Cross-country validity of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale using a Brazilian sample

BackgroundPrevious validity studies of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), using raw scores and percentile curves for group comparisons, showed that infants in Brazil achieved gross motor milestones at later ages. Validity of the AIMS norms were later reassessed using a logistic regression model that placed the AIMS items on an age scale.ObjectivesOur study examined the validity of the AIMS norms for Brazilian infants using the recommended method for calculating and comparing item locations.MethodsData from 732 Brazilian infants (2009–11), 3 days to 18 months old, were compared to the AIMS normative sample (n = 2202). Logistic regression placed the AIMS items of both samples on age scales representing the age at which 50% of infants passed an item and compared the two datasets. Pearson correlation coefficient tested the association across samples.Results47 of the 58 AIMS items met the criterion for stable regression to calculate item locations of the Brazilian dataset. Based on the age when 50% of the infants passed a criterion, most of the items from the Brazilian sample (n = 28) differed by two weeks or less compared to the Canadian normative sample.ConclusionThe sequence and age for the emergence of AIMS items were similar between the Brazilian and Canadian samples. Canadian norms are appropriate for clinical decisions and research with Brazilian infants.     

湿润烧伤膏联合创疡贴治疗失禁相关性皮炎的疗效分析

目的探讨湿润烧伤膏联合创疡贴治疗失禁相关性皮炎的临床疗效。方法将2013年10月至2014年8月收治的34例失禁相关性皮炎患者随机分为两组,试验组(17例)采用湿润烧伤膏联合创疡贴治疗,对照组(17例)采用紫草油护理皮肤,观察两组患者皮炎创面的愈合效果及愈合时间。结果试验组治愈14例、好转3例、无效0例,对照组治愈7例、好转5例、无效5例,两组对比,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);试验组创面平均愈合时间为轻度3.7 d±1.4 d、中度5.9 d±1.5 d、重度7.2 d±0.9 d,对照组创面平均愈合时间为轻度5.9 d±1.2 d、中度8.2 d±1.3 d、重度11.3 d±0.7 d,两组对比,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论湿润烧伤膏联合创疡贴治疗失禁相关性皮炎疗效显著,愈合时间明显短于紫草油治疗者,值得临床推广。     

Defining ''full-length'' recombinant factor VIII: a comparative structural analysis

Coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) is an important glycoprotein co-factor involved in haemostasis, functioning to accelerate activation of factor X by activated factor IX. Insertion of expression vectors containing the full-length cDNA sequence of human FVIII into mammalian cell lines results in the production of recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII), typically referred to as 'full-length' rFVIII (FLrFVIII). Both FLrFVIII and plasma-derived FVIII exist primarily as heterodimeric proteins, consisting of a heterogenous light and heavy chain. The objectives of this study were to compare the structural heterogeneity of high-purity FVIII preparations and further define the term 'full length' as it refers to rFVIII protein structure. Five commercially available FVIII concentrates were characterized based on SDS-PAGE, N-terminal sequencing, and peptide and domain mapping coupled to mass spectrometry. The major heavy chain species identified in FLrFVIII included various B-domain-truncated forms of FVIII, with the predominant species terminating at Arg(1313). This study demonstrates that the use of full-sequence FVIII cDNA for the production of rFVIII does not result in a homogeneous FLrFVIII protein product. Rather, commercially available FLrFVIII represents a heterogenous mixture of various B-domain-truncated forms of the molecule, with no evidence of a contiguous, intact B-domain.     

EDI results of Japanese and German women and possible sociocultural explanations

The goal of this study was to compare data for women with bulimia nervosa and for a healthy control group both in Japan and Germany. These data were obtained using the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI‐2). In Germany, EDI‐2 data and BMI values were collected from 102 nurses in training, 57 female medical students, and 29 patients with bulimia nervosa. In Japan, data were gathered from 243 female ‘short college’ students and 20 patients with bulimia nervosa. The Japanese non‐clinical control group showed significantly higher values on nearly all EDI scales than the German control group. They had a markedly higher drive for thinness, though their BMI values were lower. When the German and the Japanese bulimia nervosa patients were compared, the Japanese patients also showed higher values than their German counterparts on three EDI scales, but these differences were negligible. It is suggested that sociocultural factors in Japan, in particular a significant dependency on social norms, may contribute to the high EDI values. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.     

In vitro fertilisation in domestic mammals—a brief overview

Many factors influence the final oocyte maturation, fertilisation, and early embryo development, and there are both similarities and differences between species. When comparing the advancement of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), the development in the bovine species is not far behind the medical front, with around one million in vitro-produced bovine embryos each year. This rate of progress is not seen in the other domestic species. This review aims to give an overview of the development and specific difficulties of in vitro embryo production in various domestic animal species, with the main focus on cows, pigs, and cats. In production animals, the aim of ARTs is commonly to increase the genetic progress, not to treat reproductive failure. The ARTs are also used for preservation of genetic diversity for the future. However, specifically for oocyte maturation, fertilisation, and early embryonic development, domestic mammals such as the cow and pig can be used as models for humans. This is particularly attractive from an animal welfare point of view since bovine and porcine oocytes are available in large numbers from discarded slaughterhouse material, thereby decreasing the need for research animals. Both for researchers on the animal and human medical fronts, we aim for the development of in vitro production systems that will produce embryos and offspring that are no different from those conceived and developed in vivo. Species-comparative research and development can provide us with crucial knowledge to achieve this aim and hopefully help us avoid unnecessary problems in the future.     

An Early Stage Evaluation of the Supporting Program for Obstetric Care Underserved Areas in Korea

"The Supporting Program for Obstetric Care Underserved Areas (SPOU)" provides financial aids to rural community (or district) hospitals to reopen prenatal care and delivery services for regions without obstetrics and gynecology clinics or hospitals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early stage effect of the SPOU program. The proportion of the number of birth through SPOU was calculated by each region. Also survey was conducted to investigate the extent of overall satisfaction, elements of dissatisfaction, and suggestions for improvement of the program; 209 subjects participated from 7 to 12 December, 2012. Overall, 20% of pregnant women in Youngdong (71 cases) and Gangjin (106 cases) used their community (or district) hospitals through the SPOU whereas Yecheon (23 cases) was 8%; their satisfaction rates were high. Short distance and easy accessibility was the main reason among women choosing community (or district) hospital whereas the reasons of not selecting the community (or district) hospital were favor of the outside hospital''s facility, system, and trust in the medical staffs. The SPOU seems to be currently effective at an early stage. However, to successfully implement this program, the government should make continuous efforts to recruit highly qualified medical staffs and improve medical facility and equipment.

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湖南省郴州市一起新型冠状病毒肺炎聚集性疫情流行病学调查

目的 通过分析郴州市一起新冠肺炎聚集性疫情相关病例发病确诊过程,探讨新冠病例早发现、早报告以及病例诊断和隔离观察解除的策略依据。 方法 对该起新冠肺炎聚集性疫情的病例和密切接触者进行现场流行病学调查,描述性分析流行病学史、临床和实验室资料。 结果 利用大数据比对监测,在转送监测对象至集中场所隔离医学观察时发现了新冠肺炎确诊病例何某华,由此发现一起新冠肺炎家庭聚集性疫情,何某的5名密切接触者中有3人发病确诊（包含1名重症病例）,其中重症病例黄某第7次新型冠状病毒核酸检测阳性进而确诊,密切接触者中胡某有流行病学史、血常规白细胞下降和肺炎影像学改变,但是5次咽拭子核酸检测阴性,未确诊。 结论 大数据比对监测对发现传染病有积极作用;早期对有流行病学史人员单独隔离医学观察对防止聚集性疫情发生有重要意义;将2次核酸检测阴性作为新冠肺炎病例的排除标准和将核酸检测阳性作为确诊新冠肺炎病例的必备条件,值得探讨,这都可能放走传染源,导致新冠肺炎传播。