Health-related quality of life in adults with hearing impairment before and after hearing-aid rehabilitation in Finland

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with hearing impairment in Finland before and after hearing rehabilitation. Design: The study was prospective with hearing-aid rehabilitation as the intervention. The data was collected, using the 15D instrument, before and six months after hearing-aid rehabilitation. The data was analysed using t-tests and multiple linear regression methods. Study sample: The study sample included 949 adults with hearing impairment, and the control group included a sample of age- and gender-standardized general population. Results: The study population had significantly poorer HRQoL on most dimensions of the 15D when compared to the control group both before and after hearing-aid rehabilitation. Hearing-aid rehabilitation resulted in improved mean scores on the dimensions of hearing and in the overall 15D score that were statistically significant, although the mean improvement in the overall score was marginal. Self-reported hearing ability can better predict the change in HRQoL, as a result of a hearing aid, when compared with measured hearing sensitivity. Conclusions: The study supports the hypothesis that on average, use of a unilateral hearing aid results in improved subjective hearing and marginal improvement in HRQoL in adults with hearing impairment.     

基层医院蛛网膜下腔出血急诊处置策略的探讨附37例报道

目的：探讨基层医院院前急救及多通道合作对蛛网膜下腔出血的病因诊断及疗效的影响,初步分析预后的影响因素。方法回顾性分析2012年8月～2014年8月间,行院前急救及多通道合作救治的37例蛛网膜下腔出血患者资料。对其行院前急救,安全转送至医院后,统计患者院前急救及转运结局、发病至医院急诊时间及患者预后;统计患者年龄、高血压史、糖尿病史等一般信息,行多因素回归分析,明确患者预后的影响因素。结果院前急救期间死亡3例,余34例均安全转送入院,发病至医院急症时间平均（3.2±0.4）h。转诊治疗7例,死亡0例、再出血1例;非转诊治疗27例,均行保守治疗,死亡3例、再出血4例。患者预后与年龄、高血压史、转运与否、发病至医院急诊时间显著相关（P＜0.05）。结论院前急救及多通道合作是基层医院处理蛛网膜下腔出血的有效方案;患者预后与其年龄、既往史等一般资料密切相关,临床救治必须重视此类信息。     

急诊内科抢救327例昏迷患者的急救体会

目的探讨昏迷患者的病因及其救治方法。方法回顾性分析重庆市肿瘤研究所急诊科2011年1月至2013年7月收治的327例昏迷患者的临床资料,分析其病因及抢救方法。结果 327例患者中,各类中毒共60例,占18.3%,代谢性疾病共72例,占22.0%,颅脑疾病共117例,占35.8%,心血管疾病共58例,占17.7%,物理性损害20例,占6.1%。经抢救后,病情好转81例,稳定166例,恶化65例,死亡15例,病死率为4.6%。结论急诊内科昏迷患者早期明确诊断以及有效的急救措施可提高昏迷患者抢救成功率。     

Preliminary evidence of an interaction between the FOXP2 gene and childhood emotional abuse predicting likelihood of auditory verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia

ObjectiveThe FOXP2 gene is involved in the development of speech and language. As some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of FOXP2 have been found to be associated with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) at trend levels, this study set out to undertake the first examination into whether interactions between candidate FOXP2 SNPs and environmental factors (specifically, child abuse) predict the likelihood of AVHs.MethodData on parental child abuse and FOXP2 SNPs previously linked to AVHs (rs1456031, rs2396753, rs2253478) were obtained from the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank for people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, both with (n = 211) and without (n = 122) a lifetime history of AVHs.ResultsGenotypic frequencies did not differ between the two groups; however, logistic regression found that childhood parental emotional abuse (CPEA) interacted with rs1456031 to predict lifetime experience of AVH. CPEA was only associated with significantly higher levels of AVHs in people with CC genotypes (odds ratio = 4.25), yet in the absence of CPEA, people with TT genotypes had significantly higher levels of AVHs than people with CC genotypes (odds ratio = 4.90). This interaction was specific to auditory verbal hallucinations, and did not predict the likelihood of non-verbal auditory hallucinations.ConclusionsOur findings offer tentative evidence that FOXP2 may be a susceptibility gene for AVHs, influencing the probability people experience AVHs in the presence and absence of CPEA. However, these findings are in need of replication in a larger study that addresses the methodological limitations of the present investigation.     

计算机辅助设计在单侧完全性唇腭裂婴儿术前矫治中的应用

目的:评价计算机辅助设计在单侧完全性唇腭裂患儿术前矫治中的应用价值。方法:对10例单侧完全性唇腭裂新生儿取模,通过三维激光扫描仪对模型进行扫描并实现三维重建,三维诊断设计软件模拟整个错位上颌骨各骨段的矫正过程,并输出用于矫治器加工的数字模型。快速激光成型技术恢复矫治过程的模型并制作一系列矫治器,临床应用于单侧完全性唇腭裂患儿的术前矫正治疗。结果:经过3～4个月的术前矫正,错位牙槽骨排列成较为规则的弧形;唇部裂隙宽度减小,鼻翼塌陷畸形得到改善,鼻小柱偏斜得到纠正。结论:计算机辅助设计的单侧完全性唇腭裂患儿术前矫治能实现精确、量化的矫治目标,同时减少复诊次数,是一种高效、简洁的术前矫治方法。     

Communication interventions involving speech-generating devices for children with autism: A review of the literature

Objective: The current review synthesizes communication intervention studies that involved the use of speech-generating devices (SGD) for children with autism.

Methods: Twenty-three studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria following systematic searches of electronic databases, journals and reference lists. Studies were evaluated in terms of: (a) participants, (b) setting, (c) mode of communication, (d) communication skill(s) taught to the participant, (e) intervention procedures, (f) outcomes, (g) follow-up and generalization, (h) reliability and treatment integrity and (i) design and certainty of evidence.

Results: Intervention, most commonly targeting requesting skills, was provided to a total of 51 children aged 3–16 years. Intervention strategies followed two main approaches: operant/behavioural techniques and naturalistic teaching procedures. Positive outcomes were reported for 86% of the studies and 78% of the studies were categorized as providing conclusive evidence.

Conclusion: The literature base suggests that SGDs are viable communication options for children with autism. However, several areas warrant future research.     

Approximal caries increment in adolescents after a visual aid in combination with a comprehensive open discussion

Abstract

Objective. To achieve greater motivation for behavioural changes; educating, motivating and supporting the patient's ability to change lifestyle factors related to the caries disease are important tasks in the prevention of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a visual aid (Visual Caries Dialogue, VCD) in combination with a comprehensive open discussion has a beneficial effect on approximal caries development among a population of young adolescents. Materials and methods. The study subjects were randomized to either an intervention group (n = 118), where VCD was conducted, or a control group (n = 112) receiving traditional oral healthcare information, at the annual dental health examination. The number of caries lesions reaching through the entire enamel (D2) and dentin caries reaching through the enamel into the dentin (D3) were recorded from bitewing radiographs each year, from 2001–2004. Differences between the study groups regarding at least two new approximal surfaces with caries (D2–D3) were tested using logistic regression. Results. The caries increment was lower in the intervention group compared to the control group. During the 3-year follow-up, 18 (15.3%) patients in the intervention group and 40 (35.7%) patients in the control group demonstrated a DS-approximal increment of at least two surfaces with a risk ratio of 2.34 (95% CI = 1.43–3.83). Conclusion. Visual Caries Dialogue in combination with a comprehensive open discussion reduced approximal caries increment among young individuals. The method provides an innovative simple and low-cost way of delivering information to patients and guides busy dental healthcare personnel in the approach.     

A Simplified Palatal Lift Prosthesis for Neurogenic Velopharyngeal Incompetence

Velopharyngeal incompetence is a contributing factor to speech disorders and implies the presence of hypernasality, inappropriate nasal escape, and decreased air pressure during speech. One prosthetic treatment is a rehabilitative procedure employing a palatal lift prosthesis (PLP), which reduces hypernasality by approximating the incompetent soft palate to the posterior pharyngeal wall and consists of two parts, the anterior denture base and the palatal lifting plate, which are connected with steel wires; however, it seems difficult to reproduce the mobility of the soft palate in speaking, and it is therefore likely that the palatal lifting plate stimulates or oppresses the tissue of the soft palate and hinders rather than assists articulatory function. To avoid these disturbances we devised an adjustable PLP with a flexible conjunction between the denture base and the palatal lifting plate to obtain the optimal vertical lifting angle. The palatal plate was adapted to conform in a passive manner to the soft palate with light‐cured resin. The designed PLP simplified the procedure and reduced the number of adjustments and visits.     

Unsustainable funding of high‐burden tuberculosis control programmes: who is responsible?

The literature suggests that crowding‐out effects of government funding for health happen in low‐income countries with a high HIV burden. In a survey, we investigated the hypothesis that domestic funding for TB control has fallen in 11 low‐income, high‐TB‐burden countries in the context of changes in gross domestic product (GDP), development assistance inflows and national health expenditures. We found that despite rises in GDP per capita between 2003 and 2009, health expenditure as per cent of GDP fell or stayed the same for the majority of these countries. Although TB control budgets increased for all 11 countries in absolute terms, 6 countries reduced government contribution to TB control. For health programmes to become sustainable in the long run, we suggest increases in donor funding for health to be accompanied by requirements to increase domestic funding for health. We thereby attribute responsibility to avoid crowding‐out effects to donors and governments alike. Moreover, it is the responsibility of both to ensure essential items to be funded by government sources to avoid a collapse of programmes once aid is withdrawn.