Incidence estimation using a single cross‐sectional age‐specific prevalence survey with differential mortality

Here, we present a method for incidence estimation of a curable, non‐recurring disease when data from a single cross‐sectional survey are used together with population‐level mortality rates and an assumption of differential mortality of diseased versus non‐diseased individuals. The motivating example is cataract, and the VISION2020 goal to eliminate avoidable blindness globally by 2020. Reliable estimates of current and future cataract disease burden are required to predict how many surgeries would need to be performed to meet the VISION2020 goals. However, incidence estimates, needed to derive future burden, are not as easily available, due to the cost of conducting cohort studies. Disease is defined at the person‐level in accordance with the WHO person‐level definition of blindness. An extension of the standard time homogeneous illness–death model to a four‐state model is described, which allows the disease to be cured, whereby surgery is performed on at least one diseased eye. Incidence is estimated, and the four‐state model is used to predict disease burden assuming different surgical strategies whilst accounting for the competing risk of death. The method is applied to data from approximately 10 000 people from a survey of visual impairment in Nigeria. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

pFDR and pFNR estimation for brain networks construction

Recent developments in the study of brain functional connectivity are widely based on graph theory. In the current analysis of brain networks, there is no unique way to derive the adjacency matrix, which is a useful representation for a graph. Its entries, containing information about the existence of links, are identified by thresholding the correlation between the time series that characterized the dynamic behavior of the nodes. In this work, we put forward a strategy to choose a suitable threshold on the correlation matrix considering the problem of multiple comparisons in order to control the error rates. In this context we propose to control the positive false discovery rate (pFDR) and a similar measure involving false negatives, called the positive false nondiscovery rate (pFNR). In particular, we provide point and interval estimators for pFNR and a method for balancing the two types of error, demonstrating it by using functional magnetic resonance imaging data and Monte Carlo simulations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of conflict in Syria on Syrian children at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan

This paper describes a study performed to investigate the impact of the conflict in Syria on Syrian refugee children. The Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan was chosen for this task. Two control (comparison) groups of children were selected: one from the Jordanian Ramtha district, which is just across the border from Syria, and that indirectly feel the consequences of the Syrian conflict, and the other from Amman, the capital of Jordan, which is far away from the border. The study compared the Zaatari, Ramtha and Amman groups in terms of expressed anxiety and depression symptoms. They were also compared with respect to their gender and age. The Zaatari children were more distressed than the others, and the symptom ‘thoughts of ending your life’ was expressed only by this group. The Ramtha group also expressed some distress. The fact that this group indirectly experiences the consequences of violence emphasises the dire circumstances of children inside Syria who are trapped between fighting groups.     

Do welfare states raise welfare(d) kids? Day-care institutions and inequality in the Danish welfare state

There is an increasing focus on early-childhood education quality globally, reflecting a growing political awareness that education starts earlier than primary school, and that high quality in day-care influence children's learning and development.

In Denmark, almost all children attend day-care, and day-care institutions are considered part of the educational system. Due to the welfare state, families across different social backgrounds have access to day-care institutions from early on. With this access to education from early age, you would expect conditions to affect social inequality, and eliminate patterns connected to family background. The high level of solidarity does not have the desired impact on children's development as it is. This study aimed to identify and point to reasons why this is not the case.     

胃溃疡患者焦虑状态与TIFF1及EGF水平关系分析

目的：探讨胃溃疡患者不同焦虑状态与TIFF1及 EGF水平的关系并进行相关性分析。方法对入选的胃溃疡患者95例采用汉密尔顿焦虑量表（HAMA）进行评估,分为明显焦虑组、焦虑组及无焦虑组,每组分别有41、32、22例。入选后分别行TIFF1及 EGF、PGⅠ、PGⅡ测定。结果焦虑组 HAMA评分、TIFF1及 EGF较无焦虑组差异显著（P〈0.05）,明显焦虑组 HAMA评分、TIFF1及 EGF较无焦虑组差异显著（P〈0.05）。焦虑组 PGⅠ、PGⅠ/PGⅡ较无焦虑组显著下降（P〈0.05）,明显焦虑组 PGⅠ、PGⅠ/PGⅡ较无焦虑组及焦虑组均存在有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。HAMA与TIFF呈显著负相关,与PGⅠ、PGⅠ/PGⅡ呈显著负相关（P〈0.05）。结论焦虑状态是的影响胃溃疡患者TIFF1及 EGF水平的重要因素,焦虑状态加重将直接影响到对胃黏膜损伤的修复能力。     

基于边界分析的民营医院发展问题的探析和启示

采用文献边界分析,形成问题系统并进行边界分析。基于问题视角,指出解决问题的思路包括需完善政府和民营医院对其发展定位和管理,重塑医院品牌等。基于研究视角,指出民营医院的研究需与实践紧密配合,考虑研究设计的合理性和策略措施的可操作性等。     

合理情绪疗法对32例子宫切除患者焦虑心理的干预效果观察

目的 探讨合理情绪疗法（RET）对子宫切除患者焦虑、抑郁心理的运用及效果.方法 在临床中运用RET理论对32例符合入组条件的子宫切除患者的焦虑、抑郁心理进行心理干预.结果 32例患者的焦虑、抑郁心理明显改善,情绪相应好转.结论 合理情绪疗法可以转变患者的认知,树立正确信念,缓解焦虑症状,增强战胜疾病的信心,使其在最佳心理状态下接受治疗和护理,达到早日康复的目的.     

Brief and extended abstinence from chronic oral methylphenidate treatment produces reversible behavioral and physiological effects

Methylphenidate (MP) is a commonly prescribed psychostimulant to individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and is often used illicitly among healthy individuals with intermittent breaks to coincide with breaks from school. This study examined how intermittent abstinence periods impact the physiological and behavioral effects of chronic oral MP self-administration in rats, and whether these effects persist following prolonged abstinence from the drug. Rats were treated orally with water, low-dose (LD), or high-dose (HD) MP, beginning at PND 28. This daily access continued for three consecutive weeks followed by a 1-week abstinence; after three repeats of this cycle, there was a 5-week abstinence period. Throughout the study, we examined body weight, food intake, locomotor activity, and anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. During the treatment phase, HD MP decreased body weight, food intake, and depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, while it increased locomotor activity. During intermittent abstinence, the effects of MP on locomotor activity were eliminated. During prolonged abstinence, most of the effects of HD MP were ameliorated to control levels, with the exception of weight loss and anxiolytic effects. These findings suggest that intermittent exposure to chronic MP causes physiological and behavioral effects that are mostly reversible following prolonged abstinence.     

Autonomy-restrictive socialization of anger: Associations with school-aged children’s physiology,trait anxiety,state distress,and relationship closeness

Parental socialization that infringes on children's autonomy may have consequences for physiological regulation, trait anxiety, and state distress. One such practice is the use of positive conditional regard (CR)—the provision of extra attention/affection when children meet parents’ expectations. Self-determination theory proposes that CR thwarts satisfaction of children's basic needs for relatedness and autonomy by placing these needs in conflict. We evaluate associations among children's (N = 106, 51% male, M_age = 10.27 years, SD = 1.09) reports of their mothers’ use of positive CR to suppress anger expression (PCR-anger), their physiological regulation (resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia, RSA), and their trait anxiety and state distress, in light of perceived relationship closeness. After controlling demographics, mothers’ reports of positive and negative CR-anger, children's reports of mothers’ negative CR-anger and depressive symptoms, greater child-reported positive CR-anger was significantly associated with greater child anxiety and with lower resting RSA. Resting RSA mediated associations of child-reported positive CR-anger with greater child anxiety and post-failure distress. These indirect effects were significant for children low or moderate in closeness to mother. We conclude that autonomy-restrictive socialization is a concurrent correlate of children's physiological regulation, anxiety, and state distress, with these associations dependent on relational distance.