Not an equal opportunity disease – a sex and gender-based review of colorectal cancer in men and women: Part II

This paper reviews the literature on colorectal cancer from a sex and gender-based perspective. Colorectal cancer is a major cause of death in the developed world, with rates increasing in developing countries. Although described by some writers as an ‘equal opportunity’ disease, it presents more risk to men than women. Both biological, or sex-linked factors, and gender-linked factors play a part in the aetiology of the disease, while gender differences in the use of screening and treatment also help shape the mortality gap between women and men for this condition. Without an appreciation of the part played by sex and gender in the risk of colorectal cancer, and without a gender-sensitive approach to screening in particular, it is possible that the mortality gap between men and women for this condition will widen in the future.     

以新生儿重症监护病房为中心的早产儿视网膜病变筛查模式

目的：介绍一种较为完善的早产儿视网膜病变（ROP）筛查模式。方法：建立基本完善的ROP登记、会诊、筛查、转诊等制度,所有工作均在新生儿重症监护病房（N ICU）完成,形成以NICU为中心的ROP筛查模式,并按此模式开展筛查工作。结果：登记符合ROP筛查标准的患儿239例,其中接受至少一次筛查的患儿222例（占应筛查总数的92.89%）,按要求完成筛查的患儿176例（占应筛查总数的73.64%）。发现ROP患儿39例（占实际筛查数的17.57%）,其中阈值前期1型或阈值期病变11例（占实际筛查数的4.96%）。结论：这种以NICU为中心的ROP筛查模式,制度较为完善,临床中易于操作,能有效节约医疗资源,适合在中小城市中推广。     

Cholesterol screening: observed cholesterol reduction in a prospective study in Norway

The general public of the City of Bergen, Norway was Invitedto participate in a cholesterol screening programme in October1988. Participants received the results of the cholesterol screeningand nutritional information from trained health personnel. Ashort questionnaire was mailed to all 354 participants 1–2weeks after the initial cholesterol screening. In March 1990,all participants were invited to have their cholesterol levelsre-examined. Psychosocial factors believed to be predictiveof future serum cholesterol changes were assessed at baselinealong with demographic variables. The majority of participants(61%) reduced their cholesterol level from October 1988 to March1990, and the average reduction in cholesterol level for thetotal population was 4.0%. Baseline cholesterol levels, beingconfident of one's own ability to change one's diet (self-efficacy),seeing heart disease risk reduction as very important, and maritalstatus were factors that significantly predicted successfulcholesterol reduction 18 months later.     

Depression Scale (DEPS) among suicide attempters

The Depression Scale (DEPS), a new screening instrument for detecting depression in primary health care, was compared with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) among 50 suicide attempters. Using the HDS as a gold standard, the positive and negative predictive values of the DEPS for the diagnosis of depression were 98% and 20%, respectively. The correlation between the total HDS scores and the total DEPS scores was 0.60. The DEPS may help general practitioners to detect depression among suicide attempters, but it should not be used to exclude depression.     

Determinants of decision-making in the screening procedure of a community psychiatric service

This study is a predictor analysis of the screening procedure followed by a psychiatric service for a period of 1 year preceding and a period of 1 year following the introduction of community psychiatry. Throughout this period, the psychiatric service consisted of a local service within the catchment area and a central service at a psychiatric hospital outside the area. At the time of the reorganization, the responsibility for the psychiatric service was transferred from the public health authorities to the social services. Before the reorganization, screenings were conducted on the basis of referral papers or simply as a result of telephone communication. After the reorganization, the screening procedure was intensified by means of a pre-examination. One aim of the reorganization was to ensure that the severely mentally ill take priority over patients characterized predominantly by social strain. Patients with manic-depressive psychosis and other psychoses showed a significantly increased probability of being accepted for treatment, whereas those with schizophrenia showed no significant increase, irrespective of the service reorganization. Similarly, manic-depressive psychosis and other psychoses (not schizophrenia) were significant predictors of hospitalization at the mental hospital outside the catchment area as well as hospitalization in the local facilities, irrespective of the service reorganization. Indicators of social strain were not given higher priority following the service reorganization.     

Patients with Alcohol Problems in the Emergency Department,Part 1: Improving Detection*

Abstract. Medical and social problems related to alcohol use are frequently seen in the ED. Often, the tempo of emergency medicine practice seems to preclude assessment beyond that required by the acute complaint. However, detection of ED patients with alcohol problems can occur using brief screening tools. This article was developed by members of the SAEM Substance Abuse Task Force, and describes screening tools that have been used successfully to identify atrisk and dependent drinkers. Their brevity, reproducibility, and accuracy vary somewhat, but screening can be realistically performed in the busy ED setting. The early detection of patients with alcohol problems would provide the opportunity for early intervention, and may reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality in this patient population.     

Parenchymal and pleural fibrosis in construction workers.

Exposure to mineral dust was studied among construction workers (N = 437) with the aid of a questionnaire and a chest X-ray examination of the lungs. The results of the questionnaire showed that 81% of the construction workers had been exposed to asbestos. Exposure had occurred in all of the occupational groups studied. Pleural plaques and/or lung fibrosis (ILO greater than or equal to 1/1) were found in 26% of the examined workers; the prevalence varied from 18 to 40% among the various occupational groups. Comparison with a representative sample of the Finnish male population from another investigation indicates that the frequency of lung fibrosis (ILO greater than or equal to 1/1) is at least two times higher among the examined construction workers than among the general population. It seems likely that exposure to asbestos dust can be considered an etiological factor for an appreciable number of the X-ray findings.     

用反相HPLC分析一例HbF变异体—HbF—新疆[~Aγ~T25(B7)Gly→Arg]

在1989年乌鲁木齐市进行的脐带血筛选中,我室又发现了一例异常胎儿血红蛋白(HbF)。理化性质测定证明该变异体为一轻度不稳定Hb。经反相高效液相色谱法(HPLC)等方法测定证明该变异体为HbF-新疆[~Aγ~T25(B7)Gly→Arg]。胡怀钰曾于1986年首次发现该变异体,并命名。与前例比较,本例除分析方法部分不同外,两例先证者的临床症状亦稍有差别。本例的先证者在半岁前患有轻度贫血,而首例先证者未见关于贫血的报道。