Psychomotor therapy targeting anger and aggressive behaviour in individuals with mild or borderline intellectual disabilities: A systematic review

Background: Poor anger regulation is considered a risk factor of aggression in individuals with mild or borderline intellectual disabilities. Psychomotor therapy (PMT) targets anger regulation through body- and movement-oriented interventions. This study aims to inform practitioners on efficacy and research-base of PMT in this population.

Method: This systematic review evaluated nine studies which met inclusion criteria in terms of participants, intervention procedures, outcomes and certainty of evidence.

Results: Seven studies revealed a substantial reduction of aggressive behaviour or anger. Certainty of evidence was rated inconclusive in most cases due to absence of experimental control.

Conclusions: We can conclude that body-oriented PMT, involving progressive relaxation and meditation procedure “Soles of the Feet”, is a promising approach. However, the paucity of studies and methodological limitations preclude classifying it as an evidence-based practice. This suggests stronger methodological research and research aimed at PMT’s mechanisms of action (e.g., improved interoceptive awareness) is warranted.     

双波长紫外分光光度法测定贝母中腺苷和胸苷的含量

将4种贝母的甲醇提取物经薄层色谱法粗分离后,直接用双波长紫外分光光度法测定其含量。结果表明,该方法线性关系好,腺苷和胸苷标准曲线的相关系数均为0.9999,同时也发现平贝、炉贝和伊贝中腺苷都占核苷总量60%以上,而浙贝中仅占约40%,提示贝母生药的抗凝血活性可能与贝母中核苷类化合物的种类和含量的差别有关。     

The value of MCA, CA 15-3, CEA and CA-125 for discrimination between metastatic breast cancer and adenocarcinoma of other primary sites

MCA, CA 15-3, CEA and CA 125 were determined in the serum of 49 patients with metastatic breast cancer and 38 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of other primary sites. By using the 99th percentile of the normal value distribution as the cut-off point, the positive predictive value (PV+) was found to be 85% (95% CI 76-94) for MCA, and 71% (95% CI 61-81) for CA 15-3. When receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed, the PV+ for CA 15-3 was increased to 82% (95% CI 72-92), using 60 U ml-1 as the cut-off point. With the exception of two patients who had a slightly elevated MCA, MCA and CA 15-3 identified the same patients with breast cancer. By combining a positive MCA or CA 15-3 with a negative CEA and CA 125, further improvement of the PV+ could be achieved; 100% (95% CI 91-100). We conclude that MCA and CA 15-3 may play a useful role in discrimination between patients with metastatic breast cancer and those with adenocarcinoma of other primary sites.     

The HIV prevalence among pregnant women in the Amsterdam region (1988–1991)

The objective of the study was to monitor the HIV prevalence in the years 1988–1991 among pregnant women in the Amsterdam region, visitors to an abortion clinic and 3 outpatient infertility clinics. All women attending these clinics were asked to participate in the study on a voluntary basis and were tested with informed consent. The women were questioned about risk-bearing behaviour of themselves and their sexual partner(s). In the period 1988–1991, of the 23,827 eligible pregnant women, 22,165 women participated (93.0%). Twenty-seven women were found to be positive for HIV antibodies (0.12%, 95% CI: 0.08%–0.17%), of whom twenty belonged to a known HIV risk group or had a partner who belonged to one of these groups and 7 women had no known HIV risk. Seventeen of the 27 women had a foreign nationality. The annual HIV prevalence among pregnant women was: 1988: 0.28%; 1989: 0.10%; 1990: 0.10%; 1991: 0.11%. In the years 1990 and 1991, of the 1,128 eligible women visiting the abortion clinic 953 (84.5%) were tested. Eleven women were HIV-seropositive (1.15%, 95% CI: 0.6%–2.0%), of whom 9 were from an AIDS endemic region, 1 woman had a partner from this region and 1 woman had no known HIV risk. Four African women had HIV-2 antibodies. At the 3 outpatient infertility clinics 1 woman was found to be HIV-positive (0.13%; 95% CI: 0.02–0.9). She had no other risk than a partner from an AIDS endemic area. In the Amsterdam region there was a steady and low HIV prevalence (0.1%) among pregnant women through the years 1988–1991. The prevalence in the abortion clinic was ten times higher. The program was able to detect possible high risk groups within the population. Migration and travelling can play an important role in the spread of HIV in the general heterosexual population.     

HIV-antibody seroconversions in Dutch haemophiliacs using heat-treated and non heat-treated coagulation factor concentrates

A national multicentre study was performed to investigate the effects of donorselection and the use of heat-treated plasma products on seroconversion to HIV in 157 Dutch haemophiliacs. All patients included in the study were seronegative for HIV antibodies in 1983. Thirteen percent (20/157) seroconverted between 1983 and 1986. Nineteen of 20 seroconversions could be related to the use of non heat-treated products in the year preceding HIV antibody seroconversion. One seroconversion occurred in a person using heat-treated non donor screened product. Seroconversion rate decreased as a result of the policy to discourage high risk blood donors and no seroconversions were observed following the introduction of donor screening in 1985.     

Prevalence of thrombocytopenia in HIV-infected and non-HIV infected drug users and homosexual men

We studied the prevalence and risk factors for thrombocytopenia among 299 drug users and 461 homosexual men. The prevalence of thrombocytopenia was 3.3% in HIV-negative homosexual men, 8.7% in HIV-negative drug users, 16.4% in HIV-positive homosexual men, and 36.9% in HIV-positive drug users. With multivariate logistic regression HIV-seropositivity (odds ratio 3.3), a history of injecting drugs (OR 3.9), an increased number of lymphocytes (OR 0.44), an increased number of neutrophils (OR 0.53) and a larger mean platelet volume (OR 2.8) were independently and significantly associated with thrombocytopenia. The results obtained with linear regression analysis were consistent with the results of the logistic regression. The higher prevalence of thrombocytopenia among drug users was related to a history of intravenous drug use but not to recent injecting. The mechanisms causing thrombocytopenia among HIV-positives and HIV-negatives seem to be related, but HIV-infection seems to enhance thrombocytopenia in an independent way.     

Evaluation of the performance of commercial test kits for detection of Helicobacter pylori antibodies in serum.

We have compared the sensitivities, specificities, and predictive values of three commercial serological assays for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. A qualitative latex method (Pyloriset; Orion Diagnostics), a semiquantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (GAP test IgG; Bio-Rad), and a quantiative ELISA (Helico-G; Porton Cambridge) were used in 109 untreated dyspeptic patients. The presence of H. pylori was established when the results of culture and/or histology of the gastric biopsies taken were positive. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 62% (52% in 42 patients younger than 45 years of age and 69% in 67 patients older than 45 years of age). Sensitivities and specificities were 68 and 76% for Pyloriset, 89 and 77% for GAP test IgG, and 82 and 83% for Helico-G. The positive predictive values for all three tests were between 85 and 90%. The predictive values for the absence of disease with a negative result were 62, 82, and 74% for Pyloriset, the GAP test, and Helico-G, respectively. With Helico-G in the younger group (less than 45 years), sensitivity significantly lower (71 versus 87%) and a positive predictive value lower than those for the older group (greater than 45 years) were found. Either the sensitivities and specificities of commercial methods for the measurement of antibodies to H. pylori in serum must be improved or the relationship between the presence of antibodies and the presence of bacteria in the stomach at the time of investigation is too weak to allow the use of serological techniques instead of culture and histological investigation of gastric biopsy material.     

Cationic immune complex arthritis in mice--a new model. Synergistic effect of complement and interleukin-1.

A novel cationic immune-complex-mediated arthritis (ICA) model was developed in mice. The highly cationic protein lysozyme was coupled to poly-L-lysine (PLL) and injected intra-articularly into the knee joint of the mouse, shortly after systemic administration of specific antibodies. A vehement joint inflammation developed, characterized by severe joint swelling and the influx of predominantly polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte. Unique properties were combined in this protein. First, an excellent retention of the antigen in joint structures was found, facilitating sufficient IC formation in the synovial tissue and at the cartilage surface. Secondly, PLL.lysozyme appeared to be a potent inducer of interleukin-1 (IL-1). Similar IL-1 production was measured at 6 hours, in both immune or nonimmune mice. Neutralization with antibodies against either IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta revealed that IL-1 alpha was the dominant cytokine. Resident cells were responsible for this IL-1 production since a comparable IL-1 signal was measured after intra-articular injection of PLL.lys in neutropenic mice. We further investigated whether IL-1 and complement factors were involved in the onset of this ICA. Neutralizing the IL-1 production with antibodies directed against IL-1 alpha and beta showed a significant decrease in joint swelling. Complement depletion by cobra venom factor also prevented the onset of arthritis for the greater part. Only a minor swelling remained at 6 hours after eliciting arthritis, which was similar to the swelling after injecting the antigen alone and probably reflects IL-1 mediated inflammation. In this study, the authors show a synergistic action of IL-1 and complement in the onset of cationic ICA. Unique properties of the antigen such as excellent retention and its ability to induce IL-1 are combined within one molecule and make this antigen arthritogenic in the presence of antibodies and complement activation.