Development and Measurement of the Treatment Perceptions Survey (TPS) for Clients with Substance Use Disorders

The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research - Statistical reliability of the Treatment Perceptions Survey (TPS) questionnaire was examined using data from 19 California counties. The...     

Allelic loss of 14q32 in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal and ampullary malignancies: mapping of the target region to a 17 cM interval

Purpose The genetic basis for gastrointestinal and ampullary carcinomas remains uncertain. This study was performed to pinpoint novel chromosomal region involved in the tumorigenesis of gastrointestinal tract.Methods We screened the allelic status on 16 chromosomal arms in a patient with synchronous ampullary carcinoma and gastric cancer, but who had no family history of familial cancer syndrome. The significance of the shared 14q deletion was examined on clinical cohorts of sporadic gastric (n=12) and ampullary (n=10) carcinoma, respectively. Then, high-density allelotype mapping was performed on 14q32 by using 23 microsatellite markers for the synchronous tumors.Results The synchronous gastric and ampullary carcinomas had no frameshift mutations in the APC, MSH2, MSH3, and MSH6 genes. Among the microsatellite markers screened, only D14S267 showed identical loss in the synchronous tumors. The same allelic loss was also detected in one of ampullary carcinomas (10%) and two of gastric cancers (16.7%). Fine mapping of 14q determined a minimally deleted region between D14S65 and D14S1010 (17 centiMorgans) for the synchronous tumors.Conclusions This study illustrates a paradigm using molecular genetic approach in identifying chromosome 14q32 that may harbor a tumor suppressor gene involved in the pathogenesis of a subset of gastrointestinal and ampullary malignancies.The doctors Dai YC and Ho CL contributed equally to this study.     

Clinical characteristics of infections caused by Roseomonas species and antimicrobial susceptibilities of the isolates

Human infections due to Roseomonas species are uncommon and the vast majority of reported infections are opportunistic and easy to treat. We retrospectively reviewed the computerized database of the Bacteriology Laboratory at the National Taiwan University Hospital to identify patients with infections caused by Roseomonas species during the period January 2000 to December 2010. Isolates of Roseomonas species were confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. During the study period, 20 patients had cultures positive for Roseomonas species. R. mucosa was the most prevalent isolate (n = 18), followed by 1 each of R. gilardii and Roseomonas genomospecies 5. True infection caused by Roseomonas species was confirmed in 17 (85%) patients. Most (n = 12, 71%) of these infections were health care-associated infection. The majority of the patients (n = 12, 71%) had underlying diseases. Malignancy was the most common underlying disease, and catheter-related bloodstream infection was the most common type of infection. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns varied among the different Roseomonas species. In conclusion, Roseomonas species can cause infection in children and adults regardless of immune status. Because different Roseomonas species may have different clinical features and susceptibility profiles, molecular studies are necessary to identify Roseomonas isolates to the species level.     

Utilization and outcomes of mental health services among patients in drug treatment

This study examined utilization of mental health services and treatment outcomes among 1,091 patients with mental health problems recruited from 39 treatment programs in 13 California counties. We compared three groups: one that received dual treatment from drug and mental health programs (N=294), one that received mental health services only within drug treatment programs (N=578), and one that received no mental health services (N=219). Individuals who received dual treatment had more severe substance use and mental health problems, followed in severity by those who received mental health services within drug treatment, and those who received no services. All groups significantly reduced their psychiatric severity at the follow-up, although there were no group differences in treatment retention and drug use outcomes. These findings suggest that individuals with mental health problems can be successfully treated within drug treatment programs and/or in conjunction with mental health providers.     

Differences in drug resistance profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates causing pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in a medical centre in Taiwan, 2000-2010

Few studies have investigated the drug resistance profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates recovered from different sites of infection. A total of 4521 non-duplicate MTB isolates, including 3723 (82.3%) from respiratory specimens and 798 (17.7%) from non-respiratory sources, were recovered from patients treated at a medical centre in Taiwan from 2000 to 2010. Trend analysis showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the rates of resistance to isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol, a decrease in resistance to any one of four agents, namely isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol or streptomycin, and a decrease in resistance to both isoniazid and rifampicin (multidrug resistance) amongst pulmonary MTB isolates. A similar decrease in resistance to isoniazid and ethambutol was noted amongst non-pulmonary isolates. Rates of drug resistance were significantly higher amongst MTB isolates recovered from respiratory specimens than amongst those from non-respiratory specimens to 0.2 μg/mL isoniazid (15.3% vs. 9.4%; P < 0.0001), 1 μg/mL rifampicin (5.5% vs. 3.3%; P = 0.0108), 5 μg/mL ethambutol (7.3% vs. 3.8%; P = 0.0004), and both isoniazid and rifampicin (4.8% vs. 2.5%; P = 0.0051). Resistance rates amongst isolates causing tuberculous lymphadenitis were significantly lower than amongst those causing genitourinary tuberculosis (TB) to isoniazid (3.5% vs. 19.4%, P = 0.0012) and to isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol or streptomycin (9.6% vs. 22.6%, P = 0.0003). In conclusion, the rates of resistance to first-line anti-TB agents and to multiple agents differed amongst MTB isolates obtained from different infectious sources. Continuous monitoring of resistance of MTB isolates from various sites is necessary in order to establish an effective TB surveillance programme.     

Treatment outcomes among women and men methamphetamine abusers in California

This prospective longitudinal study examined treatment outcomes among 1,073 methamphetamine-abusing patients (567 women, 506 men) from 32 community-based outpatient and residential programs in 13 California counties. Data were collected at intake and at 3 months and 9 months after admission. With one exception, improvements from baseline to follow-up were observed in all areas measured by the Addiction Severity Index for both women and men in either modality. Compared to men, women demonstrated greater improvement in family relationships and medical problems, and similar improvement in all other areas, despite the fact that more women were unemployed, had childcare responsibilities, were living with someone who also used alcohol or drugs, had been physically or sexually abused, and reported more psychiatric symptoms. Implications for service improvement are discussed.     

CT导引下肝囊性病变穿刺抽吸引流和硬化治疗57例

目的: 探讨CT定位下经皮肝囊性病变穿刺抽吸引流和无水乙醇硬化治疗的疗效及其病理基础. 方法: 在CT导向下对57例共80个肝囊性病变进行穿刺抽吸或引流,根据囊肿性质进行相应的硬化治疗,并随访全部病例. 结果: 治疗后囊肿大小均有变化,囊肿较治疗前缩小1/3者6例,囊肿较治疗前缩小1/3～2/3者24例,囊肿消失者27例. 有效率100%,随访0.5～4 a未发现有复发者,无严重并发症出现. 结论: CT导向下经皮穿刺抽吸引流和注射无水乙醇硬化治疗肝囊性病变安全有效.