The concept of violent suicide,its underlying trait and neurobiology: A critical perspective

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death and represents a significant public health problem world-wide. Individuals who attempt or die by suicide represent a highly heterogeneous population. Recently, efforts have been made to identify sub-populations and variables to categorize them. A popular dichotomy in suicide research of the past years is violent versus non-violent suicide - based on the method. This dichotomy is important given that there is an association between method of attempted suicide and risk of subsequent death by suicide. The differentiation concerning suicide methods is also critical regarding preventive efforts. In this review, we have tried to approach the concept of violent suicide from different perspectives, including a discussion about its definition and overlapping categories. In addition, we have critically discussed aggression as underlying trait, the question of intent to die, and sociodemographic, environmental, neuropsychological, and neurobiological factors potentially associated with violent suicide.     

The Association between Intentional Overdose and Same-Sex Sexual Intercourse in a Cohort of People who Inject Drugs in Melbourne,Australia

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at disproportionately high risk of suicidal behaviors, as are individuals who report same-sex attraction or experience. However, there is little evidence of compounded risk of suicide for individuals who report same-sex sexual intercourse (SSI) and are PWID. Objectives: To explore the associations of lifetime intentional overdose amongst a cohort of PWID, with particular attention to those reporting SSI. Methods: The sample included 529 participants, from an ongoing cohort of 757 PWID. An “ever” SSI variable was created for participants who reported sexual intercourse with a same-sex partner at any longitudinal interview. We explored the adjusted associations between SSI and lifetime intentional overdose using logistic regression. Results: Ninety-one (17%) participants reported ever experiencing an intentional overdose. Forty-one (8%) participants reported SSI at any interview. Three hundred and sixty (68%) participants reported diagnosis of a mental health condition. Diagnosis of a mental health condition (AOR = 2.02, 95% CIs: 1.14, 3.59) and SSI (AOR = 2.58, 95% CIs: 1.22, 5.48) significantly increased the odds of lifetime intentional overdose. Conclusions/Importance: We found a heightened risk of intentional overdose amongst PWID reporting SSI, after controlling for diagnosis of a mental health condition. Services need to be aware of this heightened risk and target interventions appropriately.     

胰腺癌靶向药物研究进展

胰腺癌是一种恶性程度高、诊断和治疗都困难的消化道恶性肿瘤,其发病率和死亡率近年来都呈上升趋势。在美国,胰腺癌5年生存率小于5%,是预后最差的恶性肿瘤之一。由于胰腺癌对放疗和化疗具有高抗药性,所以目前对胰腺癌的治疗仍然是一个较大的挑战,然而随着靶向药物的进步给胰腺癌的治疗带来了希望。利用分子生物学上的一些治疗方法,比如RNA阻断剂、自杀基因、溶瘤病毒、小分子阻断剂和抗体,取得了瞩目的临床前试验效果。     

胡思荣运用整体观辨治慢性阻塞性肺疾病

在慢性阻塞性肺疾病(慢阻肺)的辨治中,胡思荣教授运用整体观点对慢阻肺病因病机、诊断及治则治法等进行了论述及阐释,病机辨证从脏而论,气化失常为本。胡恩荣教授针对慢阻肺的病机特点,提倡辨证治脏,调气为主;制源补虚,调体培本;畅流化饮,治痰化湿祛瘀;防病养体,顺应四时等观点,并灵活运用于临床,为慢阻肺的中医辨治带来新的生命活力。