鏈球菌的侵犯以下肢為主;混合性的感染多來自肛門附近可造成俗稱的 Fournier'sgangrene。由於其病程進展快速且死亡率高,處理尤須迅速。最重要的要禝快速確立「壞死性筋膜炎」的診斷,秃快速確立致病菌種類並選擇正確的抗生素,秡必要時安排CT或MRI確定病灶範圍,以供外科醫師參考,稆適時的外科手術介入。壞死筋膜炎的疾病進行是很快的。有時早上病灶才剛出現在足背,下午已經漫延至腹肢溝。因此不論是內外科治療首重在及時。當病患出現上述所說的症狀,可迅速安排影像學檢查。若影像學顯示筋膜發炎,肌肉腫漲,應可確定診斷無誤。若影響檢查無法確定,可請外科醫師做一小切口(window)至筋膜處。有經驗的外科醫師可憑肉眼觀察筋膜、肌肉的外觀即可診斷。若仍無法診斷,可於切口處做一個筋膜(fascia)的冷凍切片做快速診斷,或於切口抽取滲液做革蘭氏染色,看看是否有細菌。應注意的是壞死性筋膜炎的病程極快。第一次檢查沒有問題並不表示病人不會發展到壞死性筋膜炎。還須密切追蹤,隨時請外科醫師來追蹤。第二個重點是要確定致病茵以決定該用何種抗生素。細菌培養往往要三、四天以上才有結果,緩不濟急。因此革蘭氏染色是最重要的。肛門口週圍的感染比較沒有問題,大多是混合感染。染色可看到各式各樣的細菌。偶而會混淆的是臀部靠肛門處,偶而會有較大的furuncle或carbuncle。大多是金黃色葡萄球菌。下肢的感染就要仔細分別。若是革蘭色陽性球菌就是A群鏈球菌;革蘭氏陰性略帶弧狀就是創傷弧菌或產氣單胞菌。兩者抗生素選擇截然不同(表四)。不論是那一種類的壞死性筋膜炎外科手術部都極為重要。初步的手術為筋膜切開術(fasciotomy)及清創。若疾病的漫延太快。逼近於軀幹部位,且抗生素加上多次的筋膜切開術仍無法扼止。應該當機立斷,斬草除根做截肢手術。因為一旦漫延至軀幹部位,表示再做筋膜切開效果也一樣不好。而且到達驅幹後,勢必不可能再做截肢的手術。常常碰到的情況是家屬因為疾病事發突然,且進展太快以致無法接受截肢的事實。到最後勉強同意截肢時,已經為時已晚,不僅肢體不保,連命都沒了。所以遇到這種病人,一定要事先預告這些可能。並且要非常密切的追蹤,掌握開刀的時機。在疾病的初期有時一天必須數次的清創才夠。除了手術以外,支持性的療法也關係病患的存亡。給予足夠的水分、升壓劑、良好的呼吸照護才能讓病人撐過手術及急性期。此外也有人嚐試使用高壓氧輔助治療。不過療效如何仍待進一步評估。
另一個值得討論的是關於A群鏈球菌感染時抗生素的選擇。前面提過A群鏈球菌造成蜂窩組織炎時,首選藥物是penicillin。不過當它造成壞死性筋膜炎時,我們首選的藥物則是clindamycin。必要時可加上penicillin。一般在嚴重的感染時應該優先選用殺菌性的抗生素。在這裡為什麼我們捨 penicillin而以抑菌性的clindamycin為首選呢?原因有幾個禝動物實驗顯示clindamycin對此類感染效果良好秃當細菌量多時,有許多的細菌處在生長滯留期(stationaryphase)。這時penicillin賴以作用的盤尼西林結合蛋白(penicillin bindingprotein)就不會被細菌所表現出來(notexpressed)。因此penicillin對這些細菌就失去了作用,秡A群鏈球菌賴以致病的外毒素(exotoxin)及M-protein等酵素的合成會被clindamycin所抑制,稆clindamycin半哀期較長,税 clindamycin有抑制單核球(mononuclearcell)產生細胞介質(cytokine)的作用因此clindamycin對這樣的感染就成為首選。。儘管如此,大部分的A群鏈球菌對penicillin依然是相當敏感,且有一些細菌仍處外在分裂期。實驗數據也顯示儘管 clindamycin或penicillin一個是抑菌性,一個是殺菌性,但在我們使用的濃度下並沒有產生頡抗作用(antagonism)。因此嚴重的病人可以clindamycin加上penicillin兩者併用。