[Intervention of auricular point sticking on perioperative psychological stress in patients with anorectal diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the intervention effect of auricular point sticking on perioperative psychological stress in patients with anorectal diseases. METHODS: Eighty patients who underwent anorectal surgery were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases) and a control group (40 cases). The routine preoperative guidance, preoperative visits, and informed of the postoperative condition were received in the control group. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, auricular point sticking was immediately applied at Shenmen (TF4), Shen (CO10), Wei (CO4), Gan (CO12), Pi (CO13), Pizhixia (AT4), E (AT1), Nie (AT2) and Zhen (AT3) in the observation group.The patients were pressed by themselves, 3 to 5 min per point each time, 5 times a day, and the contralateral auricular points were replaced every 2 or 3 days until 1 week after surgery. The Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores were compared between the two groups before and 7 days after surgery. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the total HAMA scores between after and before surgery in the observation group (P>0.05). The total HAMA score in the control group was higher than that before surgery (P<0.05). The total HAMA score in the observation group after surgery was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total HAMD scores between the two groups before and after surgery (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total HAMD scores between the two groups after the surgery (P>0.05). The scores of somatic anxiety factor in the two groups were higher than those before surgery (P<0.05). The scores of somatic anxiety factor in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of psychotic anxiety factors in the two groups were lower than those before surgery (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the score of psychotic anxiety factors between the two groups (P>0.05). The total score of PSQI in the two groups was lower than that before surgery (P<0.05), and the total score of PSQI in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Auricular point sticking can effectively improve some psychological stress problems during perioperative period in patients with anorectal diseases.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to pertussis and diphtheria among healthy adults in China.

OBJECTIVES: Despite extensive childhood immunization, pertussis remains one of the world's leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths. Incidence of pertussis in adolescents and adults has increased in many countries despite high vaccination coverage. In China, booster vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis are not used in adults, and little is known about pertussis incidence in the age group. The aim of this study was to determine seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT) and diphtheria among adults in China. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 210 healthy adults aged 18-50 years in Weifang city, China during the period of May and June 2010. Serum IgG antibodies against PT (anti-PT IgG) and diphtheria were determined by the commercial ELISA kits, respectively. According to the kit, concentration of anti-PT IgG higher than 30 IU/mL was considered positive. An antibody concentration of ≥ 0.1 IU/mL was defined as evidence of seroprotection against diphtheria. RESULTS: The mean concentration of anti-PT IgG antibodies was 9.95 IU/mL (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.45-11.44). Eleven (5.24%) of the studied subjects were proved to be seropositive to pertussis. Of the 210 subjects, 161 (76.6%) had anti-diphtheria antibody concentration ≥ 0.1 IU/mL and 49 (23.3%) had the antibody concentration between 0.01 and 0.099 IU/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that about 5% of adults aged 18-50 years had positive anti-PT IgG antibodies, suggesting that adult pertussis is not uncommon in China. Although a high proportion of studied subjects had a protective level of immunity against diphtheria, the antibody level decreased with the increasing age of adults. Booster vaccinations against pertussis should be considered in adults in China.