Nodulocystic Acne: Oral Gugulipid versus Tetracycline

Twenty patients with nodulocystic acne were randomly allocated to one of two treatment schedules: 1) Tetracycline 500 mg or 2) Tab. Gugulipid (equivalent to 25 mg guggulsterone). Both were taken twice daily for 3 months, and both produced a progressive reduction in the lesions in the majority of patients. With tetracycline, the percentage reduction in the inflammatory lesions was 65.2% as compared to 68% with gugulipid; on comparison, this difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Follow-up at 3 months showed a relapse in 4 cases on tetracyline and 2 cases on gugulipid. An interesting observation was that the patients with oily faces responded remarkably better to gugulipid.     

The prevalence of transsexualism in Singapore

The prevalence of transsexualism in Singapore was estimated by counting all the patients who sought sex-reassignment surgery and were subsequently diagnosed as transsexuals by psychiatrists. Up to 1986, there were a total of 458 Singapore-born transsexuals, of which 343 were males and 115 were females. This was a prevalence of 35.2 per 100,000 population age 15 and above (or 1/2900) for male transsexualism, and 12.0 per 100,000 (or 1/8300) for female transsexualism. The sex ratio was about 3 males to 1 female. The main reason for the high prevalence was the availability of sex-reassignment surgery.     

Cigarette smoking and acne in adolescents: results from a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on the association between smoking and acne have reported conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between smoking and acne among school-going adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Smoking was defined as smoking > 3 cigarettes daily for 6 months or more. We defined acne as having > 20 retentional and/or inflammatory facial acne lesions. Multivariate (proportional) logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounding variables. RESULTS: Of the 594 participants, 36.2% had acne. Acne sufferers were less likely to smoke (18.1 vs. 23.7%, P = 0.10). In girls, smoking was significantly associated with lower prevalence of acne (adjusted OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.82). Smoking, daily cigarette consumption and duration of smoking appeared to be protective in the development of inflammatory acne in girls. No significant associations between acne and smoking variables were detected among boys. Limitations: although this study suggests a significant negative association between smoking and inflammatory acne in girls, it does not prove causality. This association did show a trend for linear relationship. Because of the unexpected differences between boys and girls, sample size may have affected our results. CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory effects of smoking may inhibit the development of papulopustular acne in girls more than in boys. However, smoking should not be considered a therapeutic option for acne. Additional studies that consider possible differences across age, gender and type of acne are needed to clarify the association between smoking and acne.     

后现代心理学概观

后现代心理学家反对以往的心理学理论和流派把心理或行为看作是一个独立于研究者的“实体”。后现代心理学的典型特征是反对基础主义和本质主义。它认为心理现象并不是一种“精神实在” ,而是一种文化的社会建构。后现代心理学的理论基础是社会建构论 ,多元文化论、后现代女性心理学都是后现代心理学的重要形式。     

中段尿道吊带术治疗女性压力性尿失禁的手术并发症防治

目的探讨中段尿道吊带术的并发症及其防治措施。方法采用中段尿道吊带术治疗女性压力性尿失禁48例,其中,TVT术26例,TVT-O术19例,Sparc术3例。结果手术并发症包括:1例(TVT)术中膀胱镜检发现穿刺针穿入膀胱,经重新调整穿刺纠正。2例(Sparc术和TVT-O术各1例)分别于术后1、3个月发现阴道前壁吊带外露,经再次手术修补阴道前壁治愈。4例出现尿急症状,给予黄酮哌酯对症治疗2周后症状明显改善。2例出现股内侧轻度疼痛,未经特殊治疗,1周内症状自行缓解。结论中段尿道吊带术治疗女性压力性尿失禁方法简便、疗效可靠,但其手术并发症的发生应引起重视。     

Skin rejuvenation with microthermal fractional photothermolysis

ABSTRACT:  Fractional resurfacing is gaining acceptance as a preferred method for skin resurfacing. Experience in treating photoaging, acne scars, and melasma is reviewed.     

Microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm: postoperative neurologic follow-up and evaluation of life quality

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is an effective and safe treatment in hemifacial spasm (HFS). Postoperative evaluations are usually made by neurosurgeons. Follow-up studies performed by neurologists and postoperative quality of life (QoL) investigations are lacking. All 25 HFS patients operated with MVD in our centre between 2000 and 2004 were evaluated with the recently validated HFS-7 scheme, extended with the item 'sleep disturbance due to HFS' (HFS-8). The patients underwent a careful neurological examination median 3 years after the operation. The evaluation focused on clinical aspects, changes in blood pressure and time until observable effect of MVD. The evaluation of HFS-7 questionnaire and the extended form (HFS-8) showed significant improvement in QoL after MVD. Neurological outcome was in almost all cases excellent or good. Eleven (44%) patients had no neurological deficits at all. Only one patient had serious complications with ipsilateral facial palsy, deafness, balance problems and vertigo. The other patients had minor neurological findings or symptoms. Eighteen (72%) patients experienced early effect within 3 months after MVD; seven (28%) patients had late effect between 6 and 14 months. Median age of the patients with late effect (62.6 years) was significantly higher than in those with early effect (52.7 years).     

复合维生素E,C,B组合物面膜治疗寻常痤疮117例的疗效和安全性(英文)

目的:了解维生素E,C,B组合物面膜治疗寻常痤疮的疗效及安全性。方法:117例13a以上、痤疮严重程度分级在2级以上且主要表现于脸部的病人,予维生素E,C,B组合物面膜治疗,每日1次,共8wk。观察治疗前后痤疮数量及性质,包括粉刺、丘疹、脓疱及囊肿之数目,并评估整体疗效。结果:治疗后,粉刺、丘疹、脓疱及囊肿数目下降了13±s13,10±12,5±7及3±3,均P<0.01。7例(6.0%)病人症状完全改善,44例(37.6%)中度改善,56例(47.9%)轻度改善,10例(8.6%)无改善。59例(50.4%)病人无红肿、搔痒、灼热及脱皮等现象发生。结论:维生素E,C,B组合物面膜治疗痤疮有效,超过半数的受试者无不良反应发生,可作为传统治疗寻常痤疮药物的替代。     

宫、腹腔镜手术联合中药治疗输卵管阻塞性不孕的临床观察

目的：探讨宫、腹腔镜手术联合中药治疗输卵管阻塞性不孕的疗效。方法：我院2006年9月至2007年12月收治输卵管阻塞性不孕患者52例,利用宫腔镜直接观察子宫腔内膜及输卵管开口,在直视下行输卵管插管回压推注美蓝和疏通液体,同时在腹腔镜下行盆腔粘连松解、输卵管造口、内异病灶电灼术。术后给予中药保留灌肠治疗,随访受孕情况。结果：52例患者,输卵管复通有效率为74.5%。治疗后受孕率32.7%。结论：宫、腹腔镜手术联合中药治疗可大大提高输卵管阻塞的治愈率,缩短治疗周期,减少患者的经济和心理负担,值得推广应用。