Validation of the Chinese version of the Canadian Haemophilia Outcomes‐Kids' Life Assessment Tool (the CHO‐KLAT)

It is important to assess the health‐related quality of life outcomes of boys in China, but there are no tools validated for this purpose. The objective of the study was to assess the validity of the Simplified Chinese version of the CHO‐KLAT_2.0. We recruited 60 boys with either haemophilia A (HA) or haemophilia B (HB) and their parents from four regions in China, and assessed the validity of CHO‐KLAT compared to the PedsQL. All participants complete the CHO‐KLAT a second time 1–2 weeks later to assess reliability. The boys ranged in age from 7 to 18 (mean = 12.4; SD = 3.03) years. The severity distribution was: mild (9), moderate (10) and severe (41). On‐demand therapy was received by 26 boys, while 18 received low‐dose prophylaxis (HA: 10 IU kg^?1 2–3 times week^?1, and HB: 20 IU kg^?1 1 time week^?1). The mean CHO‐KLAT scores were 63.7 (SD = 10.6) for child‐report and 58.3 (SD = 11.4) for parent‐report. Validity was supported by a correlation of 0.67 (P < 0.0001) with the PedsQL for child‐report and 0.64 (P < 0.0001) for parent‐report. The test–retest reliability was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.82–0.94) for child‐report, and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.86–0.95) for parent‐report. Inter‐rater reliability was 0.46 (95% CI: 0.26–0.66). CHO‐KLAT scores were 11 points higher among patients who had been on prophylaxis 3 times per week for ≥24 weeks. These results confirm the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the CHO‐KLAT. This measure is suitable for use in prospective clinical trials in boys with haemophilia in China.     

A comparison of surgeon’s postural muscle activity during robotic-assisted and laparoscopic rectal surgery

This study compared the muscular activity in the surgeon’s neck and upper limbs during robotic-assisted laparoscopic (R-Lap) surgery and conventional laparoscopic (C-Lap) surgery. Two surgeons performed the same procedure of R-Lap and C-Lap low anterior resection, and real-time surface electromyography was recorded in bilateral cervical erector spinae, upper trapezius (UT) and anterior deltoid muscles for over 60 min in each procedure. In one surgeon, forearm muscle activities were also recorded during robotic surgery. Similar levels of cervical muscle activity were demonstrated in both types of surgery. One surgeon showed much higher activity in the left UT muscle during robotic surgery. In the second surgeon, C-Lap was associated with much higher levels of muscle activity in both UT muscles. This may be related to the bilateral abducted arm posture required in maneuvering the laparoscopic instruments. In the forearm region, the “ulnaris” muscles for wrist flexion and extension bilaterally showed high amplitudes during robotic-assisted surgery. Robotic-assisted surgery seemed to demand a higher level of muscle work in the forearm region while greater efforts of shoulder muscles were involved during laparoscopic surgery. There are also individual variations in postural habits and motor control that can affect the muscle activation patterns. This study demonstrated a method of objectively examining the surgeon’s physical workload during real-time surgery in the operating theatre, and further research should explore the surgeon’s workload in a larger group of surgeons performing different surgical procedures.     

Development and application of an oral challenge mouse model for studying Clostridium perfringens type D infection

Clostridium perfringens type D isolates cause enterotoxemia in sheep, goats, and probably cattle. While the major disease signs and lesions of type D animal disease are usually attributed to epsilon toxin, a class B select agent, these bacteria typically produce several lethal toxins. Understanding of disease pathogenesis and development of improved vaccines are hindered by the lack of a small-animal model mimicking natural disease caused by type D isolates. Addressing this need, we developed an oral challenge mouse model of C. perfringens type D enterotoxemia. When BALB/c mice with a sealed anus were inoculated by intragastric gavage with type D isolates, 7 of 10 type D isolates were lethal, as defined by spontaneous death or severe clinical signs necessitating euthanasia. The lethalities of the seven type D isolates varied between 14 and 100%. Clinical signs in the lethally challenged mice included seizures, convulsions, hyperexcitability, and/or depression. Mild intestinal gas distention and brain edema were observed at necropsy in a few mice, while histology showed multifocal acute tubular necrosis of the kidney and edema in the lungs of most challenged mice that developed a clinical response. When the lethality of type D isolates in this model was compared with in vitro toxin production, only a limited correlation was observed. However, mice could be protected against lethality by intravenous passive immunization with an epsilon toxin antibody prior to oral challenge. This study provides an economical new model for studying the pathogenesis of C. perfringens type D infections.