Postural dysautonomia in response to head-up tilt in a military pilot aspirant: Aeromedical considerations

Intolerance to orthostasis encompasses a group of responses on assumption of upright posture. One such response is postural dysautonomia. One of the types of postural dysautonomia is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which is characterised by an increase in heart rate of more than 30 bpm without hypotension along with other features of dysautonomia on attaining an erect posture, either actively or passively. This paper brings out a case of postural dysautonomia in a pilot aspirant in response to Head-up tilt (HUT) test. A 23-year-old female military pilot aspirant reported for evaluation of Syncope and Air Sickness. She gave a history of solitary episode of loss of consciousness on ground while preparing for an early morning sortie. She was diagnosed with a case of neurocardiogenic syncope and was put back to flying training. Subsequently, after about 2 months, she developed features of air sickness while flying and also could not tolerate preliminary motion sickness desensitisation at her unit. A thorough medical evaluation failed to reveal any neurocardiological abnormality. Before commencing the air sickness desensitisation protocol at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, she was subjected to HUT during which she developed signs and symptoms suggestive of postural dysautonomia. A test retest assessment with repeat HUT and passive standing test revealed similar responses.

Development, validation & pilot testing of a questionnaire to assess healthcare seeking behaviour, healthcare service utilization & out-of-pocket expenditure of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of Odisha, India

Background & objectives: Assessing healthcare seeking behaviour (HSB), healthcare utilization and related out-of-pocket expenditures of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of India through a prism of the health system may help to achieve equitable health outcomes. Therefore, this comprehensive study was envisaged to examine these issues among PVTGs of Odisha, India. However, there exists no validated questionnaire to measure these variables among PVTGs. Therefore, a study questionnaire was developed for this purpose and validated. Methods: Questionnaire was constructed in four phases: questionnaire development, validity assessment, pilot testing and reliability assessment. Nine domain experts face validated questionnaire in two rounds, followed by a single round of quantitative content validity. Next, the questionnaire was pretested in three rounds using cognitive interviews and pilot-tested among 335 and 100 eligible individuals for the two sections healthcare seeking behaviour (HSB-Q) and maternal and child healthcare service utilization (MCHSU-Q). Internal consistency reliability was assessed for de novo HSB-Q. Results: On two rounds of expert-driven face validity, 55 items were eliminated from 200 items. Questionnaire showed moderate to high content validity (item-level content validity index range: 0.78 to 1, scale-level content validity index/universal agreement: 0.73; scale-level content validity index/average: 0.96 and multirater kappa statistics range: 0.6 to 1). During the pre-test, items were altered until saturation was achieved. Pilot testing helped to refine interview modalities. The Cronbach alpha and McDonald’s omega assessing internal consistency of HSB-Q were 0.8 and 0.85, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: The questionnaire was found to be valid and reliable to explore healthcare seeking behaviour, maternal and child healthcare utilization and related out-of-pocket expenditure incurred by PVTGs of Odisha, India.

Telemonitoreo y sistema de alerta en tiempo real en insuficiencia cardiaca: estudio piloto de factibilidad, aceptabilidad y eficacia / Telemonitoring and a real-time alert system in heart failure: a preliminary pilot study of feasibility, acceptability and efficacy

Resumen Introducción: Existe creciente evidencia que el telemonitoreo (TM) de pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca (IC) parece mejorar su evolución. No se han diseñado y evaluado plataformas de TM en Argentina. El objetivo fue evaluar la factibilidad, aceptabilidad, usabilidad y eficacia preliminar de una plataforma de TM de IC. Métodos: Se realizó un ensayo piloto apareado abierto, con un modelo de intervención de un solo grupo. Los pacientes con IC fueron incluidos en una consulta ambulatoria en enero de 2021. Se diseñó una pla taforma de TM las 24 h y 7 días de la semana. El punto final primario a 30 días fue la factibilidad, aceptabilidad y usabilidad. Resultados: Se incluyeron 20 pacientes, con una media de edad 62 ± 10 años. Se analizaron 542 cargas de parámetros. La autopercepción relacionada al estado de salud en comparación al inicio fue "levemente" o "marcadamente mejor" en el 60% de los pacientes, y en 75% "de acuerdo" o "totalmente de acuerdo" que el TM mejora el cuidado de la IC. En el 80% la carga diaria de parámetros no interfirió en su vida cotidiana. La media total de adherencia farmacológica previa a la intervención de TM fue de 6.8 ± 1.3 y posterior 7.7 ± 0,4 (p = 0.019), sin encontrar diferencias en las escalas de autocuidado. Conclusión: El TM de pacientes con IC parece ser factible, con un adecuado grado de aceptabilidad. Se observó un aumento significativo en la tasa de total adherencia, plantea una hipótesis de potencial beneficio a evaluar en una muestra mayor.

Abstract Introduction: There is growing evidence that telemonitoring (TM) in heart failure (HF) seems to improve their outcome. TM platforms have not been designed and evaluated in Argentina. The objective was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, usability and preliminary efficacy of a HF TM platform. Methods: An open-label, paired pilot trial was conducted with a single-group intervention model. HF patients were included in an outpatient clinic in January 2021. A 24-hour*7-day TM platform was designed. The primary endpoint at 30 days was feasibility, acceptability, and usability. Results: Twenty patients were included, mean age 62 ± 10 years; 542 parameter loads were analyzed. Self-perception related to health status compared to baseline was "slightly" or "markedly better" in 60% of patients, and in 75% "agree" or "totally agree" that TM improves patient care. In 80%, the load ing of parameters did not interfere with their daily activities. The total mean pharmacological adherence prior to the TM intervention was 6.8 ± 1.3 and 7.7 ± 0.4 afterward (p = 0.019), with no differences found in the self-care scales. Conclusion: The TM of patients with HF seems to be feasible, with an adequate degree of acceptability. A significant increase in the total adherence rate was reduced, raising a hypothesis of potential benefit to be evaluated in a larger sample.

“Liquid seal to detoxification – drying and puffing” of two stage processing technology design and pharmacodynamic study of aconite (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) processed by microwave / 药学学报

Establish a production line with controllable process and high intelligence, contribute to improve the quality and production efficiency of aconite processed by microwave, and promote the transformation and application of aconite processed by microwave. According to the principle of aconite detoxification and the characteristics of industrial microwave equipment, an industrial production line of aconite processed by microwave was established with diester alkaloids and monoester alkaloids as indicators, and pilot production was carried out. At the same time, the content of active constituents and efficacy were compared with that of the main processed products, such as Shengfupian, Baifupian and Heishunpian. The results showed that the industrial production of aconite processed by microwave can be divided into two stages: "Liquid seal to detoxification - drying and puffing". The content of monoester alkaloids in 10 batches of aconite processed by microwave was 0.071%-0.166% and the content of diester alkaloids was 0.004%-0.016%, which met the relevant requirements of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia in 2020. Compared with Heishunpian and Baifupian, the retention rate of the effective components of aconite processed by microwave was higher. Pharmacological experiments showed that aconite processed by microwave not only retained the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Heishunpian and Baifupian, but also significantly increased the levels of leukocytes and lymphocytes in mice with liver cancer chemotherapy, enhanced the CD4/CD8 ratio in spleen cells of mice (P < 0.05), thus regulating the body's immunity. However, this effect of Baifupian was weak, while Heishunpian and Shengfupian had no such effect. Through the above research, this study established microwave processing line with controllable process and high intelligence, as well produced the aconite processed by microwave with low toxicity and stable quality. It laid a foundation for the industrialized continuous production and clinical positioning of aconite by microwave processed, and provided scientific support for the development and application of microwave technology in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. All animal experiments in this study were reviewed and approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine before being carried out (Approval No. 2020-28).

Sleeping quality in civil aviation pilots and associated influence factors / 环境与职业医学

Background Civil aviation pilots are actual operators of civil aircraft. Their job operations are directly associated with passenger safety and flight safety. Unsafe aviation operations are related to fatigue caused by poor sleep quality. Recently, with the promotion of China's air transportation business, irregular working hours of civil aviation pilots rise gradually. However, there is still a lack of relevant research on the influence of working conditions on sleep quality in this group. Objective To explore potential impact factors of sleep quality among civil aviation pilots, for the purposes of improving sleep quality and health level of this group and ensuring aviation flight safety by formulating health management suggestions in a targeted manner. Methods All pilots of an aviation company were approached when they visited the Shanghai Hospital of Civil Aviation Administration of China for their health examinations. After informed consent, an online questionnaire survey was conducted. Self-made questionnaires were used to collect information on general conditions, lifestyle, and subjective work stress levels. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. A total of 1204 valid questionnaires were recovered. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 software. Results There were 410 pilots (16.8%) who reported sleep disorders, including insufficient sleep time, difficulty falling asleep, and poor sleep quality, and 894 pilots (74.3%) who reported moderate to severe work stress. Associations were identified between sleep quality of pilots and work stress or lifestyle indicators (P<0.05), while work stress showed the strongest association (r=0.28). Further multiple-factor analysis results showed that severe work stress (OR=4.25, 95%CI: 2.89, 6.30) and alcohol use (OR=1.72, 95%CI: 1.31, 2.27) associated with an increased risk of sleep disorders. Regular breakfast (OR=0.62, 95%CI: 0.42, 0.91) and physical exercise (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.45, 1.03) associated with a lower risk of sleep disorders. Conclusion A certain degree of sleep disturbance is reported in the civil aviation pilot group, which is closely related to work stress and lifestyle indicators. Targeted measures must be taken to effectively improve the quality of their sleep.

Antecedentes de la formación archivística en Costa Rica / Antecedents of the archivistic formation in Costa Rica

Resumen El artículo tiene como objetivo centrar su atención en el análisis, para darlo a conocer a la comunidad archivística costarricense, de los principales antecedentes que dieron origen a la formación archivística universitaria en Costa Rica; es decir, se investigó sobre la antesala de lo que 1978 dio origen al Diplomado en Archivo Administrativo en la entonces Escuela de Historia y Geografía de Facultad de Ciencias Sociales de Universidad de Costa Rica. Por lo tanto, el trabajo corresponde a una investigación histórica y exploratoria; en el primer caso porque se analiza e interpreta un proceso en perspectiva histórica y el segundo porque es un tema poco estudiado por la historiografía archivística costarricense. La metodología para la realización del trabajo fue el análisis documental, a partir de fuentes de información bibliográficas y documentos de archivos, que quedan reflejados en apartado de referencias bibliográficas. Así las cosas, el artículo presenta un recorrido por el origen de la Archivística en Costa Rica y los diferentes acontecimientos que antecedieron a la creación del Diplomado en Archivo Administrativo. Se concluye, entre otras cosas, que el Proyecto Piloto de la Unesco sentó las bases para el desarrollo archivístico costarricense, la modernización de los archivos y el origen de la formación archivística reglada en el país.

Abstract The article has the objective to center your attention in the analysis, to be known by the Costa Rican archivistic community, of the main antecedents that gave birth to the university archivistic formation in Costa Rica; meaning that an investigation was developed in the anteroom of 1978 with origin of the diploma in administrative archive in the old School of Geography and History of the Faculty of Social Science of the Costa Rican University. The work belongs to an historical and exploratory investigation, cause analyses one process in an historical perspective, and the second one, because it has been little studied by the Costa Rican archivistic historiography. The methodology applied for the work was the documentary analysis based on bibliographical information, and documents from archives that are reflected in the bibliographical references. The article shows a travel around the origins of the archive studies in Costa Rica, and the different events before the creation of the degree in Administrative Archive. To conclude this, the pilot project of the UNESCO, has created the bases for the archivistic development in Costa Rica, the modernization of the archives and the origins of the current archive formation rules in the country.

Thoughts on Pilot of Medical Device Registrant in Guangdong Province / 中国医疗器械杂志

This article introduces the basic situation of the pilot medical devices registrant of Guangdong province, by analyzing the approval pilot enterprise and product information, results and characteristics of inductive work, points out many problems such as Shenzhen enterprises account for a large proportion, lack of benefits, response inactive, etc. analyzes the related reasons, including the existence of the alternative policies, the protection of intellectual property rights, cost factors, tend to increasee industry development foundation, etc., and puts forward suggestions for the perfect job, including speeding up legislation, building a demonstration project, improving regulation ability, etc.

Analysis on the current situation of hospice care service in a district of Beijing / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective:To analyze the terminal survey data of hospice care services in a district of Beijing in 2020, and discuss its current situation and existing problems of hospice care services in this district for countermeasures, hence providing reference for the development of hospice care services.Methods:Data were collected from the " Terminal Survey Forms of the Second Batch of Hospice Care Pilot Areas in China in 2020" , which were reported by 4 tertiary hospitals and 5 community health service centers in a district of Beijing. The reporting timeframe ranged from January to December 2020. Text analysis method was used to analyze the hospice care mode, relevant security policies, hospice care team, case diagnosis categories, average hospitalization days and patient cost burden. All the data were subject to descriptive analysis.Results:In 2020, only 4 tertiary hospitals carried out outpatient, consultation and inpatient services of hospice care among the 9 medical institutions in a certain district of Beijing, and none of them carried out home hospice care services. The number of doctors and nurses engaged in hospice care in the four hospitals was 35 and 40 respectively; There were 267 inpatient cases of hospice care, including 121 cases of malignant tumors, accounting for 45.32%; The average hospitalization days of hospice patients (40.0 days) was more than that of the hospital (7.8 days); The average daily hospitalization cost of hospice patients (3 428.7 yuan) was lower than that of the hospital (3 605.6 yuan); Hospice care services had not been included in the scope of medical insurance payment, and the relevant security policies were not perfect.Conclusions:The work of hospice care service in a district of Beijing remains at an initial stage, and the professional team building and supporting policies for hospice care fail to catch up with the demand in this district. The authors suggest to speed up the development of hospice care in primary medical institutions, build a network of " hospital -community-family" levels, enhance training of professionals and technical personnel of hospice care, as well as establish and improve the medical security system, so as to promote the rapid development of hospice care services in this district.

Analysis on the promotion effect of the national multi-disciplinary team diagnosis and treatment pilot project of digestive system tumors / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective:To analyze the progress and promotion effect of the national multidisciplinary team(MDT) pilot project of digestive system tumor diagnosis and treatment, for the reference in promoting the popularition of tumor MDT model.Methods:The data of MDT project evaluation forms of 231 digestive system tumor MDT pilot hospitals in 2018(July 2017 to June 2018), 2019(July 2018 to June 2019)and 2020(July 2018 to June 2019)were obtained. The MDT of digestive system tumors, the development of outpatient and inpatient MDT, the distribution of cases, and the management, charging and regional radiation of MDT in the pilot hospital were analyzed. Descriptive analysis and frequency analysis were used for all the data.Results:With pilot hospitals of missing data excluded, the number of pilot hospitals included in the analysis from 2018 to 2020 was 227, 224 and 224, respectively.The number of pilot hospitals carrying out digestive system tumor MDT increased from 174 in 2018 to 222 in 2020, the number of outpatient and inpatient MDT cases increased from 48 332 and 61 823 to 72 493 and 106 899 respectively, and the proportion of pilot hospitals implementing the MDT management system increased from 159 to 214. In 2020, the average expenses of outpatient and inpatient MDT were mainly 200-500 yuan, and 135(60.3%) pilot hospitals became the leading MDT hospitals in the region.Conclusions:The MDT pilot project of digestive system tumors in China has achieved remarkable results.For example, the number of pilot hospitals carrying out MDT keeps increasing year by year, and the pilot hospitals have played a leading role in the region. In order to accelerate the coverage of the tumor MDT model, the authors suggested that the hospitals should optimize MDT in terms of patient accessibility, optimize management mode, promote the medical insurance reimbursement, and strengthen regional influence.

Use of the Brazilian version of the Interpersonal Negotiation Strategies Interview (INSI) in a child and adolescent sample: a pilot study

Abstract Introduction Interpersonal negotiation skills (INS) comprise actions used to solve social situations between interacting individuals involving different needs or desires. These abilities are part of one's social competence and may be impaired in some psychiatric conditions. There are few validated psychometric tools for measuring INS in the literature. This pilot study aimed to investigate some basic psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Interpersonal Negotiation Strategies Interview (INSI) in children and adolescents. Methods We developed a new version of the INSI adapted to the Brazilian culture using eight different dilemmas in dyadic situations (with peers and adults), presented visually as drawings on cards. A group of psychologists and psychiatrists chose and adapted the dilemmas formerly proposed by the original version. The same scoring criteria as for the original instrument were used. A total of 20 children and adolescents were included in this pilot study. We investigated test reliability using measures of interrater reliability, test-retest, and internal consistency. The content validity of the INSI was also evaluated by comparison with scores from the Child Behavior Checklist-Revised (CBCL). Results Internal consistency and test-retest evaluations were acceptable (rater 1: α = 0.77; rater 2: α = 0.72); the reliability of the instrument was excellent (K = 0.078; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.98; 95% confidence interval 0.97-0.99); and content validity was strongly significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions Preliminary results suggest that this version of the INSI has good interrater reliability and internal consistency and constitutes a promising tool to assess social competence.

Efecto de una intervención de teleenfermería en contexto pandemia para prevenir anemia infantil: estudio piloto en lambayeque, perú

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de una intervención de teleenfermería en contexto de pandemia para prevenir la anemia infantil en Perú. Material y Método: Estudio piloto, analítico, cuasi experimental con pre y pos-test. La muestra estuvo constituida por 60 madres de un establecimiento de atención primaria de Lambayeque, Perú, que fueron seleccionadas a conveniencia y luego asignadas al Grupo control (30) y Grupo experimental (30), este último sometido a una intervención de teleenfermería de 4 meses. El efecto se midió comparando el promedio de hemoglobina e ingesta alimentaria de hierro antes y después de la intervención. La hemoglobina fue determinada bioquímicamente a través del análisis de sangre; la ingesta alimentaria de hierro fue recogida mediante entrevistas telefónicas a través del recordatorio de 24 horas. Resultados: El promedio de hemoglobina en el grupo experimental no presentó diferencia significativa entre el inicio y el final de la intervención (p= 0,199); en el grupo control el promedio de hemoglobina presentó diferencias significativas entre el inicio y el final de la intervención (p= 0,013). El promedio de ingesta alimentaria de hierro en los niños del grupo control (p= 0,049) y experimental (p= 0,000) sí tuvieron diferencias significativas entre el inicio y el final de la intervención. Conclusión: Los niños que recibieron la intervención con teleenfermería se mantuvieron sin anemia y la ingesta alimentaria de hierro aumentó por lo que se corrobora que los programas de teleenfermería tienen el potencial de incrementar información sobre alimentación, favoreciendo la salud del niño, de la madre y la familia.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a telenursing intervention in the context of the pandemic to prevent childhood anemia in Peru. Material and Method: Pilot, analytical, quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-test. The sample consisted of 60 mothers from a primary health care facility in Lambayeque, Peru, who were selected at convenience and then assigned to a control group (30) and an experimental group (30), with the latter being subjected to a 4 months telenursing intervention. The effect was measured by comparing the average hemoglobin and dietary iron intake before and after the intervention. Hemoglobin level was determined biochemically through blood analysis. Dietary iron intake was collected through telephone interviews following a 24-hour recall. Results: The average hemoglobin level in the experimental group did not show significant differences between the beginning and the end of the intervention (p= 0.199); whereas in the control group, the average hemoglobin level showed significant differences between the beginning and the end of the intervention (p= 0.013). The average dietary intake of iron among the children of the control group (p= 0.049) and the experimental group (p= 0.000) had a significant difference between the beginning and the end of the intervention. Conclusion: The children who received the telenursing intervention suffered no anemia and the dietary iron intake increased, thus corroborating that telenursing programs have the potential of offering more information on nutrition, favoring the health of the child, the mother and the family.

Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de uma intervenção de telenfermagem no contexto da pandemia para prevenir a anemia infantil no Peru. Material e Método: Estudo piloto, analítico, quase-experimental com pré e pós-teste. A amostra foi composta por 60 mães de uma unidade básica de saúde de Lambayeque, Peru, que foram selecionadas por conveniência e depois designadas para um dos dois grupos de pesquisa: grupo controle=30 e um grupo experimental=30, submetido esse último a uma intervenção de telenfermagem de 4 meses. O efeito foi medido comparando a hemoglobina média e a ingestão de ferro dietético antes e depois da intervenção. O nível de hemoglobina foi determinado bioquimicamente através da análise de sangue. A ingestão de ferro dietético foi coletada através de entrevistas telefónicas por meio de um recordátorio de 24 horas. Resultados: O nível médio de hemoglobina no grupo experimental não apresentou diferenças significativas entre o início e o final da intervenção (p= 0,199). No grupo controle, a hemoglobina média mostrou diferenças significativas entre o início e o final da intervenção (p= 0,013). A ingestão alimentar média de ferro entre as crianças do grupo controle (p = 0,049) e do grupo experimental (p = 0,000) teve uma diferença significativa entre o início e o final da intervenção. Conclusão: As crianças que receberam a intervenção de teleenfermagem não sofreram anemia e a ingestão de ferro por via alimentar aumentou, corroborando assim que os programas de teleenfermagem podem oferecer mais informações sobre a nutrição, favorecendo a saúde da criança, da mãe e da família.

In flight emergency decision-making process: does intuition matter?

Objective@#This research aimed to describe the origins and contributions of pilot intuition in the decision-making process and gain knowledge on the urgency and importance of pilot intuition in decision-making.@*Method@#The qualitative methodology used by the researcher is presented along with the phenomenology approach. Three pilots participated in the subject research. In-depth interviews, observation, and data documentation were used to collect the data. The researcher used the triangulation technique (other researchers, methods, theories, and data resources) to affirm data quality and results.@*Result@#The research result showed that the pilot's intuitive decisions to take necessary action are based on ‘unconscious thought’ at the beginning of decision-making. However, it develops a more cognitive process where a pilot has time-critical analysis to rationalize his intuitive yet best decision. Such a decision-making process leads to prompt spontaneous and automatic action in the event of emergencies where data and information needed are lacking. Intuitive decisions and involuntary action are closely associated with the experience and knowledge of pilots in aviation. In an intuitive decision-making process, when time is limited and information/data is adequate, an analysis process can help a pilot identify the problem pattern and help them evaluate possible ideal decisions. An analysis process cannot replace intuition which plays a crucial role in the decision-making process during an emergency.@*Conclusion@#A pilot’s intuition plays a strategic role in decision-making because aviation conditions are dynamic, situational, and constantly changing. Pilot’s intuition can be developed by sharpening their awareness of active and evolving aviation situations (situational and safety awareness). In addition, pilots must build longer flying hours, attend training, and expand their knowledge of aviation policies and procedures.

Chinese medicine dispensing granules: history, status quo, and development prospect in "post-pilot era" / 中国中药杂志

Chinese medicine dispensing granules, the result of the efforts to transform Chinese medicinal decoction pieces in China, features portability and ease of storage. Thus, it is destined to be an indispensible dosage form in the modernization drive of Chinese medicine. The Announcement on Ending the Pilot Project of Chinese Medicine Dispensing Granules was released in February 2021 and relevant regulations went into force in November 2021, which marks the a new journey for the development of Chinese medicine dispensing granules and the beginning of the "post-pilot era". However, it faces the challenges in quality and standard. This study reviewed the history of Chinese medicine dispensing granules, analyzed the technical progress, market, and main problems in development, and proposed suggestions and prospects for its development in the "post-pilot era", which is expected to serve as a reference for its industry development and rational use.

Preparation and validation of a new questionnaire to study faculty perception of online teaching - Use of Cronbach’s alpha and pilot.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced educators to shift to virtual online classes. Teachers being major stakeholders in the medical teaching-learning process, it becomes important to understand their perception towards this new endeavour. It will make this transition beneficial to the learners. Objectives: To document the process of validation of a new questionnaire devised to study the perception of medical undergraduate teaching faculty towards online classes, using Cronbach’s alpha, and the subsequent pilot for the same. Results: At initial validation, Cronbach’s alpha was not acceptable (0.65) for the questionnaire. One item was scored low by two validators and was removed. Three items were given poor rating for lay out, clarity and feasibility and required editing. The Cronbach’s alpha after revision was 0.92 (acceptable). Pilot study was conducted. Based on the proportion of positive perception (36.4%) regarding ongoing online teaching programme, conducted on 11 teaching faculty with 10% absolute precision and 95% confidence, the minimum sample size for the main study was calculated to be 89. This was feasible from the point of view of total faculty strength. Conclusion: Research work involving a new tool, such as questionnaire, must utilize the statistical tool Cronbach’s alpha for validation, and pilot study for estimating the sample size and testing the content validity.

Aplicación piloto de un programa de reminiscencia positiva para personas mayores institucionalizadas / Pilot application of a positive reminiscence program for institutionalized older people

Resumen Los conocimientos actuales sobre la salud de las personas mayores permiten afirmar que es posible mejorar su calidad de vida, especialmente a través del uso de técnicas no farmacológicas de carácter preventivo. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar una aplicación piloto de un Programa de Reminiscencia Positiva (REMPOS) que en otros países como España y México han demostrado ser efectivo en personas mayores con deterioro cognitivo leve y en población normal institucionalizadas. La población fue de 60 personas mayores pertenecientes a un centro de Larga Estudia del Gran Concepción. La muestra estuvo constituida por 5 personas mayores que aceptaron participar y que cumplían los criterios de inclusión. Instrumentos: se usó el MOCA y Mini Mental para evaluar deterioro leve y normalidad. Procedimiento: se seleccionaron sesiones del REMPOS que podrían tener un sesgo transcultural. Resultados: se encontró que varias de las sesiones necesitaban cambios especialmente con relación a la presencia de analfabetismo funcional, limitación motora y sensorial (vista y oído) en las personas mayores. Se discute la adaptación del programa y las implicaciones derivadas de la institucionalización.

Current knowledge about the health of older people, allows us to affirm that it is possible to improve their quality of life, especially with preventive non-pharmacological techniques. The objective of this article is to present a pilot Application of a Positive Reminiscence Program (REMPOS) which in other countries such as Spain and Mexico have been shown to be effective in older people with mild cognitive impairment and in normal institutionalized populations. The population was 60 older adults belonging to a Long Study center of the Great Conception. The sample consisted of 5 older adults who agreed to participate and who met the inclusion criteria. Instruments MOCA and Mini Mental were used to assess mild impairment and normality. Procedure REMPOS sessions were selected that could have a cross-cultural bias. Results It was found that several of the sessions needed changes especially in relation to the presence of functional illiteracy, motor and sensory limitation (sight and hearing) in older people. Program adaptation and institutionalization are discussed.

Effectiveness and Safety of Moxibustion Robots on Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To conduct a pilot trial to explore the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion robots in treating primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and evaluate its feasibility in clinic.@*METHODS@#A total of 70 participants with PD were allocated to either moxibustion robot (MR) group (35 cases) or manual moxibustion (MM) group (35 cases) using computer-generated randomization. One acupoint Guanyuan (CV 4) was selected to receive moxa heat stimulation. Two groups of participants were given 3 menstrual cycles of MM and MR treatment respectively (once a day, 5 days a session) and received another 3 menstrual cycles follow-up. The degree of pain was evaluated by short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the symptoms of dysmenorrhea were evaluated by Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS). The safety was measured by the occurrence rate of adverse events (AEs), including burns (blisters, red and swollen), itching, bowel changes, menstrual cycle disorder, menorrhagia and fatigue, etc. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients completed the trial, 32 in MR group and 30 in MM group. Compared with baseline, scores of SF-MPQ and CMSS significantly decreased in both groups (P0.05). The total occurrence rate of AEs in MR group was 2.1%, which was significantly lower than MM group (7.2%, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#MR has the same effect as MM at SF-MPQ and CMSS in patients with PD. However, MR is safer than MM (Trial registration No. ChiCTR1800018236).

Is the N-of-1 method applicable in bodywork research? Lessons learned using a trial as a methodological pilot / 中西医结合学报

N-of-1 trial designs have rarely been used in bodywork research. Using a recent trial as a methodological pilot, critical issues related to the applicability of N-of-1 trials to bodywork are discussed. These include the issues of carry-over effects, bias-controlling approaches and statistical analysis. The discussion highlights the importance of mixed methods and draws some suggestions for a future research program. N-of-1 trials could be used to provide insights about some essential elements of bodywork modalities and their effectiveness.

Application and reflection on pilot study in acupuncture clinical research / 中国针灸

Pilot study is essential prerequisite for large-scale research. Acupuncture is a complex intervention measure. The factors of its clinical effect and effect mechanism are complicated. Hence, the resource waste is easily induced in research if the large-scale clinical research is rashly carried out before scientific verification. Currently, there is still a lack of high-quality evidence of clinical research, which affects the promotion and application of the curative effect of acupuncture. The pilot study of acupuncture can evaluate the feasibility and the process coordination of trial, optimize program and process and provide the basis of sample size calculation prior to launching a full-scale trial. Thereby, the methodological quality of acupuncture research and the reliability of trial results can be improved. In the paper, the arguments focus on the definition, design and report of pilot study so as to provide the approaches and references for the design and implementation of pilot study of clinical research of acupuncture.

Analysis of hyperuricemia and its risk factors in male pilots / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence and risk factors of hyperuricemia in male pilots.METHODS: By using the convenient sampling method, 1 561 male pilots were selected as the study subjects. Among them, 678 patients with hyperuricemia were taken as the observation group, and 883 pilots without hyperuricemia were taken as the control group. The incidence of hyperuricemia in the two groups was compared. RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperuricemia in male pilots was 43.4%(678/1 561). The pilots in the observation group had higher body mass index(BMI), higher triglyceride(TG), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), higher mixed hyperlipidemia and higher non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)(all P<0.05) compared with the control group. The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high BMI, high TG, high LDL-C and NAFLD were the risk factors for hyperuricemia in male pilots(odds ratios were 1.517, 1.559, 1.384 and 1.782, respectively, all P<0.01), while age≥40 was a protective factor for hyperuricemia(odds ratio was 0.593, P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hyperuricemia in male pilots is relatively high. The prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia in pilots should be strengthened.

Design and evaluation of a positive intervention to cultivate mental health: preliminary findings

Abstract The past two decades have witnessed a proliferation of positive psychological interventions for clinical and nonclinical populations, and recent research, including meta-analyses, is providing evidence of its effectiveness. Most interventions have focused on increasing life satisfaction, positive affect, and psychological well-being. Manualized, multi-component interventions based on a comprehensive theory are scarce. Keyes' concept of mental health and flourishing (subjective, psychological, and social well-being) is an overarching theoretical framework to guide the design of a multi-component psychological intervention to cultivate well-being and personal development. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to design a theory-driven positive intervention and to pilot test the intervention. The manual presents an 8-week group program that includes homework activities. A sample of 56 young adults completed the intervention. Participants were assessed at base line, after termination, and at a 6-month follow-up session. Standardized instruments were used to assess the dimensions of mental health proposed by Keyes. Pre- and post-test measures of subjective, psychological, and social well-being showed significant differences, as did the total mental health scores. At 6-month follow-up, differences remained in subjective and psychological well-being and in positive mental health, with smaller effect sizes. Limitations of these preliminary findings as well as future lines of research and improvements in this manualized intervention are proposed in the light of current research on positive interventions.