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The Temporal Development of Clinical Research in Emerging Countries
Vanessa Strüver,
Firas Fneish,
Rainer Muche,
Gerhard Fortwengel
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
1-7
Received:
8 December 2020
Accepted:
15 December 2020
Published:
12 January 2021
Abstract: The globalization of clinical research business is leading to a shift of clinical trials from Western countries to so-called emerging markets. This article should present the temporal development of clinical research business on the African continent. Further information should be gathered on favorite disease categories in which clinical trials are conducted. Using the ClinicalTrials.gov registry, trend data on the development of clinical research in the 47 countries listed on the African continent country list published by the World Health Organization were collected for the period from 2000 to 2018. Additionally, health data for the two main disease categories Communicable Diseases and Non-Communicable Diseases are taken from the Atlas on African Health Statistics of the World Health Organization for each country to be utilized in comparative analyses. Twenty African countries showed a strong development in clinical research business with continuous clinical trials conducted since 2000, while 5 countries had a delayed beginning of development. A further 19 countries show only sporadic performance. A comparison of the data for the disease categories Communicable Diseases and Non-Communicable Diseases shows that in 38 countries the number of clinical trials in the field of Communicable Diseases has decreased over the course of the reporting period, while clinical trials in the category of Non-Communicable Diseases are increasingly being conducted. The expected globalization trend is not evident in all African emerging markets. Due to various factors, the countries show different levels of development in the clinical research business.
Abstract: The globalization of clinical research business is leading to a shift of clinical trials from Western countries to so-called emerging markets. This article should present the temporal development of clinical research business on the African continent. Further information should be gathered on favorite disease categories in which clinical trials are...
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The Relationship Between T Lymphocyte Subsets and TPOAb & TGAb Levelin Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Rongqin Dai,
Yang Chen,
Ying Li,
Haitao Hu,
Jinbiao Zhang
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
8-12
Received:
12 December 2020
Accepted:
Published:
22 January 2021
Abstract: Background: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is a common autoimmune thyroid disease of organ specificity mediated by T cells, the abnormal activation of auto-reactive T cells has close relation with the attack of HT and participates in the attack process of HT. TPOAb and TGAb is important symbols of HT thyroiditis. Most of patients have continuous TPOAb and TGAb level rise. Objective: To assess the relationship between T Lymphocyte Subsets and TPOAb & TGAb Level in Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Method: 130 clinically diagnosed HT patients are selected as the study object and were divided into high level group and low level group (with 65 cases for each group) as per the expression condition of TPOAb and TGAb; another 40 healthy check-up people are selected as the control group. Flow cytometry is adopted to test the T lymphocyte subsets, and ELISA is adopted to test Th1 cytokine (IL-2, IFN-γ) and Th2cytokine (IL-4, IL-10). Result: CD3+T, CD3+CD4+T and CD4+/CD8+ of high level TPOAb group and high level TGAb group are obviously higher than that of low level group and the control group, CD3+CD8+T is obviously lower than that of low level group and the control group; the CD3+CD4+T of the low level TPOAb group and low level TGAb group is obviously higher than the control group, which has statistic meaning (P<0.05). IL-2 and IFN-γ of the high level TPOAb group and high level TGAb group is obviously lower than the low level group while higher than the control group, and the IL-4 and IL-10 is obviously higher than the low level group and the control group; the IL-2 and IFN-γ of the low level TPOAb group and low level TGAb is obviously higher than that of high level group and the control group, and the IL-4 and IL-10 is obviously lower than that of the high level group and the control group, and the differences all have statistic meaning (P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicates that TPOAb and TGAb are in positive correlation with CD3+CD4+T and CD4+/CD8+, while in negative correlation with CD3+CD8+T. Conclusion: T lymphocyte subsets in the HT patients have obvious correlation with the level of TPOAb and TGAb, and may have close relationship with the occurrence and development of HT.
Abstract: Background: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is a common autoimmune thyroid disease of organ specificity mediated by T cells, the abnormal activation of auto-reactive T cells has close relation with the attack of HT and participates in the attack process of HT. TPOAb and TGAb is important symbols of HT thyroiditis. Most of patients have continuous TPOAb and...
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Midwifery Core Competency Assessment Tool: A Systematic Review Protocol
Shenmei Li,
Yunyun Dai,
Yangguang Chen,
Yan Gao
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
13-16
Received:
20 January 2021
Accepted:
Published:
9 March 2021
Abstract: Background: in recent years, the capacity building of midwives has attracted the attention of all countries in the world, especially in countries with a lack of midwifery human resources. Improving the capacity of midwives is an important strategy to ensure the health of mothers and infants. Professional associations in many countries have issued standards for midwife competency, which are basically similar to the core competency module proposed by ICM, but some countries have made localization adjustments according to their own characteristics. In August 2019 a further update was made to correct an error in competency of the English version, the French and Spanish versions by ICM. In order to further standardize the evaluation tools of midwives' core competence, it is urgent to evaluate them. Methods/Design: We will conduct a systematic review and utility critique of instruments used to measure effectiveness of core competence assessment tools for midwives at different levels. The databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cumulative Index to midwife competency and Web of Knowledge will be searched from inception until end November 2020. Search strategies will include the key words; midwife, core competency, questionnaires, instruments, delphi technique, index system, reliability, validity. We will contact experts in the field of measuring core competency and scrutinise all secondary references. A reviewer will apply an inclusion criteria scale to all titles and abstracts. A second reviewer will apply the inclusion criteria scale to a random 10% selection. Two reviewers will independently evaluate the methodological rigour of the testing of the instruments using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of core competency checklist. We will present a narrative synthesis on the utility of all instruments and make recommendations for instrument selection in practice. Discussion: This systematic review of the utility of instruments to measure the core competence assessment tools for midwives at different levels. It will aid managers, educator and policy makers to select an instrument fit for purpose. Importantly, appropriate instrument selection will provide a mechanism for effective training of midwives' core competency ability in different levels.
Abstract: Background: in recent years, the capacity building of midwives has attracted the attention of all countries in the world, especially in countries with a lack of midwifery human resources. Improving the capacity of midwives is an important strategy to ensure the health of mothers and infants. Professional associations in many countries have issued s...
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Efficacy of Phloroglucinol Tamsulosin Combination Therapy for Medical Expulsion of Lower Ureteral Calculi and Influence on Patients’ Cys-C Level
Yutong Li,
Bin Pan,
Guo Chen,
Ying Wu
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2021
Pages:
17-21
Received:
2 February 2021
Accepted:
12 February 2021
Published:
30 March 2021
Abstract: Objective: Phloroglucinol is a myotropic, non-atropine and non-papaverine smooth muscle antispasmodic which directly acts on the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and the urogenital tract with no anticholinergic effect, no symptoms like xerostomia, visual impairment, dysuria, hypotension, increased heart rate, and arrhythmia etc. To investigate the efficacy of phloroglucinol tamsulosin combination therapy for medical expulsion of lower ureteral calculi and influence on patients’ Cys-C level. Methods: Equally randomized 136 patients with lower ureteral calculi in our hospital into mono therapy group (phloroglucinol alone) and combination therapy group (additional tamsulosin was advised). The expulsion rate, expulsion time, stone diameter and levels of IL-10, CRP, NGAL, Cys-C, KIM-1 were compared between two groups, also with the effectiveness and the rate of adverse reactions. Results: The combination therapy group showed higher expulsion rate (P<0.05) and shorter expulsion time (P<0.05) than that of the mono therapy group and the stone diameter was slightly larger as well (P<0.05). Also, patients under combination treatment had elevated IL-10, CRP, NGAL, Cys-C and KIM-1 levels and a better overall response rate (P<0.05) while it was associated with a slightly higher rate of adverse reactions (P>0.05). Conclusions: Phloroglucinol tamsulosin combination therapy had clear advantages on medical expulsion of lower ureteral calculi in respect of higher expulsion rate and elevated IL-10, CRP, NGAL, Cys-C and KIM-1 levels with larger stone diameter in a shorter time.
Abstract: Objective: Phloroglucinol is a myotropic, non-atropine and non-papaverine smooth muscle antispasmodic which directly acts on the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and the urogenital tract with no anticholinergic effect, no symptoms like xerostomia, visual impairment, dysuria, hypotension, increased heart rate, and arrhythmia etc. To inve...
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