Patient satisfaction with psychotropic drugs: Validation of the PAtient SAtisfaction with Psychotropic (PASAP) scale in patients with bipolar disorder

PurposeThe PAtient SAtisfaction with Psychotropic (PASAP) scale is a self-completed questionnaire measuring satisfaction with psychotropic medication. The aim of the study was to describe its development in French and its psychometric properties.Materials and methodsScale construction was based on an extensive search of the literature. The item reduction process required semi-structured interviews of psychiatric outpatients (n = 30). The final version of the PASAP is a 9-item, 5-point Likert-type scale, covering the scope of effectiveness and adherence. To assess the psychometric properties of the scale, French patients with an acute manic episode (n = 314) from a large European observational cohort completed the PASAP scale 3 months after psychotropic treatment initiation/change. Internal validity and reliability were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA). Concurrent validity was assessed using comparisons to physician-rated satisfaction with life, illness severity, mood relapse, compliance and side effects.ResultsParticipation rate was 68.4%. PCA was in favour of uni-dimensionality. Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.85 (95%CI 0.83–0.88). All five concurrent measures were significantly associated with the PASAP score.ConclusionThe PASAP scale showed good psychometric properties in a large bipolar population and thus seems adequate for evaluating treatment satisfaction. Its short length and good acceptability makes it suitable for clinical research.     

Comparison of two nonverbal intelligence tests among children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing

The primary goal of the current study is to evaluate the concurrent validity of the Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised (Leiter-R Brief IQ) and Differential Ability Scales – Second Edition (DAS-II Nonverbal Reasoning Index) in a group of children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Knowing the breadth of cognitive tools appropriate for use in children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing is highly beneficial, given that clinical and school psychologists are often challenged to reliably assess cognitive functions in the context of hearing loss. Participants included 54 children between three and six years of age with permanent bilateral hearing loss. As part of the study, neurocognitive assessments were conducted by a pediatric neuropsychologist or licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience administering assessments to children with developmental disabilities, including children with hearing loss. The Leiter-R Brief IQ score was similar to the DAS-II nonverbal reasoning index, with no significant difference in the mean scores across the two assessments. The severity of hearing loss was not correlated to either the Leiter-R or the DAS-II nonverbal IQ. Nearly a quarter of the children evaluated had meaningful intra-individual differences between scores on the Leiter-R and DAS-II that were more than one standard deviation from one another. Conducting accurate intellectual assessments in children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing is fundamental in determining and designing interventions and educational services. More comprehensive neuropsychological test batteries utilizing several tasks to assess a single domain (such as nonverbal reasoning) may be warranted for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.     

In vitro neurotoxic hazard characterization of different tricresyl phosphate (TCP) isomers and mixtures

Exposure to tricresyl phosphates (TCPs), via for example contaminated cabin air, has been associated with health effects including the so-called aerotoxic syndrome. While TCP neurotoxicity is mainly attributed to ortho-isomers like tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (ToCP), recent exposure and risk assessments indicate that ToCP levels in cabin air are very low. However, the neurotoxic potential of non-ortho TCP isomers and TCP mixtures is largely unknown. We therefore measured effects of exposure (up to 48 h) to different TCP isomers, mixtures and the metabolite of ToCP (CBDP: cresyl saligenin phosphate) on cell viability and mitochondrial activity, spontaneous neuronal electrical activity, and neurite outgrowth in primary rat cortical neurons.The results demonstrate that exposure to TCPs (24–48 h, up to 10 μM) increases mitochondrial activity, without affecting cell viability. Effects of acute TCP exposure (30 min) on neuronal electrical activity are limited. However, electrical activity is markedly decreased for the majority of TCPs (10 μM) following 48 h exposure. Additional preliminary data indicate that exposure to TCPs (48 h, 10 μM) did not affect the number of neurites per cell or average neurite length, except for TmCP and the analytical TCP mixture (Sigma) that induced a reduction of average neurite length.The combined neurotoxicity data demonstrate that the different TCPs, including ToCP, are roughly equipotent and a clear structure-activity relation is not apparent for the studied endpoints. The no-observed-effect-concentrations (1 μM) are well above current exposure levels indicating limited neurotoxic health risk, although exposures may have been higher in the past. Moreover, prolonged and/or repeated exposure to TCPs may exacerbate the observed neurotoxic effects, which argues for additional research.     

The conversational mini-mental state examination: Estimating cognitive impairment

Formal cognitive testing is an integral part of the mental state examination, and we aimed to test whether clinicians were able to predict the score on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) by watching a conversation between a person and the interviewer about their memory. A total of 41 professionals rated 30 patients–generally the scores on the MMSE were underestimated and experienced professionals did worse than less experienced practitioners. The results underscore the need for formal cognitive assessment and the requirements for training in the administration of cognitive tests.     

颈动脉粥样硬化斑块与中老年心脑血管病及相关因素分析

目的:探讨颈动脉粥样硬化斑块与中老年心脑血管病及相关因素的关系.方法:将455例住院患者予颈动脉超声检查,观察颈动脉粥样硬化斑块与性别、年龄、高血压病、糖尿病、冠心病、脑梗死、高尿酸血症、血脂的关系,又按年龄分成3组,分析组间各因素间关系.结果:年龄、高血压病、糖尿病、冠心病、脑梗死、高尿酸血症与斑块形成有显著关系(p＜0.05).中年期脑梗死、糖尿病与斑块有显著关系,老年前期糖尿病、高血压病、冠心病与斑块有显著关系,老年期高尿酸血症、高血压病、冠心病、脑梗死与斑块有显著关系.结论:年龄、高血压病、糖尿病、高尿酸血症是斑块形成的危险因素,斑块形成与冠心病、脑梗死密切相关.颈动脉超声检查简便、无创、重复性好,对在不同年龄段并有相关疾病及危险因素的中老年患者进行定期检查,及时发现早期斑块及性质判断,可以提供临床积极干预的依据,及时预防治疗临床心脑血管事件,临床应用价值高.     

江西省食品中铅和镉污染调查及健康风险评估

目的 了解2018—2021年江西省6类1 065件食品中铅、镉污染状况对居民膳食暴露的健康风险进行评估,为食品安全风险评估提供可靠的数据支持。方法 统计1 065件食品中铅、镉含量,依据GB 2762—2017对样品中铅、镉超标情况进行判定,同时采用危害系数(HQ)对食用途径所致铅、镉的暴露量及健康风险进行评估。结果 食品中铅、镉平均含量分别为0.037 6 mg/kg、0.119 mg/kg,超标率分别为0.75%、7.66%。从年份看,2020和2021年镉的超标率明显高于其它年份;不同地区铅、镉检出率范围为75.47%～90.57%,超标率范围为0～12.96%。江西居民铅、镉每日暴露量分别为0.516μg/(kg·d)、2.036μg/(kg·d),HQ值分别为0.145、2.452。结论 部分食品中铅、镉含量存在着一定超标,江西居民经食品摄入铅HQ值小于1,处于安全水平,但摄入镉HQ值大于1,存在健康风险,可适当减少镉含量较高食物的摄入量。     

HACCP在学校饮用水卫生管理中的应用

目的通过应用危害分析和临界控制点(HACCP)管理系统,寻找学校饮用水卫生监督管理的方法,提高师生饮水的安全性。方法通过随机整群抽样,对13所市属学校进行摸底调查并抽样监测,获得资料。生活饮用水采集水样74份,纯净水成品水采集64份,饮水机水嘴处采集水样104份,应用HACCP系统前后采样检验。结果实施HACCP前后生活饮用水及饮水机消毒前后比较,差异有非常显著意义(P<0.01)。学校饮用水的主要危害有生物性危害和化学性危害,临界控制点包括卫生硬件设施、卫生制度、水质消毒、纯净水成品水质量、饮水机消毒。结论将HACCP应用于学校饮用水的质量控制过程中,是确保学生饮水安全的有效措施。     

HACCP在职业病危害评价中的应用

目的 通过对广州市某造纸企业职业病危害控制效果评价,提出相应的控制技术和措施,并探讨适用于职业病危害评价的"危害分析与关键控制点(HACCP)"体系.方法 运用HACCP原理,对造纸企业的生产工艺、作业环境进行职业卫生调查和检测,识别各种职业病危害因素,分析其危害程度及对劳动者健康的影响,并据此找出关键控制点,提出预防控制措施,评价职业病危害防护措施及其效果. 结果 造纸企业存在的职业病危害因素主要有化学毒物、粉尘、噪声、高温、生物致病菌等,职业病危害控制措施中选址和总体布局、生产工艺及设备布局、职业病防护设施、辅助用室、个人防护用品、应急救援设施、职业卫生管理措施等应为工作重点,且应基本符合职业卫生要求.而针对工程防护、个人防护、管理防护三方面的关键控制点实施监控,可有效控制和消除造纸企业职业病危害. 结论 HACCP可以运用到建设项目职业病危害评价中,为预防、控制和监督工业企业职业病危害提供科学依据.     

Elemental (As,Zn, Fe and Cu) analysis and health risk assessment of rice grains and rice based food products collected from markets from different cities of Gangetic basin,India

The present study measured arsenic (As), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) concentrations in grains of different rice varieties and rice based food products collected from various cities located in Gangetic basin in India. Total 44 rice samples were collected from local markets from different locations and analyzed for elemental concentrations by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The results showed that the mean concentration of As, Zn, Cu and Fe were 0.15 ± 0.10, 117 ± 24, 4.6 ± 0.5 and 32.5 ± 5.7 μg g^-1 dw, respectively in rice grains and 0.17 ± 0.09, 193 ± 241, 4.5 ± 1.0 and 45.7 ± 25 μg g^-1 dw, respectively in rice based food products. The hazard quotient (HQ) of As was the lowest in Patna (2.4) and the highest in Kolkata (5.0) but it was always higher than threshold value of one. The carcinogenic risk of the As for rice grains was found to be higher (10^-3) than safe range of 10^-6-10^-4 set by USEPA except Jabalpur. Daily consumption analyses also indicated that consumption of rice and rice products was not sufficient to fulfill daily requirement of Fe in most of the cities. The present results implicate that the consumption of rice and rice products may act as source of As on one hand and may not provide sufficient essential elements on the other.     

昆明铁路局职业病危害防护设施影响因素分析

目的了解昆明铁路局职业病危害防护设施影响因素,提出改进职业病危害防护设施的建议,保护职业身体健康。方法按照职业卫生法律、法规及标准,制作检查表,对昆明铁路局所有存在职业病危害作业的单位进行现状调查,对调查结果进行主成分分析,得出影响昆明铁路局卫生防护设施的主要因素。结果影响昆明铁路局卫生防护设施的主要因素可以分为2个主成分,总共14个影响因素。结论诸多因素中,最关键的是关于职业病危害防护设施设计是否合理的9个因素。提示今后在增加职业病危害防护设施时必须严把设计关,满足国家职业卫生法律、法规、标准的要求,以最大限度地保护接触职业病危害作业劳动者身体健康。