The effects of hyperthyroidism on oesophageal motility.

This study, evaluating the effects of hyperthyroidism (HT) in oesophageal motility, depended on an oesophageal radionuclide transit test. A modified standard method was used to calculate: (a) total mean transit time (MTT), (b) residual fraction (RF) and (c) retrograde index (RI) in a supine position. Eighteen untreated patients with HT and 25 normal volunteers (NV) with a similar age distribution were included in this study. The results showed that oesophageal motility in patients with HT was worse than in the normal controls (P < 0.05 by Student's t-test). The correlation of MTT, RF and RI with size and function of thyroid glands in the patients with HT were calculated to explain the effects of HT in oesophageal motility. The results showed that neither the size nor the function of the thyroid glands in HT affected oesophageal motility.     

Mediating effects of social support on firefighters' sense of community and perceptions of care

This study examined the relationship between psychological sense of community, social‐support networks, and care‐giver stress and satisfaction among firefighters. No significant gender differences were obtained, but zero‐order correlates demonstrated significant relationships among all four variables. In examining the mediating effects of social‐support satisfaction, partial mediation for psychological sense of community on care‐giver satisfaction was determined, as well as full mediation for psychological sense of community on care‐giver stress. Therefore, firefighters who are satisfied with the support they receive may experience less stress with their care giving than those who experience low levels of support satisfaction. Future studies should assess these relationships more extensively in other areas of civic responsibility among public‐service employees to delineate effective support avenues. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 121–126, 2004.     

The utilization of traditional Chinese medicine and associated factors in Taiwan in 2002

Background Previous studies have noted that there is a high utilization rate of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services in Taiwan, China and in western countries, but few studies investigated factors associated with the utilization of TCM in Taiwan. This study analyzes the utilization rate and the factors associated with the utilization of TGM in Taiwan. Methods Data for this study were from the 2002 HPKAP Survey that conducted the face-to-face questionnaire interviews of people aged 15 years and over from October 2002 to March 2003 in Taiwan. This study analyzed the utilization of TCM outpatient services, including admission to the hospital and clinic visits. Results A total of 26 755 participants completed the survey in the six-month period. The data revealed that 10.4% of participants had utilized TCM services in the past one month while 4.2% of participants utilized TCM only (without using Western medicine outpatient services (WM) or Folk therapy (F'I')). The average visits of TCM services per patient was higher among people who had utilized TCM and FT services (2.68 visits) than among those who had utilized WM and FT services (2.15 visits) or TCM services alone (2.15 visits) during the previous one month. Younger people (odds ratio OR= 1.78, 95%C/= 1.47-2.16), women (compared with men), and people with higher education levels (OR = 1.58, 95%CI =1.25-1.98) were more likely to visit TCM than compared groups. People with self-reported poor health status (OR = 2.07,95%CI = 1.76-2.44) and people who exercise regularly (OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.07-1.27) had higher ORs to visit TCM service than comparison group.Conclusions There is a high utilization of TCM in Taiwan. Further studies are needed to investigate the related factors and determinants between the utilization of TCM and the utilization of FT in Taiwan.     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术后钛夹在腹腔内异位的观察

目的　观察腹腔镜胆囊切除术 (LaparoscopicCholecystectomy ,L .C)后钛夹在腹腔内异位。方法　前瞻性对2 0 0 2年 1～ 5月间 6 0例L .C病人进行追踪观察临床表现 ,采用B超、腹部X线检查等方法 ,观察钛夹位置的变化与肝外胆管的关系。结果　 6 0例L .C后病人中 5例钛夹发生位置改变。结论　①钛夹在体内 ,对胆道无压迫、无胆漏 ;②观察钛夹异位 ,以采用B超为最简单、经济的方法。     

The major aeroallergens in Guangxi, China

Over a 2-year period we have identified pollen grains from 48 families of grasses, as well as mould spores and mite particles during air sampling in Guangxi Province. The major aeroallergens were Artemisia, Moraceae and Euophoribiacea, and the spores of Aspergillus, Penicillinum, Cephalosporium and Helminthosporium. Mites were probably also one of the major outdoor aeroallergens. Our investigations also included inspection of the vegetation of the geographical area involved, as well as skin testing on 774 subjects using extracts of 37 aeroallergens. We believe that this work has provided fundamental information on seasonal allergy in Southern China and South-east Asia.     

中学生自我差异和心理健康的关系

目的 分析中学生自我差异与心理健康的关系。方法 采用自行修订的自我差异量表和SCL—90对500名中学生进行调查。结果 初中生现实自我与理想自我的差异（AI）和现实自我与应该自我的差异（AO）这两类自我差异分数都显著高于高中生。中学生两类自我差异各因子与心理健康各因子之间都显著相关（P〈0.05）。AI道德自我差异对初中生的心理健康有预测作用;AI心理自我差异与AI自我认同差异对高中生的心理健康有预测作用。结论 应针对中学生的心理特点,提高其对自我的认识,减少诱发心理问题的因素,促进中学生心理健康。     

Lung cancer and prior tuberculosis infection in Shanghai

In a population-based case-control study of lung cancer in Shanghai involving interviews during 1984-86 with 1,405 cancer patients and 1,495 controls, a significant 50% elevation in the risk of lung cancer, adjusted for cigarette smoking, was observed among persons who had a history of tuberculosis. Among those diagnosed with tuberculosis within the past 20 years, the risk exceeded 2.5-fold. In males the lung cancers tended to occur on the same side as the previous tuberculosis infection. For both sexes, the effect of recent tuberculosis was most apparent for adenocarcinoma and peripheral tumours. No relationship was found between lung cancer risk and the type of tuberculosis therapy, including use of isoniazid. The findings suggest that tuberculosis may predispose to lung cancer, with the association most apparent among recent survivors of the infection.     

Sympathetic skin response and R–R interval variation in chronic uremic patients

Sympathetic skin response (SSR) and R–R interval variation (RRIV) were studied in 36 chronic, nondiabetic uremics to compare with their nerve conduction studies (NCS) and clinical dysautonomia. Abnormal SSR was noted in 5 (13.9%) patients, abnormal RRIV in 14 (38.9%), and abnormal NCS in 26 (72.2%). The patients were classified into three groups: group (GP) 1: “normal,” n = 21 (58.3%), normal RRIV and SSR; GP 2: “isolated parasympathetic dysfunction,” n = 10 (27.8%), abnormal RRIV and normal SSR; and GP 3: “sympathetic sudomotor dysfunction,” n = 5 (13.9%), abnormal SSR. A significant difference in age was found among the three groups (GP 3 > GP 2 > GP 1; P < 0.0001, ANOVA). After controlling the age factor, we still noted a tendency toward increasing NCS disturbances (distal latency and nerve conduction velocity of peroneal nerve; P < 0.05, multiple regression analysis) and frequencies of clinical autonomic symptoms (postural dizziness and impotence; P < 0.05, Mantel–Hanszel test) from GP 1 to GP 3. Patients with abnormal SSR (GP 3) displayed significantly higher frequencies of postural dizziness and impotence, indicating the relationship between an absence of SSR and clinical dysautonomia. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

枸橼酸抗凝血液透析

研究解剖高危出血患者血液透析的抗凝方法－局部枸橼酸抗凝的临床应用和疗效。方法：采用１．６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ的枸橼酸钠、空心纤维透析器和普通含钙碳酸氢盐透析，观察ＲＣＡ透析对患者出血、体外循环凝血、血游离钙、总钙、Ｋ＾＋，Ｎａ＾＋，ｐＨ，ＨＣＯ＾－３，Ｓｃｒ，ＢＵＮ及血清枸橼酸浓度的影响。