Pediatric lung transplantation: Literature review 2005

This review summarizes important original articles in the field of pediatric lung transplantation that were published in 2005. The review is intended to be comprehensive, but not exhaustive.     

党政干部工作倦怠与组织公民行为相关研究

目的 对党政干部工作倦怠与组织公民行为的相关性进行探讨.方法 采用自编的工作倦怠问卷和组织公民行为问卷对党政干部进行调查,用t检验、方差分析、相关分析、回归分析对数据进行处理.结果 党政干部的工作倦怠和组织公民行为在人口学变量上具有差异,相关分析和回归分析表明,工作倦怠和组织公民行为具有显著负相关.结论 要控制和减少党政干部的工作倦怠,鼓励和增加党政干部的组织公民行为.     

Stress symptoms and burnout in obstetric and gynaecology residents

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to examine the burnout syndrome among residents in obstetrics and gynaecology in Spain, and to analyse the predisposing factors for this condition. SETTING: Eight Spanish University hospitals. SAMPLE: A total of 162 residents representative of all active residents in obstetrics and gynaecology in Spain with regards to age, sex and year of residency were asked to take part in this survey. METHODS: The Maslach Burnout Inventory was mailed to each resident of eight Spanish hospitals representative of all active residents in obstetrics and gynaecology in Spain with regards to age, sex and year of residency. Burnout was defined as a high score on the emotional exhaustion or depersonalisation subscores, according to validated standard cutoff values. The demographic and predisposing work factors were noted for each participant using a self-reported questionnaire. A binary logistic regression model was constructed from all predisposing factors as covariates for the prediction of the burnout syndrome. RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of the 162 eligible residents returned their questionnaires within a 3-month period. Of those, 58% fulfilled the criteria for the burnout syndrome. In the multivariate analysis, marital status and workload in office practice were found to be significant predisposing factors. Single marital status increased the odds ratio for burnout by 5.2 (95% CI 1.3-21). For every extra ten patients attended in the office per week, the odds ratio for burnout increased by 1.25 (95% CI 1.0-1.5). A stratified multivariate subanalysis showed that this risk remained significant only in the group of residents without staff supervision with an odds ratio of 2.1 (95% CI 1.3-2.9). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of the burnout syndrome during obstetrics and gynaecology residency is high. Single marital status and workload in office practice without staff supervision are significant predisposing factors.     

Safety of levocetirizine treatment in young atopic children: An 18-month study

There are more than 40 H(1)-antihistamines available worldwide. Most of these medications have never been optimally studied in prospective, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trials in children. The aim was to perform a long-term study of levocetirizine safety in young atopic children. In the randomized, double-masked Early Prevention of Asthma in Atopic Children Study, 510 atopic children who were age 12-24 months at entry received either levocetirizine 0.125 mg/kg or placebo twice daily for 18 months. Safety was assessed by: reporting of adverse events, numbers of children discontinuing the study because of adverse events, height and body mass measurements, assessment of developmental milestones, and hematology and biochemistry tests. The population evaluated for safety consisted of 255 children given levocetirizine and 255 children given placebo. The treatment groups were similar demographically, and with regard to number of children with: one or more adverse events (levocetirizine, 96.9%; placebo, 95.7%); serious adverse events (levocetirizine, 12.2%; placebo, 14.5%); medication-attributed adverse events (levocetirizine, 5.1%; placebo, 6.3%); and adverse events that led to permanent discontinuation of study medication (levocetirizine, 2.0%; placebo, 1.2%). The most frequent adverse events related to: upper respiratory tract infections, transient gastroenteritis symptoms, or exacerbations of allergic diseases. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups in height, mass, attainment of developmental milestones, and hematology and biochemistry tests. The long-term safety of levocetirizine has been confirmed in young atopic children.     

Actions of ethnobotanically selected Cree anti-diabetic plants on human cytochrome P450 isoforms and flavin-containing monooxygenase 3

Aim of the study

Cree traditional medicine is commonly used concomitantly with prescribed drugs to treat health problems related to type II diabetes (T2D) that is endemic in the Cree population. However, the safety of traditional Cree medicines with respect to drug metabolism is unknown.

Materials and methods

Seventeen anti-diabetic plant extracts were screened for their potential inhibition of 11 isoforms of the drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450s (CYPs), and flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) in fluorometric plate reader assays. Comparative analyses were conducted to determine if particular extracts were more inhibitory, or if particular enzymes were more inhibited.

Results

Many anti-diabetic plant extracts inhibited the CYPs, with CYP2C and 3A isoforms being most prone to inhibition. The order of inhibition for the enzymes by the Cree plant extracts was: 2C19 > 3A7 > 3A5 > 3A4 > 2C9 > 2C8 > FMO3 > 1A2 > 2E1 > 19 > 2D6 > 2B6. Extracts from Rhododendron groenlandicum, Sorbus decora, and Kalmia angustifolia were identified as having strong inhibition towards many CYP isoforms.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that extracts from most plant species examined have the potential to affect CYP2C- and 3A4-mediated metabolism, and have the potential to affect the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of conventional and traditional medicines during concomitant use.     

Inadequate dietary magnesium intake increases atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits

Epidemiological studies have shown dietary magnesium (Mg) intake and serum Mg levels to be inversely correlated with the development of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that low levels of Mg would promote atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits. New Zealand white rabbits (4 months old, n = 22) were fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.12% (−Mg), 0.27% (control), or 0.43% (+Mg) Mg for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks and were assayed for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, triglycerides (TG), C-reactive protein, serum Mg, and erythrocyte Mg. Aortas from −Mg had significantly more plaque, with an intima thickness 42% greater than control and 36% greater than +Mg. Serum cholesterol levels rose over time, and at 8 weeks, −Mg had the highest and +Mg the lowest total and non-HDL cholesterol and TG levels, although these results did not reach significance. Over time, serum Mg levels increased, and erythrocyte Mg levels decreased. C-reactive protein significantly increased in all groups at 4 and 6 weeks but returned to baseline levels by 8 weeks. This study supports the hypothesis that inadequate intake of Mg results in an increase in atherosclerotic plaque development in rabbits.     

A population-based study of repeat hospital admissions due to interpersonal violence for children aged 0–9 years

To assess the magnitude and nature of interpersonal violence resulting in hospitalisation of children and to identify subgroups at risk of repeat hospital admissions, a population-based, retrospective study of all violence hospitalisations in Western Australia for children aged 9 years or less was undertaken, using the 1990–2004 linked data retrieved from the Western Australian Mortality Database and the Hospital Morbidity Data System.
Of the 747 patients aged <10 years incurring 834 hospitalisations for the consequences of violence during the study period, 570 (76%) were less than 4 years of age. A total of 43 deaths from violence were recorded and 74 (9%) patients were admitted for more than one episode of violence. Victims aged 0–4 years from rural (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35, 5.43) and remote parts (HR = 2.79; 95% CI 1.25, 6.25) of the state were at increased risk of a subsequent admission for violence compared with those residing within the metropolitan area. Indigenous children aged 5–9 years were significantly more likely (HR = 3.57; 95% CI 1.14, 11.13) to incur a second hospitalisation for violence than their non-Indigenous counterparts. The identification of young victim subgroups at high risk of repeat hospitalisations is important for developing intervention strategies to reduce the burden of interpersonal violence. Young children aged 0–4 years living in rural and remote locations and Indigenous children aged 5–9 years should be specifically targeted for attention.     

从“治未病”思想探讨中医药防治EH相关子宫内膜癌的研究意义

子宫内膜癌为女性生殖道三大恶性肿瘤之一。子宫内膜增生症(endometrial hyperplasia,EH)乃子宫内膜癌的癌前病变,因而早期诊断和治疗EH非常必要。中医药防治EH相关子宫内膜癌有其应用简便、价格低廉、有效安全等优势,符合中医"治未病"的思想。由此推理,中医药防治EH相关子宫内膜癌有着广阔前景,值得深入研究。     

头皮发际区微针法治疗糖尿病周围神经病变的临床研究

目的观察头皮发际区微针法治疗糖尿病周围神经病变的临床疗效。方法将60例糖尿病周围神经病变患者随机分为2组。治疗组30例用头皮发际区微针法,每日1次。对照组30例用甲钴胺0.5mg,每日早晚各1次口服。2组均60d为1个疗程,1个疗程后统计疗效,并检测血浆内皮素（ET）和一氧化氮（NO）含量。结果治疗组总有效率86.67%,对照组总有效率90.00%,2组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。2组治疗前后血浆ET和NO含量比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05） 2组治疗前后血浆ET和NO含量差值比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论头皮发际区微针法对于糖尿病周围神经病变患者具有确切疗效,其治疗机制与调节ET和NO平衡失调,改善血液循环状态相关。