The biomechanics of vibration and low back pain

This work is a review of the mechanical factors related to low back pain production in a vibration environment. The sitting posture is an extreme orientation for the lumbar intervertebral disc that 1) increases its internal pressure, 2) increases its anteroposterior shear flexibility, while: 3) decreasing its resistance to buckling instability and 4) stressing the posterior region of the disc. Vibration is an additional mechanical stressor. Several studies suggest that the following preventive measures be taken to reduce the risk of low back pain due to driving: 1) minimize the vibration reaching the driver, 2) avoid lifting or bending immediately following driving, and 3) walk around for a few minutes following driving. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Alexithymia in Holocaust Survivors with and Without PTSD

Alexithymia was measured in non-treatment seeking, community-dwelling Holocaust survivors using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale—Twenty Item Version (TAS-20). Scores of survivors with (n = 30) and without (n = 26) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were compared, and associations among alexithymia, severity of trauma, and severity of PTSD symptoms were determined. Survivors with PTSD had significantly higher scores on the TAS-20 compared to survivors without PTSD. TAS-20 scores were significantly associated with severity of PTSD symptoms, but not with severity of trauma. This study adds to our knowledge of the relationship between alexithymia and trauma by demonstrating that this characteristic is related to the presence of posttraumatic symptoms and not simply exposure to trauma.     

Stress-induced changes in behavior and function of the neurohormonal systems in monkeys differing in social rank

Research Institute of Experimental Pathology and Therapy, Sukhumi. (Presented by Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences B. A. Lapin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 114, No. 11, pp. 457–459, November, 1992.     

The desipramine-induced growth hormone response and the dexamethasone suppression test in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Ten patients with DSM-III-R obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) underwent the desipramine (DMI) growth hormone (GH) stimulation test as well as the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). The results were compared with the responses in a group of matched healthy controls. The GH response to DMI did not differ between patients and controls and 9 of 10 patients showed cortisol suppression in response to dexamethasone. The data suggest that neither alpha 2 adrenergic dysfunction nor DST non-suppression are features of primary OCD.     

REM sleep behavior disorder and vocal cord paralysis in Machado-Joseph disease.

We evaluated the occurrence of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) and vocal cord abductor paralysis (VCAP) in a group of 9 Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) patients. RBD was diagnosed by clinical history plus audiovisual polysomnography in 4 men and 1 woman (55%). While dreaming, 4 fell out of the bed and the other injured his arms. Laryngoscopy detected bilateral VCAP in 1 patient with stridor who required emergency tracheotomy, and partial vocal cord abductor restriction in 2. RBD and VCAP are two potentially injurious conditions that should be considered part of the clinical spectrum of MJD.     

凝血机制紊乱在SIRS发展中的作用

凝血机制紊乱在全身炎症反应综合症(SIRS)发展、恶化过程中起重要作用．对SIRS时凝血系统紊乱的形成机制、在SIRS发生发展过程中的作用及其对病情危重程度的预测价值作一综述．     

Bright dawn simulation compared with bright morning light in the treatment of winter depression.

In a randomized cross-over design, 7 patients with winter depression were treated with a week of a bright (1700 lx) dawn simulation (0400 to 0600) and a week of standard bright (1700 lx) morning (0600 to 0800) light therapy. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores decreased significantly for the standard light therapy (18.9 to 6.6) but not for the bright dawn therapy (18.0 to 11.3). Early morning awakening was a frequent side effect with the bright dawn simulation. Although dawn simulation at a lower illuminance may be an effective treatment, the bright dawn used in this study showed only a nonsignificant trend to lower depression ratings. The illuminance of dawn simulation should be adjusted to minimize side effects.     

交感神经亢进引起的心电图改变

植物神经功能失调多见于一些中青年女性 ,临床症状表现为心悸、心前区不适、脉压差小、心电图示 T波异常 ,口服硝酸甘油可缓解 ,体格检查未发现异常     

急性脑血管病与代谢紊乱的关系

目的　探讨急性脑血管病与代谢紊乱的关系。方法　对 2 72名上海地区正常人及 92 3例急性脑血管病 (5 0 3例脑梗死、4 2 0例脑出血 )患者住院的基线资料进行分析。结果　① 5 0 3例脑梗死、4 2 0例脑出血患者的年龄、体重指数 (BMI)、血压、血糖、低密度脂蛋白 (LDL)值均高于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 )。②脑梗死、脑出血患者中 ,伴高血压者分别为 95 .0 %、97.1% ;伴高血糖者分别为 4 4 .0 %、39.7% ;伴高三酰甘油 (TG) /低高密度脂蛋白 (HDL)分别为 34.8%、38.1% ;③脑梗死、脑出血患者中 ,合并代谢综合征者分别占 14 .7%、16 .7% ;合并 2种代谢紊乱者分别占 4 6 .9%、4 3.1% ;合并 1种代谢紊乱者分别占 36 .0 %、38.8% ;无代谢紊乱者仅分别占2 .4 %、1.4 %。④脑梗死、脑出血患者中 ,除代谢紊乱者血压均显著高于对照组及无代谢紊乱者外 ,合并 2种以上代谢紊乱患者中BMI、血糖、TG均高于对照组及无代谢紊乱者 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　急性脑血管病患者多伴有多种代谢紊乱 ,因而 ,有效控制代谢紊乱与预防脑血管病的发生、发展及其预后有关