Psychosocial Experiences That Support Positive Self-Concept in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate Adopted From China.

OBJECTIVE: Existing psychosocial research offers little information on the unique challenges and strengths of children adopted from China with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). The present study aimed to understand biopsychosocial factors that support positive self-concept in this population. DESIGN: Qualitative, semistructured interviews were conducted with children and their parents. Interpretive phenomenological analysis of transcribed interviews was utilized for data analysis. SETTING: Participants were recruited in an outpatient, pediatric multidisciplinary cleft clinic during a standard team visit. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Participants were ages 8 to 12 years with a diagnosis of isolated cleft lip-palate who were internationally adopted from China before the age of 2 years and English-speaking. Participants also included English-speaking parents. RESULTS: Themes reflecting data from the child and parent subsamples include: (1) child's characteristics, (2) family strengths, (3) adoption identity, (4) cultural identity, (5) coping with a cleft, and (6) social factors. Additional 2 to 3 subthemes were identified for the parent and child subsamples within each broader theme. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this sample suggested factors supporting positive self-concept included pride and self-efficacy in activities, family support, instilment of family values, strategies for coping with a cleft, family belonging, cultural exposure, and normalization of differences. Medical providers can support patients and families by providing education on surgeries, CL/P sequelae and outcomes, and pediatric medical stress. Mental health providers can screen for social and emotional challenges and provide psychoeducation on racial/ethnic socialization, identity development, and coping.

Estimating construction and demolition debris generation using a materials flow analysis approach.

The magnitude and composition of a region's construction and demolition (C&D) debris should be understood when developing rules, policies and strategies for managing this segment of the solid waste stream. In the US, several national estimates have been conducted using a weight-per-construction-area approximation; national estimates using alternative procedures such as those used for other segments of the solid waste stream have not been reported for C&D debris. This paper presents an evaluation of a materials flow analysis (MFA) approach for estimating C&D debris generation and composition for a large region (the US). The consumption of construction materials in the US and typical waste factors used for construction materials purchasing were used to estimate the mass of solid waste generated as a result of construction activities. Debris from demolition activities was predicted from various historical construction materials consumption data and estimates of average service lives of the materials. The MFA approach estimated that approximately 610-78 × 10(6)Mg of C&D debris was generated in 2002. This predicted mass exceeds previous estimates using other C&D debris predictive methodologies and reflects the large waste stream that exists.

Dyspepsia on withdrawal of ranitidine in previously asymptomatic volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: H2 receptor antagonist therapy has been shown to produce rebound acid hypersecretion. The clinical significance of this phenomenon is not known. We performed this study to determine whether withdrawal of H2 receptor antagonist therapy results in dyspepsia in previously asymptomatic volunteers. METHODS: Thirty-five Helicobacter pylori-positive asymptomatic volunteers were randomized in double-blind fashion to receive 2 months' treatment with either ranitidine 300 mg nocte or placebo. Dyspeptic symptoms were measured before starting treatment and over the course of 10 days after stopping treatment by means of a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Thirty-one subjects completed the study; 17 were randomized to ranitidine. The pretreatment median aggregate dyspepsia score of the placebo group was 0 (0-4), as was that of the ranitidine group (0-8) (N.S.). During the 10 days after completion of ranitidine, the median aggregate dyspepsia score was 1.4 (0-30), compared with 0 (0-6.3) after placebo (p < 0.01). Of those given ranitidine, 59% experienced dyspepsia after treatment, compared with only 14% who took placebo. In the subgroup that developed dyspepsia after active therapy, the median duration of symptoms was 2 days, symptom severity being maximal on the second day after completion of the tablets. On the days when dyspepsia was experienced, the median daily dyspepsia score was 5 (range, 2-10), which was similar to that of a control group with active duodenal ulcer disease (5; range, 0-11). CONCLUSIONS: Withdrawal of a 2-month course of ranitidine 300 mg nocte results in the development of dyspeptic symptoms in a proportion of previously asymptomatic subjects. Patients receiving ranitidine should be warned about this rebound dyspepsia and advised not to immediately resume treatment, as rebound symptoms are likely to improve within a few days.

Serum ferritin: it may guide the diagnosis of the anaemic patient.

Crohn's disease is often complicated by anaemia. Assessment of iron deficiency may be hampered by modification of the serum ferritin concentration because of the associated acute phase response when disease is active. However a ferritin value of < 5 micrograms/L is indicative of iron deficiency, which is rarely found in Crohns disease.

Improved symptom relief and duodenal ulcer healing with lansoprazole, a new proton pump inhibitor, compared with ranitidine.

The purpose of this study was to compare duodenal ulcer healing, symptom relief, and safety of lansoprazole (a new proton pump inhibitor) given at doses of 30 mg and 60 mg, in the morning with ranitidine 300 mg at bedtime. Two hundred and eighty nine patients were enrolled over a 20 month period in a double blind randomised parallel group comparative study set in outpatient endoscopy units of six United Kingdom medical centres. Patients were randomised to receive lansoprazole 30 mg in the morning (n = 95), 60 mg in the morning (n = 96), or ranitidine 300 mg at bedtime (n = 98) for four weeks. Efficacy was assessed by gastroscopy at study entry and after two and four weeks of treatment. Symptom relief was monitored by patient diaries and physician review at two and four weeks. Both doses of lansoprazole resulted in significantly greater ulcer healing than ranitidine after two and four weeks. Respective healing rates on lansoprazole 30 mg, 60 mg, and ranitidine 300 mg were 78%, 80%, and 60% after two weeks and 93%, 97%, and 81% after four weeks. Patients on lansoprazole 30 mg (p = 0.002) and lansoprazole 60 mg (p = 0.026) also recorded greater relief of night time pain in the diary cards during the first seven days of treatment than those on ranitidine. Patients on lansoprazole 60 mg reported significantly better pain relief at their two week visit compared with those receiving ranitidine (p = 0.007). There were no differences between treatment groups in the occurrence or pattern of adverse drug reactions during the trial. It is concluded that for patients with duodenal ulcer, lansoprazole 30 mg or 60 mg is associated with faster ulcer healing and better symptom relief than ranitidine 300 mg at bedtime. There were no significant differences between lansoprazole 30 mg and 60 mg. These data indicate that lansoprazole should be used at a once daily dose of 30 mg for the treatment of duodenal ulcer.

Cisapride in functional dyspepsia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in general practice patients.

This trial included patients from general practice with endoscopy-negative chronic dyspepsia and epigastric pain or discomfort. Eleven eligible patients with sufficiently severe dyspeptic symptoms after a 2-week placebo run-in period were entered into a 4-week, parallel group, double-blind randomized comparison of 10 mg cisapride three times daily and matched placebo, and were subsequently evaluable. Symptoms were comparable in the two treatment groups at the start of double-blind treatment. The cisapride group had a significantly greater reduction in the frequency of daytime epigastric pain/discomfort and the frequency and severity of nocturnal pain/discomfort after 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, all six cisapride recipients were free of nocturnal pain, compared with only one of five placebo recipients. After 4 weeks of double-blind therapy, improvements in the placebo group had reduced between-treatment differences, with five of six cisapride recipients and three of five placebo recipients being free of nocturnal pain. Cisapride was well tolerated.

Comparison of 40 mg famotidine nightly and 150 mg ranitidine b.d.: ulcer healing and symptom relief in benign gastric ulcer.

Two hundred and eight patients with benign gastric ulcers seen on endoscopy were recruited by 13 hospitals in the United Kingdom and Ireland into this double-blind study. Patients were assigned by pre-randomized schedule to 8 weeks of treatment with either 40 mg famotidine at night or 150 mg ranitidine b.d. Repeat endoscopy confirmed complete ulcer healing in 62 of 77 evaluable patients in the famotidine group (81%) and 58 of 71 in the ranitidine group (82%). The treatments were equally effective in promptly relieving day and night pain. Adverse events were uncommon; dizziness and headaches were the most frequently reported in both groups. In conclusion, night-time famotidine is as effective as twice daily ranitidine in healing benign gastric ulcers and provides similarly rapid symptomatic relief.

Single night-time doses of 40 mg famotidine or 800 mg cimetidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.

Famotidine (40 mg) and 800 mg cimetidine as single night-time doses were compared in a randomized, double-blind, multicentre study of acute treatment for duodenal ulceration. Fifteen centres recruited 304 patients into the study. Of these, 274 were included for analysis, with 136 receiving famotidine and 138 receiving cimetidine. After 4 weeks, 75% of the patients who received famotidine and 77% of the patients who received cimetidine were healed. At 6 weeks the cumulative healing rates were 91% with famotidine and 87% with cimetidine. Differences between the groups were not significant at 4 or 6 weeks. No significant difference in healing rates between smokers and non-smokers was found. Day and night pain resolved rapidly in both groups. Both treatments were well-tolerated; adverse events were reported in 17 patients on famotidine and 18 on cimetidine, with headache the most frequent event in both groups. Famotidine is effective and well-tolerated in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer.

Crohn's disease of the mouth: an indicator of intestinal involvement.

Nineteen patients with clinical evidence of oral Crohn's disease but no intestinal symptoms were studied. Oral lesions in all patients were shown histologically to have lymphoedema with or without chronic granulomas consistent with Crohn's disease. Seven patients (37%) had demonstrable intestinal disease on rectal biopsy and four of these had abnormal bowel radiology. All seven had evidence of nutritional deficiency. Patients with clinical features suggesting oral Crohn's disease may have evidence of Crohn's disease in the intestine, although this may not be clinically apparent.

Alcohol and absorption from the small intestine. 2. Effect of ethanol on ATP and ATPase activities in guinea-pig jejunum.

After the exposure of isolated segments of guinea-pig jejunum to 2% ethanol for one hour, a significant reduction (P less than 0-001) in the adenosine triphosphate content (ATP) was observed when compared with levels found in segments perfused with Krebs' solution. However, no alteration was noted in the activity of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). The chronic administration of 50% ethanol in a dose of 2-5 g/kg for two weeks did not affect either the ATP content or ATPase activity in jejunal mucosa.

Alcohol and absorption from the small intestine. 1. Impairment of absorption from the small intestine in alcoholics.

An absorption screen was performed in 10 chronic alcoholic patients within a few days of admission due to an acute alcoholic episode. Impaired absorption of d-Xylose was noted in three patients and low leucocyte ascorbic acid and serum folate levels in five. No abnormality was detected in jejunal histology. The absorption of water and electrolytes from the jejunum was studied in these patients using a triple-lumen tube perfusion system. The mean rate of absorption of water in the alcoholic subjects (50-0 +/- 2-3 ml/h) was significantly lower (P less than 0-001) than the mean value in 14 healthy control subjects (205 +/- 15-9 ml/h). A significant reduction of Na+ and Cl-absorption was also demonstrated in the alcoholic subjects. These results indicate that patients with acute-on-chronic alcoholism may have a function impairment of water and electrolyte absorption from the jejunum. This may, in part, account for some of the nutritional deficiencies in such patients and for symptoms such as diarrhoea which may be present.

Effect of prostaglandin 15(R) 15 methyl-E2 methyl ester on aspirin and taurocholic acid-induced gastric mucosal haemorrhage in rats.

The effect of orally administered prostaglandin 15(R)15 methyl-E2 methyl ester on aspirin and taurocholic acid-induced gastric mucosal haemorrhage has been studied in rats. The incidence of haemorrhage induced by aspirin (26-7 mM), 64 mg/kg, together with taurocholic acid (2-5 mM), was significantly reduced from 53-6% to 19-5% by the addition of the prostaglandin (9-9 muM), P less than 0.01. The incidence of haemorrhage induced by aspirin alone (53-3 mM), 128 mg/kg, was significantly reduced from 80% to 20% by the addition of prostaglandin (9-9 muM), P less than 0.002. These results indicate the possible use of synthetic prostaglandins in the prevention of aspirin-induced gastric pathology.

The effect of frusemide on water and electrolyte absorption from the human jejunum.

1. Frusemide, in a dose of 120 nmol (40 mg) administered intravenously, significantly reduced the absorption of water and electrolytes from the human jejunum, a double-lumen perfusion system with proixmal occluding balloons being used. Net secretion of water and electrolytes occurred in some subjects. 2. No significant change in water and electrolyte absorption was observed with 60 nmol (20 mg) of frusemide. 3. These findings may explain the diarrhoea which may be induced by fursemide in some patients.

Role of taurocholic acid in production of gastric mucosal damage after ingestion of aspirin.

The possibility that aspirin-induced gastric mucosal damage may occur more readily in the presence of bile has been studied in man using measurement of transmucosal electrical potential difference as a marker of disruption of the gastric mucosal barrier. After the introduction of acetylsalicylic acid (600 mg) in suspension to seven subjects the mean electrical potential difference (plus or minus S.E. of mean) fell significantly from -33-3 plus or minus 2-0 mV to - 17-1 plus or minus 2-1 mV, and after the introduction of taurocholic acid (5 mmol/1) to seven other subjects the electrical potential difference fell significantly from -38-1 plus or minus 3-0 mV to-19-1 plus or minus 3-4 mV, the mean duration of these changes being 14-4 and 17-5 minutes respectively. When a combination of acetylsalicylic acid and taurocholic acid was introduced to eight subjects the mean electrical potential difference also fell significantly from -38-6 plus or minus 1-8 mV to -17-9 plus or minus 1-8 mV, but mean duration of this change (27 minutes) was significantly longer than that found after acetylsalicylic acid or taurocholic acid alone. These results indicate that the ingestion of aspirin, together with coincidental reflux of bile from duodenum, may be a factor in the pathogenesis of aspirin-induced gastric mucosal damage.