Epidemiology of acute diarrhea in children living in Sicily

A longitudinal survey (February 1984 - January 1985) on the incidence of acute diarrhea episodes in a sample of 8,164 children (aged 0–12 years) living in southeastern Sicily was carried out by means of weekly telephone interviews with doctors practising in the territory. The incidence rate was 0.479 (0.472–0.485 95% C.I.) per child per year and the frequency of episodes was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in children aged 0–4 years (0.86). Diarrhea was more frequent in industrial areas than in rural ones, and almost half (45.1%) of the total episodes had a mild course. No death from diarrhea occurred and admission to hospital was reported for 8.4% of all cases.Corresponding author.     

Lung cancer in Israel, 1962–1982 I. Jews and Arabs

The magnitude and dynamics of lung cancer incidence in Jews and Arabs in Israel between the years 1962 and 1982 were studied. In general, age-standardized incidence rates increased consistently between the years 1962 and 1976 among Jewish (24% increase) and Arab (39%) males, and to a lesser degree among Jewish females (15%). Arab females had the highest (77%) increase. From 1977 to 1982 a general decrease in incidence rates, which was largest among Arab males (19%) and females (15%), was noted. Rates among Jewish males are currently 26% higher than among Arab males, and are 162% higher among Jewish females than in Arab females. Lung cancer rates in both males and females in Istrael (Jews and Arabs) are lower than in most developed countries in the world. Among the possible reasons are differences in the population risk factors profile, availability of health care and the level of diagnosis and ascertainment of cases.     

Hip fracture incidence in the canton of Vaud,Switzerland, 1986–1991

The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of hip fracture in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland (total population 584 000), for the period 1986–1991 using routine hospital discharge data collected by the Cantonal Service of Statistical Research and Information (SCRIS). For the survey period, the estimated average annual crude incidence rate of hip fractures was 167 per 100 000 persons aged 20 or older (241 for women and 84 for men). For the population aged 50 years or older, the crude incidence rate was 388 per 100 000 persons (546 for women and 185 for men). The average annual age-specific rates rose exponentially by successive 5-year age groups. The median age of patients at the time of the fracture was 82 years in women and 74 years in men. There was no significant difference between the total number of cervical and trochanteric fractures. Between the ages of 20 and 84 years, the cumulative risk for a woman to be admitted to hospital with a hip fracture was twice that of a man (15.8% vs 7.8%). From 1986 to 1991, the age- and sex-adjusted incidence, like the ratio of cervical to trochanteric fractures, did not show any significant trend, although it was consistent with an increase in men (p=0.09). However, the annual number of fractures rose from 644 to 776, particularly among very aged men. The mean length of stay in the acute care hospital fell from 38 days in 1986 to 25 days in 1991. Finally, the comparison of these results with those obtained in 1986 for the same population from more exhaustive sources has confirmed the provision of a consistent, although overestimated, assessment of hip fracture incidence by means of these routine hospital statistics in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.     

Increased recognition of IgA nephropathy in African-American children

Based upon the percentage of cases of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in biopsy series, a lower prevalence has been assumed for African-Americans compared with Americans of European descent. This may be due to a racial difference in the basic underlying pathology of IgAN or to racial differences in patterns of referral and biopsy selection practices. Over the past decade (1985 – 1994), we have found similar incidences of IgAN in Caucasian and African-American children from Shelby County, Tennessee. The incidence was 3.0 cases per million per year for Caucasian and 5.7 cases per million per year for African-American children. IgAN may be more common in African-American children than previously appreciated. Population-based incidence studies will be necessary to determine whether or not our experience has become a more widespread phenomenon. Received August 21, 1996; received in revised form and accepted December 18, 1996     

菏泽市城区1008名学龄儿童感觉统合失调调查分析

目的：为了解本市的学龄儿童感觉统合失调的发生率及造成感觉统合失调的有关因素。方法：采用北京感觉统合失调评定表，对6－10岁1008名在校儿童进行整群抽样调查，所获数据经χ^2检验。结果：感觉统合失调发生率为35．52％，其中轻率23．4％，重度12．1％，男童发生率为43．08％，女童发生率为27．89％，男高于女（P＜0．05）。结论：儿童感觉统合失调发生率与父母文化程度、儿童自身智力、学习成绩、出生时缺氧缺血性脑病有关，有关部门要迅速组建机构对感觉统合失调进行训练。     

Anal Canal Cancer

PURPOSE: This study was designed to obtain an updated population-based perspective on anal canal cancer incidence rates, demographics, and outcomes using a nationwide database. Eight-five percent of all carcinomas of the anus are anal canal cancers, and previous studies suggest that incidence rates may be rising. Although the most successful treatment for anal canal cancer has been chemoradiation, little information at the population-level exists regarding demographics, treatment, and survival. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with anal canal cancer from 1973 to 1998 in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry were analyzed. Data regarding demographics, cancer characteristics, treatment, and survival were assessed. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 4,841 patients were studied (mean age was 61 years; 62 percent female). Female patients were significantly older than male patients (65 vs. 58 years; P < 0.0001). There was a yearly increase in incidence of anal canal cancers (from 1973–1998). Disease prevalence by stage was localized (53 percent), regional (38 percent), and distant (9 percent). Racial/stage differences were seen, because black patients had less localized disease than white patients (46 vs. 53 percent; P < 0.01). Overall five-year survival for the entire cohort was 53 percent, and cancer-specific survival was 84 percent. Survival improved per decade (based on year of diagnosis). Significant survival differences in race were noted, but were less when the receipt of treatment was considered. CONCLUSION: Although most anal canal cancer reviews are single institutional series, this study was performed with population-based data. The incidence of anal canal cancer is increasing, and overall survival rates are improving. Important disparities in care were identified, which need to be addressed.     

Clinical and laboratory features of type 1 diabetic children at the time of diagnosis.

The French incidence study has registered all new cases of Type 1 diabetic children under 20 years of age, from a population of 2.32 million, in an exhaustive and prospective manner. Three hundred and forty cases were identified between 1 January 1988 and 31 December 1989, yielding a mean annual incidence rate 7.3 per 10(5). The lowest rate was observed in the youngest age group (0-4 yr: 4.1 per 10(5)) and the highest around pubertal development (10-14 yr: 11.5 per 10(5)). Details of the previous personal and family history, and the clinical and biological pictures of the disease at diagnosis were recorded. Almost 8 per cent of the children had a first-degree relative with Type 1 diabetes. Polyuria, weight loss, fatigue and abdominal pain were the most frequently reported symptoms, which were of median duration 4.4 months. Mean weight loss before diagnosis was 9.4 +/- 6.8 (+/- SD)% of body weight and was not significantly related to age. Ketonuria was detected in 83.8 per cent and acidosis (total CO2 less than or equal to 18 mmol l-1, if measured) in 48 per cent of the cases. Ketonuria and acidosis were significantly more frequent in the younger age group than in the rest of the group (p less than 0.001).     

Seizure Disorders: The Changes With Age

Summary: Age has a profound influence on our approach to the convulsive disorders. Age is a variable which is an important determinant for risk factors for epilepsy. Age, as a surrogate of brain maturation, is a determinant of the specific characteristics of the seizure disorder in those with epilepsy, and age-related changes in these manifestations can be identified. Age is a determinant for the occurrence of acute symptomatic seizures in several types of metabolic or central nervous system insults. Age is a determinant for prognosis, whether one considers remission, medication withdrawal in those entering remission, relapse following prolonged remission, or mortality. Last, age per se seems to be a risk factor for epilepsy independent of other factors. This seems particularly true for partial seizures.     

2001年广西疟疾防治效果及流行特征分析

目的：分析2001年全区疟疾防治效果、流行趋势、流行特征，为疟疾防治与监测提供依据。方法：对全区2001年疟疾监测结果和调查结果资料进行分析研究。结果：2001年全区疟疾发病率、居民原虫阳性率分别比上年降低21．74％及16．67％，91．49％的当地感染的病人分布在山区县，86．02％的病灶村为1例病人。流动人口检出疟疾病例数占各类人群血检检出疟疾病例总数的87．89％，外出回归人员检出病例中84．79％的病人从事与野外作业相关的工种。结论：全区大部分地区为低疟区，局部地区疟疾传播仍未阻断。流动人口和山区复媒地区是当前疟疾监测的重点。     

Die Rolle coagulasenegativer Staphylokokken in Mischinfektionen: Assoziationstestungen als in-vitro-Modell

Zusammenfassung Die Zunahme von Infektionen durch hochresistente grampositive Kokken hat in den letzten Jahren vornehmlich auf Intensivstationen zu erheblichen therapeutischen Problemen geführt. Hierbei ist eine Gruppe von Erregern in den Vordergrund getreten, die früher als harmlose Saprophyten galten: coagulasenegative Staphylokokken (CNS). In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden zunächst Daten zur Incidenz in verschiedenen Versorgungsbereichen unserer Klinik und zur Coincidenz mit anderen Erregern auf unserer Intensivstation vorgestellt. Es konnte gezeigt werden, daßS. aureus zwar der zahlenmäßig häufigste grampositive Erreger war, aber CNS sowohl aus Wundabstrichen der Intensivstation als auch aus Blutkulturen deutlich häufiger isoliert werden konnte. Ein gleichzeitiger Nachweis von CNS mitS. aureus und den neun häufigsten Enterobacteriaceae konnte in durchschnittlich 6% erbracht werden. Durch mögliche Interaktionen zwischen unterschiedlichen Erregern kann eine Veränderung der in Einzeltestung beobachteten Resistenzen auftreten. Um dies nachzuweisen, wurden sechs Erregerpaare einzeln und in Assoziation gegen Amoxicillin und Amoxicillin/Clavulansäure getestet. Unter Assoziation wurde das gemeinsame Wachstum zweier Keime unter kontrollierten Bedingungen in Boullionverdünnungsreihen oder einem Laborautomaten zur Resistenztestung (Cobas Bact) verstanden. In allen Fällen zeigte sich, daß die-Lactamasen der CNS in Assoziation die MHK der anderen Erreger deutlich erhöhte, was durch den Zusatz von Clavulansäure verhindert werden konnte. Eine Einzeltestung gibt also bei Mischinfekten mit Beteiligung von-Lactamasebildnern nur einen eingeschränkten Eindruck von der tatsächlichen Resistenzsituation.

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Role of coagulase negative staphylococci in mixed infections: associative testing as in vitro model

Summary Infections due to coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) are of growing concern mainly in patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU). The ability of CNS to adhere and to grow on plastic devices and resistance to many antibiotics, including oxacillin, contributes to their pathogenicity. Using the computer assisted system of the Medical Microbiology Department, the incidences of different pathogens and the coincidence of CNS with other bacteria were evaluated in a surgical department.Staphylococcus aureus revealed to be the predominant pathogen; however, CNS showed an increasing incidence in wound specimens and blood cultures of patients on the ICU. Coincidence of CNS withS. aureus and the nine most frequent species of gram negative bacteria could be shown in 6%. To investigate the influence of-lactamases produced by CNS in mixed infections, association experiments were performed. Association means a controlled growth of two or even more bacteria in a susceptibility testing system, either a broth dilution method or an automated broth disk elution method (Cobas Bact). The association experiments showed a significant increase of amoxicillin MIC's of the pathogen associated with CNS. Addition of clavulanic acid restored activity of amoxicillin. It could be shown that in mixed infections CNS may contribute to the failure of antibiotic regimens by production of-lactamases.