BACKGROUND & AIMS: Calcitriol has been widely used in the management of osteoporosis, but its efficiency is a matter of controversy. It is not known whether combinations of calcitriol and antiresorptive agents such as etidronate and calcitonin are superior to calcitriol alone in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. To make this determination, 30 Turkish women with postmenopausal osteoporosis between 45 and 68 years of age were randomized to receive either intermittent cyclical etidronate (400 mg/day, for 14 days) followed by 60 days of cyclical calcitriol therapy 0.25 microg twice daily (group 1; n = 10), or calcitriol 0.25 microg twice daily (group 2; n = 10), or calcitriol 0.25 microg/day in combination with 100 IU intranasal salmon calcitonin taken every other day (group 3; n = 10) through a 1-year period. Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine (L2 to L4) was determined for each patient by dual-photon absorptiometry (153Gd) at baseline, after 6 months, and at the end of the study. There was no significant difference among groups with respect to mean spinal BMD at baseline, after 6, and after 12 months. No significant spinal BMD changes occurred in any group from baseline, after 6 months, and after 12 months. Four patients in groups 1 and 2 and five patients in group 3 developed hypercalcemia at least once during therapy. Hypercalciuria occurred at least once in 9, 10, and 7 patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. One patient in group 2 developed a renal stone at the end of the study. Mean urine hydroxyproline levels did not change significantly in any group with respect to baseline. The data suggest that one-year treatment with calcitriol, given either alone or in combination with antiresorptive agents, does not improve spinal BMD in Turkish women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, and is associated with a high rate of adverse events.

背景与目标： 骨化三醇已被广泛用于骨质疏松症的治疗，但其有效性尚有争议。在绝经后骨质疏松症的治疗中，骨化三醇和抗再吸收剂（如依替膦酸和降钙素）的组合是否优于骨化三醇，尚不明确。为了确定这一点，将30例年龄在45至68岁之间的绝经后骨质疏松症的土耳其妇女随机接受间歇性周期性依替膦酸治疗（400 mg /天，持续14天），然后接受60天周期性钙三醇治疗，每天两次，每次0.25 microg（组） 1； n = 10），或每天两次两次钙钙三醇0.25微克（组2； n = 10），或每隔一天服用100 IU鼻内鲑降钙素与钙三醇0.25微克/天组合（组3； n = 10）， 1年期限。在基线，6个月后和研究结束时，通过双光子吸收法（153Gd）为每位患者确定腰椎（L2至L4）的骨密度（BMD）。各组之间在基线，6个月后和12个月后的平均脊柱骨密度没有显着差异。从基线，6个月和12个月后的任何组中，没有明显的脊柱BMD变化发生。在治疗期间，第1组和第2组的4名患者和第3组的5名患者至少发生一次高钙血症。高钙尿症分别在第1、2和3组的9、10和7名患者中至少发生一次。在研究结束时，第2组的一名患者出现了肾结石。相对于基线，平均尿羟脯氨酸水平在任何组中均无显着变化。数据表明，单独或与抗吸收药联合使用骨化三醇治疗一年并不能改善绝经后骨质疏松症的土耳其妇女的脊柱BMD，并且不良反应发生率较高。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Results of a study on the relative frequencies of tumors in American black and Nigerian children were compared with data from the Childhood Cancer Registries in Manchester, United Kingdom, and Kampala, Uganda. The American black child living in Washington, D.C. and the Caucasian child living in Manchester had similar high frequencies for leukemia and glioma, whereas the incidence of lymphoma and retinoblastoma was low. African children living in Nigeria or Uganda had the opposite frequency patterns. These differences in frequencies of tumors between two ethnologically related population groups, American black and Nigerian, suggested the influence of environmental factors in the etiology of these tumors, even though exposure to environmental carcinogens was short. The rarity of Ewing's sarcoma and testicular tumors in American black and Nigerian children suggested a genetic influence.

背景与目标： ：将一项关于美国黑人和尼日利亚儿童肿瘤相对频率的研究结果与来自英国曼彻斯特和乌干达坎帕拉的儿童癌症登记处的数据进行了比较。居住在华盛顿特区的美国黑人孩子和居住在曼彻斯特的白人孩子白血病和神经胶质瘤的发病率相似，而淋巴瘤和视网膜母细胞瘤的发病率却很低。生活在尼日利亚或乌干达的非洲儿童的频率模式相反。在两个与人种学相关的人口群体（美国黑人和尼日利亚人）之间，这些肿瘤发生频率的差异表明，即使短期暴露于环境致癌物，环境因素也影响了这些肿瘤的病因。在美国黑人和尼日利亚儿童中，尤因肉瘤和睾丸肿瘤的罕见性表明有遗传影响。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The aim of this study was to examine the different patterns of cerebellar and/or brainstem atrophy in spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) type 3 and 6. Eighteen patients (SCA3 n=9, SCA6 n=9) and 15 healthy volunteers were studied. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was applied to segmented grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) of high-resolution T1-weighted brain volumes of each group. We found reduction of grey matter in the pons as well as in the vermis in SCA3 as compared to control subjects. In SCA6 significant grey matter loss was found in hemispheric lobules bilaterally as well as in the vermis. White matter analysis revealed significant changes in SCA3, especially in the pons, in the white matter surrounding the dentate nucleus (DN) and in the cerebellar peduncles, whereas no significant white matter reduction was found in SCA6 patients. Our results demonstrate different patterns of grey and white matter affection detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in SCA3 and SCA6 patients, confirming the pathological concept of cortical cerebellar atrophy in SCA6. In contrast, SCA3 represents a form of ponto-cerebellar atrophy with predominant affection of pontine nuclei and fibre tracts.

背景与目标： ：本研究的目的是检查3型和6型脊髓小脑共济失调（SCA）的小脑和/或脑干萎缩的不同模式。研究了18例患者（SCA3 n = 9，SCA6 n = 9）和15名健康志愿者。将基于体素的形态计量学（VBM）应用于每组高分辨率T1加权脑体积的分段灰质（GM）和白质（WM）。我们发现，与对照组相比，SCA3的脑桥和ver中的灰质减少了。在SCA6中，在双侧的半球小叶以及在mis骨中都发现了明显的灰质损失。白质分析显示，SCA3的显着变化，尤其是在脑桥，齿状核（DN）周围的白质和小脑梗的脑桥中，特别是在脑桥中，而在SCA6患者中未发现显着的白质减少。我们的研究结果表明，在SCA3和SCA6患者中，通过磁共振成像（MRI）检测到灰白色和白色物质的影响方式不同，这证实了SCA6皮质小脑萎缩的病理学概念。相反，SCA3代表了一种桥脑小脑萎缩的形式，主要影响桥脑核和纤维束。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Health care workers' perceptions of patient suffering have not been well studied. Patients and health care workers were invited to answer a single, open-ended question. To develop a survey tool that could be validated and used for future research, what health care workers thought causes or caused the most suffering for patients was compared with what patients actually identified as the cause of their worst suffering. Health care workers underestimated loss and significantly underestimated physical nonpainful symptoms as causes of maximal suffering. Communication, emotional, and systems issues were often overestimated by health care workers. Health care workers may not accurately perceive what causes the worst suffering for patients. More studies are needed.

背景与目标： ：医护人员对患者痛苦的看法尚未得到很好的研究。邀请患者和医护人员回答一个开放性问题。为了开发一种可以被验证并用于未来研究的调查工具，将医护人员认为造成或造成患者最大痛苦的原因与实际确定为造成其最严重痛苦的原因进行了比较。医护人员低估了损失，严重低估了身体无痛的症状，这是造成最大痛苦的原因。医护人员常常高估了沟通，情感和系统问题。医护人员可能无法准确地了解是什么导致患者遭受最严重的痛苦。需要更多的研究。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning may result in focal and diffuse neuropathological changes, including basal ganglia lesions. The effect of CO poisoning on basal ganglia volumes over time is unclear. We assessed basal ganglia volumes longitudinally following CO poisoning. We prospectively enrolled 73 CO poisoned patients who underwent brain MR imaging on day 1 (baseline), 2 weeks, and 6 months post-CO poisoning. Basal ganglia volumes were obtained. One patient had bilateral globus pallidus lesions at two weeks and 6 months. Of the CO-poisoned patients 28% had volume reduction in at least one basal ganglia structure by 6 months, of which 21% had putamen, 15% had caudate, 15% had globus pallidus, and 16% had total basal ganglia volume reduction. Putamen volumes were significantly smaller from baseline to six months (p = 0.02). Verbal memory and mental processing speed correlated with smaller putamen and globus pallidus volumes. Carbon monoxide poisoning results in basal ganglia volume reduction 6 months post CO poisoning. Slow mental processing speed and impaired memory correlated with smaller putamen and globus pallidus volumes. Clinicians need to be aware of basal ganglia neuropathologic changes in the absence of observable lesions following CO poisoning.

背景与目标： ：一氧化碳（CO）中毒可能会导致局灶性和弥漫性神经病理学改变，包括基底神经节病变。随着时间的推移，CO中毒对基底神经节体积的影响尚不清楚。我们在CO中毒后纵向评估了基底神经节的体积。我们前瞻性地招募了73名在CO中毒后第1天（基线），第2周和6个月接受脑MR成像检查的CO中毒患者。获得基底神经节体积。一名患者在两周零六个月出现双侧苍白球苍白球病变。在CO中毒的患者中，到6个月时，至少一个基底神经节结构中有28％的体积减小，其中21％的壳状蛋白，15％的呈尾状，15％的苍白球和16％的整个基底神经节的体积减小。从基线到六个月，壳核的体积显着减小（p = 0.02）。言语记忆和心理处理速度与较小的壳核和苍白球体积有关。一氧化碳中毒导致CO中毒后6个月，基底神经节体积减少。心理处理速度慢和记忆力减退与较小的壳核和苍白球体积有关。在CO中毒后没有可观察到的病变的情况下，临床医生需要注意基底神经节神经病理学改变。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :We review a 15-year experience with childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) at a tertiary-care pediatric hospital in Croatia. Data confirm that ITP is typically a self-limited bleeding disorder that usually presents with mild symptoms in children between 1 and 10 years of age and affects both sexes equally. At presentation, more than half of the children had platelet counts of <10x10(9)/L. The absence of preceding viral infection and insidious onset of symptoms were significantly associated with development of chronic ITP. In our experience, observation without specific therapy seems to be the optimal approach to a child with ITP.

背景与目标： ：我们回顾了克罗地亚一家三级儿科医院15年儿童特发性血小板减少性紫癜（ITP）的经验。数据证实，ITP通常是一种自限性出血性疾病，通常在1至10岁的儿童中表现出轻度症状，并平等地影响两性。在介绍时，超过一半的儿童血小板计数<10x10（9）/ L。先前病毒感染的缺乏和症状的隐匿发作与慢性ITP的发生显着相关。根据我们的经验，不进行特殊治疗的观察似乎是ITP儿童的最佳治疗方法。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Only 2 comprehensive surgical series, published in 1977 and 1983, have evaluated clinicopathologic features of the ascending aorta. Retrospective review of medical records and microscopic slides was performed on 513 consecutive patients with surgical resection of ascending aortic tissue (1985 to 1999). Patients were 2 to 89 years old (mean 59 y), and 303 (59%) were men. Aneurysm or dissection was the indication for surgery in 479. Aortic valves were also excised in 360. Systemic hypertension was present in 279, inherited connective tissue disease (ICTD) in 67, arteritis in 33, and acquired connective tissue disease in 16. Microscopy showed cystic medial degeneration (CMD) in 209, aortic dissection (AD) in 109 (with CMD in 56), normal media in 90, aortitis in 57 (with CMD in 14), and other findings in 48. The most significant, independent risk factor of CMD and AD was ICTD (confidence interval=7.61 and 2.26, respectively). Systemic hypertension was more common in patients with AD than without (P=0.0202). Normal media was the most common histologic finding associated with bicuspid aortic valve (P<0.0001). Among 57 patients with aortitis (giant cell in 39), ages ranged from 16 to 85 years (mean 64 y), and 42 (74%) were women; only 8 had Takayasu arteritis, and 11 had temporal or systemic arteritis. In surgically resected ascending aorta, the 3 most common histologic findings were CMD, AD, and normal media. ICTD, systemic hypertension, and bicuspid aortic valve were common comorbid findings. Giant cell aortitis occured predominantly in women, usually without systemic disease.

背景与目标： ：仅在1977年和1983年出版的2个综合外科手术系列中，评估了升主动脉的临床病理特征。回顾性审查了513例行升主动脉组织手术切除的患者（1985年至1999年）的病历和显微幻灯片。患者为2至89岁（平均59岁），其中303例（59％）为男性。 479例手术是动脉瘤或夹层手术的指征。360例也切除了主动脉瓣。279例出现全身性高血压，67例患有遗传性结缔组织病（ICTD），33例患有动脉炎，16例获得性结缔组织病。囊性内侧变性（CMD）209例，主动脉夹层（AD）109例（CMD 56例），正常介质90例，主动脉炎57例（CMD 14例），其他发现48例。 CMD和AD的因素是ICTD（置信区间分别为7.61和2.26）。 AD患者的全身性高血压比非AD患者更常见（P = 0.0202）。正常介质是与二尖瓣主动脉瓣相关的最常见的组织学发现（P <0.0001）。在57例主动脉炎患者中（39个巨大细胞），年龄在16至85岁之间（平均64岁），其中42例（74％）为女性。只有8例患有高津动脉炎，11例患有颞部或全身性动脉炎。在手术切除的升主动脉中，最常见的3种组织学发现是CMD，AD和正常介质。 ICTD，系统性高血压和双尖瓣主动脉瓣是常见的合并症。巨细胞主动脉炎主要发生于女性，通常无全身性疾病。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :In an open, multi-centre study in general practice, a comparison was made of the efficacy, tolerability and acceptability of a neomycin/dexamethasone preparation administered by metered-dose spray ('Otomize') and a framycetin/gramicidin/dexamethasone preparation ('Sofradex') administered as drops in 60 patients with otitis externa. Patients were allocated at random to receive one or other preparations 3-times daily for 10 days and were followed-up again 14 days after cessation of therapy. Clinical assessments were carried out under observer blind conditions on entry (Day 0) and on Days 10 and 24 of the severity of erythema, swelling and debris in the affected ear(s). A global assessment of clinical outcome was made by the doctor on Day 10. There were no significant differences in the two groups at the start of treatment. Significant improvement occurred in both groups from Day 0 to Day 10 and from Day 10 to Day 24 in all symptoms, with the proportion symptom-free in the 'Otomize' group significantly greater than in the 'Sofradex' group at 24 days, and approaching significance at 10 days. Significantly more patients in the 'Otomize' group were rated as having a good clinical outcome by the physician, and fewer patients experienced discomfort on application. Few side-effects were reported by either treatment group, none necessitating discontinuation of therapy.

背景与目标： ：在一项开放，多中心的常规研究中，比较了通过定量喷雾（“ Otomize”）和新霉素/短杆菌肽/短杆菌肽/地塞米松制剂给药的新霉素/地塞米松制剂的疗效，耐受性和可接受性（ “ Sofradex”）在60例外耳炎患者中以滴剂形式给药。随机分配患者每天3次接受一种或其他制剂，共10天，并在停止治疗后14天再次随访。在进入者（第0天）以及第10和第24天观察者失明的情况下，对患病耳朵的红斑，肿胀和碎屑的严重程度进行了临床评估。在第10天，医生对临床结果进行了全面评估。治疗开始时，两组之间没有显着差异。从第0天到第10天，从第10天到第24天，两组的所有症状均有明显改善，在第24天，“ Otomize”组中无症状的比例显着大于“ Sofradex”组，并且接近在10天的意义。医师认为“ Otomize”组中的更多患者具有良好的临床效果，并且更少的患者在使用时感到不适。任一治疗组均报告很少有副作用，没有副作用需要终止治疗。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :This study aimed to clarify the effectiveness of post-operative oral care, including tooth brushing, denture cleaning and tongue cleaning, after digestive tract surgery. Subjects included 30 elderly patients aged 60-98 years (74.9 +/- 7.8 years) who underwent digestive tract surgery. Subjects were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. In the intervention group, the following oral care was provided daily over a 5-min period in the morning starting at baseline (day of surgery) and continued for 5 days: gargling with povidone iodine, tooth brushing, denture cleaning using a special brush and tongue cleaning using a tongue brush. In the control group, the subjects only gargled with povidone iodine. We compared the following variables between the two groups at baseline and 5 days later: the sensation of dry mouth, intra-oral gas concentration, pulmonary sounds, body temperature and bacterial flora. The number of patients with abnormal pulmonary sounds (dry or moist rales) increased from 1 to 2 in the intervention group and from 0 to 4 in the control group (P < 0.05). The average number of bacterial species per subject for the control group was 3.64 +/- 1.34 pre-operatively and 3.50 +/- 1.74 post-operatively, whereas that for the intervention group was 3.08 +/- 0.95 pre-operatively and 2.62 +/- 0.65 post-operatively. In the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in the number of bacterial species (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that post-operative oral care in elderly patients undergoing digestive tract surgery lowers the number of bacterial species found in the oral cavity. This effect, in turn, might improve respiratory function.

背景与目标： ：这项研究旨在阐明消化道手术后口腔清洁的有效性，包括刷牙，义齿清洁和舌头清洁。受试者包括接受消化道手术的30位年龄在60-98岁（74.9 /-7.8岁）的老年患者。将受试者随机分为干预组和对照组。在干预组中，每天从基线（手术日）开始，在每天的5分钟内，每天进行以下口腔护理，并持续5天：用聚维酮碘漱口，刷牙，使用专用刷子清洁义齿和使用舌刷清洁舌头。在对照组中，受试者仅含聚维酮碘。我们在基线和5天后比较了两组之间的以下变量：口干的感觉，口内气体浓度，肺音，体温和细菌菌群。在干预组中，肺音异常（干音或湿音）的患者数量从1增加到2，对照组从0增加到4（P <0.05）。对照组术前平均细菌种类为3.64 /-1.34，术后为3.50 /-1.74，而干预组术前为3.08 /-0.95，术后为2.62 /-0.65。操作上。在干预组中，细菌种类的数量显着减少（P <0.05）。这些发现表明，接受消化道手术的老年患者的术后口腔护理降低了在口腔中发现的细菌种类的数量。反过来，这种效果可能会改善呼吸功能。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The dose, efficacy, and side effects of continuous intravenous infusion (CIVI) of morphine were compared with continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) of morphine in patients with chronic cancer pain. Eligible patients were referred to the Palliative Care Program and were receiving a stable dose of CIVI of morphine. The design was a within-patient, one-way crossover; in which each patient provided data before and after a switch from CIVI to CSCI of morphine. "Rescue" doses were 50% of the hourly dose given every 2 hours as needed. Morphine was infused intravenously (i.v.) and subcutaneously (s.c.) via a McGaw/AccuPro Volumetric Infusion Pump. After baseline data, including side effects and pain assessment, were obtained, patients were evaluated twice daily for toxicity and analgesic efficacy. Those who had a stable CIVI dose for 48 consecutive hr were crossed over to the CSCI at the same dose as the intravenous (i.v.) phase. A stable dose was defined as no dose change, four or less rescue doses in the previous 24 hr, and a pain rating of none or mild. CIVI was considered equal to CSCI if these criteria were maintained for 96 consecutive hr. Fifty-seven patients were entered, and 40 were evaluable (15 women and 25 men). The median age was 67 (range 30-83 years). All 40 participants, after maintaining a stable dose throughout the i.v. phase, crossed to the s.c. phase and remained on s.c. for at least 48 hr. Thirty-two patients maintained a stable dose throughout the i.v. and s.c. phases. The mean stable i.v. dose (day 2) was 5.05 mg/hr, and the mean stable s.c. dose (day 4) was 5.7 mg/hr (P = 0.01). The mean number of rescue doses on day 2 was 0.83 per 24 hr versus 0.80 per 24 hours on day 4 (P = 0.6). The mean categorical pain score on day 2 was 0.83, and on day 4, 0.85 (P = 0.7). The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) on day 2 was 22.9 mm versus 17.6 mm on day 4 (P = 0.1). The mean incidence of side effects on day 2 was 1.7, and on day 4, 2.0 (P = 0.2). No patient was withdrawn or had a dose reduction due to unacceptable toxicity. There were two reports of local toxicity (mild erythema) at the SC needle insertion point, which required a site change. All of our 40 patients had adequate pain control with CIVI and CSCI morphine. Of the eight participants who were not maintained on the same i.v. and s.c. dose, all had adequate pain control and a similar side-effect profile on a higher s.c. morphine dose. These data suggest that the i.v. and s.c. routes are equianalgesic for most patients when administered as a continuous infusion. Pain control and side-effect profiles are quite similar and acceptable. s.c. morphine is an excellent alternative to i.v. morphine in both inpatients and outpatients requiring parenteral morphine for pain.

背景与目标： 比较了慢性癌症疼痛患者中吗啡连续静脉输注（CIVI）与吗啡连续皮下输注（CSCI）的剂量，疗效和副作用。符合条件的患者被转到姑息治疗计划，并接受稳定剂量的吗啡CIVI。该设计是患者内部的单向交叉。其中每个患者提供了从吗啡从CIVI切换到CSCI之前和之后的数据。 “救援”剂量是根据需要每2小时给予的每小时剂量的50％。吗啡通过McGaw / AccuPro容量输注泵静脉内（i.v.）和皮下（s.c.）输注。获得包括副作用和疼痛评估在内的基线数据后，每天对患者进行两次毒性和止痛效果评估。连续48个小时具有稳定CIVI剂量的患者以与静脉内（i.v.）阶段相同的剂量转入CSCI。稳定剂量定义为无剂量变化，在过去24小时内有四个或更少的急救剂量，疼痛等级为无或轻度。如果连续96个小时保持这些标准，则认为CIVI等于CSCI。入组患者57例，其中40例可评估（女性15例，男性25例）。中位年龄为67岁（范围为30-83岁）。在整个静脉内维持稳定剂量后，所有40位参与者阶段，跨到南卡罗来纳州相并保持在s.c.至少持续48小时。在整个静脉内，有32名患者维持了稳定的剂量。和s.c.阶段。平均稳定i.v.剂量（第2天）为5.05 mg / hr，平均稳定s.c.剂量（第4天）为5.7 mg / hr（P = 0.01）。第2天的平均急救剂量为每24小时0.83，而第4天为每24小时0.80（P = 0.6）。第2天的平均类别疼痛评分为0.83，第4天的平均疼痛评分为0.85（P = 0.7）。第2天的平均视觉模拟量表（VAS）为22.9毫米，而第4天为17.6毫米（P = 0.1）。第2天的副作用的平均发生率为1.7，而第4天的平均发生率为2.0（P = 0.2）。没有患者因不可接受的毒性而退出或剂量减少。有两份关于SC针插入点的局部毒性（轻度红斑）的报道，需要进行部位改变。我们所有的40名患者均通过CIVI和CSCI吗啡可以很好地控制疼痛。在没有保持相同i.v.的八位参与者中和s.c.剂量较高时，所有患者均具有足够的疼痛控制和较高的皮下副作用。吗啡剂量。这些数据表明和s.c.当以连续输注方式给药时，对于大多数患者而言，这两种途径均具有镇痛作用。疼痛控制和副作用状况非常相似且可以接受。南卡罗来纳州吗啡是静脉注射的绝佳替代品。需要胃肠外吗啡治疗的住院患者和门诊患者中的吗啡疼痛。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Extensive literatures have shown significant trend of progressive electrical changes according to the proliferative characteristics of breast epithelial cells. Physiologists also further postulated that malignant transformation resulted from sustained depolarization and a failure of the cell to repolarize after cell division, making the area where cancer develops relatively depolarized when compared to their non-dividing or resting counterparts. In this paper, we present a new approach, the Biofield Diagnostic System (BDS), which might have the potential to augment the process of diagnosing breast cancer. This technique was based on the efficacy of analysing skin surface electrical potentials for the differential diagnosis of breast abnormalities. We developed a female breast model, which was close to the actual, by considering the breast as a hemisphere in supine condition with various layers of unequal thickness. Isotropic homogeneous conductivity was assigned to each of these compartments and the volume conductor problem was solved using finite element method to determine the potential distribution developed due to a dipole source. Furthermore, four important parameters were identified and analysis of variance (ANOVA, Yates' method) was performed using design (n = number of parameters, 4). The effect and importance of these parameters were analysed. The Taguchi method was further used to optimise the parameters in order to ensure that the signal from the tumour is maximum as compared to the noise from other factors. The Taguchi method used proved that probes' source strength, tumour size and location of tumours have great effect on the surface potential field. For best results on the breast surface, while having the biggest possible tumour size, low amplitudes of current should be applied nearest to the breast surface.

背景与目标： ：大量文献显示，根据乳腺上皮细胞的增殖特性，进行性电变化的显着趋势。生理学家还进一步假设，恶性转化是由于持续的去极化和细胞分裂后细胞无法重新极化所致，因此与非分裂或静止状态的癌症相比，癌症发展的区域相对去极化了。在本文中，我们提出了一种新的方法，即Biofield Diagnostic System（BDS），它可能具有增强乳腺癌诊断过程的潜力。该技术基于分析皮肤表面电势以鉴别诊断乳房异常的功效。我们通过将乳房视作处于仰卧状态的半球，且各层厚度不相等，从而开发出了接近实际的女性乳房模型。各向同性的各向同性电导率分配给这些隔室，并使用有限元方法解决了体积导体问题，以确定由于偶极子源而产生的电势分布。此外，确定了四个重要参数，并使用设计进行了方差分析（ANOVA，Yates方法）（n =参数数量4）。分析了这些参数的作用和重要性。 Taguchi方法进一步用于优化参数，以确保与其他因素产生的噪声相比，来自肿瘤的信号最大。使用的Taguchi方法证明了探针的源强度，肿瘤大小和肿瘤位置对表面电势场有很大的影响。为了在乳腺表面获得最佳效果，同时应尽可能增大肿瘤的大小，应在最靠近乳腺表面的地方施加较小的电流。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We report on an association study between a tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism in the GABR beta1 gene and manic-depressive illness in a Spanish population. This gene may be an important candidate for bipolar affective disorders since severe GABergic alterations have been described in patients. Although our results do not reveal a clear evidence for association between manic-depressive illness and GABR beta1, we have found significant differences between patients and controls in the female subpopulation.

背景与目标： 我们报告了GABR beta1基因中的四核苷酸重复多态性与西班牙人群的躁狂抑郁症之间的关联研究。该基因可能是双相情感障碍的重要候选者，因为已在患者中描述了严重的GABergic改变。尽管我们的结果并未显示出躁狂抑郁症与GABR beta1之间存在关联的明确证据，但我们发现女性亚人群中的患者与对照组之间存在显着差异。