Early Intervention for Trauma: Current Status and Future Directions

Although psychological debriefing (PD) represents the most common form of early intervention for recently traumatized people, there is little evidence supporting its continued use with individuals who experience severe trauma. This review identifies the core issues in early intervention that need to be addressed in resolving the debate over PD. It critiques the available evidence for PD and the early provision of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Based on available evidence, we propose that psychological first aid is an appropriate initial intervention, but that it does not serve a therapeutic or preventive function. When feasible, initial screening is required so that preventive interventions can be used for those individuals who may have difficulty recovering on their own. Evidence-based CBT approaches are indicated for people who are at risk of developing posttraumatic psychopathology. Guidelines for managing acutely traumatized people are suggested and standards are proposed to direct future research that may advance our understanding of the role of early intervention in facilitating adaptation to trauma.     

The usefulness of CEA as an indicator for early detection and a guide to the treatment of recurrent gastric cancer

The usefulness of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as an indicator for recurrence and a guide to the treatment was evaluated from a retrospective analysis of 88 patients with recurrent gastric cancer. Sixty-two of these patients (70.5 per cent), 25 of whom had a preoperative positive assay, and 37 a negative assay, had elevated levels of CEA after disease progression. Averaged CEA level in patients with liver metastasis was significantly higher (872 ng/ml) than in those with peritoneal metastasis (68 ng/ml), with lymph node metastasis (103 ng/ml) or with local metastasis (93 ng/ml) (p<0.01). An elevation of CEA was found prior to the clinical manifestation of recurrence, and the average lead time was 4 months. In 25 patients with a lead time of more than 4 months, survival time after CEA elevation was 13.3 months, which was longer than the 6.5 months of 28 patients with less than 4 months. Thirty-seven of the 88 patients were treated after recurrence. The average survival period after the detection of recurrence was 9.4 months in patients with surgical treatments followed by chemotherapy, 5.9 months in those with chemotherapy alone and 3.8 months in those with surgery alone. The average survival period of 26 patients with positive CEA assays in recurrence was 5.1 months longer than of patients with negative assays. This fact suggested that early detection of recurrence followed by various treatments, in the elevated CEA group, contributes to favorable results.     

关节镜技术的历史与新进展

现代的关节镜从膀胱镜演变而来，创伤小，适用广泛。近年膝关节镜技术在半月板病变处理上有逆行全切法等新方法，交叉韧带重建、软骨移植成为研究热点；关节镜技术除应用于肩关节及其它小间隙关节，还开展治疗弹响髓等关节外应用；个性化康复锻炼提高了手术疗效。     

Cardiac rehabilitation and return to work after coronary artery bypass surgery

The work situation of 66 male patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) and who had been randomly allocated to receive cardiac rehabilitation (group R) was compared with the work situation of 59 similar patients allocated to receive only standard care (group H). The follow-up time was one year. The proportions of subjects working in groups R and H were 26% and 20% (p=ns) before the CABS, 45% and 34% (p=ns) 6 months and 56% and 38% (p=ns) 12 months after the CABS, repectively. The increase in proportion of subjects who worked was significant in both groups at both 6 and 12 months after the CABS (p<0.05 for all changes). The increases were not significantly different between the whole groups, but in patients younger than 55 years of age, return to work was more frequent in group R than in group H (at 12 months 60% vs. 35%, p for the difference in change=0.02). Stepwise logistic regression analysis of the factors influencing return to work showed that a patient's judgement of his own working capacity as good 6 months after CABS (odds ratio (OR) 8.5, confidence interval (CI) 2.3–32.0), functional class 16 months after the CABS (OR 6.7, CI 1.8–24.5), his desire to work (OR 6.4, CI 1.6–26.0) and absence from work of less than 3 months before the CABS (OR 4.9, CI 1.2–20.2) were significant positive predictors of return to work 1 year after the CABS.     

Parental Perceptions, Early Maladaptive Schemas, and Depressive Symptoms in Young Adults

Cognitive models of depression propose that negative schemas contribute to depressive symptoms. Early experiences, particularly parenting, have been proposed to influence cognitive schemas and have also been shown to correlate with depression. This study explores the concurrent relationship between retrospective reports of parenting, Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) described by J. E. Young (1994), and symptoms of depression in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 194). The EMSs of defectiveness/shame, insufficient self-control, vulnerability, and incompetence/inferiority were associated with perceptions of parenting and depressive symptomatology. There was evidence that these four EMSs partially mediate the relationship between parental perceptions and depressive symptomatology. Results are discussed in relation to previous findings, theory, and the measurement of EMSs.     

Burns during pregnancy: a gloomy outcome

The effect of burns on fetal and maternal survival is known to be detrimental. This prospective study describes the performance of pregnant burned patients who were managed and followed up for fetal and maternal outcomes at Ain Shams University's burn unit and Maternity Hospital during the period from October 1995 to September 1996. During the 12-month period, 27 pregnant burned patients were managed. Fetal and maternal mortality correlated with the total body surface area (TBSA) burned, the mortality rate being 63 per cent for both mothers and fetuses in the 25–50 per cent TBSA group. A fetal loss of 56 per cent with no maternal loss were recorded in the 15–25 per cent TBSA group. Experience in dealing with pregnant burned patients proves that early surgical excision and skin grafting, with timely termination of pregnancy are the best lines of treatment. Prevention or minimizing the effects of the burns may be achieved by proper education and guidance of the pregnant woman.     

Influence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy and early postpartum depressive symptoms on breastfeeding among chinese women in Hong Kong

Numerous studies show that breastfeeding is beneficial to both mothers and babies. This study explores two understudied correlates that may influence breastfeeding initiation: intimate partner violence during pregnancy and early postnatal depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional comparative study design investigated the correlates of feeding modes of 1200 Chinese mother and infant pairs in a university-affiliated regional hospital in Hong Kong. The prevalence rates of breastfeeding and mixed feeding were 42.25% and 26.25%, respectively. Women who had no experience of intimate partner violence during pregnancy were significantly more likely to initiate breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio = 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.91) after adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, and obstetric variables. Early postnatal depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with feeding modes in a multinomial logistic regression model. Midwives are in a key position to identify and intervene to encourage more successful breastfeeding practice.     

卒中急性期病人中医综合康复护理效果观察

[目的]探讨中医综合康复护理对卒中急性期病人神经功能缺损及日常生活能力（ADL）的影响。[方法]选择2004年9月-2006年9月在3家协作医院住院的卒中急性期238例病人为研究对象，随机分为实验组和对照组，两组药物治疗基本相同。实验组按中医综合康复护理方案进行护理．对照组采用卒中护理常规进行护理。对入选的病人在入院第1周内和4周后进行神经功能缺损及ADL的评定。[结果]4周后实验组在临床神经功能缺损、ADL等方面明显优于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。[结论]中医综合康复护理可促进肢体的功能恢复，提高病人的ADL。     

臀、会阴及其周围Ⅲ度烧伤的早期切痂治疗体会

目的　总结臀、会阴及其周围Ⅲ度烧伤的早期切痂治疗的经验。方法　对 3 2例臀、会阴Ⅲ度烧伤患者于伤后 3～ 7d内行切痂 ,嵌皮、大张皮片或皮瓣修复创面的资料进行回顾分析。结果　本组病例皮瓣、皮片大部分成活好 ,外观、功能恢复满意。结论　臀、会阴及周围Ⅲ度烧伤早期切痂治疗可缩短疗程 ,减少外观及功能障碍 ,近远期效果好