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.     

郑州市三甲医院急诊科护士道德困境与职业倦怠的现状及相关性研究

目的 调查郑州市三甲医院急诊科护士的道德困境与职业倦怠的现状,并分析两者之间的相关性。方法 采用便利抽样法选取郑州市5所三甲医院的228名急诊科护士作为研究对象,采用一般资料调查表、中文版护士道德困境量表、护士职业倦怠量表对其进行问卷调查。结果 郑州市三甲医院急诊科护士道德困境总分为(49.41±13.35)分,职业倦怠总分为(63.51±17.25)分。单因素分析显示,不同学历、工作年限的急诊护士的道德困境得分比较,差异均有统计学意义(F=4.830,P=0.015; F=6.302,P=0.001);不同年龄急诊护士的职业倦怠得分比较,差异有统计学意义 (F=8.328,P=0.005),急诊科护士道德困境与职业倦怠呈正关性(r=0.412,P<0.05)。结论 郑州市三甲医院急诊科护士的道德困境与职业倦怠普遍存在,护士的道德困境与职业倦怠呈正相关。     

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).     

Growth Hormone Induces Recurrence of Infantile Hemangiomas After Apparent Involution: Evidence of Growth Hormone Receptors in Infantile Hemangioma

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common benign tumor of infancy, characterized by a natural history of early proliferation in the first months of life to eventual involution during childhood, often with residual fibrofatty tissue. Once involution has been achieved, IHs do not typically recur. We present two cases of exogenous growth hormone therapy resulting in the recurrence of IHs in late childhood, supported by radiological, immunohistochemical, in vitro, and in vivo evidence.     

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.     

上海市黄浦区社会办医疗美容机构《医疗美容管理办法》知晓情况调查

目的了解上海市黄浦区社会办医疗美容机构的管理人员和医师对《医疗美容管理办法》相关内容的掌握情况,发现存在的问题并提出改善建议.方法采用现场调查与现场问卷调查相结合的方式,对在上海市黄浦区开展医疗美容科目的所有社会办医疗机构(共计38家)进行全覆盖现场调查,并对其中的管理人员41人、相关医师31人进行问卷调查.结果38家社会办医疗美容机构中,美容外科和美容皮肤科的开展率较高,分别为96.8%和97.2%,而美容牙科开展率为52.4%,美容中医科开展率最低(25.0%).管理人员关于非主诊医师可在主诊医师指导下工作的知晓率仅68.3%.关于美容外科、皮肤科、中医科、牙科主诊医师应具备的工作年限,管理人员答对率为90.2%,医师答对率为72.0%,二者有显著性差异(P<0.05).结论社会办医疗美容机构中的二级科目设置需进一步优化,以减少资源空置.应加强对医疗机构管理人员和医师的法律培训,改变经营模式,制定明确的准入与退出机制,从而减少违法违规行为的发生.     

大椎刮痧治疗小儿外感发热(风热型)的临床疗效观察

【目的】观察大椎刮痧结合布洛芬口服对小儿外感发热(风热型)的疗效。【方法】将100例风热型外感发热患儿随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组各50例。对照组给予布洛芬口服治疗,治疗组给予大椎刮痧结合布洛芬口服治疗。观察2组患儿治疗前及治疗后30 min、60 min、120 min的体温变化情况,评价2组患儿治疗后120 min的降温疗效、中医证候疗效和安全性。【结果】(1)观察过程中,治疗组脱落1例,其余49例完成试验;对照组无脱落病例,50例全部完成试验。(2)治疗后30、60、120 min,2组患儿的体温均逐渐降低,与治疗前及前1个观察时点比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);且治疗组在治疗后60、120 min的体温均明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。(3)治疗后120 min,2组患儿的中医证候积分均较治疗前降低(P0.05),且治疗组的中医证候积分明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。(4)降温疗效方面,治疗后120 min,治疗组的总有效率为100.0%(49/49),对照组为96.0%(48/50),治疗组的降温疗效优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。(5)中医证候疗效方面,治疗后120 min,治疗组的有效率为61.2%(30/49),对照组为18.0%(9/50),治疗组的中医证候疗效优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。(6)治疗过程中,2组患儿均无明显不良反应发生。【结论】大椎刮痧结合布洛芬口服治疗风热型外感发热患儿疗效显著,相比单纯布洛芬口服治疗,可更好地降低患儿体温,改善患儿临床症状。