‘Translation is not enough’: using the Global Person Generated Index (GPGI) to assess individual quality of life in Bangladesh,Thailand, and Ethiopia

Currently few subjective measures of Quality of Life (QoL) are available for use in developing countries, which limits their theoretical, methodological, and practical contribution (for example, exploring the relationship between economic development and QoL, and ensuring effective and equitable service provision). One reason for this is the difficulty of ensuring that translated measures preserve conceptual, item, semantic, operational, measurement; and functional equivalence (Herdman, M., Fox-Rushby, J., & Badia, X. (1998). Quality of Life Research, 7, 331), which is illustrated by an account of the translation, pre-piloting, and administration of a new individualised QoL measure, the Global Person Generated Index or 'GPGI'. The GPGI is based on the widely used Patient Generated Index (Ruta, Camfield, & Martin, (2004) Quality of Life Research, 13, 1545.) and offers many of the advantages of the participatory approaches commonly used in developing countries, with added methodological rigour, and quantitative outcomes. It was successfully validated in Bangladesh, Thailand, and Ethiopia, using quantitative and qualitative methods--open-ended, semi-structured interviews (SSIs), conducted immediately post-administration. Both the measure and method of 'qualitative validation' described later in the paper offer an exciting alternative for future researchers and practitioners in this field. The quantitative results suggest the GPGI shows cultural sensitivity, and is able to capture both the areas that are important to respondents, and aspects of life one would expect to impact on QoL in developing countries. There were strong correlation between scores from the GPGI and SSIs for the area of health, and moderate correlations for 'material wellbeing' (MWB)('Material wellbeing' refers to respondents' perceptions of their achievement in the areas of farming, debt reduction, assets, crops, livestock, job, land, property, and agriculture) and children. Weak to moderate correlations were observed between the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the GPGI; however, the highest coefficient was between the GPGI and the most conceptually similar item. Statistically significant differences were seen in GPGI scores between rich and poor, urban and rural respondents, and different countries. Health and material wellbeing scores, derived from the SSIs, also showed a linear relationship with GPGI scores, with a suggestion of curvilinearity at the higher levels, as predicted by a general QoL causal model. In conclusion, the GPGI has great potential for use in this area, especially when supported by extensive interviewer training, and supplemented with a cognitive appraisal schedule.     

Inadequate dietary magnesium intake increases atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits

Epidemiological studies have shown dietary magnesium (Mg) intake and serum Mg levels to be inversely correlated with the development of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that low levels of Mg would promote atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits (4 months old, n = 22) were fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.12% (−Mg), 0.27% (control), or 0.43% (+Mg) Mg for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks and were assayed for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, triglycerides (TG), C-reactive protein, serum Mg, and erythrocyte Mg. Aortas from −Mg had significantly more plaque, with an intima thickness 42% greater than control and 36% greater than +Mg. Serum cholesterol levels rose over time, and at 8 weeks, −Mg had the highest and +Mg the lowest total and non-HDL cholesterol and TG levels, although these results did not reach significance. Over time, serum Mg levels increased, and erythrocyte Mg levels decreased. C-reactive protein significantly increased in all groups at 4 and 6 weeks but returned to baseline levels by 8 weeks. This study supports the hypothesis that inadequate intake of Mg results in an increase in atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits.     

细小病毒性关节炎四例临床分析并文献复习

目的 通过对我科确诊的4例细小病毒B19（parvovimsB19）关节炎的临床特点的总结．提高对该病的认识。方法 报道4例确诊为细小病毒B19关节炎的临床及实验室检查特点．并进行文献复习。结果 4例患者（男性2例，女性2例），年龄15～55岁，发病年龄中位数为34岁。关节炎同时出现流感样症状、皮疹等表现，外周血细小病毒B19 IgM均阳性，3例患者外周血细小病毒B19DNA检测阳性，除外其他原因所致关节炎，治疗效果肯定，随访1～3年无一例复发。结论 对于某些症状不典型的关节炎，应警惕细小病毒B19关节炎的可能，及时行细小病毒B19抗体及DNA检测，以助诊断。     

对广东患者抑郁体验的定性研究——医学人类学对精神病学视角的丰富

目的目前,对中国人抑郁体验的现象学理解很大程度上依赖于西方教科书和国际诊断系统中的描述。而临床经验告诉我们,不同地区、不同文化对情绪痛苦的表达有着各自的特点;但中国在这方面还缺乏研究。为此,我们采用民俗学方法对广州地区就诊人群的抑郁体验进行了研究。方法在广州市精神卫生中心门诊,采用定额取样招募40例有抑郁情绪的患者;问及的合适的病人共43人,只有3人不同意参加。采用开放式深入民俗学访谈了解患者的抑郁体验,即让患者用他们自己的话来讲述患病经历。对访谈进行录音,转录为文字并译成英文。对中英文记录分别进行了内容分析。结果除了西方教科书和诊断系统中描述的抑郁症状外,还发现了六个情感体验的类别:本地情感语汇、具身的情绪体验、隐含的忧伤、难以言状的痛苦、情绪不良造成的人际不和谐,以及专注于失眠。结论精神病学教科书和诊断系统中的描述未能涵盖中国抑郁患者对抑郁症状的全部体验。需要进一步研究抑郁体验与生活事件的关联及其在不同文化下的表现方式,这样才能作出与文化相适应的有效诊断。     

高原地区部队医院谋求新发展应处理好七个关系

从高原部队医院实际出发,阐述了适应新形势谋求新发展应处理好的七个关系:即继承与创新的关系;坚持“姓军为兵的服务方向与对外有偿服务的关系;基础建设与人才建设的关系;日常医疗保障与科研的关系;发挥自身特色与学习借鉴的关系;硬件建设与软件建设的关系;科技研究与成果转化的关系。     

The logical structure and validity of experimental designs in pharmacokinetics and clinical pharmacology

Much of the literature on research design in clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics emphasizes statistical concerns, thus suggesting that a primary ingredient of a valid research design is an appropriate plan for statistical analysis of data. However, statistical validity is only one of several ways to evaluate an experimental study. The present paper reviews the underlying logic and sources of invalidity of experimental drug research suggesting influences and factors which may deceive or lure an experimenter into erroneous conclusions.     

桂枝镇痛效应的药理学研究

目的　探讨桂枝的镇痛作用。方法　采用热板法和扭体法观察该药的镇痛作用。结果　桂枝对小鼠热致痛和醋酸致痛均有明显的抗痛作用 ,与颅痛定镇痛效果比较均无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 ) 。结论　桂枝具有镇痛效应 ,对临床应用、镇痛药开发具有借鉴和指导意义。     

Methodological issues in music interventions in oncology settings: A systematic literature review

This paper is part of a systematic literature review and presents methodological issues within studies, investigating therapeutic applications of music in cancer patients. This review focuses on published international research from the USA, Canada, Australia and European countries using four electronic databases: PSYCHINFO, WEB OF SCIENCE, MEDLINE and SCIENCEDIRECT. Thirty-two papers were identified and each paper was coded in terms of sample type, basic research question, research design and methodological details, results and implications for future research. This paper addresses questions related to study design and methodology. It explores and discusses the relative advantages and disadvantages of various approaches.     

高等医学院校艺术隐性课程探究

隐性课程是当前课程理论研究领域十分关注的课题，近年来的教育实践表明，艺术课程对促进学生的全面发展具有深刻的影响。本文论述了隐性课程的特征和构成要素，阐述了艺术隐性课程的价值功能，并提出了医学院校实现艺术隐性课程的有效措施。     

米非司酮作用于兔输卵管收缩活动与Ca^2＋关系的研究

通过“结合化学分离与原子吸收分光光度法”对Ca^2 含量测定和离体输卵管肌条收缩记录方法，研究米非司酮（Ru486)对增加假孕（4d)兔输卵管平滑肌收缩频率，而不改变其收缩张力和振幅时与Ca^2 之间的关系，结果提示：（1）Ru486对输卵管分泌液和组织内Ca^2 的含量分布无明显影响；（2）Ru486具有降低细胞外液高Ca^2 浓度促Ca^2 内流，而使收缩增强的效应，且能协同Ca^2 通道阻断剂（Verapamil)抑制细胞外Ca^2 内流，而致收缩减弱的效应。