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.     

Is Atrial Fibrillation a Risk Factor for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Occurrence?

Recent studies have reported an association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether AF is one of the risk factors for GERD occurrence.In this hospital-based, retrospective, case–control study, the patients were classified into 2 groups. The patients diagnosed with new AF were assigned to the AF group (n = 1612); those diagnosed without AF and GERD were assigned to the control group (n = 1612). The subjects in the control group were selected from outpatients of total healthcare center without a history of AF or GERD, and matched for age and gender. We evaluated the incidence of GERD and risk factors for GERD occurrence between the 2 groups.The number of patients experiencing occurrence of GERD during the follow-up period was significantly higher in the AF group than those in the control group, respectively (129 patients vs 98 subjects, P = 0.037). The incidence of GERD was significantly higher in the AF group than in the control group by Kaplan–Meier analysis with log-rank test (P = 0.008). The AF group''s adjusted hazard ratio of GERD occurrence against that of the control group was 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–1.57; P = 0.009) according to Cox''s proportional hazard model.The presence of AF appears to increase the incidence of GERD and may be considered a risk factor for the development of GERD. Further, large prospective and cohort studies will be required to better establish the correlation of GERD with AF.     

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.     

幼儿不同跑步着地方式的生物力学特征

文题释义：跑：跑是双脚交替接触地面的周期性运动，但跑有一个双脚都离开地面的腾空期。幼儿在 1 岁多开始学习跑步，最初是走跑结合的移动方式，由于身体发育不完善，下肢力量弱，平衡能力差，容易摔倒；到 2.5岁，幼儿跑步的腾空阶段明显；到 6岁，早期跑步的特点基本消失。 着地方式：指的是人体在跑步着地阶段足部接触地面的方式，一般分为3种方式：分别为足跟着地(fore foot strike)，跟骨先接触地面；全足着地(mid foot strike)，全脚掌着地，即足跟与前足同时接触地面；前足着地(rear foot strike)：前足部首先接触地面。 背景：成年人跑步着地方式一直是国内外学者研究的重点，而幼儿跑步的着地方式也是不容忽视的内容。 目的：运用生物力学方法探究幼儿在跑步过程中，不同着地方式下的运动学和动力学指标的差异，为幼儿正确的跑步着地方式提供科学依据。 方法：在北京市海淀区某公立幼儿园中随机抽取幼儿74名，按年龄分为3岁组、4岁组、5岁组，采用BTS红外动作捕捉系统、Kistler三维测力台和VIXTA录像解析系统同步采集幼儿跑步过程中不同着地方式下的运动学、动力学数据；运用Anybody 5.2仿真建模软件计算下肢肌肉力量指标。试验前向受试者父母详细解释并签署知情同意书，试验方案符合北京师范大学的相关伦理要求。 结果与结论：①3岁组全足着地的比例最高，足跟着地的比例最低，5岁组全足着地的比例最低，足跟着地的比例最高；前足着地者的蹬伸时间大于足跟着地(P < 0.01)和全足着地(P < 0.05)；②着地时刻，踝屈曲角度足跟着地者大于前足着地(P < 0.01)和全足着地者(P < 0.05)，全足着地者大于前足着地(P < 0.05)；前足着地者髋内收-外展角度、最大髋内收-外展角、髋内-收外展的关节变化量及最大膝内收-外展角速度大于足跟着地(P < 0.01)和全足着地者(P < 0.05)；前足着地者的踝屈伸最小值大于足跟着地者(P < 0.05)，而最大髋内收-外展角速度小于足跟着地者(P < 0.05)；③足跟着地和全足着地者的腓骨短肌、腓骨长肌、第三腓骨肌的肌力大于前足着地者(P < 0.05)，前足着地者的股中间肌、股外侧肌下束、股外侧肌上束、股内侧肌下束、股内侧肌上束、股内侧肌中束肌力均大于足跟着地(P < 0.01)和全足着地者(P < 0.05)；④结果提示：在3-6岁阶段，幼儿多采用足跟或全足着地模式进行奔跑，以满足自己在跑步过程的稳定性，随着年龄的增长，逐渐出现前足着地方式的跑步模式；前足着地能够动用更多髋关节和膝关节额状面的运动来维持人体运动中的稳定，足跟着地和全足着地能够动用更多的小腿前侧和后侧的肌力，而前足着地动用更多的大腿前侧肌力。 ORCID: 0000-0002-8337-3931(赵盼超) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建；骨细胞；软骨细胞；细胞培养；成纤维细胞；血管内皮细胞；骨质疏松；组织工程     

Steep Decrease of Gender Difference in DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison of Two Nation-wide Surveys Conducted 10 Years Apart in Korea

While decreasing trend in gender differences in alcohol use disorders was reported in Western countries, the change in Asian countries is unknown. This study aims to explore the shifts in gender difference in alcohol abuse (AA) and dependence (AD) in Korea. We compared the data from two nation-wide community surveys to evaluate gender differences in lifetime AA and AD by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Face-to-face interviews using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) were applied to all subjects in 2001 (n=6,220) and 2011 (n=6,022). Male-to-female ratio of odds was decreased from 6.41 (95% CI, 4.81-8.54) to 4.37 (95% CI, 3.35-5.71) for AA and from 3.75 (95% CI, 2.96-4.75) to 2.40 (95% CI, 1.80-3.19) for AD. Among those aged 18-29, gender gap even became statistically insignificant for AA (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.97-2.63) and AD (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.80-2.41) in 2011. Men generally showed decreased odds for AD (0.55; 95% CI, 0.45-0.67) and women aged 30-39 showed increased odds for AA (2.13; 95% CI 1.18-3.84) in 2011 compared to 2001. Decreased AD in men and increased AA in women seem to contribute to the decrease of gender gap. Increased risk for AA in young women suggests needs for interventions.