Respiratory symptoms associated with the use of azodicarbonamide foaming agent in a plastics injection molding facility

Respiratory health variables were studied cross-sectionally in 227 employees of a plastics molding facility where numerous complaints had been apparently associated with the use of azodicarbonamide foaming agent in injection molding. Pre- and postshift respiratory status measures and azodicarbonamide concentrations were also obtained for 17 employees. Cross-sectional pulmonary function differences by injection molding status were not observed. Modest decrements in pulmonary function measures were observed between start and end of shift but with no dose-effect relationship. A strong association was observed for injection molding workers for eye/nose/throat irritation, cough, and wheezing. Additionally, wheezing, chest tightness, and symptoms of chronic bronchitis were strongly associated with work in injection molding during periods in which azodicarbonamide was in use. These results suggest respiratory symptom causation by some combination of azodicarbonamide itself, reaction products of azodicarbonamide formed during injection molding, or other unidentified agents uniquely associated with the process of injection molding with azodicarbonamide foaming agent.     

Evaluating podiatry services: Testing a treatment specific measure of health status

This study reports on the preliminary testing of a new measure designed for use alongside EQ-5D in evaluating outcomes in podiatry: the Podiatry Health Questionnaire (PHQ). Individuals aged 18 years or more, receiving podiatry services in clinic or domicilliary locations across four NHS Trusts in Yorkshire and Humberside UK took part in a questionnaire survey. Respondents reported high levels of problems on all six PHQ dimensions. Correlations suggested that the PHQ and EQ-5D were measuring distinct constructs. The levels on each dimension were well defined in terms of self-rated morbidity on the PHQ visual analogue scale (PHQ_vas) and the EQ-5D_vas, although PHQ_vas appeared to be slightly more sensitive to changes in health on the dimensions. There was a strong relationship between clinicians' Podiatry Clinical Score rating and reported symptoms for four out of six PHQ dimensions and PHQ_vas. The PHQ was able to distinguish respondents in terms of their self-reported morbidity in EQ-5D and in terms of their morbidity as assessed by clinicians. It is suggested that the respondent completed PHQ appears to be a useful new measure for assessing foot-related health. However, further investigation of the psychometric properties of the measure is required.     

Self-selection of enrollers at the creation of a managed care organization

Factors affecting choice between a managed care organization(MCO) and a fee-for-service insurance plan were examined whenthe University of Geneva health insurance plan was transformedinto an MCO, in October 1992. A case-control study using a mailedquestionnaire (response rate 84%) was conducted to compare formermembers who joined the MCO (joiners, n=421) to former memberswho opted out in order to keep fee-for-service coverage (non-joiners,n=222). Non-joiners were more likely to be women (odds ratio(OR) from multivariate model was 1.15, p=0.50), to be born inSwitzerland (OR=2.04, p<0.01), to have an annual income >75,000Swiss francs (OR=2.00, p<0.01), to have a personal physician(OR=1.96, p<0.01) and to have consulted a specialist (OR=1.69,p=0.02) or used unconventional medicine (OR=4.59, p<0.01)in the past year. During the previous year, non-joiners hadmore health care visits than joiners (14.6 versus 9.1, p=0.01).Non-joiners reported better mental health and fewer complainedof persistent fatigue (OR=2.18, p=0.03). The choice of healthplan was strongly influenced by socio-demographic characteristics,past patterns of health services utilization and health status.The self-selection process was paradoxical: MCO joiners hadused fewer health care visits than non-joiners, but their self-reportedhealth status was worse. The differences we have observed betweenself-selected populations have important implications for thefinancial performance of competing health care delivery systems.     

社交焦虑障碍患者父母的人格特征和心理健康状况调查

目的探索社交焦虑障碍(SAD)患者父母的人格特征和心理健康状况。方法设研究组(SAD患者的父母)和对照组。入组时按要求进行艾森克人格问卷(EPQ)和症状自评量表(SCL-90)评定。结果SAD患者的父母在EPQ量表测验中的内外向因子标准分低于对照组;SAD患者的父母SCL-90各项因子除强迫和敌对因子,标准分低于对照组。结论SAD患者的父母的人格特征倾向内向,易安静、内省、离群、不喜欢接触人;SAD患者的父母更容易表现出躯体化症状、人际交往的困惑、抑郁、焦虑、恐怖和偏执。     

Childhood convulsive status epilepticus: epidemiology, management and outcome

Convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in childhood is a medical emergency and its aetiology and outcome mean that it should be studied separately from adult CSE. The incidence in developed countries is between 17 and 23/100,000 with a higher incidence in younger children. Febrile CSE is the commonest single group with a good prognosis in sharp distinction to CSE related to central nervous system infections which have a high mortality. The aim of treatment is to intervene at 5 min and studies indicate that intravenous (i.v.) lorazepam may be a better first-line treatment than rectal diazepam and i.v. phenytoin a better second-line treatment than rectal paraldehyde. An epidemiological study strongly supports the development of prehospital treatment with buccal midazolam becoming a widely used but unlicensed option in the community. More than two doses of benzodiazepines increase the rate of respiratory depression without obvious benefit. The 1 year recurrence rate is 17% and the hospital mortality is about 3%.     

银屑病患者心理卫生状况与家庭功能的相关性研究

目的通过对60例银屑病患者的心理卫生状况和其家庭功能进行调查,揭示家庭功能与患者心理状况的关系.方法采用家庭Apqar调查表和症状自评量表（SCL-90）进行随机问卷调查,将高功能家庭与失职家庭的SCL-90各项的数据进行比较.结果高功能家庭患者的身心问题较低功能家庭的少,高功能家庭的患者能积极地对待疾病和生活,有利于疾病的康复,并提高了生活质量.结论护理人员应做好家属的宣教工作,使家属重视银屑病患者的心理需要,努力去了解患者的心理变化,并给予及时的帮助,以促进患者早日康复.     

Atypical presentation of NREM arousal parasomnia with repetitive episodes

The case report describes a distinct variant of non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) arousal parasomnia, sleepwalking type, featuring repetitive abrupt arousals, mostly from slow-wave sleep, and various automatisms and semi-purposeful behaviours. The frequency of events and distribution throughout the night presented as a continuous status of parasomnia (' status parasomnicus '). The patient responded well to treatment typically administered for adult NREM parasomnias, and after careful review of the clinical presentation, objective findings and treatment outcome, sleep-related epilepsy was ruled out in favour of parasomnia.     

Functional outcome and general health status in patients after arthroscopic release in adhesive capsulitis

Frozen shoulder is said to be a self-limiting entity but full recovery often takes more than 2 years. For that, most patients are unwilling to tolerate painful restriction while awaiting resolution. We prospectively investigated 30 patients (16 women, 14 men) for the outcome of arthroscopic capsular release in idiopathic frozen shoulder. Results were determined by the assessment of subjective and objective parameters to estimate both shoulder function and general health status. Symptoms persisted without improvement for a minimum of 6 months of conservative treatment. Preoperative average American shoulder and elbow surgeons score (ASES) was 35, visual analog scale (VAS) to measure pain was 7, and simple shoulder test (SST) was 4. Mean scores of the physical component of SF-36 were considerably reduced. Mean forward elevation was 85°, average abduction was 70°, mean internal rotation was 15°, and mean external rotation was 10°. Patients were followed-up at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12 months and by a mean of 36 months. Range of motion for all planes improved (P < 0.05). Median VAS reduced to 2, average ASES increased to 91, and SST enhanced to a mean of 10 (P < 0.05). We stated improvement of the physical components in the SF-36 questionnaire in particular bodily pain and the role-physical score. There were no significant differences between the measurements in the early postoperative phase compared to the mid-term follow-up (P > 0.05). Our results demonstrate that arthroscopic release of refractory idiopathic frozen shoulder combined with a gentle manipulation provides reliable expectations for improvement in both clinical and general health status for most patients. We recommend the use of a limb-specific and a general-health-status questionnaire to conclude the benefit of the surgical intervention and contribute the optimization of a therapy concept more effectively.