Effects of female sterilization: one year follow-up in a prospective controlled study of psychological and psychiatric outcome

A prospective controlled study of the psychological effects of elective interval and postpartum tubal sterilization was carried out on a selected sample of women. Subjects were interviewed pre-operatively (n = 138) and one year post-operatively (n = 116; 83%), using standardized instruments and procedures, including the Present State Examination. No differences within or between sterilization and control groups were found over the follow-up year in the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity, which was no higher than would be expected in a general population sample. Beneficial effects of sterilization were reported on a number of psychosexual variables. Adverse effects such as regret or deterioration in marital relationship were rare, but were more likely to occur in postpartum subjects, among whom abdominal pain was also reported more commonly at one year follow-up than pre-operatively. The relevance of "normal" postnatal events and of the role of pre-operative counselling are considered in relation to these findings. Less favourable outcome at one year follow-up was commonly associated with higher PSE scores pre-operatively.     

The effect of cost containment on the practice of cardiology: predictions

When health care cost containment is tied to unit pricing, the system may become price-driven rather than care-driven. Although the incentives engendered by unit pricing may not necessarily result in practices detrimental to the young or the patient with relatively pure disease, the potential for adverse effects on the elderly, the poor and the chronically ill is real. Hospitals will soon emphasize quick turnover, efficiency and intensive care. Diagnostic evaluations and chronic disease care will be moved out of hospitals into physician owned-and-operated facilities and out-of-hospital settings, respectively. The health care system will fractionate, and quality control will require restructuring to achieve the present level of quality assurance. Cardiologists, as well as other physicians, will need to alter their teaching style and teaching locations. Better methods for predicting outcomes will need to be developed; we will no longer have the safety net of following a patient closely and altering management plans according to the patient's response. Cost containment may occur under diagnosis related groups, preferred provider organizations, health maintenance organizations and other prepaid or "capped" systems. There are, however, many issues relative to cost versus quality that need to be resolved if severe detrimental effects on care are to be avoided.     

ER "capture" of the skid-row alcoholic

In response to the spiraling anger and frustration voiced by the emergency room (ER) medical staff and the observed negative interactions between the alcohol-dependent patient and the ER staff, the author completed a 6-month retrospective review of all patients evaluated by the ER service with a complaint of alcohol abuse, chronic alcoholism, or requesting detoxification. As a result of that study, an ER-based comprehensive approach to the management of this population was proposed. Utilizing an existing Connecticut state statute, a specific approach to manage the skid-row alcoholic arriving repeatedly in the ER was developed. I report on this ER-based model and an approach to "capturing" the skid-row alcoholic.     

Balloon embolization to occlude a Blalock-Taussig shunt

Balloon embolization was used to successfully occlude a large residual Blalock-Taussig shunt. The use of an "upstream" nondetachable balloon catheter to reduce flow and turbulence during final positioning of the detachable balloon may have made the technique safer and more precise.     

网络成瘾和睡眠时长在青少年受校园欺凌与抑郁间的链式中介作用

目的 探索青少年网络成瘾和睡眠时长在受校园欺凌与抑郁关系之间的中介作用,为青少年抑郁的预防干预提供依据。 方法 使用青少年健康相关危险行为问卷及CES - D抑郁量表,采用多阶段整群抽样法抽取徐州市4 190名青少年进行问卷调查。结果 在控制人口学等变量后,受校园欺凌、网络成瘾、睡眠时长对抑郁均有预测作用（r = 0.283,P＜0.01;r = 0.331,P＜0.01;r = - 0.184,P＜0.01）。路径分析表明,网络成瘾在受校园欺凌和青少年抑郁之间起中介作用;网络成瘾和睡眠时长在受校园欺凌和青少年抑郁间起链式中介作用。结论 受校园欺凌不仅直接影响青少年抑郁,还通过网络成瘾和睡眠时长的链式中介作用间接影响青少年抑郁。可通过减少青少年网络使用和提高睡眠时长来降低受校园欺凌对青少年抑郁的影响。     

2018年某市学校管道直饮水水质抽检结果分析与探讨

目的了解某市学校管道直饮水的卫生状况,为上级部门制定政策提供依据。方法2018年3—11月,随机抽取某市内42所使用管道直饮水系统的学校开展监测工作。结果共检测学校管道直饮水42份,合格32份,合格率76.19%。主要不合格指标为:菌落总数。结论学校管道直饮水卫生存在一定的风险隐患,呼吁国家尽快出台管道直饮水卫生规范和技术标准,加强管道直饮水监督和管理,确保直饮水水质安全。     

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Suicidal Behaviors Among Youth: The Buffering Influence of Family Communication and School Connectedness

PurposeThe main objectives of this study were to determine (1) whether family communication and school connectedness offer protection against suicidal behaviors in the presence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; direct protective effect) and (2) whether family communication or school connectedness buffer the association between ACEs and suicidal behaviors (interacting protective effect) on the multiplicative and additive scales.MethodsData were obtained from a western state's 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey that included 5,341 middle school and 4,980 high school participants. Generalized linear models were used to estimate whether family communication and school connectedness offered direct protection against suicidal behaviors or buffered the association between ACEs and suicidal behaviors using adjusted prevalence ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals.ResultsFamily communication and school connectedness offered direct protection against suicidal behaviors in the presence of ACEs (a 1-unit higher score was associated with a 32%–42% lower prevalence of suicidal behaviors for middle school youth and a 27%–39% lower prevalence of suicidal behaviors for high school youth). There was evidence that family communication and school connectedness buffered the association between ACEs and suicidal behaviors on the multiplicative scale.ConclusionsThe findings provide support for the development and implementation of interventions that build family communication and school connectedness to reduce suicidal behaviors. Furthermore, screening for trauma and suicidal behaviors is warranted.