The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial well-being of people with disabilities

BackgroundBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, people with mobility, vision, hearing, and cognitive disabilities were at a higher risk of lower psychosocial well-being than people without disabilities. It is, therefore, of great importance to investigate whether the pandemic has exacerbated this difference.ObjectiveThis study examines whether people with disabilities (categorized as mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, and any disabilities) report more COVID-19-related negative effects on psychosocial well-being (loneliness, decreased social contact, decreased hope for the future, concerns about being infected) than people without disabilities.MethodsWe analyzed population-based data from the Finnish Health, Welfare, and Services (FinSote) survey carried out in 2020–2021 (N = 22 165, age 20+). Logistic regression models were applied, controlling for the effects of age, sex, partnership, living alone, and education.ResultsAll disability groups, except those with vision disabilities, reported significantly more often that the pandemic increased loneliness than people without disabilities. There were no significant differences between the disability groups and people without disabilities in decreased social contacts. People with only mobility and cognitive disabilities reported significantly more often that the pandemic decreased their hope for the future than those without disabilities. All disability groups were more often concerned about being infected than people without disabilities, but this effect was not significant among people 75 or older.ConclusionThe psychosocial well-being of people with specific types of disabilities should receive special attention during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.     

Variation in smoking-related lung cancer risk factors by cell type among men in Argentina: a case-control study

A high mortality rate for lung cancer (62.7 per 100,000) is found in Rosario, Argentina. To investigate the reasons for this high rate, a case-control study was carried out among 215 male cases with histologically confirmed lung cancer and 433 hospitalized controls for conditions unrelated to tobacco consumption. Odds ratios (OR) of squamous cell (SQ), adenocarcinoma (AD), and small cell (SM) carcinoma of the lung associated with different characteristics of the smoking habit were quantified. Ninety-eight percent of the cases had smoked regularly. Smokers were significantly younger at diagnosis than ex-smokers (P<0.0001), a pattern consistent for all cell types. The ORs for the heaviest cf the lowest consumption categories were 15.3 for SQ, 11.6 for AD, and 11.6 for all lung cancer (P<0.0001). Risks associated with the use of unfiltered cigarettes were three to five times higher than those for filtered cigarettes, depending on cell types. For ex-smokers, risks after 10 years of nonsmoking were about 12 times lower than those of current smokers (P<0.001). To halt further increases in lung cancer, preventive measures in Argentina should be directed primarily towards smoking control.Ms Pezzotto and Drs Bay, Morini, and Poletto are with the Institute of Immunology, School of Medicine, National University of Rosario, Argentina. Dr Mahuad is with Hospital Italiano Rosario, Argentina. Address correspondence to Ms Pezzotto, Inst. Inmunologia, Facultad de Medicina, Santa Fe 3100, 2000 Rosario, Argentina.     

Reflex peristalsis in the guinea pig isolated ileum is endogenously controlled by kappa opioid receptors

Summary (1) Reflex peristalsis in the circular muscle of the guinea pig ileum was elicited in vitro by sustained luminal distension of the intestinal wall according to 2 cm H₂O and evaluated in terms of the number of peristaltic waves within 15 min intervals. (2) The poorly -selective opioid antagonist naloxone at concentrations of 10^–7 and 10^–6 mol/l increased the frequency of peristaltic contractions within the first 15 min interval, and thereafter in a declining fashion, by 68 and 88%, respectively. The highly -selective opioid antagonist nor-binaltorphimine behaved similarly. It was, by one order of magnitude, more potent but a little less effective than naloxone, i.e., the maximum effect was 57% increase in peristaltic frequency at 10^–8 mol/l. Concentrations of 10^–7 and 10^–6 mol/l had the same effect as 10^–8 mol/l, and 10^–9 mol/l were ineffective. The highly -selective antagonist CTOP-NH₂ and the highly -selective antagonist ICI 174,864 were ineffective up to 10^–6 mol/l. (3) It is concluded that predominantly opioid receptors are used by endogenous opioids under the present conditions to inhibit reflex peristalsis.     

Development and inhibition of the target phenomenon in tenotomized rat muscle

Summary The sequence of development of the target phenomenon in tenotomized gastrocnemius muscle was studied: the presence of target fibres was preceded by the occurrence of contraction bands and of moth eaten appearance of the fibres. This phenomenon was far more pronounced and occurred earlier in type II than in type I fibres.This target phenomenon and the contraction artefacts could be inhibited in the tenotomized muscles by simultaneous neurotomy or immobilization of the muscle with a plaster cast. Delayed denervation inhibited also the target phenomenon, if performed less than 5 days after the tenotomy. These series of experiments seem to indicate that the target phenomenon occurs in more irritable muscle fibres and that muscular activity is needed for its development.     

A histological and histochemical study of changes of fiber types in experimental myotonia

Summary In both fast and slow muscles of rats treated with 20–25 diazacholesterol there were qualitative alterations, such as changes of fiber outlines, numerous moth-eaten fibers and rare ring fibers. In addition there were generally larger groups of Type I and intermediate fibers than in normal controls (type-grouping tendency) in the preparations for oxidative enzymes in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) of myotonic animals. Quantitative evaluations of EDL and soleus of myotonic rats revealed moderate hypotrophy of Type I and Type II fibers with an increase in the number of Type I and of Type III fibers in the EDL and a significant decrease of the nondominant fibers in the soleus muscle. The data are discussed in the light of a neurally mediated and/or direct action of the drug on the muscle fiber.

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Zusammenfassung Sowohl in phasischen wie auch in tonischen Muskeln von Ratten, welche mit 20–25 Diazacholesterol behandelt wurden, wurden diskrete Strukturänderungen festgestellt: Änderungen der Umrisse der Einzelfasern, zahlreiche Fasern mit Mottenfraß, seltene Ringfasern. Histochemische Reaktionen für oxidative Enzyme im Extensor digitorum longus myotonischer Tiere zeigten außerdem häufig größere Gruppen von Typ-I-Fasern und Fasern vom Zwischentyp als bei normalen Kontrollen (Tendenz zum Type-Grouping). Quantitative Auswertung zeigte im Extensor digitorum longus und im Soleus myotonischer Ratten eine mäßige Hypotrophie der Typ-I-und Typ-II-Fasern mit einer Zunahme der Anzahl der Fasern vom Typ I und vom Typ III im Extensor digitorum longus und einer signifikanten Abnahme des nicht dominanten Fasertypus im Soleus. Die Befunde werden besonders im Hinblick auf eine neurogen vermittelte oder unmittelbare Wirkung der Substanz auf die Muskelfaser diskutiert.

     

Circadian system response to night work in relation to the individual circadian phase position

Summary In 6 night nurses the daily course of body temperature and pulse rate was measured under strict resting conditions immediately after a 7 to 18-day period with night work as well as after a 10-day period of recovery under normal life conditions. Three of the subjects were morning types and three evening types according to the Horne-Östberg-Questionnaire as well as to the phase position of the body temperature cycle.In order to quantify the changes in amplitude, phase position, and frequency a flattening index, a circadian deformation index, and according to the calculated phase shift a corrected deformation index were used. While the evening types reacted with a flattening of their circadian amplitude and thus gained a greater tolerance, the morning types hyper reacted when exposed to the inverse life pattern, developing an increased amplitude and adding to the circadian deformation by ultradian periods. No significant differences could be detected in phase shift. Higher amounts of subjective complaints and deficit of sleep as well as differences in the additionally controlled vigilance functions demonstrated the lower tolerance of the morning types to night work.The discussion concerns the methological basis of a quantitative evaluation of disturbance of the circadian system, and shows off, that the greater tolerance of evening types to night work is based on a lower reagibility of the vegetative functions to changes in the outer environment.     

15例甲状腺间变癌临床病理及免疫组化分析

[目的]探讨甲状腺间变癌的临床病理特征和免疫组化结果的意义。[方法]光镜观察和免疫组织化学SP法检测15例甲状腺间变癌。[结果]甲状腺间变癌的病理分型为梭形细胞型、巨细胞型和混合细胞型。15例中免疫组化阳性表达率分别是：Vimentin86．6％(13／15)、CK73．3％(11/15)、CEA60．0％(9／15），CD68 6．6％(1/15)；TG和降钙素均为阴性。2例伴有乳头状癌其中Vimentin和CK均阳性；1例伴破骨样巨细胞CD68阳性。[结论]甲状腺间变癌是上皮源性、恶性度高的肿瘤。熟悉其形态特征．结合免疫组化对诊断甲状腺间变癌具有重要意义。     

渗出性胸膜炎临床证型的影像学辨证探讨

应用Ｘ线、超声检查对１００例，２１０例次的本病临床证型进行了对照观察，发现各临床证型均有影像学的特征，Ⅰ型邪郁少阳为胸腔内有少量胸水，Ⅱ型饮停胸胁为具有中等量以上的胸水，Ⅲ型络脉不和为胸水较前有吸收和／或伴有纤维化征象，Ⅳ型无症状为胸膜已无异常发现或增厚粘连并经超声检查证实无胸水。但在各证型中尚有不少病例宜按影像检查所见重新确定证型施治。根据本组观察，认为Ｘ线及超声检查所见，可作为本病临床辨证提供可靠的客观依据     

不同证型急性心肌梗死红细胞免疫变化的初步研究

目的从红细胞免疫角度探讨急性心肌梗死 (AMI)中医证型的分子生物学机制.方法测定 AMI各中医证型患者红细胞 C3b受体花环率 (RBC- C3bRR)及红细胞免疫复合物花环率 (RBC- ICR),并与健康人比较 (对照组 ).结果 AMI不同证型组与对照组的 RBC- C3bRR相近, RBC- ICR则明显高于对照组,以阳脱阴竭组及心阳虚衰寒凝心脉组为甚.结论免疫损伤、红细胞免疫复合物增高参与 AMI病理发展过程. RBC- ICR可作为预测和诊断 AMI的重要辅助指标,为中医辨证施治提供客观依据;而提高 AMI患者红细胞免疫功能,对救治及提高生存率有一定意义.     

学龄前儿童气质类型及相关因素研究

[目的]了解武汉市学龄前儿童气质类型,探讨其影响因素.[方法]采用随机整群抽样的方法,抽取武汉市1150名3～7岁儿童为研究对象,应用<3～7岁儿童气质测查问卷>和自制的相关因素问卷对儿童气质和有关因素进行调查.[结果]母亲孕期被动吸烟、情绪紧张和产后焦虑,儿童早产、出生时窒息、高热史,长辈的教育方式不一致等易导致儿童出现麻烦型气质;而核心家庭、母亲性格外向的儿童则较少出现麻烦型气质.[结论]生物学因素和家庭环境因素影响学龄前儿童气质类型,良好的围生期保健,和谐、稳定的家庭环境及正确的教育方式有利于儿童身心健康发展.