Erratum: Exploring the clinical and social determinants of prescribing anticholinergic medication for Chinese patients with schizophrenia

Human Psychopharmacology 2007; 22 : 173–180 DOI: 10.1002/hup.830 It has come to our attention that there was an error to one of the author names within this published article. The correct author listing and author affiliation is now published below. We apologise for this anomaly. Xiang Yu‐Tao^1,2, Weng Yong‐Zhen², Leung Chi‐Ming¹, Tang Wai‐Kwong¹, Ungvari Gabor Sandor^{1 1}Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China ²Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China     

Subjective quality of life in outpatients with schizophrenia in Hong Kong and Beijing: relationship to socio-demographic and clinical factors

Purpose This study compared the subjective quality of life (SQOL) in schizophrenia patients living with their families in Hong Kong (HK) and Beijing (BJ) and explored the relationship between SQOL and basic socio-demographic and clinical factors. Materials and methods Two hundred and sixty-four clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia were randomly selected in HK and 258 counterparts matched according to age, sex, age at onset, and length of illness in BJ. SQOL and psychiatric status were assessed with standard rating instruments. Results There was no significant difference in any of SQOL domains between the two cohorts after controlling for potentially confounding variables. Positive, depressive and anxiety symptoms and drug-induced extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) were all significantly correlated with SQOL. Multiple regression analysis revealed that only depressive symptoms predicted all SQOL domains in both groups. Having removed depressive symptoms from the model, positive symptoms predicted all domains, anxiety predicted all but social domains, use of benzodiazepines (BZD) predicted all but physical domains, EPS predicted physical domain, and history of suicide predicted social domain in HK; anxiety predicted all domains, positive symptoms predicted all but physical domains, EPS, use of BZD and history of suicide all predicted physical domains, and length of illness predicted environmental domain in BJ. Conclusion Despite considerable differences between the two sites in terms of health care delivery and the economic conditions of the subjects, SQOL did not differ between HK and BJ. The conclusion is in line with previous studies that suggested that patients’ SQOL was independent of their living standard as long as it reached a certain minimum level. SQOL was more strongly related to the severity of depressive symptoms and had weak association with socio-demographic factors.     

Antiproliferative effects of the arotinoid Ro 40-8757 in human gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancer cell lines: combinations with 5-fluorouracil and interferon-alpha.

The arotinoid Ro 40-8757 was previously shown to inhibit the growth of a variety of human cancer cell lines derived from breast, lung and uterus. In view of the high incidence of human digestive cancers, and the slow progress in the development of new therapy, we examined in this paper several combinations between the new arotinoid Ro 40-8757, 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and interferon alpha-2a on the growth of nine human cancer cell lines derived from the gastrointestinal and pancreatic system. Half-maximal inhibition of cell proliferation by Ro 40-8757 was observed at concentrations ranging between 0.18 and 0.57 microM, and increased up to 4.7 microM in retinoid-resistant CAPAN 620 pancreatic cells. All-trans-retinoic acid was 70 times less potent. The sensitivity of HT29-5FU-resistant colonic cells was similar to that observed in the parental cells, suggesting an action independent of pyrimidine metabolism. Ro 40-8757 did not induce any differentiation on HT29 cells, as suggested by ultrastructural analysis. The arotinoid did not interact with receptor signal transduction pathways under the control of serum components, such as growth factors as half-maximal inhibiton of growth was similar in HT29-S-B6 cells cultured in the absence or presence of serum. Cell cycle analysis showed that Ro 40-8757 was not acting at a phase-specific transition in HT29 cells and, accordingly, did not induce overexpression of the protein kinase C (PKC)alpha isoform, or conversion of hyperphosphorylated p105 Rb into hypophosphorylated forms. However, the arotinoid induced significant accumulation of the dephosphorylated, active form of the tumour-suppressor protein. Combinations of Ro 40-8757 with 5FU and interferon alpha 2a resulted in an additive but not synergistic antiproliferative action in HT29 cells. Our data support the interest in Ro 40-8757 as a potent anti-cancer drug, especially in combination therapy with 5FU and interferon, in gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers, where new active therapeutic modalities are urgently needed.     

Gynaecological and Sexuality Profile of New Patients attending a Family Planning Clinic

2067 first-time attenders (70% of all new patients during the 9-month study period) at a Family Planning Association clinic in Victoria, Australia, completed a questionnaire aimed at obtaining data on the age at onset of sexual activity and contraceptive use patterns. The mean age of study respondents was 23 years; only 13% were married. 86% of the women reported a history of sexual intercourse. The average age at 1st intercourse was 17.4 years, and over 50% were sexually active before 18 years of age. 51% did not use contraception at the time of 1st intercourse, and this rate was lower (37%) among women aged 15 years or less at coitarche. Of those who had used contraception, the most common methods were condoms (52%) and oral contraceptives (37%). When asked to rate the quality of their 1st act of sexual intercourse, 12% indicated the experience was better than they expected, 50% said it was as good as expected, and 38% indicated it was worse than anticipated. 90% claimed that the quality of their sexual experiences has improved since the 1st time. In terms of current frequency of sexual intercourse, 60% reported sexual relations less than twice a week, 26% have sex 2-3 times a week, and 14% have intercourse more than 3 times a week. When asked about their recent contraceptive practice, 47% reported contraception is always used, 26% use contraception most of the time, 10% use contraception sometimes, 5% rarely use such methods, and 12% never use family planning. Since these subjects were either already sexually active or were planning to initiate sexual activity, they are not representative of Australia's female population as a whole. However, they are an important target for family planning education programs.     

Effect of a cytotoxic analog of LH-RH (T-98) on the growth of estrogendependent MXT mouse mammary cancers: Correlations between growth characteristics and EGF receptor content of tumors

Summary Female BDF mice bearing estrogen-dependent MXT mouse mammary cancers were treated for 4 weeks with a cytotoxic analog of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), T-98 (agonist [D-Lys⁶]LH-RH linked to glutaryl-2(hydroxymethyl)anthraquinone). The effects of T-98 were compared to those of equimolar amounts of the cytotoxic moiety 2-(hydroxymethyl)anthraquinone hemiglutarate (G-HMAQ) and carrier LH-RH agonist [D-Lys⁶]LH-RH. Both T-98 and [D-Lys⁶]LH-RH significantly inhibited the growth of MXT cancers, but G-HMAQ had only a minor non-significant effect. Cytotoxic analog T-98 and the carrier [D-Lys⁶]LH-RH had similar inhibitory hormonal activities on the pituitary-gonadal axis, but T-98 caused a larger reduction in tumor volume and decreased proliferation characteristics such as mitotic activity and AgNOR numbers in tumor cells to a greater extent than the carrier. Tumor inhibition by T-98, [D-Lys⁶]LH-RH, and ovariectomy was connected with a significant decrease in binding capacity of EGF receptors in tumor cell membranes. The concentration of EGF receptors remained high in tumors that continued to enlarge in spite of treatment and in all control untreated tumors, even those of small size. Thus, the changes in EGF receptors are likely to be the result of the therapy. Treatment with T-98 caused a greater reduction in the binding capacity of EGF receptors in tumors than [D-Lys⁶]LH-RH. This could explain the higher inhibitory effect of the cytotoxic analog on tumor growth. Since radiolabeled T-98 was shown to accumulate in MXT cancers 3 hours after a subcutaneous injection, this indicates that specific targeting might play a role in the antitumor effect exerted by this cytotoxic analog.Abbreviations LH luteinizing hormone - LH-RH LH-releasing hormone - EGF epidermal growth factor - EGF-R EGF receptor - TGF transforming growth factor - NOR nucleolar organizing region - AgNOR argyrophilic NOR - G-HMAQ 2(hydroxymethyl)anthraquinone-hemiglutarate - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - TNF tumor necrosis factor - 5-FU 5-fluorouracil - PBS phosphate-buffered saline     

The role of the vitreous in retinal detachment surgery with external buckling

PURPOSE: To prove the role of the vitreous in retinal detachment surgery with scleral buckling procedures, we retrospectively investigated the charts of patients who were operated on for retinal detachment by scleral buckling between January 1995 and June 1997. METHODS: Out of a total of 718 cases, 41 retinal detachments occurred in previously vitrectomized eyes. The buckling procedure consisted of silicone sponge explants in 513 cases (254 radial, 259 circumferential) and of encircling elements in 202 cases. Three eyes received a temporary balloon. The minimal follow-up was 3 months. RESULTS: After primary surgery in the 677 nonvitrectomized eyes, the retina was attached in 482 eyes (71.2%), after reoperation in 627 eyes (92.6%). With up to 3 reoperations (including vitrectomy with gas or silicone oil tamponade in 79 eyes), the final success rate was 98.7%. The corresponding reattachment rates in the 41 vitrectomized eyes were 82.9% after primary surgery and 97.6% after reoperation. Repeated surgery in 6 eyes consisted of successful internal tamponade by silicone oil. The reattachment rates after primary buckle procedure are of most interest to the role of the vitreous: the highest success rate (82.9%) was achieved in the vitrectomized eyes versus 71.2% in the nonvitrectomized eyes. The difference is statistically not significant. CONCLUSIONS: We therefore conclude that the absence of the vitreous has no adverse effect on the results of buckling procedures for retinal detachment. The choice of the surgical technique in treating retinal detachments in vitrectomized eyes should only determined by retinal findings such as the number and extent of breaks or the presence and stage of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.