Austrian Dream Behavior: Results of a Representative Population Survey

This study was based on a survey of a representative sample of 1000 Austrians who were questioned about their sleep and dream behavior. About two-thirds of the respondents reported that they generally recalled at least one dream per month. Dream recall frequency decreased with advancing age, but did not differ between men and women. Fifty-five percent of the respondents characterized the affective content of their dreams: 29% reported neutral, 20% positive, and 6% negative dreams. Four percent of the sample reported suffering from nightmares. These respondents more frequently reported snoring, interrupted sleep, daytime somnolence, anxiety and nervousness, depression, high dream recall, recurrent dreams, and dreaming in color. Twenty-six percent of the total sample reported that sometimes they realized during their dreams that they were dreaming. These respondents more frequently reported family problems, high dream recall, positive dream content, recurrent dreams, dreaming in color, and nightmares.     

Facilitating dream recall in Chinese people.

The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of dream recall in Chinese people and to develop nonintrusive procedures to facilitate dream recall. Guidelines for remembering dreams (dream recall instructions) were established based on a review of the existing literature on dream recall and its associated factors. The efficacy of the dream recall experience was explored using this procedure in neurologically healthy individuals. One hundred seventy Chinese participants were included in the study: 100 received the dream recall instructions, and 70 did not. The recall instructions were shown to be effective in triggering dream recall in the participants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Epidemiological Assessment of Hormesis in Studies with Low-Level Exposure

Despite its resurgence within toxicology and, specifically, risk assessment, the concept of hormesis remains peripheral to current epidemiological practice. In this paper we examine some reasons for this, focusing on applications within occupational and environmental epidemiology. Unclear in the existing literature is whether hormesis pertains to a single biological mechanism or response, or the aggregate effect of all correlates of exposure. Although J-shaped and U-shaped relationships between risk factors and disease endpoints have been identified epidemiologically, it is unclear whether such patterns reflect biological hormesis or a combination of factors resulting in a hormetic-looking relationship. Given the potential importance of assessing hormetic responses in epidemiological studies, we identify and discuss key limitations of epidemiology in validly detecting and interpreting hormesis. For example, most observational occupational and environmental studies lack the ability to determine the dose received by each individual, and therefore poor surrogates of exposure are frequently used, potentially introducing considerable systematic and random error. Further, because exposure is not randomly assigned to humans, the potential for confounding is great. Finally, using a simple simulation to assess the impact of ignoring hormesis in the analysis of epidemiological data containing mild hormesis, we demonstrate a resulting “hormetic bias,” in which relative risks at exposure levels above the hormetic region are systematically overestimated.     

碳青霉烯类耐药细菌的流行病学及耐药基因检测方法研究进展

抗生素在传染性疾病预防和治疗方面发挥着重要作用,但抗生素的滥用导致微生物在选择性压力作用下获得并维持耐药性。碳青霉烯类抗生素是一类用于治疗多重耐药菌感染的重要抗菌药物,曾被认为是治疗革兰氏阴性菌严重感染的最后一道防线。但随着碳青霉烯酶的出现,碳青霉烯类耐药革兰氏阴性菌的检出率在全球范围内迅速增长,严重威胁着全球的公共卫生安全。本综述重点介绍了碳青霉烯类耐药细菌的全球流行病学和临床相关耐药基因的检测方法,为合理使用抗生素、有效控制耐药性传播提供参考。     

Continuous detection of norovirus and astrovirus in wastewater in a coastal city of China in 2014–2016

Norovirus (NoV) and human astrovirus (HAstV) are important causative agents of acute gastroenteritis in children and adults. They are comprised of multiple genotypes and attention should be paid to genotype changes or emergence of new genetic variants. To study the prevalence and diversity of NoV GI, GII, and HAstV circulating in eastern China, we conducted a three-year environmental surveillance in a coastal city of Yantai. Thirty-six sewage samples were collected, processed, and examined for the presence of viral genomes by PCR. The results showed that NoV GI, GII, and HAstV were detected in all 36 samples. Six NoV GI genotypes, 11 NoV GII genotypes, and 5 HAstV serotypes were identified; GI.6, GII.17, and HAstV-5 were the most prevalent types, respectively. Persistent existence of NoV GII.17 Kawasaki 308 variant was observed during whole study period. Phylogenetic analysis reflected multiple transmission lineages in local population for both viruses. Our results reflect continuous presence of enteric viruses in sewage, improve our understanding on their molecular epidemiology, and demonstrate surveillance on sewage is an effective approach in understanding the local circulation of enteric viruses.     

Personality and Dream Recall Frequency: Still Further Negative Findings

In order to investigate the relationship between dream recall frequency and personality, 116 college undergraduates kept a dream log for 21 consecutive nights and completed self-report measures assessing fantasy-proneness, psychological absorption, and imaginative involvement. Consistent with most previous literature in this area, with one exception, there were no significant associations found between dream recall and the personality measures. The one exception to this pattern was for fantasy proneness and this correlation was of a small magnitude and only obtained for women. We conclude that dream recall frequency is largely independent from stable personality traits and can better be understood in terms of expectancy and attitudinal factors.