Evaluation of Training Course Effects on Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Counseling

Since the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994, and the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, the international organizations and public health communities have paid more attention to reproductiv…     

Evidence for frequent divergence impairment in French dyslexic children: deficit of convergence relaxation or of divergence per se?

Aim There is a controversy as to whether dyslexic children present visuo-motor disabilities such as vergence and accommodative problems assessed with orthoptic tests. The purpose of this study is to re-examine this issue in a large population of children. Methods Extensive orthoptic evaluation was made in 57 dyslexic and 46 non-dyslexic (“normal”) age-matched children. Convergence and divergence capacities were evaluated at two distances (30 cm and 400 cm). Results Binocular vision measured with stereo-acuity tests was normal in dyslexics. In contrast, the near point of convergence was significantly more remote in dyslexics; most importantly, divergence at both far and near distance was significantly more reduced in dyslexics (median value 4 pD and 10 pD, respectively, at far and near) than in “normals” (median value 6 pD and 12 pD, at far and near). Conclusion The existence of the divergence deficit at far distance indicates the presence of deficit of divergence per se, independently from convergence and accommodation relaxation. This result is novel and corroborated by physiological studies indicating distinct control of convergence and divergence, both at the cortical and subcortical premotor level. We conclude that vergence deficits are frequently present in dyslexics, and that dyslexics should be re-educated; training should address distinctively convergence and divergence subsystems.     

强化培训,稳步推动心房颤动的导管消融治疗

心房颤动(房颤)的导管消融治疗技术是近年来心血管病治疗领域最重要的进展之一[1-2].这一技术目前在国内的临床应用已越来越广泛,能够开展这一技术的医生和单位也越来越多.     

采用DSA设备评价吞咽功能的初步探讨

目的:探讨运用DSA设备作吞咽功能检查的价值。材料和方法:用DSA设备对正常组24例,咽异感症患者32例,做上至颅底、下达第七颈椎平面的正侧位动态采集,了解吞咽状况,并行咽传输时间测定,进行对照研究。结果:正常对照组咽传输时间为1.441±0.302s,咽异感症患者咽传输时间为1.367±0.409s,两组结果相比统计学上无显著差异,但后者较易发生咽部钡剂滞留等改变。结论:DSA机由于采集速度快,不但在心血管检查及介入治疗方面有重要意义,而且在非血管性脏器的动力学检查中也起着一定的作用。由于能完整记录钡剂通过咽部的全过程,故此方法是吞咽功能检查的良好方法之一。     

Electrocardiogram Interpretation Training and Competency Assessment in Emergency Medicine Residency Programs

OBJECTIVES: To determine the type of electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation instruction in emergency medicine (EM) residency programs, the use and perceived value of teaching modalities and resources, and the methods used to assess competency of ECG interpretation. METHODS: An interactive survey instrument was posted on the Internet using SurveySuite, Inc., software and e-mailed to program directors (PDs) of all 125 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-approved U.S. EM residency programs. Responses are reported in total numbers and percentages. RESULTS: Ninety-nine of 125 PDs completed the online survey (response rate, 79.2%). Emergency department instruction (99%), case-based lectures (98%), and didactic lectures (98%) were most commonly used to teach interpretation of ECGs, followed by computer-based instruction (34%) and ECG laboratory (12%). The majority of programs (53%) spent more than eight hours on formal ECG lectures per year, while 11% spent less than three hours. Observation during clinical time (99%), lecture time (76%), and hypothetical cases (57%) were the most common ways to determine competency in reading ECGs, while clinical observation and hypothetical cases were perceived as the most valuable. The most commonly used resource was personal or departmental ECG files (91%), and this had the highest perceived value. The majority of PDs were comfortable with residents' abilities to read ECGs by the third year (96%) and fourth year (91%) of residency. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that EM PDs believe that EM residency is adequately preparing graduates to interpret ECGs. This goal is achieved through a variety of methods.     

血管介入仿真模拟器在心血管医生冠状动脉介入技术规范化培训中的作用

目的明确Angiomemor（美国Simbionix公司生产）血管介入仿真模拟器是否有助于冠状动脉造影技术的掌握和提高。方法选取16名无血管放射介入经验的心血管医生，接受相同课时的冠状动脉介入造影理论培训后，按随机表编码随机分为模拟器培训组与非培训组各8名，模拟器培训组8名医生接受Angiomemor血管介入仿真模拟器培训，模拟冠状动脉造影操作，非培训组8名心血管医生未接受仿真模拟器培训。在随后的真实临床环境中操作冠状动脉造影时，评价2组医生冠状动脉造影操作过程中错误的频数、平均造影时间、造影剂使用量及术中放射线剂量。结果相对于非培训组，模拟器培训组医生在冠状动脉造影操作中错误频数减少62．5％、平均造影时间减少44．0％、造影剂使用量减少44．0％，术中平均放射线曝光时间减少了57．7％，平均X线累计曝光剂量减少51．6％，单位面积X线累计曝光剂量减少了52．4％。结论Angiomemor血管介入仿真模拟器有助于医生较快地熟练掌握冠状动脉造影技术，是冠状动脉介入规范化培训的重要辅助手段之一。     

新兵训练对女性月经的影响

目的探讨新兵训练对女性月经的影响。方法女性新兵200名,参加队列和体能训练3个月,分别记录训练前、训练中、训练后的月经、体质量状况及心理评估。结果新兵训练中的月经周期异常率、经期异常率和痛经发生率均明显高于新兵训练前,体质量明显减轻,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。新兵训练结束转入正常部队生活1年后,月经周期异常率、经期异常率、痛经发生率均有明显下降(P<0.05)。结论新兵训练对女性月经有明显影响,其影响是功能性、暂时性和可逆性的,并非器质性损害。     

Guidelines for Trials of Behavioral Treatments for Recurrent Headache, First Edition: American Headache Society Behavioral Clinical Trials Workgroup

Guidelines for design of clinical trials evaluating behavioral headache treatments were developed to facilitate production of quality research evaluating behavioral therapies for management of primary headache disorders. These guidelines were produced by a Workgroup of headache researchers under auspices of the American Headache Society. The guidelines are complementary to and modeled after guidelines for pharmacological trials published by the International Headache Society, but they address methodologic considerations unique to behavioral and other nonpharmacological treatments. Explicit guidelines for evaluating behavioral headache therapies are needed as the optimal methodology for behavioral (and other nonpharmacologic) trials necessarily differs from the preferred methodology for drug trials. In addition, trials comparing and integrating drug and behavioral therapies present methodological challenges not addressed by guidelines for pharmacologic research. These guidelines address patient selection, trial design for behavioral treatments and for comparisons across multiple treatment modalities (eg, behavioral vs pharmacologic), evaluation of results, and research ethics. Although developed specifically for behavioral therapies, the guidelines may apply to the design of clinical trials evaluating many forms of nonpharmacologic therapies for headache.     

Effects of training on odor judges scoring intensity

Objective:  This pilot study was intended to test whether a training protocol improved validity of odor judges (OJs), with or without experience, and whether odorant types differed in error proneness.
Methods:  The OJs (four experienced, two inexperienced) completed a 4-phase training protocol based on the American Society of Testing and Materials standards (ASTM): (i) introduction to sensory scales, n-butanol reference, sniffing techniques; (ii) pretraining measurements; 20 samples of varying intensities of four unpleasant and three pleasant odorants; (iii) exercises assessing quality, intensity, ranking, and matching; and (iv) post-training measurements.
Main outcome measures:  Subjects' intensity scores were analyzed as the absolute difference from the 'true' intensity (ASTM n-butanol standard) using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results:  Training significantly ( P  = 0.02) reduced OJ errors. Experienced and novice judges did not differ in average errors ( P  = 0.99), or in improvement in error from pre- to post-training ( P  = 0.94). Improvement was consistent from pre- to post-training for all odorants except dimethylsulfide for which errors worsened ( P  = 0.01). Unpleasant and pleasant odorants differed ( P  = 0.006) in error. After removing water the effects of water control scores from the pleasant odorants, the difference was not significant ( P  = 0.26).
Conclusions:  The OJs improved in their ability to assess odor intensity irrespective of previous experience. Training is recommended for all OJs prior to research trials.