Psychometric Properties of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) in a Non-Clinical Sample of Children and Adolescents in Saudi Arabia

This paper examined the reliability, convergent validity and factor structure of the self-report Screen for Child Anxiety Disorders (SCARED; Birmaher et al. in J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36:545–553, 1997) in a large community sample of children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire showed moderate to high internal consistency and satisfactory test–retest reliability over a 2 week period. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between reported anxiety symptoms with parent report behavioural difficulties. The five factor structure model of the SCARED also had a good model fit in this population. The results showed that self-report anxiety symptoms decreased with age (for boys and not girls) and were higher in adolescent girls. The results suggest that the SCARED could be useful in this population to identify individuals who are at risk of developing anxiety disorders in childhood with a view to implementing prevention and intervention methods to ensure positive developmental outcome over time.     

新疆4个地区240例HIV感染者直接经济负担研究

目的探讨新疆4个地区HIV感染者个人直接经济投入的差异。方法对新疆乌鲁木齐、哈密、伊犁、喀什4个地区240例HIV感染者家庭收入和医疗费用支付方式进行调查;分析各地区HIV感染者的门诊费用(诊疗费、交通费)、住院费用(住院费、交通费、食宿费、营养费)等存在的差异。结果乌鲁木齐与其他地区相比HIV门诊就诊率和住院率均比较高,且各项直接医疗费用与非直接医疗费用也较其他地区高。结论经济发达地区,交通业较为便利,医疗服务较为齐全,医疗服务投入较多。而经济发展较为缓慢地区,其各种医疗服务较为匮乏,人民获得各种医疗服务较为困难,并且由于个人收入较低,居民受教育程度也较低,HIV感染者各项医疗投入也较低。     

Comparative evaluation of different DNA extraction methods for HPV genotyping by linear array and INNO-LiPA

In order to investigate the influence of DNA extraction on two PCR-based HPV genotyping tests (Linear Array, Roche and INNO-LiPA Extra, Innogenetics), three different procedures were used to purify DNA from 28 cervico-vaginal samples tested previously by the Hybrid Capture 2: the AmpliLute Liquid Media Extraction kit (Roche), the QIAamp DNA Blood mini kit (QIAGEN), and the NucliSENS EasyMAG automated platform (bioMérieux). All HC2-positive samples were found positive by both assays, independently of the extract used. Type-specific concordance (i.e., identical HPV type-specific profile in all the extracts of the same sample) was observed in 55% and 75% of the cases testing samples by the Linear Array and the INNO-LiPA, respectively. Using the DNA extracted with the two manual methods the results were concordant in 75% of the cases both for the Linear Array and the INNO-LiPA. When comparing the Linear Array results obtained on either of the two manual extracts with those obtained following automated extraction, 65% of the samples showed type-specific concordance in both cases. The INNO-LiPA results were concordant in 80% of the cases comparing the AmpliLute versus the automated extract, while concordant results were observed in 90% of the cases when comparing the QIAGEN versus the automated extract. In conclusion, the Linear Array and INNO-LiPA results are affected by the method of DNA extraction. Consequently, different HPV type-specific profiles may be observed using different extracts of the same sample. The use of consistent protocols for DNA purification is a priority to guarantee intra-assay reproducibility over time.     

Age and Sex Predict Pao2/Fio2 Ratio in Brain-Dead Donor Lungs

Objectives

To define the prevalence of various ranges of the ratio of partial arterial oxygen tension to fraction of inspired oxygen (Pao₂/Fio₂) and to determine correlative and predictive variables of donor lung Pao₂/Fio₂.

Material and Methods

From the brain death database of Masih Daneshvari Hospital Organ Procurement Center, we extracted demographic data, cause of injury, patient clinical condition, and laboratory findings as independent data. Donor lung suitability was determined with an oxygen challenge test, with results of 400 mm Hg considered ideal; 300 to 399 mm Hg, good; 200 to 299 mm Hg, borderline; and less than 200 mm Hg, not acceptable.

Results

Using the Pao₂/Fio₂ cutoff points, 6.7% of donor lungs were considered ideal; 26.7%, good; 40%, borderline; and 26.7%, unacceptable. Mean (SD; range) Pao₂/Fio₂ was 266.6 (85.6; 110-460). The Pao₂/Fio₂ was significantly correlated with age (r = −0.35; P = .02). After entering the study variables into a linear regression model, age (−2.3; P = .008) and sex (51.5; P = .04) were significant predictors of donor lung suitability (R² = 0.95; P < .001).

Conclusion

Results of oxygen challenge tests demonstrated better suitability of lungs from male and younger brain-dead donors. This finding is independent of other variables including cause of brain death and clinical and paraclinical data.