A multi-laboratory evaluation of microelectrode array-based measurements of neural network activity for acute neurotoxicity testing

There is a need for methods to screen and prioritize chemicals for potential hazard, including neurotoxicity. Microelectrode array (MEA) systems enable simultaneous extracellular recordings from multiple sites in neural networks in real time and thereby provide a robust measure of network activity. In this study, spontaneous activity measurements from primary neuronal cultures treated with three neurotoxic or three non-neurotoxic compounds was evaluated across four different laboratories. All four individual laboratories correctly identifed the neurotoxic compounds chlorpyrifos oxon (an organophosphate insecticide), deltamethrin (a pyrethroid insecticide) and domoic acid (an excitotoxicant). By contrast, the other three compounds (glyphosate, dimethyl phthalate and acetaminophen) considered to be non-neurotoxic (“negative controls”), produced only sporadic changes of the measured parameters. The results were consistent across the different laboratories, as all three neurotoxic compounds caused concentration-dependent inhibition of mean firing rate (MFR). Further, MFR appeared to be the most sensitive parameter for effects of neurotoxic compounds, as changes in electrical activity measured by mean frequency intra burst (MFIB), and mean burst duration (MBD) did not result in concentration-response relationships for some of the positive compounds, or required higher concentrations for an effect to be observed. However, greater numbers of compounds need to be tested to confirm this. The results obtained indicate that measurement of spontaneous electrical activity using MEAs provides a robust assessment of compound effects on neural network function.     

腹腔镜子宫全切除术与传统腹式手术的对比研究

目的：比较腹腔镜子宫全切除术与传统腹式手术的疗效。方法选取我院2015年1月—2015年12月收治的60例因子宫良性疾病需行手术患者，分为观察组和对照组各30例，分别进行腹腔镜子宫全切除术与传统腹式手术，比较2组住院时间、下床时间、排气时间、出血量以及并发症。结果观察组术后并发症、住院时间、下床时间、出血量、排气时间优于对照组，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论腹腔镜子宫全切除术具有并发症少、损伤小、出血少、恢复快等优点，能够缩短患者手术时间和住院时间，值得推广应用。     

Comparison of tri-axial accelerometers step-count accuracy in slow walking conditions

Accelerometers have shown great promise and popularity for monitoring gait. However, the accuracy of accelerometers for gait analysis in slow walking conditions is largely unknown. In this study, we compared the accuracy of three accelerometers recommended for gait analysis – Axivity AX3, APDM Opal, and the Actigraph wGT3X-BT, by holding the step-count algorithm constant. We evaluated device accuracy in four minutes of treadmill walking at the speeds of 0.9 m/s, 1.1 m/s, and 1.3 m/s. We constructed a symbolization of the gait data to count the steps using Piecewise Aggregate Approximation and compared the estimated step counts with observer counted steps from video recordings. Our results highlight the variation between the performance of devices – the Axivity AX3 provides more accurate step counts than the other two devices. In this, we provide evidence for future scientific teams to make decisions on selecting accelerometers which can more accurately measure steps taken at slower walking speeds, and suggest ways to improve the design of algorithms and accelerometers.     

CaseSolver: An investigative open source expert system based on EuroForMix

For very serious crimes, reporting scientists often have to contend with complex cases where literally hundreds of items are submitted by investigators for analysis. In order to efficiently expedite the challenge of comparing reference profiles to evidence profiles, many of which are mixtures, we have developed an investigative open source expert system CaseSolver. We have analysed a real case based on GlobalFiler involving 119 evidence profiles and 3 reference profiles. To provide a demonstration of the power of the system we also added the three references to a fictive large database of 1 million individuals in order to test subsequent recovery of the presumed true contributors. CaseSolver was used on a Fusion 6C validation study involving 25 two- to four-person mixture profiles based on 14 reference profiles. The sequential use of simple allele comparison, the qualitative model (forensim) and the quantitative model (EuroForMix) makes the analysis very fast and accurate – and finally, the software generates a list of potential match candidates which can be exported as a report. From these two studies we found that the resolution of match candidates from CaseSolver was the same as that reported by a scientist who worked manually through the samples, except that CaseSolver highlighted two manual errors. For the validation study we found low template DNA samples giving negative results, which demonstrate the limitations of the tool; but overall our assessment shows that CaseSolver will benefit all analyses involving mixture interpretation and screening. Importantly, CaseSolver removes the very time-consuming aspect of manual comparison and gives improved quality by preventing manual errors.     

西安市2007年和2018年学龄前儿童行为问题比较

目的 观察西安市2007年和2018年学龄前儿童行为问题的变化,为促进儿童行为的健康发展提供依据。 方法 采取随机整群抽样的方法从西安市东、西、南、北郊区及城中区各选择一所幼儿园,根据儿童年龄,采用《Achenlach 2~3岁幼儿行为量表》或《Achenlach 4~16岁儿童行为量表》)对园内所有儿童于2007年10月(男童730人,女童565人)和2018年10月(男童978人,女童999人)进行两次问卷调查,问卷由儿童家长匿名填写完成。对所收集的数据使用SPSS 21.0统计软件进行分析。 结果 ① 3岁儿童:社交退缩、抑郁、睡眠问题、攻击、破坏5个因子水平2018年均高于2007年,躯体诉述则低于2007年,差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.01)。② 4~5岁男童: 2018年4~5岁男童的社交退缩、躯体诉述、抑郁、幼稚不成熟、分裂样、违纪6个因子水平均高于2007年,而性问题、攻击2个因子水平均低于2007年,差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.05)。③ 4~5岁女童:抑郁、分裂样、社交退缩、性问题、肥胖、攻击6个因子2018年均低于2007年,差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.05),而躯体诉述、多动两个因子差异均无统计学意义(均P＞0.05)。④ 6岁儿童:男童交往不良、体诉2个因子水平及女童的性问题、残忍2个因子水平2018年均低于2007年(P＜0.05),其他因子差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。 结论 学龄前儿童各年龄段行为问题因子水平变化程度西安市2007年和2018年前后有所不同,3岁男女童、4~5岁男童心理行为问题趋向严重,而5岁女童、6岁男女童的变化好转。提示家长及幼教工作者应根据儿童年龄、性别的行为特点给予积极干预,促进儿童行为的健康发展。     

“4＋7”带量采购前后上海市闵行区古美社区卫生服务中心药品使用数据对比分析

目的比较分析"4+7"带量采购前/后1年上海市闵行区古美社区卫生服务中心药品用量及价格降幅情况。方法参照国家第1批"4+7"带量采购目录,收集2018年3月20日—2019年3月19日及执行"4+7"后2019年3月20日—2020年3月19日上海市闵行区古美社区卫生服务中心用药数据,统计本中心11个品种药品的数量、金额、用药频度(DDDs)、日均费用(DDC)等指标进行分析。结果 "4+7"后的11个品种分别由7个厂家供货。"4+7"前/后共用2个品种:阿托伐他汀钙片(北京嘉林药业股份有限公司)、氯沙坦钾片(浙江华海药业股份有限公司),药品单片价格分别降幅84.01%和74.20%。执行"4+7"前/后1年11个品种的用药金额分别为787.73万元与287.67万元,降幅63.48%。"4+7"前DDDs最高的是苯磺酸氨氯地平(络活喜,辉瑞制药有限公司)从31.49万日降至"4+7"后的3.39万日,降幅89.23%。"4+7"后DDDs最高的阿托伐他汀钙片(北京嘉林药业股份有限公司)为50.00万日,"4+7"前则为13.88万日,增幅260.23%。结论执行国家"4+7"带量采购政策,经过倾斜使用"4+7"品种1年的实践,印证了"4+7"品种用药下沉至社区,实现本土化模式是可行的,降价幅度是明显的。     

Development of immune organs and functioning in humans and test animals: Implications for immune intervention studies

A healthy immune status is mostly determined during early life stages and many immune-related diseases may find their origin in utero and the first years of life. Therefore, immune health optimization may be most effective during early life. This review is an inventory of immune organ maturation events in relation to developmental timeframes in minipig, rat, mouse and human. It is concluded that time windows of immune organ development in rodents can be translated to human, but minipig reflects the human timeframes better; however the lack of prenatal maternal-fetal immune interaction in minipig may cause less responsiveness to prenatal intervention. It is too early to conclude which immune parameters are most appropriate, because there are not enough comparative immune parameters. Filling these gaps will increase the predictability of results observed in experimental animals, and guide future intervention studies by assessing relevant parameters in the right corresponding developmental time frames.     

Critical evaluation of mixed treatment comparison meta‐analyses using examples assessing antidepressants and opioid detoxification treatments

Comparing multiple treatment options using meta‐analytical methods requires complex statistical methods called mixed treatment comparisons (MTCs). Such methods offer the possibility to summarize data from many clinical trials comparing the different available options. However, those methods are based on a number of assumptions and inherent difficulties that are discussed and illustrated with examples from the psychiatric literature to help readers to understand the strengths and weaknesses of these methods. This review will help enable readers to critically appraise the methodology and results of publications that use MTCs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bronchodilator Responses to Salbutamol Using Diskhaler Versus Metered-Dose Inhaler

In adults inhaling salbutamol via metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) 200 μ.g doses are recommended, but with diskhalers the manufacturer advocates 400 rather than 200 µg doses. To assess this advice, a partially double-blind, placebo-controlled salbutamol dose response, crossover study (also incorporating MDI doses) was conducted in 12 mild/moderate asthmatics. After active treatment, mean peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) increments yielded no clinically or statistically significant differences; compared to placebo, respective median differences in PEFR increments (95% CIs) were 10 (-10, 50), 20 (0, 50), and 15 (0, 30) following 400 and 200 µg via diskhalers and 200 u.g via MDIs. Diskhalers are a suitable alternative for patients with poor MDI technique, but the use of 400 rather than 200 µg salbutamol doses is not supported by evidence.