Ethno-racial segregation in São Paulo and London metropolitan regions: reflections on a comparative study / A segregação étnico-racial nas regiões metropolitanas de São Paulo e Londres: reflexões sobre um estudo comparativo / Segregación étnico-racial en las regiones metropolitanas de San Pablo y Londres: reflexiones sobre un estudio comparativo

Abstract This paper analyzes ethno-racial residential segregation in two large metropolitan areas across the Global North and South: London (UK) and São Paulo (Brazil). Residential segregation is measured and mapped using global and local spatial segregation indices that portray different spatial dimensions across scales. To interpret results, the study adopted a relational approach that juxtaposes global figures and local variations of segregation, complementary dimensions of segregation (dissimilarity and exposure/isolation), multiple scales of segregation, and location patterns of different ethno-racial groups. Results indicate that London and São Paulo metropolitan regions have similar, although inverse, core-periphery patterns of ethno-racial segregation. The findings also revealed that segregation levels are higher for London than São Paulo across scales and dimensions, indicating that, against common assumptions, London is more ethno-racially segregated than São Paulo. These findings are discussed in the context of existing literature, exploring similarities and differences between ethno-racial segregation in the two metropolitan regions. The paper concludes with a discussion on the relevance of the comparative findings for segregation studies, and a reflection on future studies on urban segregation.

Resumo Este artigo analisa a segregação residencial do ponto de vista étnico-racial em duas grandes regiões metropolitanas localizadas no Sul e Norte Globais: Londres (Reino Unido) e São Paulo (Brasil). Utilizaram-se índices espaciais globais e locais para mapear e mensurar as diferentes dimensões espaciais e escalas da segregação étnico-racial nas duas metrópoles. O estudo adotou uma abordagem relacional para a interpretação dos resultados que justapõe resultados globais e variações locais da segregação, dimensões espaciais complementares (dissimilaridade e exposição/isolamento), múltiplas escalas geográficas e padrões de localização espacial dos diferentes grupos étnico-raciais. Os resultados indicam que as regiões metropolitanas de Londres e São Paulo apresentam padrões espaciais de segregação centro-periferia similares, mas inversos. Os resultados também relevaram que os níveis de segregação de Londres são mais altos do que os de São Paulo, indicando que contraintuitivamente Londres é mais segregada étnico-racialmente do que São Paulo. Esses resultados são discutidos no contexto da literatura, explorando as similaridades e diferenças entre as duas regiões metropolitanas. O artigo conclui com uma discussão sobre a relevância dos resultados e uma reflexão sobre a agenda futura para os estudos sobre a segregação urbana.

Resumen Este artículo analiza la segregación residencial desde un punto de vista étnico-racial en dos grandes regiones metropolitanas ubicadas en el Sur y el Norte Global: Londres (Reino Unido) y San Pablo (Brasil). Se usaron índices espaciales globales y locales para mapear y medir las diferentes dimensiones espaciales y escalas de la segregación étnico-racial en las dos metrópolis. El estudio adoptó un enfoque relacional para interpretar los resultados que yuxtapone resultados globales y variaciones locales de segregación, dimensiones espaciales complementarias (disimilaridad y exposición/aislamiento), múltiples escalas geográficas y patrones de ubicación espacial de diferentes grupos etnorraciales. Los resultados indican que las regiones metropolitanas de Londres y San Pablo presentan patrones espaciales similares, pero inversos, de segregación centro-periferia. Los resultados también revelaron que los niveles de segregación en Londres son más altos que en San Pablo, lo que indica que, contraintuitivamente, Londres está más segregada étnico-racialmente que San Pablo. Estos resultados se discuten en el contexto de la literatura, explorando las similitudes y diferencias entre las dos regiones metropolitanas. El artículo concluye con una discusión sobre la relevancia de los resultados y una reflexión sobre la agenda futura de estudios sobre segregación urbana.

Introducción de estudios de manometría anorrectal de alta resolución en Cuba. Primeros resultados / Introduction of high-resolution anorectal manometry in Cuba. First outcomes

Introducción: La manometría anorrectal de alta resolución ha permitido una mayor comprensión de la fisiopatología del daño motor y sensorial, que suelen tener los pacientes con disfunción del suelo pélvico. Objetivo: Ofrecer los resultados de la introducción de la técnica en Cuba, en un primer grupo de pacientes, la caracterización del mismo, los valores obtenidos para los parámetros de estudio y los diagnósticos más frecuentes. Material y Métodos: Se revisaron los registros de manometría anorrectal de alta resolución, realizados en el Laboratorio de Motilidad del CNCMA, entre septiembre de 2017 y junio de 2019. Se analiza el registro de los datos generales de los pacientes y los parámetros específicos de alta resolución. Se estudiaron 159 pacientes que constituyeron el universo de estudio, la mayoría fueron pacientes por encima de los 60 años. Se aplica la Clasificación de Londres para el diagnóstico del tipo de disfunción anorrectal resultante. Resultados: Predominio de sexo femenino. La indicación más frecuente para la prueba fue la incontinencia fecal, seguida en menor medida por el estreñimiento. En las mujeres fue frecuente el antecedente obstétrico o de intervención quirúrgica relacionada. La disinergia defecatoria más frecuente fue el tipo III. El diagnóstico de disfunción anorrectal más frecuente fueron los desórdenes del tono anal y la contractilidad. Conclusiones: La introducción de la técnica fue exitosa. Se introdujeron en Cuba los estudios de manometría anorrectal de alta resolución, lo que permitió mayor conocimiento del daño establecido en los pacientes a quienes se les realiza la prueba, siendo la IF la disfunción que resultó más frecuente en el estudio. Se obtuvieron por primera vez parámetros específicos de alta resolución en pacientes cubanos, lo que permitirá estandarizar la técnica a otros servicios y tendrá como consecuencia mayor calidad en el diagnóstico de estos pacientes(AU)

Introduction: High-resolution anorectal manometry has allowed a better understanding of the pathophysiology of motor and sensory damage in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. Objective: To offer the outcomes of the introduction of the technique applied in a first group of patients in Cuba, as well as its characterization, the values obtained for the study parameters and the most frequent diagnoses. Material and Methods: The high-resolution anorectal manometry records, which were performed at the CNCMA Motility Laboratory between September 2017 and June 2019, were reviewed. The record of the patients´ general data and specific discharge parameters were analyzed. The London Classification was applied for the diagnosis of the resulting type of anorectal dysfunction. Results: A total of 159 patients were studied. There was a predominance of females over 60 years of age. The most common indication for the test was fecal incontinence, followed by constipation. Obstetric history or history of surgical intervention were frequent in women. Type III dyssynergia was the most frequent type of dyssynergic defection. The most frequent diagnoses of anorectal dysfunction were disorders of anal tone and contractility. Conclusions: The introduction of the technique was successful. It allowed the identification of the damaged structures, which led to a faster and more timely therapeutic decision-making for the patient. The London Classification was used in the diagnosis of dysfunction(AU)

Metodologías validadas para el análisis causal de eventos adversos de trascendencia clínica en la biomedicina / Methodologies validated for the causal analysis of adverse events of clinical relevance in biomedicine

Introducción: El análisis causal de los eventos adversos amerita metodologías validadas para establecer la dinámica de cómo se originan los incidentes que afectan la seguridad del paciente en los ambientes de prestación de servicios de salud. Objetivo: Describir las bases conceptuales y metodológicas de los sistemas de análisis causal de eventos adversos de trascendencia clínica en la biomedicina. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión documental empleando la bibliografía nacional e internacional actualizada. Se utilizó el motor de búsqueda Google Académico, se consultaron artículos de libre acceso en las bases de datos Pubmed y SciELO, desde marzo 2019 hasta igual mes de 2020. Se emplearon como palabras clave: eventos adversos, análisis de causas raíz, seguridad del paciente, según los Descriptores en ciencias de la salud (DeCS). Fueron seleccionados 25 artículos (20 en idioma español, 5 en inglés), de ellos, 18 (72,0 por ciento) corresponden a los últimos 5 años. Análisis e integración de la información: Las metodologías del análisis causa-raíz, el método ANCLA, el análisis modal de fallos y efectos (AMFE) y el protocolo de Londres, comparten como propósito su función de usar el evento o error para revelar las brechas que vulneran la seguridad del paciente y los aspectos inadecuados en el proceso de atención de la salud. Conclusiones: Los sistemas de análisis causal de eventos adversos constituyen herramientas para incrementar la cultura de seguridad del paciente, pues detectan fallas y errores latentes en el sistema, cuya corrección es esencial para implementar estrategias de prevención(AU)

Introduction: Causal analysis of adverse events requires validated methodologies to determine the origin of incidents affecting patient safety in health care settings. Objective: Describe the conceptual and methodological bases of the systems for the causal analysis of adverse events of clinical relevance in biomedicine. Methods: A document review was conducted of updated national and international bibliography. The search was carried out in the search engine Google Scholar, and open access papers were consulted in the databases PubMed and SciELO from March 2019 to March 2020. The key words used were adverse events, root cause analysis and patient safety, obtained from Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS). A total 25 papers were selected (20 in Spanish and 5 in English), of which 18 (72.0 percent had been published in the last five years. Data analysis and integration: Root-cause analysis methodologies, the ANCLA score, the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and the London Protocol share the common purpose of using events or errors to reveal gaps that weaken patient safety and inappropriate aspects of the health care process. Conclusions: Systems for the causal analysis of adverse events are tools to enhance patient safety culture, for they detect failures and errors latent in the system whose correction is essential to implement prevention strategies(AU).

Comparison of the Accuracy of Age Estimation Methods on Saudi Arabian Population - A Cross Sectional Study

Identity and legal culpability hinges on age estimation in modern society. There are several biometric methods for accurate age determination that have validity in medico-legal proceedings globally. The accuracy of conventional methods should be reassessed periodically to ascertain validity in differing global societies. This study aims to evaluate the comparative accuracy of three age determination methods based on non-invasive radiographic odontometric data when applied to a sample of Saudi population. MethodsThis cross-sectional study is done on 350 subjects of Saudi Arabian population, aged between 4 and 16 years. The same set of radiographs is used in all three methods and the dental age estimation is done by trained examiners who determine the age using Demirjian’s, Willem’s and the London Atlas Method. Statistical analysis is done using the IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) software (version 19). Significance of differences between the chronological age and the estimated dental age was calculated using paired ‘t’ test (P value of < 0.05 was considered significant. ResultsThe chronological age was above estimated age by all three methods used to assess male samples. Significant difference was seen with William's method (p=0.000) and the the London Atlas Method (p=0.000), and no significant difference was seen with Demirjian's method (p=0.102). Demirjian's method estimated the age above chronological age for females while the other two methods were below in their estimates. There were significant differences only between the London Atlas estimates and chronological age in females (p = 0.020). ConclusionsAge estimated by Demirjian’s method on Saudi population is most accurate among the methods tested. Boys showed more variations than girls when the ages were measured. Changing diet and socioeconomic factors influence growth and development of children, and this can alter the anticipated outcomes of age determination by mathematical methods.

Actualización con la clasificación de Londres en la interpretación de la manometría anorrectal de alta resolución / Update of high-resolution anorectal manometry interpretation using the London classification

Resumen La manometría anorrectal de alta resolución es una prueba diagnóstica utilizada para los trastornos motores y sensitivos anorrectales. Consta de una medición del tono basal y de contracción anal; también valora la maniobra de pujo, reflejo rectoanal inhibitorio (RIAR) y parámetros sensitivos rectales. La interpretación convencional de la manometría anorrectal se enfoca en describir aisladamente la región anatómica disfuncional. Sin embargo, con la clasificación de Londres se busca estandarizar el informe de estos resultados, agrupándolos en trastornos mayores, menores y hallazgos no concluyentes, similar a la clasificación de Chicago para trastornos motores esofágicos.

Abstract High resolution anorectal manometry is a diagnostic test, used for anorectal motor and sensory disorders. It consists of measurement of basal tone, anal contraction and squeeze, the rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR), and rectal sensory parameters. The conventional interpretation of anorectal manometry focuses on describing the dysfunctional anatomical region in isolation. However, the London classification seeks to standardize the report of these results, grouping them into major, minor and inconclusive findings in a manner similar to the Chicago classification for esophageal motor disorders.

Out of the office and into the field: Exploring neuropsychological correlates between search behavior and a traditional desktop task in children and adolescents with ADHD / Del consultorio a la vida cotidiana: Una exploración de los correlatos neuropsicológicos entre una prueba tradicional de escritorio y de la conducta de búsqueda en niños y adolescentes con TDAH

Abstract Introduction Cognitive assessment of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can help clinicians provide individually tailored treatment and advice, and researchers to identify potential associations between psychopathology and specific cognitive deficits. Assessment instruments, however, have received some criticism regarding their ecological validity, that is, the capacity to extrapolate from the performance on such tasks to aspects of everyday functioning. In order to meet this challenge we developed the Ball Search Field Task (BSFT) that takes place outdoors and uses large, open areas. In the BSFT, the goal is to search for target objects hidden under opaque containers, with experimenters assessing the efficiency of participants' strategies to collect a maximum of these. Objective Here we explore how the measures produced by one of the latest versions of this task (the patchy BSFT) match up with a traditional desktop task often used in clinical environments, the Tower of London (ToLo). Method We applied the BSFT and ToLo to children and adolescents with ADHD and compared the metrics using Spearman correlations. Results We found significant, moderate correlations between instruments, as exemplified by that of balls collected per cones lifted (BSFT) and number of moves (ToLo) (r = -.44). Discussion and conclusion Matching correlates between the BSFT and ToLo suggest these tasks may be tapping into similar cognitive processes. The addition of assessment tools with ecological validity may help provide a more comprehensive evaluation and a better understanding of the day-to-day impact of cognitive afflictions underlying psychiatric disorders such as ADHD.

Resumen Introducción La evaluación cognitiva de pacientes con déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH) puede ayudar al personal clínico a personalizar el tratamiento y a los investigadores a identificar asociaciones entre psicopatología y deficitarios cognitivos específicos. Los instrumentos de evaluación han recibido críticas en cuanto a su validez ecológica, esto es, la capacidad de extrapolar el desempeño en dichos instrumentos a situaciones de la vida diaria. Con este desafío en mente, desarrollamos la Prueba de Búsqueda de Pelotas (BSFT, por sus siglas en inglés) que se lleva a cabo en áreas abiertas y amplias. La BSFT consiste en buscar objetos escondidos bajo contenedores opacos para evaluar la eficiencia de la búsqueda que intenta encontrar el mayor número posible de objetos. Objetivo Exploramos la manera en que una versión de esta tarea (la BSFT en parches) se compara con una tarea de uso común en ambientes clínicos, la Torre de Londres (ToLo, por sus siglas en inglés). Método Aplicamos la BSFT y la ToLo a niños y adolescentes con TDAH y comparamos las métricas resultantes mediante una correlación de Spearman. Resultados Encontramos correlaciones significativas entre estas pruebas, como lo ejemplifica aquella entre el número de conos levantados (BSFT) y el número de secuencias correctas (ToLo) (r = -.48). Discusión y conclusión Correlatos de equivalencia entre la BSFT y la ToLo sugieren que estas tareas demandan procesos cognitivos similares. Investigar tareas con validez ecológica puede ayudarnos a ofrecer una evaluación más completa y a entender mejor el impacto diario de las afectaciones cognitivas subyacentes a trastornos psiquiátricos como el TDAH.

Relationship between executive function and depressive symptoms during the tower of London test in patients with major depressive disorder / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between executive function and depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder( MDD) under the Tower of London Test ( TOL) . Meth-ods Thirty depression patients and thirty age?, gender?, education?matched normal controls participated in the study. All subjects received the Tower of London Test. The severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAMD) ,Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale( HAMA) and Beck Depression Rating Scale( BDI) . Results ( 1) The numbers of correct response and total response of the TOL in MDD(9.1±5.1,12.1±5.3) were significantly lower than those of the control group(13.8±5.0, 17.3±3.9)(P<0.05).The response time of the TOL test in patients with MDD((10.4±2.8)s) was signifi?cantly longer than that of the control group((8.5±2.2)s)(P<0.05). (2)The scores of HAMD ,BDI and HAMA were negatively correlated with numbers of total response( r=-0.403,-0.544,-0.495,) in patients with MDD ( all P<0.05) . Conclusion The executive function of patients with MDD is impaired and nega?tively correlated with depressive and anxiety symptoms under the Tower of London Test.

Alcoolismo e estética da existência: Jack London e a lógica branca de John Barleycorn / Alcoholism and the aesthetics of existence: Jack London and the white logic of John Barleycorn

Elaborada durante as discussões da Lei Seca e o Sufrágio Universal nos EUA, no início do século XX - duas emendas que seriam aprovadas no sistema constitucional americano -, Memórias alcoólicas, do escritor norteamericano Jack London, é considerada uma obra referencial sobre o tema do alcoolismo. Tendo esse tema como fio condutor, o artigo analisa como a sua prosa se constitui em prática de si enquanto construção de subjetividade e organização da existência. Investiga como essa obra estabelece relações com a temática do cuidado de si, problematizada por Michel Foucault nos volumes 2 e 3 da História da sexualidade, acerca da estética da existência e das artes de viver presentes no universo social greco-romano e helenístico.

Employing this theme as a guideline, this article examines how his prose amounts to self-practice in the construction of subjectivity and the organization of existence. It investigates how this work is related to the theme of self-care, analyzed by Michel Foucault in volumes 2 and 3 of the History of sexuality, as regards the aesthetics of existence and the art of living which existed in the Greco-Roman and Hellenistic worlds.

A cobertura jornalística da cerimônia de abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Londres 2012 e a repercussão na rede social Twitter / The journalistic coverage of the opening ceremony of the London Olympic games 2012 and the repercurssion in Twitter / La cobertura periodística de la ceremonia de apertura de los Juegos Olímpicos de Londres 2012 e la repercusión en lo twitter

O presente texto é parte de uma pesquisa coletiva que analisou, de forma comparativa, a cobertura jornalístico-esportiva dos Jogos Olímpicos de Londres 2012 (JO/2012) entre a Rede Record, detentora brasileira dos direitos de transmissão do evento, e as demais emissoras de TV aberta do país, com o interesse na cerimônia de abertura. Constituíram-se como corpus de análise os conteúdos veiculados, no dia da abertura, nos jornais da Record, da Globo e da Band. A fim de ampliar o conteúdo de comparações, optou-se, ainda, pelo monitoramento de postagens sobre a cerimônia no Twitter. A base teórico-metodológica utilizada foi a Análise de Enquadramento, comum à pesquisa maior. Na discussão, a cerimônia de abertura do megaevento esportivo se apresentou como um produto audiovisual propício ao entrelaçamento de características mercadológicas e interesses midiáticos-esportivos, que se refletiram no posicionamento, na construção do discurso e na veiculação dos conteúdos jornalísticos sobre os JO/2012.

This text is part of a collective research that examined, in a comparative way, the journalistic-sports coverage of the Olympic Games London/2012 (OG 2012) besides Rede Record, Brazilian holder of broadcast rights to the event, and other open TV stations in country, whose interest focused on the opening ceremony. The analisys corpus were the broadcast content, on opening day, on Record, Globo and Band news. In order to expand the comparisons content, it was decided also by monitoring postings about the ceremony on Twitter. The theoretical-methodological basis used was Analysis Framework, common to most research. In the opening ceremony discuss of the sports mega event is presented as a new audio-visual product propitious to market characteristics interlacement and media-sporting interests, which is reflected in the positioning, in the construction of speech and placement of journalistic news content about OG 2012.

Este texto forma parte de una investigación colectiva que examinó, de manera comparativa, la cobertura periodística de los deportes de los Juegos Olímpicos London/2012 (JO 2012), además de la Rede Record, titular brasileña de derechos de transmisión para el evento, y otras estaciones de televisión abierta en el país, cuyo el interés se centró en la ceremonia de inauguración. Corpus a los análisis fueron el contenido de las emisiones, en la jornada inaugural, en la Record, Globo y noticias Band. Con el fin de ampliar el contenido de las comparaciones, se decidió también por el seguimiento de publicaciones sobre la ceremonia en Twitter. El fundamento teórico-metodológico utilizado fue el Análisis de Marco, común a la mayoría de investigaciones. En la ceremonia de apertura discutir de los deportes mega evento se presenta como un nuevo producto audiovisual propicio a las características del mercado y los medios de comunicación-entrelazamiento deportivos intereses, lo que se refleja en el posicionamiento, en la construcción del discurso y la colocación de contenido de noticias periodísticas sobre JO 2012.

The 66th World Health Assembly Resolution towards control andelimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases / 国際保健医療

Since its establishment in 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has organized a series of expert committee meetings to address individual tropical diseases that are included in WHO’s list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in order to formulate appropriate evidence-based control strategies. Between 1948 and 2012, as many as 66 resolutions have been adopted for individual diseases. In response to trends in the global public-health agenda—notably primary health care in the 1970s and the Millennium Development Goals in the 2020s—WHO established the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases in 2005. The aim was to contribute to poverty alleviation and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by addressing 17 NTDs in an integrated manner rather than by vertical disease-specific programmes.<BR>Since then, WHO has led a dynamic trend in the global community to overcome NTDs, including organization of the first global partners meeting on NTDs in 2007, publication of the first WHO report on NTDs in 2010 and in 2012 the WHO roadmap to accelerate work towards the 2015 and 2020 targets for control, elimination and eradication of NTDs, and the announcement in 2013 of the London Declaration by 13 pharmaceutical companies and various donors and partners, and the publication of the second WHO report on NTDs. In May 2013, the World Health Assembly adopted the first resolution to call for increased efforts and support to control, eliminate and eradicate NTDs as a whole, contrary to the past disease-specific resolutions.<BR>The present paper is intended to introduce Japanese audiences in the field of public health to this 66th World Health Assembly Resolution on NTDs and to the work of WHO in leading the global trend towards control and elimination of NTDs.

Henry Mayhew: jornalista, investigador social e precursor da pesquisa qualitativa / Henry Mayhew: journalist, social investigator, and foreshadower of qualitative research

Henry Mayhew serviu-se de sua profissão, o jornalismo, para registrar o dia a dia da Londres da segunda metade do século XIX de uma forma que até hoje interessa historiadores e cientistas sociais, como obra precursora da pesquisa qualitativa. Este artigo destaca aspectos metodológicos das investigações de Mayhew e analisa dois de seus relatos: sobre o surto de cólera e sobre uma vendedora de rua. Aborda também trabalhos críticos que tomam sua obra como referência.

As a journalist, Henry Mayhew recorded daily life in London in the latter half of the nineteenth century. His approach remains of interest to historians and social scientists today in that it foreshadowed qualitative research. The article highlights methodological aspects of Mayhew's investigations and analyzes two of his reports, one on a cholera outbreak and the other on a female street vendor. It also addresses some analyses that have critiqued his work.

Teaching and Learning Clinical Medicine at King’s College London School of Medicine / 医学教育

1）King’s College London School of Medicine is the largest medical school in UK with 470 students for each year in their 5 year course with variation of a fast track 4 year for graduate students and extended 6 year for some entrants. The current curriculum endeavours to meet the requirements addressed in “Tomorrow’s Doctors （2009）” prepared by General Medical Council.<br>2）An integrated curriculum has been implemented and students’ encounter with patients will start from the first year of medical school. During the 1st and 2nd year, students learn basic medical science through issues raised in case–based scenarios, which include discussion of clinical ethics and involves inter professional education （IPE）.<br>3）During the 3rd and 4th years, hospital clinical rotations are provided and seminars and bedside teaching are main components of the weekly schedule. Clinical clerkship is provided for final year students who are expected to become ready as junior doctors; 8weeks in medicine, 8 weeks in surgery and 8 weeks in General Practice.<br>4）Eighteen ％ of clinical rotation component is conducted in community where General Practitioners （GPs） take active roles in teaching. King’s longitudinal health education programmes have been provided to enable students to understand community and to take initiative roles in advancing health and well being of their future patients, populations and communities.<br>5）Although hospital rotation programmes may vary among hospitals, logbooks are utilised to insure students have undertaken standard clinical opportunities and activities, while OSCEs and written examination are utilised to assess students’ achievement.

Reduced prefrontal activation during tower of London (TOL) in first-episode schizophrenia: a multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy study / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To investigate the executive function of the patients with first-episode schizophrenia,and their relationships with the positive and negative symptoms. And to evaluate the activation characteristics of prefrontal cortex(PFC) in the schizophrenia. Methods Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) was used to assess the activation of the bilateral PFCs during the computerized version of Tower of London(TOL) tasks in schizophrenia and controls. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) was used to assess the psychiatric symptoms of the schizophrenia. 40 schizophrenic patients and 40 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects participated in this study. Results ( 1 ) The number of correct TOL responses in patients ( one-move ( 7.35 ± 1. 94 ), two-move ( 7.30 ± 2.53 ), three-move ( 6.58 ± 2.53 ), four-move ( 2.90 ± 1.89 ) ) was significantly less than the healthy controls( one-move (8.82 ± 1.48 ), two-move ( 8.38 ± 1.59 ), three-move ( 7.68 ± 1.47 ), four-move ( 3.73 ±1.71 ); P＜0. 05 ). ( 2 ) There was a significant negative correlation between the patients' task performance and the negative symptom scores(P ＜ 0.05 ). (3) The majority of the prefrontal area was activated in health subjects.Patients were characterized by significant decreased activation in the left PFC during the TOL task compared to healthy subjects. Conclusion Schizophrenic patients have executive function disorder at the initial stage of the disease.The results support that schizophrenia patients have hypofrontality ,and executive function is significantly negatively correlated with negative symptoms. NIRS my be a useful tool for research and clinical assessment for major psychoses.

Torre de Londres e Torre de Hanói: contribuições distintas para avaliação do funcionamento executivo / Tower of London and Tower of Hanoi: distinct contributions to the assessment of executive functioning

OBJETIVO: Realizar um estudo teórico sobre comparações de aspectos cognitivos e metodológicos envolvidos no desempenho das Torres de Hanói e de Londres em indivíduos normais. MÉTODO: Revisão narrativa da literatura. RESULTADOS: O desempenho nesses instrumentos não compartilha a variância esperada em virtude das similaridades aparentes em sua estrutura e demanda de solução. Verificaram-se correlações significativas, porém moderadas, entre o desempenho das duas torres, refletindo em média 75 por cento da variância não compartilhada. CONCLUSÕES: Ambas as torres recrutam diferentes processos executivos para solução da tarefa e não podem ser utilizadas como instrumentos permutáveis.

OBJECTIVE: To produce theoretical study about comparisons of cognitive and methodological aspects involved in the performance of Towers of Hanoi and London in normal individuals. METHOD: Narrative review of the literature. RESULTS: The performances in these instruments do not share the expected variance due to the apparent similarities in your structure and solution demand. Correlations significant, however moderate, among the two towers performance, were found reflecting the average of 75 percent of the nonshared variance. CONCLUSIONS: Both towers recruit different executive processes for task solution and cannot be used as exchangeable instruments.

Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis Analysis of a Salmonella london Outbreak in Neontes

PURPOSE: Salmonella species is one of the most common causative organisms of acute gastroenteritis in neonates. There have been some reports of outbreaks of Salmonella species in neonates, but none was caused by Salmonella london. Pulsed-Filed Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to compare and analyze 6 isolates of S. london from the formula-fed neonates in Chunan city from late June through early July in the year of 2000. METHODS: In June and July 2000, we performed culture from blood and stool of 5 patients who admitted in Soonchunhyang Chunan Hospital. We performed a molecular analysis based on plasmid profile and pulsed-filed gel electrophoresis (PFGE). We reviewed their hospital records retrospectively. The affected babies were isolated during hospitalization and discharged home as soon as possible. In addition, hand washing, cleaning, and disinfection were intensified to prevent the spread to other babies. RESULTS: We isolated 6 strains of S. london from stool or blood samples of five patients, who were 9 to 14 days old and had fever, diarrhea, poor feeding or weight loss. The specimens for culture of Salmonella species were obtained on the admission day of every patient. All Salmonella species showed the same biochemical reactions as slant/ butt on KIA -/+, H2S +, gas +, motility +, indole -, ornitine decarboxylase +, lysine decarboxylase +, and citrate utilization +. They also showed agglutinations by Salmonella serogroup E antisera. They were susceptible to all antimicrobial agents tested by NCCLS disk diffusion method. The clonality of isolates was confirmed by PFGE after digestion with Xba I and revealed the similar band patterns of S. london. CONCLUSION: We have reported the outbreak of S. london of the formula-fed neonates in Chunan city from late June through early July in the year of 2000. Pulsed-Filed Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) would be essential for the molecular and epidemiologic studies for the outbreaks caused by Salmonella species.