The role of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAG) in strengthening health system governance: Lessons from three middle-income countries—Argentina,Jordan, and South Africa (2017–2018)

IntroductionToward the Global Vaccine Action Plan 2020 goal, almost 90% of countries have established a National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG). However, little is known about NITAG's contributions to governance.MethodsIn 2017–2018, a two-step, qualitative retrospective study was conducted. Jordan (JO), Argentina (AR), and South Africa (SA) were selected owing to government-financed NITAGs from middle-income countries (MICs), geographic diversity, and a vaccine introduction with NITAG support. Country case studies were developed, collecting data through desk review and face-to-face key informant interviews (KIIs) from Ministry of Health (MoH) and NITAG. Case studies were analyzed together, to assess governance applying the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies framework focusing on transparency, accountability, participation, integrity, and policy capacity (TAPIC).ResultsDocument review and 53 KII (22 AR, 20 SA, 11 JO) showed NITAGs played a pivotal role as advisors promoting a culture of evidence-informed policies. NITAGs strengthened governance, although practices varied among countries. Meetings were conducted behind-closed-doors, participation restricted to members, only in one country agendas, and recommendations were public (AR). To increase participation, policy capacity, and transparency, countries considered adding experts in communications, advocacy, and economics. AR and SA contemplated including community members. NITAGs functioned autonomously from the government, with no established internal or external monitoring or supervision. NITAG meeting minutes allowed the review of integrity, adherence to terms of reference, standard operating procedures, and conflict of interest (CoI). For the most part, NITAGs abided by their mandates. Significant issues were related to the level of MoH support and oversight of CoI declaration and documentation.ConclusionsSystematically implementing governance approaches could improve processes, better tailor policies, and implementation. The long-term survival and resilience of NITAGs in these countries showed they play a significant role in strengthening governance. Lessons learned could be useful to those promoting country-driven evidence-informed decision-making.     

Identification and evaluation of antioxidants in Japanese parsley

Two cultivars of Japanese parsley were harvested in different seasons; their antioxidant capacities were evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methods, and the contents of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants were compared. Japanese parsley possessed potent antioxidant capacities both in hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts when evaluated by ORAC methods. LC/MS/MS analyses revealed that chlorogenic acid and four kinds of quercetin glycosides were major antioxidants in the hydrophilic extract. Lutein was the main contributor to the antioxidant capacity of the lipophilic extract. Antioxidant capacities of the hydrophilic extracts of both cultivars tended to be higher in winter because of the increase in the contents of chlorogenic acid and quercetin glycosides. An obvious trend in the lipophilic antioxidant capacities or lutein contents was not observed irrespective of the cultivar.     

尿酸性肾病中医分型与氧化应激指标的相关性研究

目的：探讨尿酸性肾病中医分型与氧化应激相关性。方法：采用回顾性分析方法对2017年12月至2019年9月北京中医药大学第三附属医院收治的尿酸性肾病患者105例进行研究，选择同时期正常健康者105例作为对照，参考《中药新药临床研究指导原则》将105例尿酸性肾病和临床常见证型相结合，分成脾肾气虚18例、气阴两虚证19例、肝肾阴虚16例、阴阳两虚12例、湿热蕴结19例、瘀血阻滞17例、痰浊内阻13例，均在入院次日清晨空腹抽取静脉血，检测氧化应激氧化应激、肾功能损害指标，比较不同组别在氧化应激指标含量水平变化情况，比较中医分型和氧化应激、肾功能损害指标水平变化。结果：1）尿酸性肾病组总抗氧化能力（T-ACO）、晚期蛋白氧化物（AOPP）、血清丙二醇（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）含量水平分别为（19.45±3.42）U/mL、（42.45±3.53）μmol/L、（4.52±1.23）nmol/L、（76.78±5.64）U/mL，正常对照组则分别为（10.76±1.31）U/mL、（20.84±1.28）μmol/L、（2.13±0.76）nmol/L、（130.85±16.75）U/mL，尿酸性肾病组T-ACO、AOPP、MDA较正常对照组显著偏高，SOD显著偏低（P<0.05）。2）虚证中阴阳两虚证SOD含量上较其他证型均偏低，而MDA、T-AOC、AOPP、胱抑素C（CysC）、β2微球蛋白、尿微量白蛋白（UMALB）、蛋白尿发生率则较其他证型均偏高，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05），实证中瘀血阻滞证SOD含量较其他证型均偏低，而MDA、T-AOC、AOPP则较其他证型均偏高，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：尿酸性肾病中医分型的阴阳两虚证、瘀血阻滞证氧化应激水平、肾损害指标均显著升高，可结合该实验室检查进行临床干预。     

Learning theories and principles in surgical education and technical learning

What is important to think about in surgical education and technical skills training? Technical skills training is grounded in social cognitive theory and the concepts of modeling and self-efficacy. Cognitive and nontechnical learning is critical to supplement the overall proficiency of the surgical learner in performing an operation. Technical learning is cemented by deliberate practice and there is benefit to productive struggle and failure. External cognitive load should be minimized to maximized operative skills advancement.