Correlates of Mental Illness and Health Categories among Older Adults in China: An Empirical Study Based on the Two Continua Model

Objective: Keyes’ two continua model is a useful concept in which mental health and mental illness exist on two separate axes. Based on this model, this study examined the prevalence and correlates of three mental health categories among older adults in China.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were derived from Wave 1 of the Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health. Participants were categorized into complete mental health (CMH), complete mental illness (CMI), and moderate mental health (MMH) groups. Multinomial logistic regressions were used.

Results: The prevalence of CMH, CMI, and MMH in China was 18%, 16%, and 66%, respectively. Being female, unmarried, younger, and feeling unhealthy were more likely to result in placement in the CMI category. Employment, education, and cognitive function were identified as important protective factors of CMH. Age, income, urban or rural residence, and physical function difficulty were associated with all three categories.

Discussion: We demonstrated the utility of the two continua model in identifying mental health needs in Chinese contexts. The findings suggest that future policy reforms and clinical interventions should establish a more comprehensive mental health category as a screening tool nationwide. The promotion of social engagement could play an important role in treating mental illness and improving positive mental health.     

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia in Cluster Headache Syndrome

SYNOPSIS
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia is regarded as indicative of cardiac vagal integrity. A ratio of the longest R-R interval to the shortest R-R interval during deep breathing test (E:I ratio) was calculated in controls (n=49), cluster headache (n=33) and CPH (n=4) patients, E:I ratio decreased with age but was not dependent upon sex or upon smoking habits. Furthermore, there were no significant differences as regards E:I ratio between cluster headache patients in and outside a bout, or between patients with right-sided and left-sided headache. However, the E:I ratio was found to be significantly lower in the cluster headache group as such, when compared with controls, but the number of patients disclosing pathological or borderline results was small, 2 and 2, respectively. This may indicate that a putative vagal dysfunction in cluster headache is usually less marked than in patients with e.g. diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Significant attack-related change in the E:I ratio were detected in all individual patients though these changes were not of a uniform nature from individual to individual. E:I ratios were rather high in 3 out of 4 CPH patients examined. However, the number of patients in this group is too small to allow definite statements about the difference between CPH end cluster headache with regard to E:I ratios. There was no significant difference between E:I ratios outside and during a mild, short, mechanically precipitated attack in a single CPH patient.     

Ipsilateral cluster headache and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania: two case reports

We report two patients with ipsilateral attacks of cluster headache and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. The first patient, a 33-year-old man, started having attacks of chronic cluster headache at the age of 27. At 33, they were replaced by typical attacks of ipsilateral chronic paroxysmal hemicrania which showed a dramatic improvement with indomethacin 150 mg daily. After two days of complete remission, cluster headache attacks reappeared and persisted until verapamil, 360 mg a day, was added to indomethacin. The second patient, a 45-year-old man, first developed attacks of episodic cluster headache at the age of 35. At 44, he experienced ipsilateral typical attacks of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, and two months later attacks of cluster headache. Under verapamil 240 mg daily, attacks of cluster headache disappeared, but those of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania increased in frequency until indomethacin 150 mg daily was added. These observations suggest a close relationship but not a similarity between cluster headache and chronic paraoxysmal hemicrania, and show the practical therapeutic interest of maintaining this distinction.     

头风痛胶囊治疗头风病(偏头痛)风瘀证临床观察附:62例病例报告

目的　观察中药四类新药头风痛胶囊治疗头风病 (偏头痛 )风瘀证的临床疗效及安全性。方法　采用随机对照试验 ,将 6 2例病人随机分为治疗组和对照组 ,每组 31例 ,分别服用头风痛胶囊和头风痛丸 ,疗程 1月 ,观察其疗效和副作用。结果　治疗组的头痛疗效为显效率 6 4 5 2 %、有效率 87 10 % ;中医证候疗效为显效率 6 1 2 9%、有效率 90 32 %。两组疗效之差异无统计学意义 (P >0 0 5 )。临床试验期间未发现头风痛胶囊所致的不良反应。结论　头风痛胶囊有较好的祛风止痛作用 ,服用安全 ,与头风痛丸具有相同的疗效 ,是头风痛丸的理想新剂型     

Multiple subcortical haemorrhages following lumbar metrizamide myelography

Summary The case is presented of a patient showing multiple subcortical haemorrhages after lumbar metrizamide myelography. This complication after intrathecally administered metrizamide contrast medium appears not to have been reported before. Several different possible explanations are proposed for the phenomena observed in this case.     

Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania: Dissociation of the Pain and Autonomic Features

The case of a woman suffering from chronic paroxysmal hemicrania is presented. Most attacks were unilateral and recurred on the same side. On a few occasions, attacks were observed on the contralateral side. In addition, the patient reported some incomplete attacks on the usually symptomatic side with autonomic phenomena, but without pain. That "partial" attacks would exist has been suspected on theoretical ground. This is, however, the first time such attacks have been reported by a patient. Therefore, a double dissociation of the symptomatology seemed to exist: (1) a side shift of attacks, and (2) incomplete("partial") attacks. These unexpected findings occurred after two indomethacin treatment withdrawals. A possible central and "midline" origin of attacks or an indomethacin after-effect or both are discussed as a likely explanation for such a dissociation of symptoms and signs.     

咪达唑仑治疗儿童癫痫持续状态及惊厥频繁发作的临床研究

目的研究咪达唑仑持续静脉滴注治疗癫痫持续状态[SE,包括难治性癫痫(R SE)]及频繁惊厥发作(FCS)的临床疗效,同时探讨其安全有效剂量及副作用。方法选取收入院的SE及FCS患儿205例为观察对象,随机分为两组,治疗组103例,给予咪达唑仑持续静脉滴注;对照组102例,应用传统的一线抗癫痫药(AED s)治疗。同时将两组疗效进行对照研究,观察治疗组的最大、最小用药剂量,副反应,51例患儿进行脑电图监测。结果治疗组疗效明显高于对照组(P<0.01),治疗组的咪达唑仑安全有效剂量为1￣8μg.kg-1.m in-1,在治疗剂量下未见明显副作用,37例痫样放电随着临床发作的终止消失,14例随着发作次数的减少而减少。结论持续静脉滴注咪达唑仑治疗SE及FCS安全、可靠、有效,且常规一线AEDs治疗无效后该药仍有效,故该药可推荐为治疗癫痫持续状态及频繁惊厥发作的最佳选择。     

Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Upper Airway Surgery on Exhaled Breath Condensate and Serum Biomarkers in Patients With Sleep Apnea

IntroductionStudies on inflammation biomarkers in serum and in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have shown conflicting results. The objective of this study is to assess EBC and serum biomarkers in OSA patients at baseline and after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or upper airway surgery (UAS).Patients and methodsNine OSA patients referred for UAS were matched for anthropometric characteristics and apnea–hypopnea index with 20 patients receiving CPAP. pH, nitrite (NO₂⁻), nitrate, and interleukin 6 in EBC and NO₂⁻, nitrate, leukotriene B₄, and interleukin 6 in serum were determined. EBC and serum samples were collected at baseline and 3 months after CPAP or UAS.ResultsPatients’ mean body mass index was 30 (range 24.9–40) kg/m². EBC biomarker levels at baseline were within normal range and did not differ significantly after CPAP or UAS. No significant changes were observed in the serum concentration of the biomarkers determined after CPAP but the serum concentration of NO₂⁻ increased significantly at 3 months after UAS (P=.0078).ConclusionIn mildly obese OSA patients, EBC biomarkers of inflammation or oxidative stress were normal at baseline and remained unchanged 3 months after UAS or CPAP. Although UAS was not effective in terms of reducing OSA severity, it was associated with an increase in serum NO₂⁻.     

Migraine Mimics

The symptoms of migraine are non‐specific and can be present in many other primary and secondary headache disorders, which are reviewed. Even experienced headache specialists may be challenged at times when diagnosing what appears to be first or worst, new type, migraine status, and chronic migraine.