Reference Values and Psychometric Properties of the Quality of Life After Traumatic Brain Injury-Overall Scale in Italy,The Netherlands,and the United Kingdom

ObjectivesThe Quality of Life after Brain Injury-Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS) is a short screening instrument for assessing disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after traumatic brain injury. To date, no reference values are available for the QOLIBRI-OS in general populations. Thus, this study aimed to establish reference values for the QOLIBRI-OS in general population samples from Italy, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.MethodsData were collected using an online survey. The total sample comprised 11759 participants, consisting of 3549 Italian, 3564 Dutch, and 4646 British subjects. In this sample, 49% of the total sample did not report any health complaints, whereas 51% had at least 1 chronic health condition. Reference values were deduced for the QOLIBRI-OS for health-condition–related samples and total general population samples per country. To ensure the comparability of these values, measurement invariance was assessed using a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. Covariates characterizing the reference values were selected with the help of regression analyses.ResultsThe confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the QOLIBRI-OS scores measured the same traumatic brain injury–specific HRQoL construct across the 3 countries. Healthy individuals reported significantly higher HRQoL than individuals with at least 1 chronic health condition. Older age and higher education levels were significantly associated with higher HRQoL.ConclusionsBecause the reference values displayed differences in terms of age and education level across the 3 countries, we recommend using country-specific reference values stratified by sociodemographic and health status in research and clinical practice.     

High-Intensity Interval and Resistance Training Improve Health Outcomes in Older Adults With Coronary Disease

ObjectiveBoth high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and resistance exercises (R) are used in cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the combined effect of an HIIT + R exercise program in older adults with CAD is not well investigated. The study's purpose was to assess the changes in anthropometric parameters, physical activity, functional capacity, physiological parameters, and quality of life (QoL) in this population following a combined HIIT + R program.DesignThe study was a 2-group (n = 45 each) randomized controlled single-blinded trial.Setting and ParticipantsThe study was done at a treatment clinic of a tertiary hospital. The mean age of participants was 69.23 ± 4.9 years. The HIIT + R group performed 8 sessions (1/wk) of HIIT + R training. The 30 minutes of the active exercise phase consisted of ten 3-minute bouts. Each bout comprised of 1 minute of high-intensity treadmill walking at 85% to 90% maximum heart rate (MHR), followed by a low-intensity walking at 60%-70% MHR, followed by low-to moderate-intensity resistance training. The Usual Care group underwent conventional medical treatment.MeasuresAnthropometric measurements [weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fat percentage, lean body mass], physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), functional capacity (Incremental Shuttle Walking Test), physiologic measurements (blood pressure, heart rate), and QoL (36-Item Short Form Health Survey) were measured pre- and postintervention.ResultsSignificant group and time interaction were found for the participants in the HIIT + R Group for BMI (P = .001), body fat percentage (P = .001), waist circumference (P < .001), physical activity (P < .001), functional capacity (P < .001), and QoL (P = .001) compared with the UC Group. Significant improvement in systolic blood pressure (P = .001) was seen in the HIIT + R group.Conclusions and ImplicationsA combined HIIT + R training protocol in older adults with CAD can be useful in producing desired health outcomes. Further evaluation of longer duration exercise programs with more frequent dosing needs to be evaluated for their benefits and sustainability.     

High-intensity interval training can improve hand grip strength,inspiratory muscle,and quality of life in systemic sclerosis subjects

IntroductionSystemic sclerosis/scleroderma (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease with connective tissue, multi-organ, and multisystem involvement. The disease has three main characteristics, namely vasculopathy, fibrosis, and autoimmunity. The effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in aerobic exercise on other rheumatic diseases has been studied, for example in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The purpose of this work is to investigate the effectiveness of HIIT of aerobics exercise on improving the inspiratory muscle, quality of life and functional ability for systemic sclerosis subjects.Material and methodsThe study was conducted on patients with confirmed systemic sclerosis who met the inclusion criteria. The research was carried out for 12 months in the outpatient clinic and gait laboratory of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.ResultsAfter HIIT in aerobic exercise, we found significant changes in inspiratory muscle (SNIP values 45.67 [30.92] vs. 54.25 [22.71]), handgrip (13.14 [4.42] vs. 15.63 [4.08]), walking speed (184.70 [26.86] vs. 246.6 [12.30]), metabolic equivalent (3.53 [0.30] vs. 4.21 [1.25]) and Scleroderma-Specific Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index for all visual analog scale (VAS) domains except Disability Index. Exercise approaches are characterized by repeated cycles of exercise interrupted by rest. For a range of clinical conditions, HIIT in aerobic exercise is known to remedy blood vessel function.ConclusionsOur results suggest that HIIT in aerobic exercise has improved functional ability, respiratory muscle strength, and quality of life in SSc subjects. Training twice a week in a 12-week HIIT program is considered to be safe for this population. We have to consider internal and external factors that influenced the result. A larger sample and further exploration of the feasibility of combined exercise in SSc patients should be the focus for future research.     

2-异丁基苹果酸葡萄糖氧基苄酯类对照提取物在白及质量控制中的应用研究

目的 建立以2-异丁基苹果酸葡萄糖氧基苄酯类对照提取物为对照的白及质量控制方法。方法 采用ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C₁₈(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.8μm)色谱柱,流动相为0.05%磷酸水溶液(A)-乙腈(B),梯度洗脱,柱温35℃,体积流量0.15 mL/min,进样体积为2μL,检测波长为220 nm。分别采用对照品法和对照提取物法测定17批白及饮片中1,4-二[4-(葡萄糖氧)苄基]-2-异丁基苹果酸酯-2-葡萄糖苷(2-O-葡萄糖基白及苷)、1-[4-(葡萄糖氧)苄基]-2-异丁基苹果酸酯(手参苷Ⅰ)、1,4-二[4-(葡萄糖氧)苄基]-2-异丁基苹果酸-2-(6-O-乙酰基)葡萄糖苷(手参苷Ⅲ)、1,4-二[4-(葡萄糖氧)苄基]-2-异丁基苹果酸酯(白及苷)4个成分的含量,并进行比较。结果 2-异丁基苹果酸葡萄糖氧基苄酯类对照提取物中2-O-葡萄糖基白及苷、手参苷Ⅰ、手参苷Ⅲ、白及苷线性关系良好(r≥0.999 9),进样精密度RSD值在0.001%～0.58%,重复性RSD值在0.27%～0.53%,4种成分的加样回收率在98....     

Quantitative trait locus mapping: fishing strategy or replicable results?

Genomewide scan, as shown by recently published linkage studies on the behavior of mice or in psychiatry, provides evidence for replicated quantitative trait loci (QTL). Several studies of Alzheimer's disease have demonstrated the promise of moving from clinical diagnoses to biological signs for psychiatric investigations. Empirical studies also demonstrate that genetic background, differences in environment, epistatic effects, and definition of the phenotype (including psychiatric diagnosis) all actively contribute to limit the duplication of QTL.     

Serotonin antagonists and vascular protection

Summary There is very suggestive evidence for a role of serotonin release from platelets in the mechanisms for platelet aggregation, arterial thrombosis, and arterial spasm. These effects are mediated via the 5HT₂ receptor and are specifically antagonized by ketanserin. The recently published PACK study was a randomized controlled trial of the effects of ketanserin in patients with intermittent claudication. The purpose of the trial was to discover whether ketanserin treatment would reduce the incidence of atherosclerotic complications such as myocardial infarction or stroke. An unexpected adverse interaction between ketanserin and potassium-losing diuretics was observed, causing an excess of deaths in the group taking this combination of drugs. The intention-to-treat analysis showed no overall difference between ketanserin and placebo in terms of cardiovascular complications. Withdrawal of patients taking potassium-losing diuretics left insufficient numbers of patients in the study to answer the original question. However, the on-treatment analysis excluding those taking the combination suggested strongly, although did not prove, that ketanserin reduced thrombotic episodes by about 25%. It is concluded that the risks of interactions between many drugs and potassium-losing diuretics make the use of the latter undesirable. Further studies on ketanserin, possibly combined with thromboxane A₂ inhibitors, seem highly desirable.     

Behavioural analysis of the anorectic effects of fluoxetine and fenfluramine

Two sets of experiments were carried out to compare the effects of fenfluramine and fluoxetine on consummatory and operant behaviour. In food-deprived rats allowed access to a 35% sucrose solution, an initial period of sucrose consumption was followed by a short period of grooming and exploratory behaviour, later superceded by resting. This behavioural satiety sequence was advanced by fluoxetine, but disrupted bydl-fenfluramine, which suppressed post-prandial resting, even at sub-anorectic doses. Fluoxetine also elicited resting behaviour following water drinking. However, this did not appear to be a non-specific sedative effect, since fluoxetine increased post-prandial grooming. In rats performing on random interval schedules of food reinforcement, fluoxetine caused proportionally greater decreases in responding on a reinforcement-lean schedule (RI-300s), as compared to a reinforcement-rich schedule (RI-7.5s); this effect is similar to that of a reduction in level of food deprivation. By contrast, fenfluramine reduced responding equally on both schedules. In both paradigms, the effects of fluoxetine were compatible with an increase in postprandial satiety, but the effects of fenfluramine were not.     

2型糖尿病心血管病变的QT离散度分析

目的　探讨 2型糖尿病心血管病变的QT离散度变化的意义。方法　分析 40例 2型糖尿病心血管病变者体表 12导联同步心电图 ,并与 42例 2型糖尿病无心血管病变及 42例正常人作对照。结果　糖尿病心血管病变组QTd及QTcd均显著高于其余两组 (P <0 .0 1)。以QTd >46ms为异常 ,则诊断糖尿病心血管病变的敏感性、特异性及准确性分别为 82 .5 %、85 .7%及 84.1%。以QTcd >5 2ms判为异常 ,则诊断敏感性、特异性及准确性分别为 85 .0 %、83.3 %、84.1%。结论　QTd及QTcd延长可作为临床诊断 2型糖尿病患者伴心血管病变的一项指标。     

张锡纯热病善后调理诸法探析

张锡纯一生善治伤寒、温病与各类急证 ,所著《医学衷中参西录》尤精于热病的善后调理 ,究其辨证立法的本质内涵而言 ,仍不离辨证施治的主旨。所论调理措施主要有药物调理、饮食调理、精神调理 3个方面     

强迫症患者SPECT测定局部脑血流分布中参考区的选择

目的比较选择全脑和小脑两种参考区作为归一化参数在SPM分析强迫症患者的局部脑血流(rCBF)变化.方法受检者为13例OCD病人(OCD组)和23例年龄相匹配的健康志愿者(CN组).99mTc-ECDSPECT脑血流检查后,利用MRIcro和SPM工具软件,分别以全脑和小脑作为参考区,按成组设计分析OCD组和CN组两组间的rCBF分布差异(rCBF增高区和降低区).结果用小脑作为参考区,SPM分析显示OCD组有7个脑区rCBF发生变化;而用全脑作为参考区,SPM显示除有以上7个区域的血流变化外,还包括小脑的1个区域在内的17个区域的rCBF变化.结论强迫症患者小脑的脑血流发生变化,以此作为参考区不但会忽略小脑本身血流变化,还可掩盖与小脑血流变化相关的脑区.