Introduction

Psychiatric Quarterly -     

孟鲁司特治疗变应性鼻炎的疗效观察

目的观察孟鲁司特在变应性鼻炎中的疗效.方法对变应性鼻炎病人作过敏原测试,对照组按照过敏原测试结果作常规脱敏治疗,治疗组在脱敏治疗的同时加用孟鲁司特,随访两个月.观察两组治疗前后的症状评分,计算症状积分下降指数(SSRI);同时,按照ARIA评价治疗前后变应性鼻炎的症状分级,记录治疗后的下降阶梯数.结果无论是症状积分下降指数还是症状分级下降阶梯数,治疗组在显效和良效方面均比对照组好,两组比较差异有显著意义(p＜0.05).结论孟鲁司特能改善变应性鼻炎的症状,变应性鼻炎在脱敏治疗的同时加用孟司特能提高疗效.     

超声观察肝癌多次肝动脉栓塞术治疗前后肝脏声像图的变化及其预后的评估

目的探讨超声在评估肝癌肝动脉栓塞术后肝硬变受损程度方面的价值.方法对43例原发性肝癌患者进行了肝动脉栓塞术前与术后临床肝功能检查及超声分析.结果多次肝动脉栓塞术后肝硬变程度加重,根据Child‘s分级肝功能下降率达67.4%,超声检查肝硬变加重率达70%.两者检查结果相一致.结论超声观察肝内回声的变化对评估多次肝癌肝动脉栓塞术后肝功能损害程度有重要作用.     

Declining incidence of episodes of asthma: a study of trends in new episodes presenting to general practitioners in the period 1989-98

BACKGROUND: A study was undertaken to determine trends in the incidence of new episodes of asthma presented to general practitioners participating in the Weekly Returns Service of the Royal College of General Practitioners, comprising 92 practices with a registered population of approximately 680 000 persons well distributed throughout England and Wales. These practices monitor the morbidity presented at every consultation, distinguishing between new episodes of illness and ongoing consultations. METHODS: Age specific weekly rates of new episodes of asthma (and of acute bronchitis) presenting to the general practitioners over the years 1989-98 were examined in four week blocks and analysed by multiple regression, separating secular from seasonal trends. RESULTS: Quadratic trends in episodes of asthma were evident in each of the age groups with peaks in 1993/4. Corresponding analyses for acute bronchitis disclosed similar trends generally peaking in the winter of 1993/4. Mean weekly incidence data (all ages combined) decreased in all quarters since 1993. Regional analysis (North/Central/South) showed similar decreases. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a gradual decrease in the incidence of asthma episodes and of acute bronchitis presenting to general practitioners since 1993. The trend of an increase before 1993 followed by a decrease cannot be explained by changes in the patterns of health care usage or diagnostic preference of doctors.     

Treatment of localized prostate cancer using a combination of high dose rate Iridium‐192 brachytherapy and external beam irradiation: Initial Australian experience

Combination high dose rate brachytherapy (HDRB) and external beam radiation therapy is technically and clinically feasible as definitive treatment for localized prostate cancer. We report the first large Australian experience using this technique of radiation dose escalation in 82 patients with intermediate‐ and high‐risk disease. With a median follow up of 3 years (156 weeks), complications were low and overall prostate‐specific antigen progression‐free survival was 91% using the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology consensus definition. The delivery of hypofractionated radiation through the HDRB component shortens overall treatment time and is both biologically and logistically advantageous. As a radiation boost strategy, HDRB is easy to learn and could be introduced into most facilities with brachytherapy capability.     

NICE guidelines and the epilepsies: how should practice change?

The care and provision for children and adults with epilepsy and their carers has recently been under scrutiny with a series of reports highlighting concerns and calling for change. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published recommendations for management of adults and children in October 2004. Although recommendations were often specific and practical they did not include precise details regarding their implementation. Key recommendations and their implications are discussed in this review.     

Age has a profound effect on the incidence and significance of chromosome abnormalities in myeloma.

A simple high throughput micro-fluorescence in situ hybridisation technique (FISH) was used to detect chromosome 13 deletions (delta13), immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) rearrangements, t(11;14)(q13;q32), t(4;14)(p16;q32), t(14;16)(q23;q32), p53 loss, and numerical changes of chromosomes 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 17 in 228 cases of multiple myeloma (MM), including 33 asymptomatic/smouldering MM (SMM). The patients were not part of a clinical trial and were from 30 different hospitals. In all, 98.4% of cases were abnormal, with 43% having IgH rearrangements and 42% Delta13. The low incidence of IgH rearrangements was due to a decrease in this finding with age (P = 0.001) and the relatively high proportion of elderly patients in our study population (41% >70 years old). The incidence of specific IgH translocations was t(4;14) 11%, t(11;14) 16% and t(14;16) 3%. Univariate statistical testing showed delta13 (P = 0.002), and t(14;16) (P = 0.005) to be associated with shorter survival. This effect was exaggerated for patient's aged 70 years or under but no effect on survival was seen for those over 70 years. In younger patients t(4;14) (P = 0.044) and p53 deletion (P < 0.001) were also significant poor prognostic indicators. Multivariate analysis showed delta13 and t(14;16) to be independent prognostic variables when considered with age and clinical parameters.