Evaluation of a parenting program for children with behavioural problems: Signposts in Singapore

Abstract

Background The Signposts for Building Better Behaviour program, developed by the Parenting Research Centre, Victoria, Australia, was conducted at a public hospital facility in Singapore.

Method More than 1,000 parents completed the program, and filled in questionnaires about their child's behaviours.

Results Parents rated themselves in the questionnaires as being significantly less hassled, stressed, depressed, and anxious after attending the program. They were more confident and satisfied with managing their child, and rated their children's behaviours as having improved. Effect sizes ranged from 0.12 to 0.59. The findings were maintained 3 months after completion of the program.

Conclusions The study provides evidence of the cross-cultural applicability of the principles underlying the Signposts program. As there are long-term repercussions when children's behaviour problems are not dealt with appropriately, such behaviour management programs should be made more available to parents and caregivers.     

Microsatellite markers development in the clam,Paphia amabilis (Philippi, 1847)

The clam Paphia amabilis is an important edible shellfish in southern China and Japan. Recently the natural populations of this species has significantly decreased due to the environmental changes and overfishing. To support the conservation and aquaculture of this species, we developed 12 microsatellite markers for the clam and characterized them in a wild population. These markers were polymorphic with the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 9, the observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.22 to 0.79 and from 0.33 to 0.87, respectively. Ten of the 12 markers conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. This is the first set of microsatellites developed for P. amabilis and these markers will promote the genetic studies and species protection of this species.     

长期献血者体内免疫功能的研究

本文报道1991年9月～1993年3月我科长期献血者体内细胞免疫功能的变化。以淋巴细胞转化率(SI)、白细胞介素-2(IL-2)及自然杀伤活性(NK)作为免疫功能指标。对75例10年以上长期献血者及35例初次献血者进行比较,两组结果均无统计学差异。说明经过长期献血后,细胞免疫功能这3项指标无明显变化,对血液质量没有影响。     

兔主动脉内皮细胞制备方法的优化

目的为构建骨组织工程血管化提供优质种子细胞。方法采用血管内膜外翻和胶原酶消化法分离培养兔主动脉内皮细胞并传代;采用倒置显微镜、透射电镜观察和免疫荧光法鉴定。结果培养的血管内皮细胞在第3~5天为对数生长期,倒置显微镜下可见内皮细胞呈紧密排列、短梭多角形的"鹅卵石"形态;透射电镜可见内皮细胞特征性Weible-Palade小体;经免疫荧光法鉴定证明该细胞CD31抗原阳性。结论采用血管内膜外翻等方法制备的兔血管内皮细胞的成活率高,且纯度高、数量多、具有良好的生物学活性。该法可为骨组织工程血管化的研究提供种子细胞。     

In vitro degradation and controlled release behavior of D,L-PLGA50 and PCL-b-D,L-PLGA50 copolymer microspheres.

Blank and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded microspheres based on poly(lactic-acid-alt-glycolic acid) (D,L-PLGA50) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(lactic-acid-alt-glycolic acid) (PCL-b-D,L-PLGA50) were successfully fabricated using water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double-emulsion extraction/evaporation technique. In vitro degradation of the blank microspheres was characterized by techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The PCL-b-D,L-PLGA50 copolymer (Mn: number-average molecular weight, Mw: weight-average molecular weight, Mn=44800, Mw/Mn=MWD=1.24, epsilon-caprolactone (CL) %=20.4% in molar ratio) had similar rate of molecular weight reduction compared with the D,L-PLGA50 copolymer before 5 weeks of in vitro degradation. The BSA % loading efficiency of microspheres was mainly controlled by both block copolymer composition and macromolecular architecture, while the sequence structure and the molecular weight of copolymer had no apparent effect on it. Significantly, The PCL-b-D,L-PLGA50 copolymer microspheres showed good release profiles with a nearly constant release during 20-110 days.     

The early and mid-term results of mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation in children

Purpose

To review the surgical techniques and mid-term results of mitral valve repair in children with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods

One hundred and seven children with moderate or severe MR, aged 19.6 ± 8.5 months, were enrolled in this study. The surgical techniques used for mitral valve repair varied according to the mitral valve morphology, and included annuloplasty, annuloplasty ring, cleft closure, reconstruction of the posterior leaflet, etc. The concomitant cardiac anomalies were treated simultaneously. The results of repair were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography performed during the operation and by serial transthoracic echocardiography performed during the follow-up.

Results

One hundred and six cases had no more than mild regurgitation intraoperatively, whereas only one case had moderate regurgitation. This patient underwent redo repair immediately, and the subsequent regurgitation was trivial. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.9 % (1/107). The average follow-up was 46.5 ± 8.2 months. One patient died of heart failure 10 months postoperatively. The freedom from moderate or severe regurgitation after mitral valve repair was 92.3 ± 3.3 %.

Conclusion

Pediatric patients with moderate or severe MR require early surgical treatment. The early and mid-term results of mitral valve repair in pediatric patients were satisfactory.     

小儿腭裂修复术后麻醉恢复期的观察与护理

腭裂是口腔颌面外科常见的先天畸形,手术修复是唯一有效的治疗方法,术后护理直接关系到手术的成功与否,特别是全身麻醉恢复期,患儿易出现各种意外,故应加强护理,采取有效预防措施,以确保麻醉恢复期平稳度过,保证手术成功.我科2001年3月-2006年4月收治腭裂患儿396例,全部安全度过麻醉恢复期.现将护理体会总结如下.