The use of the Impact on Sibling scale with families of children with chronic illness and developmental disability

Objective   This study evaluated the Impact on Sibling scale, a six-item measure of parents' perception of the effects of a child's illness on healthy siblings.
Methods   Participants were 122 parents of a child with chronic illness, developmental disability, or autism spectrum disorder, and a well sibling aged 4–13 years. Parents completed the Impact on Sibling scale and the Child Behavior Checklist about the sibling, and completed the revised Impact on Family scale and the Brief Symptom Inventory about themselves.
Results   The Impact on Sibling score was correlated with measures of sibling, parent and family functioning. The internal consistency of the Impact on Sibling scale was higher for families with children with chronic illness compared with the other two diagnostic groups.
Conclusion   The Impact on Sibling scale is a brief set of items that can help identify siblings who are negatively affected by a brother/sister's illness. Findings support further research on the Impact on Sibling scale, particularly with families of children with chronic illnesses.     

发作性睡病与HLA—DQB1＊0602基因的相关性研究

目的 探讨发作性睡病与HLA—DQB1基因的相关性。方法 对30例发作性睡病患者的临床资料进行分析。用序列特异性引物-聚合酶链反应（PCR-SSP）分型技术测定HLA—DQB1等位基因，并与44例健康人检测的数据进行比较。结果 发作性睡病患者组DQB1＊0602基因频率为40％，与正常对照组9．09％相比较明显增高；未检出DQB1＊0401—0402基因，与正常对照组9．09％相比较，经统计学分析，差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论 HLA—DQB1＊0602基因为中国发作性睡病人群的易感基因；HLA-DQB1＊0401—0402基因为中国发作性睡病人群的保护基因。     

一氧化氮及一氧化氮合酶在遗传性癫痫易感大鼠惊厥发作中的作用

目的：探讨一氧化氮、一氧化氮合酶在遗传癫痫易感大鼠惊厥发作中的变化及作用。方法：选择惊厥评分在30－40的P77PMC大鼠35只，均分A－G7组，A组为对照组、G组预先30min腹腔注射一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L－NAME，分别于铃声刺激致惊后0．5、1、2、4,12h断头处死，取出脑组织分离双侧大脑皮层、海马等组织匀浆，测定一氧化氮及一氧化氮合酶，分别统计并进行t检验。结果：惊厥后0．5－1h皮层、海马一氧化氮、一氧化氮合酶逐渐升高，2h达峰值，4－12h恢复正常，应用L－NAME后，一氧化氮、一氧化氮合酶升高被抑制，但大鼠惊厥评分增高并致1例惊厥后死亡和明显延长惊厥持续时间。结论：惊厥后大鼠体内一氧化氮、一氧化氮合酶合成增加，给予合成酶抑制后能明显下降，但能加重惊厥程度和延长持续时间，提示一氧化氮于惊厥后升高，可能作为内源性抑制性性质，在惊厥发作自行终止机制中具有重要作用。     

转基因食品的快速PCR鉴定

用十六烷基-二甲基-乙基-溴化铵(CTAB)法快速高效地从样品中提取了可供分析的基因组DNA,经PCR扩增,鉴定了含有35S启动子和NOS终止子的转基因样品.该方法的灵敏度可达0.1%,并且具有很好的稳定性.     

Evaluation of allergenicity of genetically modified soybean protein extract in a murine model of oral allergen-specific sensitization

Background With the development of genetically modified crop plants there has been a growing interest in the approaches available to assess the potential allergenicity of novel gene products. For additional assessment of the potential allergenicity of expressed proteins, informative data can be generated using animal models. Soybean is one of the major source of protein in human and animal nutrition, and has also been well characterized as a major allergenic source. Advances in biotechnology have resulted in an increasing number of genetically engineered foods, and among these soybean is one of the most widespread. Objective To develop and characterize a murine model of IgE‐mediated soybean sensitization induced by intragastric immunization, in the presence of Cholera Toxin, with wild‐type soybean extract (wt‐SE) or with genetically modified soybean extract (gm‐SE). Methods Balb/c mice born in our animal facilities, from females fed on soy‐free food, were fed with the same soy‐free food and used in all the experiments. Mice were sensitized by gavages with soybean extracts, and allergen‐specific IgE and IgG responses were studied by direct ELISA and ELISA inhibition. Antigen‐specific cell proliferation and cytokine production were evaluated in spleen cell cultures. Results Sensitization with both soybean extracts induced high levels of antigen‐specific IgE and IgG1 and low levels of specific IgG2a. Both wt‐SE and gm‐SE were able to inhibit the binding of specific IgE from mice immunized with gm‐SE to the same antigen used for the ELISA coating. A comparable proliferative response was obtained with the homologous as well as with the heterologous extracts. Conclusion In sensitized mice, we observed a predominantly T‐helper type 2 (Th2)‐type immune response, with increased soybean‐specific IgE and IgG1 antibodies and a concomitant increase of IL‐4 and IL‐5 production. Results obtained by specific IgE ELISA inhibition and by antigen‐specific T cell proliferation demonstrated that wt‐SE and gm‐SE shared B and T epitopes. The present murine model of soybean sensitization established by the oral route should provide valuable information about risk assessment for food allergy from new proteins of genetically modified foods.     

Siblings of a child with cancer

Summary A total of 21 healthy siblings were interviewed about their experiences when a brother or sister is diagnosed with cancer. Information about the illness, opinions about who should inform siblings, social support, specific worries and worst memories were studied, as well as perceptions of any differences in the way they were treated by their parents. A short General Impact Scale was developed to assess the extent to which the siblings felt their lives had been disrupted by the illness. Results on these measures were compared with scores on four dimensions of the Sibling Perception Questionnaire (Carpenter & Sahler 1991). Siblings who reported some positive effects as a consequence of the illness (they had become more empathic toward others, or valued life more) perceived their interpersonal relations to be more negatively affected, i.e. there were greater difficulties in their relationships with others especially their parents. Higher scores on communication were related to less of an impact of the illness on life generally. However, these siblings also reported heightened concerns that their brother or sister might die. The data suggested that siblings should have opportunities to talk about implications of the disease, especially worries about death, and more efforts should be made to prepare siblings for visits to hospital and seeing the sick child.     

Correlates of well-being in mothers of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Fifty mothers and 44 well siblings of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) participated in this study to identify correlates of maternal well-being. Participants completed postal questionnaires which assessed maternal well-being, problems experienced surrounding the illness and treatment and the nature of the sibling relationship. Due to the demanding nature of treatment and the fact that CF is both genetic and incurable at present we anticipate mothers of these children will experience higher levels of stress and consequently poorer well-being than the normal population. In addition, illness severity, problems with adherence to treatment, child communication, maternal support and the sibling relationship are expected to relate to maternal well-being. Mothers in this sample did not rate their well-being as any different to the normal population. Results suggest that mothers are likely to rate their own well-being as poor when they report more frequent problems surrounding the illness and treatment and well children rate their sibling relationship as having frequent disagreements and aggression. This study highlights factors that are related to maternal well-being in families where one child has CF. These mothers as a group do not appear to be experiencing more stress in their daily lives than the normal population but certain illness and family variables are related to their well-being when examining the mothers on certain dimensions.     

55对独生与多生子女MMPI配对研究

按同班、同性别、学号最邻近１：１配对原则从１６～１８岁青少年中选出５５对（男３４，女２１）独生与多生子女作为被试。ＭＭＰＩ测试结果：各量表Ｔ值，男性两组间无显著性差异；女性Ｋ量表独生组高于多生组，Ｄ和Ｓｉ两量表独生组低于多生组，其余１１项量表两组间亦无显著性差异。提示：总体上独生与多生子女间无显著个性差异，但独生女与多生女间有所差别。     

Ultrastructural analysis of pancreatic acinar cells from mice fed on genetically modified soybean

No direct evidence that genetically modified (GM) food may represent a possible danger for health has been reported so far; however, the scientific literature in this field is quite poor. Therefore, we investigated the possible effects of a diet containing GM soybean on mouse exocrine pancreas by means of ultrastructural, morphometrical and immunocytochemical analyses. Our observations demonstrate that, although no structural modification occurs in pancreatic acinar cells of mice fed on GM soybean, quantitative changes of some cellular constituents take place in comparison to control animals. In particular, a diet containing significant amount of GM food seems to influence the zymogen synthesis and processing.