bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Time patterns and seasonal mismatch in suicide
Authors: Partonen T. , Haukka J. , Pirkola S. , Isometsä E. , Lönnqvist J. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  Physical time‐givers may have a modifying effect on the time patterns of death from suicide.Method:  Data on a total of 1397 suicides in Finland over a year were collected using the method of psychological autopsy. We linked versatile information on each individual to meteorological data adjusted for local weather conditions, and to the universal astronomic data.Results:  The number of suicides with seasonal mismatch was greater than the expected in the northernmost region of the country (P = 0.03). The northern location was the most significant predictor of such suicides (P = 0.001). They were associated with the changes in ambient temperature during the preceding day (P < 0.00001), the changes to colder preceding suicides in the spring.Conclusion:  Our findings show that mismatch between the changes in ambient temperature and those in the length of day may precede death from suicide in some individuals.
Accuracy of self‐report and toxicological assays to detect substance misuse disorders in parasuicide patients
Authors: Tournier M. , Molimard M. , Abouelfath A. , Cougnard A. , Fourrier A. , Haramburu F. , Bégaud B. , Verdoux H. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  To assess the accuracy of self‐reported substance use and toxicological assays in subjects admitted for Intentional Drug Overdose (IDO), using as a reference diagnosis of substance use disorder.Method:  Self‐reported substance use was collected and toxicological assays were carried out in urine samples in 507 patients with IDO. A standardized psychiatric evaluation was performed in 100 randomly selected subjects.Results:  In routine practice, the emergency department staff did not investigate substance use in nearly one of two patients. Patients’ statements and toxicological assays were more specific than sensitive, with lower scores for toxicological assays. Patients’ statements made it possible to detect nearly 80% of subjects with substance use disorder.Conclusion:  Identification of substance use disorder in subjects with IDO has strong clinical consequences regarding treatment and prevention of suicidal behaviour. Thus, emergency department staff should be made aware of the value of more systematically exploring self‐reported substance use.
Prevalence of major depression and stress indicators in the Danish general population
Authors: Olsen L. R. , Mortensen E. L. , Bech P. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  To estimate the prevalence rate of major depression in the Danish general population by using the Major Depression Inventory (MDI), a validated self‐rating scale fulfilling the symptomatic criteria in DSM‐IV and ICD‐10 for a depressive episode.Method:  A booklet containing the MDI and a number of questions on psychosocial factors was sent to 2040 randomly selected Danish citizens. The sample was age‐ and gender‐stratified. Mean MDI scores were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used in order to produce a model for the influence of psychosocial factors.Results:  The response rate was 60%. The point prevalence of major depression was 3.3%. Among the tested predictors of depression were sociodemographic variables, alcohol and smoking habit, bodily pain, somatic diseases and traumatic life events. For a traumatic event in personal life over the past year odds ratio was 6.4 [2.7; 15.5], for overconsumption of alcohol odds ratio was 3.2 [1.5; 6.8]. While the gender difference in major depression rate was not found statistically significant, a significant (P < 0.05) gender difference of male to female of 1 : 2 was found when including minor depression. Of people identified as having a major depression only 13% were currently treated by a medical doctor.Conclusion:  Major depression has a high prevalence in the Danish general population and seems to be undertreated. The gender difference was only found statistically significant when including minor depression, indicating that the female predominance is less pronounced in the more severe depression states.
Suicidal behaviour in early psychosis
Authors: Addington J. , Williams J. , Young J. , Addington D. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  This was to determine the prevalence of suicidal behaviours prior to and during the first year of treatment in a comprehensive early psychosis program (EPP) and to identify predictors of suicidal behaviour.Method:  In a cohort study of 238 subjects, patients were assessed at initial presentation to an EPP and 1 year later. Measures included a range of demographic variables, suicide attempts, depression, positive and negative symptoms, social functioning and substance misuse.Results:  Although 15.1% attempted suicide prior to program entry, only 2.9% made an attempt in the year after program entry and 0.4% completed suicide. No further attempts were seen in those with previous parasuicide. These rates are lower than other published rates for first‐episode patients.Conclusion:  It is possible that specifically designed first‐episode programs can reduce the suicidal behaviour in this high‐risk population. The low prevalence of attempted suicide makes modeling predictors difficult.
The effect of previous psychiatric history on the cost of care: a comparison of various regression models
Authors: Mirandola M. , Amaddeo F. , Dunn G. , Tansella M. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  Many studies conducted in Europe have reported high variance of costs estimated at the individual level. The objectives of the present study were to estimate costs of patients and to evaluate the performance of various regression models.Method:  All patients who in the period 1992–1995 had at least one contact with the psychiatric services in South Verona were included in the study and were followed for 1 year after the index contact (n = 1725). Four different groups, classified on the basis of their previous services utilization, were analysed.Results:  First‐ever patients and patients with a new episode of care after 3 years were less costly than patients with an ongoing episode of care and patients having a new episode, after an interval between 3 months and 3 years.Conclusion:  The regression models allow us to predict cost for a patient with a given set of characteristics. Great care in the interpretation of the values of the individual coefficients should be taken in order to have a broader understanding of the expenditure dynamic.
Relationship of childhood trauma to age of first suicide attempt and number of attempts in substance dependent patients
Authors: Roy A. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  To examine whether childhood trauma effect the age of first attempting suicide and the number of attempts.Method:  One thousand twelve hundred and eighty substance dependent patients were interviewed about whether or not they had ever attempted suicide, the age of first attempt and the number of attempts. Patients completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – 34 item version.Results:  Five hundred and thirty‐eight patients (42%) had attempted suicide. Significantly more of the patients who had attempted suicide were female. Patients who had made three or more attempts had significantly higher childhood trauma scores than patients who had made two attempts, who had higher scores than patients who had made one attempt, who had higher scores than patients who had never attempted. Patients who first attempted suicide before the age of 20 years had significantly higher childhood trauma scores than patients who first attempted after 20 years of age.Conclusion:  Childhood trauma may be a determinant of the age of onset of suicidal behavior and of the number of suicide attempts.
Hallucination focused integrative treatment improves quality of life in schizophrenia patients
Authors: Wiersma D. , Jenner J. A. , Nienhuis F. J. , van, de Willige G. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  Psychosocial treatment seems to be effective in the management of schizophrenia, although less in the area of quality of life and social functioning. To study the effectiveness of a hallucination focused integrated treatment with cognitive‐behaviour therapy and coping training among schizophrenia patients suffering from ‘hearing voices’.Method:  In a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 31 patients in the integrated treatment condition and 32 patients in the routine care condition, quality of life was assessed with the self‐report questionnaire of the WHO (Bref), and social role functioning with an interviewer based schedule, at entry and 9 (post‐treatment) and 18 months later.Results:  Follow‐up data suggest a significant improvement of quality of life and in particular in social role functioning (effect size 0.64) in favour of the integrated treatment.Conclusion:  The integrated treatment seems to be effective in reducing overall disability levels and number of patients with serious disabilities.
Migration and mental health
Authors: Bhugra D. 
Published: December 2004

Objective:  Migration and its accompanying stressors affect migrating individuals and their families. The process of migration is not simple or straightforward. The aim of this review is to distil existing information on how migration influences individuals’ mental state and how it determines help seeking as well as pathways to care.Method:  The review relies on published studies in both MEDLINE and non‐MEDLINE journals as well as relevant monographs. The search was employed using migration, ethnic communities, stress and other relevant words for purposes of the review.Results:  The review provides a background on the typology of migration, its impact on communities as well as individuals. Furthermore, the relationship of mental illness to migration is explored and described. Future research plans are advocated in relationship with these findings.Conclusion:  Migration is and can be a very stress‐inducing phenomenon. Yet not all migrants go through the same process. The clinician needs to be aware of coping strategies as well as resilience among migrants.
T cell reactivity in neonates from an East and a West German city – results of the LISA study
Authors: Lehmann I. , Thoelke A. , Weiss M. , Schlink U. , Schulz R. , Diez U. , Sierig G. , Emmrich F. , Jacob B. , Belcredi P. , Bolte G. , Heinrich J. , Herbarth O. , Wichmann H.E. , Borte M. 
Published: December 2004

Background: Within an ongoing birth cohort study (LISA) the cytokine production of cord blood T cells was compared between neonates from Leipzig (East Germany) and Munich (West Germany). The aim of this study was to analyse regional differences and influencing factors of the immune status. Methods: Cytokine production was measured in a randomly selected subgroup of 158 children from the LISA (Life style – Immune system – Allergy) cohort by intracellular cytokine staining. Information on family “atopy” history (FAH) and home characteristics was obtained from questionnaires. Results: Reduced numbers of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) producing T cells were found in association with biparental FAH and housing renovation during pregnancy. In addition, cytokine production was influenced by season. In Munich, the frequency of biparental FAH and of renovation measures during pregnancy was significantly higher as compared to Leipzig. Neonates from Munich showed significantly decreased amounts of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α and elevated levels of interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) producing T cells. Differences in cytokine production between Munich and Leipzig were influenced by season (IL‐4) and housing renovation (IFN‐γ, TNF‐α). Conclusions: Since differences in the T cell cytokine production of neonates in Munich and Leipzig are independent from FAH our findings may provide evidence for the impact of environmental factors upon the fetal immune system.
Morphology of Canine Cumulus–Oocyte Complexes in Pre‐pubertal Bitches
Authors: Haenisch‐Woehl A. , Kölle S. , Neumüller C. , Sinowatz F. , Braun J. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe morphology of canine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) before puberty is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of our study was to elucidate the morphological characteristics of pre‐pubertal oocytes and cumulus cells by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The pre‐pubertal oocyte was characterized by accumulation of lipid yolk droplets in the cytoplasm as well as high energy metabolism, low protein synthesis and high transcriptional activity of the cumulus cells. The cumulus cells, which revealed a prominent nucleus and few cytoplasm, communicated with each other by few short processes and exhibited merely a small amount of processes reaching the oocyte. Our studies imply that both the oocyte and the cumulus cells of canine COCs before puberty reveal characteristic morphological features which are correlated with changes in oocyte metabolism and cumulus cell communication.
Alcohol‐related disorders in first‐ and second‐generation immigrants in Sweden: a national cohort study
Authors: Hjern Anders , Allebeck Peter 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTAims The risk of alcohol‐related disorders in first‐ and second‐generation immigrants in Sweden were investigated and compared with the Swedish majority population to assess how alcohol habits are modified over generations in a new society.Design Register study based on multivariate analyses of demographic data, including information on country of birth, from the Swedish Population and Housing Census of 1985 linked to data on hospital admissions for alcohol‐related disorders during 1990–99 in the National Hospital Discharge Register.Participants The study population consisted of a national cohort of 1.25 million youth born 1968–79 and 1.47 million adults born 1929–65.Results First‐ and second‐generation immigrants from Finland had higher relative risks (RRs) for hospital admission because of an alcohol‐related disorder compared to the Swedish majority population (socio‐economic adjusted RRs 2.1 and 1.9, respectively), while first‐generation immigrants born in southern Europe, the Middle East and other non‐European countries had lower risks. Second‐generation immigrants with heritage in southern Europe, the Middle East and other non‐European countries had socio‐economic adjusted RRs that were higher relative to the first generation immigrants but lower relative to the Swedish majority population. Intercountry adoptees had the highest adjusted RR (2.5).Conclusions Patterns of alcohol abuse in the country of origin are strong determinants of alcohol‐related disorders in first‐generation immigrants. The patterns in second‐generation immigrants are influenced by parental countries of origin as well as patterns in the majority population. The Finnish minority and intercountry adoptees are of particular concern in prevention.
The impact of illicit drug supply reduction on health and social outcomes: the heroin shortage in the Australian Capital Territory
Authors: Smithson Michael , McFadden Michael , Mwesigye Sue‐Ellen , Casey Tony 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTAims  We seek to establish whether a substantial decline in the supply of heroin, as measured by indicators such as drug purity, is related to changes in drug‐related health indicators such as ambulance callouts to heroin overdoses and numbers participating in methadone treatment programmes, and to changes in levels of property crime. The guiding hypothesis is that reduced supply will result in positive health and social outcomes.Design  Standard time‐series methods are employed to analyse official data from local law‐enforcement and heroin supply indicators and several health and social outcome indicators within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), spanning the late 1990s to early 2002. Autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models are estimated to remove autocorrelation from these series. Cross‐correlation and autoregression models are then employed to identify the best predictive models.Findings  When autocorrelation has been removed, a reduction in heroin purity predicts a large decline in heroin‐related ambulance callouts and an increase in methadone treatment programme enrolments. There is little evidence of an increase in negative outcomes due to heroin users switching to other drugs. A reduction in purity also predicts declines in robbery and burglary but not in theft.Conclusion  The overall evidence indicates modest links between the declines in heroin supply and increases in positive health outcomes and decreases in crime, as predicted by a simple economic model. Due to the shortness of some of the series and consequent limitations in statistical power, these conclusions should be regarded as tentative.
Triple therapy with sucralfate, amoxycillin and metronidazole for healing duodenal ulcer and eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: STUPNICKI Th. , TAUFER M. , DENK H. , RATSCHEK M. , SPATH P. , GRAF K. 
Published: December 2004

Methods: Seventy‐seven chronic duodenal ulcer patients (50 male) were entered into this study. Treatment was started with sucralfate suspension (2 g b.d.) for 8 weeks. After 2 weeks the patients also received 750 mg amoxycillin t.d.s. plus 500 mg metronidazole t.d.s. for 12 days. Endoscopy with six antral biopsies (urease test, Gram staining, culture and histology) was performed before commencement of sucralfate therapy, 4 weeks after the end of antibiotic therapy, and during the follow‐up examinations at 6 and 12 months. Results: Seven patients were excluded prematurely from the study. Helicobacter pylori in five patients had primary resistance to metronidazole and these patients were also excluded. The ulcer healing rate 4 weeks after the end of antibiotic therapy was 92% and the H. pylori eradication rate was 82% (all per protocol). In all patients who were still H. pylori‐positive, the bacterium became resistant to metronidazole and histologically the inflammatory state of the mucosa was the same as before treatment. All H. pylori‐eradicated patients (n=53) were re‐examined after 6 and 12 months; no ulcer recurrence was observed and each time only one reinfection was found. Conclusions: In an open study, sucralfate with amoxycillin and metronidazole appeared to act together to eradicate H. pylori infection and to speed duodenal ulcer healing.
High effectiveness and safety of one‐week antibiotic regimen in Helicobacter pylori eradication
Authors: DALLA LIBERA M. , PAZZI P. , CARLI G. , GAMBERINI S. , SCAGLIARINI R. , MERIGHI A. , GULLINI S. 
Published: December 2004

Background: Helicobacter pylori is strongly associated with peptic ulcer: H. pylori eradication markedly decreases the recurrence rate of duodenal and gastric ulcer, but the optimum length of antibiotic therapy in the eradication of H. pylori is still unclear. Aim: To verify the effectiveness and side‐effect profile of an eradicating regimen consisting of omeprazole 20 mg daily for 4 weeks and, during the first week, combination antimicrobial treatment with tinidazole 500 mg b.d. plus clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. in patients with active duodenal and gastric ulcer. Methods: One hundred and ninety‐six duodenal ulcer patients and 27 gastric ulcer patients with H. pylori infection were admitted into an open prospective study. Compliance was assessed by an accurate interview. Results: Overall, H. pylori was successfully eradicated in 201 of 223 patients (intention‐to‐treat 90.1%; 95% CI=85–94%): 176 of 196 duodenal ulcer patients became H. pylori‐negative (89.8%; CI=85–94%) as well as 25 of 27 gastric ulcer patients (92.6%; CI=76–99%). Compliance was excellent in 221 of 223 (99.1%) patients evaluated as having taken all the medication as prescribed. Sixteen patients (7.2%) developed mild side effects during treatment. Conclusion: This combination treatment had excellent results with almost absolute compliance and a very low rate of minor side effects.
Gastric mucosal injury and adaptation to oral and rectal administration of naproxen
Authors: LIPSCOMB G. R. , REES W. D. W. 
Published: December 2004

Introduction: Oral nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause acute gastric mucosal injury but the relative importance of systemic and topical effect of NSAIDs to overall gastric damage remains uncertain. Methods: Twenty‐four healthy volunteers were allocated either oral or rectal naproxen 500 mg b.d. and gastroscoped before and during days 1, 7 and 28 of dosing. Macroscopic gastric damage was assessed using a modified Lanza score, mucosal blood flow recorded using laser Doppler flowmetry and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) measured in antral mucosal biopsies. Results: Maximal gastric damage occurred during the first 24 h in the oral naproxen group and was associated with a fall in antral mucosal blood flow (mean±S.E.M.) from 58.2±3.3 to 46.6±4.1 arbitrary units (a.u.) (P<0.05). With continued administration of oral naproxen, gastric damage resolved and antral mucosal blood flow returned to baseline (54.2±3.7 a.u.). No macroscopic damage or significant changes in mucosal blood flow were observed during rectal administration. There was no significant difference between mucosal PGE2 concentrations in those receiving oral or rectal naproxen, falling from an initial level of 335±29 to 155±49 pg/mg at day 1 (P=0.06) in those receiving oral naproxen and from 235±55 to 107±31 pg/mg at day 1 (P=0.1) in those receiving rectal naproxen, and remaining suppressed throughout the study in both groups. Conclusions: These observations suggest that acute mucosal damage and changes in mucosal blood flow are caused by the topical rather than systemic actions of naproxen.
One‐week triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxycillin and either clarithromycin or metronidazole for cure of Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: LABENZ J. , STOLTE M. , PEITZ U. , TILLENBURG B , BECKER T. , BÖRSCH G. 
Published: December 2004

Aim: The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of 1‐week triple therapy regimens for Helicobacter pylori. Methods: In two consecutive series, 120 patients with proven H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease or functional dyspepsia were treated with either omeprazole 20 mg b.d., amoxycillin 1 g b.d. and clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. (OAC; n=60) or with omeprazole 20 mg b.d., amoxycillin 1 g b.d. and metronidazole 400 mg b.d. over 1 week (OAM; n=60). H. pylori infection was assessed by rapid urease test, culture and histology before and 4 weeks after cessation of the eradication therapy. Results: H. pylori eradication succeeded in 53 out of 60 patients by omeprazole–amoxycillin–clarithromycin (OAC) (88%; 95% CI 77–95%) and in 47 out of 60 patients by omeprazole–amoxycillin–metronidazole (OAM) (78%; 95% CI 66–88%) (P=0.22). Nine patients of each group available for follow‐up reported adverse events (15.0 and 15.5%, respectively) without necessity of discontinuation of the study medications. Serious adverse events were not observed. Conclusions: Simple and convenient 1‐week triple therapies consisting of omeprazole, amoxycillin and either clarithromycin or metronidazole are sufficiently effective in eradicating H. pylori infection.