It Takes a Village… RN Diploma to BSN Program

Educational mobility is familiar to diploma and associate degree faculty and is emphasized in the Institute of Medicine Report, The Future of Nursing. Utilizing this premise, a team of nurse educators and administrators implemented the principles of organizational redesign, change process, and project planning to facilitate a transformation from a hospital-based diploma program to a university bachelor of science in nursing program. The process described truly exemplifies the fact that “it does take a village” to create success.     

心理危机评估与干预软件的研制与测试

目的评估心理危机中自杀的危险程度,为基层心理医生预防自杀提供实用和有效的辅助软件。方法研制由4个国际通用的自杀评估量表和1个自杀行为观察他评量表模块构成的心理危机评估体系,并设有1项干预模块引导使用者进行专业干预。结果软件能快速给出测评结果并自动显示危险程度和处理意见;对超过中等危险度的数据,能给予屏显和声响2种方式报警。经对680名大学生进行自杀意念筛选,有较高的特异性。对30例有自杀意念者进行测评表明,自评量表评分与他评量表中相对应因子分呈明显正相关,r为0.55~0.72(P0.05,P0.01)。对113例心理疾病患者进行测评,软件测评的自杀意念阳性率为53.5%,明显高于访谈测评结果(34.5%)(P0.01)。结论软件设计合理,可以对自杀意念作出较准确的评估,对专业化开展心理危机干预有较大帮助。     

Desigualdades sociales en la mortalidad cardiovascular en España desde una perspectiva interseccional

Introduction and objectivesThere is an interaction between age, sex, and educational level, among other factors, that influences mortality. To date, no studies in Spain have comprehensively analyzed social inequalities in cardiovascular mortality by considering the joint influence of age, sex, and education (intersectional perspective).MethodsStudy of all deaths due to all-cause cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and cerebrovascular disease among people aged ≥ 30 years in Spain in 2015. Data were obtained from the Spanish Office of Statistics. The relative index of inequality (RII) and the slope index of inequality (SII) were calculated by using Poisson regression models with age-adjusted mortality. The RII is interpreted as the relative risk of mortality between the lowest and the highest educational level, and the SII as the absolute difference in mortality.ResultsThe RII for all-cause cardiovascular mortality was 1.88 (95%CI, 1.80-1.96) in women and 1.44 (95%CI, 1.39-1.49) in men. The SII was 178.46 and 149.43 deaths per 100 000, respectively. The greatest inequalities were observed in ischemic heart disease and heart failure in younger women, with a RII higher than 4. There were no differences between sexes in inequalities due to cerebrovascular disease.ConclusionsCardiovascular mortality is inversely associated with educational level. This inequality mostly affects premature mortality due to cardiac causes, especially among women. Monitoring this problem could guide the future Cardiovascular Health Strategy in the National Health System, to reduce inequality in the first cause of death.     

Advantages and limitations of two software calipers in quantitative coronary arteriography

Summary Software calipers allowing the measurement of the distances between pairs of manually defined picture elements in digitized images may be useful tools for a rapid assessment of the morphology of coronary vessels, e.g. for choosing the appropriate balloon or stent sizes before or during cardiac intervention procedures. In this paper we have studied extensively the advantages and limitations of two manual software calipers — one developed for a PC-based cinefilm analysis workstation, the other for the Philips DCI system.Based on analyses of a perspex vessel phantom with 17 sectors of known size filled with different concentrations (50 and 100%) of the contrast agent and acquired at two kV-levels (68 and 92 kV), it was found that the cinefilm approach is characterized by a very small overall (averaged over te data from three observers) systematic overestimation of 0.03 mm, and the DCI system by a systematic underestimation of 0.07 mm; the worst case accuracy value for an individual observer on frames with 100% contrast dye concentration was 0.20 mm for cinefilm, and –0.34 mm for the DCI, respectively. The overall variabilities in the measurements (precision) were almost identical for the two approaches (overall 0.07 and 0.08 mm for the cinefilm and digital approaches, respectively, and worst case for individual observers on the 100% contrast frames, 0.16 and 0.13 mm, respectively. Inverting the images (bright or dark contrast containing structures) of the phantom at 100% contrast concentration and acquired at 62 kV had no significant effect on the results obtained with the cinefilm analysis system (overall accuracy –0.12 mm for both situations), whereas it had on the results from the DCI system (overall accuracies –0.29 (dark vessels on bright background) and –0.08 mm (bright vessels on dark background), respectively). Enhancing the digital images on the DCI with unsharp masking techniques did not significantly influence the measurement accuracy and precision. Finally, it was found that woven dacron, polyurethane and polyvinylchloride catheters filled with 100% contrast dye can be measured with an overall accuracy of better than 0.13 mm on the DCI system. On the PC-based system the woven dacron and polyvinylchloride catheters would result in an overall accuracy better than 0.17 mm, and the polyurethane catheter better than 0.30 mm. The evaluation study has made clear that the nylon catheter should not be applied in QCA-studies. Thus based on the data presented and extrapolating these to the routine clinical situations, it can be concluded that the software caliper technique may be a useful tool for the rapid measurement of the size of a contrast filled structure in coronary angiograms, either from digitized cinefilm or from the digital images acquired with the Philips DCI system. However, it is to be expected that the measurements will be less accurate and precise when applied to coronary arteriograms due to additional variabilities caused by the non-uniform and rough size of coronary arterial segments. The accuracy and precision of the measurements can be improved significantly by using more sophisticated techniques with automated edge detection.     

Ridgecounter: A program for obtaining semi-automated finger ridge counts

Finger ridge count is a valuable quantitative phenotype used in a wide range of biological and anthropological research. However, the scoring of the phenotype is both labour intensive and error prone. This paper describe a freely available software program, RIDGECOUNTER, that can be used to obtain ridge counts from digitized prints (either collected using a digital fingerprint scanner or scanned from an inked print). The program yields semi-automated ridge counts and logs the location of the user-selected core and delta points to aid in the training of new researchers and ensure the repeatability of count. In a validity study of 451 prints, the semi-automated ridge counts of digital prints showed good agreement (r?=?0.957) with traditional manual counts of inked-rolled prints (which were obtained 2 years apart and counted by different researchers). In a reliability study of 200 prints, semi-automated ridge counts derived from digital prints collected at two different time points also showed good agreement (r?=?0.962) (the prints were obtained 2 years apart and counted by the same researcher). Although designed for use with fingerprints, the program is suitable for use with palm, foot or toe prints using user-defined landmarks.     

Comparative Aesthetic Evaluation of Lip Reconstruction Using Abbe’s Flap in Secondary Cleft Lip Deformities: A Retrospective Study

AimTo objectively evaluate the surgical outcome of deformed cleft lip treated by Abbe’s flap using Digimizer image analysis software.MethodsFifteen Abbe’s flap (AF) reconstruction cases with satisfactory photographic records were acquired in Digimizer image analysis software. Anthropometric landmarks were marked on the lip. Bilateral lip lengths, height and width were measured preoperatively and postoperatively after AF reconstruction for comparison.ResultsIt was observed that by AF reconstruction, we could increase vermillion lip length and Cupid’s bow width, hence providing adequate bulk to the middle of the lip. In addition to it, in some cases we could achieve the acceptable anatomy of the centre of the Cupid’s bow with which it was sometimes disturbed during primary cheiloplasty. Lip length and lip height became proportionately equal bilaterally, leading to adequate lip symmetry in all cases.ConclusionComputer-assisted anthropometric analysis of photographs using Digimizer image analysis software (MedCalc Software, Belgium) demonstrates that AF lip reconstruction technique produces aesthetic lip consistently.     

2种不同形变配准软件在头颈部勾画中的作用评价

目的 比较2种目前放疗市场上主流的形变配准软件在CT形变配准中的结果表现,确定其在图像配准中的价值。方法 选择本院2018年2月—2020年6月收治的15例重复定位的头颈部肿瘤患者作为研究对象,治疗过程中前、后2组CT图像正常组织由同一位资深医师进行勾画,分别在MIM软件和AccuContour软件中进行形变配准,将第一组图像的正常组织形变到第二组图像中,与第二组图像直接勾画的组织进行计算,得到相似性系数（Dice系数）与空间评价指标（Hausdorff距离）。采用SPSS 23.0软件包对数据进行统计学分析。结果 2种形变配准软件都有良好的形变配准功能。正常组织显像不同,对配准结果有一定影响,眼球、下颌骨等显像良好的组织配准结果更好,晶体、视神经、视交叉等小体积组织配准结果较差。2组软件相比,MIM软件更具有优势;Dice系数评价中,MIM软件数据更佳的比率为67%,其中55%存在统计学意义（P<0.05）;Hausdorff距离显示,MIM软件数据更佳的比率为74%,其中48%的指标存在统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 2种形变配准软件都具备良好的形变配准能力,相对而言,MIM软件更有优势。对形变配准精度要求较高时,选择MIM软件更佳。     

A Lot of Action,But Not in the Right Direction: Systematic Review and Content Analysis of Smartphone Applications for the Prevention,Detection, and Management of Cancer

Background

Mobile phones have become nearly ubiquitous, offering a promising means to deliver health interventions. However, little is known about smartphone applications (apps) for cancer.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to characterize the purpose and content of cancer-focused smartphone apps available for use by the general public and the evidence on their utility or effectiveness.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the official application stores for the four major smartphone platforms: iPhone, Android, Nokia, and BlackBerry. Apps were included in the review if they were focused on cancer and available for use by the general public. This was complemented by a systematic review of literature from MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify evaluations of cancer-related smartphone apps.

Results

A total of 295 apps from the smartphone app stores met the inclusion criteria. The majority of apps targeted breast cancer (46.8%, 138/295) or cancer in general (28.5%, 84/295). The reported app purpose was predominantly to raise awareness about cancer (32.2%, 95/295) or to provide educational information about cancer (26.4%, 78/295), followed by apps to support fundraising efforts (12.9%, 38/295), assist in early detection (11.5%, 34/295), promote a charitable organization (10.2%, 30/295), support disease management (3.7%, 11/295), cancer prevention (2.0%, 6/295), or social support (1.0%, 3/295). The majority of the apps did not describe their organizational affiliation (64.1%, 189/295). Apps affiliated with non-profit organizations were more likely to be free of cost (χ² ₁=16.3, P<.001) and have a fundraising or awareness purpose (χ² ₂=13.3, P=.001). The review of the health literature yielded 594 articles, none of which reported an evaluation of a cancer-focused smartphone application.

Conclusions

There are hundreds of cancer-focused apps with the potential to enhance efforts to promote behavior change, to monitor a host of symptoms and physiological indicators of disease, and to provide real-time supportive interventions, conveniently and at low cost. However, there is a lack of evidence on their utility, effectiveness, and safety. Future efforts should focus on improving and consolidating the evidence base into a whitelist for public consumption.