Economic burden of Down syndrome patients and psychological and social discrimination to female caregivers in Changsha, China / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To estimate the social and economic burden of Downs syndrome for patients and their families residing in Changsha, China.@*METHODS@#An 160-item self-administered questionnaire was designed and distributed to the primary caregivers of the patients in March 2020. A total of 81 eligible participants had completed the questionnaire, among which 20 were excluded for incomplete data. A patient perspective was taken to estimate the economic burden of the disease. The social impact of the disease on the patient's family was evaluated through questions adapted from the Stanford Psychological Wellbeing (PWB) Scale.@*RESULTS@#The estimated life-course cost of a Downs syndrome patient in Changsha is 4 985 659 RMB, with the patient and caregiver's loss of income taking the greater proportion. In addition, as the majority of the patients' primary caregivers, female caregivers experienced not only considerable financial hardship caused by the care provision, but also a significant amount of psychological pressure and social discrimination.@*CONCLUSION@#Increased level of social welfare for the patients and social support for their female caregivers are essential for reducing economic burden and improving their quality of life in the area. In addition, prenatal screening and diagnosis for Downs syndrome are important for reducing both the social and economic burden of the disease by preventing its occurrence.

The micro-anatomical study of joint the high cervical with jugular foramen approach / 中华显微外科杂志

Objective To investigate the micro-anatomical approach to resect both intracranial and extracranial jugular foramen tumors in one-stage. Methods With the aid of surgical microscope, fifteen cadaver heads were used to study the microsurgical anatomy of high cervical part and jugular foramen, measure relative data. Results Detailed dissection was performed on high cervical part between the 1st cervical vertebra and the 4th cervical vertebra, resect foramen processus transversi of the 1st cervical vertebra, free vertebral artery 2nd and 1st cervical vertebra segment and horizontal segment. The jugular tubercle, jugular tunisia and part of the occipital condylus was drilled away as much as possible, total exposure of lateral semicircular canal was completed after the removal of the mastoid revealed labyrinthinem. Then the sigmoid sinus and jugular bulb were skeletonized. The vertical of segment of facial nerve was fully skeletonized to study the necessity of the facial nerve translocation. Full exposure to the sigmoid sinus, open jugular foramen. JF areas expanded, and the measured parameters revealed. The distance was (29.65 ± 3.24)mm from mastoidalec to oncentrated focus of condyle (10.18 ± 0.81)mm from hinder margin of condyle to endostoma of hypoglossal canal. The left distance was (6.8 ± 0.35)mm from jugular foramen to perpendicular part of facial nerve, right was (4.6 ± 0.33)mm. Conclusions Total exposure of JF can be achieved through the approach we described, and will enable the facial nerve, cochlea, and the structure of the vertebral artery to be performed. Both intracranial and extracranial tumors can be removed in a one-stage procedure related to anatomical parameters. Improve the cure, reduce complication and lower mortality.