Introduction: Ultrasound is an essential component of antenatal care. Midwives provide most of the antenatal care but they do not perform ultrasound as it has been beyond their scope of practice. This leaves many wome...Introduction: Ultrasound is an essential component of antenatal care. Midwives provide most of the antenatal care but they do not perform ultrasound as it has been beyond their scope of practice. This leaves many women in Low and Middle-Income Countries without access to ultrasound scanning. The aim of this study was to identify competencies in ultrasound scanning in midwifery education. Methods: A desk review and needs assessment were conducted between July and October 2023. Articles and curricula on the internet, Google scholar and PubMed were searched for content on ultrasound scanning competencies. A Google form consisting of 20 questions was administered via email and WhatsApp to 135 participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. Results: The desk review showed that it is feasible to train midwives in ultrasound scanning. The training programs for midwives in obstetric ultrasound were conducted for 1 week to 3 months with most of them running for 4 weeks. Content included introduction to general principles of ultrasound, physics, basic knowledge in embryology, obstetrics, anatomy, measuring foetal biometry, estimating amniotic fluid and gestational age. Experts like sonographers trained midwives. Theory and hands on were the teaching methods used. Written and practical assessments were conducted. Needs assessment revealed that majority of participants 71 (53%) knew about basic ultrasound training for midwives. All participants (100%) said it is necessary to train midwives in basic ultrasound scan in Zambia. Some content should include, anatomy, measuring foetal biometry, assessing amniotic fluid level, and gestational age determination. Most participants 91 (67%) suggested that the appropriate duration of training is 4 - 6 weeks. Conclusion: Empowering every midwife with ultrasound scanning skills will enable early detection of any abnormality among pregnant women and prompt intervention to save lives.展开更多
Research Background and Purpose: The number of diabetic patients is rapidly increasing, making it crucial to find methods to prevent diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of blindness. We investigated the effects...Research Background and Purpose: The number of diabetic patients is rapidly increasing, making it crucial to find methods to prevent diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of blindness. We investigated the effects of prophylactic pattern scanning laser retinal photocoagulation on DR development in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats as a new prevention approach. Methods: Photocoagulation was applied to the right eyes of 8-week-old Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats, with the left eyes serving as untreated controls. Electroretinography at 9 and 39 weeks of age and pathological examinations, including immunohistochemistry for vascular endothelial growth factor and glial fibrillary acidic protein at 24 and 40 weeks of age, were performed on both eyes. Results: There were no significant differences in amplitude and prolongation of the OP waves between the right and left eyes in SDT fatty rats at 39 weeks of age. Similarly, no significant differences in pathology and immunohistochemistry were observed between the right and left eyes in SDT fatty rats at 24 and 40 weeks of age. Conclusion: Prophylactic pattern scanning retinal laser photocoagulation did not affect the development of diabetic retinopathy in SDT fatty rats.展开更多
Introduction: Cranioencephalic exploration has always played a major role in CT scans. In the Central Africa Republic (CAR), the lack of cross-sectional imaging before the year 2020 meant that no study had focused on ...Introduction: Cranioencephalic exploration has always played a major role in CT scans. In the Central Africa Republic (CAR), the lack of cross-sectional imaging before the year 2020 meant that no study had focused on cranioencephalic lesions. The aim of this study was to contribute to improving the management of cranioencephalic pathologies in CAR. Patients and Method: The study took place at the Bangui National Medical Imaging Centre (CNIMB). It was a retrospective study over a two-year period (March 1, 2021 to February 30, 2023). All patients referred for cranioencephalic CT scans were included, regardless of age or sex. Results: 1745 CT scans were performed, 575 of which were cranioencephalic CT scans. The majority of patients were male (53%). Most lived in the capital Bangui (90.9%). Patients aged 61 and over were the most representative. The distribution of patients by requesting department showed that the reception and emergency department was one of the least requesting departments. The main abnormalities observed were strokes, 82.1% of which were ischaemic strokes and 17.9% haemorrhagic strokes. Strokes were followed by degenerative lesions. Post-traumatic injuries included haemorrhagic contusions (38.3%), subdural haematomas in 20.5% of cases, and extradural haematomas (9.3%). Craniofacial lesions (fractures) were observed in 45.8% of cases. Conclusion: Cranioencephalic scans accounted for 1/3 of CT examinations performed during the study period. It revealed pathologies that could not be detected by conventional means. All in all, CT scans contributed to the diagnosis of cerebral pathologies.展开更多
Background: Among medical technologies that use ionizing radiation, CT is currently the radio diagnostic technic that can deliver the highest radiation to the Patient compared with other conventional procedures. In de...Background: Among medical technologies that use ionizing radiation, CT is currently the radio diagnostic technic that can deliver the highest radiation to the Patient compared with other conventional procedures. In developing countries, the uses and risks of CT have not been well characterized. Objective: To estimate the lifetime attributable risk (LAR) incidence and mortality for cancer for each procedure for adult’s patients who had Computed Tomography examinations in 10 imaging centers in the city of Douala-Cameroon so as to provide a reference data. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study describing radiation dose associated with the 8 most common types of diagnostic CT studies performed on 1287 consecutive adult patients at 10 Douala radiology department. We estimated lifetime attributable risks of cancer by study type from these measured doses. Estimation of LAR for cancer incidence and mortality was based on the effective dose, patient’s sex and age at exposure using the BIER VII preferred models. Results: Mean effective dose from CT scans examinations varied from: 0.30 and 8.81 mSv. The highest doses were observed for lumbar spine CT (8.81 mSv), followed by abdomen-pelvis procedure (6.46 mSv), chest-abdomen-pelvic CT (6.61 mSv), chest CT (3.90 mSv), cervical Spine CT (3.05 mSv), head CT (1.7 mSv) and lower for sinus CT (0.30 mSv). The LAR values of all cancer from patients’ CT scans obtained vary from 67.13 excess per 100,000 (about 1 in 1489) and 0.45 excess per 100,000 (about 1 in 222,222). All cancer risk was high for lumbar spine CT in women 20 years old (67.13 excess deaths in 100,000 scans) followed by chest-abdomen-pelvic CT (50.36 excess deaths in 100,000 scans) and abdomen-pelvic CT (49.22 excess deaths in 100,000 scans) for the same age group. The LAR of incidence and mortality values were higher from female’s patients than males and higher for younger than older patients. Conclusion: This study was set out to estimate the LAR values associated with adult common CT scans procedures. The data indicates, LAR risks related to induced cancer from CT exposures were estimated to be low. This risk can be relatively significant for younger age group compared to older age group. The LAR values obtained will help to better evaluate radiation exposure risk, before ordering a CT scans examinations.展开更多
Hemangioblastomas are benign vascular tumors of the brain. These are rare tumors, usually located in the cerebellum and most often affecting young adults. The aim was to study the value of CT in the management of hema...Hemangioblastomas are benign vascular tumors of the brain. These are rare tumors, usually located in the cerebellum and most often affecting young adults. The aim was to study the value of CT in the management of hemangioblastoma through observation. We report the case of a 38-year-old patient referred to the radiology and Medical Imaging Department of the Marie Curie Medical Clinic in Bamako, Mali, for an orbito-cerebral CT scan in a context of bilateral eyelid edema. The examination was performed using multi-slice computed tomography (16 slices) with reconstruction in the 3 planes of space without and with the injection of an iodinated contrast agent. The CT scan was crucial in making the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma incidentally, which allowed for adequate management. The patient was operated on, and the radiological outcome was favorable, without significant cystic formation, after postoperative control and clinical signs were resolved. CT can be an interesting alternative in countries like ours despite MRI being the examination of choice in hemangioblastomas.展开更多
在铁路建设及运营阶段,侵入限界的异物对既有线的安全行车构成极大威胁。将复杂的空间侵限检测转换为简单的平面内异物检测,研究利用二维激光测距传感器构建三维幕墙的侵限检测方法。在异物检测过程中,正常通过的列车不能认作异物,必须...在铁路建设及运营阶段,侵入限界的异物对既有线的安全行车构成极大威胁。将复杂的空间侵限检测转换为简单的平面内异物检测,研究利用二维激光测距传感器构建三维幕墙的侵限检测方法。在异物检测过程中,正常通过的列车不能认作异物,必须设计合理的算法检测并予以剔除。由于列车主要体现在轨道平面的检测结果中,重点研究通过分析扫描点云的分布特征对轨道平面内侵限物体进行分类的算法,提出了利用测量序列极值点作为核心对象的快速DBSCAN(density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise)聚类方法,并利用点簇的运动及分布特征判断是否为正常通过列车。现场试验表明,该方法能够有效区分侵限异物和正常通过的列车。展开更多
目的:探讨牙根纵裂(vertical root fractures,VRF)发生的牙合因素。方法:应用T-ScanⅢ咬合分析仪对8例VRF患者及个别正常牙合者分别进行正中及侧方咬合记录,定量数据牙合力百分比值(tooth occlusal force percent-ages,T-FP)、双侧牙合...目的:探讨牙根纵裂(vertical root fractures,VRF)发生的牙合因素。方法:应用T-ScanⅢ咬合分析仪对8例VRF患者及个别正常牙合者分别进行正中及侧方咬合记录,定量数据牙合力百分比值(tooth occlusal force percent-ages,T-FP)、双侧牙合力百分比值(two sides force percentages,TS-FP)、牙合力不对称指数(asymmetry index of occlusal force,AOF)、闭合时间(occlusion time,OT)、侧方牙合分离时间(disclusion time,DT)采用配对资料的符号秩和检验分析,定性数据早接触、牙合力中心点(center of force,COF)位置及偏移方向采用Fisher确切概率法检验分析,检验水准α=0.05,P<0.05差异有统计学意义。结果:VRF组T-FP、AOF、OT、DT大于正常对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);2组COF位置差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),TS-FP、早接触发生率、COF偏移方向差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:VRF患者全口牙合力分布不均衡,双侧牙合力分布不对称,牙合接触稳定性差。展开更多
文摘Introduction: Ultrasound is an essential component of antenatal care. Midwives provide most of the antenatal care but they do not perform ultrasound as it has been beyond their scope of practice. This leaves many women in Low and Middle-Income Countries without access to ultrasound scanning. The aim of this study was to identify competencies in ultrasound scanning in midwifery education. Methods: A desk review and needs assessment were conducted between July and October 2023. Articles and curricula on the internet, Google scholar and PubMed were searched for content on ultrasound scanning competencies. A Google form consisting of 20 questions was administered via email and WhatsApp to 135 participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. Results: The desk review showed that it is feasible to train midwives in ultrasound scanning. The training programs for midwives in obstetric ultrasound were conducted for 1 week to 3 months with most of them running for 4 weeks. Content included introduction to general principles of ultrasound, physics, basic knowledge in embryology, obstetrics, anatomy, measuring foetal biometry, estimating amniotic fluid and gestational age. Experts like sonographers trained midwives. Theory and hands on were the teaching methods used. Written and practical assessments were conducted. Needs assessment revealed that majority of participants 71 (53%) knew about basic ultrasound training for midwives. All participants (100%) said it is necessary to train midwives in basic ultrasound scan in Zambia. Some content should include, anatomy, measuring foetal biometry, assessing amniotic fluid level, and gestational age determination. Most participants 91 (67%) suggested that the appropriate duration of training is 4 - 6 weeks. Conclusion: Empowering every midwife with ultrasound scanning skills will enable early detection of any abnormality among pregnant women and prompt intervention to save lives.
文摘Research Background and Purpose: The number of diabetic patients is rapidly increasing, making it crucial to find methods to prevent diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of blindness. We investigated the effects of prophylactic pattern scanning laser retinal photocoagulation on DR development in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats as a new prevention approach. Methods: Photocoagulation was applied to the right eyes of 8-week-old Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats, with the left eyes serving as untreated controls. Electroretinography at 9 and 39 weeks of age and pathological examinations, including immunohistochemistry for vascular endothelial growth factor and glial fibrillary acidic protein at 24 and 40 weeks of age, were performed on both eyes. Results: There were no significant differences in amplitude and prolongation of the OP waves between the right and left eyes in SDT fatty rats at 39 weeks of age. Similarly, no significant differences in pathology and immunohistochemistry were observed between the right and left eyes in SDT fatty rats at 24 and 40 weeks of age. Conclusion: Prophylactic pattern scanning retinal laser photocoagulation did not affect the development of diabetic retinopathy in SDT fatty rats.
文摘Introduction: Cranioencephalic exploration has always played a major role in CT scans. In the Central Africa Republic (CAR), the lack of cross-sectional imaging before the year 2020 meant that no study had focused on cranioencephalic lesions. The aim of this study was to contribute to improving the management of cranioencephalic pathologies in CAR. Patients and Method: The study took place at the Bangui National Medical Imaging Centre (CNIMB). It was a retrospective study over a two-year period (March 1, 2021 to February 30, 2023). All patients referred for cranioencephalic CT scans were included, regardless of age or sex. Results: 1745 CT scans were performed, 575 of which were cranioencephalic CT scans. The majority of patients were male (53%). Most lived in the capital Bangui (90.9%). Patients aged 61 and over were the most representative. The distribution of patients by requesting department showed that the reception and emergency department was one of the least requesting departments. The main abnormalities observed were strokes, 82.1% of which were ischaemic strokes and 17.9% haemorrhagic strokes. Strokes were followed by degenerative lesions. Post-traumatic injuries included haemorrhagic contusions (38.3%), subdural haematomas in 20.5% of cases, and extradural haematomas (9.3%). Craniofacial lesions (fractures) were observed in 45.8% of cases. Conclusion: Cranioencephalic scans accounted for 1/3 of CT examinations performed during the study period. It revealed pathologies that could not be detected by conventional means. All in all, CT scans contributed to the diagnosis of cerebral pathologies.
文摘Background: Among medical technologies that use ionizing radiation, CT is currently the radio diagnostic technic that can deliver the highest radiation to the Patient compared with other conventional procedures. In developing countries, the uses and risks of CT have not been well characterized. Objective: To estimate the lifetime attributable risk (LAR) incidence and mortality for cancer for each procedure for adult’s patients who had Computed Tomography examinations in 10 imaging centers in the city of Douala-Cameroon so as to provide a reference data. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study describing radiation dose associated with the 8 most common types of diagnostic CT studies performed on 1287 consecutive adult patients at 10 Douala radiology department. We estimated lifetime attributable risks of cancer by study type from these measured doses. Estimation of LAR for cancer incidence and mortality was based on the effective dose, patient’s sex and age at exposure using the BIER VII preferred models. Results: Mean effective dose from CT scans examinations varied from: 0.30 and 8.81 mSv. The highest doses were observed for lumbar spine CT (8.81 mSv), followed by abdomen-pelvis procedure (6.46 mSv), chest-abdomen-pelvic CT (6.61 mSv), chest CT (3.90 mSv), cervical Spine CT (3.05 mSv), head CT (1.7 mSv) and lower for sinus CT (0.30 mSv). The LAR values of all cancer from patients’ CT scans obtained vary from 67.13 excess per 100,000 (about 1 in 1489) and 0.45 excess per 100,000 (about 1 in 222,222). All cancer risk was high for lumbar spine CT in women 20 years old (67.13 excess deaths in 100,000 scans) followed by chest-abdomen-pelvic CT (50.36 excess deaths in 100,000 scans) and abdomen-pelvic CT (49.22 excess deaths in 100,000 scans) for the same age group. The LAR of incidence and mortality values were higher from female’s patients than males and higher for younger than older patients. Conclusion: This study was set out to estimate the LAR values associated with adult common CT scans procedures. The data indicates, LAR risks related to induced cancer from CT exposures were estimated to be low. This risk can be relatively significant for younger age group compared to older age group. The LAR values obtained will help to better evaluate radiation exposure risk, before ordering a CT scans examinations.
文摘Hemangioblastomas are benign vascular tumors of the brain. These are rare tumors, usually located in the cerebellum and most often affecting young adults. The aim was to study the value of CT in the management of hemangioblastoma through observation. We report the case of a 38-year-old patient referred to the radiology and Medical Imaging Department of the Marie Curie Medical Clinic in Bamako, Mali, for an orbito-cerebral CT scan in a context of bilateral eyelid edema. The examination was performed using multi-slice computed tomography (16 slices) with reconstruction in the 3 planes of space without and with the injection of an iodinated contrast agent. The CT scan was crucial in making the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma incidentally, which allowed for adequate management. The patient was operated on, and the radiological outcome was favorable, without significant cystic formation, after postoperative control and clinical signs were resolved. CT can be an interesting alternative in countries like ours despite MRI being the examination of choice in hemangioblastomas.
文摘在铁路建设及运营阶段,侵入限界的异物对既有线的安全行车构成极大威胁。将复杂的空间侵限检测转换为简单的平面内异物检测,研究利用二维激光测距传感器构建三维幕墙的侵限检测方法。在异物检测过程中,正常通过的列车不能认作异物,必须设计合理的算法检测并予以剔除。由于列车主要体现在轨道平面的检测结果中,重点研究通过分析扫描点云的分布特征对轨道平面内侵限物体进行分类的算法,提出了利用测量序列极值点作为核心对象的快速DBSCAN(density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise)聚类方法,并利用点簇的运动及分布特征判断是否为正常通过列车。现场试验表明,该方法能够有效区分侵限异物和正常通过的列车。
文摘目的:探讨牙根纵裂(vertical root fractures,VRF)发生的牙合因素。方法:应用T-ScanⅢ咬合分析仪对8例VRF患者及个别正常牙合者分别进行正中及侧方咬合记录,定量数据牙合力百分比值(tooth occlusal force percent-ages,T-FP)、双侧牙合力百分比值(two sides force percentages,TS-FP)、牙合力不对称指数(asymmetry index of occlusal force,AOF)、闭合时间(occlusion time,OT)、侧方牙合分离时间(disclusion time,DT)采用配对资料的符号秩和检验分析,定性数据早接触、牙合力中心点(center of force,COF)位置及偏移方向采用Fisher确切概率法检验分析,检验水准α=0.05,P<0.05差异有统计学意义。结果:VRF组T-FP、AOF、OT、DT大于正常对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);2组COF位置差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),TS-FP、早接触发生率、COF偏移方向差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:VRF患者全口牙合力分布不均衡,双侧牙合力分布不对称,牙合接触稳定性差。
