No difference in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome between healthy subjects and patients with recurrent depression in remission

There is bidirectional comorbidity between anxiety/depression and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). To investigate the prevalence of IBS symptoms, and factors associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with recurrent depressive disorder. Patients (n = 95) with recurrent type of major depression according to DSM-IV criteria and sex- and age-matched controls (n = 190) were sent questionnaires investigating symptoms of IBS [Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)-IBS] and symptoms of anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]. Medical records were checked over a 10-year period for chronic somatic symptoms or diseases. Seventy-three patients with unipolar disorder (mean age 63.6 years SD 13.8; range 23-86 years) and 156 controls (mean age 59.2 years SD 11.6, range 21-85 years) responded. Patients with recurrent depression had higher GSRS-IBS scores and showed a strong correlation between symptoms of IBS and anxiety-depression (r(s) = 0.54; P < 0.001). IBS symptoms were also associated with multiple pain symptoms, higher health-seeking behaviour and selective-serotonin-reuptake inhibitor intake. However, patients with recurrent depression (n = 46) in remission (HADS-Depression score <8) did not have more symptoms of IBS than controls (GSRS-IBS median score 6.0 vs 6.5; P = 0.46). There is a strong association between symptoms of IBS and symptoms of anxiety and depression, whereas depressive patients in remission do not have more IBS symptoms than controls.     

Partial replication of a DRD4 association in ADHD individuals using a statistically derived quantitative trait for ADHD in a family-based association test.

BACKGROUND: Previous research found an association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of DRD4 and statistically derived phenotypes generated from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. We sought to replicate this finding by using the same methodology in an independent sample of ADHD individuals. METHODS: Four SNPs were genotyped in and around DRD4 in 2631 individuals in 642 families. We developed a quantitative phenotype at each SNP by weighting nine inattentive and nine hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. The weights were selected to maximize the heritability at each SNP. Once a quantitative phenotype was generated at each SNP, the screening procedure implemented in PBAT was used to select and test the five SNPs/genetic model combinations with the greatest power to detect an association for DRD4. RESULTS: One of the four SNPs was associated with the quantitative phenotypes generated from the ADHD symptoms (corrected p-values = .02). A rank ordering of the correlation between each of the ADHD symptoms and the quantitative phenotype suggested that hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were more strongly correlated with the phenotype; however, including inattentive symptoms was necessary to achieve a significant result. CONCLUSIONS: This study partially replicated a previous finding by identifying an association between rs7124601 and a quantitative trait generated from ADHD symptoms. The rs7124601 is in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the SNPs identified previously. In contrast to the previous study, this finding suggests that both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive symptoms are important in the association.     

Transition from open to robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy is associated with a reduction of positive surgical margins amongst private-practice-based urologists

Several recent studies have suggested that thought leaders in radical prostatectomy have decreased their own positive margin rates by switching from open to robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Theoretically, this improvement is largely attributed to enhanced visualization of the deep pelvis and precision of dissection afforded by the instrumentation. To date, it has not been determined if this phenomenon exists amongst non-fellowship-trained urologists in private practice. Herein, we describe the positive margin rates of two non-fellowship-trained private-practice urologists who converted from open radical retropubic prostatectomy to robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. The margin positivity data from two non-fellowship-trained private-practice urologists (surgeon 1 and surgeon 2) were reviewed retrospectively. The last 50 cases of open radical retropubic prostatectomy from each surgeon were compared with the first 50 robotic prostatectomy cases of surgeons 1 and 2, respectively. A positive surgical margin was defined as tumor present at the inked margin of the prostate. There was a significant decrease in the overall and pT2 positive margin rates for both surgeons. The overall positive margin rate and pT2 positive margin rate for surgeon 1 dropped from 44 to 20% and from 37 to 5.7%, respectively, after changing from open to robotic prostatectomy. For surgeon 2, the overall positive margin rate changed from 26 to 18% and the pT2 positive margin rate changed from 27.5 to 7% after converting. Changing from open to robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy may improve the ability of urologists to obtain negative surgical margins. With proper training this phenomenon does seem to apply to non-fellowship-trained urologists in private practice and can be realized within the first 50 cases performed.     

宁夏高校新生乙型肝炎知识和正向态度的调查

目的：调查宁夏地区大学生新生有关乙型肝炎防治知识的认知情况，为开展健康教育提供基线资料。方法：采取分层整群抽样方法，对宁夏1000名大学新生进行问卷调查。结果：对乙型肝炎一般知识、传播途径的正确回答率宁夏医学院新生高于宁夏大学和宁夏农学院新生，传播途径得分女生高于男生；正向态度得分宁夏大学新生高于其它2校，汉民高于回民；乙肝的一般知识、传播途径及正向态度得分城市学生均高于农村，差异均有显著性。结论：大学生对乙肝的防治知识有一定了解，但不全面，不系统，不均衡，开展健康教育非常重要。     

首次CT检查阴性的颅脑损伤54例临床分析

目的分析颅脑损伤首次CT检查阴性而复查CT阳性的表现和原因。方法通过对首次CT检查阴性而复查CT阳性的54例颅脑损伤患者（研究组）的临床资料进行回顾性分析总结,并与同期收治的325例首次CT及复查CT均为阴性的颅脑损伤患者（对照组）作比较。结果研究组首次CT检查阴性而复查CT阳性表现为迟发性血肿、脑挫裂伤、脑积水、硬膜下积液、弥漫性脑肿胀、外伤性脑梗塞等,可由不同原因引起。结论熟悉本类颅脑损伤首次CT检查阴性,而复查CT阳性的表现及原因,对于指导检查及治疗,改善病人预后有重要意义。     

冻干水痘减毒活疫苗最小免疫剂量的研究

通过临床研究确定冻干水痘减毒活疫苗的最小免疫剂量 ,为制定规程中的免疫剂量提供科学依据。观察对象接种不同免疫剂量的冻干水痘减毒活疫苗后 ,于接种前和接种后 6周采血 ,采用荧光抗膜抗体 (FAMA)法检测其抗体阳转率和几何平均滴度 (GMT)。接种不同免疫剂量的疫苗 ,抗体阳转率差异无显著的统计学意义。疫苗中抗原含量在 2 5 0 0 0PFU/ml和 2 0 0 0PFU/ml之间 ,GMT差异无显著的统计学意义 ,但 2 5 0 0 0PFU/ml、2 0 0 0PFU/ml与 2 0 0PFU/ml之间抗体GMT的差异有极显著的统计学意义。研究结果表明 ,2 0 0 0PFU/ml为冻干水痘减毒活疫苗的最小免疫剂量。     

A follow-up study of respiratory function in workers exposed to acid aerosols in a food-processing industry

A follow-up investigation was performed on 49 female workers studied 2 years earlier in a vegetable-pickling plant. Acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity measurements were recorded during the original and the follow-up studies. Maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves were recorded during the Monday morning work shift. The forced vital capacity (FVC), 1-s forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of the FVC (FEF50, FEF25) were measured. There were small increases in the prevalence of chronic symptoms between the two studies for both smokers and nonsmokers, but these did not reach statistical significance. Five workers at the time of the initial study had a diagnosis of occupational asthma; only one of these was still working at the time of follow-up. Workers lost to the follow-up had lower lung function than those seen at follow-up. In workers who were followed, larger than expected mean annual declines were noted for all ventilatory capacity parameters in both smokers (FVC 0.070 l, FEV1 0.070 l; FEF50 0.355 l/s, FEF25 0.270 l/s) and nonsmokers (FVC 0.045 l, FEV1 0.045 l, FEF50 0.285 l/s; FEF25 0.130 l/s). The decrease was particularly pronounced for FEF50 and FEF25. The accelerated decline in ventilatory capacity tests noted in the female nonsmokers suggests an independent effect on lung function of work exposure in this environment. Our data confirm that work in the pickling industry, particularly in small, poorly regulated plants, has deleterious effects on respiratory function. Received: 24 September 1996 / Accepted: 19 June 1997     

The impact of lower urinary tract symptoms on general health status and on the use of prostatectomy

Our objective was to determine the extent to which lower urinary tract symptoms affect the general health status of men and contribute to the decision to undergo surgery. A cross-sectional population survey using postal questionnaires was conducted in the North West Thames health region, followed by a prospective cohort study of men undergoing prostatectomy (North West Thames and Oxford regions). The subjects in the first survey were 221 men aged 55 and over with previously reported mild, moderate or severe urinary symptoms; subjects in the second study were 388 men undergoing prostatectomy. Main outcome measures were selfreported symptom severity, bothersomeness and general health status (Nottingham Health Profilie, Part 1). The response rate among eligible responders in the population survey was 85.7%. Increasing symptom severity was associated with worsening NHP scores for energy, emotional reactions, sleep and physical mobility (p<0.01). Increasing bother-someness of symptoms was associated with emotional reactions, sleep and pain (p<0.05). Men undergoing surgery reported worse health status than men in the population with the same severity of symptoms as regards emotional reactions, energy and pain. For a given level of symptom severity, the impact of those symptoms on aspects of a man's general health status may be the determinant of seeking and undergoing surgery. Greater understanding of the factors that affect a man's response to his symptoms is needed in interpreting the decision to seek and accept treatment.     

Foreign body aspiration in children. The diagnostic value of signs,symptoms and pre-operative examination

One hundred and fifteen patients, between 6 months and 12 years of age, had bronchoscopy on suspicion of foreign body aspiration. The histories of these patients were studied to examine the diagnostic value of signs, symptoms and examinations, and to determine the time that passed between aspiration and removal of the foreign body. The sensitivity of the symptoms choking and coughing was fairly high (81 and 78%), but the specificity was poor. The sensitivity of a chest radiograph was 82%, the specificity 44%. The sensitivity of radiographs on inspiration and expiration was 80%, the specificity 55%. The patients had been referred with the initial diagnosis foreign body aspiration (80), pneumonia (34), or subglottic laryngitis (1). In 85 patients a foreign body was identified and extracted. The other 30 patients had respiratory tract infections. The initial diagnosis of foreign body aspiration was correct in 61 out of 85 patients. In these cases, the period between aspiration and extraction of the foreign body was a mean 6 days, compared with 55 days, if the initial diagnosis was pneumonia or sub-glottic laryngitis. We conclude that the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration is too often missed, and that, apart from bronchoscopy, diagnostic tools are of little value.