希—内学习能力测验在中国聋儿中使用的信度和效度

采用经部分修改的希－内学习能力测验（Ｈ－ＮＴＬＡ）量表对全国２１个省、市、自治区１７５８名３－１７岁聋儿逐人测试。样本人群地区分布、家长职业构成与１９９０年全国人口普查资料一致。１７５８名聋儿智商呈现正态分布（ｇ１＝０．０１１Ｐ＞０．０５，ｇ２＝０．０５８Ｐ＞０．０５）。测试员间信度系数０．９８１（Ｎ＝２４），复测信度０．８４１（Ｎ＝１３６），分半信度０．９２７（３－８岁）及０．８５４（９－１７岁）。各分测验得分随年龄增加而增加，小年龄组增加明显，大年龄组增加缓慢。各分测验之间、各分测验和总离差智商之间大多数相关系数有显著统计学意义。智商与学习成绩（语文及数学）相关系数０．２０８（Ｐ＜０．０１Ｎ＝２２４），与教师评语等级相关系数０．４４（Ｐ＜０．０５ｄｆ＝１６），表明经修订的Ｈ－ＮＴＬＡ量表适用于中国听力语言障碍人群进行智力评定。     

Heavy cannabis use and depressive symptoms in three Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which depressive symptoms are associated with heavy cannabis use in an Aboriginal population in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study involving interviews with 106 Indigenous participants (57 males, 49 females) aged 13-42 years in three remote Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land, NT, Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measures of depressive symptoms (a raw score of > or = 6 out of a possible 18 on a modified version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and self-reported heavy cannabis use (six or more cones daily). RESULTS: After adjusting for other substance use (tobacco, alcohol and lifetime petrol sniffing), age and sex, heavy cannabis users were four times more likely than the remainder of the sample to report moderate to severe depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.3-13.4). CONCLUSIONS: Given its high prevalence in Indigenous populations, the development of clinical and prevention strategies for cannabis misuse are warranted.     

Improving services for prevention and treatment of substance misuse for Aboriginal communities in a Sydney Area Health Service

Introduction and Aims. Substance misuse among Aboriginal Australians is both a symptom of disadvantage and suffering but also a cause of health and social problems. Few data are available on how mainstream drug and alcohol services meet the needs of Aboriginal Australians. We assessed acceptability and accessibility of mainstream services for Aboriginal Australians with alcohol or drug use disorders in an urban Area Health Service (AHS). We identified priorities for improvement and an implementation plan. Methods. We collected feedback via consultation with client groups, with the Aboriginal community and community organisations, with staff of the AHS and of the local Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) and through direct observation. We examined attendance data. Results. Aboriginal people were well represented in this mainstream service, partly because of existing collaboration with the AMS. Good points in the service were reported to be priority appointments for new Aboriginal clients, professional and caring service and collaboration with the AMS. Suggested improvements included increased cultural sensitivity of communication, more appropriate physical surrounds and printed materials, having Aboriginal staff available, peer support groups and integration of health care for individual, family and community. The action plan included increased recruitment and career opportunities for Aboriginal staff, strengthened partnerships with the Aboriginal community, including ongoing collaboration with the AMS in improving and monitoring mainstream service quality. Discussion and Conclusions. Given the adverse impact of substance use disorders, there is a pressing need for services to work with Aboriginal communities to optimise the quality of mainstream treatment services. [Teasdale KE, Conigrave KM, Kiel KA, Freeburn B, Long G, Becker K. Improving services for prevention and treatment of substance misuse for Aboriginal communities in a Sydney Area Health Service. Drug Alcohol Rev 2008; 27:152-159]     

Promising performance of a juvenile justice diversion programme in remote Aboriginal communities, Northern Territory, Australia

Introduction and Aims . Diversion from court and prison has been recommended for Indigenous Australian youth who commit offences. As no evaluations of such programmes have been published, we describe processes and early outcomes of a diversion programme in the Northern Territory. Design and Methods . From 2003 to 2006, among 1700 remote Indigenous community residents, 35 young people (aged 11–18 years, median 15 years) committed offences. They were diverted from criminal justice and referred to a community‐based diversion initiative. Client assessment records and staff interviews furnished data to examine clients' diversion pathways and early programme results. Results . Eighteen clients were reportedly using a substance at the time of their offence; cannabis (n = 9), petrol (n = 5), alcohol (n = 4). The remaining 17 had histories of using one or more of these. Two clients could not complete local diversion programs because they moved to other regions; one case was not pursued for legal reasons, leaving 32 clients exposed to the local programme. By July 2006, four clients were continuing in their programmes, three had breached them, but 25 had completed them in periods ranging from 2 to 60 weeks (median = 26 weeks), a completion rate of 89% (25/28). Just one client re‐offended after completing diversion. Discussion and Conclusions . A high completion rate was achieved despite: a dearth of locally available drug and alcohol treatment services and diversion options; shifts in police approaches; heavy administrative burdens to meet legal requirements; and difficulties communicating across cultural barriers.     

Use of replication-deficient adenoviruses to study signal transduction pathways. Muscarinic responses in HSG and HT29 epithelial cell lines are mediated by G protein βγ-subunits

 HSG and HT29 cells express muscarinic receptors that increase intracellular free Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) by activating phospholipase Cβ. In the present study, we have used the measurement of [Ca²⁺]_i with Fura-2 to show that these receptors are of the M₃ sub-type and that the increase in [Ca²⁺]_i triggered when they are activated is not sensitive to pertussis toxin. We have also used replication-deficient adenoviruses expressing wild-type and dominant-negative mutants of the α-subunits of the heterotrimeric G proteins, G_q and G_i2, to investigate the mechanisms by which these receptors control phospholipase Cβ. We find that the Ca²⁺ response to 100 μmol/l carbachol is not affected by increased expression of the wild-type α-subunit of G_q, but is blocked by the dominant-negative mutant of G_q and by both the wild-type and the dominant-negative mutant α-subunits of G_i2. Expression of α-subunits of G_i2 presumably blocks the response to carbachol by scavenging free βγ-subunits. We conclude that in HSG and HT29 cells, the Ca²⁺ response to M₃ receptor activation is mediated by the βγ- rather than the α-subunits of G_q. Received: 23 September 1998 / Received after revision: 15 December 1998 / Accepted: 11 January 1999