Regulatory Effect of Sijunzi Tang and Its Single Herbs on Intestinal Flora in Rats with Spleen Deficiency / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effect of Sijunzi Tang(SJZT) and its single herbs(Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Poria) on intestinal flora in spleen-deficient rats. Method:Normal rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, Zhengchangsheng granules group, SJZT group and each single herb group, rats were orally administered Sennae Folium decoction to induce diarrhea for ten consecutive days to establish a spleen-deficient model(distilled water for the blank group), then treated with the corresponding drugs for seven consecutive days(distilled water for the blank group and the model group). Fresh feces were collected on pre-modeling(0th day), post-modeling(11th day), and post-treatment(18th day). Short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs) in feces were acidified by sulphuric acid and extracted by diethyl ether, then determined by gas chromatography. The structural change(diversity and similarity) of intestinal flora in feces was analyzed by 16S rDNA-polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis(DGGE) technique. Result:Compared with blank group, the contents of SCFAs as well as diversity and similarity indexes of intestinal flora in feces of all administered groups were significantly decreased on the 11th day(PPth day, compared with model group, the contents of SCFAs as well as diversity and similarity indexes of intestinal flora in feces of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma group were significantly increased(PPPPConclusion:Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Poria are the single herbs responsible for the regulatory effect of SJZT on intestinal flora in spleen-deficient rats, and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma may play a major role.

A comparative study on mental health among students and adults in the earthquake-hit areas / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand mental health status of the students and adults in the earthquake disaster areas, as to providing guidance on intervention for post-disaster psychological crisis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), an appendix of The Ministry of Health of "emergency psychological crisis intervention guiding principles", was used among 1222 victims in Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan province. This questionnaire survey was conducted in 729 students and 493 adult victims in a randomized method. Of the 734 questionnaires distributed and received in students, 729 were validly responded with efficiency rate of 99.32%; while for adults, 496 questionnaires distributed, 496 received, 493 were valid with efficiency rate of 99.39%.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In students victims, 65% responded that they did feel "uneasy, nervous or worried", followed by "easy to be scared", "feel unhappy", "easy fatigue" and "hard to make a decision". For adult victims, 80.5% replied that they felt "uneasy, nervous or worried", followed by "feel unhappy", "easy fatigue", "difficult sleeping", "easy to be scared". (2) The average of the SRQ score of student victims was 6.58 +/- 3.99, and 6.07 +/- 4.02 for males, 7.03 +/- 3.91 for females. The average of the SRQ score of student victims was 7.36 +/- 3.98, male 6.68 +/- 3.82, female 7.99 +/- 4.03. The significant differences (t(women) = 2.985, P < 0.01; t(total) = 3.332, P < 0.01) was observed in women and the total group of students and adults. (3) The SRQ positive screening rate of students group was 46.50%, the adult group was 52.33%, SRQ >or= 7 points and SRQ < 7 sub-group of students and adults of the total score there were significant differences (t(1) = 39.771, P < 0.01; t(2) = 31.961, P < 0.01). SRQ >or= 7 sub-group of students and adult women in between there was a significant difference (t = 23.641, P < 0.01), SRQ < 7 sub-group of students and adults in general and women there were significant differences (t(1) = 3.092, P < 0.01; t(2) = 2.911, P < 0.01). (4) SRQ scores with gender and age had had a positive relation (r(SRQ total-sex) = 0.118, P = 0.000; r(SRQ total-age) = 0.103, P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The emotional suffering symptoms of students victims and adult victims should be "nervous, unhappy, vulnerable on issues such as fatigue", the adult group had a higher symptom rate than the group of students, the mental health was more serious than that of students, as influenced by some factors including age and gender. Students, being a special population group should be paid more attention to focusing a designated behavior intervention, as a planned manner of intervention.</p>

Reliability and validity of the self-reporting questionnaire for assessing mental health applied in Wenchuan earthquake / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the reliability and validity of the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20), and to make a rapid assessment on mental health among victims in sudden crisis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The SRQ-20 which is on appendix of the Ministry of Health adopted as "emergency psychological crisis intervention guiding principles" was administrated among 1222 victims in Wenchuan earthquake. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested by split-half coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient; the validity was tested by means of principal component factor analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The self-reporting questionnaire and split-half coefficient was 0.748, each item of Cronbach's alpha in the reliability coefficient was between in 0.778 to 0.789, overall Cronbach's alpha in the reliability coefficient was 0.792. There were five main components in principal component factor analysis: lacking of power, somatization/biological symptoms, depression thought, emotions and awareness.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) should have good reliability, and validity, and China's psychological crisis intervention in processing assessment of the mental health should be a fast, accurate and effective screening tool.</p>

Study on the prevalence of tic disorders in schoolchildren aged 7-16 years old in Wenzhou / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the epidemiological features of tic disorders (TD) among schoolchildren in Wenzhou area.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Stratified cluster sampling was carried out to investigate TD in 9742 schoolchildren aged 7 to 16 years old in Wenzhou.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average prevalence rate of TD among school-age children was 104/10 000 (166/10 000 for males, 29/10 000 for females). There was a significantly higher prevalence rate for males than that for females (chi(2) = 43.96, P < 0.001, prevalence ratio = 5.7, prevalence ratio 95% CI: 3.20 - 10.30). The prevalence rates of clinical subtypes in males was significantly higher than that of females while pupils was significantly higher than that in high school students (chi(2) = 11.33, P < 0.01, prevalence ratio = 2.2, prevalence ratio 95% CI: 1.37 - 3.43). Prevalence rate of transient tic disorders (TTD), chronic motor vocal tic disorder (CMVTD), tourette syndrome (TS) were 34/10 000, 27/10 000 and 43/10 000 respectively with the highest among 9-10 years old group. The mean onset age of TD was 8.5 +/- 2.8 years. The peak of onset was among 6-10 year olds. The rate of delayed diagnosis of the disorders was 69.3% and the median in delayed diagnosis was 1.0 year.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TD is a common disease with high rate of misdiagnoses among schoolchildren in Wenzhou area. Physicians and population should be trained to identify the syndromes and to practice correct diagnosis and effective treatment as early as possible.</p>

Study on the prevalence of Tourette syndrome in children and juveniles aged 7-16 years in Wenzhou area / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevalence and distribution of Tourette syndrome (TS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nine thousand, seven hundred and forty-two children and juveniles aged 7 - 16 years in Wenzhou were studied, using cluster random sampling method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of TS among school-age children was estimated to be 0.43% (0.74% for males and 0.07% for females). The prevalence of male children and juveniles was higher than that of female children and juveniles (chi(2) = 25.09, P < 0.001, prevalence ratio = 10.95, prevalence ratio 95% CI: 3.38 - 35.46). The highest prevalence of TS was between 9 - 10 years old. The mean age at onset of TS was 7.7 +/- 2.7 years, with 45.2% of them among 6 - 7 year olds. The rate of delayed diagnosis and rates of misdiagnosis and misclassification of the syndromes were 78.6%, 42.9% and 23.8%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tourette syndrome had been a common disease of children and juveniles in Wenzhou area. The disease was correlated with age and sex, often misdiagnosed and misclassified. Physicians and as well as general publics should be trained to identify the cases.</p>