Modelling ventricular fibrillation coarseness during cardiopulmonary resuscitation by mixed effects stochastic differential equations

For patients undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and being in a shockable rhythm, the coarseness of the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is an indicator of the state of the patient. In the current work, we show how mixed effects stochastic differential equations (SDE) models, commonly used in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling, can be used to model the relationship between CPR quality measurements and ECG coarseness. This is a novel application of mixed effects SDE models to a setting quite different from previous applications of such models and where using such models nicely solves many of the challenges involved in analysing the available data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

利用多种描述信息检测心室纤颤的综合系统

提出一种基于人工神经网络的、利用多种描述信息检测心室纤颤的综合系统：首先，利用不同方法从ECG信号中提取出多种具有不同意义的描述信息，然后用神经网络的综合概括能力把它们融合进检测系统并自动作出决策。对该系统的检测性能进行了测试，最后，讨论了临床应用的可行性。     

A new statistical early outbreak detection method for biosurveillance and performance comparisons

Biosurveillance for rapid detection of epidemics of diseases is a challenging area of endeavor in many respects. Hence, this area is in need of development of methodology and opens to novel methods of detection. In this study, a new simple statistical early outbreak detection approach is proposed to detect outbreaks of diseases in real time. The new approach is called LWMAT since it is based on linearly weighted moving average. Furthermore, it does not require a long baseline and partly takes into account of likely features of biosurveillance data such as nonstationary and overdispersion to some extent. Moreover, this newly proposed method is easily adapted to automated use in public health surveillance systems to monitor simultaneously large number time series of indicators associated with the relevant diseases. To compare the performance of the new method with those of some well-known outbreak detection methods, semisynthetic data with outbreaks of various magnitudes and durations are simulated by considering the weekly number of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness for the influenza seasons 2014-2015 through 2017-2018 at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States. Under the conditions of the simulation studies, Serfling regression and Farrington flexible seem to be preferable methods for monitoring the weekly influenza data at CDC in terms of early identification of influenza outbreaks with a high probability. In addition, the newly proposed LWMAT-type methods appear to be promising and useful methods in the case of small magnitude outbreaks with a short duration.     

A new reference method for the validation of the nutrient profiling schemes using dietary surveys

Nutrient profiles of foods are increasingly used as the scientific basis of nutritional labeling, health claims, or nutritional education. Nutrient profiling schemes are based on sets of rules, scores, or thresholds applied to the nutritional composition of foods. However, there is a lack of scientific validation of nutritional profiling schemes. To develop a reference method using existing dietary surveys, to define a set of indicator foods that are positively or negatively associated with a “healthy diet.” Such indicator foods can be used both for establishing relevant nutrient profiles and for the validation of existing or future nutrient profiling schemes. The proposed validation method is based on food and nutrient intakes of adults participating in national dietary surveys in five EU countries: Belgium (n = 2,507), Denmark (n = 3,151), France (n = 1,474), Ireland (n = 1,379), and Italy (n = 1,513). The characterization of indicator foods is divided in two steps. First, “healthy diets” of individuals are identified in the five national dietary surveys by comparison to the Eurodiet reference intakes. Second, indicator foods associated positively or negatively to the “healthy diets” are determined. With a P-value of 10^?3 for the test of comparison of food intakes between the “most healthy eaters” and the “less healthy eaters,” it was possible to identify 294 indicator foods out of 1,669 foods tested in the five countries. In all the countries except Italy, there were more indicator foods positively associated than indicator foods negatively associated with the “healthy diet.” The food categories of these indicator foods were in good agreement with Food Based Dietary Guidelines like the USDA dietary guideline for Americans. A new reference method for the validation of profiling schemes was developed based on dietary intake data from using dietary surveys in five European countries. Only a minority of foods consumed in these dietary surveys could be used as indicator foods of healthy or unhealthy diets in order to subsequently test nutritional profiling schemes. Further work is needed to build a list of indicator foods that could be considered as a “gold standard.”     

A new reference method for the validation of the nutrient profiling schemes using dietary surveys

Nutrient profiles of foods are increasingly used as the scientific basis of nutritional labeling, health claims, or nutritional education. Nutrient profiling schemes are based on sets of rules, scores, or thresholds applied to the nutritional composition of foods. However, there is a lack of scientific validation of nutritional profiling schemes. To develop a reference method using existing dietary surveys, to define a set of indicator foods that are positively or negatively associated with a "healthy diet." Such indicator foods can be used both for establishing relevant nutrient profiles and for the validation of existing or future nutrient profiling schemes. The proposed validation method is based on food and nutrient intakes of adults participating in national dietary surveys in five EU countries: Belgium (n = 2,507), Denmark (n = 3,151), France (n = 1,474), Ireland (n = 1,379), and Italy (n = 1,513). The characterization of indicator foods is divided in two steps. First, "healthy diets" of individuals are identified in the five national dietary surveys by comparison to the Eurodiet reference intakes. Second, indicator foods associated positively or negatively to the "healthy diets" are determined. With a P-value of 10(-3) for the test of comparison of food intakes between the "most healthy eaters" and the "less healthy eaters," it was possible to identify 294 indicator foods out of 1,669 foods tested in the five countries. In all the countries except Italy, there were more indicator foods positively associated than indicator foods negatively associated with the "healthy diet." The food categories of these indicator foods were in good agreement with Food Based Dietary Guidelines like the USDA dietary guideline for Americans. A new reference method for the validation of profiling schemes was developed based on dietary intake data from using dietary surveys in five European countries. Only a minority of foods consumed in these dietary surveys could be used as indicator foods of healthy or unhealthy diets in order to subsequently test nutritional profiling schemes. Further work is needed to build a list of indicator foods that could be considered as a "gold standard."     

利用多种描述信息检测心定纤颤的综合系统

提出一各基于人工神经网络的、利用多种描述信息检测心室纤颤的综合系统：首先，利用不同方法从ＥＣＧ信号中提取出多种具有不同意义的描述信息，然后用神经网络的综合概括能力把它们的融合进行检测系统并自动作出决策。对该系统的检测性能进行了测试，最后，讨论了临床应用的可行性。     

A study of the vaginal contraceptive sponge used with and without the fertility awareness method

The actual effectiveness rates of natural and barrier methods of family planning are lower than the theoretical ones. If couples accurately defined the limits of the fertile phase and used barriers at that time, then actual effectiveness might increase. A randomized, controlled clinical trial was initiated to determine the effectiveness of the contraceptive sponge used only during the fertile time and to compare this with sponge use at every intercourse. Recruitment problems and discontinuation forced the early termination of this study, but qualitative information about compliance and acceptability was collected. Common sponge problems were reported as were misuses of the sponge, but problems and misuse were not related. Determination of the fertile phase was reportedly easy, but complaints of and discontinuation for inconvenience occurred. For unplanned pregnancies, contraceptive behaviors around the time of conception are presented.     

食品中检测痕量Pb,Cd元素新方法的研究

〔目的〕建立测定某些易粉碎 ,易溶解易形成乳浊液样品中Pb ,Cd的新方法。〔方法〕应用 (NH4) 3 PO4,Mg(NO3 ) 2 NH4NO3 基体改进剂 ,利用物理方法直接处理样品 ,横向塞曼石墨炉原子吸收光谱法直接测定样品中痕量铅和镉[1] 。〔结果〕选定了最佳测量条件 ,该方法的灵敏度、精密度与常用的各种消解方法所测的数据基本吻合。本法对Pb的最低检出量为 2 .5 9pg ,回收率在 94.0 %～ 10 1.0 %之间。对Cd的最低检出量为 0 .2 3pg ,回收率在 98.0 %～ 10 5 .0 %之间。〔结论〕本法简便、快速、准确 ,灵敏度和精密度高。适用于某些某些易粉碎 ,易溶解易形成乳浊液样品中痕量Pb ,Cd的测定。     

A new method for counting Schistosoma mansoni eggs in faeces: With special reference to therapeutic trials

The author describes a new method for estimating the daily egg output from patients with Schistosoma mansoni infestation. It is suggested that this method—which combines faecal dilution, concentration by filtration and staining of the eggs with ninhydrin—is sufficiently accurate and sensitive to allow the results of treatment to be expressed as the percentage reduction in egg output rather than in the somewhat misleading terms of the “cure rate” usually adopted at present. The author also discusses the theoretical and practical advantages of this approach to the evaluation of treatment.     

浙江省钩端螺旋体FlaB—PCR检测方法的建立与应用

目的探讨FlaB-PCR检测方法对钩端螺旋体（钩体）检测的可行性。方法根据鞭毛蛋白B基因（FlaB）选择引物,与卫生行业标准推荐的引物G1／G2对比,进行特异性与灵敏度研究,并应用于龙游、常山两地的蛙、鼠标本钩体PCR检测。对浙江省2007年分离菌株进行钩体PCR鉴定。结果FlaB-PCR具有较高的灵敏度和特异性,该引物可特异性扩增致病性钩体DNA,对本实验所用的其他细菌不扩增。2007年分离的钩体菌株进行PCR鉴定结果与血清学鉴定结果相符。鼠和蛙肾标本进行FlaB-PCR检测,阳性率20．94％,与卫生行业标准推荐的引物G1／G2对比,两法符合率为90．54％。结论FlaB-PCR检测方法可灵敏、特异地检测致病性钩体,能正确有效地反映野生动物带病毒率,可为控制钩体病提供依据。     

Successful new method for surgery of the postinfarctional left ventricular free wall rupture

Authors discuss a history of a 78-years old male who suffered from left ventricular free wall rupture due to acute transmural myocardial infarction. Cardiac surgical intervention was carried out immediately after the ECHO examination which established the diagnosis. First time in Hungary authors used a sutureless technique to close the rupture and utilised double component glue and synthetic patch for this purpose. The patient had uneventful recovery and remained free of symptoms throughout his three months period of follow up. Current available data and knowledge are summarised about this life threatening disease.