Normal spirometric reference values for Omani children and adolescents

OBJECTIVES: Normal lung function has been shown to be population specific. The aim of this study was to derive normal reference spirometric values for Omani children and adolescents. METHODOLOGY: Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), peak expiratory flow and forced mid-expiratory flow were measured in 837 healthy Omani school children aged 6-19 years. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed for each spirometric parameter against age, height and weight for boys and girls separately. RESULTS: All measured spirometric parameters increased with age and height and were significantly higher in boys than girls. Height explained the maximum variance for all parameters. After accounting for height in the prediction equations, the contribution of age and weight was minimal. The expiratory ratio (FEV(1)%FVC) was independent of age and height and its mean values (+/- standard deviation) were slightly higher in girls (91.1 +/- 6.1%) than boys (86.5 +/- 7.1%; P < 0.001). The predicted normal values of the subjects using the derived equations were between 5 and 10% lower than the respective values for subjects in Caucasian sample groups. CONCLUSION: The developed prediction equations can be used in clinical practice in Oman and can be considered for use in neighbouring Arab countries.     

湖北省健康青少年及成人外周血T淋巴细胞正常值研究

目的建立湖北省健康青少年及成人外周血T淋巴细胞正常参考值。方法用MultiTEST 4色荧光抗体对342例10~59岁湖北健康青少年及成人外周血进行标记,用BD公司FACSCalibur流式细胞仪检测并分析结果,SPSS 13.0软件进行统计学处理。结果湖北10~59岁健康青少年及成人外周血CD3 、CD4 CD3 和CD8 CD3 绝对数及CD4 /CD8 比值均值分别为(1 427.94±481.93)/mm3,(865.73±289.97)/mm3,(556.64±249.70)/mm3,1.72±0.65;CD3 、CD4 CD3 和CD8 CD3 百分率分别为(67.88±8.56)%,(41.40±6.53)%,(26.48±7.15)%。T淋巴细胞绝对数在不同性别间差异无统计学意义,但CD3 和CD4 CD3 百分率差异有统计学意义。10~18岁青少年T淋巴细胞正常值与19~59岁成人的相比较有统计学意义。结论初步建立了湖北省健康青少年及成人外周血T淋巴细胞正常参考值。应分别建立青少年和成人的T淋巴细胞正常参考值及抗病毒治疗标准,为艾滋病防治工作提供参考。     

初中生青春期性心理健康状况调查

目的了解初中生青春期性心理健康状况,为早期心理干预提供依据。方法整群抽取285名初中生施测青春期性心理健康量表,以SPSS17.0进行统计分析。结果①初中生总体性心理健康状况分量表均分高于4.0分的是自身适应、性态度,低于3.0分的是性知识;②不同性别初中生性心理健康状况比较,初中女生生理知识、性知识、性观念均分显著高于男生,差异有统计学意义(t=2.442,2.138,3.080,P<0.05或<0.01);③不同成长环境初中生性心理健康状况比较,农村学生性观念均分显著高于城市学生,差异有统计学意义(t=2.289,P<0.05);④是否是独生子女、不同家庭状况初中生性心理健康状况各分量表均分比较,差异均无统计学意义。结论初中生的自身适应较好,性态度较积极,性知识较欠缺。女生生理知识、性知识、性观念优于男生,农村学生性观念优于城市学生。     

NORMATIVE VALUES FOR THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREENTM IN ADOLESCENT SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN

Background

International sports programs have established pre‐participation athletic screening procedures as an essential component to identify athletes that are at a high risk of becoming injured. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) is a screening instrument intended to evaluate deficiencies in the mobility and stability of an athlete that might be linked to injury. To date, there are no published normative values for the FMS™ in adolescent school aged children. The purpose of this study was to establish normative values for the FMS™ in adolescent school aged children (10 to 17 years). Secondary aims were to investigate whether the performance differed between boys and girls and between those with or without previous history of injury.

Methods

1005 adolescent school students, including both males and females between the ages of 10 and 17 years who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were selected for the study. The test administration procedures, instructions and scoring process associated with the standardized version of the test were followed in order to ensure accuracy in scoring. The components of the FMS™ include the deep squat, hurdle step, in‐line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push up, and rotary stability.

Results

The mean composite FMS™ score was 14.59 (CI 14.43 ‐ 14.74) out of a possible total of 21. There was a statistically significant difference in scores between females and males (p= .000). But no statistically significant difference in scores existed between those who reported a previous injury and those who did not report previous injury (p=.300). The variables like age (r= ‐.038, p=.225), height(r= .065, p= .040), weight (r=.103, p=.001) did not show a strong correlations with the mean composite score.

Conclusion

This study provides normative values for the FMS™ in adolescent school aged children, which could assist in evaluation of functional mobility and stability in this population.

Level of evidence

2c     

Re-evaluation of serum alanine aminotransferase upper normal limit and its modulating factors in a large-scale population study.

BACKGROUND: The upper normal limit (ULN) of serum alanine-aminotrasferase (ALT) normal range was recently challenged, because patients diagnosed with liver diseases may have 'normal' or near-'normal' ALT levels, and because possible modulators are often ignored in determining normal range. AIM: To estimate the ULN for serum ALT and to identify factors modulating it. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records of subjects aged 15-90, who underwent standard panels of laboratory tests, including serum ALT, over 6 months at a central laboratory. Three groups were defined: Group 1, comprised total study population (N=272 273). Group 2 (N=87 020) comprised total study population, excluding those receiving potentially hepatotoxic drugs, or diagnosed with liver disease, or had any abnormal laboratory test results other than for triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, or HbA1c. Group 3 (N=17 496) the 'healthy' population, from whose ALT values we established the new ULN, comprised Group 2 subjects with normal triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, and HbA1c levels. RESULTS: The 95th percentile ALT values, corresponding to the ULN, in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 50.1, 40, and 37.5 U/l, respectively. 6.2% (16 943/273 273) of subjects whose ALT was below ULN listed by the test manufacturer (52 U/l), had ALT level above our new ULN. Linear and logistic-regression analyses showed that ALT levels were significantly modified by gender, age, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and overweight/obesity diagnosis. Significant interaction was found between gender, glucose and cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: In this first large-scale study of 'healthy' population, serum ALT ULN was far lower than currently accepted value. Age and gender may be considered when determining the ULN for ALT.     

精神科护士职业价值观与社会支持的调查分析

目的了解精神科护士职业价值观及社会支持状况。方法 2014年10月,采用护士职业价值观量表(nursing professional values scale-revised,NPVS-R)及社会支持评定量表(social spuport rate scale,SSRS)对广西某精神病专科医院的78名专科护士进行调查。结果 78名精神科护士获得的社会支持偏低,SSRS得分为(36.95±6.30)分;职业价值观为中等水平,得分为(3.30±0.62)分;其社会支持与职业价值观水平呈正相关(P0.05)。结论护理管理者应通过提升精神科护士的社会支持以促进专科护士职业价值水平的提高。