Fluorescent quantitative PCR of Mycobacterium tuberculosis for differentiating intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn's disease

Intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) and Crohn''s disease (CD) are granulomatous disorders with similar clinical manifestations and pathological features that are often difficult to differentiate. This study evaluated the value of fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in fecal samples and biopsy specimens to differentiate ITB from CD. From June 2010 to March 2013, 86 consecutive patients (38 females and 48 males, median age 31.3 years) with provisional diagnoses of ITB and CD were recruited for the study. The patients'' clinical, endoscopic, and histological features were monitored until the final definite diagnoses were made. DNA was extracted from 250 mg fecal samples and biopsy tissues from each patient. The extracted DNA was amplified using FQ-PCR for the specific MTB sequence. A total of 29 ITB cases and 36 CD cases were included in the analysis. Perianal disease and longitudinal ulcers were significantly more common in the CD patients (P<0.05), whereas night sweats, ascites, and circumferential ulcers were significantly more common in the ITB patients (P<0.05). Fecal FQ-PCR for MTB was positive in 24 (82.8%) ITB patients and 3 (8.3%) CD patients. Tissue PCR was positive for MTB in 16 (55.2%) ITB patients and 2 (5.6%) CD patients. Compared with tissue FQ-PCR, fecal FQ-PCR was more sensitive (X²=5.16, P=0.02). We conclude that FQ-PCR for MTB on fecal and tissue samples is a valuable assay for differentiating ITB from CD, and fecal FQ-PCR has greater sensitivity for ITB than tissue FQ-PCR.     

A randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a universal school-based depression prevention program 'Op Volle Kracht' in the Netherlands

Background  

The incidence of depressive symptoms increases during adolescence, from 10.0% to 24.5% at age 11 to 15, respectively. Experiencing elevated levels of depressive symptoms increases the risk of a depressive disorder in adulthood. A universal school-based depression prevention program Op Volle Kracht (OVK) was developed, based on the Penn Resiliency Program, aimed at preventing the increase of depressive symptoms during adolescence and enhancing positive development. In this study the effectiveness of OVK will be tested and possible mediators of program effects will be focus of study as well.     

Well-being and Its Influencing Factors of Junior High School Students from County Town and Rural Areas

目的 了解县城乡镇初中生幸福感水平及其影响因素.方法 采用Rosenberg自尊问卷、一般自我效能感量表和中学生应对方式问卷等对706名初中生进行调查.结果 觉得“很幸福”或“幸福”的学生占70.4％；女生的幸福感水平显著高于男生(x2=9.714,P＜0.01)；家庭经济状况较好的学生,幸福感水平较高(x2=58.184,P＜0.001)；幸福感水平年级间无显著差异(x2=0.471,P＞0.05)；自尊、自我效能感、问题解决、寻求社会支持、积极的合理化解释得分幸福组显著高于非幸福组(t1=9.257,t2=3.988,t3=4.245,t4=4.150,t5=5.184,P5＜0.001).忍耐、“幻想、否认”、逃避得分幸福组显著低于非幸福组(t1=-3.090,t2=-3.073,Ps＜0.01;t3=-3.830,P＜0.001).家庭经济状况、自尊、寻求社会支持、逃避应对方式能显著预测县城乡镇初中生的幸福感(x2=136.165,P＜0.001).结论 县城乡镇初中生总体上是幸福的,性别、家庭经济状况、自尊、自我效能感和应对方式等因素会影响其幸福感水平,并且家庭经济状况、自尊、寻求社会支持及逃避应对方式能有效预测其幸福感水平.