An epidemiological study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from medical staff, inpatients, and hospital environment in one ward at our hospital.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important causative microorganisms for nosocomial infections. Recently, the incidence of isolation of MRSA has been increasing every year in Japan and is, notably, much more frequently found in inpatients than in outpatients. Therefore, we have done epidemiological studies of MRSA isolated from medical staff, inpatients, and the hospital environment in one ward of our hospital. Thereafter, we examined the antibiotic susceptibility (ABPC, DMPPC, CET, CMZ, IPM, GM, MINO, OFLX, EM, CLDM, VCM), phage typing, and coagulase typing of these MRSA. MRSA were isolated more frequently from anterior nares of inpatients than from doctors and nurses. MRSA were isolated more frequently from the environment near carriers of MRSA. Coagulase type II and phage type N.T. (not typable) were the dominant types of MRSA in our hospital (69% and 61%). MRSA strains were resistant to most antibiotics with a few exceptions (VCM, IPM, CMZ, CET). The high isolation frequency of MRSA in our hospital seems to suggest that inpatients who are carrying MRSA spread MRSA throughout the hospital environment and that the anterior nares of inpatients are the major MRSA harbor.     

One-year follow-up of the outcome of a randomized controlled trial of a home-based intervention programme for children with autism and developmental delay and their families

Introduction There is debate about the type and intensity of early childhood intervention that is most helpful for children with developmental problems. The aim of the study was to determine whether a home‐based programme provided over 12 months resulted in sustained improvement in development and behaviour 12 months after the intervention ceased. The characteristics of the children and families who benefited most from the intervention were also studied. Method Randomized controlled trial. Participants A total of 59 children, aged 3–5 years, attending two early childhood intervention centres in Melbourne, Australia. Intervention Half of the subjects received an additional home‐based programme consisting of 40 weekly visits. Main outcome measures Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Revised, Preschool Behaviour Checklist, Bayley Behaviour Rating Scale and Behaviour Screening Questionnaire. All tests administered pre‐intervention, following the intervention and 12 months later. Secondary outcome measures Family stress, support and empowerment. Results Fifty‐four children completed the assessments 12 months after conclusion of the intervention. Compared with the control group, improvement in aspects of cognitive development in the children who received the extra intervention was sustained 1 year later (P= 0.007) while significant behavioural differences post intervention were not. Analyses of the data by the Reliable Change Index indicated improvement of clinical significance occurred in non‐verbal areas. In contrast to the control group who deteriorated, language skills in the intervention group remained stable. Improvements were significantly associated with higher stress in the families. Conclusion Improvements following the provision of a home‐based programme to preschool children with developmental disabilities were sustained 1 year later. Children from highly stressed families appeared to benefit most, reinforcing the importance of involving families in early childhood intervention programmes.     

A -243A-->G polymorphism upstream of the gene encoding GAD65 associates with lower levels of body mass index and glycaemia in a population-based sample of 5857 middle-aged White subjects.

AIMS: The glutamate decarboxylase gene (GAD2) encodes GAD65, an enzyme catalysing the production of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which interacts with neuropeptide Y to stimulate food intake. It has been suggested that in pancreatic islets, GABA serves as a functional regulator of pancreatic hormone release. Conflicting results have been reported concerning the potential impact of GAD2 variation on estimates of energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to elucidate potential associations between the GAD2-243A-->G polymorphism and levels of body mass index (BMI) and estimates of glycaemia. METHODS: Using high-throughput chip-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the GAD2-243A-->G (rs2236418) polymorphism was genotyped in a population-based sample (Inter99) of 5857 middle-aged, unrelated Danish White subjects. RESULTS: The G-allele was associated with modestly lower BMI (P = 0.01). In a case-control study of obesity, the G-allele frequency in 2582 participants with BMI < 25 kg/m2 was 19.5% (18.4-20.6) compared with 17.1% (15.5-18.8) in 968 participants having BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 (P = 0.03), odds ratio 0.9 (0.7-1.0). Of the 5857 subjects, GG carriers had lower fasting plasma glucose levels (mmol/l) [AA (n = 3859) 5.6 +/- 0.8; AG (n = 1792) 5.5 +/- 0.8; GG (n = 206) 5.5 +/- 0.8, P = 0.008] and lower 30-min oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)-related plasma glucose levels (AA 8.7 +/- 1.9; AG 8.6 +/- 1.9; GG 8.6 +/- 2.0, P = 0.04), adjusted for sex, age and BMI. Analysing subjects who were both normoglycaemic and glucose tolerant (n = 4431) GG carriers still had lower fasting plasma glucose concentrations: AA (n = 2895) 5.3 +/- 0.4; AG (n = 1383) 5.3 +/- 0.4; GG (n = 153) 5.2 +/- 0.4 (P = 9.10(-5)). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that the GAD2-243A-->G polymorphism in a population of middle-aged White people associates with a modest reduction in BMI and fasting and OGTT-related plasma glucose levels.     

MULTICENTER STUDY DESIGN OF THE EX VIVO EVALUATION OF ENDOCYTOSCOPY IN ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Optical technological innovations enable us to visualize cellular nuclei endoscopically. Herein is described a protocol design for a multicenter study for the ex vivo evaluation of endocytoscopy. The present study was performed by the Endoscopy Forum Japan study group.     

脑梗死后早发性癫(癎)发作临床特点分析

目的:探讨脑梗死(CI)后早发性癫癎发作(EES)的临床特点。方法:对2643例确诊为CI患者的临床资料进行回顾性研究。结果:CI后EES的发生率为4.58%,女性高于男性(P<0.05);婴幼儿及未成年人高于成年人(P<0.01)和老年人(P<0.01);累及皮质的发生率高于未累及皮质的(P<0.01);EES作为CI首发症状者占49.59%,24h内出现者占76.03%,1周内出现者占94.21%,仅有5.79%在第2周出现;局灶性发作占65.29%,全面性发作占34.71%;给予AEDs治疗发作均可控制,伴有EES的患者病死率高于不伴有者(P<0.05)。结论:CI后EES较为常见,女性多于男性,未成年人的发生率高于成年人及老年人,与梗死部位有关,以局灶性发作为主,抗癫癎治疗有效,临床预后较差。     

不同方法治疗特殊部位白癜风疗效的比较

目的通过不同方法治疗特殊部位白癜风的疗效观察,以便筛选出对不同部位白癜风的最佳治疗方法.方法随机将l 22例(375区白斑)特殊部位白癜风患者分为5组,移植微型毛胚组42例,磨削去除白斑组52例,毛囊刮取物注射组35例,液氮冷冻起疱去除白斑组30例,外用药物治疗组45例.观察其疗效,对各组病例统一疗效标准判断,统计学处理.结果移植微型毛胚组总有效率97.1 %,磨削去除白斑组总有效率94.7 %,毛囊刮取物注射组总有效率59.7 %,液氮冷冻起疱去除白斑组总有效率57.1%,外用药物治疗组总有效率45.5 %.经统计学处理,各组之间比较,差异有非常显著性意义(χ^2＝111.77,P＜0.005).结论特殊部位白癜风的治疗,目前仍是一个棘手的问题,上述所介绍的方法无疑是在实践中切实可行的方法,各有特色,可以根据不同部位,酌情选择最佳方法,也可以联合应用,相互补充,提高疗效.     

Body composition in young female adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. A prospective case-control study.

AIMS: Overweight is common during late puberty in female patients with Type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the change in body composition from late puberty to early adulthood in such female patients in comparison with age-matched control subjects. METHODS: Eighteen females with Type 1 diabetes and 19 healthy female control subjects were recruited for a case-control study at the age of 16-19 years (baseline). Six years later, 16 of the diabetic females and 17 of the control subjects were re-examined (follow-up). Body composition was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index (total fat mass/height2) were significantly higher at baseline in the diabetic patients than in the control subjects (26.4 +/- 2.6 vs. 23.9 +/- 3.7 kg/m2, P < 0.05, and 10.0 +/- 2.4 vs. 8.0 +/- 2.8 kg/m2, P = 0.04, respectively). At follow-up, these parameters still tended to be higher in the diabetic group (27.8 +/- 4.9 vs. 24.6 +/- 5.7 kg/m2, P = 0.09, and 11.8 +/- 5.6 vs. 8.7 +/- 4.9 kg/m2, P = 0.05, respectively). BMI at baseline was strongly correlated to BMI at follow-up in both diabetic patients (r = 0.60; P < 0.05) and control subjects (r = 0.83; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Increased fat mass in pubertal girls with Type 1 diabetes seems to persist in young adulthood. This study emphasizes the need for new strategies to prevent the development of overweight during puberty in diabetic girls.     

Supporting insensitive mothers: the Vilnius randomized control trial of video-feedback intervention to promote maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security

Objective   This randomized control trial examined the effects of a short-term, interaction-focused and attachment-based video-feedback intervention (VIPP: video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting).
Design   VIPP effect on mothers' sensitive responsiveness and infant–mother attachment security was evaluated in a sample ( n  = 54) of low sensitive, non-clinical, middle class Lithuanian mothers.
Methods   Maternal sensitivity was assessed in a free play session with the Ainsworth's sensitivity scale, and attachment security was observed using the Attachment Q sort for home observations.
Results   We found that the intervention mothers indeed significantly improved their sensitive responsiveness through participation in our VIPP. The effect size was large according to Cohen's criteria, d  = 0.78. VIPP enhanced maternal sensitive responsiveness even when maternal age, educational level, depression, daily hassles, efficacy, infant gender, and infant negative and positive affect were controlled for. However, attachment security in the VIPP infants was not enhanced after the intervention, compared with the control infants, and the infants did not seem to be differentially susceptible to the increase in maternal sensitivity dependent on their temperamental reactivity.
Conclusion   We suggest that a relatively brief and low-cost programme can provide effective support for mothers who lack sensitivity in the interactions with their infants.     

A longitudinal study of autism spectrum disorders in individuals diagnosed with a developmental language disorder as children

Background   A number of studies have shown that the diagnosis of developmental language disorder (DLD) can be unstable over time, such that young children with a diagnosis of DLD may show symptoms more characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at a later date.
Method   To estimate the types and prevalence of ASD 469 individuals with a DLD, consecutively assessed in the same clinic during a period of 10 years, and 2345 controls from the general population were screened for ASD through the nationwide Danish Psychiatric Central Register (DPCR). The mean length of observation was 34.7 years, and the mean age at follow-up 35.8 (range: 28.3–46.7) years.
Results   At follow-up, 10 (2.1%) in the DLD group and two (0.09%) in the comparison group were known in the DPCR with a diagnosis of any ASD ( P < 0.0001; odds ratio = 25.5; 95% confidence interval 5.5–116.9).
Conclusion   Our results provide additional support to the notion that DLD is a marker of increased vulnerability to the development of ASD.