To Serve or Not to Serve: Ethical and Policy Implications

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is one of the nation's more influential health‐related non‐profit organizations. It plays a large role in shaping health policy by commissioning panels to develop “white papers” describing research and recommendations on a variety of health topics. These white paper publications are often used to help make policy decisions at the legislative and executive levels. Such a prominent institution might seem like a natural ally for policy‐related collaborative efforts. As community psychologists, we strongly endorse efforts to positively influence public policy at the national level. However, while serving on influential panels and commissions like the IOM might seem to be very much part of the ethos of our discipline, there are occasions when such institutions are pursuing a mission that inadvertently has the potential to instigate divisive friction among community activists and organizations. A case study is presented whereby I describe my decision not to accept an invitation to serve on a controversial IOM panel. I explore the ethical challenges regarding maintaining my independence from this institution and its attempt to redefine chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), as well as the process of searching for alternative avenues for collaborating with community activists to influence policy related to these debilitating illnesses.     

Changes in physical activity among coronary and hypertensive patients: A longitudinal study using the Health Action Process Approach

Objectives: Physical activity (PA) is a key factor in cardiovascular disease prevention. Through the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), the present study investigated the process of change in PA in coronary patients (CPs) and hypertensive patients (HPs).

Design: Longitudinal survey study with two follow-up assessments at 6 and 12 months on 188 CPs and 169 HPs.

Main outcome measures: Intensity and frequency of PA.

Results: A multi-sample analysis indicated the equivalence of almost all the HAPA social cognitive patterns for both patient populations. A latent growth curve model showed strong interrelations among intercepts and slopes of PA, planning and maintenance self-efficacy, but change in planning was not associated with change in PA. Moreover, increase in PA was associated with the value of planning and maintenance self-efficacy reached at the last follow-up

Conclusions: These findings shed light on mechanisms often neglected by the HAPA literature, suggesting reciprocal relationships between PA and its predictors that could define a plausible virtuous circle within the HAPA volitional phase. Moreover, the HAPA social cognitive patterns are essentially identical for patients who had a coronary event (i.e. CPs) and individuals who are at high risk for a coronary event (i.e. HPs).     

用现代医学理论阐明阴虚证的本质和发病学机理

用现代医学理论阐明阴虚证的本质具有重大科学意义,但我国半个世纪的研究未能取得根本突破。用现代医学理论阐述了阴虚证的本质和发病学机理,即阴虚证的本质是细胞因子,其发病学机理是由于机体在各种致病因素的作用下,白细胞介素1和肿瘤坏死因子等炎性细胞因子基因的表达水平增强、生物学活性相对升高,引起细胞因子网络紊乱的结果。     

证有有形无形、客观主观之分

证的概念包括证据与诊断两方面的含义,诊断是证据在头脑中的意识反应,两者不能割舍.用有形无形、客观主观来统一证的理论内涵,认为无形之证是有形之证的意识概括,两者总是在不同层次、不同角度达到统一.     

从中医症、证、病的概念谈辨证与辨病的关系

中医学中的症、证、病是三个不同的概念,症是人体在疾病状态下发出的每一个信息;证是疾病在瞬间的症状总和,是信息群;而病是症状和证候的主体,是一种状态,也是一个过程.只有辨证是不够的,辨证的同时应追求辨病,将辨证与辨病结合起来,在明确疾病诊断的前提下,辨证才是比较准确的.     

CD4＋调节性T细胞与多脏器功能障碍综合征免疫功能紊乱

免疫功能紊乱是多脏器功能不全综合征发生的重要原因之一,其机制仍不明了。本文概述CD4＋调节性T细胞在免疫紊乱发生机制中的作用,及其潜在的治疗价值,拓宽MODS的免疫调节治疗的思路。     

肠易激综合征发病机制研究中的几个问题

肠易激综合征是一种肠道功能性疾病,是目前消化病领域的研究热点,近10年来肠易激综合征发病机制的研究没有突破性进展,本文从哲学基本原理的视角对肠易激综合征发病机制研究中的困惑进行思考与分析,希望给今后的肠易激综合征发病机制研究带来一些启示。     

老龄患者人工关节置换术时骨水泥反应综合征的危害及其应对策略

人工关节置换术在老龄化社会中的客观需求性愈来愈突出,而老龄患者在人工关节置换术时发生的骨水泥反应综合征是一个不容忽视的严峻问题。笔者指出了老龄患者人工关节置换术时骨水泥反应综合征的严重危害性,剖析了这种并发症的可能原因,并且对它的有效预防措施和急救处理策略进行了深刻的思考。     

Gilbert综合征——肝移植术后胆红素升高的罕见原因

Gilbert综合征是肝移植术后中、远期高胆红素血症一个罕见的病因。目前,在我国肝移植领域还缺乏对本病的清楚认识,当移植受者罹患本病时,往往得不到正确的诊治及合理的解释,造成患者心理及经济上的负担。本文详细阐述了本病的定义、发病机理、临床表现、诊断方法及预后,旨在提高广大业内人士对本病的认识。