Evaluation of pericranial myofascial nociception by pressure algometry. Reproducibility and factors of variation

Pressure pain detection threshold and pressure pain tolerance threshold were measured in the temples and on the fingers in 40 healthy volunteers, equally distributed as to sex and handedness. Lower pressure pain thresholds were found over the temporal muscle than in a neighbouring temporal location without interposed myofascial tissue (p less than 0.001), indicating that nociception from myofascial tissue contributes to the pressure pain threshold. Pressure pain tolerance was more reproducible within the individual subject but differed more between subjects than pressure pain detection. Pressure pain thresholds were higher on the fingers than in the temples (p less than 10(-5)) and, in general, thresholds were higher in males than in females (p = 0.02-0.09). Finally, pressure pain thresholds were lateralized in dextrals but not in sinistrals. The information that can be obtained from pressure pain detection and tolerance thresholds is discussed and examination of both threshold types is recommended in future studies.     

Gender Differences in Patterns of Alcohol Consumption in Spain

Gender differences in alcohol consumption components, hazardous alcohol consumption, and drinking patterns among Spaniards were analyzed. The study was conducted in the fall of 1992 on 2,500 individuals, aged 14–70 years, who lived in the region of Castile and Leon (Spain). Males drank more frequently (with a high intake of alcohol), were more likely to be hazardous drinkers, and started drinking earlier than females. Both sexes drank beer in a similar way, but not wine and spirits. Males and females gave similar reasons for drinking and showed similar patterns of "family" drinking, although sex differences in other patterns of alcohol consumption were found. The relevance of results was discussed.     

鄂尔多斯沙地草场小毛足鼠种群数量动态分析

目的 了解小毛足鼠种群数量变动因素。方法 1991-1998年4-10月在中国农业科学院草原研究所鄂尔多斯沙地草场改良试验站，利用直线夹日法调查。结果 小毛足鼠为该地区优势种，该鼠数量变化季节性明显，年间变化差异较大。经过8年调查，小毛足鼠数量变化经历了低谷(1991—1992年)、高峰(1993年)、下降(1994年)和低谷(1995—1998年)4个时期。结论 影响种群数量变动的主要因素有种群年龄组成中幼年组的百分比、怀孕率、鳖殖指数以及该地区子午沙鼠、三趾跳鼠和黑线仓鼠的数量。     

The Jerusalem seventy year olds longitudinal study

The main objectives of our first cross-section of a longitudinal study of a cohort of 70 year olds in Jerusalem, are to survey the social and medical conditions of the heterogeneous elderly population and to contribute to the knowledge of aging processes for specific age-groups. Whereas, most previous surveys were conducted on homogeneous and stable population groups, the elderly of Jerusalem provide the basis for ethnographic comparisons and for assessing the impact of profound historical and personal changes. From a representative systematic sample (from a geographically sorted electoral register) of 759 persons, 605 persons replied to our home-visit questionnaire gathering data on migration history, dwelling conditions, health status, health service utilization, employment status, activities of daily living, social support, use of drugs and war experience. Later on, 463 persons attended our geriatric research institute where we gathered information from in-depth anamnesis and physical examination, as well as cognitive and psychological tests. In addition, a battery of biochemical and hematological blood tests were performed as well as urine analysis and culture, ECG and pulmonary function tests. The heterogeneity of our cohort population is demonstrated by the finding that 84% were born in 40 different countries outside of Israel. In contrast, in the seventy-year old population studied in Gothenburg, Sweden, only 3% were not native born. In the years 1996, 2001 and 2006, our initial study cohort will be re-examined and compared to control groups representing states of no-survey intervention until ages 75, 80 and 85 years old. This background paper describes the study design, protocols and procedures. The responders were found to be representative of the 70 year old Jewish population in Jerusalem as a whole, in terms of mortality and hospital utilization rates. The results of the study to be reported in subsequent papers will allow conclusions regarding all 70 year old Jews in Jerusalem to be made.     

A typological model of schizophrenia based on age at onset,sex and familial morbidity

We investigated the age at onset distributions of schizophrenia in men and women and the relationship of age at onset and sex to the familial rates of schizophrenia and manic-depression in data from a Swedish family study of 270 schizophrenic probands. On the logarithmic scale, the age at onset distribution of schizophrenia in both male and female relatives was bimodal, suggesting that broadly defined schizophrenia may be a mixture of 2 (probably related) disorders. The risk of schizophrenia in relatives decreased as a function of the age at onset of the proband, irrespective of the sex of the proband or relative. In contrast, the risk of manic-depression was significantly higher in relatives of female probands with an age at onset in the twenties than in relatives of female probands with earlier or later onset, or in relatives of male probands. This suggests a third disorder related to affective psychosis, with an intermediate age at onset and female preponderance.     

Cystitis as a correlate of female urinary incontinence

The objectives of the research were to study the association between prevalent urge and stress urinary incontinence (UI) and a history of cystitis in adult females. A cross-section of the adult female population, aged 30–59 years, in the Municipality of Aarhus, Denmark, was studied, using self-reported data based on postal questionnaires. The sample consisted of 3114 women, out of whom 2613 (84%) delivered the information requested. The main outcome measures were period prevalence in 1987 of episodes of UI provoked by physical stress and UI associated with a feeling of urge, prevalence of experience of episodes of cystitis and UI related to cystitis in adult life, and prevalence of relative risks, as indicated by odds ratio (OR), of UI conditional on cystitis experience. Results indicated that the 1987 period prevalences of UI provoked by physical stress and UI associated with a feeling of urge were 15% and 9%, respectively. Forty-five per cent reported a history of cystitis and 10% of UI during episodes of cystitis. Both UI provoked by stress and UI associated with a feeling of urge were significantly correlated to cystitis (OR 2.1, P<0.0001, and 1.8, P<0.0001, respectively) and to UI during episodes of cystitis (OR 7.1, P<0.0001, and 5.7, P<0.0001, respectively). When corrected for the stress aspect, UI being associated with a feeling of urge showed no association of its own to a history of cystitis. However, stress and urge aspects were both correlated to the experience of UI during episodes of cystitis. The prevalence of experience of cystitis increased with increasing number of urologic (per operation OR 2.1, P<0.0001) and gynecologic operations (per operation OR 1.5, P<0.0001), e.g. curretage (per operation OR 1.2, P<0.001), but not with the number of abdominal operations or the number of childbirths. It was concluded that cystitis may be an important component of UI etiology. Stress and not urge UI seems to be the key type related to a history of cystitis in general. The experience of UI during cystitis is connected to both stress and urge UI. A history of cystitis may possibly itself by initiated by surgery.     

部队疾病状况评价方法和评价标准的研究

三年时间内，调查了全军５３个团队的疾病状况指标并研制了部队疾病状况综合评价指标和方法。首先将调查的二个方面５组１４项指标预处理使之符合正态分布；然后将各指标值转换为Ｔ标准分，第三步经逐步多元回归方程筛选指标和最优方程组合；第四步，采用计算与专家确定相结合的方法确定各评价指标的权重，确定评价方式，计算疾病状况指数。该指数由传染病发病率，总住院率和每千人日门诊率三项评价指数。该指数由传染病发病率、总住     

Obsessive-compulsive disorder: prediction of outcome from behavioural psychotherapy

Prediction of outcome after behavioural psychotherapy was determined in 178 outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. For women (n= 103), factors significantly associated with good outcome included paid employment at time of assessment, having a co-therapist and low initial ratings on global phobia, work and home activity impairment and the compulsion checklist. In men, the only factor to approach statistical significance as a predictor of outcome was solitary abode, associated with “less improved” status.     

示差导数光谱法测定感冒通片中双氯灭痛和扑尔敏的含量

本文利用示差导数光谱法对感冒通片中双氯灭痛和扑尔敏进行定量测定。本法用同一样品液,在同一测定条件下完成,具有操作简便、快速、灵敏度高和重现性好等特点,双氯灭痛和扑尔敏的平均回收率分别为99.5%和97.3%,变异系数分别为0.42%和0.63%.     

Structure-dependent inhibitory action of the Aconitum alkaloids 14-benzoyltalitasamine and talitasamine in rat hippocampal slices

In the present study the effects of the two Aconitum alkaloids 14-benzoyltalitasamine and talitasamine on neuronal activity were investigated in order to obtain further insight into structure-dependent effects of this group of alkaloids on central nervous activity. Both alkaloids are closely related to aconitine, the main alkaloid of plants of Aconitum species. However, they have shortened side chains at position C3 and C8 of the molecule. The experiments were performed as extracellular recordings of orthodromically and antidromically evoked population spikes as well as of field excitatory potentials (EPSPs) from the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. 14-Benzoyltalitasamine exerted a reversible inhibition of the field potentials in a concentration-dependent manner. The orthodromic population spike was attenuated at concentrations higher than 1 μM, while the field EPSP was already affected at a concentration of at least 0.3 μM. Both responses were completely blocked at a concentration of 30 μM. The alkaloid failed to affect the presynaptic fiber spike at concentrations less than 10 μM. There was only a up to 30% decrease in the antidromic population spike (10–100 μM). The inhibition of the antidromic spike was increased by using a higher stimulus frequency. In contrast to 14-benzoyltalitasamine, the alkaloid talitasamine which is lacking the benzoylester side chain was a less effective inhibitor of the orthodromic population spike and even failed to affect the antidromic spike. Furthermore, the effects of the alkaloids on experimentally induced epileptiform activity was examined. While talitasamine was lacking any significant effect at concentrations less than 100 μM, 14-benzoyltalitasamine reversibly reduced both stimulus-triggered epileptiform activity in area CA1 elicited by omission of Mg²⁺ from the bathing medium as well as spontaneously occurring epileptiform activity in CA3 elicited by omission of Mg²⁺ and elevation of K⁺ to 5 or 8 mM. The antiepileptiform efficacy of this compound was concentration-dependent (0.3–10 μM) and manifested itself as a decrease in burst frequency as well as in burst amplitude and was significantly increased by the higher K⁺ concentration. Received: 25 August 1997 / Accepted: 15 February 1998