Long-term effectiveness and quality of life improvement in entacapone-treated Parkinson's disease patients: the effects of an early therapeutic intervention

To evaluate the long-term effects of entacapone on both mean daily 'on' time and health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experiencing 'end-of-dose' motor fluctuations and the benefits of an early therapeutic intervention. A prospective, multicenter, observational, 12-month study was performed with an initial 3-month intervention phase, consisting of a phone call to half of the patients from randomly selected investigators to assess if dose adjustment was necessary. Effectiveness was determined by home diaries ('on' time), subscales II and III of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8). After 3 months of treatment, 4.0% of the intervention group patients discontinued the study, versus 18.4% in the control group ( P  < 0.01). The improvement in 'on' time was significantly increased since the 3-month visit (21%, P  < 0.0001) until the end of the study (23% at 12 months, P  < 0.0001). Entacapone also induced significant reductions in the UPDRS scores for subscales II and III and in the PDQ-8 score. 11.2% of patients experienced at least one adverse reaction. This study confirms the effectiveness of entacapone in reducing motor fluctuations by increasing 'on' time, and in improving QoL of PD patients. An early adjustment of entacapone and levodopa doses reduces the number of treatment discontinuations during the first months of treatment.     

Overview: Beyond guidelines and guidance—psychosocial perspectives on treatment interventions for young people with substance problems in the United Kingdom

Over the last two decades there has been accumulating evidence that both psychosocial and pharmacological treatment interventions can effect change in substance-misusing adults. Thus, treatment interventions implemented for young people with substance problems largely draw on the adult addiction experience and that of child and adolescent psychiatry and psychology. As young people with problematic drug use have different treatment needs, and require different interventions and services to those of adults, results of adult studies cannot necessarily be directly extrapolated to young people.

Over the last five years evidence has been rapidly mounting that treatment may potentially work in young people, but as yet it is not as extensive as that for adults. The interventions that appear most fruitful are those based on learning theory, e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy and family therapy. Outcome studies in young people demonstrate substantial variability in substance use and misuse following treatment. From the UK perspective, the evidence is almost entirely USA based, and these evaluations of non-UK treatment programmes for young people cannot be simply transferred or transported to UK healthcare settings. This has significant implications for practice and policy.

At this stage, 'guidelines' or 'guidance' that is available is either not directed at young people and/or is largely gleaned from the USA literature. In addition, it does not adequately capture the complexity of cases at front-line specialist settings. The management of young substance misusers in the UK is, in the main, 'beyond guidelines and guidance'.

The restricted treatment service network for young people in the UK makes the potential for undertaking studies on treatment effectiveness extremely limited, but because there is evidence of a growing number of young people requiring treatment, such specialist drug services require evaluation. Serious consideration of the establishment and funding of evaluation of treatment interventions to be delivered to young substance misusers in the UK is urgently needed.     

社区干预治疗对促进脑梗死患者功能恢复效果分析

目的探讨社区干预治疗对促进脑梗死患者功能恢复的效果。方法以自愿的方式选择通州区经委社区卫生服务站和八里桥社区卫生服务站所管辖社区内38例脑梗死恢复期患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,对治疗组患者进行为期1年的社区干预治疗,比较治疗组与对照组患者功能恢复情况(日常生活活动能力)。结果通过1年的早期社区干预治疗,治疗组较对照组患者功能恢复效果明显提高(P<0.01)。结论早期社区干预治疗对脑梗死患者功能恢复有促进作用。     

Assessment of sexual abuse and trauma: Clinical measures

Examined are several measures currently used in the assessment of child abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma. These measures include structured clinical interviews, self report measures, screening inventory, symptom checklist, and some measures that include decision making properties. Issues and implications for clinical practice are explored.     

维持性血透患者的心理状态研究

研究我国血透患者的心理状况并进行针对性的心理治疗。方法 采用症状自评量表(SCL90-R)、多维度健康状况心理控制源量表(MHLC)、艾森克个性问卷(EPQ)及终末期肾脏病(ESRD)患者专用的生活质量表对北京六个医院透析中心的92名维持性血透患者进行了心理状态的研究,并与美国及加拿大相同的研究进行了比较分析。结果 本组的血透存在着抑郁、焦虑、恐怖等心理障碍,出现心理障碍的比例显著高于美国同类患者(P<0.01),且焦虑的发生率高于美国同类患者(P<0.01)。这些障碍与MHLC中机遇项分(CED)显著相关(P<0.01)。EPQ中神经质项分高者倾向于发生抑郁、焦虑等心理障碍。本组的血透患者客观生活质量较加拿大同类患者低(P<0.01),但在总的生活满意度上没有显著性差异。生活质量与心理及躯体因素均呈显著相关,心理障碍与躯体症状也显著相关(P<0.01)。结论 本组的血透患者心理状态与美国加拿大同类患者相比既有相同之处,又有特殊之处。我们应该兼顾病人的躯体和精神两方面的健康,努力提高他们的生活质量。     

Drug related hospital admissions

Summary As part of a high-intensity monitoring study of drug events as the cause of admission to departments of internal medicine, the effect of an educational intervention programme was studied. Two departments were included, one specialising in geriatrics and one that received patients by non-selected referral. The series consisted of 607 consecutive admissions studied before and 703 after the intervention. The drug events considered were adverse drug reactions and dose-related therapeutic failures, mainly due to non-compliance.A modest, statistically non-significant decrease in drug related hospital admissions (DRH) was seen, from 14% before to 13% after the intervention period. However, DRHs classified as definitely avoidable showed the significant decrease of 83%.There was no apparent relationship between the topics selected for the intervention programme and changes in the pattern of DRHs. No relationship between alterations in sales data and hospital admissions caused by a given drug could be demonstrated. A blinded external evaluation of case abstracts did not disclose any significant shift in the investigators' assessments.The intervention may have had an non-specific effect on avoidable DRHs.     

聋幼儿情绪状态对认知发展的影响

为促进聋幼儿各方面的正常发展，使其早日回归主流社会，我们对聋幼儿进行了认知和情绪表现的研究。通过问卷调查、观察和实验研究得知，聋幼儿的认知发展和良好情绪的培养是分不开的，认知内容适中有利于聋幼儿良好情绪的培养，而良好积极的情绪又可促进聋幼儿认知的发展。对此，我们实验并总结了培养聋幼儿积极情绪和促进认知发展的方法。     

不稳定型心绞痛血运重建后氧化和抗氧化指标的动态变化及临床意义

目的　探讨不稳定型心绞痛 (UAP)患者经皮冠状动脉介入治疗后丙二醛和超氧化物歧化酶水平的变化规律及临床意义。方法　连续观察 2 5例不稳定心绞痛患者经皮冠脉治疗术前及术后 1、2 4和 72h血液中丙二醛 (MDA)和超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)的变化。另设单纯行冠脉造影的不稳定型心绞痛患者 2 0例和健康者 2 0名作对照 ,MDA和SOD分别用硫代巴比妥酸法和黄嘌呤氧化酶法测定其血清含量 ,并随访术后 3个月心血管事件的发生情况。结果　MDA在不稳定型心绞痛患者中的浓度明显高于健康者 ,介入治疗后 1h进一步升高 ,持续至 2 4h(P =0 .0 0 1) ,72h回复至术前水平 ;单纯行冠脉造影者 ,术前与术后无明显改变。SOD在不稳定型心绞痛患者中的浓度明显低于健康者 (P〈0 .0 5 ) ,介入治疗后进一步降低。结论　不稳定型心绞痛患者介入治疗后MDA和SOD在 72h内有动态变化 ,可能是术后早期心血管事件的危险因素     

心理护理发展中相关问题的思考

围绕心理护理在理论和实践中取得的进步和存在的相关问题,运用哲学的原理探讨如何发展心理护理理论,提高护士的实践能力和素质水平,完善护理管理体制。     

Adopted Children: Core Issues and Unique Challenges

TOPIC: Psychological impact of adoption and resulting core issues for adopted children. PURPOSE: To raise awareness of the psychological impact of adoption. SOURCES: Published literature and personal observations. CONCLUSIONS: Adoption raises unique issues and challenges for the child and adoptive parents. Resolving the issues of adoption is a lifelong process. Through an awareness of the issues inherent in adoption, nurses and parents can use strategies that will enhance children's self-esteem and decrease their emotional vulnerability. Search terms: Adoption, intervention, loss, self-esteem, strategies