No difference in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome between healthy subjects and patients with recurrent depression in remission

There is bidirectional comorbidity between anxiety/depression and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). To investigate the prevalence of IBS symptoms, and factors associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with recurrent depressive disorder. Patients (n = 95) with recurrent type of major depression according to DSM-IV criteria and sex- and age-matched controls (n = 190) were sent questionnaires investigating symptoms of IBS [Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)-IBS] and symptoms of anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]. Medical records were checked over a 10-year period for chronic somatic symptoms or diseases. Seventy-three patients with unipolar disorder (mean age 63.6 years SD 13.8; range 23-86 years) and 156 controls (mean age 59.2 years SD 11.6, range 21-85 years) responded. Patients with recurrent depression had higher GSRS-IBS scores and showed a strong correlation between symptoms of IBS and anxiety-depression (r(s) = 0.54; P < 0.001). IBS symptoms were also associated with multiple pain symptoms, higher health-seeking behaviour and selective-serotonin-reuptake inhibitor intake. However, patients with recurrent depression (n = 46) in remission (HADS-Depression score <8) did not have more symptoms of IBS than controls (GSRS-IBS median score 6.0 vs 6.5; P = 0.46). There is a strong association between symptoms of IBS and symptoms of anxiety and depression, whereas depressive patients in remission do not have more IBS symptoms than controls.     

重庆市肺结核可疑症状者就诊延迟及其影响因素研究

目的了解重庆市肺结核可疑症状者就诊延迟程度,探索影响就诊延迟的主要因素,以及流动人口和常住人口间影响因素的差异。方法在重庆市流动人口较多的两个区中,对在随机抽取的20所医疗机构就诊,年龄在15岁以上的肺结核可疑症状者进行问卷调查。结果590份有效问卷中,就诊延迟中位时间为19 d;其中常住人口15 d,流动人口为22．5 d。影响就诊延迟的主要因素有:出现症状后是否愿意就诊、职业、文化程度、结核病史、恩格尔系数、就诊点远近、有无医疗保障、婚姻状况和性别。结论肺结核可疑症状者就诊延迟较为严重;影响其就诊延迟的主要因素有出现症状后是否愿意就诊等。采取综合性干预措施,有助于减少肺结核可疑症状者就诊延迟,提高结核病发现率。     

Long-term Outcomes of Patients Undergoing War-related Amputations of the Foot and Ankle

Long-term clinical and functional outcomes for patients undergoing foot and ankle amputations are not well documented. We attempted to document long-term outcomes for patients who required lower extremity amputations as a result of wounds suffered during wartime. For this study, 27 Iranian soldiers who had wounds requiring amputation of the foot and ankle were selected for follow-up. The participants' wartime medical records were reviewed, a clinical examination was performed, and each participant completed a questionnaire. Postamputation follow-up averaged 17.5 years. The most prevalent (66.6%) cause of injury was a land mine. The prevalences of different clinical symptoms reported by the amputees at the time of the last follow-up were as follows: 11 (40.7%) with phantom sensation, 6 (22.2%) with phantom pain, 12 (44.4%) with stump pain, 12 (44.4%) with back pain, 9 (33.3%) with contralateral knee pain, and 4 (14.8%) with ipsilateral knee pain; 20 (74%) reported treatment for psychological conditions. In regard to social conditions, 13 (48.1) were currently employed, or had been employed, for a number of years after the amputation; 26 (96%) had children, and all of the patients were married. The results of this observational study indicate that individuals have significant long-term pain and discomfort after war-related lower extremity amputation. Although all 27 (100%) of the amputees were able to maintain satisfactory family functioning, only 13 (48.1%) of the study participants were able to remain productively employed after undergoing amputation, and 20 (74%) reported long-term psychological problems in addition to their physical pain.     

大学生自我和谐与社交焦虑的相关研究

目的探讨大学生的自我和谐与交往焦虑的特点和关系。方法采用自我和谐量表和交往焦虑量表对310名大学生进行调查。结果男生在自我灵活性和自我和谐上得分低于女生（P〈0．01），研究生在自我灵活性上得分低于本科生（P〈0．01），理科生在社交焦虑上得分低于文科生（P〈0．05）；高自我和谐组在社交焦虑上得分低于低自我和谐组（P〈0．05）；从总体上看，社交焦虑与自我与经验的不和谐、自我刻板性、总体的自我和谐均呈正相关（P〈0．01）。结论大学生的自我和谐和社交焦虑之间均存在相关，自我和谐对社交焦虑具有良好的预测作用。     

细菌素产生菌的筛选及其细菌素的分离纯化

从香肠中分离得到一株产细菌素的乳酸片球菌，其发酵液经硫酸铵沉淀，CM—Sephadex C50阳离子交换柱层析后，得到的细菌素样品通过SDS—PAGE证明是一条带，分子量约20．83ku，该细菌素对热及酸碱稳定，易被酶降解而失去活性，对许多革兰氏阳性茵有较强的抑制作用，而对革兰氏阴性茵、酵母和霉没有作用。     

The utilization of traditional Chinese medicine and associated factors in Taiwan in 2002

Background Previous studies have noted that there is a high utilization rate of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services in Taiwan, China and in western countries, but few studies investigated factors associated with the utilization of TCM in Taiwan. This study analyzes the utilization rate and the factors associated with the utilization of TGM in Taiwan. Methods Data for this study were from the 2002 HPKAP Survey that conducted the face-to-face questionnaire interviews of people aged 15 years and over from October 2002 to March 2003 in Taiwan. This study analyzed the utilization of TCM outpatient services, including admission to the hospital and clinic visits. Results A total of 26 755 participants completed the survey in the six-month period. The data revealed that 10.4% of participants had utilized TCM services in the past one month while 4.2% of participants utilized TCM only (without using Western medicine outpatient services (WM) or Folk therapy (F'I')). The average visits of TCM services per patient was higher among people who had utilized TCM and FT services (2.68 visits) than among those who had utilized WM and FT services (2.15 visits) or TCM services alone (2.15 visits) during the previous one month. Younger people (odds ratio OR= 1.78, 95%C/= 1.47-2.16), women (compared with men), and people with higher education levels (OR = 1.58, 95%CI =1.25-1.98) were more likely to visit TCM than compared groups. People with self-reported poor health status (OR = 2.07,95%CI = 1.76-2.44) and people who exercise regularly (OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.07-1.27) had higher ORs to visit TCM service than comparison group.Conclusions There is a high utilization of TCM in Taiwan. Further studies are needed to investigate the related factors and determinants between the utilization of TCM and the utilization of FT in Taiwan.     

A simple model describes large individual differences in simultaneous colour contrast

We report experimental evidence for substantial individual differences in the susceptibility to simultaneous colour contrast. Interestingly, we found that not only the general amount of colour induction varies across observers, but also the general shape of the curves describing asymmetric matching data. A simple model based on von Kries adaptation and crispening describes the data rather well when we regard its free parameters as observer specific. We argue that the von Kries component reflects the action of a temporal adaptation mechanism, while the crispening component describes the action of the instantaneous, purely spatial mechanism most appropriately labeled simultaneous colour contrast. An interesting consequence of this view is that traditional ideas about the general characteristics of simultaneous contrast must be considered as misleading. According to Kirschmann’s 4th law, for instance, the simultaneous contrast effect should increase with increasing saturation of the surround, but crispening predicts the converse. Based on this reasoning, we offer a plausible explanation for the mixed evidence on the validity of Kirschmann’s 4th law. We also argue that simultaneous contrast, the crispening effect, Meyer’s effect and the gamut expansion effect are just different names for the same basic phenomenon.     

聚焦超声治疗慢性宫颈炎500例临床分析

目的 探讨聚焦超声治疗宫颈炎的临床疗效.方法 收治慢性宫颈炎700例,分为聚焦超声治疗组(超生治疗组)500例,微波治疗对照组200例.观察其临床症状、体征及疗效.结果 超声治疗组中、重度宫颈炎的疗效明显高于微波对照组,差异有显著意义(P＜0.05);两种方法治疗后,宫颈修复过程中阴道排液、出血等并发症的发生率,超声治疗组明显低于微波对照组,差异有显著意义(P＜0.05).结论 聚焦超声治疗宫颈炎疗效确切,副作用及并发症少,是目前治疗宫颈炎的一种有效方法.