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Vagus nerve stimulation is an effective treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy, and its efficacy and safety have been confirmed after over two decades of clinical practices.However, reassuring predictors to evaluate whether patients with drug-resistant epilepsy could gain benefit from vagus nerve stimulation has not been established, because the underlying mechanism remain poorly understood.Previous studies revealed that presumable patient-related predictors included age, epileptic seizure type, epilepsy etiology, epilepsy syndrome, cognitive and behavioral responsiveness, scalp electroencephalographic related signals and heart rate variability related signals.However, most of the predictors still remain controversial due to the factors such as the heterogeneity of different research design.This article aims at analyzing and concluding the information from relevant literatures, and summing up the predictors of efficacy before vagus nerve stimulation in refractory epilepsy to highlight the future work.
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Objective To understand the background level of total radioactivity in drinking water around Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. Methods According to the original plan of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, the monitoring of gross α and gross β radioactivity levels in drinking water during dry and rain periods around Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant, and water samples were collected including source water, factory water, peripheral water and reservoir water. Results A gross of 200 water samples were monitored at 35 sampling sites from 2016 to 2018.The gross α and gross β radioactivity levels in the dry period were (0.038 ± 0.033) Bq/L and (0.11 ± 0.03) Bq/L. The gross α and gross β radioactivity levels in the wet period were (0.038 ± 0.024) Bq/L and (0.11 ± 0.03) Bq/L. There were statistically significant differences in gross α and gross β radioactivity levels between the source water and the other water during the dry season (P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in gross α and gross β radioactivity levels in different years (P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in gross α and gross β radioactivity levels at different distances from the nuclear power plant (P < 0.05). Conclusion The gross α level and gross β level of radioactivity in drinking water around Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant are in line with the standard of drinking water, regular, fixed and continuous monitoring should be carried out, and radionuclide monitoring and radiological investigation should be carried out on this basis.In view of the density of personnel in the vicinity of nuclear power plants in China, nuclear emergency preparedness training should also be strengthened.
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X-ray imaging is an important method for the diagnosis of corona virus disease(COVID-19), but there is a risk of nosocomial infection during X-ray imaging and diagnosis. By analyzing the process of X-ray imaging & diagnosis and the possible exposure factors in hospital, Jiangsu province took the lead in issuing the guideline for the nosocomial infection prevention and control of COVID-19 during X-ray imaging and diagnosis. This guideline clarifies the basic requirements for controlling infections during X-ray imaging and diagnosis, the specific measures for staff protection, disinfection of personnel and sites, and the protection and disinfection of subjects, which is instructive for on-site work. It is worth noting that while focusing on controlling infections, the principle of optimal protection for medical exposure cannot be ignored.
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X-ray imaging is an important method for the diagnosis of corona virus disease(COVID-19), but there is a risk of nosocomial infection during X-ray imaging diagnosis. By analyzing the process of X-ray imaging diagnosis and the possible infection factors in hospital, Jiangsu province took the lead in issuing the Guideline for the nosocomial infection prevention and control of X-ray imaging diagnosis of COVID-19. This guideline clarifies the basic requirements for controlling infections during X-ray imaging diagnosis, the specific measures for staff protection, disinfection of personnel and places, and the protection and disinfection of subjects, which is instructive for field work. It is worth noting that while focusing on controlling infections, the principle of optimal protection for medical exposure cannot be ignored.
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Objective To survey the frequency of medical X-ray diagnosis and estimate the medical exposure levels of Jiangsu province in 2016,so as to be able to improve effectively the protection against medical radiation exposure.Methods All medical institutions in the province were covered in the survey for their basic medical information by means of census method.Frequencies of diagnostic medical X-ray examination were studied using random sampling method in 31 medical institutions.A linear model was established by number of outpatients number of inpatients,number of staff and number of radiation workers to evaluate the medical examination frequency.Results A total of 9 248 pieces of medical X-ray diagnostic equipment by the end of 2016 in Jiangsu province,including 1 110 CT scanners.The total frequencies of diagnostic medical X-ray examination were estimated to be 911.45 examinations per 1 000 population,covering 239.25 per 1 000 for CT scanning.The number of medical X-ray diagnostic equipment increased by a factor of 0.8 while CT scanners by a factor of 3.6 compared to 1999.Medical X-ray diagnostic frequency raised by a factor of 3.2 while CT frequency by a factor of 15.1 compared with previous data.Conclusions The medical X-ray diagnostic frequencies in Jiangsu province was 1.9 times the value given in the UNSCEAR 2008 Report,close to those in some developed European countries.Compared with the study in 2015,the present study has made greater improvement in sampling technique for selection of hospitals and equipment,frequency estimation method and acquisition of influence factors.Estimates of medical X-ray diagnosis frequency are closer to actual level.Further improvement will be needed for the future survey,so as to further study medical exposure levels and to provide basic information for better patient protection.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) primarily involves the intestinal tract and can affect vitamin absorption. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of vitamin B₁₂ and folate deficiencies in patients with IBD, and to identify the risk factors associated with abnormal serum vitamin B₁₂ and folate levels. METHODS: We evaluated the medical records of 195 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 62 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and selected 118 healthy subjects for the control group. RESULTS: There were more CD patients with vitamin B₁₂ deficiency than UC patients (14.9% vs. 3.2%, P=0.014) and controls (14.9% vs. 4.2%, P=0.003). The prevalence of folate deficiency was higher in CD patients than in controls (13.3% vs. 3.4%, P=0.004). There were no significant differences in the serum vitamin B₁₂ and folate statuses of the UC and control groups. Patients with prior ileal or ileocolic resection showed a higher prevalence of abnormal vitamin B₁₂ levels than those without prior resection (n=6/16, n=23/179; P=0.018). A disease duration within 5 years was a risk factor of abnormal folate levels in CD patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that vitamin B₁₂ and folate deficiencies were more common in patients with CD than in UC patients and controls. Prior ileal or ileocolonic resection was a risk factor of serum vitamin B₁₂ abnormalities, and a disease duration within 5 years was a risk factor of low serum folate levels in CD patients.
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Humans , Absorption , China , Colitis, Ulcerative , Crohn Disease , Folic Acid , Healthy Volunteers , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Medical Records , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Vitamin B 12 , VitaminsABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the SPECT detection method of quality control in detection of main performance index. Methods: according to the 2007 edition of SPECT performance measurementof the NEMA (the United States Electrical Manufacturers Association) standard, and the corresponding model of intrinsic spatial resolution, intrinsic spatial non-linearity, intrinsic non-uniformity, characteristic count rate, system planar sensitivity, system spatial resolution, fault spatial resolution and other indicators. Results: after quality control testing, have deviation more index hospitals SPECT results. Conclusion: the hospital should detect quality control as far as possible in nuclear medicine and nuclear medicine imaging equipment, ensure the normal operation of equipment, and improve the quality of image.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To pinpoint angiogenesis- and lymphangiogenesis-related genes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the reported microarray data which identified 831 differentially expressed genes in NPC tissues and the latest genomic information, we selected 246 genes for analysis with the smallest differential expression threshold of 260. Gene function analysis and network construction was carried out based on literature mining for analysis of the signaling pathways related with angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis of NPC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 246 genes were related with such keywords as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, EB virus, metastasis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and invasion. Particularly, we found that up to 52 genes were associated with angiogenesis (P=0.00001), and 19 genes form 12 related gene pairs (P=0.0042). Twenty-one lymphangiogenesis-related genes were identified (P=0.00001), and 6 of these genes formed a gene network (P=0.0226). Eight genes, including PTGS2, participated in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, which was closely related to angiogenesis in small cell lung cancer (P=7.87E-07). Five genes, including STAT1 and CXCL10, participated in toll-like receptor signaling pathway (P=0.00176).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PTGS2 and NF-κB promote angiogenesis of NPC, and the role of toll-like receptor signaling pathway in lymphangiogenesis warrants further investigation.</p>