Terminally ill patients and volunteer support: Is it the right intervention?

Comments on the article by K. T. Herbst-Damm and J. A. Kulik (see record 2005-02260-012) entitled Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Can a simple and low-cost intervention, such as a visit by a volunteer, extend the life of terminally ill patients? The answer, according to a study by Herbst-Damm and Kulik (2005), is yes. When it comes to quality of life, however, the effects of volunteer visits remain murky. Thus, it is critical that we look beyond effects on longevity and assess how such a program would influence quality of life. Extending the life of terminally ill patients might not always a blessing. Prolonging their life might even cause harm, as it can extend unwanted physical and mental suffering. It may also go against some patients' desire to hasten their death. Despite Herbst-Damm and Kulik's important findings, the current author remains unconvinced as to the merits of implementing volunteer visits as an intervention policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attachment to the therapist.

This study examines the ways in which therapists function as attachment figures for patients. Patients in long-term psychoanalytic therapy answered questionnaires about their feelings about their therapists and their closest personal relationships. Components of attachment prominent in the therapeutic relationships were looking up to the therapist and feeling the therapist was responsive to emotional needs. Stronger attachment to therapists was associated with greater frequency and duration of therapy, a stronger working alliance, and greater security of the patients' attachment style, as well as with the gender of the patient and therapist. Using attachment theory to understand psychoanalytic relationships emphasizes the unique importance of a therapist to a patient and can offer new perspectives on both therapeutic and attachment processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Strategic Control of Multiple Routes in Imitation of Actions.

The aim of this study was to bring to the surface the strategic use of imitative processes in the context of a 2-route model: (a) direct imitation, used in reproducing new, meaningless actions, and (b) imitation based on stored semantic knowledge of familiar meaningful actions. Three experiments were carried out with healthy participants who reproduced meaningful and meaningless actions within an established time limit. The study investigated 3 factors that could potentially affect the selection of processes used for imitation: (a) the composition of the experimental list (blocked or mixed presentation), (b) the presence-absence of instructions (Experiments 1 and 2), and (c) the relative proportions of the stimuli (Experiment 3). Overall, the results suggest that each of these factors influences the selection of imitative strategies in healthy individuals with temporarily reduced capacities, as happens in the case of brain-damaged patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Comparison of Voucher-Delivery Schedules for the Initiation of Cocaine Abstinence.

Studies on the use of shaping procedures to increase rates of cocaine abstinence have produced promising results. This study used a Brief Abstinence Test to examine the impact of reinforcement for initial reductions in cocaine use on a subsequent abstinence reinforcement test. Methadone maintenance patients showing evidence of cocaine use were exposed to two 1-week reinforcement conditions. During the shaping condition, participants could earn $50 vouchers on Wednesday and Friday for meeting quantitative urinalysis criteria and a $100 voucher on the following Monday for meeting the more stringent qualitative criteria. During the terminal condition, only the $100 earning opportunity for meeting the qualitative criteria was provided. Participants were more likely to meet the qualitative reinforcement criteria on Wednesday and Friday in the shaping condition than in the terminal condition. However, contrary to the initial hypothesis, the shaping reinforcement condition did not increase rates of abstinence on the final abstinence test. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Investigation of Functional Hemispheric Asymmetry of Language in Tinnitus Sufferers.

The authors tested functional hemispheric asymmetry through word dichotic listening and lateralized lexical decision tasks in tinnitus patients and controls stimulated by a continuous tinnitus-like noise to test the influence of a tinnitus-like external stimulation. A classic right-ear advantage was shown in the auditory task for all but right-ear tinnitus patients, who performed as equally badly when the stimuli were presented to the right and left ears. Concerning the visual task, all participants demonstrated the expected right visual field advantage for word stimuli. Moreover, those who submitted to external stimulation demonstrated normal asymmetric patterns. These data suggest a specific effect of tinnitus on central processing and provide evidence for a functional reorganization induced by this auditory phantom perception. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

人工股骨头置换术治疗高龄股骨转子下骨折

转子下骨折的高龄患者,常合并多种基础性疾病,如采用内固定治疗,患者一般需卧床5至8周才能扶拐部分负重行走,仍易产生坠积性肺炎、褥疮、泌尿系感染、深静脉血栓等严重并发症。本文探讨运用人工半髋关节置换术治疗高龄患者股骨转子下骨折,旨在实现让患者早期下床功能锻炼,减少长期卧床并发症的目的。     

Satisfaction with health status among cyber patients: testing a mediation model of electronic coping support

There has been a growing interest among researchers about the Internet-based social support. However, not much is known about whether electronic support is associated with subjectively reported patient health outcomes. This study examines variation in satisfaction with physical health status among users of self-help groups for patients with cancer (N = 350). The analytical approach of the study differs from previous work in that satisfaction with physical health is modelled not as a predictor, but as an outcome variable. The study tested the hypothesis that perceived ability to cope with cancer mediates the association between electronic support and health satisfaction. Path analyses using ordinary least squares multiple regressions showed that there is an indirect association between electronic support and health satisfaction via perceived ability to cope with cancer. Electronic support increased perception of control over cancer, which in turn led to higher levels of satisfaction with health status. External health locus of control was associated with greater benefits derived from electronic support. This article concludes that the evaluation of physical health status includes not only clinical indicators but also subjective assessment of coping ability. Thus, the cyber social context in which health perceptions are developed has important medical implications for patient outcomes.     

Screening new gene markers for gluten detection in foods

In the present work, three DNA sequences encoding wheat proteins (α2-gliadin, agglutinin isolectin and thioredoxin h) were compared to trace gluten-containing cereals in food products. Quantitative real-time PCR methods using hydrolysis probes were successfully developed to target the three sequences for the detection of wheat DNA. The comparison of the three systems highlights the best sensitivity when tracing the α2-gliadin marker sequence, showing an absolute limit of detection (LOD) of 2 pg of wheat DNA and a relative LOD of 0.005% (50 mg/kg) of wheat in soybean, which corresponds to 4.5 mg/kg of gluten. All the systems reveal high specificity for detecting other gluten-containing cereals, such as barley and rye. Therefore, the developed real-time PCR systems can be used as non-immunological tools to confirm the presence of gluten-containing cereals in foods, towards the safety of celiac patients and wheat allergic individuals.     

年轻女性经乳晕单孔腔镜甲状腺手术18例

目的 探讨年轻女性经乳晕单孔腔镜甲状腺手术的价值.方法 2010年1月至2012年12月对18例≤35岁女性甲状腺结节患者行经乳晕单孔腔镜甲状腺手术.观察记录手术时间、术中出血量、术中皮下建腔面积、术后复发情况和美容效果.结果 18例手术均成功,无一例中转三孔腔镜手术或开放手术.手术时间106～205 min,平均157 min;术中出血量15～40 mL,平均25 mL;术中皮下建腔面积120～150 cm2,平均130 cm2.术后病理：甲状腺腺瘤13例,结节性甲状腺肿5例.术后随访4～23个月无复发.患者术后美容满意度评分8～10分,平均9.2分.结论 经乳晕单孔腔镜甲状腺手术具有安全、切口隐蔽、皮下建腔面积小、美容效果好的特点,尤其适合对美容有强烈要求的年轻女性患者.