Significance of Evidence-based Medicine in the Assessment of Chinese Medicine Clinical Efficacy

Evidence-base dmedicine （EBM） requires the integration of the best research evidence with our clinical expertise and our patient＇s unique values and circumstances. Thebest evidence is valid and clinically relevant, especially from patient-centered clinical research. The clinical expertise means the ability to use our clinical skills and past experiences to rapidly identify each patient＇s unique health state and diagnosis, their individual risks,

Key limitations in the assessment of global roadless areas

Subject Code:C03 With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Ministry of Science and Technology of China,the research team led by Dr.Wu Ruidong(武瑞东)from Yunnan University reveals several key limitations in the study of global roadless areas mapping and assessment,which was

Postural control quantification in minimally and moderately impaired persons with multiple sclerosis:The reliability of a posturographic test and its relationships with functional ability

Background:Postural control has been associated with the functional impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis(pwMS).However,there is a need for reliable methods to assess postural control in early stages of the disease,when subtle changes can be difficult to detect.The aims of this study were to assess the absolute and relative reliability of a standing and a sitting posturographic protocol in minimally(Expanded Disability Status Scale≤2)and moderately(2.5≤Expanded Disability Status Scale≤4)impaired pwMS,and to analyze relationships among postural control and functional mobility and gait performance.Methods:To assess postural control in an upright stance,14 minimally and 16 moderately impaired pwMS performed six 70 s trials in tandem stance,3 with their weaker leg behind(TSWL)and 3 with their stronger leg behind(TSSL).Additionally,participants completed five 70 s trials using an unstable sitting protocol(US)to assess trunk stability.The mean radial errors of TSWL,TSSL,and US trials were calculated as postural control indexes.Furthermore,participants performed the Timed Up and Go test(TUG)and the Timed 25-foot Walk test(T25FW)to measure their functional mobility and gait speed,respectively.Reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC3,1)and the standard error of measurement(SEM).Analyses of variances were carried out to assess between-group differences.Hedges’g index(dg)was used to estimate the effect size of differences.Pearson correlation analyses(r)were performed to examine the relationships among the postural control and the functional tests.Results:Posturographic tests showed a high reliability in both minimally(0.87≤ICC≤0.92;9.32%≤SEM≤11.76%)and moderately(0.80≤ICC≤0.92;10.33%≤SEM≤15.33%)impaired pwMS.Similarly,T25FW and TUG displayed a high consistency in minimally(0.89≤ICC≤0.94;3.43%≤SEM≤5.17%)and moderately(0.85≤ICC≤0.93;5.57%≤SEM≤6.56%)impaired individuals.Minimally impaired pwMS showed a better performance on the TUG,T25FW,and TSWL than moderately impaired individuals(p<0.05;dg≥0.8).The TSWL,TSSL,and US variables correlated with TUG scores(0.419≤r≤0.604;p<0.05),but TSWL also correlated with T25FW scores(r=0.53;p<0.01).Furthermore,US scores correlated with both tandem stance parameters(TSWL:r=0.54,p<0.01;TSSL:r=0.43,p<0.05).Conclusion:Tandem and sitting posturographic tests provide reliable measures of postural control in pwMS,even in individuals with a homogeneous disease profile.Gait speed,functional mobility,and weaker leg status seem decisive in assessing the degree of physical activity limitation in pwMS.Finally,although trunk stability does not seem to be so affected by the course of the disease,it remains relevant for postural control and functional capacity.

Evaluation of an Examination in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This work was aimed at assessing one of the examinations applied to the students enrolled in courses of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the School of Medicine, UNAM. We analyzed a f＇mal examination in this subject. The test consisted of 80 multiple choice questions. The database was exported to Excel and then to the SPSS 16 statistical software for statistical analyses. The following techniques were used： （1） dificulty index （Pi）, （2） discrimination index （Di）, （3） discrimination coefficient （rpbis）, and （4） Cronbach＇s alpha. Those questions that complied with 3 of the 4 mentioned techniques were considered acceptable; of the 80 questions, only 25 were accepted corresponding to 31%. The topic with the largest number of accepted questions was Water and pH （75%）, and the topics without accepted questions were Bioenergetics and Hormones （0%）. It is recommended that the faculty members that elaborate multiple choice examinations must know the subject, and should have a formation in didactics and educational methodology.