Developing and piloting an expert system for better routine voluntary HIV counseling and testing in China: preliminary results and lessons

This study aims at developing and testing a pragmatic expert system for HIV voluntary counseling (VCT-ES) that leverages best practices. The VCT-ES was developed via evolutionary prototyping and piloted in 10 voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT) clinics from Anhui and Beijing representative of prefecture and county level VCT clinics in China. All counselors with the clinics and the clients to the clinics within selected two weeks at baseline and the end of study were invited to participate. Assessment measures included essential counseling procedures (ECPs); clients' satisfaction, knowledge, and behavior efficacy. VCT-ES was developed which tries to model and facilitate standard VCT operation procedures and best practices. One hundred and eighty-two (96 at baseline vs. 86 after intervention) cases recordings, 172 (96 vs. 76) client questionnaires, 10 counselor, and 2 expert rating instruments were collected; and 17 clients and 8 counselors participated in qualitative interviews. VCT-ES increased delivery of ECPs from 18.94% to 66.39% on average; increased clients' knowledge from 40.51% to 86.34% and self-efficacy by 22.42%. The VCT-ES applications listed were rated 9.1 on average (maximum = 10). The VCT-ES could be an easy and effective solution to better routine VCT and merits further research.     

Meta-analysis for evaluating the accuracy of endoscopy with narrow band imaging in detecting colorectal adenomas

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of the narrow band imaging (NBI) system could enhance the accuracy of adenoma detection during an endoscopic examination of the colon and rectum. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched along with a hand search of abstracts from relevant conferences up to June 2011. The rates of adenoma and flat adenoma detection, and withdrawal time were analyzed using Review Manager 4.2. Results: A total of 3049 subjects in eight trials were included. Meta‐analysis revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the rates of adenoma detection between the NBI group and the white light colonoscopy group (pooled relative risk [RR]: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.19, P = 0.05). However, after exclusion of high‐definition television modalities, the rate of adenoma detection by NBI was significantly higher than that by white light, particularly for patients with one adenoma (pooled RR 1.36, 95%CI 1.07–1.71, P = 0.02). Endoscopy with the NBI system significantly increased the rate of flat adenoma detection (pooled RR 1.96, 95%CI 1.09–3.52, P = 0.02). However, endoscopy with NBI had longer withdrawal time than that with white light (pooled weighted mean difference: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.38–1.42, P = 0.0006). Conclusions: Endoscopy with NBI seems to improve the detection of flat adenomas, particularly with high‐definition technology, but prolongs the withdrawal time. These results indicate that endoscopy routinely using the NBI system for the surveillance of adenomas may be recommended after the technique is further modified.     

Metachronous brain and intramedullary spinal cord metastases from nonsmall-cell lung cancer: a case report

A 44-year-old man had a brain tumor secondary to lung adenocarcinoma and underwent craniectomy to remove the brain tumor. After postoperative whole-brain radiation therapy, he underwent pneumonectomy followed by chemotherapy, mediastinal radiotherapy, and target therapy for lung cancer. Thirty-six months after the initial brain surgery, he suffered from neck pain and right upper limb numbness that rapidly progressed to upper extremity weakness and paralysis in 2 months. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an intramedullary spinal cord lesion at the C4 level. Laminectomy and gross intramedullary tumor removal were performed. The patient's neurological function improved after the operation. Nevertheless, 4 months after the intramedullary tumor removal, he began to show multiple metastases. Unfortunately, the patient died from respiratory failure 8 months after diagnosis with intramedullary spinal cord metastasis. In this case, early diagnosis and aggressive surgical treatment combined with postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy might have provided this patient with a prolonged survival and better quality of life.     

Site-specific functionalization with amino,guanidinium, and imidazolyl groups enabling the activation of 10–23 DNAzyme

10–23 DNAzyme has been extensively explored as a therapeutic and biotechnological tool, as well as in DNA computing. Faster cleavage or transformation is always needed. The present research displays a rational modification approach for a more efficient DNAzyme. In the catalytic core, amino, guanidinium and imidazolyl groups were introduced for its chemical activation through the adenine base. Among the six adenine residues, A9 is the unique residue that realizes all the positive effects; the 6-amino and 8-position of adenine and the 7-position of 8-aza-7-deaza-adenine could be used for the introduction of the functional groups. A12 is a new choice for catalytic improvement with an 8-substituent. Therefore, more active DNAzymes could be expected by this nucleobase-modified activation approach.

Chemical activation of 10–23 DNAzyme was realized at A9 modified with active functional groups amino, guanidinium, and imidazolyl groups.     

The broad-spectrum and ultra-sensitive detection of zeranol and its analogues by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in cattle origin samples

Zeranol (α-zearalanol) has been used as a growth promoter in livestock since 1969 in some non-EU countries; the residues of zeranol and its five analogues in animal origin foods may endanger human health due to their strong estrogenic and anabolic activities. Therefore, it is urgent to establish simple, rapid, real-time, broad-spectrum and high-sensitivity detection methods for the residues of zeranol and its analogues. In this study, an ultrasensitive indirect-competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) was established for the rapid multi-residue detection of zeranol and its five analogues in cattle origin samples, which was based on a broad-spectrum monoclonal antibody (mAb) that specifically bound to zeranol and its analogues with high sensitivity. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values for zeranol, β-zearalanol, zearalanone, α-zearalenol, β-zearalenol, and zearalenone were 0.103, 0.080, 0.161, 0.177, 0.254, and 0.194 ng mL⁻¹, respectively, the recovery rates of cattle origin samples spiked with zeranol ranged from 79.2–104.2%, and the coefficient of variation (CV) values were less than 11.4%. Excellent correlation (R² = 0.9845) was obtained between the results of HPLC-MS/MS and ic-ELISA. In conclusion, the developed ic-ELISA could be employed as an ultrasensitive and broad-spectrum detection method for monitoring trace ZEN residues in cattle origin foods.

This paper presents a broad-spectrum and ultra-sensitive ic-ELISA method for the rapid detection of zeranol and its analogues in cattle origin samples.     

院校联合教学模式在高职护理急危重症护理学课程改革中的实践

目的探讨院校联合教学模式在高职护理专业急危重症护理学课程改革中的应用效果,提高教学质量。方法将2009级护理系一班学生186人作为实验组,二班187人作为对照组。对照组实施传统的理论、实践分段教学,即在校本部完成所有理论课与实训课;实验组学生实施院校联合教学模式,即从第二学年(第三学期开始)进入医院,所有的专业课程均在医院内完成,每周一至周四在医院教室内全天上理论课,周五全天在医院实训室上实训课,课余时间(中午或晚上)学生分小组按计划有组织地到医院各科室进行实践学习。结果实验组考试考核成绩显著高于对照组(P<0.01);98.93%的学生认为提高了自我管理能力,84.37%带教老师认为学生能尽快适应临床。结论院校联合的高职护理专业急危重症护理学课程改革,适应目前教学改革要求,更加注重高职护理实用型人才的培养,提高了学生的综合急救能力。     

人工心脏瓣膜置换术后关节置换的围手术期抗凝治疗策略

背景:目前,对于人工心脏瓣膜置换术后关节置换患者围手术期的抗凝治疗尚无统一认识。目的:探讨人工心脏瓣膜置换术后关节置换患者围手术期使用低分子肝素(LMWH)替代华法林抗凝治疗的安全性和有效性。方法:回顾性分析2007年4月至2011年6月行人工心脏瓣膜置换术后关节置换患者19例。术前3天采用LMWH替代治疗。术后出现出血倾向时停用LMWH并输入血浆,补充凝血因子,同时给予夹闭引流,患肢加压包扎等对症治疗。术后鼓励下肢肌肉等长收缩训练,拔出引流后离床活动,并辅以下肢静脉泵和下肢弹力袜治疗。术后7 d开始加用术前用量的华法林,术后10 d左右停用LMWH。记录术中出血量和术后引流量,计算平均国际标准化比值(INR),评价术后出血和血栓情况。结果:19例患者的术中出血量为230～520 ml,平均(347±81)ml;术后引流量为480～820 ml,平均(607±103)ml。19例患者术后INR平均值为2.16±0.43。术后无一例出现重度出血,11例出现轻度出血,给予相应治疗后好转。无一例出现血栓征象。结论:人工心脏瓣膜置换术后关节置换患者围手术期使用LMWH替代华法林抗凝治疗可有效预防血栓形成。出现出血症状后及时停药、输入血浆、补充凝血因子以及对症治疗,同时给予术侧肢体加压包扎、夹闭引流可及时有效控制出血。术后鼓励早期功能锻炼、应用下肢静脉泵和抗血栓袜可协助预防血栓行成,有助于患者快速康复。