Psychological health in patients with genital and oral erosive lichen planus

BACKGROUND: Erosive lichen planus is a severe, recurrent and recalcitrant disease that affects several mucosal areas, mostly the genital area and the mouth, but also, for example, the oesophagus and perianal area. The disease causes serious symptoms, because of the raw, de-epithelialized mucosa and healing with scars/adhesions, which affect the patient's life in many ways. It causes, for example, difficulties in eating, drinking and going to the bathroom. Treatment is complicated and, so far, few therapeutic drugs other than steroids have been reported. OBJECTIVES: As the disease has severe implications on the patient's life it is important to investigate the psychological health of the patients, as well as the influence of stress on their health and wellbeing, in order to improve treatment. STUDY DESIGN, SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive patients with erosive lichen planus were included during a 1-year period. The study was carried out as 'state-of-the-last-month', and stress, state anxiety, depression and 'erosive lichen planus factors', i.e. symptoms affecting daily life, were assessed. RESULTS: Eighty-seven per cent of the patients had symptoms, severely affecting daily life. Unexpectedly, oral symptoms seemed to be the most prominent. Our results showed that depression, anxiety and stress were more common in patients with erosive lichen planus than in a control group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Erosive lichen planus is a severe disease with symptoms and complications affecting the patient's life. Our results indicate that their psychological health is also affected and emphasize the need for close collaboration between physicians, dentists with special knowledge in oral medicine and counsellors/psychologists to optimize handling of these patients.     

Congenital chylothorax in siblings

We describe two cases of congenital chylothorax in siblings with important differences from previously described familial cases. Our findings support the likelihood of an autosomal recessive inheritance in some cases of this condition, rather than X-linked recessive inheritance, which has also been suggested. Autopsy findings from one of these cases and others previously described suggest that the pathophysiological mechanisms involved may be variable.     

Burnout and psychological distress among nurses in a Nigerian tertiary health institution

Background

The role of nurses in the health care delivery system cannot be overemphasized. Nurses are needed at all levels of healthcare and the profession requires a lot of dedication, time and energy with regards to patient management and service delivery. This time investment and dedication to duty is likely to lead to burnout and psychological distress among the nurses.

Objective

This study assesses the prevalence of burnout and psychological distress among nurses working in Nigerian tertiary health institution.

Method

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were used to assess 210 nurses working in this health institution for symptoms of burnout and psychological distress.

Results

High levels of burnout were identified in 42.9% of the respondents in the area of emotional exhaustion, 47.6% in the area of depersonalization and 53.8% in the area of reduced personal accomplishment, while 44.1% scored positive in the GHQ-12 indicating presence of psychological distress.

Conclusion

Prevalence of burnout and psychological distress is high among nurses.     

Importance of nitric oxide in hepatic arterial blood flow and total hepatic blood volume regulation in pigs

The importance of nitric oxide in regulating basal arterial blood flow has been examined in several different vascular beds by intra-arterial infusion of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis, but not in the arterial vascular bed of the liver. In the present study, N^G-nitro-L -arginine (L -NNA), in a dose of 0.5 and 1.0 μmol mL^?1 of hepatic arterial blood flow, was infused for 5 min into the hepatic artery in seven pigs anaesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. The haemodynamic effects observed by the first infusion were not further enhanced by the second infusion. Hepatic arterial resistance increased by 143 ± 38% and hepatic arterial blood flow declined by 38 ± 10%. A systemic effect due to `spillover' was observed, as evidenced by an increase in mean aortic blood pressure of 24 ± 4 mmHg. However, no significant increase in arterial mesenteric resistance was observed and total liver blood flow remained unchanged. Hepatic arterial vasodilation in response to occlusion of the portal vein, the arterial buffer response, remained intact after inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis. Liver lobe thickness, measured by an ultrasonic technique,was not found to change with inhibition of arterial nitric oxide synthesis, excluding a significant direct effect of arterial nitric oxide on liver capacitance. In conclusion, nitric oxide is an important regulator of hepatic arterial resistance, but does not mediate the hepatic arterial buffer response and was not found to play any significant role in total hepatic capacitance regulation.     

自血混合丙球穴位注射对哮喘豚鼠肺超微结构变化的观察

目的与方法　利用透射式电子显微镜观察自血混合丙球穴位注射对过敏性哮喘豚鼠肺超微结构变化情况。结果　丙球穴注组豚鼠肺组织内EOS、纤维组织减少;自血穴注组比丙球穴注组疗效好,而自血混合丙球穴注组过敏性豚鼠肺组织内EOS基本消失,基底膜无增厚,胶原纤维无增生,镜下观察与正常组基本无区别。结论　自血混合丙种球蛋白穴位注射治疗哮喘有可靠的超微结构依据。     

强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径实施的变异程度分析

目的 通过分析强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径实施的变异程度,研究该临床路径可能存在的不足并提出适当的改进方案。方法 收集自2012年1月至2013年12月的350例符合强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径适应证的患者的资料,并根据变异的标准及类型进行统计分析。结果 350例病例中有290例发生变异,包括了16种变异情况,类型以负性变异、患者病情变化、不可控变异为主。结论 强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径需要完善运行流程、制定详细的纳入和排除标准、同时加强社区医院及康复医院的相应诊疗过渡,从而更好地开展强直性脊柱炎后凸畸形矫形临床路径,最终提高患者医护质量、减少住院天数、降低住院费用。     

Effect of phagocytosis on the reduced soluble sulfhydryl content of human granulocytes

The role of reduced glutathione in relation to hexose monophosphate shunt activity and peroxide detoxification has been well established in human erythrocytes. Less is known about the content of reduced glutathione in phagocytic leukocytes and the changes that occur during functional activity. We have measured the reduced sulfhydryl content of normal resting human granulocytes and of cells isolated from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease. Normal cells and those from the patient with chronic granulomatous disease contained similar concentrations of reduced sulfhydryls. Stimulation of a phagocytic response by incubation with opsonized zymosan particles resulted in prompt and nearly complete depletion of intracellular glutathione from normal granulocytes. This fall in reduced glutathione concentration was dependent on the phagocytic load. Exposure of chronic granulomatous disease granulocytes to a similar phagocytic load resulted in a slower and less complete fall in reduced glutathione. In normal cells, those from the chronic granulomatous disease patient, and those from an obligate carrier of the disease, the decrement in reduced glutathione during phagocytosis was correlated with oxidation of 14C-1-glucose and 14C-formate, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and the chemiluminescence phenomenon.     

广州管圆线虫病的临床预后

目的 :探讨 1997年 10～ 11月间 ,温州市区暴发的广州管圆线虫病的临床预后。方法 :入选病例符合如下条件 :(1)于 1997年 9月中旬～ 11月中旬期间急性起病 ;(2 )头痛和 (或 )游移性躯干四肢皮肤抚摸痛 ;(3)周围血液或脑脊液中嗜酸性粒细胞增高和 (或 )广州管圆线虫虫体抗原抗体阳性 (EL ISA法 ) ;(4)病前一个月内有食用未熟的淡水螺肉或贝虾史 ;(5 )排除其它蠕虫移行症。采用统一设计的随访调查表 ,由专人对符合上述标准的 35例 ,通过电话和(或 )面访 ,进行为期 1.5年的随访。结果 :全组无死亡 ,无复发 ,无严重残疾或并发症 ,遗留症状轻微 ,以局限性的主观或客观根性感觉障碍为主。主观症状多于客观体征。早期神经根痛严重者 ,后遗根性感觉异常较多。结论 :该组病例远期预后良好 ,病程自限。病性较重者多数可遗留轻微局限性感觉异常或感觉减退 ,可能与广州管圆线虫蚴对脊髓后根神经髓鞘直接或间接损害以及虫体死亡后致局部肉芽肿形成有关     

天水饮治疗中风急性期疗效观察

目的 :观察中药天水饮治疗中风急性期的疗效。方法 :将 93例中风急性期患者随机分成 2组 ,2组一般治疗相同 ,治疗组 62例加用天水饮 ,病程 1周内每日 2剂 ,1周后每日 1剂。对照组 3 1例加用尼可林 0 .5 g静滴及 2周内加用 2 0 %甘露醇静滴 ,2周后加服步长新脑心通治疗。 2组治疗 3 0日后进行疗效比较。结果 :治疗组愈显率为 79.0 4 % ,病程 10日内见效率为 62 .90 % ;对照组愈显率为 5 1.61% ,病程 10日内见效率为3 8.71% ,2组比较均有显著性差异 ( χ2 =7.3 9,P<0 .0 1和 χ2 =4 .88,P<0 .0 5 )。结论 :天水饮可改善病变区脑循环 ,增强脑细胞活力 ,促进语言及肢体功能恢复 ,对中风急性期有良好的疗效     

The value of local registry data for describing cervical cancer management and outcomes over three decades in Australia

Registry data on invasive cervical cancers (n = 1,274) from four major hospitals (1984‐2012) were analysed to determine their value for informing local service delivery in Australia. The methodology comprised disease‐specific survival analyses using Kaplan‐Meier product‐limit estimates and Cox proportional hazards models and treatment analyses using logistic regression. Five‐ and 10‐year survivals were 72% and 68%, respectively, equating with relative survival estimates for Australia and the USA. Most common treatments were surgery and radiotherapy. Systemic therapies increased in recent years, generally with radiotherapy, but were less common for residents from less accessible areas. Surgery was more common for younger women and early‐stage disease, and radiotherapy for older women and regional and more advanced disease. The proportion of glandular cancers increased in‐step with national trends. Little evidence of variation in risk‐adjusted survival presented over time or by Local Health District. The study illustrates the value of local registry data for describing local treatment and outcomes. They show the lower use of systemic therapies among residents of less accessible areas which warrants further investigation. Risk‐adjusted treatment and outcomes did not vary by socio‐economic status, suggesting equity in service delivery. These data are important for local evaluation and were not available from other sources.