Mental illness in England,in Scotland and in Scots living in England

Summary Beginning from the observation that Scots living in England have much higher rates of mental hospital admission than do the English, several hypotheses are proposed to account for this. Much of the excess in rates of mental illness is accounted for by those diagnosed as having alcohol-related disorders and behaviour and personality problems. The results of an examination of offical statistics in the two countries enabled some explanations to be offered. It was found that rates of admissions to mental hospitals are higher in Scotland than in England but not as high as those found among Scots migrants who have a much higher rate of readmission to hospitals than either of the other groups. In fact, if first admissions only are considered the rates of admission in Scotland are not only higher than rates for English natives but also higher than for Scottish migrants. It seems that Scots living in England are somewhat less likely to become mental patients than Scots in Scotland but that once they do achieve this status they are very much more likely to be readmitted on subsequent occasions. It was concluded that there might be two fairly distinct groups of migrants from Scotland to England who have different backgrounds, different reasons for migrating and different psychological characteristics. On the one hand there are stable, economically motivated migrants who move south for definite employment related reasons and who show few psychological symptoms. While on the other hand there is a group of migrants who perhaps have psychological problems and who move more in hope than expectation without definite prospects and who account for the high rates of mental hospital admission found in Scottish migrants.     

Prostacyclin release in the coronary circulation during sustained stimulation in in vitro and in in vivo experimental systems

Prostacyclin release from rat isolated perfused hearts and from dog coronary circulation was studied by measuring immunoreactive 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1a) in heart perfusate and in plasma obtained from the great cardiac vein respectively. Continuous infusion of arachidonic acid at constant concentration in isolated perfused hearts induced an increased prostacyclin release. This release showed a rapid peak within 10 min and a subsequent decrease. Low-flow ischemia induced an increased perfusate concentration of 6-keto-PGF1a but, considering the decreased flow, prostacyclin release was actually reduced. During the whole period of ischemia (60 min) prostacyclin release was constant. In open-chest anesthetized dogs 6-keto-PGF1a concentration in the great cardiac vein was increased after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. A prolonged period of coronary occlusion (4.5 hours) resulted in a progressive rise of prostacyclin release. 6-keto-PGF1a determinations in the femoral vein and in the aorta did not show relevant variations during the observation period.     

Neuroimaging in epilepsy in tropics

Epilepsy is a major public health problem in many tropical countries. Also, some of the tropical diseases are major contributors to the higher prevalence of epilepsy in these countries. The etiologic factors responsible for epilepsy in these countries are quite different from those in the developed world. This article discusses the etiologic factors and neuroimaging of epilepsy in light of the conditions in these tropical countries.     

癫痫与抑郁关系的研究进展

抑郁是癫痫患者中常见的精神障碍,严重地影响了患者的生活质量。传统的观点认为癫痫患者因为存在着诸多社会学问题易出现抑郁倾向,癫痫和抑郁是单向的联系,但大量的研究已经证明癫痫和抑郁之间存在双向的联系,一种异常状态的存在可能易转化为另一种异常状态的发展。癫痫和抑郁存在着共同的发病机制。本文主要就癫痫和抑郁的双向联系以及抗抑郁药物在癫痫患者中的应用进行阐述。     

Sudanophilic lipid accumulation in astrocytes in periventricular leukomalacia in monkeys

Summary Sudanophilic lipid accumulation is a characteristic feature of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) of infants. At least two types of lipid-containing cells have been identified, one being the macrophage, the other the pre-myelin glial cell. A third type of lipid-containing cell has been seen in two monkeys with spontaneous PVL. Electron microscopically this cell appears to be an astrocyte. This probably represents a reaction of the astrocyte to hypoxia and may be the equivalent of the hypertrophic astrocytes found in human infants.Supported in part by NIH grant HDO 8633 and the Regional Primate Research Center Grant RR-00166     

Increase in cathepsin D activity in rat brain in aging

Cathepsin D-like activity in homogenates of five brain areas of 3-month-old and 24-month-old Fischer 344 rats was measured. With hemoglobin as substrate at pH 3.2, more than 90% of the activity was inhibited by pepstatin. In each area studied, activity was more than twice as high in the old rat brain: 140-160% higher in the cortex, cerebellum, pons-medulla, and striatum and 90-100% higher in the hippocampus and spinal cord. The greatly increased metabolic capacity in the absence of an increase in protein turnover may have a role in age-related pathological degeneration in the brain.     

Increase in noradrenaline-synthesizing enzyme activity in medulla oblongata in Parkinson's disease

Summary Dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH), the noradrenaline-synthesizing enzyme, and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT), the adrenaline-synthesizing enzyme, were assayed in 18 areas of brain stem in eight cases of parkinsonian syndromes and of four age- and postmortem delay-matched controls. Dissection was performed by the punch technique and enzyme activities assayed by radiometric methods. No significant change was found for PNMT activity. DBH activity was significantly increased in the A2-C2 area of the medulla oblongata (including the nucleus tractus solitarius) in the cases of Parkinson's disease.The A2-C2 area is known to be implicated in the control of blood pressure in rats. These findings are discussed in relation to orthostatic hypotension and the influence ofl-dopa therapy.Supported by grants from INSERM ATP 657897, ATP 8179113, CRL 79-1-356-6, DGRST (80 E 0882), FRMF, and Sandoz-France France     

Ethnic differences in psychological well-being in adolescence in the context of time spent in family activities

Background  

In Britain and elsewhere there is ethnic variation in mental health in adulthood but less is known about adolescence. Few studies examining the role of family life in adolescent mental well-being have been based on a multi-ethnic UK sample. We explored whether family activities explain ethnic differences in mental health among adolescents in London, UK.     

Ethnic disparities in problem behaviour in adolescence contribute to ethnic disparities in social class in adulthood

BACKGROUND: It is important for prevention of social class disparities to know how ethnic disparities in social class arise among migrant children. We contribute to this understanding by examining the role of problem behaviour in adolescence. METHODS: Prospective observational study with 753 Dutch native and 217 Turkish migrant adolescents (11-18 year) followed for 10 years. Internalising and externalising problems were assessed in adolescence and employment status and occupational level were assessed in adulthood. The difference in odds ratios (OR) before and after adjustment for internalising and externalising problems was an indication of the predictive value of disparities in internalising and externalising problems for the development of social class disparities. RESULTS: A total of 135 (62%) of the Turkish and 602 (80%) of the Dutch adults were employed. Internalising and externalising problems were not associated with employment status. Of the employed, 65 (48%) Turkish and 179 (30%) Dutch adults worked in low-level occupations (p < 0.0001). Internalising and externalising problems were associated with both ethnicity and occupation. The OR for low-level occupation for Turkish adults was 1.78 (1.19-2.65), indicating ethnic disparities. Adjustment for internalising problems lowered the OR with 36% to 1.50 (0.97-2.31), and adjustment for externalising problems lowered it with 8% to 1.72 (1.15-2.57). Findings were similar for men and women and did not vary by age. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic disparities in occupational level in adulthood could partly be attributed to disparities in mental health between Turkish migrants and Dutch natives in adolescence. Prevention of ethnic disparities in mental health at young age may therefore also contribute to the prevention of occupational differences in adulthood.