Children's stories of hope: moving toward an expanded understanding of the world children live in

This qualitative study that allowed children to be the dominant voice examined children's stories of hope. Twenty-nine kindergarten children through to third graders were interviewed using familiar school items: story board, pictures, puppets, and so on. One elementary school, located in a large southwestern metropolitan city, was selected for this study. Data was coded and prominent themes emerged illustrating that children are much more moral than many adults give them credit for. Approximately one-half of the stories shared focused not on the children's wants or “hopes”, but on others - classmates, friends, family, or extended relatives. The findings support research that highlights the issues of care, concern, and compassion that are a priority for young children.     

77例出院后精神分裂症患者心理调查分析

研究目的调查分析出院后精神分裂症患者的心理状况，了解存在的问题并探讨解决的对策。研究方法对77例出院后精神分裂症病人就22项心理问题进行调查统计，并对比男女患者差异。结果男性易发脾气、借酒消愁、因病影响工作安排的现象较女性突出，而女性的婚姻状况较紧性明显。结论社区防治的病人心理问题较繁杂，因此防治工作应重视患者的心理特点，解决患者的实际问题。     

In vivo fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging of human skin tumours

The feasibility of using in vivo autofluorescence for the diagnosis of skin cancer was evaluated. In vivo fluorescence measurements were performed on healthy human volunteers, and patients with different types of benign and malignant skin tumours. Fluorescence spectra as well as fluorescence images were acquired. The excitation-emission matrix of normal skin (n=3) showed a broad peak at the shortest excitation wavelength (365 nm) and at 440 nm fluorescence wavelength, smoothly decreasing towards longer excitation and fluorescence wavelengths. Non-melanoma skin tumours (n=31) and control skin excited with 375 nm showed a broad fluorescence band from 400 to 700 nm, peaking around 436 nm. No significant differences in measurements between tumours and the corresponding control sites were found. A large spatial variation in the fluorescence intensity was observed both in the tumours and in the control sites. Standard deviations found ranged from 0.15 to 1.5 times the mean fluorescence. Fluorescence images, excited with 375 nm and taken with an image intensified CCD camera, on eight malignant melanomas and eight benign pigmented lesions did not indicate any fluorescence intensity distribution specific to the malignancy of the lesion. Neither the shape of the fluorescence spectra, nor the spatial distribution of the fluorescence intensity showed any signature specific to the histopathological nature of the lesions investigated. Optical diagnostics of skin tumours using the autofluorescence does not seem to be feasible at the present time.     

Erfahrungen zur PFFB von isolierten radiusköpfchenfrakturen

Zusammenfassung Den Vorteilen einer osteosynthetischen Versorgung einer Fraktur mit sofortiger Aufnahme seiner Funktion, stehen die aus der Literatur bekannten Komplikationen gegenüber. Diese und unsere eigenen unbefriedigenden Ergebnisse nach der operativen Versorgung von Radiusköpfchenfrakturen ließen uns zu einer prospektiven randomisierten Studie einer primär funktionellen Behandlung unter Verzicht auf eine äußere oder innere Stabilisierung greifen. Seit Dezember 1991 haben wir im UKH-Graz bis einschließlich Dezember 1992 insgesamt 70 Patienten nach einem strikten Behandlungskonzept, unter Zuhilfenahme der Computertomographie zur Verlaufsbeobachtung versorgt. Die in 91% der Fälle als sehr gut and gut einzustufenden Frühergebnisse sowie das fehlende Auftreten einer, wie bei operativer Versorgung möglichen Komplikation, ebenso die zusätzlich deutlich frühere Arbeitsfähigkeit bzw. deutlich kürzere, wenn auch aufwendigere Behandlungszeit, lassen uns diese Verfahren nicht nur in unserem Hans weiterführen, sondern können wir auch weiter empfehlen.

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Experience with internal fixation of fractures of the head of the radius

The advantages of internal fixation of fractures, with the possibility of immediate resumption of the function of the fractured bone, are in contrast to the well-known complications described in the literature. These complications and our own unsatisfactory results after surgical treatment of fractures of the head of the radius induced us to carry out a randomized prospective study of primary functional treatment of such fractures without external or internal stabilization. From December 1991 through December 1992, a total of 70 patients were treated according to a strict treatment protocol at the Graz Hospital for Accident Surgery, and CT was used for observation of the healing process. The positive early results, which in 91% of all cases were classified as very good or good, the lack of complications that sometimes follow surgical treatment, the markedly earlier recovery of the patient's working capacity, and the clearly shorter — albeit somewhat more expensive — treatment period required have led us to continue using this method at our hospital and also to recommend its use elsewhere.

     

One-year follow-up of the outcome of a randomized controlled trial of a home-based intervention programme for children with autism and developmental delay and their families

Introduction There is debate about the type and intensity of early childhood intervention that is most helpful for children with developmental problems. The aim of the study was to determine whether a home‐based programme provided over 12 months resulted in sustained improvement in development and behaviour 12 months after the intervention ceased. The characteristics of the children and families who benefited most from the intervention were also studied. Method Randomized controlled trial. Participants A total of 59 children, aged 3–5 years, attending two early childhood intervention centres in Melbourne, Australia. Intervention Half of the subjects received an additional home‐based programme consisting of 40 weekly visits. Main outcome measures Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Revised, Preschool Behaviour Checklist, Bayley Behaviour Rating Scale and Behaviour Screening Questionnaire. All tests administered pre‐intervention, following the intervention and 12 months later. Secondary outcome measures Family stress, support and empowerment. Results Fifty‐four children completed the assessments 12 months after conclusion of the intervention. Compared with the control group, improvement in aspects of cognitive development in the children who received the extra intervention was sustained 1 year later (P= 0.007) while significant behavioural differences post intervention were not. Analyses of the data by the Reliable Change Index indicated improvement of clinical significance occurred in non‐verbal areas. In contrast to the control group who deteriorated, language skills in the intervention group remained stable. Improvements were significantly associated with higher stress in the families. Conclusion Improvements following the provision of a home‐based programme to preschool children with developmental disabilities were sustained 1 year later. Children from highly stressed families appeared to benefit most, reinforcing the importance of involving families in early childhood intervention programmes.     

哮喘患者团体辅导实践与体会

结合临床实践,重点介绍作为心理干预形式之一的团体辅导在哮喘患者中的应用情况,包括实施方案、过程、所遇问题及处理等方面。笔者旨在验证、推广团体辅导这一有效改善哮喘患者情绪的心理干预方法,为提高哮喘患者生活质量的临床实践活动提供参考。     

Supporting insensitive mothers: the Vilnius randomized control trial of video-feedback intervention to promote maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security

Objective   This randomized control trial examined the effects of a short-term, interaction-focused and attachment-based video-feedback intervention (VIPP: video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting).
Design   VIPP effect on mothers' sensitive responsiveness and infant–mother attachment security was evaluated in a sample ( n  = 54) of low sensitive, non-clinical, middle class Lithuanian mothers.
Methods   Maternal sensitivity was assessed in a free play session with the Ainsworth's sensitivity scale, and attachment security was observed using the Attachment Q sort for home observations.
Results   We found that the intervention mothers indeed significantly improved their sensitive responsiveness through participation in our VIPP. The effect size was large according to Cohen's criteria, d  = 0.78. VIPP enhanced maternal sensitive responsiveness even when maternal age, educational level, depression, daily hassles, efficacy, infant gender, and infant negative and positive affect were controlled for. However, attachment security in the VIPP infants was not enhanced after the intervention, compared with the control infants, and the infants did not seem to be differentially susceptible to the increase in maternal sensitivity dependent on their temperamental reactivity.
Conclusion   We suggest that a relatively brief and low-cost programme can provide effective support for mothers who lack sensitivity in the interactions with their infants.     

Literacy for early childhood: Learning from the learners

The originator of LETTERLAND describes a unique teaching model which blends a structured phonics approach with whole language teaching. Children are introduced to a language about language which enables them to acquire a confident mastery of print based on parallel learning. Its pictogrammatic approach creates a stimulus to inquiry and a learning environment which is imaginative and friendly.     

A preventive intervention for enhancing resilience among highly stressed urban children

Describes the development and evaluation of a pilot 12-session, school-based preventive intervention designed to enhance resilience among inner-city children who have experienced major life stress. Thirty-six 4th–6th grade children participated in the intervention in groups of 5–8 co-led by school personnel. The curriculum focussed on understanding feelings in oneself and others, perspective-taking, social problem-solving, dealing with solvable and unsolvable problems, and building self-efficacy and esteem. Pre-post evaluation showed significant improvement among participants on teacher-rated indices of learning problems and task orientation and on child ratings of perceived self-efficacy, realistic control attributions and anxiety. Program limitations and factors that restrict generalization are considered and new directions for program development and research are proposed.