Effects of Communication Skills Training on Parents and Young Adolescents From Extreme Family Types

PROBLEM What were the effects of a communication skills training intervention among a sample of young adolescents and parents who scored in the “extreme” range of the Circumplex Model of Family Systems? METHODS Thirty‐seven young adolescents and a parent (intervention group) participated in communication skills training 2 hours/week for 6 weeks. Their responses on measures of satisfaction with the family system and perceptions of communication were compared with those of 47 young adolescents and a parent who scored in the extreme range but did not participate in the training (control group). FINDINGS Fathers and young adolescents demonstrated no change as a result of the program. Mothers who participated in skills training perceived communication with their young adolescent as more open than control mothers, but became increasingly dissatisfied with the family system. CONCLUSION This universal, community‐based, family‐focused intervention may not be indicated for extreme families.     

Parametric imaging of myocardial viability using 15O-labelled water and PET/CT: comparison with late gadolinium-enhanced CMR

Purpose

The perfusable tissue index (PTI) is a marker of myocardial viability. Recent technological advances have made it possible to generate parametric PTI images from a single [¹⁵O]H₂O PET/CT scan. The purpose of this study was to validate these parametric PTI images.

Methods

The study population comprised 46 patients with documented or suspected coronary artery disease who were studied with [¹⁵O]H₂O PET and late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Results

Of the 736 myocardial segments included, 364 showed some degree of LGE. PTI and perfusable tissue fraction (PTF) diminished with increasing LGE. The areas under the curve of the PTI and PTF, used to predict (near) transmural LGE on CMR, were 0.86 and 0.87, respectively. Optimal sensitivity and specificity were 91?% and 73?% for PTI and 69?% and 87?% for PTF, respectively.

Conclusion

PTI and PTF assessed with a single [¹⁵O]H₂O scan can be utilized as markers of myocardial viability in patients with coronary artery disease.     

The psychometric testing of the Thai version of the health utilities index in patients with ischemic heart disease

The HEALTH UTILITIES INDEX^® (HUI^®) is a family of systems designed to measure utility scores of health-related quality of life for comprehensive health states. There are two current HUI systems: HUI2 and HUI3. Since no Thai version of self-administered HUI was available, the study objective was to translate and test the psychometric properties of the HUI self-complete Thai-language questionnaire in terms of practicality, reliability, validity and responsiveness. A convenience sample of 216 outpatients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) was selected. Mean age was 60.3 ± 7.2 (range 37–77) and 37.2 % were males. The floor and ceiling effects of the total scores for both HUI were <15 %. The intraclass correlation coefficients were from moderate to high for all attributes and total scores. The correlations of HUI2 and HUI3 when compared with the EQ-5D and MacNew global scores were high (Spearman’s rho > 0.5, P < 0.001). Discriminant validity was proved among three groups of different specific activity scale classes (P < 0.001). The effect size was the highest (0.92) in the patients reporting worsened health status assessed by the HUI2. In conclusion, both of the HUIs demonstrated conditionally satisfactory psychometric properties in the patients with IHD.     

Antiproliferative effect of Erycibe elliptilimba on human breast cancer cell lines

Erycibe elliptilimba Merr. & Chun., family Convolvulaceae, is a Thai traditional medicine which has long been prescribed for various infectious and malignant diseases. Bio-assays of extracts from Erycibe elliptilimba Merr. & Chun. showed that a fraction (fraction 3) from an methanolic extract had an antiproliferative effect on SKBR3 and MDA-MB435 human breast cancer cells. The ED50 value of Erycibe elliptilimba Merr. & Chun. fraction 3 was 56.07 and 30.61 μg/ml for SKBR3 and MDA-MB435, respectively. After 48 h of exposure, this fraction at a concentration of 100 μg/ml significantly reduced cell proliferation in both cancer cells. In MDA-MB435 cells, cell cycle analysis showed that the herb extract fraction 3 induced the accumulation of cells in G2/M phase, whereas no significant change in cell cycle was detected in SKBR3 cells. The results indicated that the extract fraction 3 could induce cell cycle arrest in some way. However, further investigation is needed to assess the molecular mechanisms mediated anticancer activities of this plant.     

Sitagliptin-induced hemolysis

Sitagliptin is a newer oral hypoglycemic drug of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor class. It appears to be a promising newer oral hypoglycemic agent. The advantages are the absence of hypoglycemia when used as monotherapy and they cause less gain weight. We report a case of sitagliptin-induced hemolysis, a rare side effect, not reported in the literature. As sitagliptin is widely used in type 2 diabetes mellitus physicians should be aware of the possibility of this rare but potentially serious adverse drug reaction.     

Immunomodulatory effect and quantitation of a cytotoxic glycosphingolipid from Murdannia loriformis

NMR signal reassignments for a cytotoxic glycosphingolipid compound, 2, -O-D-glucopyranosyl-2-(2-hydroxy-Z-6-enecosamide)sphingosine, isolated from an ethanolic extract of the herb Murdannia loriformis, have been achieved by use of FAB-MS, and 1D and 2D ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The amount of 2 in the herb juice was quantitatively determined by use of a validated HPLC method (RP-18, MeOH–H₂O, UV detection at 210 nm). The immunomodulatory effect of the herb juice and of 2 was proved by means of in vitro cellular immunological assays. Compound 2 at a concentration of 13 nmol L^–1 stimulated PBMC proliferation and increased the CD 3,4:CD 3,8 ratio in T lymphocytes.     

Brazilian National Health Policy: health professionals' social representations

The Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) was created 15 years ago with the aim of promoting universal access to health care. This study analyzes the content of social representations by health professionals from Rio de Janeiro concerning the system's implementation. The study was based on social representation and social memory theory and was conducted in five health care institutions with 100 professionals. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed through lexical analysis using the Alceste 4.7 software. The results showed two thematic blocks, namely the formal and real SUS. The formal representation discusses themes related to human resources policy, health system definitions and principles, and social participation. The real representation discusses the health professional-client relationship and health care structure, hierarchical and regional organization of care, and client profile. The results reflect the main characteristics of the SUS and allow the identification of representations and memories that differentiate it from the previous system.     

Tropical pyomyositis presenting as sepsis with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Tropical pyomyositis is an underdiagnosed condition. We reported a 35 year old male farmer, who presented with septicemia and acute respiratory distress syndrome due to pyomyositis involving the paraspinal muscles. Culture of the pus grew methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and the patient recovered after surgical drainage and antibiotic treatment. Diagnostic delays can be avoided if tropical pyomyositis is considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with septicemia.