Orientation and mobility outcome measures

Despite orientation and mobility (O&M) being a significant factor determining quality of life of people with low vision or blindness, there are no gold standard measures or agreement on how to measure O&M performance. In the first part of this systematic review, an inventory of O&M outcome measures used by recent studies to assess the performance of orientation and/or mobility of adults with vision impairment (low vision and blindness) is presented. A wide variety of O&M outcome measures have been implemented in different fields of study, such as epidemiologic research and interventional studies evaluating training, assistive technology, vision rehabilitation and vision restoration. The most frequent aspect of outcome measures is efficiency such as time, distance, speed and percentage of preferred walking speed, followed by obstacle contacts and avoidance, and dis/orientation and veering. Other less commonly used aspects are target identification, safety and social interaction and self-reported outcome measures. Some studies employ sophisticated equipment to capture and analyse O&M performance in a laboratory setting, while others carry out their assessment in real-world indoor or outdoor environments. In the second part of this review, the appropriateness of implementing the identified outcome measures to assess O&M performance in clinical and functional O&M practice is evaluated. Nearly a half of these outcome measures meet all four criteria of face validity (either clinical or functional), responsiveness, reliability and feasibility and have the potential to be implemented in clinical or functional O&M practice. The findings of this review confirm the complicated and dynamic nature of O&M. Multiple measures are required in any evaluation of O&M performance to facilitate holistic assessment of O&M abilities and limitations of each individual.     

Does frequent residential mobility in early years affect the uptake and timeliness of routine immunisations? An anonymised cohort study

BackgroundThere are conflicting findings regarding the impact of residential mobility on immunisation status. Our aim was to determine whether there was any association between residential mobility and take up of immunisations and whether they were delayed in administration.MethodsWe carried out a cohort analysis of children born in Wales, UK. Uptake and time of immunisation were collected electronically. We defined frequent movers as those who had moved: 2 or more times in the period prior to the final scheduled on-time date (4 months) for 5 in 1 vaccinations; and 3 or more times in the period prior to the final scheduled on-time date (12 months) for MMR, pneumococcal and meningitis C vaccinations. We defined immunisations due at 2–4 months delayed if they had not been given by age 1; and those due at 12–13 months as delayed if they had not been given by age 2.ResultsUptake rates of routine immunisations and whether they were given within the specified timeframe were high for both groups. There was no increased risk (odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) between frequent movers compared to non-movers for the uptake of: primary MMR 1.08 (0.88–1.32); booster Meningitis C 1.65 (0.93–2.92); booster pneumococcal 1.60 (0.59–4.31); primary 5 in 1 1.28 (0.92–1.78); and timeliness: primary MMR 0.92 (0.79–1.07); booster Meningitis C 1.26 (0.77–2.07); booster pneumococcal 1.69 (0.23–12.14); and primary 5 in 1 1.04 (0.88–1.23).DiscussionFindings suggest that children who move home frequently are not adversely affected in terms of the uptake of immunisations and whether they were given within a specified timeframe. Both were high and may reflect proactive behaviour in the primary healthcare setting to meet Government coverage rates for immunisation.     

Inter-ictal assay of peripheral circulating inflammatory mediators in migraine patients under adjunctive cervical non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS): A proof-of-concept study

Objective

To assay peripheral inter-ictal cytokine serum levels and possible relations with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) responsiveness in migraineurs.

刺五加水提物对人精子体外运动活力的影响

目的研究刺五加水提物对正常男性精子体外运动活力的影响，探讨其可能的作用机制。方法将20例正常男性的精子通过上游优化法处理后，一组精子加入10 mg·mL^-1的刺五加水提物，另一组加入等量的Ham’s F10培养液作对照。应用计算机辅助的精子分析系统，分别测定孵育0.5，1，2，3，4，5 h后人精子各运动参数。结果随着时间的延长，加入Ham’s F10培养液的精子活动能力有不同程度的下降；加入10 mg·mL^-1的刺五加水提物后，不同时段精子的运动能力均较对照组明显提高，精子存活率、前向运动精子百分率、曲线运动速度、直线运动速度和平均路径速度与对照组比较，均明显改善(均P＜0.05)。 结论刺五加水提物能明显提高正常男性精子的体外存活率和运动能力。     

多器官功能障碍小鼠高迁移率族蛋白1释放对单个核细胞免疫相关指标的影响

目的 分析多器官功能障碍综合征(MODS)小鼠血清高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1)含量的变化与外周血中单个核细胞免疫相关指标变化的关系,观察MODS发生、发展中HMGB1释放的规律及其对细胞免疫功能的影响.方法 腹腔注射酵母多糖复制小鼠MODS模型,用Westernblot法检测病程不同阶段血清HMGB1含量、流式细胞术测定外周血单核细胞表面组织相容性复合体-Ⅱ类分子(MHC-Ⅱ类分子,IAb)的表达量及T淋巴细胞亚群的比值(CD4+/CD8+).结果 在酵母多糖所致小鼠MODS模型中,当血清HMGB1含量升高时,外周血单核细胞IAb表达量及CD4+/CD8+比值下降;当血清HMGB1含量回复接近正常时,单核细胞IAb表达量及CIM4+/CD8+比值也趋于恢复正常.结论 在MODS的发生、发展过程中,HMGB1可能通过影响血中单个核细胞MHC-Ⅱ类分子(IAb)表达及T淋巴细胞的活性参与免疫调节过程,导致免疫失衡或免疫抑制.     

Postgraduate qualifications of British doctors

Among British-qualified doctors of 1974 and 1977, about 80% held postgraduate qualifications of some kind. The commonest qualifications were DRCOG, MRCP and MRCOG. There were considerable differences between medical schools in the numbers of qualifiers taking various examinations. Apart from the MRC Psych, DRCOG and Family Planning Certificate, qualifications were more commonly held by men than women. Tables show the type of work being done 9-13 years after leaving medical school by holders of various postgraduate qualifications; e.g. 60% of MRCP holders were working in medicine or a medical specialty and 84% of FRCS holders in general surgery or a surgical specialty. Discussion deals with the plurality, specificity, variability, perceived necessity, sufficiency, international utility and career significance of British postgraduate qualifications.     

Effect of lead on electrophoretic mobility of rat erythrocytes

Lead often affects the erythrocyte membrane. The relationship between the changes in erythrocyte membrane and the anemia caused by lead is still unclear. Initially, the effect of lead injected intraperitoneally on the electrophoretic mobility of rat erythrocytes was investigated in order to study the relationship between them. As indices of lead exposure, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, hematocrits (Ht), δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) activities and blood lead (blood Pb) levels in the injected rats were also examined. Exposure to lead significantly decreased the mobility of rat erythrocytes. The changes in mobility seemed to be less sensitive than those in ALA-D activity, however, the decreases in mobility were simultaneous with or prior to those in Hb level and Ht. The decreases in mobility were evident to some extent below a blood Pb level of 100 μg/100 ml and generally present at a level of 100 μg/100 ml and over. In the rats exposed to lead a significant negative correlation was found between the mobilities and the logarithms of blood Pb level.