异体手移植的心理学问题初步探讨

目的 探讨异体手移植过程中的心理问题及其对策。方法 筛选病人时采用交谈方式进行心理测试,观察病人是否有心理障碍以及处理各种压力的能力。在移植手术前,对病人进行心理辅导使病人作好充分心理准备。移植手术后病人心理康复采用镇痛等针对性治疗、心理暗示疗法、调动支持系统和改善环境等治疗方法。结果 筛选病人时发现12位病人中有1位因心理障碍不适宜作手术。病人术后1周内烦躁、焦虑、忍耐力极差、对移植手稍有恐惧,1周以后对移植手初步认可,1月后心理上已基本接受,术后4、5月时移植手痛温觉已恢复至指尖、手指伸屈已得到较好恢复,病人在心理上完全接受该手。结论 在患者的术前选择和术后康复过程均存在不同的心理问题,需要心理医生参与整个治疗过程,应予重视。     

Respiratory allergy to mushroom spores: not well recognized, but relevant.

BACKGROUND: Although basidiospores are a major component of the air spora in many parts of the world, their clinical significance as triggers of respiratory allergy has rarely been demonstrated. Therefore, the class of basidiomycetes as an aeroallergen is not well known. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a cause and effect relationship between respiratory allergy and basidiospores, we illustrate this case report of a 38-year-old housewife. METHODS: Skin prick test, immunoblot, and active anterior rhinomanometry were used as diagnostic tools to verify specific reactivity of a Pleurotus pulmonalis spore extract. Two atopic subjects served as controls. RESULTS: The skin prick test positive study subject reacted with subjective and objective signs including a significant drop of the FEV1 by nasal challenge at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL of the Pleurotus spore extract while both controls were negative even at a higher test concentration. IgE-immunoblot revealed several distinct bands in the serum of the Pleurotus-sensitized subject. CONCLUSION: Spores of Pleurotus pulmonalis, a common mushroom of the fungal class of basidiomycetes, can cause specific, IgE-mediated acute rhinoconjuncivitis and asthma in sensitized individuals.     

Substantial regional differences in human herpesvirus 8 seroprevalence in sub‐Saharan Africa: Insights on the origin of the “Kaposi's sarcoma belt”

Equatorial Africa has among the highest incidences of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in the world, thus earning the name “KS Belt.” This was the case even before the HIV epidemic. To date, there is no clear evidence that HHV‐8 seroprevalence is higher in this region but interpretation of the available literature is tempered by differences in serologic assays used across studies. We examined representatively sampled ambulatory adults in Uganda, which is in the “KS Belt,” and in Zimbabwe and South Africa which are outside the Belt, for HHV‐8 antibodies. All serologic assays were uniformly performed in the same reference laboratory by the same personnel. In the base‐case serologic algorithm, seropositivity was defined by reactivity in an immunofluorescence assay or in 2 enzyme immunoassays. A total of 2,375 participants were examined. In Uganda, HHV‐8 seroprevalence was high early in adulthood (35.5% by age 21) without significant change thereafter. In contrast, HHV‐8 seroprevalence early in adulthood was lower in Zimbabwe and South Africa (13.7 and 10.8%, respectively) but increased with age. After age adjustment, Ugandans had 3.24‐fold greater odds of being HHV‐8 infected than South Africans (p < 0.001) and 2.22‐fold greater odds than Zimbabweans (p < 0.001). Inferences were unchanged using all other serologic algorithms evaluated. In conclusion, HHV‐8 infection is substantially more common in Uganda than in Zimbabwe and South Africa. These findings help to explain the high KS incidence in the “KS Belt” and underscore the importance of a uniform approach to HHV‐8 antibody testing.     

Level of agreement on postoperative complications after one-stage hypospadias correction comparing medical records and parent reports

PurposeTo analyze agreement on postoperative complications after hypospadias surgery according to medical records and parents' reports.Materials & methodsIn this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from 409 children who received an initial one-stage hypospadias correction in the Radboudumc, The Netherlands.Postoperative complications according to medical records were compared with parent-reported complications in an online questionnaire. Main complications studied were wound-related complications, urinary tract infections, fistulas, stenosis, and prepuce-related complications. Agreement was determined by Cohen's kappa coefficient.ResultsSlightly less complications were mentioned in medical records (37%) compared to parents' reports (42%). Overall agreement was moderate (κ = 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.41–0.59), but poor for some specific complications. Agreement was higher for complications that needed reoperation compared to when no reoperation was performed (κ = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.43–0.62 and κ = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.06–0.31) and for patients with recent surgery (< 5 years before questionnaire completion) compared to less recent surgeries (κ = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.55–0.84 and κ = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33–0.54).ConclusionsAgreement on complications according to medical records and parents' reports was poor to moderate, but better after reoperation and more recent surgery. Some complications mentioned in medical records were missing from parents' reports and the other way around. Better agreement will give physicians and parents a more reliable view on postoperative outcome after hypospadias surgery.Type of studyDiagnostic test.Level of evidenceLevel III.