The Performance of Graduation from Traditional Growing Rods with Apical Control Technique in Patients with Congenital Early-Onset Scoliosis / 罕见病研究

  Objective  Different from other etiologies of early-onset scoliosis (EOS), congenital early-onset scoliosis (CEOS) is mainly linked to vertebral anomalies, such as formation failures and segmentation failures at the apex segments. So far, there is little research on CEOS patients who have completed traditional growing rods (TGR) treatment, and the initial outcomes of TGR with or without apical control technique (ACT) are different. Therefore, we compared the "final" results of CEOS patients who completed TGR treatment with or without ACT.  Methods  We conducted a retrospective study of CEOS patients who completed TGR treatment from 2007—2020. They either had final fusion or were followed up after reaching skeletal maturity. We split the patients into two groups based on whether they had ACT with TGR or not. The ACT-TGR group had apical vertebrectomy/hemivertebrectomy with short fusion and TGR. The TGR-only group had only TGR. We looked at their demographic features, radiographic measurements, and complications.  Results  This study enrolled 46 CEOS patients, of which 13 patients were in the ACT-TGR group and 33 patients in the TGR group. The ACT-TGR group had a longer distraction interval (1.17 years vs. 0.75 years). The ACT-TGR group had a larger preoperative main curve [87.00(63.50, 98.00)], but the residual curve degrees were comparable between the two groups at the last follow-up (P=0.354). At the last follow-up, the T1-12 and T1-S1 heights were similar between the two groups. The ACT-TGR group had a lower number of implant-related complications per patient (0.77 vs. 1.48). Three patients in the ACT-TGR group underwent final fusion, while 17 patients in the TGR group underwent final fusion (P=0.060).  Conclusions  Both ACT-TGR and traditional TGR coud effectively correct deformity and preserve spinal growth in CEOS patients. ACT-TGR had a better corrective effect on patients with severe deformity and did not have a significant impact on spinal height. For patients with acceptable correction, spontaneous fusion and without implant failure, retaining the implant and continuing observation could be a strategy for graduating from growing rod treatment.

Assessment of ability of professionals in parasitic disease control and prevention techniques in China, 2017 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the professional theory, prevention and control practice, experimental diagnosis and other technical skills of parasitic diseases among technicians of all levels of disease control and prevention institutions, so as to provide the evidence for strengthening the capacity building of Chinese professional personnel. Methods According to the method of recommendation at all levels, the subjects from disease control and prevention institutions at province, prefecture or county levels were chosen to assess the theory of parasitic diseases and test operation skills by using the method of answering the questions together with on-site operations in China. A database was built consisting of subjects’ basic information and assessment scores. By using the method of hierarchical classification, the scores by gender, age, professional title, institutions and places of participants were analyzed. Results A total of 124 professions in prevention and treatment of parasitic diseases in 31 provinces (cities and regions) were evaluated in China. The average total score of all the subjects was 125.0 ± 35.2, with a passing rate of 54.8%. The average scores of male subjects and female subjects were 120.8 ± 34.2 and 126.6 ± 35.4 respectively; the average scores of the subjects aged under 30 years, between 30 and 40 years, and above 40 years were 125.6 ± 33.6, 124.9 ± 35.8, and 119.3 ± 45.9 respectively; the average scores of persons with junior, intermediate and senior professional titles were 119.8 ± 35.8, 136.0 ± 32.5 and 127.1 ± 40.9 respectively. The average theoretical assessment score of all the subjects was 67.4 ± 15.6, with a passing rate of 68.5%. The average practical skill assessment score of all the subjects was 57.6 ± 21.8, with a passing rate of 46.0%. The average detection rates of Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae in endemic and non-endemic areas were 64.1%, 72.8%, 57.0%, 58.3% and 35.9%, 46.9%, 33.3%, 43.8%, respectively. The detection ability of professionals in endemic areas was significantly higher than that in non-endemic areas (χ2 = 767.10, 462.12, 134.97 and 360.80, respectively, all P < 0.01). The total detection rate of schistosome eggs was 48.7%, and the detection rates of schistosome eggs were 67.4% and 36.8% in endemic and non-endemic areas, respectively. The detection ability of professionals in endemic areas was significantly higher than that in non-endemic areas (χ2 = 817.74, P < 0.01). The detection rates of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Enterobius vermicularis were 85.7%, 78.6%, 91.7%, and 61.8%, 23.5% and 74.4% in the technicians in southern region and northern region of China, showing significant differences (χ2 = 622.58, 301.70 and 588.71, respectively, all P < 0.01). Conclusions The overall results of the subjects are good, but the technical operation capability of them is relatively low. Therefore, the specific training based on daily work needs should be enhanced. In addition, we should attach importance to talent cultivation and technical reserve, and strengthen the construction of the team, so as to meet the needs of the prevention and control of parasitic diseases.

Assessment of ability of professionals in parasitic disease control and prevention techniques in China, 2017 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the professional theory, prevention and control practice, experimental diagnosis and other technical skills of parasitic diseases among technicians of all levels of disease control and prevention institutions, so as to provide the evidence for strengthening the capacity building of Chinese professional personnel. Methods According to the method of recommendation at all levels, the subjects from disease control and prevention institutions at province, prefecture or county levels were chosen to assess the theory of parasitic diseases and test operation skills by using the method of answering the questions together with on-site operations in China. A database was built consisting of subjects’ basic information and assessment scores. By using the method of hierarchical classification, the scores by gender, age, professional title, institutions and places of participants were analyzed. Results A total of 124 professions in prevention and treatment of parasitic diseases in 31 provinces (cities and regions) were evaluated in China. The average total score of all the subjects was 125.0 ± 35.2, with a passing rate of 54.8%. The average scores of male subjects and female subjects were 120.8 ± 34.2 and 126.6 ± 35.4 respectively; the average scores of the subjects aged under 30 years, between 30 and 40 years, and above 40 years were 125.6 ± 33.6, 124.9 ± 35.8, and 119.3 ± 45.9 respectively; the average scores of persons with junior, intermediate and senior professional titles were 119.8 ± 35.8, 136.0 ± 32.5 and 127.1 ± 40.9 respectively. The average theoretical assessment score of all the subjects was 67.4 ± 15.6, with a passing rate of 68.5%. The average practical skill assessment score of all the subjects was 57.6 ± 21.8, with a passing rate of 46.0%. The average detection rates of Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae in endemic and non-endemic areas were 64.1%, 72.8%, 57.0%, 58.3% and 35.9%, 46.9%, 33.3%, 43.8%, respectively. The detection ability of professionals in endemic areas was significantly higher than that in non-endemic areas (χ2 = 767.10, 462.12, 134.97 and 360.80, respectively, all P < 0.01). The total detection rate of schistosome eggs was 48.7%, and the detection rates of schistosome eggs were 67.4% and 36.8% in endemic and non-endemic areas, respectively. The detection ability of professionals in endemic areas was significantly higher than that in non-endemic areas (χ2 = 817.74, P < 0.01). The detection rates of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Enterobius vermicularis were 85.7%, 78.6%, 91.7%, and 61.8%, 23.5% and 74.4% in the technicians in southern region and northern region of China, showing significant differences (χ2 = 622.58, 301.70 and 588.71, respectively, all P < 0.01). Conclusions The overall results of the subjects are good, but the technical operation capability of them is relatively low. Therefore, the specific training based on daily work needs should be enhanced. In addition, we should attach importance to talent cultivation and technical reserve, and strengthen the construction of the team, so as to meet the needs of the prevention and control of parasitic diseases.

Research and application of magnetic resonance coordinate transformation method for brain control technology of carp robots / 生物医学工程学杂志

To solve the problem of precise positioning of carp brain tissue coordinates, it is proposed in this paper for a method for transforming the coordinates of magnetic resonance imaging of carp brain tissue into the coordinates of electrode implantation using a brain stereotaxic apparatus. In this study, the 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging instrument was used to scan the carp brain. We independently established the three-dimensional positioning coordinate system of the brain, the three-dimensional coordinate assistance system of skull surface and the three-dimensional coordinate assistance system in brain tissue. After two coordinate transformations, the magnetic resonance image coordinates of the brain electrodes implantation sites were converted into the three-dimensional stereotactic coordinate system to guide the electrodes implantation. The experimental groups were divided into two groups, A and B. Group A was the group of magnetic resonance imaging apparatus combining with the brain stereotaxic apparatus, and group B was the group of brain atlas combining with the brain stereotaxic apparatus. Each group had 20 tails of carps ( = 20). This two methods were used to implant the electrodes into the cerebellar motor area. The underwater experiments of the carp robots were carried out to test the two methods. The results showed that the accuracy of the implanted electrodes were 90% in group A and 60% in group B. The success rate of group A was significantly higher than that of group B ( < 0.05). Therefore, the new method in this paper can accurately determine the coordinates of carp brain tissue.

Analysis of effect of prevention and control technique training of human im-portant parasitic diseases in Jiangsu Province in 2017 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of the prevention and control technique training of human important parasitic diseases for basic professional and technical personnel in Jiangsu Province in 2017. Methods A workshop including theory courses and practical operations was carried out for the basic professional and technical personnel. At the end of the workshop , the effects were evaluated through the theoretical and microscopic examinations. Results There were 132 trainees from 13 cit-ies,and all of them took part in the final examinations. The average score of total was 118.36. There were significant differences among different regions(χ2 =13.38,P<0.01). The pass rate of the theory test was 92.4%with the average score of 79.05. There were significant differences of theory scores among different regions(χ2=14.51,P<0.01). The theory score of Northern Jiangsu Province was significantly higher than the scores of Southern and Central Jiangsu Province(P<0.001,P=0.009). The pass rate of microscopic examinations was 89.4%with the average score of 39.32. There was no significant difference of micro-scopic examination scores among different regions(F=2.37,P=0.09). Among the total 7 species,the detection rate of Para-gonimus westermani was the highest(75%)and the rates of Schistosoma japonicum and Fasciolopsis buski were only 51.5%and 54.5%respectively. The detection rates of eggs of Trichuris trichiura,unfertilized Ascaris lumbricoides,Clonorchis sinensis and Taenia solium were 71.2%,65.9%,72.7%and 72.0%respectively. Conclusions The training course has promoted the capa-bility of prevention and control of parasitic diseases for basic technical personnel. Also it provides the technical supports for para-sitic disease monitoring,control and risk assessment in the next step.

Exploratory Thinking on the Control Technologies of Schistosomiasis Japonica / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

In this paper,the authors elaborated the difficulties of schistosomiasis control and analyzed shortages and problems of the skills currently used.In order to consolidate the progress in schistosomiasis control and reach the transmission-blocking target,research priorities on the disease control technologies are proposed.