Wound Botulism Associated with Black Tar Heroin

The incidence of wound botulism is increasing and the epidemiology of the disease is changing. The majority of new cases are associated with injection drug use, in particular, the use of Mexican black tar heroin. This case report and discussion of wound botulism illustrate the following important points: Dysphagia, dysphonia, diplopia, and descending paralysis, in association with injection drug use, should alert the treating physician to the possibility of wound botulism. In such patients, the onset of respiratory failure may be sudden and without clinically obvious signs of respiratory weakness. For the reported patient, maximum inspiratory force measurements were the only reliable indicator of respiratory muscle weakness. This is a measurement not routinely performed in the ED, but may prove essential for patients with suspected wound botulism. To minimize the effect of the botulinum toxin and to decrease length of hospital stay, antitoxin administration and surgical wound debridement should be performed early.     

Effect of UVB 311 nm irradiation on normal human skin

Ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) on the skin induces erythema, inflammation and modifications of the immune system. These changes have been reported after excessive short-term or long-term exposure to broad spectrum UVB. In this study, we examined the effects of local repetitive UVB irradiation of 311 nm wavelength on the skin of seven young volunteers. Skin biopsies were taken before and after UVB irradiation, and we immunohistochemically analyzed the expression of CD1a and HLA-DR antigens of Langerhans cells (LC), the possible infiltration of dermis/epidermis by CD11b macrophages, the modifications or the induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) involved in the binding of leukocytes to the endothelial surface and the development of perivascular infiltrates of LFA-1⁺ mononuclear cells. We also determined the expression of substance P receptors (SPR) using biotinylated substance P (SPB). Exposure of UVB 311 nm induced a drastic reduction of CD1a⁺ cells and a moderate increase of HLA-DR⁺ dendritic cells in the epidermis without infiltration by CD11b macrophages. An increase of the binding of SPB to upper layer epidermal cells was noted in five of seven biopsies. In the dermis, vessel-associated ICAM-1 expression increased and an induction of E-selectin occurred on nearly 20 to 40% of endothelial cells, but VCAM-1 expression remained undetectable. The percentage of LFA-1⁺ cells did not change significantly after irradiation. These observations may be compatible with a selective role of UVB 311 nm on the skin immune response.     

The 5-Step family intervention in primary care: II. The views of primary healthcare professionals

Background: This is the second of two papers using qualitative methods from a study of an intervention for family members affected by close relatives' substance misuse problems.

Participants: 168 primary healthcare professionals (PHCPs: GPs, practice nurses and health visitors) working in general practices in two areas of England, and who took part in the study.

Data sources: Recruitment and post-session forms completed by PHCPs; telephone interviews with each PHCP 12 weeks after recruitment of a family member; interviews with PHCPs at the end of the study.

Results: At the end of the project PHCPs were overwhelmingly positive about the family member intervention and about primary care as the appropriate site. Difficulties were encountered, however, in identifying and engaging affected family members, who were often excluded on grounds of the complexity of their problems or the level of their distress. Shortage of PHCP time and other practice-related factors added to the difficulty. Active work by a PHCP was often necessary in order to make the link between presenting symptoms of physical or mental ill-health and the existence of a family substance misuse problem. When family members were identified and recruited, PHCPs were usually positive about what was achieved. Nearly all were in favour of an approach that combined giving a self-help manual with some follow-up contact with a family member as needed.

Conclusions: Taken in conjunction with statistical outcome findings of significant reductions in symptoms and changes in ways of coping, plus qualitative analysis of the views of family members, the present results encourage the view that a flexible form of this intervention should be developed for use in primary healthcare, and that further work should build on existing strengths and attempt to overcome weaknesses identified.     

Psychosocial Effects of Physical and Verbal Abuse in Postmenopausal Women

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological effects of physical and verbal abuse in a cohort of older women.METHODS This observational cohort study was conducted at 40 clinical sites nationwide that are part of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study. We surveyed 93,676 women aged 50 to 79 years using the mental health subscales and the combined mental component summary (MCS) score of the RAND Medical Outcomes Study 36-item instrument.RESULTS At baseline, women reporting exposure to physical abuse only, verbal abuse only, or both physical and verbal abuse had a greater number of depressive symptoms (1.6,1.6, and 3 more symptoms, respectively) and lower MCS scores (4.6, 5.4, and 8.1 lower scores, respectively) than women not reporting abuse. Compared with women who had no exposure to abuse, women had a greater increase in the number of depressive symptoms when they reported a 3-year incident exposure to physical abuse only (0.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.21 to 0.60), verbal abuse only (0.18; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.24), or both physical and verbal abuse (0.15; 95% CI, −0.05 to 0.36); and they had a decrease in MCS scores when they reported a 3-year incident exposure to physical abuse only (−1.12; 95% CI, −2.45 to 0.12), verbal abuse only (−0.55; 95% CI, −0.75 to −0.34), and both physical and verbal abuse (−0.44; 95% CI, −1.11 to −0.22) even after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics.CONCLUSION Exposure to abuse in older, functionally independent women is associated with poorer mental health. The persistence of these findings suggests that clinicians need to consider abuse exposure in their older female patients who have depressive symptoms. Clinicians caring for older women should identify women at risk for physical and verbal abuse and intervene appropriately.     

工作作为药物及酒精滥用者有效的干预策略和治疗方法

1Introduction Substanceabusecontinuestobeamongthemostsevereso cialandcostlyhealthproblemsdevastatingindividualsandtheir familiesintheUnitedStates.Initssimplestdefinition,sub stanceabuseisthecontinueduseofalcoholorotherdrugsde spiteknowledgeofhavingapersistentsocial,vocational,psy chologicalorphysicalproblemthatiscausedorexacerbatedby theuseofalcoholorotherdrugs(DSMIV TR,1994).All drugsofabuse,includingalcohol,aretoxicandcannegatively impacteverysysteminthehumanorganism.Protractedsub stance…     

小鼠吗啡依赖纳洛酮催促戒断跳跃反应模型的建立

目的建立稳定的小鼠吗啡依赖纳洛酮催促戒断跳跃反应模型。方法小鼠连续皮下注射吗啡,以纳洛酮催促戒断跳跃反应为指标,调整吗啡给予天数(5,6,7,10d)、吗啡累积剂量(360,560,640,945,1100,1105,1200mg/kg)、每日给予吗啡的频数[一天二次(bid),一天三次(tid)]、纳洛酮催促紧前给予吗啡与否、以及纳洛酮剂量(10,20mg/kg),建立四个造模方案包括八个子方案。结果方案A、B2、C2吗啡组小鼠跳跃反应率未达100%;方案B1、C1、D2、D3、D4吗啡组小鼠跳跃次数变异系数较大。方案D1采用小鼠连续皮下注射倍增剂量的吗啡,tid×6d,每日每次剂量分别为5,10,20,40,80,160mg/kg;第7天皮下注射吗啡160mg/kg,3h后腹腔注射纳洛酮10mg/kg,吗啡组小鼠可产生显著的跳跃反应,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01),且变异系数小(CV为0.22),该方案吗啡依赖小鼠跳跃反应次数适度,离散度小。结论选用方案D1可建立稳定的小鼠戒断跳跃反应模型。     

Overview: Beyond guidelines and guidance—psychosocial perspectives on treatment interventions for young people with substance problems in the United Kingdom

Over the last two decades there has been accumulating evidence that both psychosocial and pharmacological treatment interventions can effect change in substance-misusing adults. Thus, treatment interventions implemented for young people with substance problems largely draw on the adult addiction experience and that of child and adolescent psychiatry and psychology. As young people with problematic drug use have different treatment needs, and require different interventions and services to those of adults, results of adult studies cannot necessarily be directly extrapolated to young people.

Over the last five years evidence has been rapidly mounting that treatment may potentially work in young people, but as yet it is not as extensive as that for adults. The interventions that appear most fruitful are those based on learning theory, e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy and family therapy. Outcome studies in young people demonstrate substantial variability in substance use and misuse following treatment. From the UK perspective, the evidence is almost entirely USA based, and these evaluations of non-UK treatment programmes for young people cannot be simply transferred or transported to UK healthcare settings. This has significant implications for practice and policy.

At this stage, 'guidelines' or 'guidance' that is available is either not directed at young people and/or is largely gleaned from the USA literature. In addition, it does not adequately capture the complexity of cases at front-line specialist settings. The management of young substance misusers in the UK is, in the main, 'beyond guidelines and guidance'.

The restricted treatment service network for young people in the UK makes the potential for undertaking studies on treatment effectiveness extremely limited, but because there is evidence of a growing number of young people requiring treatment, such specialist drug services require evaluation. Serious consideration of the establishment and funding of evaluation of treatment interventions to be delivered to young substance misusers in the UK is urgently needed.