Longitudinal study of earthquake-related PTSD in a randomly selected community sample in north China

OBJECTIVE: This study longitudinally described rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in two groups with different levels of severity of exposure to an earthquake in North China. The effects of diagnostic criteria on the frequency of detected PTSD were also examined. METHOD: Subjects were randomly sampled in two villages at different distances from the earthquake epicenter. A total of 181 and 157 subjects were assessed at 3 months and 9 months after the earthquake, respectively, for PTSD by using both DSM-IV and DSM-III-R criteria. The brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment and three subscales of the SCL-90-R were also administered at both assessment points. RESULTS: The village with a higher level of initial exposure to the earthquake and a higher level of postearthquake support had a lower frequency of PTSD than the village with a lower level of initial exposure and less postearthquake support. The rate of onset of DSM-IV PTSD within 9 months for the two villages was 19.8% and 30.3%, respectively. In both villages, the rate of onset of earthquake-related PTSD within 9 months was 24.2% by using DSM-IV criteria and 41.4% by using DSM-III-R criteria. The introduction in DSM-IV of a criterion requiring clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning for a diagnosis of PTSD was a major contributor to the lower rate of DSM-IV PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD may be as prevalent and persistent in disaster victims in China as in those elsewhere. Prompt and effective postdisaster intervention could mitigate the impact of initial exposure and reduce the probability of PTSD occurrence. Caution should be used in comparing rates of postdisaster PTSD identified by using different diagnostic criteria.     

Caspase inhibitors reduce neuronal injury after focal but not global cerebral ischemia in rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studies show that blocking the activation of caspases by the caspase inhibitors z-VAD.FMK and z-DEVD.FMK can reduce ischemic neuronal injury after cerebral ischemia. Because the severity of ischemia was mild in some studies, we tested the efficacy of these caspase inhibitors on moderately severe but transient forebrain and focal ischemic insults in the rat. METHODS: Various regimens of z-VAD, z-DEVD, and control DMSO were given to rats subjected to either 4-vessel occlusion ischemia (4-VO, 10-minute occlusion, 7-day survival) or distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo, 90-minute occlusion, 22.5-hour survival). In global ischemia, treatments were given immediately after ischemia (experiment 1) or as preischemic and postischemic treatments (experiment 2). Three focal ischemia experiments were done. Injection times were 60 minutes into ischemia (experiment 1) and 60 minutes into ischemia plus 30 and 120 minutes after ischemia (experiment 2). Experiment 3 was identical to experiment 2 except that a 30-minute preischemia treatment was instituted. Core normothermia was maintained in all experiments during ischemia. However, in the last focal and global experiments, core and brain temperatures, respectively, were also measured after ischemia with telemetry probes. Because hyperthermia accompanied z-DEVD treatment, an extra z-DEVD-treated group (MCAo) was included with temperature clamped at normothermia. RESULTS: Neither z-VAD nor z-DEVD significantly reduced CA1 injury after global ischemia. In focal ischemia, both drugs significantly reduced infarction, but only in the third experiment, and the prevention of hyperthermia that accompanied z-DEVD treatment did not alter this. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a detrimental role of caspases in moderately severe focal but not global cerebral ischemia.     

注射用鹿茸生长素对肾阳虚型骨质疏松症的临床研究

目的：探讨鹿茸生长素肾阳虚型骨质疏松的治疗作用。方法：将阳虚型骨质疏松症随机分为两组分别用鹿茸生长素与蛙降钙素治疗，测量治疗前后骨密度、骨代谢生化指标分析，以及观察临床症状和体征结果：经注射用鹿茸生长素治疗后，治疗组临床症状明显改善，骨密度较治疗前提高。     

正交设计在固天泉胶囊处方研究中的应用

目的：研究固天泉胶囊处方的最佳组成。方法：用正交试验法考察处方抗利尿作用和镇静催眠作用。结果：优选出最佳处方为原处方。结论：正交设计可以用于中医处方的研究。     

Role of prosaposin in the male reproductive system: effect of prosaposin inactivation on the testis, epididymis, prostate, and seminal vesicles

SGP-1/prosaposin can be secreted or targeted to the lysosomes where it is processed into smaller saposins (A, B, C, and D) required for the hydrolysis of glycosphingolipids. The deficiency of saposins B and C results in variant forms of metachromatic leukodystrophy and Gaucher's disease, respectively, which are characterized by lysosomal storage of undegraded glycosphingolipids. In the nervous system, prosaposin presents trophic activity. A mouse model was recently developed by creating a null allele in embryonic stem cells through gene targeting to investigate the phenotypic diversity of prosaposin mutations and the involvement of this protein in lysosomal storage diseases, and for the development of therapeutic approaches. Mice homozygous mutants die at the age of 35-40 days and neurological disorders contribute to the early demise of the mutant mice. The male reproductive organs in homozygous mutants show several abnormalities, such as a decrease in testis size with reduced spermiogenesis and an involution of the prostate, seminal vesicles, and epididymis. In these animals, the blood levels of testosterone remain normal. In the prostate of homozygous mutants, only the basal epithelial cells appear to be present, while the secretory cells are absent. These findings suggest that prosaposin may be involved in the development and maintenance of the male reproductive organs, as well as, in cellular differentiation.     

聋儿配戴助听器后使用无线调频语训系统的效果评估

目的：研究和比较全数字助听器与无线调频语训（FM）系统不同结合方式对重度听力损失儿童的助听效果，方法：聋儿双耳分别配戴全数字助听器，双耳全数字助听器结合单耳FM系统，双耳全数字助听器结合双耳FM系统，在安静和噪声环境中，以不同强度的言语声测试言语可懂度，比较在安静环境和噪声环境中使用与不同使用FM系统及单耳使用与双耳同时使用的助听效果。结果：在安静和噪声环境下，使用FM系统的言语可懂度优于不使用该系统（P＜0．05），单耳使用该系统和双耳使用该系统无明显差异（P＞0．05）。结论：聋儿配戴助听器使用无线调频语训系统在安静和噪声环境下言语可懂度高于不使用该系统者。     

畸变产物耳声发射用于新生儿听力筛查的影响因素分析

目的 探讨畸变产物耳声发射(DPOAE)用于新生儿听力筛查的影响因素。方法 采用GSI-70全自动便携式耳声发射仪进行新生儿听力筛查，在筛查同时，自制问卷表，对新生儿的出生史，母亲妊娠史，家族史，父母社会阶层等35个因素进行调查，调查结果运用SPSS统计软件进行统计分析。结果 住院期间82．8％的(3242／3944)新生儿通过筛查，通过率右耳高于左耳，女婴高于男婴，单胎高于多胎，足月儿高于早产儿，正常及高出生体重儿高于低出生体重儿，阴道助产高于自然产、剖宫产，P值均小于0．05。多因素logistic回归分析，出生体重、性别、胎数与初筛结果相关。42天复筛，96．4％(3167／3284)通过筛查，影响初筛结果的因素对复筛无影响。结论 新生儿的性别、分娩方式、胎数、孕周、出生体重对应用DPOAE进行的新生儿听力筛查的初筛结果有显著影响。     

茎突CT薄层冠状扫描在诊断茎突过长综合征中的价值

目的 探讨“一点一线垂直法”茎突CT薄层冠状扫描在诊断茎突过长中的价值。方法测量72例双侧茎突的长度、方位、形态、厚度、尖端与咽侧壁距离,总结茎突过长病人的临床症状与诊断。 结果 ①41例67侧长度超过3.0cm,符合茎突过长的诊断;②12例12侧茎突虽未超过3.0cm(均在2.5～2.9cm),且茎突方位角>20°、末端与咽侧壁的距离<20mm,并有临床症状的应考虑茎突过长综合征;③按茎突的形态进行分型:锥型(分直锥、弧锥),束状型,分节型,发育不良型。其中分节型与临床症状有密切关系。结论 ①茎突CT薄层冠状扫描能清晰显示茎突的长度、形态、厚度、末端与咽侧壁距离,是诊断茎突过长的一种可靠方法;②“一点一线垂直法”茎突CT薄层冠状扫描无需进行图像重建,可操作性强、简捷易行、便于推广。