Implosion (Flooding)—a New Treatment for Phobias

A new technique is described for the treatment of phobic patients which may be more effective than other available methods to date. Three out of four patients treated by implosion (flooding) became almost symptom-free after a mean of 14 sessions and remained so over six-and-a-half months'' follow-up. The mechanism of action of the method is not yet clear.     

Effectiveness of the No action level protocol for head & neck patients – Time considerations

BackgroundThe No Action Protocol (NAL) was used to diminish the systematic set-up error. Recently, owing to the development of image registration technologies, the on-line positioning control is more often used. This method significantly reduces the CTV–PTV margin at the expense of the lengthening of a treatment session. The efficiency of NAL in decreasing the total treatment time for Head&Neck patients was investigated.MethodsResults of set-up control of 30 patients were analyzed. The set-up control was carried out on-line. For each patient and each fraction, the set-error and the time needed for making the set-up control procedure were measured. Next, retrospectively, the NAL was applied to this data. The number of initial errors (without interventions) and after NAL protocol were compared in terms of errors larger than 3 and 4 mm. The average and total time used for portal control was calculated and compared.ResultsThe number of setup errors in the posterior-anterior, inferior-superior, and right–left directions ≥3 mm and ≥4 mm were 98, 79, and 91 sessions and 44, 38 and 30 sessions out of 884 sessions. After NAL protocol the number of errors ≥3 mm and ≥4 mm decreased to 84, 57, and 39 sessions and 31, 15 and 10 sessions, respectively. The average time needed for one set-up control was 5.1 min. NAL protocol allows saving 4049 min for the whole group.ConclusionsFor locations where the random set-up errors are small, the NAL enables a very precise treatment of patients. Implementation of this protocol significantly decreases the total treatment time.     

针刺治疗胃肠实热型肥胖症的疗效观察

目的:探讨针刺疗法对胃肠实热型单纯性肥胖症的治疗效果。方法:纳入近5年新加坡广惠肇留医院中医门诊中心符合胃肠实热型单纯性肥胖症标准的病例共67例,遵循中医"辨证施治"原则制定治疗方案,采用腹部围针法加体针进行治疗,每周治疗两次,10次为一个疗程,共治疗三个疗程,观察三个疗程针刺对单纯性肥胖症(胃肠实热型)体重及体重指数(BMI)的影响。结果:(1)男女两组患者BMI分布明显不同,超重和1度肥胖的女性患者明显多于男性,有显著性差异(P<0.05);(2)单纯性肥胖病患者经针刺治疗三个疗程后,治愈率68.7%,显效率23.9%,总有效率92.6%;患者体重显著降低(P<0.01),且两个疗程显著优于l疗程(P<0.01),三个疗程疗效显著优于两个疗程(P<0.01)。结论:针灸可明显降低体重及体重指数(BMI),且辨证论治是提高针刺疗效的关键环节,同时治疗时间越长,效果越显著。     

Comparison of regimens of treatment with sodium stibogluconate in kala-azar.

One hundred and twenty six patients with kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) were allocated at random to one of two groups for treatment with sodium stibogluconate. One group was treated for 20 days; in the other group the patients were assessed after 20 days'' treatment and treatment was continued if necessary. Both groups were followed up for six months. There was no significant difference in symptomatic outcome between the two groups at 20 days. At six months eight of the patients in the group treated for 20 days had relapsed and 54 were cured. Of the group given more than 20 days'' treatment if necessary, 62 were cured and none had relapsed (12 required more than 20 days'' treatment). This difference between the two groups was significant. One patient in each group did not respond to sodium stibogluconate, but both were were cured with pentamidine. Altogether 104 patients were cured after 20 days'' treatment; 20, including the eight who relapsed, were cured after more than 20 days'' treatment. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the side effects of the drug, which were minor. The longer courses of treatment (50 days in one patient) were well tolerated. It is suggested that the traditional six day course of treatment with sodium stibogluconate for kala-azar is grossly inadequate and that a longer course is required to prevent relapse.     

Intravenous methylprednisolone in the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Eleven euthyroid patients with severe Graves'' eye disease were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and followed up for six months or more by ophthalmological assessment, orbital computed tomography (CT), photographs, and antibody measurements. Papilloedema resolved in the single patient in whom it was present; visual acuity was abnormal in seven eyes initially and in only one eye after treatment; the intraocular pressure differential, which reflects muscle dysfunction, was initially abnormal in 18 eyes but showed a progressive and distinct improvement; nine patients showed substantial improvement in inflammatory signs. Exophthalmos improved early after treatment, but this improvement was not maintained. Orbital CT showed a pronounced reduction in the bulk of eye muscles after treatment in eight of nine patients. Autoantibodies to the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor declined. Adverse effects were trivial. Thus eight patients showed a clear response to intravenous methylprednisolone as judged by ophthalmic assessment and CT scan. The two patients who showed little response and one who had none all had a long history (more than a year) of ophthalmopathy. Results were better than those with oral steroids and adverse effects less. Treatment of Graves'' eye disease is more likely to be effective if given early; patients should be referred promptly to specialist centres, where treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone should be considered.     

Conscious Sedation Procedures Using Intravenous Midazolam for Dental Care in Patients with Different Cognitive Profiles: A Prospective Study of Effectiveness and Safety

The use of midazolam for dental care in patients with intellectual disability is poorly documented. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of conscious sedation procedures using intravenous midazolam in adults and children with intellectual disability (ID) compared to dentally anxious patients (DA). Ninety-eight patients with ID and 44 patients with DA programmed for intravenous midazolam participated in the study over 187 and 133 sessions, respectively. Evaluation criteria were success of dental treatment, cooperation level (modified Venham scale), and occurrence of adverse effects. The mean intravenous dose administered was 8.8±4.9 mg and 9.8±4.1 mg in ID and DA sessions respectively (t-test, NS). 50% N₂O/O₂ was administered during cannulation in 51% of ID sessions and 61% of DA sessions (NS, Fisher exact test). Oral or rectal midazolam premedication was administered for cannulation in 31% of ID sessions and 3% of DA sessions (p<0,001, Fisher exact test). Dental treatment was successful in 9 out of 10 sessions for both groups. Minor adverse effects occurred in 16.6% and 6.8% of ID and DA sessions respectively (p = 0.01, Fisher exact test). Patients with ID were more often very disturbed during cannulation (25.4% ID vs. 3.9% DA sessions) and were less often relaxed after induction (58.9% ID vs. 90.3% DA) and during dental treatment (39.5% ID vs. 59.7% DA) (p<0.001, Fisher exact test) than patients with DA. When midazolam sedation was repeated, cooperation improved for both groups. Conscious sedation procedures using intravenous midazolam, with or without premedication and/or inhalation sedation (50% N₂O/O₂), were shown to be safe and effective in patients with intellectual disability when administered by dentists.     

Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer in Taiwanese Women: Potential Treatment Delay and Impact on Survival

This study investigated the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of women diagnosed with pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) in Taiwan. PABC is defined as breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or within 1 year after obstetric delivery. Our sample of PABC patients (N = 26) included all patients diagnosed at a major medical center in northern Taiwan from 1984 through 2009. Among these patients, 15 were diagnosed during pregnancy and 11 were diagnosed within 1 year after delivery. The comparison group included 104 patients within the same age range as the PABC patients and diagnosed with breast cancer not associated with pregnancy from 2004 through 2009 at the same hospital. Patients'' initiating treatment delayed, 5-year and 10-year overall survival were delineated by stratified Kaplan-Meier estimates. Patients'' characteristics were associated with initiating treatment delayed was evaluated with multivariate proportional hazards modeling. Antepartum PABC patients were younger and had longer time between diagnosis and treatment initiation than postpartum PABC patients. The predictor of treatment delayed was including birth parity, cancer stage, and pregnancy. The PABC group had larger tumors, more advanced cancer stage, and tumors with less progesterone receptor than the comparison group. The antepartum PABC patients had higher mortality than postpartum PABC and comparison groups within 5 years after diagnosis. Based on these results, we confirmed that pregnant women with breast cancer were more likely to delay treatment. Therefore, we recommend that breast cancer screening should be integrated into the prenatal and postnatal routine visits for early detection of the women''s breast problems.     

The importance of patient selection for photochemotherapy in psoriasis.

Twenty-four patients with psoriasis were treated with orally administered 8-methoxypsoralen followed by exposure to high-intensity long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (PUVA) at a psoriasis day care centre. Among the 20 with plaque type psoriasis the condition cleared in 13 (65%), after a mean of 20.7 treatment sessions, and improved but failed to clear in 4 (20%); the treatment failed in the other 3 (15%). The other four patients had erythrodermic, pustular or inflammatory psoriasis, and all failed to respond to PUVA therapy. Factors to be considered in patient selection for this form of therapy are the type of psoriasis, the patient''s skin type and th proportion of the body surface area involved.     

Health promotion in the general practice consultation: a minute makes a difference.

OBJECTIVE--To see whether extending appointment length from seven and a half minutes or less to 10 minutes per patient would increase health promotion in general practice consultations. DESIGN--Controlled trial of 10 minute appointments. Consultations were compared with control surgeries in which the same doctors booked patients at their normal rate (median six minutes per patient). SETTING--10 general practices in Nottinghamshire. SUBJECTS--16 general practitioners were recruited. Entry criteria were a booking rate of eight or more patients an hour, a wish for longer consultations, and plans to increase appointment length. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Duration of consultations; recording of blood pressure, weight, and cervical cytology in the medical record; recording of advice about smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise, and immunisation in the medical record; reporting of the above activities by patients. RESULTS--Mean consultation times were 8.25 minutes in the experimental sessions and 7.04 and 7.16 minutes in the control sessions. Recording of blood pressure, smoking, alcohol consumption, and advice about immunisation was significantly more frequent in the experimental sessions, and the proportion of consultations in which one or more items of health education were recorded in the medical notes increased by an average of over 6% in these sessions. Patients more often reported discussion of smoking and alcohol consumption and coverage of previous health problems in the experimental sessions. There was little change in discussion of exercise, diet, and weight or cervical cytology activity. CONCLUSIONS--Shortage of time is a major factor in general practitioners'' failure to realise their potential in health promotion. General practice should be organised so that doctors can run 10 minute appointment sessions.     

针灸联合多奈哌齐和美金刚对重度老年痴呆患者行为能力和认知功能的影响

目的:研究针灸联合多奈哌齐和美金刚对重度老年痴呆患者行为能力和认知功能的影响。方法:选择2015年1月～2018年12月在我院精神科进行诊治的50例重度老年痴呆患者,采用随机数字表法将其平均分为两组,每组25例。对照组患者口服多奈哌齐以及美金刚治疗,初始给药剂量均为每天口服5 mg,逐渐将给药剂量升高至每天口服20 mg,每次1片,每天2次。观察组患者采取针灸联合多奈哌齐和美金刚治疗,每天针灸治疗1次,每治疗6 d后休息1 d。两组患者均连续治疗4周。记录和比较两组患者治疗前后的日常生活能力与认知功能的变化情况。结果:观察组患者治疗4w后的治疗有效率为92.00%(23/25),明显高于对照组[68.00%(17/25)](P0.05);两组治疗4w后的MMSE和BI评分均显著高于治疗前(P0.05),且观察组以上指标均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:针灸联合多奈哌齐和美金刚对重度老年痴呆患者的治疗效果明显优于单纯使用多奈哌齐和美金刚治疗,其可更有效改善患者的行为能力和认知功能。     

Results of Psychotherapy

A controlled double blind study was made of 299 non-psychotic female psychiatric clinic patients divided into six groups, with members of each group dealt with in a different manner from those in other groups. Those in one group had one or two hour-long psychotherapy sessions a week. Four groups were limited to brief visits but were given one of three kinds of drugs or a placebo. One group was merely put on a waiting list and received no therapy. As determined by a variety of independent measures, there was a fairly uniform average improvement of all groups except the one that received no treatment. Follow-up 10 to 18 months after termination of treatment revealed that the average patient had maintained her improvement and that those who had received no treatment showed considerable improvement after they were removed from the waiting list.The findings suggested that the widespread preference for the traditional outpatient psychotherapy is based as much on the physician''s bias as on proven greater effectiveness over briefer treatment methods. There was some confirmation that many things other than the development of understanding enter into much of the so-called psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy and may have profound effect on the outcome.     

Randomised trial of personalised computer based information for patients with schizophrenia

ObjectivesTo compare use, effect, and cost of personalised computer education with community psychiatric nurse education for patients with schizophrenia.DesignRandomised trial of three interventions. Modelling of costs of alternatives.Participants112 patients with schizophrenia in contact with community services; 67 completed the intervention.InterventionsThree interventions of five educational sessions: (a) computer intervention combining information from patient''s medical record with general information about schizophrenia; (b) sessions with a community psychiatric nurse; (c) “combination” (first and last sessions with nurse and remainder with computer).ResultsRates of completion of intervention did not differ significantly (71% for combination intervention, 61% for computer only, 46% for nurse only). Computer sessions were shorter than sessions with nurse (14 minutes v 60 minutes). More patients given nurse based education thought the information relevant. Of 20 patients in combination group, 13 preferred the sessions with the nurse and seven preferred the computer. There were no significant differences between groups in psychological outcomes. Because of the need to transport patients to the computer for their sessions, there was no difference between interventions in costs, but computer sessions combined with other patient contacts would be substantially cheaper.ConclusionsThe computer based patient education offered no advantage over sessions with a community psychiatric nurse. Investigation of computer use combined with other health service contacts would be worth while.

What is already known on this topic

Education of patients with schizophrenia has limited but positive outcomesComputer based approaches have not been thoroughly evaluated

What this study adds

A computer based method of education for patients with schizophrenia, which personalised the information with details from each patient''s medical record, was acceptable and as effective as educational sessions given by a community psychiatric nurseHowever, because of the need to provide transport for patients to attend their sessions, the computer based intervention was as costly as the nurse based oneInvestigating the addition of computer based education to other routine patient contacts would be worthwhile     

Metyrapone in long-term management of Cushing's disease.

Metyrapone was used in the long-term management of 13 patients with pituitary-dependent bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (Cushing''s disease). The total length of treatment ranged from two to 66 months, with a mean of 21 months. The clinical features of the disease rapidly improved on metyrapone and this improvement was maintained. Although plasma ACTH concentrations rose in all patients, the increase was insufficient to overcome the adrenal blockade induced by the drug. Eight of the 13 patients had additional external pituitary irradiation as definitive treatment of their disease and one underwent a transfrontal hypophysectomy. Radiotherapy cured one patient, and after three years metyrapone was withdrawn. Slight hirsuties was noted in four of the seven women who received the drug for six months or more. A fifth woman had more severe hirsuties and this led to bilateral adrenalectomy. Other than hirsuties, side effects were few and the routine use of metyrapone is recommended as an adjunct to more definitive treatment in all patients who present with Cushing''s syndrome, irrespective of aetiology.     

Cryotherapy for local recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Experience in 19 patients

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a locally aggressive, cutaneous, malignant tumor characterized by a high propensity for local relapse. Wide and deep local excision with reconstructive surgery is the current standard therapy for DFSP, with a local recurrence rate (LRR) of nearly 40%. In this study, we cured 19 patients with local recurrence of DFSP with 39 sessions of percutaneous cryoablation performed between July 2004 and August 2008. The LRRs after one, two and three cryosurgery sessions per patient were 68%, 54% and 0%, respectively. Moreover, the LRR did not differ with tumor location or size. Furthermore, all patients had a progression-free survival of >5 years. Only minor complications such as fever, local edema, mild nerve injury and local pain occurred, and were resolved within 1 week with symptomatic treatment. In our experience, percutaneous cryoablation is a relatively safe and efficient technique for the treatment of local recurrence of DFSPs.     

吡格列酮和二甲双胍对初诊2型糖尿病患者肠源性内毒素水平的影响

目的:探究吡格列酮和二甲双胍对初诊2型糖尿病患者肠源性内毒素水平的影响。方法:选取初诊2型糖尿病患者105例,随机分为吡格列酮治疗组(52例)和二甲双胍治疗组(53例),以同期性别、年龄匹配的健康体检者42例作为对照组,治疗12周之后比较两组治疗前后肠源性内毒素及相关生化指标的变化情况。结果:治疗前,两治疗组的肠源性内毒素水平均显著高于对照组(P0.05);吡格列酮治疗后,患者肠源性内毒素和hs-CRP水平均下降较为明显(P0.01);而二甲双胍治疗后,仅hs-CRP水平显著下降,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),而肠源性内毒素下降不明显(P0.05);但两种药物治疗后,肠源性内毒素水平仍高于对照组(P0.01)。结论:吡格列酮可以降低初诊2型糖尿病患者的肠源性内毒素水平,而二甲双胍对肠源性内毒素的下降作用不明显。     

液氮冷冻联合兰科肤宁治疗孕妇尖锐湿疣的临床效果评价

目的:评价液氮冷冻联合兰科肤宁治疗孕妇尖锐湿疣的临床疗效与安全性。方法:回顾性分析我院收治的46例患有尖锐湿疣的孕妇,平均年龄为27岁,妊娠平均18周。每例患者的病灶数为5~18个。应用液氮枪喷涂于皮损,液氮枪距皮损2-3 cm,喷雾时间60秒,重复操作直至喷嘴霜化。将蓝科肤宁喷涂于单层纱布,敷于皮损部位20分钟,每天2-3次,共1周。分别于治疗后1月、3月观察皮损愈合情况,评价治疗效果。结果:治疗5天后,皮损均治愈,所有患者除有轻度至中度疼痛外,无其他不适。治疗后1个月,满意度94%;治疗后3个月,满意度为87%。无色素脱失或瘢痕形成,无任何严重不良事件。每位孕妇均分娩出一个健康的婴儿,无分娩相关并发症。治疗后1个月,只有1例病人复发,复发率为2.2%。治疗后3月,5例复发,复发率为10.9%。结论:液氮冷冻联合蓝科肤宁治疗孕妇尖锐湿疣的近期疗效较好,安全性较高。     

Effects of relaxation associated with brief restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) on plasma cortisol,ACTH, and LH

Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST), which involves placing an individual into an environment of severely reduced stimulation for brief periods, has been subjectively reported to produce deep relaxation. The present study determines the effects of REST-assisted relaxation on plasma cortisol, ACTH, and luteinizing hormone (LH). These parameters were also measured in a group exposed to a similar relaxation paradigm, but without REST (non-REST). Each subject experienced two baseline sessions (1 and 2), four REST (or non-REST) relaxation sessions (3, 4, 5, 6), and two follow-up sessions (7 and 8). Pre- and postsession plasma hormone levels were measured in sessions 1, 2, 5, and 8. Both REST and non-REST subjects reported that the experience was relaxing. During the treatment period (session 5) pre- to postsession changes in cortisol and ACTH, but not in LH, were significantly greater for the REST group than for the non-REST group. Plasma cortisol level also decreased across sessions in the REST group, with levels in sessions 5 and 8 significantly lower than the baseline (sessions 1 and 2). Non-Rest subjects showed no change in plasma cortisol across sessions. No significant change in plasma ACTH or LH occurred across sessions in the REST or non-REST groups, although ACTH showed a decreasing trend. These data demonstrate that repeated brief REST-assisted relaxation produces a relaxation state associated with specific decreases in pituitary-adrenal axis activity.     

Leukaemia complicating treatment for Hodgkin's disease: the experience of the British National Lymphoma Investigation.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the incidence of and risk factors for the development of secondary acute leukaemia and myelodysplasia in patients treated in British National Lymphoma Investigation''s studies of Hodgkin''s disease since 1970. PATIENTS--2676 Patients entered into Hodgkin''s disease studies between February 1970 and November 1986. Data accrued up to November 1988 were analysed, ensuring a minimum follow up period of two years. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of multicentre trial data by case-control and life table methods. RESULTS--17 Cases of secondary leukaemia were recorded in this group of 2676 patients, giving an overall risk at 15 years of 1.7%. The risks of leukaemia after chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy with radiotherapy were not significantly different. The risk of leukaemia increased sharply with the amount of treatment given as measured by the number of attempts at treatment. The 15 year risks of leukaemia were 0.2%, 2.3%, and 8.1% for patients receiving one, two, or three or more attempts at treatment. The highest risk, 22.8% at 15 years, was observed in patients treated with lomustine (CCNU), and a case-control study suggested that this was an independent risk factor. The risk of secondary leukaemia was largely related to the overall quantity of treatment, although exposure to lomustine seemed to be an important risk factor. Treatment with both drugs and radiation was not more leukaemogenic than treatment with drugs alone. The greatest risk of secondary leukaemia was seen in multiply treated patients who were unlikely to be cured of Hodgkin''s disease. CONCLUSIONS--Avoidance of secondary leukaemia should be a minor factor in the choice of treatment for Hodgkin''s disease.     

Stuttering—The Effect of Treatment with D-Amphetamine and a Tranquilizing Agent,Trifluoperazine; A Preliminary Report on an Uncontrolled Study

In an institution for the mentally retarded, an uncontrolled study was made on the effects of d-amphetamine, d-amphetamine followed by trifluoperazine, and of combined d-amphetamine and trifluoperazine on stuttering. Of 28 patients to whom d-amphetamine was given, 14 showed improvement after one month''s treatment. Eight more showed improvement when trifluoperazine was given for one month to those who did not improve on d-amphetamine. In many cases, improvement was sustained at least six months after treatment was discontinued.Treatment with d-amphetamine was apparently more effective in patients with functional than with organic retardation.