Out of the boxes,out of the silos: The need of interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce poor-quality medical products in the supply chain

In this paper, we argue that understanding and addressing the problem of poor-quality medical products requires a more interdisciplinary approach than has been evident to date. While prospective studies based on rigorous standardized methodologies are the gold standard for measuring the prevalence of poor-quality medical products and understanding their distribution nationally and internationally, they should be complemented by social science research to unpack the complex set of social, economic, and governance factors that underlie these patterns. In the following sections, we discuss specific examples of prospective quality surveys and of social science studies, highlighting the value of cross-sector partnerships in driving high-quality, policy-relevant research in this area.     

Exploring Mothers’ Perspectives About Why Grandparents in Appalachia Give Their Grandchildren Cariogenic Foods and Beverages: A Qualitative Study

BackgroundDental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. Past studies revealed that grandparents provide their grandchildren with cariogenic foods and beverages (eg, those with free sugars and/or modified starches). Qualitative research can help identify what drives this phenomenon.ObjectiveOur aim was to examine mothers’ explanations for why grandparents in north central and central Appalachia give their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages.DesignA qualitative study on children’s oral health in Pennsylvania and West Virginia from 2018 through 2020 was performed. In-person, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Qualitative data from interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then coded using NVivo. Data analysis for this study was performed using thematic analysis with iterative theme development.Participants/settingThe participants were 126 mothers of children aged 3-5 years from West Virginia (n = 66) and Pittsburgh, PA (n = 60).Main outcome measuresMothers’ perspectives about why grandparents give their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages were analyzed.ResultsIn the study sample, 85% of mothers (n = 107/126) named at least 1 of their children’s grandparents as a member of their social network responsible for their children’s oral health. From these interviews, 85% of mothers (n = 91/107) discussed that grandparents gave their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages. The mothers described the following 4 themes to explain why grandparents gave their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages: privilege of the grandparent role; responsibilities of the grandparent role; symbol of care and affection; and limited consideration or understanding of the detrimental impact.ConclusionsGrandparents play a role in giving their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages, which could potentially contribute to childhood caries. Research is needed to develop effective social interventions to help some grandparents understand the implications of a cariogenic diet on their grandchildren’s oral health and/or decrease their provision of cariogenic foods and beverages.     

“We see each other from a distance”: Neighbourhood social relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic matter for older adults’ social connectedness

IntroductionWe extend previous research to illustrate how individual, interpersonal and neighbourhood factors in a high-density urban setting in Vancouver, Canada, shape social connectedness experiences of community-dwelling older adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe conducted 31 semi-structured interviews and collected objective measures of loneliness and social connectedness (surveys).ResultsThree dimensions of the neighbourhood environment influenced social connectedness: (i) interactions with neighbours, (ii) involvement with neighbourhood-based organizations, and (ii) outdoor pedestrian spaces. Seventy-one percent of participants felt a strong sense of belonging to their local community, while 39% were classified as high or extremely lonely.SummaryMany participants leveraged pre-existing social ties to maintain connections during the pandemic. However, volunteer outreach was vital for more isolated older adults. Although many participants felt lonely and isolated at times, the relative ease and accessibility with which they could connect with others in their neighbourhood environment, may have helped mitigate persistent loneliness.ConclusionStrategies that foster social connectedness over the longer term, need to prioritize the needs of older adults who face multiple barriers to equitable social participation.     

二维斑点追踪显像技术评估窒息新生儿左心室纵向收缩功能与心肌损害的相关性

【摘要】目的 探讨二维斑点追踪显像技术(2D-STI)评估新生儿窒息合并心肌损害后左心室整体及局部心肌的纵向收缩功能在早期诊断窒息新生儿心肌损害中的临床价值。方法 选择2019年07月至2020年12月期间在右江民族医学院附属医院新生儿科住院的足月窒息新生儿61例，经临床确诊合并心肌损害，根据Apgar评分分为轻度组31例和重度组30例，选择同期住院出生的正常足月新生儿30例作为对照组。检测受检者的血清肌酸激酶同工酶（CK-MB）、肌钙蛋白（cTnT）、左室舒张期前后径（LVDId）、左室射血分数（LVEF）、左室短轴缩短率（LVFS）、辛普森法左室射血分数（Simpson EF）、左室三腔心整体应变（GLS-LAX）、左室四腔心整体应变（GLS-A4C）、左室两腔心整体应变（GLS-A2C）、左室整体应变（GLS-AVG）,分析GLS-AVG和CK-MB、cTnT三者的相关性。结果 三组间CK-MB和cTnT比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。三组间性别、体重、胎龄均无统计学差异（P>0.05）。三组间LVDId、LVEF、LVFS、Simpson EF比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。GLS-AVG与CK-MB呈负性相关（r=-0.515，P=0.000），GLS-AVG与cTnT呈负性相关（r=-0.912，P=0.000）。结论 GLS-AVG与CK-MB、cTnT具有相关性，GLS-AVG可作为窒息新生儿心肌损害早期诊断指标。     

注意缺陷多动障碍儿童执行功能的评估与干预

ADHD儿童认知障碍的主要特征之一是执行功能损害,涉及包括前额叶皮层在内的特定脑区域及多层级脑网络异常。执行功能按照功能性分为冷-热两方面:冷执行功能损害主要表现于反应抑制、工作记忆以及认知灵活性等;热执行功能损害通常涉及延迟满足、赏罚相关决策、自我调节及情绪调节等。ADHD儿童的执行功能评估应基于可信范式进行文化适应性调整。临床干预不能单一聚焦于冷执行功能,需关注儿童的身体发育以及热执行功能(情绪社会方面)的发展进程,结合其他共病与心理状况,进行全面的动态随访与干预,以达到最佳的长期疗效。     

The role of dark adaptation in understanding early AMD

The main aim of the paper is to discuss current knowledge on how Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affects Dark Adaptation (DA). The paper is divided into three parts. Firstly, we outline some of the molecular mechanisms that control DA. Secondly, we review the psychophysical issues and the corresponding analytical techniques. Finally, we characterise the link between slowed DA and the morphological abnormalities in early AMD.Historically, DA has been regarded as too cumbersome for widespread clinical application. Yet the technique is extremely useful; it is widely accepted that the psychophysically obtained slope of the second rod-mediated phase of the dark adaptation function is an accurate assay of photoreceptor pigment regeneration kinetics. Technological developments have prompted new ways of generating the DA curve, but analytical problems remain. A simple potential solution to these, based on the application of a novel fast mathematical algorithm, is presented. This allows the calculation of the parameters of the DA curve in real time.Improving current management of AMD will depend on identifying a satisfactory endpoint for evaluating future therapeutic strategies. This must be implemented before the onset of severe disease. Morphological changes progress too slowly to act as a satisfactory endpoint for new therapies whereas functional changes, such as those seen in DA, may have more potential in this regard. It is important to recognise, however, that the functional changes are not confined to rods and that building a mathematical model of the DA curve enables the separation of rod and cone dysfunction and allows more versatility in terms of the range of disease severity that can be monitored. Examples are presented that show how analysing the DA curve into its constituent components can improve our understanding of the morphological changes in early AMD.     

英语学界对“母乳不足”现象的认知进化

“母乳最好”的宣传话语在目前育龄人群中几乎耳熟能详,但很多信奉科学育儿、希望母乳喂养的都市女性却发现母乳喂养困难重重,其中遭遇“母乳不足”的案例较为多见。回顾历史发现,“母乳不足”的现象全球普遍存在,这个话题在20世纪80年代的英语学术圈曾引起热议。经过十余年讨论后,学者们基本认同大部分遭遇母乳不足的女性并不是真正的“母乳不足”,而是由于种种社会文化因素干扰造成母乳喂养失败的这一结论,其中产后初期的奶瓶介入是重要原因。术语也由insufficient milk syndrome变为perceived insufficient milk,以此来强调“母乳不足”不是一种病理现象,而更多是一种文化感知。     

儿童社区获得性肺炎血清维生素A的变化及与免疫功能相关性

目的 研究社区获得性肺炎(community acquired pneumonia,CAP)患儿血清维生素A(vitamin A,VA)水平及与免疫功能的相关性,为肺炎病情评估提供一定参考。方法 以入住新乡医学院第一附属医院PICU的63例重度社区获得性肺炎(severe community acquired pneumonia, SCAP)患儿(SCAP组)、普通儿科病区的30例轻度社区获得性肺炎(mild community acquired pneumonia, MCAP)患儿(MCAP组),以及同期体检的30名健康儿童(对照组)为研究对象,检测其血清中VA和免疫球蛋白(immunoglobulin,Ig)G、IgA、IgM水平,及SCAP组体内T淋巴细胞亚群(总T淋巴细胞、CD4、CD8、CD4/CD8),并对SCAP组体内VA水平及以上指标的相关性进行分析。结果 3组性别和年龄差异无统计学意义;血清中VA的平均含量分别为0.36、0.25和0.19 mg/L,CAP组VA的含量较对照组明显降低,且SCAP组明显低于MCAP组(P<0.05)。根据WHO推荐的VA诊断标准,3组VA临床缺乏/亚临床缺乏率分别为10.00%、36.67%和61.90%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。CAP组血清中Ig水平较对照组明显降低,且SCAP组明显低于MCAP组(P<0.05)。SCAP组血中总T淋巴细胞、CD4、CD8和CD4/CD8的平均水平分别为53.28%、30.26%、20.24%和1.59;分析VA水平与免疫相关指标关系发现VA水平与Ig(IgG、IgA、IgM)水平、总T淋巴细胞、CD4呈正相关,与CD8水平不相关。结论 肺炎患儿血清VA水平与病情严重程度及机体免疫功能相关。