Guidelines for a short-term therapy of a torture depression

Psychotherapeutic work with torture traumas and their aftereffects are made difficult through a number of factors. Six guiding principles are presented in this publication through which make it possible to influence the actual symptomatology within the limits of the short therapy, even under difficult conditions. Creative images, described in detail as process fantasies, are the focus of this short therapy. Situative experiences in the treatment process are not interpreted with reference to the subject or the concrete trauma. This leads to the intra-psychic patterns being unlinked from traumatic torture experience patterns. With the aid of a model which discusses the torture as a superinfection with psychogenic violence-viruses, the penetration and resistance to therapy towards the torture trauma can be illuminated so that a differentiation of social and psychological factors of the torture experience is made possible.     

我国人体首次发现圆圃棘口吸虫病例及虫体形态观察

1988年7月6日,我们在一患者便内发现似姜片虫卵的大型虫卵。临床表现为头昏无力、食欲不振,上腹痛和贫血。因病人20天前有吞食活泥鳅史,故疑其为棘口吸虫病。服药后获虫体70条,经形态学研究,鉴定为圆圃棘口吸虫(Echinostoma hortense Asada,1926)。     

Testosterone in a Cyclodextrin-Containing Formulation: Behavioral and Physiological Effects of Episode-like Pulses in Rats

Testosterone, administered in the form of an inclusion complex with 2-hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin by subcutaneous injection, enters the circulation in a manner markedly similar to the natural episodic release by the testes. The effects of a regimen of once-a-day administration of complexed testosterone to adult (castrated or intact) rats and to senescent (intact) rats were investigated. Although this procedure left the castrated animals with concentrations of circulatory hormone far below physiological levels for much of the day, a significant improvement in androgen-sensitive behavior and physiology was obtained. Furthermore, the testosterone effects were more pronounced when high doses were used periodically rather than when the same total amount of testosterone was equally divided among doses. The same supplementation to intact rats intensified androgen-sensitive behavior and physiology over normal levels. In senescent rats uniform pulses of the testosterone complex also improved behavior and physiology. Specifically, spermatogenesis was stimulated and, notably, the treatment increased muscle weight without substantial enlargement of the prostate. Since the testosterone–cyclodextrin complex also can be effectively administered as a sublingual tablet, the data suggest that similar regimens may be recommended for elderly men suffering from decreases in muscle mass.     

GALC transduction leads to morphological improvement of the twitcher oligodendrocytes in vivo

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD, Krabbe disease) is a severe demyelinating disease caused by a genetic defect of beta-galactocerebrosidase (GALC). To date treatment to GLD is limited to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Experimental approaches by means of gene therapy in twitcher mouse, an authentic murine model of human GLD, showed significant but only marginal improvements of the disease. To clarify whether the introduction of GALC could provide beneficial effects on the oligodendrocytes in GLD, we transduced twitcher oligodendrocytes by stereotactically injecting recombinant retrovirus encoding GALC-myc-tag fusion gene into the forebrain subventricular zone of neonatal twitcher mouse. In vivo effects of exogenous GALC on twitcher oligodendrocytes were studied histologically by combined immunostaining for the myc-epitope and the oligodendroglial specific marker, pi form of glutathione-S-transferase, at around 40 days of age. We show here that GALC transduction led to dramatic morphological improvement of the twitcher oligodendrocytes comparing with those in untreated twitcher controls. This study provided direct in vivo evidence that GALC transduction could prevent or correct aberrant morphology of oligodendrocytes in GLD which may be closely related to the dysfunction and/or degeneration of oligodendrocytes and the demyelination in this disease.     

Extramarital Involvement: A Core Relationship Issue in Need of a Coherent Model, Comprehensive Research, and Empirically Based Intervention

Clinical interventions for extramarital involvement (EMI) have outpaced empirical knowledge about both risk factors for infidelity and effective treatments. Allen et al. (this issue) provide a systematic review of current knowledge organized around stages of the development of EMI and factors concerning the involved partner, the spouse, the couple's relationship, and the interpersonal context. Their review identifies significant gaps in knowledge for which research is needed. Because EMI has multiple determinants, conceptual models and research on it must be multivariate. This comment focuses on priorities for increasing knowledge about EMI, including (a) clarification of variation in definitions and personal standards for EMI through consideration of participants' subjective experiences as well as the views of outsiders (researchers, clinicians); (b) improved qualitative research using interview methods designed to minimize biased questioning by investigators and biased reporting by subjects, to tap individuals' internal experiences with the developmental process of EMI; (c) nonblaming research on characteristics of the noninvolved spouse and the couple's interaction that predict EMI; and (d) adaptation of generic preventive and relationship enrichment interventions for couples involving communication skill-building and psychoeducation, to include information about ways to "inoculate" relationships against commonly unexpected risks of EMI.     

IL-6–174G/C genotype is associated with the bone mineral density response to oestrogen replacement therapy in post-menopausal women

A reduction in interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity may contribute to the beneficial effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the menopausal decline in bone mineral density (BMD). We have examined this hypothesis using a genetic strategy. The –174C (rather than G) IL-6 gene variant is associated with lower IL-6 expression. As such, we might anticipate the C allele to be associated with a greater response to HRT. We have tested this hypothesis. Mean three-site [spine (L1-L4), neck of femur, and Wards triangle] BMD was measured in 65 women in a 1-year randomised controlled trial of HRT with 0.625 mg oestrogen/day and 0.15 mg norgestrel (n=30). Baseline BMD was genotype-independent for both the control and HRT group. In the control group, the percentage change in BMD after 1 year was similar between genotypes (P=0.45). In contrast, in the HRT group, the rise was genotype-dependent. Those homozygous for the G allele showed a 3.62 (2.14)% increase in BMD compared with 10.44 (4.68)% for the C-homozygous group. Heterozygotes had an intermediate BMD increase of 5.6 (2.82)% [P=0.006 (P value for interaction between HRT and genotype was 0.04)] Although the study was limited by its small sample size, these are the first data to demonstrate the importance of IL-6 genotype in determining response to oestrogen therapy, rather than its physiological withdrawal.     

放松训练对高考学生身心健康的影响

目的　研究放松训练法对高考学生身心健康的影响 ,为考生心理健康水平的提高 ,减轻考前焦虑提供科学措施。方法　选择同一学校两个高中三年级的班级 ,分别作为对照组 ( n=72 )和放松训练组 ( n=70 )。高考前的 3个月开始进行全身放松训练 ,每天约 2 5分钟 ,连续两个半月。比较训练前后两组考生的心理健康水平 ,并评价放松训练法的作用效果。结果　对照组考生在考前半个月 SCL-90的阳性项目数以及焦虑、强迫、躯体化、人际敏感、抑郁等 5项因子分和 SAS总均分均显著高于 3个月前 ;放松训练组考生经 2个半月的放松训练后 ,其 SCL-90的焦虑、强迫、人际敏感、抑郁、躯体化等 5项因子分和 SAS总均分均显著低于放松训练前 ,且阳性项目数、总均分以及焦虑、强迫、抑郁、躯体化、人际敏感等 5项因子分和 SAS总均分均显著低于对照组高考前半月的相应分值。结论　随着高考的临近 ,考生的心身反应增多且加重 ,心理健康水平明显下降 ;全身放松训练法能有效改善考生的各种心身反应和紧张焦虑状况 ,有利于保护考生的心理健康     

Historical evolution,overview, and therapeutic manipulation of co-stimulatory molecules

Co-stimulatory molecules are key mediators in the regulation of immune responses and knowledge of its different families, structure, and functions has improved in recent decades. Understanding the role of co-stimulatory molecules in pathological processes has allowed the development of strategies to modulate cellular functions. Currently, modulation of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules has been applied in clinical applications as therapeutic targets in diseases and promising results have been achieved.     

Multiple cancers in a Turner's syndrome with 45,X/46,XXp-/46,XX/47,XXX karyotype

A female patient with a clinical picture of Turner's syndrome had five separate malignant tumors (three squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue, a colon cancer, and a glioblastoma multiforme). Her peripheral blood cells showed a 45,X/46,XXp-/46,XX/47,XXX mosaicism. The findings are discussed in relation to other extragonadal tumors in Turner's syndrome reported to-date.     

Cytogenetic analysis in human breast tumors

Cytogenetic analysis using C-, G-, and Ag-nucleolus organizer region (NOR) staining techniques, performed on established cell lines as well as directly processed breast tumor effusions, revealed that: 1) chromosome No. 1 is involved in translocation; 2) based on 1q translocation chromosome, breast tumors could be classified into two groups; and 3) double minutes and homogeneously staining regions may be present in breast tumor cells in vivo as well as in vitro, and that homogeneously staining regions may exhibit some heterogeneity in staining.