Understanding health literacy from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective / 中西医结合学报

Health literacy is critical to improving individual and public health. However, indigenous perceptions of health are largely absent from Western-derived measurements, contributing to disparities in health outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous populations. China is the country with the world's largest population and only officially introduced the term "health literacy" in 2008. Current measures of health literacy in China are primarily based on Western-derived constructs, which have been shown to have poor comparability to the unique dual medical system in China. Given its significant importance to health management globally, understanding health perceptions from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective is essential. This review explores the concept and core elements of indigenous health literacy, evaluates the existing definitions and measurement tools as applied to the concept, and proposes a new model of traditional Chinese medicine health literacy. Please cite this article as: Qian Z, Wang GY, Henning M, Chen Y. Understanding health literacy from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(3): 215-220.

National experts consensus on application of pulse contour cardiac output monitoring technique in severe burn treatment (2018 version) / 中华烧伤杂志

As a newly developed technique for hemodynamic monitoring, pulse contour cardiac output (PiCCO) monitoring takes great advantages in guiding shock resuscitation and fluid administration. PiCCO has been used more and more in burn patients in recent years, however there is no clinic consensus on how to apply PiCCO monitoring, understand the significance of PiCCO monitored parameters, and guide the treatment using PiCCO monitored parameters in patients with severe burns. Based on the current literatures and the experts' clinical experience, (2018 ) is now issued by the Burn and Trauma Branch of Chinese Geriatrics Society, aiming to provide practical guidance for its usage in clinic.

National experts consensus on tracheotomy and intubation for burn patients (2018 version) / 中华烧伤杂志

Airway edema, stenosis, obstruction and even asphyxia are easy to occur in patients with extensive burn, deep burn of head, face, and neck area, inhalation injuries, etc., which threaten life. Timely tracheotomy and intubation is an important treatment measure, but lack of knowledge and improper handling in some hospitals resulted in airway obstruction. The technique of percutaneous tracheotomy and intubation provides convenience for emergency treatment of critical burns and mass burn. The Chinese Geriatrics Society organized some experts in China to discuss the indications, timing, methods, extubation, and precautions of tracheotomy and intubation for burn patients. The (2018 ) .

roles of cytochrome P450 and P-glycoprotein in the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in chickens

The effects of three selective oral inhibitors, fluvoxamine [FLU], ketoconazole [KET], and verapamil [VER], on the pharmacokinetics [PK] of florfenicol [FFC] were investigated in chickens. The chickens were administered orally with saline solution [SAL], FLU [60 mg/kg], KET [25 mg/kg], or VER [9 mg/kg] for 7 consecutive days. Florfenicol was given to the chickens at a single dose of 30 mg/kg orally. Blood samples were collected from each chicken at 0 to 12 h post-administration of FFC. The plasma concentration of FFC was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. The AUC of FFC increased and the Cl[s] of FFC decreased with oral co-administration of KET in chickens, and the C[max] of FFC increased with VER. While the AUC, the Cl[s] and the C[max] of FFC were all invariable with FLU. These data suggested that CYP 3A played a key role in the PK of FFC in chickens, however, P-glycoprotein [P-gp] and CYP 1A did not. The results imply that the adverse drug-drug interaction may occur in the use of FFC if the co-administrated drugs are the substrates, inducers or inhibitors of CYP 3A or/and P-gp

Effects of low dose radiation on the expression of proteins related to DNA repair requiring caveolin-1 in human mammary epithelial cells

Background: Radiotherapy is an effective and important therapeutic method for breast cancer, but at the same time it has a radiation-induced bystander effect on normal tissue around the tumor. Repair of double-strand breaks [DSBs] by normal cells can reduce the extent of damage caused by this effect. Caveolin-1 [Cav-1] is an important regulatory molecule in cell signal transduction. However, the response of normal human mammary epithelial cells following low dose radiation [LDR]- induced DSBs and the role of Cav-1 in the repair of the DSBs are not clear. The present study examined the DNA damage repair mechanism triggered by LDR in human mammary epithelial cells

Materials and Methods: Human mammary epithelial [MCF10A] and Cav-1 haplo-insufficiency [MCF10A-ST1] cells were irradiated with LDR gamma rays and the effect of this radiation on cell proliferation was determined by cytometric method. Western blot analysis was then used to measure the expression levels of different proteins associated with cell proliferation and DNA repair

Results: LDR enhanced the radiation responsiveness of MCF10A cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. At a dose of 100 cGy, LDR increased the expression levels of several proteins involved in DNA repair pathways, such as ATM, p53, DNA-PKcs and also activated Cav-1-mediated cell proliferation and survival pathways, such as the MAPK and AKT pathways. The expression of the various DNA repair related proteins was changed after down-regulating the Cav-1 expression

Conclusion: LDR could increase the radiation responsiveness of human mammary epithelial cells through activating the DNA repair pathways, including both HR and NHEJ pathways, as well as triggering the cell proliferation and survival pathways, both of which required Cav-1

The Role of Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Dynamic spinal cord compression has been investigated for several years, but until the advent of open MRI, the use of dynamic MRI (dMRI) did not gain popularity. Several publications have shown that cervical cord compression is both static and dynamic. On many occasions the evaluation of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is straightforward, but patients are frequently encountered with a significantly worse clinical examination than would be suggested by radiological images. In this paper, we present an extensive review of the literature in order to describe the importance of dMRI in various settings and applications. A detailed literature review was performed in the Medline and Pubmed databases using the terms “cervical spondylotic myelopathy”, “dynamic MRI”, “kinetic MRI”, and “myelomalalcia” for the period of 1980-2016. The study was limited to English language, human subjects, case series, retrospective studies, prospective reports, and clinical trials. Reviews, case reports, cadaveric studies, editorials, and commentaries were excluded. The literature search yielded 180 papers, 19 of which met inclusion criteria. However, each paper had evaluated results and outcomes in different ways. It was not possible to compile them for meta-analysis or pooled data evaluation. Instead, we evaluated individual studies and present them for discussion. We describe a number of parameters evaluated in 2661 total patients, including dynamic changes to spinal cord and canal dimensions, transient compression of the cord with changes in position, and the effects of position on the intervertebral disc. dMRI is a useful tool for understanding the development of CSM. It has found several applications in the diagnosis and preoperative evaluation of many patients, as well as certain congenital dysplasias and Hirayama disease. It is useful in correlating symptoms with the dynamic changes only noted on dMRI, and has reduced the incidence of misdiagnosis of myelopathy.

Minimally-Invasive versus Conventional Repair of Spondylolysis in Athletes: A Review of Outcomes and Return to Play

Spondylolysis from pars fracture is a common injury among young athletes, which can limit activity and cause chronic back pain. While current literature has examined the relative benefits of surgical and conservative management of these injuries, no study has yet compared outcomes between conventional direct repair of pars defects and modern minimally invasive procedures. The goals of surgery are pain resolution, return to play at previous levels of activity, and a shorter course of recovery. In this review, the authors have attempted to quantify any differences in outcome between patients treated with conventional or minimally invasive techniques. A literature search was performed of the PubMed database for relevant articles, excluding articles describing conservative management, traumatic injury, or high-grade spondylolisthesis. Articles included for review involved young athletes treated for symptomatic spondylolysis with either conventional or minimally invasive surgery. Two independent reviewers conducted the literature search and judged articles for inclusion. All studies were classified according to the North American Spine Society standards. Of the 116 results of our initial search, 16 articles were included with a total of 150 patients. Due to a paucity of operative details in older studies and inconsistencies in both clinical methods and reporting among most articles, little quantitative analysis was possible. However, patients in the minimally invasive group did have significantly higher rates of pain resolution (p<0.001). Short recovery times were also noted in this group. Both groups experienced low complication rates, and the majority of patients returned to previous levels of activity. Surgical repair of spondylolysis in young athletes is a safe and practical therapy. Current literature suggests that while conventional repair remains effective, minimally invasive procedures better clinical outcomes. We await further data to conduct a more thorough quantitative analysis of these techniques.

IgG4-Associated Cholangitis Can Mimic Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

IgG4-associated cholangitis can mimic hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Previously reported patients with IgG4-associated cholangitis mimicking cholangiocarcinoma had elevated serum IgG4 levels and long-segment biliary strictures. However, in the absence of other diagnostic criteria for malignancy, IgG4-associated cholangitis should remain a consideration among patients with normal serum IgG4 and a hilar mass suspicious for cholangiocarcinoma. The presence of a hilar mass and a malignant-appearing biliary stricture in two patients with normal serum IgG4 prompted further evaluation and subsequent concomitant liver and bile duct resection and reconstruction. The diagnosis of IgG4-associated cholangitis was established during the pathologic evaluation of the resected specimens. IgG4-associated cholangitis is a known imitator of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and should be considered in the differential diagnosis even among serologically IgG4-negative patients with a hilar mass prior to operative resection.

Factors affecting falls in community-dwelling individuals with stroke in Singapore after hospital discharge

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the incidence of falls among individuals with stroke living in the community one year after discharge from a rehabilitation hospital in Singapore.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional telephone survey of individuals with stroke living in the community was carried out one year after discharge. The interview covered aspects such as incidence and circumstances of fall, use of walking aids, and presence of environmental obstacles. Each participant's case record was retrospectively reviewed using discharge Fugl-Meyer (FM) assessment of the upper and lower limbs, functional independence measure (FIM) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 126 individuals with stroke were interviewed. Overall, 24% fell in the year following their discharge. Factors associated with falls were longer length of hospital stay, lower BBS and lower-limb FM scores, and lower discharge FIM scores for the Bladder and Bowel Management, Transfer, Mobility, Communication, and Social Cognition domains (p < 0.05). The fallers were more likely to use walking aids, and required help with basic activities of daily living after discharge (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only the Transfer domain was an independent factor for falls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Discharge FIM outcomes, especially for the Transfer domain, can be used to identify communitydwelling individuals with stroke who have a high fall risk after discharge. Identification of such individuals will enable early fall prevention management, which will in turn minimise fall events in the community.</p>

Why we do caesars: a comparison of the trends in caesarean section delivery over a decade

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>In the United Kingdom, caesarean section (CS) rates have increased from 9% of deliveries in 1980 to 21% in 2001. A similar increase in CS rates has been seen in many developed countries. This is beyond the World Health Organisation's (WHO's) recommended level of 15%. This is a worrying trend as the risks of placenta previa, placenta accreta, hysterectomies, bladder and bowel injuries are increased with subsequent CS. We aim to ascertain the commonest indications for CS in a tertiary hospital and make recommendations to decrease future CS rates.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>This retrospective analysis compares the 5 most common indications for CS in 1999 and 2009. CS rates in the 2 study periods are tabulated and analysed as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the first study period between January and December 1999, there were 2048 deliveries of which 365 were via CS. In the second study period of a decade later from January to December 2009, there were 1572 deliveries of which 531 were via CS. This gives an increase in CS rate from 17.8% in 1999 to 34% in 2009. The main indications for CS in 1999 were: cephalopelvic disproportion (18.6%), breech (14.2%), non-reassuring fetal status (11.8%), 1 previous CS (11.2%) and pregnancy-induced hypertension/pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (6.6%). The main indications for CS in 2009 were: 1 previous CS (18.1%), non-reassuring fetal status (12.2%), cephalopelvic disproportion (10.5%), 2 or more previous CS (7.9%) and breech (7.7%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is a significant increase in CS rates over the last decade with an increased percentage of CS done because of a previous CS. This is associated with increased risk of complications as well. Recommendations are suggested with the view to decrease future CS rates.</p>

Distribution and fractions of phosphorus and nitrogen in surface sediments from Dianchi lake, China

Dianchi Lake is one of the most three seriously eutrophic lakes in China. In the present study, the phosphorus [P] and nitrogen [N] fractions in 37 surface sediments samples collected in the Dianchi Lake were investigated. The total phophorus [TP] in sediments was divided into two parts: inorganic P [IP] and residual P [Res-P]. The results showed that the total phosphorus content in surface sediments ranged from 1465.27 to 3650.12 mg/kg, IP was the major component of TP and the Ca bound P was the main fraction of IP. The bio-available phosphorus [BAP] in Dianchi Lake was first estimated in this study. BAP ranged from 215.66 to 678.02 mg/kgand the mean concentration was 382.78 +/- 89.77 mg/kgfor all 37 samples. The nitrogen fractions for the whole Dianchi Lake were firstly studied. It was shown that the sediment had been an important N nutrient source of the water, owing to the high content of transferable nitrogen forms in the sediment

Opportunities for 2-18F Fluoro-2-Deoxy-D-Glucose PET/CT in Cervical-Vaginal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: Case Series and Literature Review

OBJECTIVE: Neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma is a rare subtype of cervical cancer. These tumors exhibit an aggressive behavior with early regional lymph node and distant metastases. The purpose of our study was to describe five cases of neuroendocrine cervical-vaginal carcinoma and to discuss the potential of the 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scan for the detection of this rare malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five cases of cervical-vaginal neuroendocrine tumor were retrospectively collected, during a two year (from September 2009 to August 2011) period in our hospital. The clinical staging distributions were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB2 (1 of 5), stage IIA (3 of 5) and stage IVA (1 of 5). RESULTS: Two cases (cases 1 and 4) were restaged after 18F-FDG PET/CT scan in the initial staging process. Post-treatment 18F-FDG PET/CT scans, in three patients, revealed positive findings for tumor recurrence or lymph node metastases. Two patients (cases 2 and 3) died of tumor within two years. CONCLUSION: 18F-FDG PET/CT scan is a useful tool in cervical-vaginal neuroendocrine tumor. In its initial staging, the 18F-FDG PET/CT scan may help assess the possible nodal involvement or early hematogeneous spreading. We can also use the 18F-FDG PET/CT to detect local recurrence and to evaluate the treatment response after clinical manipulation.

effect of microwave radiation on osteogenesis and osteolysis of rats in the hypergravity condition and the role of Rana sylvatica Le conte oil as a radioprotector

Microwave Thermotherapy has been gradually used in radiotherapy and it is reported that microwave radiation increases bone demineralization rate independently of temperature. Furthermore, it becomes more and more widespread that the damage caused by the synergistic effect of microwave radiation and hypergravity. The experiment was designed to investigate the effect of microwave radiation on osteogenesis and osteolysis of rats in the hypergravity condition and to observe the role of Rana sylvatica Le conte oil as a radioprotector. Wistar rats were exposed to microwave radiation of 200mW/cm[2] power density and +6G hypergravity, and the concentrations of osteocalcin, calcitionin, calcium, phosphorus, and hydroxyproline and the activity of alkaline phosphatase were detected in serum. The serum concentrations of osteocalcin and calcitionin and the activity of alkaline phosphatase decreased, while the calcium, phosphorus and hydroxyproline concentrations increased after the synergistic effect of microwave radiation and hypergravity. Rana sylvatica Le conte oil intervention inhibited significantly the decrease of osteocalcin concentration and restrained significantly the increases of hydroxyproline and calcium concentrations in serum. These results imply that the synergistic effect of microwave radiation and hypergravity inhibits osteogenesis and enhances osteolysis in rats causing bone metabolic disturbance, while the injury resulted from microwave radiation and hypergravity could be protected by intervention with Rana sylvatica Le conte oil and it provides an original direction in the investigation of radioprotectors

Anemia prevalence among pregnant women and birth weight in five areas in China

To investigate the current prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in different areas of China and the association with birth weight and educational level. A total of 6,413 women aged 24-37 in the third trimester of pregnancy from five areas were randomly selected from all gravidas who gave birth in the hospitals from 1999 to 2003. blood hemoglobin concentration [Hb] was measured by the cyanomethemoglobin method; Hb<110 g/l was considered as anemia. The overall prevalence of anemia was 58.6%, ranging from 48.1 to 70.5% in the five areas. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of anemia between women who have mental jobs and those who have physical jobs [52.3 vs. 61.1%, p<0.01]. The prevalence of anemia depended on the level of education: with 52.9, 62.4 and 66.5%, for college, secondary school and primary education, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant [p=0.005]. results showed that higher birth weight was associated with Hb concentrations ranging from 90 to 140 g/l, whereas lower birth weight occurred below 80 g/l and above 140 g/l Hb. The prevalence of anemia in Chinese pregnant women was high both in rural areas and towns. Area of residence, education level and type of job influenced the prevalence of anemia. Low maternal Hb concentrations influenced birth weight