Knowledge and Usage of Emergency Contraceptives Among University Students in Ghana

Contraceptive use is an important strategy for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and avoidance of induced abortion. Of all the contraception methods, emergency contraceptive (EC) offers the last chance to achieve this. However, few studies have documented the use of EC among young people in Ghana. This study explored knowledge and usage of EC as well as the factors associated with it among University of Cape Coast students. Data were obtained on the knowledge and usage of ECs among University of Cape Coast students in 2013. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between students’ socio-demographic characteristics and EC knowledge and use. More male students (72 %) than females (59 %) were sexually active. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents had ever heard of EC and 36 % had ever used EC. Although males were more likely to be sexually active, females were more likely to have knowledge of EC use compared to males. The study underscores the need to increase awareness regarding EC among University students in order to offer them the opportunity that EC provides if other forms of contraceptives are missed.     

Necroptotic TNFα-Syndecan 4-TNFα Vicious Cycle as a Therapeutic Target for Preventing Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is a chronic degenerative disease for which the underlying mechanism still remains unclear. Compared with apoptosis and autophagy, necroptosis causes greater harm to tissue homeostasis by releasing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). However, the role of necroptosis and downstream key DAMPs in TMJOA is unknown. Here, rodent models of TMJOA were established by the unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemistry of receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)/phosphorylation of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (pMLKL) were conducted to evaluate the occurrence of necroptosis in vivo. The therapeutic effects of blocking necroptosis were achieved by intra-articularly injecting RIPK3 or MLKL inhibitors and using RIPK3 or MLKL knockout mice. In vitro necroptosis of condylar chondrocyte was induced by combination of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC) mimetics and carbobenzoxy-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-[O-methyl]- fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk). The possible DAMPs released by necroptotic chondrocytes were screened by quantitative proteomics and blocked by specific antibody. Translucent cytosol, swollen organelles, and ruptured cell membranes, features of necroptosis, were frequently manifested in chondrocytes at the early stage of condylar cartilage degeneration in TMJOA, which was accompanied by upregulation of RIPK3/pMLKL. Inhibiting or knocking out RIPK3/MLKL significantly prevented cartilage degeneration. DAMPs released by necroptotic condylar chondrocytes, such as syndecan 4 (SDC4) and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), were verified. Furthermore, blocking the function of SDC4 significantly attenuated the expression of TNFα in cartilage and synovium, and accordingly increased cartilage thickness and reduced synovial inflammation. Thus, the necroptotic vicious cycle of TNFα-SDC4-TNFα contributes to cartilage degeneration and synovitis, and can serve as a potential therapeutic target for treating TMJOA. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Esophageal Calibration with Soft Orogasrtric Tube During Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication may Reduce Postoperative Transient Dysphagia

Gastroesophageal reflux is the most common benign disorder of the esophagus and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has become the standard surgical treatment for its treatment. In our area, where the use of bougie calibration is debatable, postoperative dysphagia is encountered often after this surgery although it is usually not permanent. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using a soft silicone tube 39 F in diameter for esophageal calibration during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication on the incidence of postoperative dysphagia. We divided cases scheduled to undergo laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication between January 2009 and November 2010 into two groups, each consisting 25 patients. Esophageal calibration with a 39 F silicone orogastric tube was used for the first group while there was no operative calibration in the second group. The surgical duration was recorded; the presence and severity of the postoperative dysphagia was calculated by using a dysphagia severity scoring system during the 1-year postoperative follow-up. The dysphagia severity scores were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2 on the postoperative second day and at the end of the first week and first month. We did not find a significant difference at the end of the 6-month and first year. There was also no significant difference regarding surgery duration. The use of a soft orogastric tube 39 F in diameter for esophagus calibration during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative transient dysphagia without affecting the duration of surgery. Although dysphagia gradually resolves in the majority of patients, a safe and easy calibration method for its prevention is worth developing, and we believe that the use of our method in larger series could be beneficial.     

中国县级及以上医疗机构青光眼诊疗服务 现状分析

目的：统计分析中国县级及以上医疗机构青光眼亚专科建设、诊疗设备配备和服务提供情况，为进 一步推动我国青光眼防治工作提供理论依据。方法：调查研究。2015年对全国提供眼科服务的县级 及以上医疗机构通过网上填报的方式进行普查，采用描述性统计方法，对我国县级及以上医疗机构 青光眼亚专科建设、诊疗设备配备和服务提供情况进行系统整理和统计分析。结果：本次调查覆盖 全国6 341家县级及以上医疗机构，其中设立青光眼亚专科的医疗机构有672家（10.60%）。在青光眼 检查和治疗相关设备中，视力表配置率最高（99.30%），平均每家医疗机构配置3.28台；超声生物显 微镜配置率最低（11.50%），平均每家医疗机构配置0.13台。眼压测量、白内障手术和小梁切开术是 青光眼主要的诊疗服务类型。结论：我国县级及以上医疗机构青光眼亚专科建设亟待加强，诊疗设 备配备不全，诊疗服务能力需要全面提升。     

延安地区泌尿系结石成分分析的研究

目的利用红外光谱法测定延安大学附属医院泌尿外科手术获得的泌尿系结石成分,探讨延安地区泌尿系结石成分与年龄、性别等关系,比较上、下尿路结石成分特点,分析延安地区泌尿系结石发生的流行病学情况,为临床制定有效的个体化治疗及预防措施提供参考依据。方法收集2013年1月至2017年1月在延安大学附属医院泌尿外科治疗1984例尿路结石患者的年龄、性别、结石部位等临床资料,对比分析延安地区泌尿系结石在不同年龄、不同性别、不同解剖部位的分布特点。结果在1984例泌尿系结石的患者中,按每10岁年龄大小分组排序,统计各年龄阶段泌尿系结石发病情况,男性患者有1346例,女性患者有638例,男性年龄(50.23±14.48)岁,女性年龄(47.87±14.51)岁,男、女患者比例约2.11∶1。在66~75岁年龄段,尿路结石发病率性别差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结石成分以混合性结石为主,以混合性结石为主,共1582例,占79.76%。其中1665例(83.92%)为上尿路结石,上、下尿路结石的比例为5.22∶1,其余为肾结石合并膀胱结石。上尿路结石中男性1062例,女性603例,男女比例为1.76∶1;下尿路结石中男性284例,女性35例,男女比例为8.11∶1。青壮年(年龄≤45岁)泌尿系结石患者草酸钙为主结石、感染性结石多见;中老年(年龄>45岁)泌尿系结石者草酸钙为主结石、尿酸类结石多见。感染性结石患者性别差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论在延安地区男性较女性更容易患泌尿系结石。同时,不同年龄段结石构成成分具有差异。对于年龄≤45岁患者,主要以草酸钙为主结石、感染性结石多见,这与结石整体发病率基本一致;而对于年龄>45岁患者,主要以草酸钙为主结石、尿酸性结石多见。表明对于不同年龄段的结石患者,可以根据上述结果在结石的预防和治疗上综合考量,给予明确而更加合理的治疗。     

2016至2018年某医院真菌血流感染者流行病学特征及耐药性分析

目的分析真菌性血流感染的病原菌分布以及耐药特征，为真菌血流感染的早期合理用药提供理论依据。 方法回顾性分析武汉大学人民医院2016年1月至2018年12月收治的真菌性血流感染者的菌群、科室分布以及耐药性。 结果入组192例真菌血流感染者的血培养样本中共分离192株真菌，其中白色念珠菌检出率为31.77%（61/192），其次热带念珠菌检出率为18.75%（36/192）；重症医学科检出率最高为33.85%（65/192）。所有菌株均对两性霉素B敏感，对其他抗菌药物耐药率分别为5-氟胞嘧啶4.49%（9/192）、伊曲康唑5.73%（11/192）、氟康唑10.94%（21/192）和伏立康唑11.46%（22/192）；除两性霉素B外，2016至2018年真菌对其他抗菌药物的耐药率均逐年上升，其中2018年所分离192株光滑念珠菌对伊曲康唑耐药菌率达46.7%。 结论真菌血流感染病原菌以念珠菌属为主，对目前抗真菌药物具有较高敏感性，但耐药率逐年上升，加强监测血培养病原菌变化及耐药趋势对指导临床用药至关重要。