Managing Obstetric Emergencies and Trauma (MOET) structured skills training in Armenia, utilising models and reality based scenarios

Background

Mortality rates in Western Europe have fallen significantly over the last 50 years. Maternal mortality now averages 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births but in some of the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union, the ratio is nearly 4 times higher. The availability of skilled attendants to prevent, detect and manage major obstetric complications may be the single most important factor in preventing maternal deaths. A modern, multidisciplinary, scenario and model based training programme has been established in the UK (Managing Obstetric Emergencies and Trauma (MOET)) and allows specialist obstetricians to learn or revise the undertaking of procedures using models, and to have their skills tested in scenarios.

Methods

Given the success of the MOET course in the UK, the organisers were keen to evaluate it in another setting (Armenia). Pre-course knowledge and practice questionnaires were administered. In an exploratory analysis, post-course results were compared to pre-course answers obtained by the same interviewer.

Results

All candidates showed an improvement in post-course scores. The range was far narrower afterwards (167–188) than before (85–129.5). In the individual score analysis only two scenarios showed a non-significant change (cord prolapse and breech delivery).

Conclusion

This paper demonstrates the reliability of the model based scenarios, with a highly significant improvement in obstetric emergency management. However, clinical audit will be required to measure the full impact of training by longer term follow up. Audit of delays, specific obstetric complications, referrals and near misses may all be amenable to review.     

二尖瓣成形术与二尖瓣置换术治疗退行性二尖瓣关闭不全的远期疗效比较研究

背景退行性变是西方国家二尖瓣关闭不全常见的病因,与二尖瓣置换术(MVR)相比,二尖瓣成形术(MVP)不仅无需长期抗凝,避免了抗凝相关并发症,而且能够有助于左心功能的维护。目前MVR与MVP治疗退行性变的远期疗效尚不明确。目的比较MVP与MVR治疗退行性二尖瓣关闭不全的远期疗效。方法选取2003—2008年在俄罗斯巴库列夫心血管外科研究中心接受瓣膜手术的退行性二尖瓣关闭不全患者274例为研究对象。根据手术方式的不同,将患者分为MVP组(129例)和MVR组(145例)。收集患者一般资料,统计患者5年、10年累积生存率、无脑卒中发生率及再次瓣膜手术情况。分别根据患者随访终点时死亡情况、脑卒中发生情况,将患者分为死亡组(42例)和非死亡组(232例)、脑卒中组(30例)和非脑卒中组(244例)。采用单因素分析和多因素Cox回归分析探讨退行性二尖瓣关闭不全患者死亡、发生脑卒中的影响因素。结果MVP组患者体外循环时间、主动脉阻断时间、术后住院时间长于MVR组(P<0.05)。死亡组患者体外循环时间、呼吸机使用时间长于非死亡组,MVP率低于非死亡组(P<0.05)。脑卒中组患者入院时血肌酐、入院时左心室射血分数(LVEF)高于非脑卒中组,MVP率低于非脑卒中组(P<0.05)。多因素Cox回归分析结果显示,MVP是退行性二尖瓣关闭不全患者死亡[HR=0.053,95%CI(0.005,0.585)]、发生脑卒中[HR=0.095,95%CI(0.013,0.698)]的保护因素(P<0.05)。MVP组患者5年累积生存率低于MVR组,10年累积生存率高于MVR组(P<0.05)。MVP组患者5年、10年累积无脑卒中发生率低于MVR组(P<0.05)。MVP组和MVR组患者再次瓣膜手术率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论MVP是退行性二尖瓣关闭不全患者死亡、发生脑卒中的保护因素,对于退行性二尖瓣关闭不全患者,行MVP者的远期预后优于行MVR者,临床应积极推广MVP。     

A study of collagen-based bioactive dressings

Laboratory studies of collagen-based compositions demonstrated digispon to be the most effective agent for clinical use. Digispon is permeable to vapor and air, plastic, ensures prolonged dosed release of dioxydine into the wound, stimulates the growth of granulation tissue, accelerates marginal and islet epithelialization, and reduces the likelihood of the formation of coarse scar tissue. Radioautographic study of wound granulation tissue in experimental animals with modeled nonsuppurative inflammation showed that the principal processes ensuring wound healing during the application of collagen-based agents occur in the early stages, with an increase in the number of fibroblasts, including the proliferating variety, and blood vessels. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N^no 11, pp. 529–531, November, 1995 Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Genotoxicity of bis-[1,1-dimethylfuro-3,4-pyridino-3,4-dione-N,N]-1,4-benzene

The mutagen and DNA damaging properties of a new benzene derivative were studied by means of micronucleus and DNA comet assays in murine lymphoma, and by micronucleus assay in murine bone marrow cells. The compound was not active in vitro and was weakly active in vivo. The new compound is much more toxic but much less genotoxic than benzene. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 40, No. 4, pp. 12–14, April, 2006.     

“Health inequalities in Armenia - analysis of survey results”

Introduction

This study sought to identify factors associated with health service utilisation by individuals with mental disorders in a Canadian catchment area.

Methods

To be included in the study, participants had to be aged between 15 and 65 and reside in the study location. Data was collected randomly from June to December 2009 by specially trained interviewers. A comprehensive set of variables (including geospatial factors) was studied using the Andersen's behavioural health service model. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were carried out.

Results

Among 406 individuals diagnosed with mental disorders, 212 reported using a mental health service at least once in the 12 months preceding the interviews. Emotional problems and a history of violence victimisation were most strongly associated with such utilisation. Participants who were middle-aged or deemed their mental health to be poor were also more likely to seek mental healthcare. Individuals living in neighbourhoods where rental accommodations were the norm used significantly fewer health services than individuals residing in neighbourhoods where homeownership was preponderant; males were also less likely to use services than females.

Conclusions

Our study broke new ground by uncovering the impact of longstanding violence victimisation, and the proportion of homeownership on mental health service utilisation among this population. It also confirmed the prominence of some variables (gender, age, emotional problems and self-perceived mental health) as key enabling variables of health-seeking. There should be better promotion of strategies designed to change the attitudes of males and youths and to deal with violence victimisation. There is also a need for initiatives that are targeted to neighbourhoods where there is more rental housing.     

Genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with retinoblastoma and interstitial 13q deletions

Patients with an interstitial 13q deletion that contains the RB1 gene show retinoblastoma and variable clinical features. Relationship between phenotypic expression and loss of specific neighboring genes are unresolved, yet. We obtained clinical, cytogenetic and molecular data in 63 patients with an interstitial 13q deletion involving RB1. Whole-genome array analysis or customized high-resolution array analysis for 13q14.11q14.3 was performed in 38 patients, and cytogenetic analysis was performed in 54 patients. Deletion sizes ranged between 4.2 kb and more than 33.43 Mb; breakpoints were non-recurrent. Sequence analysis of deletion junctions in five patients revealed microhomology and insertion of 2–34 base pairs suggestive of non-homologous end joining. Milder phenotypic expression of retinoblastoma was observed in patients with deletions larger than 1 Mb, which contained the MED4 gene. Clinical features were compared between patients with small (within 13q14), medium (within 13q12.3q21.2) and large (within 13q12q31.2) deletions. Patients with a small deletion can show macrocephaly, tall stature, obesity, motor and/or speech delay. Patients with a medium deletion show characteristic facial features, mild to moderate psychomotor delay, short stature and microcephaly. Patients with a large deletion have characteristic craniofacial dysmorphism, short stature, microcephaly, mild to severe psychomotor delay, hypotonia, constipation and feeding problems. Additional features included deafness, seizures and brain and heart anomalies. We found no correlation between clinical features and parental origin of the deletion. Our data suggest that hemizygous loss of NUFIP1 and PCDH8 may contribute to psychomotor delay, deletion of MTLR1 to microcephaly and loss of EDNRB to feeding difficulties and deafness.