Negative symptoms in first episode non-affective psychosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of negative symptoms and to examine secondary sources of influence on negative symptoms and the role of specific negative symptoms in delay associated with seeking treatment in first episode non-affective psychosis. METHOD: One hundred and ten patients who met Diagnostic Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV) criteria for a first episode of schizophrenia spectrum psychoses were rated for assessment of negative, positive, depressive and extrapyramidal symptoms, the premorbid adjustment scale and assessment of demographic and clinical characteristics including duration of untreated psychosis (DUP). RESULTS: Alogia/flat affect and avolition/anhedonia were strongly influenced by parkinsonian and depressive symptoms, respectively. A substantial proportion (26.8%) of patients showed at a least moderate level of negative symptoms not confounded by depression and Parkinsonism. DUP was related only to avolition/anhedonia while flat affect/alogia was related to male gender, diagnosis of schizophrenia, age of onset and the length of the prodrome. CONCLUSION: Negative symptoms that are independent of the influence of positive symptoms, depression and extra pyramidal symptoms (EPS) are present in a substantial proportion of first episode psychosis patients and delay in seeking treatment is associated mainly with avolition and anhedonia.     

The effect of jaundice on the generation of anti-gastrin antibodies in G17DT immunized patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the ability of G17DT to generate anti-gastrin antibodies in jaundiced patients with biliary obstruction due to advanced pancreatic cancer. METHODS: G17DT was administered to 41 patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma by intramuscular (i.m.) injection at a dose of 250mcg at weeks 0, 1 and 3 of the study. RESULTS: Thirty-five of 41 patients participating in the study were categorized as responders in terms of their gastrin-17 antibody response. There was no correlation between the maximum G17 antibody response and the bilirubin level at either week 0 or week 12. The median survival of patients from the time of the first injection of G17DT was 204 days with 25% of patients surviving for or=305 days. CONCLUSION: This study shows that G17DT administered to jaundiced patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is immunogenic and well tolerated.     

Current malaria situation in Azerbaijan

The malaria epidemiological situation has substantially improved in Azerbaijan. In 1999, the incidence of malaria has been 2.2 times less than in 1998 (2,315 versus 5,175 cases). This reduction has been seen in all endemic areas of the country: the incidence of malaria reduced by a factor of 1.5 to 10, including its border regions where it is by 4 times less (633 versus 2,534 cases). There was a 1.8-fold decrease in the number of new foci in 1999 as compared to 1998 (165 versus 92). All malaria cases had local features. Of the imported cases in 1999, there were 3 cases of tropical malaria from Sudan and one case of P. vivax malaria from Georgia. Priority measures to implement the National Malaria Control Programme are as follows: Early detection, diagnosis, and radical treatment of malaria patients. Strengthening of laboratory service. Chemoprophylaxis for high-risk groups. Vector control. Improvement of knowledge among health workers. Increase in social mobilization.     

Prognosis of early outcomes of severe craniocerebral injuries depending on duration of neurological syndromes and complications

A mathematical model is presented of prognosis of early (within the periods of stationary treatment) outcomes of a severe cranio-cerebral injury according to the main indicator--"favorable outcome--discharged from the hospital", "unfavorable outcome--died" depending on 10 indicators characterizing the patient's age, injury, duration of neurological syndromes and intraoperative, intracranial postoperative and somatic complications. The model was developed with the help of Excel and the application software Statistica and SPSS for Windows. For the development of the model of the correlative and discriminant analyses were used. The calculation of the prognosis can be made with the help of a computer or a microcalculator.     

Cluster of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with an oil field waste site: a cross sectional study

Background  

This is a community comparison study that examines persons living in a subdivision exposed to petroleum products and mercury.