Segregating the core computational faculty of human language from working memory

In contrast to simple structures in animal vocal behavior, hierarchical structures such as center-embedded sentences manifest the core computational faculty of human language. Previous artificial grammar learning studies found that the left pars opercularis (LPO) subserves the processing of hierarchical structures. However, it is not clear whether this area is activated by the structural complexity per se or by the increased memory load entailed in processing hierarchical structures. To dissociate the effect of structural complexity from the effect of memory cost, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of German sentence processing with a 2-way factorial design tapping structural complexity (with/without hierarchical structure, i.e., center-embedding of clauses) and working memory load (long/short distance between syntactically dependent elements; i.e., subject nouns and their respective verbs). Functional imaging data revealed that the processes for structure and memory operate separately but co-operatively in the left inferior frontal gyrus; activities in the LPO increased as a function of structural complexity, whereas activities in the left inferior frontal sulcus (LIFS) were modulated by the distance over which the syntactic information had to be transferred. Diffusion tensor imaging showed that these 2 regions were interconnected through white matter fibers. Moreover, functional coupling between the 2 regions was found to increase during the processing of complex, hierarchically structured sentences. These results suggest a neuroanatomical segregation of syntax-related aspects represented in the LPO from memory-related aspects reflected in the LIFS, which are, however, highly interconnected functionally and anatomically.     

基于ITS2序列的杜仲及其主要混伪品的鉴定

目的 分析杜仲及其混伪品的ITS2条形码序列,探讨杜仲及其混伪品鉴定的新方法,为杜绝市售商品药材混乱现象提供技术支撑。方法 提取样品DNA,利用PCR方法对样品进行核基因ITS2 片段扩增,采用DNA克隆测序技术对ITS2基因进行双向测序,所得序列经Seqman程序拼接后,用软件MEGA 4.1进行相关数据分析,并构建邻接（Nighbor-joining, NJ）树。利用网站已建立的ITS2数据库预测ITS2二级结构。结果 杜仲种内最大K2P遗传距离远远小于其与混伪品的种间最小K2P遗传距离;由构建的系统聚类树图可以看出,不同来源的杜仲样品聚成一支,表现为单性系,并与其他混伪品明显分开;比较ITS2二级结构发现,杜仲与其混伪品在4个螺旋区的茎环数目、大小、位置以及螺旋发出时的角度均有明显差异。结论 ITS2序列作为DNA条形码可以有效地鉴别杜仲及其混伪品,为其种质资源鉴定及临床安全用药提供了重要分子依据。     

对劳务工院前基础生命支持培训的研究

目的：调查劳务工对工友和陌生人实施基础生命支持的意愿和学习基础生命支持技能的意愿。探讨对劳务工进行基础生命支持培训的特点。方法：随机抽取沙井德昌电机厂劳务工1000名进行问卷调查。选取有学习意愿者300人,随机分为A、B、C3组进行技能培训,3组的培训时间分别为2、4、6h。培训后考试。选择B组于培训后2、4、6个月再进行考核,比较不同时间间隔的考试合格率的差异。结果：劳务工中愿意对工友和陌生人实施基础生命支持者占2．4％。愿意学习基础生命支持技能者占44．9％。4h培训的合格率显著高于与2h培训的合格率,4h与6h培训的合格率无显著差异。培训后6个月的考核合格率显著低于4个月的合格率,4个月与2个月之间无统计学意义。结论：对劳务工进行基础生命支持培训非常必要。技能培训时间以4h为宜。间隔6个月时应进行强化训练。     

倍他米松与医用生物蛋白胶在腰椎神经根减压术中的联合应用评价

目的：评价在神经根减压术中联合应用倍他米松和医用生物蛋白胶的疗效。方法：观察对象为腰椎神经根减压术术后的120例患者,根据术后处理方式的不同将患者分为4组：A组单纯手术组,B组单纯应用倍他米松组,C组单纯应用医用生物蛋白胶组,D组倍他米松联合应用医用生物蛋白胶组。观察各组术后直腿抬高试验角度、改良JOA评分、ODI评分、VAS评分、术后48 h内引流量,分析各组检查结果的差异。结果：术前患者年龄、病史时程、男女比例、直腿抬高试验角度、改良JOA评分、ODI评分、VAS评分、术后48 h内引流量均无统计学意义。术后各组患者直腿抬高试验角度在不同时期均有明显改善,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。术后4周,D组患者髋关节运动角度显著高于其他3组,差异有统计学意义[（75±23）°vs.（54±19）°,vs.（62±20）°,vs.（64±21）°,（P<0.05）];术后4周,D组患者膝关节运动角度显著低于其他3组,差异有统计学意义[（11±4）° vs.（16±6）°,vs.（13±5）°,vs.（14±5）°,（P<0.05）];术后4周,D组患者髋关节运动角度显著高于A组,差异有统计学意义[（74±21）° vs.（54±19）°,（P<0.05）]。术后患者症状也有显著改善：术后4周,D组患者改良JOA评分显著高于其他3组,差异有统计学意义[（22±7）vs.（16±6）,vs.（18±5）,vs.（18±5）,（P<0.05）]。术后4周,D组患者ODI评分显著低于其他3组,差异有统计学意义[（9±2）vs.（18±3）,vs.（13±2）,vs.（15±3）,（P<0.05）]。D组患者VAS评分显著低于其他3组,差异有统计学意义[（3.3±0.6）vs.（5.4±0.8）,vs.（4.3±0.7）,vs.（4.2±0.7）,（P<0.05）]。D组患者术后48 h内引流量明显低于其他3组,差异有统计学意义[（316±41）vs.（457±51）,vs.（420±56）,vs.（391±48）,（P<0.05）]。结论：联合应用倍他米松和医用生物蛋白胶能够在神经根减压术中收获比单用药物更好的疗效。     

Postoperative fatigue is a component of the emotional response to surgery: Results of multivariate analysis

Objective: To test the theory that postoperative fatigue is an aspect of the emotional, not physiological, response to surgery, we examined whether fatigue is a component of subjective experience after surgery and whether it is related to subjective physical or emotional state. Methods: Patients (N=160) undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty were assessed preoperatively, 1 and 7 days and 1 and 6 months postoperatively using multiple indicators of fatigue and subjective emotional and physical state. Covariance structure modeling was used to find out the structure of patients' experience on each occasion. Results: At each time, data indicated four latent variables: negative mood, positive mood, dysfunction and pain. Scales measuring fatigue indicated negative or positive mood but were unrelated to dysfunction and pain. Discussion: In surgical patients, the language of fatigue and energy describes empirically distinct components of emotional state. Explanations for postoperative fatigue should therefore be sought in emotional, not physiological, mechanisms.     

Response to lithium maintenance treatment in bipolar disorders: comparison of women and men

Objectives: Possible sex differences in responses to mood-stabilizing treatment remain poorly defined. Since women with bipolar disorder reportedly have more features that may predict a poor prognosis (depression and rapid cycling), we tested the hypothesis that women respond less well to lithium maintenance treatment.

Methods: Clinical characteristics of 360 women and men with DSM-IV bipolar I or II disorder were compared before and during clinical lithium maintenance monotherapy in a mood disorders clinic by preliminary bivariate comparisons, multivariate analysis, and survival analysis of time stable during treatment.

Results: Women (n=229) versus men (n=131) were: more likely to have type II disorder (1.6 times), 3.2 years older at illness onset, more often depressed-before-manic (1.4 times), considered unipolar depressive 1.9 years longer and started maintenance treatment 5.5 years later. However, women differed little from men before treatment in overall morbidity, average episode frequency and risk of suicide attempts. Contrary to prediction, women showed non-significantly superior responses to lithium treatment, and a significant 60% longer median time before a first recurrence during treatment, despite 7% lower average serum lithium concentrations.

Conclusions: Women were diagnosed as bipolar later than men with corresponding delay of lithium maintenance treatment that proved to be at least as effective as in men.     

Suicidality Over the First 5 Years of Psychosis: Does Extending Early Intervention Have Benefits?

Objective:We aimed to investigate whether individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) receiving extended early intervention (EI) were less likely to experience suicidal ideation and behaviors than those transferred to regular care after 2 years of EI. Another objective was to examine the 5-year course of suicidality in FEP.Methods:We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial where 220 patients were randomized after 2 years of EI to receive extended EI or regular care for the subsequent 3 years. Suicidality was rated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Linear mixed model analysis was used to study time and group effects on suicidality.Results:Extended EI and regular care groups did not differ on suicidality. There was a small decrease in suicidality over time, F(7, 1038) = 1.84, P = 0.077, with an immediate sharp decline within a month of treatment, followed by stability over the remaining 5 years. Patients who endorsed suicidality at entry (46.6%) had higher baseline positive, negative, and depressive symptoms. The 5-year course fell in 3 groups: never endorsed suicidality (33.9%), endorsed suicidality at low-risk levels (43.1%), and endorsed high-risk levels (23.0%). The high-risk group had a higher proportion of affective versus nonaffective psychosis diagnosis; higher baseline positive and depressive symptoms; higher 5-year mean depression scores, and fewer weeks of positive symptom remission over the 5-year course.Conclusions:The first month of treatment is a critical period for suicide risk in FEP. Although early reductions in suicidality are often maintained, our findings make the case for sustained monitoring for suicide risk management.