Clinical characteristics of poly-drug abuse among heroin dependents and association with other psychopathology in compulsory isolation treatment settings in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical characteristics and associations of polydrug abuse among heroin-dependent patients in compulsory isolation settings in China. METHODS: Structured interviews were conducted in 882 heroin-dependent patients in two compulsory isolation settings in Changsha, China. Descriptive statistics were employed to report prevalence and general information of polydrug abuse among the participants. Bivariate associations were examined between polydrug abuse and variables regarding demographics, heroin use profile and psychopathology. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to determine independent factors associated with polydrug abuse. RESULTS: Of all the participants, 40.6% reported abuse of/dependence on at least one other type of drug/alcohol than heroin/opioids during the month preceding admission, with benzodiazepines and alcohol being the most common type of drugs abused apart from heroin. Antisocial and depressive personality disorders, as well as more severe heroin use patterns, including younger age at initiate use and larger amount used per day, were found to be independently associated with polydrug abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of polydrug abuse and its associated severe heroin use patterns and personality disorders suggests an urgent need of promoting treatment policies and strategies for heroin patients in China to address these issues.

[Treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and remaining bulk ligamentum flava by micro-endoscope].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate operative skill and recent clinical effects of remaining bulk ligamentum flava and treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion by micro-endoscope. METHODS: Fifty-two cases with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion included 31 males, 21 females; aged from 28 to 45 years,mean 36 years; L(4,5) in 24 cases, L5S1 in 28 cases. Under the micro-endoscope, all patient were excised the vertebral plate partly, decompressed the nerve root, remaining bulk ligament flava and excised the herniated nucleus pulposus. RESULTS: Forty-six of 52 patients were followed up for 5 to 51 months with an average of 34.5. According to the effect of Nakai standards,the results were excellent in 34 cases, good in 9 cases, fair in 3 cases. The operation time was 45 to 75 minutes and bleeding was 40 to 80 ml. There were no nerve root injury and endorachis tear complications. CONCLUSION: The bulk ligamentum flava remaining cure intervertebral disc protrusion by micro-endoscope, demic natural anatomic structure is retained through technically manipulate and spinalis constancy is kept.