Knowledge and Usage of Emergency Contraceptives Among University Students in Ghana

Contraceptive use is an important strategy for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and avoidance of induced abortion. Of all the contraception methods, emergency contraceptive (EC) offers the last chance to achieve this. However, few studies have documented the use of EC among young people in Ghana. This study explored knowledge and usage of EC as well as the factors associated with it among University of Cape Coast students. Data were obtained on the knowledge and usage of ECs among University of Cape Coast students in 2013. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between students’ socio-demographic characteristics and EC knowledge and use. More male students (72 %) than females (59 %) were sexually active. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents had ever heard of EC and 36 % had ever used EC. Although males were more likely to be sexually active, females were more likely to have knowledge of EC use compared to males. The study underscores the need to increase awareness regarding EC among University students in order to offer them the opportunity that EC provides if other forms of contraceptives are missed.     

Esophageal Calibration with Soft Orogasrtric Tube During Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication may Reduce Postoperative Transient Dysphagia

Gastroesophageal reflux is the most common benign disorder of the esophagus and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has become the standard surgical treatment for its treatment. In our area, where the use of bougie calibration is debatable, postoperative dysphagia is encountered often after this surgery although it is usually not permanent. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using a soft silicone tube 39 F in diameter for esophageal calibration during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication on the incidence of postoperative dysphagia. We divided cases scheduled to undergo laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication between January 2009 and November 2010 into two groups, each consisting 25 patients. Esophageal calibration with a 39 F silicone orogastric tube was used for the first group while there was no operative calibration in the second group. The surgical duration was recorded; the presence and severity of the postoperative dysphagia was calculated by using a dysphagia severity scoring system during the 1-year postoperative follow-up. The dysphagia severity scores were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2 on the postoperative second day and at the end of the first week and first month. We did not find a significant difference at the end of the 6-month and first year. There was also no significant difference regarding surgery duration. The use of a soft orogastric tube 39 F in diameter for esophagus calibration during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative transient dysphagia without affecting the duration of surgery. Although dysphagia gradually resolves in the majority of patients, a safe and easy calibration method for its prevention is worth developing, and we believe that the use of our method in larger series could be beneficial.     

Therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cell on Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in a rat model by modulating Th17/Treg cell balance

Abstract

The autoimmune condition Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a disease wherein lymphocytes mediate the autoimmune damage and destruction of the thyroid gland. There are currently no effective means of treating HT, with the primary strategies of thyroid hormone therapy, surgery, or immunomodulatory therapy being associated with serious risks and side effects. There is thus a clear and urgent need to identify novel treatments for HT. In this study, we utilize female SD rats induced HT to evaluated the ability of transplanted MSCs to regulate Th17/Treg interactions in a rat Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) model system. The results showed that Rats in the HT model group exhibited increased thyroid autoantibody levels consistent with successful model development, whereas these levels were lower in rats treated with MSCs. There were also fewer thyroid lesions and less lymphoid infiltration of the thyroid in MSC-treated rats relative to HT model rats, as well as fewer Th17 cells and more Treg cells – an observation consistent with the cytokine analyses. All of these showed that MSCs can regulate Th17/Treg interactions in a rat Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) model system. It suggested that transplanted MSCs could be a potential immunotherapy strategy for the treatment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.     

颗粒松质骨压紧植骨全髋关节置换术治疗创伤性髋关节炎的疗效

目的探讨颗粒松质骨压紧植骨全髋关节置换术(THA)治疗髋臼骨折继发创伤性髋关节炎的疗效。方法1998年12月-2005年5月,对15例髋臼骨折继发创伤性髋关节炎患者行颗粒松质骨压紧植骨THA,所有患者髋臼假体均采用骨水泥固定,颗粒骨均取自体骨,术后24h后开始被动活动,3个月后开始全负重锻炼。临床随访采用Harris髋关节评分(HSS)系统评分,对任何原因引起髋臼假体翻修均视为临床失败。根据Conn等影像学评价法观察颗粒骨长人情况,根据DeLee的三区法测量臼杯、骨水泥与移植骨间的界面宽度,臼杯的移位程度则依据其相对于泪点间线的距离而定。结果14例患者获得平均4．3年(1．0-7．5年)随访,HHS评分由术前平均42分(10-62分)提高到随访结束时平均84分(58-98分)。1例髋部有轻度疼痛,无患者行翻修手术。大部分髋部恢复了其正常的旋转中心,仅有2例高出对侧0．8 mm。大多数患者影像学表现稳定,2例在Ⅰ区和Ⅲ区出现进行性增宽的透亮带,1例在Ⅲ区出现非进行性增宽的透亮带。1例臼杯假体在术后7年出现明显移位(6 mm),但并没有行翻修手术。结论颗粒骨压紧植骨技术作为一种生物学髋臼重建方法,其联合THA治疗髋臼骨折后继发创伤性关节炎伴髋臼缺损的疗效令人满意,能够恢复髋关节的正常解剖和功能活动。     

广东高校贫困大学生心理健康状况调查与思考

目的了解广东高校贫困生心理健康状况并提出相应建议。方法用康奈尔医学指数（CMI）及社会支持评定量表，对广东省5所高校500名学生进行了问卷调查，并采用SPSS11．0进行相关统计和分析。结果贫困大学生的心理健康状况在某些方面存在不足，在性别、地域来源等有差异。结论高校应重视贫困大学生的心理健康状况，加强情感引导，尤其不能忽视对女贫困大学生的关注和帮助。     

下颈椎可屈性与寰枢关节Magerl固定术的可行性分析

目的:探讨下颈椎的屈曲程度与后路经寰枢关节螺钉固定术的可能性。方法:回顾已施行经寰枢关节螺钉固定术病例的术前颈椎过屈位X线像,测量C2～C7间的角度,复习手术经过,分析可完成螺钉固定的颈椎曲度及其它相关因素。结果:在已完成后路经寰枢关节螺钉固定术的75例患者中有58例屈颈侧位X线像显示下颈椎呈后凸状态,后凸角平均为17.25°;另17例屈颈侧位片见下颈椎呈前凸状态,但这些病例都是体形瘦长者。结论:后路经寰枢关节螺钉固定术仅适合于下颈椎可以很好屈曲及体形瘦长的病例。     

雷米芬太尼对无抽搐电休克治疗心血管反应的影响

目的研究雷米芬太尼对无抽搐电休克(MECT)治疗心血管反应的影响。方法32例抑郁症患者随机分成对照组与雷米芬太尼组,每组16例。对照组采用丙泊酚1.5mg/kg静脉麻醉;雷米芬太尼组给予等量丙泊酚加1μg/kg雷米芬太尼静脉麻醉。全麻诱导后皆静注琥珀酰胆碱,待肌肉松驰后行MECT治疗。全程监测患者ECG、HR、MAP、SpO2,并观察记录患者癫痫发作时间、自主呼吸恢复时间、苏醒时间。结果MECT治疗后即刻、1、3min两组HR、MAP较麻醉前明显升高(P<0.05或P<0.01),但雷米芬太尼组明显低于对照组(P<0.05);自主呼吸恢复时间雷米芬太尼组略长于对照组(P<0.05),但均在10min以内;癫痫发作时间、苏醒时间、SpO2两组差异无显著意义。结论雷米芬太尼适合应用于MECT治疗麻醉并可明显抑制MECT引起心血管反应。