Differences in SLE disease activity between patients of Caucasian and South‐East Asian/Chinese background in an Australian hospital

Aim: We performed a semiprospective and retrospective review of all admissions to a single institution of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, admitted due to active disease. The aim was to describe differences in disease activity as a cause of hospital admissions between patients originating from South‐East Asia/China (SAC) and Caucasians. Method: There were 210 patients admitted for active disease, with a total of 567 admissions for active SLE over a 16‐year period. Allowing for patients who had left our database, there was a total of 3415 patient years of observation. Results: Patients from SAC with a flare requiring admission presented earlier in their disease course and with more active disease than did Caucasians (median SLE Disease Activity Index 13 vs. 8, P= 0.002). They had longer inpatient stays (7 vs. 5 days P = 0.03). There was a trend to higher rates of re‐presentation to hospital for flare (59% in SAC patients vs. 41% in Caucasians, P = 0.09) with more subsequent admissions (3 vs. 2 P = 0.06) despite a shorter period of observation. Conclusions: South‐East Asian/Chinese were more likely to be diagnosed with class III/IV glomerulonephritis and require cyclophosphamide both at presentation and subsequent admissions. More patients from SAC were readmitted to hospital for severe central nervous system disease after their first hospital admission. In this population, lupus patients had more severe flares and more frequently required admission for these than Caucasians.     

Women's Danger Management Strategies in an Inner‐City Housing Project*

The danger management strategies of low‐income African American women who live in a public housing community characterized by chronic violence are examined. Based on qualitative interviews with 18 single mothers, we explored the violent community dangers with which women contend, the nature of this violence, the strategies used to deal with community violence, and their benefits and costs to family and community life. Findings show that multiple types of violence characterized life in the community and that this violence has specific physical locations, a particular set of actors, and a temporal rhythm. Women's responses to violence were nonconfrontational and family focused in nature. These efforts were effective in keeping women and their children safe, but did not reduce the prevalence of violence.     

南海某岛礁作业人员睡眠状况与身心健康状况关系的研究

目的 研究南海某岛礁作业人员睡眠状况与身心健康状况的关系。方法 由经过统一培训的医务人员连续91d每日逐人逐项当面调查、记录。其中的“指数”指标，采用视觉模糊评分法。结果 随着在礁时阃的延长，作业人员睡眠状况明显变差，其主要影响因素依次为值勤（28．73％）、情绪（20．09％）、多梦（10．16％）、噪音（8．86％）和气候（7．73％）等。睡眠状况与身心健康状况明显相关，相关系数7=0．937～0．980，P＜0．01；睡眠指数对身心健康状况各指标均有明显影响（P＜0．01），睡眠时间主要影响体能指数、健康指数、工作质量指数、工作积极性指数、注意力指数及情绪指数等（P＜0．05～0．01），对食欲指数、记忆力指数影响则不明显。结论 在岛礁期间，影响作业人员睡眠的主要因素是值勤和情绪，睡眠状况明显影响身心健康状况。     

Eight years'' experience with a structured clinical examination

A structured clinical examination has been an integral component of the final-year examinations conducted by the Departments of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Adelaide for the last 8 years. It has been used as an alternative to the traditional clinical examination. This paper describes the results of ongoing student and examiner surveys carried out to determine their views and satisfaction with this new approach. It also briefly discusses the feasibility of introducing such an examination into a conventional medical school environment. The surveys showed a remarkable level of acceptance and support by both students and examiners. This positive reaction has been maintained over the 8-year period. The main reasons seem to be its perceived relevance and fairness. Students also appear to be directing their learning in a direction thought desirable by teachers. No significant problems have been encountered with the practical implementation of the method.     

不同类型西洋参花、叶的电镜比较观察

采用扫描电镜对单、双茎西洋参的花粉、叶进行了观察,证明两者在花粉壁的雕纹、叶表皮角质沉积纹理的超微结构上存在着明显的差异。     

Stephen Girard (1750–1831): a one-eyed American patriot

Stephen Girard trader, banker, millionaire, and patriot lived 81 full and exciting years. Apparently born with a blind or amblyopic right eye, he emigrated from Bordeaux. France, via Santa Domingo to the United States, and finally settled in Philadelphia, where he developed a successful maritime trade. Ultimately, Girard became the first multimillionaire in the United States. Extremely generous, he often walked from his home in the center of Philadelphia to his farm in what is now South Philadelphia distributing shoes to needy children. Probably Girard’s most heroic gestures were his gallant fight against the yellow fever epidemic in 1793 and his loan to the U.S. government during the War of 1812, which allowed the bankrupt country to continue the conflict and ultimately to win the war. Presented, in part, at the tenth annual meeting of the David G. Cogan Ophthalmic History Society, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, March 8 and 9, 1997.     

Coming Out by South Asian Gay Men in the United Kingdom

The process of coming out among Western gay men and women is well described. The present study is the first to explore the experiences of coming out among gay men of South Asian origin in the U.K. South Asian is defined here as originating from the Indian subcontinent. Members of a homophile organization were given a questionnaire designed to assess the experiences of coming out to family and friends and the degree of compartmentalization in their lives. Information obtained from 52 questionnaires was supplemented by detailed interviews with 9 respondents. Families and religion played important roles in the process of coming out. Sisters were most likely to be told first. Some degree of dissonance between cultural and sexual identity was noted. In addition, each step taken in revealing one's sexual orientation to friends, family, and colleagues was dictated by the strength of the relationships and the desire for intimacy. Further areas of research are highlighted.     

主动吸入药物烟对大鼠一氧化氮的影响

目的　探讨主动吸入药物烟对大鼠NO的影响。方法　制备大鼠主动吸烟模型 ,采用硝酸还原酶法测定各组大鼠血清、肺、心肌及脑组织的NO含量。结果　非药物烟组大鼠血清、肺、心肌及脑组织中NO含量明显低于非给烟对照组 ,药物烟高、中剂量组NO含量明显高于非药物烟组 ,接近非给烟对照组。结论　吸烟对大鼠血液、肺、心肌及脑组织有不同程度的损伤作用 ,使NO含量降低 ;药物烟具有一定的保护和防止NO含量降低的作用。