Temporal variation of coastal surface sediment bacterial communities along an environmental pollution gradient.

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (T-RFLP) was used to track the changes of bacterial community compositions (BCC) in coastal surface sediments along an environmental pollution gradient between 2004 and 2006. BCC in the chronically contaminated sites showed the largest deviation from those in the adjacent sites. Surprisingly, BCC at two contrasting environments (oceanic vs. river-influenced) were more similar. Unexpectedly, the BCC did not recover (when compared to oceanic control site) even after 5 years of pollution abatement initiatives in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. On the other hand, disposal of treated sewage for 5 years in one of the sites did not significantly affect the BCC. A striking seasonal variation in the BCC was observed at only the polluted sites. Although factors other than pollution gradients may explain the observed BCC patterns, the information presented here can be useful in predicting long-term effects of pollution on BCC. Furthermore, this study suggests that BCC analysis using T-RFLP is a faster, reliable and easier approach to monitor microbenthic community response to environmental pollution gradient in coastal sediments.

The practice of behavior therapy among clinical psychologists in Hong Kong.

A survey was conducted to assess the extent to which behavior therapy techniques were employed by clinical psychologists in Hong Kong. The most popular techniques included those that could be grouped under the self-management package and the least popular techniques generally involved an aversive element, or were in vivo. The use of behavior therapy was correlated with the younger age range of the treatment clientele. The results and the future development of behavior therapy were discussed in terms of cultural issues, training and the theoretical orientations of the respondents.

Amnesia following right thalamic haemorrhage.

A 52 year old patient with a right thalamic haemorrhage is described. She suffered from anterograde amnesia and memory impairment for both visual and verbal material. At follow-up after 3 months, despite being fully oriented and having good concentration, her memory impairment was still evident. Reassessment 3 years afterwards showed persistent deficits and no further improvement.

Ultrasound scanning in women with raised serum alpha fetoprotein: short term psychological effect.

Thirty pregnant women with raised serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) were interviewed before and after they received real-time ultrasound scanning to further diagnose fetal abnormalities. Thirty pregnant mothers receiving routine ultrasound scanning for dates served as the controls. The 'at risk' group were more anxious and concerned about the fetus before the scan. There was a greater reduction of state-anxiety following scanning in the raised AFP group than for the controls. Similar changes were found in the attitude towards the fetus, pregnancy and fetus' health between the risk and control subjects.

Vietnamese refugee children in camps in Hong Kong.

Vietnamese refugee children staying in an open camp in Hong Kong were interviewed to find out the nature of their war experience. The effects of war and refugee experience on their fears about being hurt or killed were assessed. Most of the Vietnamese children in the present sample travelled to Hong Kong with their family and had little experience of separation, death or injury of close family members. However, about two-thirds of them had witnessed violence and one-third reported experience of being assaulted. Children exposed to unpleasant war experience were more likely to report a fear of being hurt than those not exposed to similar negative events. However, there was no consistent finding relating other types of fear to war experience. The family and the cohesiveness of the community in which they lived may have protected them against adverse psychological reactions.

Pre-operation indicators and post-hysterectomy outcome.

Premenopausal hysterectomy patients were assessed to examine the link between sex-role stereotype, mental health status and patients' expectation of outcome and post-operative adjustment.

Psychological epidemic in Hong Kong. I. Epidemiological study.

A total of 413 school students were taken ill with symptoms from an alleged poisonous gas affecting two different geographic locations at the same time and without influencing the residents in the neighbourhood. Symptoms were mainly subjective and almost all were discharged from hospital the same day. Vigorous endeavours by authorities had failed to discover the offending agent. By the use of epidemiological methods, the present study attempted to investigate the nature of and the significant contributing factors related to the episode. The psychological nature was confirmed both by demonstration of positive characteristics as well as by the exclusion of organicity. There was no direct evidence that teachers, headmasters, parents or the mass media had significant influence on the aetiology of the epidemic, albeit their influence could still be an indirect one. Regarding symptom formation, there was evidence that peer influences were more important than an individual's own previous experiences.

Psychological epidemic in Hong Kong. II. Psychological and physiological characteristics of children who were affected.

A double blind retrospective study was carried out on a sample of children who were affected in a mysterious gas poisoning epidemic together with controls drawn from the same school. The dependent measures employed were the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (JEPQ), a Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (HSC), Heart Rate (HR) and Skin Potential Response (SPR). A vigilance task was administered during assessment of the latter two variables. The affected children had significantly higher HR together with a marginal increase in SPR. It is proposed that constitutional factors play an important role in determining whether an individual is affected in such an epidemic.

Psychological reactions to hand injuries among semi-skilled Chinese workers.

It has been widely acknowledged that successful treatment and rehabilitation of patients suffering from hand injuries requires both physical as well as psychological interventions. However, little is understood about the psychological problems experienced by the patients during the course of their injury, recovery and latter adjustment. This paper outlines and presents some preliminary findings of a study on semi-skilled Chinese workers who suffered from hand injuries owing to industrial accidents in Hong Kong. The aim was to explore their reactions to their injuries, which, in most cases, left permanent damage. The patients were assessed within a month after they had been discharged from the hospital after the orthopaedic treatment was completed. Measures of their mood states (based on Analogue Subjective Feelings Scale) and self-esteem (based on Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory) were taken. The results indicated significant difference between those who had suffered more severe disability and those who had suffered less disability in their self-esteem in the family. The general self-esteem score was much lower in those who had suffered more severely disabling hand injuries. The patients were under pressure in meeting the demands of the family and their work. The point of importance that emerged from this analysis was that the measures of rehabilitation should not only aim at making the patient meet the original demands but to try and change the environmental expectations to reduce his stress in coping.