Headache and family history

In two headache questionnaire surveys we inquired about the occurrence of headache in the mothers, fathers, siblings and children of the respondents. In total, 633 people completed valid questionnaires, 260 in the first survey and 373 in the second. The hypothesis was that familial headache occurrence would be positively associated with headache frequency. In each survey, the regression of headache frequency on the number of parents having headache was highly significant. Neither sex nor the sibling and children variables were significant predictors. In the cross-tabulations of the parental occurrence of headache with headache frequency we saw a clear "break-point" between the "no headache" and the headache frequency categories studied. For the final analyses the dichotomy "headache/no headache" was related in fourfold tables to headache occurrence in the father and the mother separately, and to the number of headache parents. The positive associations were not simply due to the large number of migraine cases since they remained after removing the migraineurs.     

A factor analytic study of teaching in off-campus general practice clerkships

The Preceptor-evaluation questionnaire (PEQ) was developed at the University of Mississippi Medical Center to evaluate the clinical teaching behaviour of general practice doctors in private practice who have one or more third-year medical students per year in their offices for a required general practice clerkship. The PEQ was designed to provide feedback to these doctors and the sponsoring department in an effort to improve teaching in this setting. Developed from the input of family practice doctors who have supervised students in their offices and from a review of related literature, the instrument was given to students to determine the level of importance they attributed to each teaching characteristic. A principle components factor analysis and subsequent varimax rotation produced six significant teaching factors in this setting. These six factors were:

• 1 demonstrates a humanistic orientation toward patients and staff;
• 2 demonstrates a humanistic orientation toward student;
• 3 provides opportunity for practice;
• 4 motivates and stimulates student's thinking;
• 5 communicates effectively with student; and
• 6 demonstrates comfort and confidence in the roles of doctor and teacher.

The factor relating to the humanistic orientation toward student has not appeared as a separate factor in other studies of clinical teaching. This may be due to the unique aspects of the relationship between student and doctor in this setting which may not occur in other settings. The PEQ and similar reliable and valid instruments can provide valuable information for the doctors in these off-campus teaching situations as well as provide useful programme planning information for the sponsoring academic departments. This information may also be valuable for off-campus residency training.     

The characteristics of suicide attempters admitted to the main general hospital in Fiji Islands

Objective: To study the characteristics of suicide attempters attending the main general hospital in Fiji Islands. Method: Consecutive suicide attempters were clinically evaluated, and their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were compared with those of other patients seen in the psychiatric service between January 15, 1999 and January 14, 2000. Results: Thirty-nine suicide attempters were seen, representing 36.8% of all the cases referred to the psychiatric service. The prevalence of attempted suicide in the Greater Suva Area was 34.8 per 100,000. Majority (56.4%) were young (16–25 years), Indians (59%), female (61.5%), students (41%), never married (74.4%) and of Hindi faith (48.7%). The commonly used methods were ingestion of drugs and pesticides. The intention to die was present in 20 (51.3%) of the population. Social problems and/or psychiatric comorbidity were present in over 60% of cases. Suicide attempters were significantly younger, more of single persons (P<.0001), and fewer were in employment (P<.001) than nonsuicidal cases seen. The difference was not significant when the two groups were compared regarding gender, race or religion. Conclusions: Young people attempt suicide in disturbed psychosocial milieu, using available poisoning methods with strong desire to die. Apparently, high proportion of female Indians in this group reflects high rate of service utilization by them. Unemployment is an insignificant predisposing factor.     

The clinical physiology of aging

International Urology and Nephrology -     

HBV 感染、家族肝癌史与 ABO 血型在低发区原发性肝癌的关系

本文研究了高、低发区５１０例ＰＨＣＨＢＶ感染、家族肝癌史及与ＡＢＯ血型的关系，结果表明：１肝癌低发区与高发区一样，合并ＨＢＶ感染的ＰＨＣ患者达８０．７４％，远多于无ＨＢＶ感染者；男性多于女性；有家族肝癌史的ＰＨＣ患者占４０．００％，且合并ＨＢＶ感染的ＰＨＣ有家族肝癌史者显著多于ＨＢＶ阴性组（Ｐ＜０．０５）；２低发区ＰＨＣ中，有家族肝癌史的Ａ型血者显著多于相应对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。提示我国肝癌低发区ＰＨＣ发生的最重要外因亦为ＨＢＶ感染，遗传易感性则是其内因；而有ＨＢＶ感染或有家族肝癌史者是ＰＨＣ的高危人群，且后者中的Ａ型血者更为易患，对这一人群需加强监测，警惕ＰＨＣ的发生。     

Helicobacter pylori Risk Associated with Sibship Size and Family History of Gastric Diseases in Japanese Adults

Helicobacter pylori is thought to be a cause of gastric cancer. Risk factors of H. pylori positivity were investigated among 4,361 public service workers in Japan. Sera and information on family history and lifestyle were collected, and H. pylori antibody was measured using the sera. Sex- and age-adjusted odds ratios of factors expected to influence H. pylori seropositivity were calculated. The factors with a significant influence were included in a logistic regression model and the final model was obtained by backward elimination. Sibship size (4 and more vs. 1), smoking habit (current vs. never), and paternal and siblings' histories of gastric diseases showed significant relationships to H. pylori seropositivity, with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 1.5 (1.0–2.1), 0.8 (0.7–0.9), 1.5 (1.3–1.8) and 1.7 (1.1–2.6) respectively. However, spouse's history was not related. In the final model, sibship size and paternal history remained as positive factors, and smoking as a negative one. Contradictory results on the relationship between H. pylori status and smoking among recent studies indicate the existence of hidden confounding factors. It is suggested that infection from family members in childhood considerably affects the H. pylori status of Japanese adults, whereas infection between adults is rare.     

家庭环境对4～5岁儿童行为问题的影响

目的探讨家庭环境对4～5岁儿童行为问题的影响,以降低学龄前儿童行为问题的发生率.方法采用问卷调查的方法对600名4～5岁儿童的行为及家庭环境进行调查,应用SPSS软件进行多元回归分析.结果不同家庭精神环境特征对4～5岁儿童行为问题的影响不同,且存在明显的性别差异.影响男性儿童行为问题的家庭特征有亲密度、矛盾性、知识性、组织性和成功性;影响女性儿童的家庭特征有亲密度、矛盾性、知识性、组织性、成功性和娱乐性.结论家庭环境对4～5岁儿童行为发育产生重要影响.在进行学龄前儿童行为问题的诊断和干预时,要重视家庭环境的作用,并要注意性别差异.     

家庭环境与儿童期性虐待发生的单因素分析

目的了解家庭环境与儿童期性虐待发生的关系,为儿童期性虐待的预防提供依据。方法对某学院18岁以上的701名女生进行自填式问卷调查。结果生活在重组家庭中的儿童性虐待的报告率高于核心家庭,父、母亲经常在家庭中使用暴力、有不良嗜好、体弱多病、家庭关系紧张(父母之间、父母与祖父母之间、父母与孩子之间)是性虐待发生的危险因素;女童也是性虐待发生的危险因素。结论家庭环境在儿童期性虐待发生中起重要作用。     

心电波形惟一性探讨

目的研究不同个体之间心电信号的惟一性特征。方法随机挑选100份同步12导联心电图进行描述分析,对比相同点及不同点,将每份心电图的波形特征逐一输入Excel电子表格,按照波形特征顺序进行排序。结果Ⅰ导联共有25例4组重复。在这些重复的病例中:Ⅱ导联共有25例7组重复,Ⅲ导联共有24例8组重复,avR导联共有20例6组重复,avL导联共有3例1组重复,avF导联共有3例1组重复,100例中无任何两例心电波形在12个导联上完全相同。结论心电信号具有生物特征的惟一性,可作为一种新的生物特征识别方法用于身份识别。     

亲子鉴定在计划生育工作中的应用分析

目的:探讨同步分型STR位点测试在计划生育工作中亲子鉴定中的应用及意义。方法:采用同步扩增、同步电泳分离,同步银染、同步多个短串联重复序列(STR)分型DNA分析方法进行亲子鉴定。结果:在30例三联体亲子鉴定案例中,排除亲生关系11例,占36.67%。16个位点的累计非父排除率0.99999878,平均匹配概率4.30×10-18。结论:同步分型STR位点的测试简便、快速,所得的结果准确可靠,重复性强。它不但可为司法机关解决相关案件提供有力证据,还可开展为计划生育工作提供法律依据。