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Background: COVID-19 is a global pandemic caused by SARS_COV2. The symptoms of covid-19 include: fever, dyspnea, fatigue, a recent loss of smell and taste, sore throat, cough, and cutaneous lesions. In addition, some skin manifestations were reported to be associated with COVID-19. Methods: The study design is a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study. The study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge and practice about skin manifestations of COVID-19 among doctors working at Khartoum dermatology and venereology teaching hospital. A self-administrated questionnaire was used for data collection after an informed consent was taken. Results: Among 140 doctors working in the dermatology and venereology teaching hospital, 75.7% of the doctors had knowledge that COVID-19 can present with skin manifestations. The study results showed that about half of the participants have poor knowledge about COVID-19 skin manifestations while 25% have no knowledge, and that 35 (25%) doctors have good knowledge. From a total of 140 doctors; 46.4% reported that when patients present with COVID-19 skin lesions, they will isolate them in separate rooms and call the epidemiology center, whereas, 61 doctors (43.6%) did not know if they have a protocol for COVID-19 suspected cases. This study reported a significant association between job category and level of knowledge toward COVID-19 skin manifestations measured by Chi-square test, the P-value was 0.003 (significant at 0.05), and the same significant association was found between the year of rotation and knowledge. Conclusion: Half of the doctors covered by this study had poor knowledge about COVID-19 skin manifestations, and therefore, educating doctors in dermatology hospitals about skin manifestations of COVID-19 is recommended, besides clear and precise guidelines and protocols for diagnosis and management.
Subject(s)
Signs and Symptoms , Skin Manifestations , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome , COVID-19ABSTRACT
Este texto expone una reflexión académica sobre el proceso de renovación de la política pública de comunitaria en Bogotá (Colombia) realizada durante 2020 y 2022. Inicialmente, se presentan las consideraciones conceptuales sobre las cuales se cimienta el trabajo en relación con las políticas de comunicación, la comunicación comunitaria y el problemático cruce entre estos conceptos. Luego, intenta describir y analizar las tensiones originadas en el interior de la Mesa Distrital de Comunicación Comunitaria en el marco de la fase preparatoria de la política pública. Y finalmente se sugieren algunas ideas o desafíos producto de la experiencia, que bien podrían ser asumidos en las futuras etapas del proyecto político. Entre ellas cabe destacar la urgente necesidad de redefinir la comunicación comunitaria, a partir de las prácticas ejercidas por los medios comunitarios y el actual momento histórico, porque solo así sería posible identificar el carácter de la comunicación y el sentido de la política pública en el actual proceso de reconstrucción.
Summary This text aims to present an academic reflection on the process of renewal of the public community policy in Bogota - Colombia, which will be carried out between 2020 and 2023. Initially, it presents the conceptual considerations on which the work is based in relation to communication policies, community communication, and the problematic crossover between these concepts. Then, it attempts to describe and analyze the tensions originated within the Mesa Distrital de Comunicación Comunitaria, in the framework of the preparatory phase of the public policy. And, finally, it suggests some ideas or challenges resulting from the experience, which could well be assumed in the future stages of the political project. Among them, it is worth highlighting the urgent need to redefine community communication, based on the practices exercised by community media and the current historical moment, because, only in this way, it would be possible to identify the character of communication and the meaning of public policy in the current reconstruction process.
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The neural stimulator is a core component of animal robots. While the control effect of animal robots is influenced by various factors, the performance of the neural stimulator plays a decisive role in regulating animal robots. In order to optimize animal robots, embedded neural stimulators had been developed using flexible printed circuit board technology. This innovation not only enabled the stimulator to generate parameter-adjustable biphasic current pulses through control signals, but also optimized its carrying mode, material, and size, overcoming the disadvantages of traditional backpack or head-inserted stimulators, which have poor concealment and are prone to infection. Static, in vitro, and in vivo performance tests of the stimulator demonstrated that it not only had precise pulse waveform output capability, but also was lightweight and small in size. It had excellent in vivo performance in both laboratory and outdoor environments. Our study has high practical significance for the application of animal robots.
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Animals , RoboticsABSTRACT
@#The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic triggered a series of events that resulted in the disruption of the delivery of various certifying examinations including that which was given by the Philippine Board of Ophthalmology (PBO). This paper shares the experience of the PBO using digital technology in administering its first ever online delivery of its certifying examinations. Online platform requirements used for delivering the examination are enumerated, online proctoring described, as well as the conduct of oral panel examinations and skills evaluation via video submission. Challenges encountered, feedback reported by both examinee and examiner, lessons learned from this endeavor, and future directions are discussed.
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OBJECTIVE@#To explore the influence of the thickness of mixed cardboard on the compressive strength of glass ionomer cement and the associated factors.@*METHODS@#Three different types of glass ionomer cements were mixed on the top of 60, 40, 20 and 1 pieces of paper (P60, P40, P20 and P1), respectively. The compressive strength of the materials was tested after solidification, and the bubble rate was calculated with the assistance of scanning electron microscope.@*RESULTS@#(1) Compressive strength: ① ChemFil Superior glass ionomer (CF): The average compressive strength of P1 group was the highest, which was significantly different from that of P40 and P60 groups (P values were 0.041 and 0.032 respectively); ② To Fuji IX GP glass ionomer (IX): The average compressive strength of P1 group was the highest, which was statistically different from that of P40 and P60 groups (P values were 0.042 and 0.038 respectively); ③ Glaslonomer FX-Ⅱ glass ionomer cement (FX): The average compressive strength of P1 group was the highest, which was statistically different from that of P20, P40 and P60 groups (P values were 0.031, 0.040 and 0.041 respectively), but there was no statistical difference among the other groups. All the three materials showed that the compressive strength of glass ions gradually increased with the decrease of the thickness of the blended paperboard, and the two materials had a highly linear negative correlation, the correlation coefficients of which were CF-0.927, IX-0.989, FX-0.892, respectively. (2) Scanning electron microscope: P1 group had the least bubbles among the three materials.@*CONCLUSION@#It indicates that the thickness of mixed cardboard has a negative correlation with the compressive strength of glass ions. The thicker the mixed cardboard is, the greater the elasticity is. Excessive elasticity will accelerate the mixing speed when the grinding glass ions. Studies have shown that the faster the speed of artificial mixing is, the more bubbles is produced.The thicker ther mixed cardboard is, the more bubblesn are generated by glass ionomer cement, and the higher the compressive strength is. Using one piece of paper board to mix glass ionomer cement has the least bubbles and can obtain higher compressive strength.
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Compressive Strength , Materials Testing , Glass Ionomer Cements , Silicon DioxideABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Internal medicine (IM) doctors in Japan play the role of primary care physicians; however, the shortage of rural physicians continues. This study aims to elucidate the association of age, sex, board certification, type of work, and main clinical work with the retention or migration of IM doctors to rural areas.@*METHODS@#This retrospective cohort study included 82,363 IM doctors in 2010, extracted from the national census data of medical doctors. The explanatory variables were age, sex, type of work, primary clinical work, and changes in board certification status. The outcome was retention or migration to rural areas. The first tertile of population density (PD) of municipalities defined as rural area. After stratifying the baseline ruralities as rural or non-rural areas, the odds ratios (ORs) of the explanatory variables were calculated using generalized estimation equations. The analyses were also performed after age stratification (<39, 40-59, ≥60 years old).@*RESULTS@#Among the rural areas, women had a significantly higher OR for retention, but obtaining board certification of IM subspecialties had a significantly lower OR. Among the non-rural areas, physicians who answered that their main work was IM without specific subspecialty and general had a significantly higher OR, but obtaining and maintaining board certification for IM subspecialties had a significantly lower OR for migration to rural areas. After age stratification, the higher OR of women for rural retention was significant only among those aged 40-59 years. Those aged under 40 and 40-59 years in the non-rural areas, who answered that their main work was IM without specific subspecialty had a significantly higher OR for migration to rural areas, and those aged 40-59 years in the rural areas who answered the same had a higher OR for rural retention.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Obtaining and maintaining board certification of IM subspecialties are possible inhibiting factors for rural work, and IM doctors whose main work involves subspecialties tend to work in non-rural areas. Once rural work begins, more middle-aged female IM doctors continued rural work compared to male doctors.
Subject(s)
Middle Aged , Humans , Male , Female , Retrospective Studies , East Asian People , Certification , Physicians , Internal MedicineABSTRACT
Objective@#To optimize the determination of pentachlorophenol in wooden chopping boards through pretreatment of miniaturized samples.@*Methods@# The pretreated wooden chopping board samples were subjected to ultrasound extraction (1 mL of 0.5 mol/L K2CO3 added in 5 mL extraction solution) in 8 mL acetone and 2 mL water, followed by derivatization with 0.3 mL acetic anhydride, extraction with n-hexane and separation with DB-5ms column (30 m×0.25 mm, 0.25 μm). Gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was performed in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with quantitative analysis using the internal standard method.@*Results@#The GC-MS/MS assay showed a good linear relationship within the range of 0.01 to 0.2 µg/mL (R2>0.999), with a 0.003 mg/kg limit of detection and 0.01 mg/kg limit of quantitation. The mean recovery rates were 84.2% to 96.7% at spiked concentrations of 0.003, 0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg, with relative standard deviation of 2.2% to 6.1%.@*Conclusions@#The established GC-MS/MS assay is easy to perform, environment-friendly, highly accurate and sensitivity, which is feasible for determination of pentachlorophenol in wooden chopping boards.
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Objective: Dysphagia rehabilitation is an important area in geriatric nutrition due to the commonality of sarcopenic dysphagia in older adults. However, there have been no reports on the efficacy of treatment by board-certified physiatrists (BCP) in patients with sarcopenic dysphagia. This study therefore aimed to investigate whether intervention by board-certified physiatrists affects the functional prognosis of patients with sarcopenic dysphagia.Materials and Methods: Of 467 patients enrolled in the Japanese Sarcopenic Dysphagia database between November 2019 and March 2021, 433 met the study eligibility criteria. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether or not they received intervention by a BCP. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of the two groups were compared. Statistical analyses were performed by inverse probability weighting (IPW).Results: BCPs were involved in the management of 57.0% of patients with sarcopenic dysphagia. These patients had a significantly higher increase in the Barthel index both before and after IPW correction than those not managed by a BCP (P=0.001 and P=0.016, respectively). However, sarcopenic dysphagia significantly improved in the non-BCP group before IPW correction (P<0.001), although there was no significant difference after IPW correction (P=0.301).Conclusion: BCP management was significantly associated with higher activities of daily living (ADL), but not with an improvement in sarcopenic dysphagia. To provide and manage effective rehabilitation, it is necessary to familiarize patients with the management and training of sarcopenic dysphagia rehabilitation for BCP in order to cope in regions with few rehabilitation units.
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Prevention, early diagnosis, and early treatment of skeletal-related events (SREs) are important in the treatment of potential or current cases of bone metastasis. In August 2020, our hospital established the bone metastasis team and the bone metastasis board (BMB) started actively engaging in activities aimed at improving the outcome of bone metastasis. We retrospectively examined whether a combined modality therapy started in the diagnosis of bone metastases could prevent the onset of SREs and whether it could prolong survival and improve activities of daily living. The 75 advanced cancer patients who underwent BMB at our hospital from August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2022 were divided into two groups according to when BMB performed before and after SREs for comparative analysis. Numerical Rating Scale improved, however Performance Status did not improve in both groups, and there was no difference in survival between the both groups (15.3 vs. 9.0 months, HR: 0.74, 95%; CI: 0.42–1.29, p=0.29). In conclusion, patients who suffered from SREs from the time of bone metastasis diagnosis were treated early. However, the incidence of SREs after BMB in our hospital was 22.6%, and it is necessary to actively work to prevent SREs in the future.
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The first examination of the new board of the Japanese cardiovascular surgery took place in 2022. As it is a transitional period for the new system, many doctors are not familiar with the changes and details of the new system, and some have their concerns. Here, we held a round-table discussion with doctors who actually took the new board of the Japanese cardiovascular surgery under the new system, and we summarized their opinion.
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Objective To quantify the setup errors for the different anatomical sites of patients who received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with linear accelerator on-board kilovolt fan beam CT(kV-FBCT) as non-isocenter IGRT and megavolt cone beam CT (MV-CBCT) as isocenter IGRT. Methods A retrospective analysis was performedon 70 patients who underwent radiotherapy, kV-FBCT, and/or MV-CBCT scans after each routine setup prior to IMRT. The average displacement (M), systematic error (Σ), and random error (б) at different treatment sites in the left-right, anterior-posterior, and cranial-caudal directions were calculated according to the individual displacements. The formula 2.5Σ+0.7б was used to estimate the PTV margin in respective direction. For each single patient, the root mean square in three directions was used as 3D displacement. Results A total of 1130 displacements were recorded in the 70 patients. The PTV margin was estimated to be 1.9-3.1 mm in head and neck cancer, 2.8-5.1 mm in thoracic cancer, 4.6-5.1 mm in breast cancer, 3.0-5.5 mm in upper abdominal cancer, and 3.5-6.8 mm in pelvic tumor. For the 3D mean displacements, the head and neck, thoracic, breast, upper abdominal, and pelvic cancer were 2.4±1.0, 4.0±1.6, 4.1±2.0, 4.6±2.1, and 4.6±2.1 mm, respectively. The average 3D displacement obtained by kV-FBCT and MV-CBCT were 4.1 and 3.4 mm, respectively (P=0.212). Conclusion The quantitative setup-error data can be obtained using linear accelerator on-board FBCT, and the non-isocenter IGRT induced set-up error cannot be negligible.
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A utilização medicinal da Cannabis sativa L., usualmente chamada de maconha, é conhecida desde tempos remotos devido a suas elevadas propriedades terapêuticas. As discussões acerca de seu uso medicinal no Brasil são urgentes, notadamente porque já há comprovação científica dos benefícios relacionados ao tratamento de diversas enfermidades. Este artigo teve como foco demonstrar que os argumentos apresentados para criminalizar a C. sativa, além de concorrerem para uma conjuntura racista e criminalizadora de classes sociais baixas, violam os princípios bioéticos da beneficência, autonomia e justiça, ao impedir que o sujeito tenha acesso a prescrições médicas adequadas e menos onerosas, a fim de proporcionar o alívio de suas dores físicas e psíquicas. Para tanto, utilizou-se da metodologia qualitativa, por meio da qual se realizou revisão bibliográfica de artigos científicos publicados em português, entre os anos de 2015 e 2020, nas bases de dados Google Scholar e Scientific Electronic Library Online, juntamente com pesquisa de resoluções da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária e do Conselho Federal de Medicina. De posse desses dados, constatou-se a necessidade de democratização no acesso à C. sativa medicinal, sendo imprescindível o fornecimento gratuito de canabidiol pelo Sistema Único de Saúde, bem como uma normatização que permita o cultivo da C. sativa para fins medicinais para a produção de medicamentos no país.
The medicinal use of Cannabis sativa L., usually called marijuana, has been known since ancient times, due to its enhanced therapeutic properties. Discussions about its medicinal use in Brazil are urgent, especially because there is already scientific proof of the benefits that it can produce in treatment of various diseases. Therefore, it is essential that there is support from the State so that access to C. sativa for medicinal purposes is universal, considering the right to health treatments as a fundamental right, provided for in the Constitution. However, the use and possession for own consumption are still criminalized. Thus, the article seeks to demonstrate that the justifications presented to criminalize this plant, in addition to contributing to a racist marginalization of low social classes, violate Bioethical precepts, by preventing patients from accessing medical prescriptions that are adequate and less costly, to provide relief from their physical and mental pain. For that, we used a qualitative methodology. A bibliographic review of scientific articles published in Portuguese, between the years 2015 and 2020, was carried out in the Google Scholar and Scientific Electronic Library Online databases. Resolutions of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency, as well as of the Federal Council of Medicine were also considered. With these data, this article concludes that the need for democratization in access to medicinal C. sativa is imperative, by supplying patients with CBD compounds through the Brazilian National Public Health System, and by enacting legislation that allows for the cultivation of C. sativa for medicinal purposes and for medicine production in Brazil.
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Bioethics , JurisprudenceABSTRACT
Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common disorder with rising incidence due to increased use of digital devices. While multiple treatment options are available, some are not efficacious or sometimes even safe for use in DES. This is particularly true for Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) that may contain ingredients having no rational for their use or may actually be harmful. Various committees appointed by the Government have reviewed several FDCs marketed in India and found some of them to be irrational and recommended for their removal. This paper discusses the contents of some of these FDCs marketed for DES with an aim to ensure that prescribers are mindful of their ingredients and whether there is adequate data about their efficacy and safety and prescribe them only if they consider them necessary for managing the patient.
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Resumo Este artigo pretende focar três preocupações da saúde pública do século XIX em São Paulo para demonstrar que os grandes marcos legislativos ou as importantes epidemias do período - tratados como decisivos pela historiografia - tiveram pouca ou nenhuma importância sobre os processos sociais que impulsionaram mudanças longe da capital. As três preocupações paulistanas que serão tratadas são a prisão, o cemitério e o comércio de víveres. Por se tratar de um raciocínio bastante divergente do que hoje se entende como saúde pública, o artigo iniciará com uma discussão acerca do pensamento sobre salubridade no século XIX, e também sobre o anacronismo que muitas vezes permeia os estudos a esse respeito. Em seguida, se focará sobre a prisão, que era uma questão de primeira ordem quanto à saúde pública no século XIX, e mais ainda em São Paulo (e possivelmente em todo o Brasil), onde havia um grande trânsito entre o interior das prisões e o espaço urbano. Logo após, será tratada a questão dos cemitérios, que se apresentava também como um tema muito importante de saúde pública, mas que esbarrava no poder eclesiástico e por isso gerava tensão. Por fim, a questão dos víveres, que era em São Paulo o item menos consoante com as demandas modernas de saúde.
Abstract In this article, I intend to focus on three public health concerns of the nineteenth century in São Paulo, to demonstrate that the great legislative milestones or important epidemics of the period - regarded by historiographers as decisive - had little to no importance on the social processes that drove changes away from the capital. The three concerns I will be addressing are the prison, the cemetery, and the food trade. Because this is a very divergent reasoning from what is now understood as public health, I will begin with a discussion about the concept of health in the nineteenth century, and also about the anachronism that often permeates studies on this topic. Then, I will focus on the prison, which was a first order issue regarding public health in the nineteenth century, and even more so in São Paulo (and possibly throughout Brazil), where there was a great traffic between the interior of the prisons and the urban space. After that, I will tackle the issue of cemeteries, which was a very important public health topic, but one that generated tension, since it ran into ecclesiastical power. And finally, the issue of food, which was, in São Paulo, the item least consonant with modern demands of health.
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Background: Medicinal plants are part of traditional medicine and should be considered a therapeutic alternative for mental diseases. Several plants belonging to the Verbenaceae family have proved useful in treating general anxiety disorders, the most prevalent psychiatric disorders. Objective: This research aimed to verify the extract's safety, the effect on general behavior, and the effect on sleeping time, as well as to evaluate the anxiolytic-like effect of the methanol extract of Aloysia virgata var. platyphylla (Avp), in mice. Methodology: The toxicity test was done according to the OECD guide (mice groups n=5), and general behavior was observed during the assay. Sleeping time was assessed using the pentobarbital-induced hypnosis method (n=8). Male Swiss albino mice (n=6) were treated with 50 to 400 mg/kg of Avp extract and diazepam as a control. The anxiolytic-like effect was tested through the hole board and elevated plus-maze test. Results: The Avp extract has no side effects in tested doses, and no central nervous system depressant activity was noted. A. virgatavar. platyphyllaincreased exploration (number and time) in the hole board. In the elevated plus-maze, increased number and time into open arms were evidenced compared to the control group. Conclusion: With all these results, we concluded that the Avp extract is safe and has a potential anxiolytic-like activity in the animal model used
Antecedentes: Las plantas medicinales forman parte de la medicina tradicional y deben ser consideradas una alternativa terapéutica para las enfermedades mentales. Varias plantas pertenecientes a la familia Verbenaceae han demostrado su utilidad en el tratamiento de los trastornos de ansiedad, uno de los trastornos psiquiátricos más prevalentes. Objetivo: Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo verificar la seguridad del extracto, el efecto sobre el comportamiento general y el efecto sobre el tiempo de sueño, así como evaluar el efecto tipo ansiolítico del extracto metanólico de Aloysia virgata var. platyphylla(Avp), en ratones. Metodología: La prueba de toxicidad se realizó de acuerdo con la guía de la OCDE (grupos de ratones n=5), y se observó el comportamiento general durante el ensayo. El tiempo de sueño se evaluó mediante el método de hipnosis inducida por pentobarbital (n=8). Se trataron ratones albinos suizos macho (n=6) con 50 a 400 mg/kg de extracto de Avp y diazepam como control. El efecto ansiolítico se probó a través de la placa perforada y prueba del laberinto en cruz elevado. Resultados: El extracto de Avp no tiene efectos secundarios en las dosis probadas y no se observó actividad depresora del sistema nervioso central. A. virgata var. platyphylla aumentó la exploración (número y tiempo) en el tablero de agujeros. En el laberinto en cruz elevado, se evidenció un mayor número y tiempo en los brazos abiertos en comparación con el grupo de control. Conclusión: Con todos estos resultados, concluimos que el extracto de Avp es seguro y tiene una potencial actividad ansiolítica en el modelo animal utilizado
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Animals , Male , Mice , Sleep/drug effects , Anti-Anxiety Agents , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Verbenaceae/chemistry , Models, AnimalABSTRACT
La vida y obra de algunos hombres y mujeres de la historia de la Medicina, transita a veces, sin artilugios, acompañadas tan solo de la humildad y la sabiduría de estos. Es por ello, que al resumir en breves líneas el tiempo de enseñanzas y heroicidades de estos paradigmas, solo se cumple con el noble objetivo de exponer a las nuevas generaciones la labor realizada por maestros, como lo fue, el Dr. Netptali Taquechel Tusiente. A través de la realización de una revisión histórica de su vida y aportes y con la obtención de los datos por medio de la entrevista, el expediente laboral y académico como fuente primaria, se procesó la información. Los aportes de este internista estuvieron centrados en la especialidad de Medicina interna y en su actividad como líder del Ministerio de Salud Pública en diversos escenarios, pero el mayor de todos fue ser considerado una figura paradigmática de la salud pública. Se concluye que este médico cubano transitó de joven revolucionario y destacado estudiante a profesor de alto reconocimiento en la educación médica y figura inolvidable para todo el que lo conoció, con un merecido puesto entre los grandes de la historia de la Medicina cubana.
The life and work of some men and women in the history of medicine sometimes pass through without any gadgets, accompanied only by their humility and wisdom. That is why, when summarizing in few lines the time of teachings and heroisms of these paradigms, the noble objective of exposing to the new generations the work carried out by teachers such as Dr. Netptali Taquechel Tusiente is fulfilled. A historical review of the life and contributions of the aforementioned doctor was carried out, and the information was processed by obtaining data from interviews as well as from his employment and academic records as a primary source. The contributions of this internist were focused on the specialty of internal medicine as well as on his activity as a leader of the Ministry of Public Health in various settings, but the greatest of all was to be considered as a paradigmatic figure of public health. It is concluded that this Cuban doctor went from being a revolutionary young man and an outstanding student to a highly recognized professor in medical education and an unforgettable figure for all who knew him, with a deserved position among the greats in the history of Cuban medicine.
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Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Background: Medical education is an extensively evolving field. Not only the medical curriculum keeps changing with time, so does the requirements for the students and teachers. Chalk and board is traditionally the most commonly used method of teaching whereas PowerPoint (PPT) presentation is the new generation most commonly used method. Aim and Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the preference and perspectives of the undergraduate MBBS students’ pertaining to the two most commonly used audiovisual teaching aids namely chalk and board verses PPT presentation. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving two batches of MBBS undergraduate students. Results: A total of 144 students participated in the study. Eighty-four students were from 2nd year and 60 students from final year MBBS. In our study, we got favorable responses (Likert scale 4 and 5) for chalk and board method in 84 (58%) and for PPT presentation in 60 (41.9%) of students. One hundred and nineteen (82.6%) students preferred class notes over handouts. Most of the parameters were comparable among the two methods except the statements of lecture being interesting, interactive, better problem-solving, and emphasis on important points being in favor of chalk and board; and those of clarity, better diagrams ad flowcharts, covering more topics, and clinical case demonstration were in favor of PPT. Conclusion: No single aid is perfect in all aspects. Hence, a suitable aid should be chosen depending on the topic, clinical scenario, level of complexity of topics, and understanding that is required.
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Objective:To compare and analyze the differences in the setup accuracy of different immobilization method in breast cancer radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 60 patients who received radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery from January to August, 2021. These patients were divided into two groups. One group consisted of 30 cases who were immobilized using a modified body thermoplastic membrane combined with a multifunction body board during the breast cancer radiotherapy and was called the modified body thermoplastic membrane group. The other group comprised 30 cases immobilized using a vacuum cushion during breast cancer radiotherapy and was referred to as the vacuum cushion group. The setup errors, 3D vector errors, the proportion of errors of > 5 mm, and the dosimetric differences in the planning target volume (PTV) and the clinical target volume (CTV) before and after simulated treatment bed moving (including the PTV_ V100, PTV_ V95, and CTV_ V95 before simulated treatment bed moving and the PTV_ V100 S, PTV_ V95 S, and CTV_ V95 S after simulated treatment bed moving) were compared between two groups. Moreover, for the modified body thermoplastic membrane group, the changes in the average setup errors at different radiotherapy stages were also analyzed. Results:A total of 369 cone-beam CT scans were conducted for 60 patients, including 195 CT scans for the modified body thermoplastic membrane group and 174 CT scans for the vacuum cushion group. The setup errors in the x, y, and z directions (right-left, anterior-posterior, and superior-inferior, respectively) of the modified body thermoplastic membrane group were (2.59±1.98) mm, (2.38±2.04) mm, and (1.45±1.16) mm, respectively, while those of the other group were (2.24±1.63) mm, (2.78±2.17) mm, and (2.70±1.88) mm, respectively. The 3D vector errors of both groups were (4.32±2.28) mm and (5.13±2.14) mm, respectively. Therefore, the setup error in direction z and the 3D vector error of the modified body thermoplastic membrane group were less than those of the vacuum cushion group ( t = -7.77, -3.41, P<0.05). Moreover, the proportion of setup errors of > 5 mm in the x direction of the vacuum cushion group was lower than that of the modified body thermoplastic membrane group ( χ2 = 7.13, P<0.05), while such proportion in the z direction of the modified body thermoplastic membrane group was lower than that of the vacuum cushion group ( χ2= 5.90, P<0.05). After the simulated treatment bed moving, the PTV_ V100 S of the modified body thermoplastic membrane group was better than that of the vacuum cushion group ( t = 2.47, P < 0.05). Furthermore, for the modified body thermoplastic membrane group, the setup errors in the x direction in the first week were higher than those in the 2-3 weeks and 4-5 weeks ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The modified body thermoplastic membrane combined with a multifunction body board yield better immobilization effects than a vacuum cushion. However, it produces high setup errors in the x direction in the first week of the radiotherapy, to which special attention should be paid.
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Graduate education emphasizes the development of students’ scientific research andinnovation abilities. Literature reading and discussion (LRD) plays an active role in the development ofinnovative thinking and critical thinking for graduate students. However, in traditional, large molecularbiology classes, the effective implementation of large-scale, collective LRD presents a great challenge. Mosoteach is a cloud-based free app designed specifically for education with powerful human-computerinteraction and human-human interaction functions. In the present study, LRD was introduced into amolecular biology course for graduate students and was conducted via the Mosoteach app. The onlinediscussion board in the Mosoteach cloud class was restricted to enrolled students and was designated theprivate online discussion board (PODB). The PODB built a sense of community for students and was aneffective approach for organizing and facilitating discussion in large classes. Small-group learning in LRDwas helpful to understand the literature and foster collaboration and discussion. Overall, we demonstratedthat Mosoteach-based LRD was helpful in improving student learning outcomes. The relationship betweenstudent learning style and engagement, satisfaction and academic performance in cloud classes meritsfurther investigation.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To compare the comprehensive performance of three Varian on-board image (OBI) image systems (KV-CBCT, KV-planar and MV-EPID) and to explore the value of the combined application of these three systems in daily image-guided radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer.Methods:KV-CBCT, KV-planar and MV-EPID scanning and registration were carried out in the left and right/abdominal and back/head and foot direction on human head and neck phantom. The set-up error, registration time, additional radiation dose and image quality of the three systems were compared by F-test.Results:KV-CBCT, kV-planar and MV-EPID were scanned for 55 times, respectively, and the set-up errors in the left and right/abdominal and back/head and foot direction of the three image-guided systems were (0.00±5.43)/(-0.02±5.49)/(0.02±5.58) mm, (0.04±5.49)/(0.02±5.56)/(0.02±5.54) mm, (0.02±5.22)/(0.11±5.34)/(-0.04±5.33) mm, respectively ( P=0.999, 1.000, 0.989). The average time consuming was (200±45) s, (120±36) s and (115±42) s; the additional radiation dose from low to high was kV-planar, KV-CBCT and MV-EPID; the image quality from low to high was MV-EPID, kV-planar and KV-CBCT. Conclusions:Three image-guided systems can meet the requirements of image-guided radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer. Based on the overall performance of the three systems, 1 CBCT+ 4 kV planar per week is recommended and EPID should be used as a backup system in daily image-guided radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer. This scheme makes full use of the high image quality of CBCT and the low radiation of kV planar to realize the regular detection of nasopharyngeal cancer volume change and the implementation of high-precision radiotherapy.