Screening for Meares–Irlen sensitivity in adults: can assessment methods predict changes in reading speed?

Two methods of assessing candidates for coloured overlays were compared with the aim of determining which method had the most practical utility. A total of 58 adults were assessed as potential candidates for coloured overlays, using two methods; a questionnaire, which identified self-reported previous symptoms, and a measure of perceptual distortions immediately prior to testing. Participants were classified as normal, Meares-Irlen sensitive, and borderline sensitive. Reading speed was measured with and without coloured overlays, using the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test and the change in speed was calculated. Participants classified as normal did not show any significant benefit from reading with an overlay. In contrast, a significant reading advantage was found for the borderline and Meares-Irlen participants. Current symptom rating was found to be a significant predictor of the change in reading speed, however the previous symptom rating was not found to be a reliable predictor. These data indicate that the assessment of perceptual distortions immediately prior to measuring colour preference and reading speed is the most meaningful method of assessing pattern glare and determining the utility of coloured overlays.     

Not an equal opportunity disease – a sex and gender-based review of colorectal cancer in men and women: Part II

This paper reviews the literature on colorectal cancer from a sex and gender-based perspective. Colorectal cancer is a major cause of death in the developed world, with rates increasing in developing countries. Although described by some writers as an ‘equal opportunity’ disease, it presents more risk to men than women. Both biological, or sex-linked factors, and gender-linked factors play a part in the aetiology of the disease, while gender differences in the use of screening and treatment also help shape the mortality gap between women and men for this condition. Without an appreciation of the part played by sex and gender in the risk of colorectal cancer, and without a gender-sensitive approach to screening in particular, it is possible that the mortality gap between men and women for this condition will widen in the future.     

Interhemispheric multiloculated ependymal cyst with dysgenesis of the corpus callosum: a case in a preterm fetus

Introduction The authors report a case of interhemispheric ependymal cyst accompanied with agenesis of the corpus callosum in a fetus. Discussion Routine ultrasound and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of a 20-year-old woman at 33 weeks and 1 day of gestation detected a large interhemispheric cystic lesion in the fetal cranial cavity. Caesarian section was carried out at 36 weeks because of the progressive enlargement of the fetal head. The cyst was multiloculated and a cyst peritoneal shunt placement resulted in collapse of the drained cyst components followed by enlargement of others. After wrack-a-mole-like shunt revisions, open surgery was performed at the age of 2 years. Cyst walls were fenestrated and the cavities were communicated with each other and eventually with the lateral ventricle. Pathological diagnosis of the cyst wall was ependymal cyst. The boy is now 3 years old, and growing without apparent developmental delay or recurrence. Current concept and management policy of the interhemispheric cyst accompanied with agenesis of the corpus callosum is reviewed.     

Application of trans-abdominal chorionic villus sampling in prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal diseases in first trimester of gestation

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of prenatal diagnosis by traneabdominal chorionic villus sam-pling(TA-CVS)via the guidance of B-mode ultrasound in the first trimester of gestation.To explore the technique of long time culture and chromosome preparation of villi in early pregnancy.To evaluate the feasibility of the above techniques in the application of the prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis.Methods:One hundred and thirty-five singleton pregnancies at risk were referred from January 2001 to Decem-ber 2007.Results:The average maternal age was 35.2 years.TA-CVS was performed in the 10～13th weeks of gestation and the average gestational age was 10.89 weeks.All attempts at sampling were successful.The rate of operation-associated fetal loss was 0.74%.The failure rate of prenatal diagnosis because of inadequate amount of specimen was 0.The average culture time was 5-7 days.The success rate of the cell culture was 98.5%.No maternal con-temination and bacterial contamination happened.Fifteen cases of abnormal karyotype and one case of confined pla-cantel mosaiciem were diagnosed.Conclusion:TA-CVS appears to be safe and feasible and might to be offered in the prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester of gestation.The technique of long time culture and chromosome preparation of villi is stable and reliable.It is feasible to apply these techniques in the clinical practice of prenatal cytogenetic diagnose in the early pregnancy.     

以新生儿重症监护病房为中心的早产儿视网膜病变筛查模式

目的：介绍一种较为完善的早产儿视网膜病变（ROP）筛查模式。方法：建立基本完善的ROP登记、会诊、筛查、转诊等制度,所有工作均在新生儿重症监护病房（N ICU）完成,形成以NICU为中心的ROP筛查模式,并按此模式开展筛查工作。结果：登记符合ROP筛查标准的患儿239例,其中接受至少一次筛查的患儿222例（占应筛查总数的92.89%）,按要求完成筛查的患儿176例（占应筛查总数的73.64%）。发现ROP患儿39例（占实际筛查数的17.57%）,其中阈值前期1型或阈值期病变11例（占实际筛查数的4.96%）。结论：这种以NICU为中心的ROP筛查模式,制度较为完善,临床中易于操作,能有效节约医疗资源,适合在中小城市中推广。     

Cholesterol screening: observed cholesterol reduction in a prospective study in Norway

The general public of the City of Bergen, Norway was Invitedto participate in a cholesterol screening programme in October1988. Participants received the results of the cholesterol screeningand nutritional information from trained health personnel. Ashort questionnaire was mailed to all 354 participants 1–2weeks after the initial cholesterol screening. In March 1990,all participants were invited to have their cholesterol levelsre-examined. Psychosocial factors believed to be predictiveof future serum cholesterol changes were assessed at baselinealong with demographic variables. The majority of participants(61%) reduced their cholesterol level from October 1988 to March1990, and the average reduction in cholesterol level for thetotal population was 4.0%. Baseline cholesterol levels, beingconfident of one's own ability to change one's diet (self-efficacy),seeing heart disease risk reduction as very important, and maritalstatus were factors that significantly predicted successfulcholesterol reduction 18 months later.     

Depression Scale (DEPS) among suicide attempters

The Depression Scale (DEPS), a new screening instrument for detecting depression in primary health care, was compared with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) among 50 suicide attempters. Using the HDS as a gold standard, the positive and negative predictive values of the DEPS for the diagnosis of depression were 98% and 20%, respectively. The correlation between the total HDS scores and the total DEPS scores was 0.60. The DEPS may help general practitioners to detect depression among suicide attempters, but it should not be used to exclude depression.     

Determinants of decision-making in the screening procedure of a community psychiatric service

This study is a predictor analysis of the screening procedure followed by a psychiatric service for a period of 1 year preceding and a period of 1 year following the introduction of community psychiatry. Throughout this period, the psychiatric service consisted of a local service within the catchment area and a central service at a psychiatric hospital outside the area. At the time of the reorganization, the responsibility for the psychiatric service was transferred from the public health authorities to the social services. Before the reorganization, screenings were conducted on the basis of referral papers or simply as a result of telephone communication. After the reorganization, the screening procedure was intensified by means of a pre-examination. One aim of the reorganization was to ensure that the severely mentally ill take priority over patients characterized predominantly by social strain. Patients with manic-depressive psychosis and other psychoses showed a significantly increased probability of being accepted for treatment, whereas those with schizophrenia showed no significant increase, irrespective of the service reorganization. Similarly, manic-depressive psychosis and other psychoses (not schizophrenia) were significant predictors of hospitalization at the mental hospital outside the catchment area as well as hospitalization in the local facilities, irrespective of the service reorganization. Indicators of social strain were not given higher priority following the service reorganization.