ABSTRACT
Lesion evaluation through photographs is a common clinical practice and its performance using computational tools is encouraged. Objective: To assess the reliability of the computer program SMART Monitoring (SM) in giving adequate lesion measurements through clinical photography. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 28 patients diagnosed with oral or skin flat lesions. Each lesion was measured twice: clinically and by photographic image. Photographs were taken using a 3D-printed scale as a reference for SM measurements of the total lesional area (mm²) and the two longest axes (length and width) by two different operators. The agreement was evaluated between the axis's measurements of the two operators with the clinic measurements by the Bland-Altman plot. Results: Both operators revealed excellent agreement (ICC=0.98) regarding measurements of the lesion's axes and the total lesional area with no difference between operators. Comparison of the axes' values from SM to clinical measurements were also not different (p=0.82 and p=0.43). The Bland-Altman plot revealed that most mean differences were within the 95% confidence interval. Conclusion: SMART Monitoring proved to be a reliable tool for measuring oral or skin flat lesions on clinical photographs, regarding length, width, and total area measurements. The values obtained using SMART Monitoring presented an excellent agreement with the clinical measurements. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Photograph , Dimensional Measurement Accuracy , Wounds and Injuries , Software , Dental CareABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Background: Iron overload is frequent in patients with chronic liver disease, associated with shorter survival after liver transplantation in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis. Its effect on patients without hereditary hemochromatosis is unclear. The aim of the study was to study the clinical impact of iron overload in patients who underwent liver transplantation at an academic tertiary referral center. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study including all patients without hereditary hemochromatosis who underwent liver transplantation from 2015 to 2017 at an academic tertiary referral center in Mexico City. Explant liver biopsies were reprocessed to obtain the histochemical hepatic iron index, considering a score ≥ 0.15 as iron overload. Baseline characteristics were compared between patients with and without iron overload. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, compared with the log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Of 105 patients included, 45% had iron overload. Viral and metabolic etiologies, alcohol consumption, and obesity were more frequent in patients with iron overload than in those without iron overload (43% vs. 21%, 32% vs. 22%, p = 0.011; 34% vs. 9%, p = 0.001; and 32% vs. 12%, p = 0.013, respectively). Eight patients died within 90 days after liver transplantation (one with iron overload). Complication rate was higher in patients with iron overload versus those without iron overload (223 vs. 93 events/100 person-months; median time to any complication of 2 vs. 3 days, p = 0.043), without differences in complication type. Fatality rate was lower in patients with iron overload versus those without iron overload (0.7 vs. 4.5 deaths/100 person-months, p = 0.055). Conclusion: Detecting iron overload might identify patients at risk of early complications after liver transplantation. Further studies are required to understand the role of iron overload in survival.
ABSTRACT
Introducción. El uso de la inteligencia artificial (IA) en la educación ha sido objeto de una creciente atención en los últimos años. La IA se ha utilizado para mejorar la personalización del aprendizaje, la retroalimentación y la evaluación de los estudiantes. Sin embargo, también hay desafíos y limitaciones asociados. El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar las principales tendencias y áreas de aplicación de la inteligencia artificial en la educación, así como analizar los beneficios y limitaciones de su uso en este ámbito. Métodos. Se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática que exploró el empleo de la inteligencia artificial en el ámbito educativo. Esta revisión siguió una metodología de investigación basada en la búsqueda de literatura, compuesta por cinco etapas. La investigación se realizó utilizando Scopus como fuente de consulta primaria y se empleó la herramienta VOSviewer para analizar los resultados obtenidos. Resultados. Se encontraron numerosos estudios que investigan el uso de la IA en la educación. Los resultados sugieren que la IA puede mejorar significativamente la personalización del aprendizaje, proporcionando recomendaciones de actividades y retroalimentación adaptadas a las necesidades individuales de cada estudiante. Conclusiones. A pesar de las ventajas del uso de la IA en la educación, también hay desafíos y limitaciones que deben abordarse, como la calidad de los datos utilizados por la IA, la necesidad de capacitación para educadores y estudiantes, y las preocupaciones sobre la privacidad y la seguridad de los datos de los estudiantes. Es importante seguir evaluando los efectos del uso de la IA en la educación para garantizar su uso efectivo y responsable.
Introduction. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education has been the subject of increasing attention in recent years. AI has been used to improve personalized learning, feedback, and student assessment. However, there are also challenges and limitations. The aim of this study was to identify the main trends and areas of application of artificial intelligence in education, as well as to analyze the benefits and limitations of its use in this field. Methods. A systematic review was carried out on the use of artificial intelligence in education, using a literature search research methodology with five stages, based on the Scopus query and the tool for analyzing results with VOSviewer. Results. Numerous studies investigating the use of AI in education were found. The results suggest that AI can significantly improve personalized learning by providing activity recommendations and feedback tailored to the individual needs of each student. Conclusions. Despite the advantages of using AI in education, there are also challenges and limitations that need to be addressed, such as the quality of data used by AI, the need for training for educators and students, and concerns about the privacy and security of student data. It is important to continue evaluating the effects of AI use in education to ensure its effective and responsible use.
Subject(s)
Humans , Artificial Intelligence , Education , Learning , Software , Educational Measurement , Formative FeedbackABSTRACT
Objective To construct a measurement tool for atrial fibrillation(AF)patients'experience of catheter ablation,in order to provide quantifiable basis for improving the patients'perioperative experience.Methods From Jun 2022 to Apr 2023,literature analysis,qualitative research,Delphi expert consultation,and analytic hierarchy process were used to determine the content and weight of various indicators of the measurement tool.Results The enthusiasm of experts in 3 rounds was 100%.The authority coefficient of experts was 0.946,0.961 and 0.976.The Kendal harmony coefficients of the 2 and 3 rounds of expert consultation was 0.130 and 0.370(P<0.001).The final measurement tool included 46 items and 5 dimensions,including operational and technical quality experience,comfort management experience,information and communication experience,emotional support experience,service process and response experience.Conclusion The preliminary construction of measurement tool for AF patients'experience of catheter ablation,which were based on the features of specialty,could not only evaluate the patients'experience accurately,but also provide a basis for targeted improvement of medical and nursing service quality.
ABSTRACT
Ultrasound measurement of fetal biological parameters is an important indicator for evaluating fetal intrauterine growth and development,and its corresponding fetal growth standards are important criteria for determining whether the measurement parameters are normal or have fetal growth restriction.There are classic regional standards of prenatal ultrasonic measurement that have been used for many years,as well as international standards that have received widespread attention in recent years.However,there is no unified global standard.This paper reviewed the development process and clinical application status of fetal growth standards,explore future research trends,with a view to providing reference value for clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
Objective To establish a candidate reference measurement procedure for the detection of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D3[25(OH)D3]based on isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).Methods Isotope standard solution was used as internal standard,liquid-liquid extraction was used for pre-treatment,and positive ion electrospray ionization mode was used for monitoring.The accuracy,precision,linear range,limit of quantitation,detection limit and relative matrix effect of method were verified based on documents of the America Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)such as C62-A and EP15-A3.Candidate reference measurement procedure and mass spectrometry routine procedure were used to detect 40 clinical serum samples,and to evaluate the consistency of the two methods.Results The analysis time of the candidate method was 15 min.Isometric elution of chromatography was used to effectively separate the isomer 3-epi-25(OH)D3,with good specificity.RELA comparison sample was measured,with a bias of less than 1.5%.The intra-batch precision and inter-batch precision ranged from 0.75%to 2.31%and 1.28%to 2.01%,respectively.The limits of quantification and detection were 0.85 ng/ml and 1.84 ng/ml.It had good linearity in the concentration range of 2.5~220 ng/ml,and there was no relative matrix effect and carrier contamination.The correlation between the mass spectrometry routine procedure and candidate reference procedure was good(r=0.982),while the deviation at low concentration samples exceeded the allowable total error±25%in the external quality assessment of the National Center for Clinical Laboratories.Conclusion A candidate reference measurement procedure for serum 25(OH)D3 technology based on LC-MS/MS was successfully established,and the analytical performance met the requirements,which could be used for quantitative traceability by clinical conventional methods.
ABSTRACT
The nervous system is the carrier of psychological activities, and its functional state directly affects psychological activities.Neuropsychology allows people to understand human psychological activities from the perspective of neuroscience and the correlation between the production of psychological activities and the physiological activities of the brain.It also includes establishing quantitative relationships between human perception, memory, thinking, imagination, attention, personality, intelligence, behavior, and brain function.Neuropsychology is a discipline that studies the relationship between the nervous system and psychological activities and behaviors.Tic disorder (TD) belong to neurodevelopmental disorders and are closely related to neuropsychological states.Studying the neuropsychology of TD is of great significance for their clinical diagnosis and treatment.This article summarizes the current research progress in neuropsychology related to TD in children internationally.
ABSTRACT
Selecting high-quality patient report outcome measures for patients with liver transplantation may properly assess health condition from their perspective, assist nurses in identifying patients′ reports of health issues, and deliver targeted nursing care for them. This paper reviewed the current status of researches on measurement tools for patient reported outcomes in liver transplantation both domestically and internationally, including the content, characteristics, disadvantages and situation recommendations of the generic and specific measurement tools. The purpose is to provide a reference for choosing patient reported outcomes measurements, symptom management as well as the caring strategies in liver transplantation.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:The preoperative planning of traditional X-ray films is often inaccurate,which can lead to some intraoperative and postoperative complications,increase the operation time and intraoperative blood loss,and to some extent affect the surgical outcome of total hip arthroplasty. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the accuracy and effectiveness of artificial intelligence preoperative planning in total hip arthroplasty. METHODS:Sixty patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty on the affected side were selected.30 of them used artificial intelligence 3D preoperative planning(trial group)and 30 used conventional X-ray film 2D preoperative planning(control group),and there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender,age,condition and other general data(P>0.05).The actual intraoperative prosthesis placement and preoperative planning prosthesis matching,intraoperative operation time,intraoperative blood loss,bilateral femoral eccentric distance difference,bilateral joint eccentric distance difference and bilateral lower limb length difference,and Harris score at 3 months after operation were compared between the two groups,and the accuracy and application effect of the two preoperative plans were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Patients in both groups were followed up for 4-6 months postoperatively.One patient in the control group had a posterior dislocation of the prosthesis at 5 days postoperatively,which recovered after performing manual repositioning without re-dislodgement.The rest of the patients did not have postoperative complications or postoperative death.(2)Complete matching rate of the prosthesis on the acetabular side and femoral side was significantly better in the trial group than that in the control group(P<0.05).(3)Operation time and intraoperative blood loss were significantly less in the trial group than those in the control group(P<0.05).(4)The difference in bilateral lower limb length between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05),and the difference in bilateral femoral eccentric distance and bilateral joint eccentric distance was not statistically significant(P>0.05).(5)Harris score of patients in the trial group was significantly higher than that in the control group 3 months after operation(P<0.05).(6)These results confirm that compared with traditional film planning,artificial intelligence preoperative planning can predict the prosthesis type more accurately,shorten the operation time,reduce intraoperative blood loss,diminish the occurrence of postoperative bilateral lower limb inequality,and accelerate postoperative recovery.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:At present,there is a lack of an internal fixation system with good reduction and simple operation for the treatment of atlas burst fracture by posterior single-segment fixation. OBJECTIVE:Based on the atlas CT measurement data,a new posterior atlas fracture reduction and internal fixation system was designed and optimized,which was in line with the characteristics of human local anatomical structure,easy to operate and with good reduction. METHODS:CT images of 347 adults were analyzed retrospectively.In the images,the length of pedicle screw track with a medial inclination of 0°,the angle of the maximum medial inclination angle and the length of pedicle screw track at this time,the height of vertebral artery groove,the distance between the entry points of bilateral pedicle screws and the midline,the radius of the posterior arch of atlas,the distance between the posterior tubercle of the atlas and the posterior edge of the foramen magnum,and the distance between the posterior tubercle of the atlas and the upper surface of the axial arch were measured.The imaging data were analyzed and a reduction and internal fixation system was designed and optimized for atlas fracture in line with human anatomical characteristics. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no statistically significant difference in the the length of pedicle screw track with a medial inclination of 0°,the maximum medial inclination angle and the length of pedicle screw track at this time,the height of vertebral artery groove,the distance between the entry points of bilateral pedicle screws and the midline,the radius of the posterior arch of atlas,the distance between the posterior tubercle of the atlas and the posterior edge of the foramen magnum,and the distance between the posterior tubercle of the atlas and the upper surface of the axial arch measured on the left and right sides of all subjects(P>0.05).There were statistically significant differences in each index measured between the male and female groups(P<0.05).(2)The new posterior atlas fracture reduction and internal fixation system has been successfully designed and obtained the national patent.The internal fixation system is suitable for the anatomical characteristics of the posterior arch of the atlas.It can not only effectively treat the atlas burst fracture,but also retain the movement function of the occipital atlantoaxial joint.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Research on foot and ankle proprioception is crucial for the rehabilitation of chronic ankle instability and geriatric diseases as well as for the improvement of body posture control and motor performance.Previous studies have often studied the sensory evaluation of the foot and ankle joints separately,which has limitations for a comprehensive understanding of their sensory function. OBJECTIVE:The foot and ankle complex is the only part in direct contact with the support surface,and plays an important role in the collective sensory feedback and regulation and balance control.By combing the existing investigation and research of foot and ankle ontology,the measurement and evaluation methods of the sensation of the foot and ankle complex are combed,in order to pave the way and provide the theoretical basis for future related studies. METHODS:Chinese terms"(foot OR foot ankle OR ankle)AND(sensation OR proprioception)"and English terms"(foot OR ankle)AND(feel OR proprioception)"were used as the keywords for retrieving relevant literature in the Web of Science,PubMed,and CNKI.We understood the basic concepts,current status and scope of research on the foot and ankle,summarized and evaluated the proprioceptive evaluation methods of the foot and ankle,and finally included 57 papers for further review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The evaluation of foot and ankle complex sensation was mainly divided into sensory evaluation of the foot and proprioceptive evaluation of the ankle joint.The sensory evaluation of the foot mainly describes the sensation of the skin and the sensory feedback under the intervention conditions.The methods mainly include the pressure sensory threshold test,the two-point discrimination test of the foot(planar and plantar),and the duration test of skin vibration sensation.Ankle joint proprioception evaluation focuses on the description of joint position,motion range,force value and functional performance.The methods are mainly divided into static joint angle reset test,motion minimum threshold test,force perception reproduction test and dynamic balance,speed and walking ability tests.The report of quantitative results is generally expressed by"an error,"which is generally divided into absolute error,relative error,constant error,etc.To conclude,the foot and ankle complex has specific sensory capabilities,including foot sensation and ankle proprioception,which affect the quality of life and athletic performance of humans.Weakness of both foot sensation and ankle proprioception is associated with reduced human balance,and the combined measurements of the two can comprehensively and effectively evaluate foot and ankle function.The combination of foot and ankle sensory measures is selected according to different research needs and various influencing factors such as environment,emotion and reporting style are fully considered,to improve the validity of measurement and evaluation.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:At present,measurement osteotomy technique and gap balance technique are the two main surgical methods in total knee arthroplasty.Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.By adjusting the osteotomy angle,the gap balance technique can reduce the release of soft tissue and obtain a more balanced flexion and extension space.The clinical efficacy of gap balance technique is superior,but this surgical method lacks tools and is easily influenced by the surgeon's surgical experience and subjective judgment,with more errors.Measurement osteotomy technique has a short learning curve,but it relies on anatomic markers and is prone to many complications due to inaccurate positioning.In recent years,many instrument companies have successively developed and launched tools that can improve the quality of surgery.However,there are still few reports about the tool. OBJECTIVE:To compare the clinical efficacy of gap balance technique and measurement osteotomy technique under Offset Repo-Tensor in total knee arthroplasty,and explore the value of Offset Repo-Tensor in total knee arthroplasty. METHODS:The medical records of 85 patients with total knee arthroplasty were collected and divided into two groups according to the operation method.Group A consisted of 44 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty using a gap balance technique combined with Offset Repo-Tensor.Group B consisted of 41 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty using measurement osteotomy technique.Surgical time,American Knee Society Score,knee range of motion,changes in lower limb alignment,and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups to evaluate the clinical efficacy of gap balance technique combined with Offset Repo-Tensors in total knee arthroplasty. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)All 85 patients were followed up.(2)Postoperative knee range of motion in both groups was higher than that before surgery(P<0.05),and the improvement in group A was more significant than that in group B(P<0.05).(3)American Knee Society Score in both groups after surgery was higher than that before surgery(P<0.05),and the American Knee Society Score in group A was higher than that in group B at 2 weeks,1,3 months,and the last follow-up(P<0.05).(4)The operation time of group A was slightly shorter than that of group B,but the difference was not significant(P>0.05).(5)The lower limb alignment in both groups was improved after operation,but there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).(6)The complication rate of group A(2%)was lower than that of group B(7%),but there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).(7)It is indicated that compared with the measurement osteotomy technique,the combination of Offset Repo-Tensor and gap balance technique can elevate the clinical effect and improve the function and motion range of the knee joint.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:MRI is important for the diagnosis of early knee osteoarthritis.MRI image recognition and intelligent segmentation of knee osteoarthritis using deep learning method is a hot topic in image diagnosis of artificial intelligence. OBJECTIVE:Through deep learning of MRI images of knee osteoarthritis,the segmentation of femur,tibia,patella,cartilage,meniscus,ligaments,muscles and effusion of knee can be automatically divided,and then volume of knee fluid and muscle content were measured. METHODS:100 normal knee joints and 100 knee osteoarthritis patients were selected and randomly divided into training dataset(n=160),validation dataset(n=20),and test dataset(n=20)according to the ratio of 8:1:1.The Coarse-to-Fine sequential training method was used to train the 3D-UNET network deep learning model.A Coarse MRI segmentation model of the knee sagittal plane was trained first,and the rough segmentation results were used as a mask,and then the fine segmentation model was trained.The T1WI and T2WI images of the sagittal surface of the knee joint and the marking files of each structure were input,and DeepLab v3 was used to segment bone,cartilage,ligament,meniscus,muscle,and effusion of knee,and 3D reconstruction was finally displayed and automatic measurement results(muscle content and volume of knee fluid)were displayed to complete the deep learning application program.The MRI data of 26 normal subjects and 38 patients with knee osteoarthritis were screened for validation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The 26 normal subjects were selected,including 13 females and 13 males,with a mean age of(34.88±11.75)years old.The mean muscle content of the knee joint was(1 051 322.94±2 007 249.00)mL,the mean median was 631 165.21 mL,and the mean volume of effusion was(291.85±559.59)mL.The mean median was 0 mL.(2)There were 38 patients with knee osteoarthritis,including 30 females and 8 males.The mean age was(68.53±9.87)years old.The mean muscle content was(782 409.18±331 392.56)mL,the mean median was 689 105.66 mL,and the mean volume of effusion was(1 625.23±5 014.03)mL.The mean median was 178.72 mL.(3)There was no significant difference in muscle content between normal people and knee osteoarthritis patients.The volume of effusion in patients with knee osteoarthritis was higher than that in normal subjects,and the difference was significant(P<0.05).(4)It is indicated that the intelligent segmentation of MRI images by deep learning can discard the defects of manual segmentation in the past.The more accuracy evaluation of knee osteoarthritis was necessary,and the image segmentation was processed more precisely in the future to improve the accuracy of the results.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the consistency of the Chinese three-dimensional anterior visual field analysis system (Scansys), the anterior segment analyzer (Pentacam), the frequency-domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography system (CASIA SS-1000), and a new ultra-high frequency digital ultrasound scanning system (Arcscan Insight100) to measure central vault after implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation in myopic eyes with crystalline lenses.Methods:A diagnostic test study was conducted.Fifty-six myopic patients (56 eyes) who underwent ICL V4c implantation from June to December 2019 were included.Scansys, Pentacam, CASIA and Arcscan were used to measure the central vault after surgery.The vault measurements were compared.Correlations between the measurements of the four instruments were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, and consistency comparisons were analyzed using the Bland-Altman method.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2021[13]). Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Results:The central vault measurements by Scansys, Pentacam, CASIA and Arcscan were (481.8±191.6), (476.4±190.6), (619.3±207.5) and (534.0±221.2)μm, respectively, with a statistically significant overall difference ( F=143.301, P<0.001). The vault measurements by Scansys and Pentacam were significantly lower than CASIA and Arcscan, and Arcscan was lower than CASIA, with statistically significant differences (all at P<0.001). There were strong positive correlations in vault measurements between Arcscan and CASIA, Arcscan and Pentacam, Arcscan and Scansys, CASIA and Pentacam, CASIA and Scansys, Pentacam and Scansys ( r=0.982, 0.933, 0.931, 0.942, 0.941, 0.989; all at P<0.001). Intraclass correlation coefficients of vault measurements by Scansys, Pentacam, CASIA and Arcscan were 0.985, 0.975, 0.998, 0.992, respectively.The 95% limits of agreement of vault measurements differences were -170 to 0, 0 to 280, 0 to 280, -110 to 210, -100 to 220 μm, between CASIA and Arcscan, CASIA and Scansys, CASIA and Pentacam, Arcscan and Scansys, Arcscan and Pentacam, respectively, and the maximum absolute value of the difference was beyond the clinically acceptable range, showing poor agreement.The 95% limits of agreement of vault measurement difference was -60 to 50 μm between Scansys and Pentacam, showing a good agreement. Conclusions:The repeatability of the vault after ICL V4c implantation in myopic eyes measured by the four instruments is good.Among them, the vault measurements of Scansys and Pentacam are smaller, showing good consistency, and their results could be substituted for each other.The measurement of CASIA is the largest, followed by Arcscan, which have a large difference from each other, and their results can not be substituted for each other, which should be comprehensively analyzed with the actual situation in clinical work.
ABSTRACT
Scales are crucial instruments for measuring variables in the field of nursing research.Its development process needs to follow the basic procedures strictly.This paper describes the basic steps involved in nursing scale development,with a focus on ensuring accuracy and reliability at each stage where issues may arise.It also provides a comprehensive analysis of common problems found in current nursing scale development papers and offers suggestions and solutions.The aim is to provide a reference for nursing professionals engaged in scale-related research and to enhance the quality of nursing scale development papers.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture(EA)combined with exercise therapy on balance function in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA). Methods:Seventy patients with KOA were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 35 cases in each group.The treatment group was treated with EA combined with exercise therapy.EA was applied to Dubi(ST35),Neixiyan(EX-LE4),Xuehai(SP10),Liangqiu(ST34),Yanglingquan(GB34),and Zusanli(ST 36).Exercise therapy(muscle strength training and knee mobility training)was applied after EA.The control group only received the same exercise therapy as the treatment group.The two groups were treated with the same course of treatment,3 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks,12 times in total,and followed up for 1 month.The Pro-Kin254P balance test system was used to measure the balance function parameters at 4 time points,including before treatment,after 1 session of treatment,after 12 sessions of treatment,and at 1-month follow-up after treatment.The visual analog scale(VAS)and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC)scores were recorded. Results:The markedly effective rate and total effective rate in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.01).The Romberg area,Romberg length,and VAS scores of the two groups decreased significantly after 1 session of treatment,12 sessions of treatment,and 1 month after treatment,and the differences between different time points in the same group were statistically significant(P<0.01).There were significant differences between the two groups at the same time point(P<0.05).The total WOMAC scores of the two groups after 1 session of treatment,12 sessions of treatment,and 1 month after treatment decreased significantly,and there were significant differences between different time points in the same group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups at the same time point(P>0.05). Conclusion:EA combined with exercise therapy or exercise therapy alone can enhance the balance function,relieve joint pain,and improve joint function in patients with KOA.EA combined with exercise therapy is superior to exercise therapy alone in improving balance function and pain,but the two treatment protocols have similar effects in improving joint function.
ABSTRACT
@#Problem: Communication is an integral component of an emergency response, including to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Designing effective communication requires systematic measurement, evaluation and learning. Context: In the Western Pacific Region, the World Health Organization (WHO) responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by using the Communication for Health (C4H) approach. This included the development and application of a robust measurement, evaluation and learning (MEL) framework to assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 communication, and to share and apply lessons in real time to continuously strengthen the pandemic response. Action: MEL was applied during the planning, implementation and summative evaluation phases of COVID-19 communication, with evidence-based insights and recommendations continuously integrated in succeeding phases of the COVID-19 response. Lessons learned: This article captures good practices that helped WHO to implement MEL during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on lessons from the evaluation process, including the importance of planning, data integration, collaboration, partnerships, piggybacking, using existing data and leveraging digital media. Discussion: Despite some limitations, the systematic application of MEL to COVID-19 communication shows its value in the planning and implementation of effective, evidence-based communication to address public health challenges. It enables the evaluation of outcomes and reflection on lessons identified to strengthen the response to the current pandemic and future emergencies.
ABSTRACT
Objective Nowadays, radioactive xenon isotopes, including 131mXe, 133mXe, 133Xe, and 135Xe, are primarily released into the atmosphere through various reactor operation and major accidents of reactors. To improve the online monitoring capability of xenon in nuclear facilities and their gaseous effluents, a highly sensitive online xenon monitoring system was developed to monitor, warn, and alarm the activity concentration of radioactive xenon. Methods The online monitoring system for radioactive xenon gas in nuclear facilities was established using xenon membrane separation and concentration, xenon high-efficiency selective adsorption, and low-background gamma-ray spectrometry analysis methods. Results Under the operation mode of one-hour sampling and one-hour measuring, the minimum detectable activity concentration of the radioactive xenon online monitoring system for 133Xe was approximately (1.43 ± 0.03) Bq/m3. Conclusion This system can be effectively used for online monitoring of xenon activity concentration in nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants and isotope production reactors, as well as in gaseous effluents. It helps improve the safety level of personnel, the environment, and nuclear facilities.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of different administration methods for labor analgesia.Methods:This randomized controlled study was conducted on 152 parturient women who underwent vaginal delivery at the Xinxiang Central Hospital from February to June 2023. These women were divided into a control group and an observation group, with 76 women per group. Women in the control group received 3 mL of 0.1% ropivacaine hydrochloride after routine epidural catheterization, followed by 3 mL of analgesic drugs after 3 minutes. For those without any special reactions, an analgesic pump containing 9 mL of medication was used after 3 minutes until the end of labor. In the observation group, 3 mL of 0.1% ropivacaine hydrochloride was administered as a trial dose before the epidural catheter was inserted into the epidural space. After 3 minutes, the postpartum woman lay flat and was given another 3 mL of analgesic pump medication. After 3 additional minutes, an additional 9 mL of the medication was administered. The analgesic pump was connected and turned on until the catheter was removed after delivery. The epidural catheter failure rate was assessed in each group. Before epidural puncture (T 1), within 30 minutes after the onset of anesthesia (T 2), and at the time of full dilation of the cervix (T 3), Visual Analogue Scale scores, the number of patient attempts to additionally use an analgesia pump, maternal satisfaction, the number of cases requiring cesarean section conversion, the incidence of adverse reactions (such as nausea, vomiting, and fever), and Apgar scores for newborns were recorded in each group. Results:The epidural catheter failure rate in the observation group was 1.3% (1/76), which was significantly lower than 10.5% (8/76) in the control group ( χ2 = 5.79, P < 0.05). At T 2 and T 3, the Visual Analogue Scale score in the observation group was (0.89 ± 0.08) points and (2.1 ± 0.07) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than (2.55 ± 0.07) points and (3.35 ± 0.07) points in the control group ( t = 238.54, 133.17, both P < 0.001). The number of patient attempts to additionally use an analgesia pump in the observation group was (1.00 ± 0.84) counts, which was significantly less than (4.00 ± 0.65) counts in the control group ( t = 29.47, P < 0.001). Maternal satisfaction in the observation group was 100% (76/76), which was significantly higher than 92.1% (70/76) in the control group ( χ2 = 6.25, P < 0.05). The number of cases requiring cesarean section conversion in the observation group was 0 (0/76), which was significantly lower than 52.6% (4/76) in the control group ( χ2 = 4.10, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Administering a trial dose (3 mL) of 0.1% ropivacaine hydrochloride before placing the epidural catheter during labor analgesia can greatly increase the placement success rate of the catheter and enhance pain relief effectiveness. This has a certain clinical application value.
ABSTRACT
Objectives:To investigate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine for foraminal endoscopic surgery.Methods:A total of 75 patients with lumbar disc herniation who received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between September 2020 and May 2021 were included in this study. Using a case-control study method, these patients were divided into three groups according to different treatment methods, with 25 patients in each group. The three groups underwent a single-segment unilateral approach for foraminal endoscopic surgery. Group A received simple process infiltration anesthesia, while Group B and Group C received a pump injection of 0.5 μg/kg/h dexmedetomidine for 20 minutes prior to surgery. Group B underwent post-surgical anesthesia adjustments, which involved joint process infiltration anesthesia that was seamlessly integrated with a pump-administered dexmedetomidine infusion at a rate of 0.4 μg/kg/h throughout the surgical procedure. Group C received joint process infiltration anesthesia that was seamlessly integrated with a pump-administered dexmedetomidine infusion at a rate of 0.6 μg/kg/h throughout the surgical procedure. Vital signs, sedation status, sedation score, length of hospital stay, pain score (VAS) immediately after surgery, pain scores at 3 and 6 hours after surgery, and changes in vital signs at different points during surgery were compared among the three groups.Results:There were no significant differences in age, sex, or surgical segment among the three groups (all P > 0.05). The postoperative length of hospital stay in Groups A, B, and C was (5.12 ± 1.15) days, (3.02 ± 0.42) days, and (3.82 ± 0.54) days, respectively ( F = 32.04, P < 0.01). At the beginning of surgery, the sedation scores in Groups A, B, and C were (1.22 ± 0.29) points, (1.28 ± 0.36) points, and (1.46 ± 0.38) points, respectively ( F = 3.28, P < 0.05). At 30 minutes after surgery, the sedation scores in the three groups were (2.12 ± 0.22) points, (2.16 ± 0.24) points, and (2.20 ± 0.24) points, respectively ( F = 3.72, P < 0.01). Immediately after surgery, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores in the three groups were (3.52 ± 0.33) points, (2.92 ± 0.55) points, and (2.82 ± 0.54) points, respectively ( F = 15.16, P < 0.01). At 3 hours after surgery, the VAS scores in the three groups were (3.64 ± 0.39) points, (2.60 ± 0.58) points, and (2.74 ± 0.54) points ( F = 30.47, P < 0.01). At 6 hours after surgery, the VAS scores in the three groups were (3.78 ± 0.43) points, (2.52 ± 0.47) points, and (2.74 ± 0.52) points, respectively ( F = 49.90, P < 0.01). There were significant differences in VAS score, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure among the three groups during articular process puncture, cannula expansion of the intervertebral foramen, and capture of the perinerve protrusion nucleus pulposus ( F = 34.59, 148.65, 164.08, 5.08, 10.81, 38.06, 43.62, 37.46, and 38.76, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Preoperative dexmedetomidine can effectively maintain hemodynamic stability, ensure sedation levels, reduce postoperative pain, and accelerate patient recovery after surgery.