A comparative study of plateletpheresis using Baxter Autopheresis C and Haemonetics PCS Plus

SUMMARY. This study compared plateletpheresis on the Haemonetics PCS Plus (PCS Plus) and the Baxter Autopheresis C (Auto C) using the same 100 selected donors. The number of packs meeting UK BTS/NIBSC specification (>2.2 times 10¹¹ platelets per pack) was achieved by 99% of PCS Plus and 82% of Auto C procedures. The positive correlation found between donor precount and final platelet yield was better for the PCS Plus. Both machines met U.K. specification for white-cell contamination but this was significantly greater for the Auto C. Plasma yields were similar.
As a result of this study we chose to use the PCS Plus for routine plateletpheresis in our unit. This has enabled us not only to comply with UK BTS/NIBSC specifications for apheresis platelets easily and cost effectively but also to meet our own higher specification (2.75 times 10¹¹ platelets per pack) using existing staff and without extending the working day.     

中澳咸阳农村卫生综合项目乡镇卫生院院长管理培训效果调查

目的：评估中澳农村卫生综合项目乡镇卫生院院长管理知识培训效果。方法：采用问卷调查、焦点组访谈、个人深入访谈、现场走访等方法进行现况调查。结果：多数卫生院院长在管理基础知识的收获、分析问题的能力、观念的转变、管理行为的改变、员工士气的提高、卫生服务的改善方面都有所提高；被调查的三所中心乡卫生院的所有职工都认为所在卫生院近半年来的工作总体上有所改进；病人及周围居民对三所卫生院的总体满意度都在55％以上。结论：乡镇卫生院管理培训效果良好。     

Positive clinical impressions: II. Participants' evaluations

Nine months after the residential stage of Koach, participants were asked to evaluate the program's effectiveness. Most of the veterans reported improvement in the areas queried, and especially in social relations, and nearly all of them stated that they would recommend the program to other veterans. The commander-therapists became the major source of help for these veterans following the Koach project, and about half reported that they participated regularly in self-help groups. Most of the participants acquired coping techniques that continued to serve them 9 months after the end of the residential stage of Koach. One of the more important measures of Koach was thought to be the veterans' own evaluations of the project, their assessment of the project's success in achieving its aims, and their satisfaction with it. In this article we will present the subjects' evaluations of treatment effectiveness as expressed in behavioral and emotional changes that they attributed to the treatment.     

Mammographic screening: case-control studies.

BACKGROUND: The case-control design can be used to evaluate the benefit of cancer screening programmes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This paper outlines the main methodological features of the case-control design in this context, and indicates some potential biases. It also reviews the existing case-control literature on mammographic screening. RESULTS: Case-control studies consistently indicate a reduction of approximately 50% in breast cancer mortality associated with mammography. This result indicates greater benefit than shown in randomised trials; however, one should recognise that trials indicate effectiveness whereas case-control studies indicate efficacy. The two types of evidence are broadly compatible when one allows for screening non-compliance and contamination in the randomised trials. CONCLUSIONS: The case-control evidence supports and is consistent with the findings of randomised trials of mammography. Effectiveness estimates from trials indicate the benefit of screening to the population as a whole, and are pertinent to the public policy debate as to the value of offering screening. In contrast, case-control studies indicate benefit to actual screening participants. As such, case-control estimates of efficacy are appropriate for individual decision-making by women about their use of mammography when it is potentially available to them.     

Effect of Population Aging on the International Organ Donation Rates and the Effectiveness of the Donation Process

This study analyzed the effect of population aging on organ donation for transplants in 43 countries and on the effectiveness of the donation process by comparing the results between Spain and the United States. The percentage of the population aged 65 or over accounted for 33% of the difference in the donation rates between the countries and for 91% of the variation in the rates after age adjustment. However, the level of aging of the Spanish (16.5%) and American (12.3%) populations failed to account for the percentages of deceased donors 65 or over (28% vs. 10%), due to the different age-specific donation rates, much higher in Spain above 50 years. These differences lead to a higher effectiveness of the process in the United States (3.1 transplanted organs per donor vs. 2.5 in Spain), though at lower rates of transplant per million population (73 vs. 87). We conclude that older populations have a greater donation potential as donation rates are strongly associated with population aging. It should therefore be mandatory to adjust donation rates for age before making comparisons. Additionally, effectiveness decreases with older donors, so age should be considered when establishing standards relating to organ donation and effectiveness of the process.     

Dose- and time-dependent responses for micronucleus induction by X-rays and fast neutrons in gill cells of medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) were exposed to various doses of X-rays or fast neutrons, and the frequency of micronucleated cells (MNCs) was measured in gills sampled at 12- or 24-hr intervals from 12 to 96 hr after exposure. The resulting time course of MNC frequency was biphasic, with a clear peak 24 hr after exposure, irrespective of the kind of radiation applied and the dose used. The half-life of MNCs induced in the gill tissues by the two exposures fluctuated around 28 hr, with no significant dose-dependent trend for either X-ray- or neutron-exposed fish. As assayed 24 hr after exposure, the MNC frequency increased linearly over the control level with increasing doses of both X-rays and fast neutrons. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of fast neutrons to X-rays for MNC induction was estimated to be 4.3 +/- 0.6. This value is close to the RBE value of 5.1 +/- 0.3 reported for fast neutron induction of somatic crossing-over mutations in Drosophila melanogaster that arise from recombination repair of DNA double-strand breaks. These results and other data support our conclusion that the medaka gill cell micronucleus assay is a reliable short-term test for detecting potential inducers of DNA double-strand breaks.     

Effectiveness and Safety Assessment of Mist Tonica, a Herbal Haematinic

Anaemia is a widespread public health problem, and in Ghana it is the fourth leading cause of hospital admissions and the second factor contributing to death. Mist Tonica, an herbal haematinic produced by the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM), Ghana, was assessed for its effectiveness and safety in humans after Ethics Committee approval. Clinically established anaemic-patients aged, 13 years and above, with haemoglobin levels less than 11.5 g/dl and 13.5g/dl for females and males respectively were treated with Mist Tonica, 8.96 g/ 40 mls three times daily for two weeks . The mean haemoglobin rise per week caused by Mist Tonica was 1.92 (0.76) g/dl, range (1.66 – 2.55) g/dl/week and over 88 % of the patients on Mist Tonica had their appetite for food improved. Haematological profile, liver and kidney functions were not adversely affected by Mist Tonica. Results of the study suggest that Mist Tonica is an effective and safe herbal haematinic.     

Computerized evaluation of the effectiveness of subgingival scaling in jaw models

The purpose of the present study was to improve the quality and the effectiveness of subgingival scaling managed by dental students. A training program was developed and the scaling was performed in jaw models. The teeth of these models were modified in order to ensure a quick inspection of the scaled root surfaces. Artificial "calculus", consisting of a mixture of shellac, umbra, pumice and plaster dissolved in ethanol, was painted on the root surfaces. Following the completion of the scaling test, remaining "calculus" was evaluated by adoption of a grading system. This system had scores from 0 to 3 and was defined by illustrated and described criteria. A menu-directed computer program was developed in order to ensure a rapid transformation of surface scores into clinically-related variables. The output from this program gave valuable information about the proficiency of individual students, as well as about the whole class of students as one body. Other advantages and potentials of this system are described.     

我国疾病预防控制体系建设政策效力与政策效果评估

目的 评估我国疾病预防控制体系建设相关政策文件效力和实施效果,为我国疾病预防控制体系政策制定建言献策。方法 通过国家卫生健康委员会官网、“北大法宝”检索系统以“疾病预防控制”、“疾控体系”、“疾控”为主要检索词检索2003—2022年中央、国家及各部委发布的政策文件,经筛选后最终纳入52项疾病预防控制相关政策。将政策效力划分为政策力度、政策措施、政策目标3个维度,用疾病预防控制支出表示政策效果,通过构建多元线性回归模型对环境型、供给型、需求型三种不同政策工具疾病预防控制体系建设政策实施效果进行回归分析。结果 2003—2022年,我国疾控体系建设相关政策数量与总体效力值呈现平稳波动,且具有明显的正相关关系,政策平均效力值呈M型稳定变化趋势,整体水平偏低; 政策措施得分最高,政策目标次之,政策力度得分最低。相较于其他两种政策工具,环境型政策工具使用频率最高,需求型政策工具使用频率最低; 环境型(Coef.=0.732,P=0.015)、供给型(Coef.=0.64,P=0.010)、需求型(Coef.=0.523,P=0.035)三种政策工具对政策实施效果均具有促进作用,滞后期保持在1～2年; 上一年度的疾控支出对下一年度的政策效果具有促进作用(Coef.=0.74,P=0.032)。结论 我国疾病预防控制政策效力不断提高主要源于政策颁布数量的累计效应; 不同政策工具使用过程中存在不平衡、不充分问题; 三类政策工具均对我国疾病预防控制体系政策实施效果起到一定影响,且环境型政策工具最优; 疾病预防控制相关支出会强化政策实施效果,推动疾控体系建设快速发展。