Bladder cancer and the consumption of alcoholic beverages in Spain

The relationship between bladder cancer and alcohol consumption was investigated in a case-control study conducted in 546 patients (453 males and 53 females) with diagnoses of papillary urothelial carcinoma during 1978–1982 at La Paz hospital (Madrid), and an equal number of controls matched for age, sex and date of admission to the hospital. The results showed that the risk of bladder cancer does not increase with the intake of beer, wine and spirit beverages. However, a high risk of bladder cancer was associated with consumption of wine mixed with gaseosa (a refreshment beverage consisiting of carbonated water plus artificial sweeteners).     

Epidemiology of adverse drug reactions in intensive care units. A multicentre prospective survey

Summary Clinically relevant events possibly attributable to drug exposure have been monitored prospectively over a period of six months in 27 general intensive care units. Fifty-four events attributed to drugs were reported in 51 patients during their stay in hospital, corresponding to an overall incidence of 1.35%. The behaviour of the physicians following attribution of the events to a prescribed drug is analyzed and discussed in detail with respect to its relationship to the quality and severity of the reaction, and the classes of drugs. Twenty-four of the 4537 monitored admissions during the six months were due to life-threatening emergencies linked to the administration of drugs (14) and radio-contrast media (10) (overall incidence 0.5%). While the clinical burden attributable to adverse drug reactions in Intensive Care Units appears to be relatively small, the analysis shows that there is ample room for a greater reduction in their incidence. Coordinators: Drs M. L. Farina and G. Tognoni, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan; Dr F. Procaccio, Neurosurgical ICU, Ospedale Ca' Granda, Niguarda, Milan.Investigators: Drs G. Barusco, Rovigo; F. Bassi, Milan; L. Bianchetti, Torino; E. Carchietti, Udine; G. Chilloni, Reggio Emilia; G. Costantini, Savigliano (CN); P. Ferrero, Aosta; E. Geat, Trento; F. Gorgerino, Torino; A. Lusini, Empoli (FI); G. Mantovani, Ferrara; S. Marchi, Bologna; P. Marcovigi, Forli; G. Marraro, Merate (CO); F. Merlo, Vicenza; E. Pagni, Bagno a Ripoli (FI); R. Pellegrino, Cuneo; C. Peruselli, Milan; A. Piovesano, Pordenone; R. Rinaldo, Cremona; R. Ruggerini, Piacenza; S. Sammartino, Torino; A. Sartore, Cittadella (PD); A. Scaglioli, Carpi (MO); G. Scopa, Terni; G. Zeffiro, Treviso; P. Zuccoli, Parma     

Abnormal seasonality of schizophrenic births A specific finding?

Summary The unusual finding of an abnormal seasonal distribution of schizophrenic births, showing an excess of 10% in the winter or spring months and an equal deficit in the summer or autumn months, cannot be explained by artefacts. It has not yet been established whether the finding is specific to schizophrenia. We observed an excess of schizophrenic births of some 10% in March to May, significant at the 5% level, and a deficit of approximately the same size in June to August on the birth data of first-admission patients with the clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia. The data, obtained from the Mannheim Psychiatric Case Register, were compared with those of the Mannheim population and a control group matched by birth year and sex. The total population of mentally retarded children aged 7 to 16 years from the Mannheim population showed an excess of some 20% in April to June and an equal deficit in the last two quarters of the year, compared with the Mannheim population of the same birth years. The finding was not significant, but allowance must be made for the low case number of 415. We also compared 3409 first-admission patients with depressive syndromes (ICD 296 and 300.4) and 5615 first-admission patients with the diagnosis of neurosis and personality disorders (ICD 300–302, except 300.4, and 305–309) from the Mannheim Case Register with a control population and a parallel control group. Depressed males showed an excess of births in March to May, which was significant at the 1% level; the birth peak for females was smaller and not significant. The same findings were obtained for the category of neurosis and personality disorders, i.e. an excess of about 10% in March to May for males, significant at the 1% level, and a non-significant excess for females. Our findings are awaiting replication. Causal explanations will be discussed with great reservation. The procreational hypothesis, assuming those factors that lead to an equidirectional seasonal pattern of births with a slight deviation from the average of a year in the general population, to be reinforced in the disease categories mentioned, is regarded as the most simple and plausible explanation. It is based on the assumption that some of the parents of individuals suffering from schizophrenia, mental retardation or probably also some other mental disorders running from generation to generation, have a higher threshold in partner-seeking behaviour, which is overcome more easily in the summer months with the consequence of increased pregnancies.     

Early prognosis of epilepsy. Effects of treatment in the first follow-up year

A multicenter prospective investigation was conducted in 17 teaching and general hospital in Italy to assess the efficacy of the care delivered to previously untreated patients with epilepsy. 175 cases were included and allocated to monotherapy. Only 112 cases completed the first year of follow-up. Of these, 59 (52.7%) were completely controlled and 53 (47.3%) had one or more seizure relapses. Controlied and uncontrolled patients were compared with respect to the main variables believed to influence non-responsiveness to standard therapy. The proportion of cases with relapses was significantly associated with the number of seizures reported before treatment was started. Selected seizure patterns (absences, myoclonic seizures) and prolonged disease duration were also reported more frequently among patients with recurrences. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to drug response and prognosis of epilepsy.

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Sommario Il presente studio consiste in una indagine prospettica multicentrica condotta in 17 centri ospedalieri italiani sulla efficacia del trattamento e sulla prognosi della malattia in pazienti con epilessia alla prima diagnosi. Dei 175 casi ammessi allo studio, 112 hanno completato il primo anno di osservazione. Di questi, 59 (52,7%) risultavano completamente controllati e 53 (47,3%) avevano presentato una o più crisi durante il follow-up. Le principali variabili ritenute responsabili di una insoddisfacente risposta al trattamento vennero quindi esaminate nei due gruppi. Il rischio di recidiva di crisi risultava significativamente correlato al numero di crisi presentate prima del trattamento. Inoltre, i pazienti con crisi nel follow-up presentavano una maggior durata di malattia o specifici tipi di crisi (assenze, crisi miocloniche). Il significato di tali dati è discusso in riferimento alle modalità di trattamento e agli altri fattori implicati nella prognosi dell'epilessia.

     

基于模拟教学法的临床相关专业流行病学教学实践与效果评价

目的 探索模拟教学法在临床相关本科专业流行病学课程教学中的应用及效果。方法 将平行开课的4个临床相关专业大班按整群随机的方法分为试验组(n=162)和对照组(n=166),对照组按传统方法教学,试验组给予基于模拟流行病学调查/试验的案例讨论教学法,课终采用问卷结合考试成绩评价教学效果。组间比较采用卡方检验、t检验或秩和检验。结果 试验组对于流行病学课程的学习兴趣(Z=-3.820,P<0.001)、课程的重要性和意义评价(Z=-4.713,P<0.001)、该课程难易程度评价(Z=-4.220,P<0.001)、开展流行病学调查和实施医学研究的信心(Z=-4.316,P<0.001)、课终考试成绩(Z=-3.631,P=0.002)均高于对照组; 并认为课程有助于提升文献阅读能力(Z=-4.618,P<0.001)、独立思考与解决问题能力(Z=-5.892,P<0.001),对科研设计与实施(Z=-3.851,P<0.01)、对学习其他课程(Z=-6.177,P<0.001)以及对逻辑思维、系统思维、多元思维形成(Z=-4.506,P<0.001)等有较大帮助,和对照组比较,差异均有统计学意义。结论 基于模拟流行病学调查/试验的案例讨论教学法,能够帮助学生整体上理解和掌握流行病学课程内容,提高学生分析和解决实际问题的能力,值得进一步探索和应用。     

昆明地区TTV感染的临床流行病学监测

目的 了解昆明地区输血传播病毒(Transfusion Transnfited Virus,TTV)感染的流行情况。方法 对本科77例住院人的血清用聚合酶链反应(PCR)法进行TTV检测。结果 检出11例TTV阳性患。结论 昆明地区肝病病人中存在TTV感染,感染率低于国内外水平。感染途径包括非肠道途径和肠道途径。     

山东沿海地区常见风湿病流行病学调查

目的了解山东沿海地区常见风湿病的发病状况.方法选择东营、日照、威海和胜利石油管理局浅海钻井公司为调查点,调查4种风湿病发病情况.结果调查17044人.类风湿性关节炎粗患病率为0.6923%,标化患病率为0.3998%,各地区患病率差异显著,男女比例为1∶3.02.强直性脊椎炎粗患病率为0.1584%,标化患病率为0.1372%,男女比例为2∶1.系统性红斑性狼疮粗患病率为0.0528%,标化患病率为0.0465%,男女比例为1∶1.97.痛风粗患病率为0.0352%,标化患病率分别为0.0315%,男女比例2∶1.结论山东沿海地区的常见风湿病患病率较高.     

Trends in burn injury mortality in Spain (1979–2018): Sex-specific age-cohort-period effects

BackgroundPrevious studies about burns mortality are often exclusively based on hospital and burn centre data. National population-based reports on this topic are rather limited. The aim of this study was to analyse sex- and age-specific mortality rates of burns in Spain during the period 1979–2018.MethodsAge-standardised burns mortality rates were calculated from death records and mid-year population data were provided by the Spanish National Statistics Institute. Joinpoint regression analyses were used to identify significant points of change in trends over time and to compute average annual per cent change (AAPC). Age, period and cohort effects were also analysed.ResultsMortality due to burn injury decreased in both sexes between 1979 and 2018: from the first quinquennium of this period up to the last one age-adjusted mortality rates decreased from 1.37 to 0.49 per 100,000 in men and from 0.96 to 0.26 per 100,000 in women.ConclusionsBurns mortality rates in Spain have been decreasing during the last decades. Promotion of primary prevention measures should continue.     

Definition and epidemiology of mild traumatic brain injury

Background/objectivesThe definition of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), also known as concussion, has been a matter of controversy, which makes comparison between studies difficult. Incidence varies greatly from one country to another. The present article reviews definitions and epidemiology.MethodsLiterature review.ResultsAccording to the Mild TBI Committee of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, revised by the World Health Organization (WHO), mTBI is defined by a Glasgow Coma Scale score between 13 and 15 at 30 minutes post-injury, and one or more of the following symptoms: <30 min loss of consciousness; <24 hours post-traumatic amnesia (PTA); impaired mental state at time of accident (confusion, disorientation, etc.); and/or transient neurological deficit. If a focal lesion is found on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the term “complicated mild TBI” has been proposed. Incidence of mTBI is 200–300/100,000 persons per year for hospitalized patients and probably twice as high if non-hospitalized patients are included. However, a few recent population-based studies reported a much higher rate (>700/100,000). A changing pattern of epidemiology has been found in high-income countries, related to a decrease in road-accident injuries in young adults, while conversely the proportion of falls has increased with population aging.ConclusionMild TBI is a major public health concern, the epidemiology of which has greatly changed in the last twenty years.