Operative link on gastritis assessment stage is an appropriate predictor of early gastric cancer

AIM: To assess the predictive value of Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) and Operative Link on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Assessment (OLGIM) stages in gastric cancer.METHODS: A prospective study was conducted with 71 patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) and 156 patients with non-EGC. All patients underwent endoscopic examination and systematic biopsy. Outcome measures were assessed and compared, including the Japanese endoscopic gastric atrophy (EGA) classification method and the modified OLGA method as well as the modified OLGIM method. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) status was determined for all study participants. Stepwise logistic regression modeling was performed to analyze correlations between EGC and the EGA, OLGA and OLGIM methods.RESULTS: For patients with EGC and patients with non-EGC, the proportions of moderate-to-severe EGA cases were 64.8% and 44.9%, respectively (P = 0.005), the proportions of OLGA stages III-IV cases were 52.1% and 22.4%, respectively (P < 0.001), and the proportions of OLGIM stages III-IV cases were 42.3% and 19.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). OLGA stage and OLGIM stage were significantly related to EGA classification; specifically, logistic regression modeling showed significant correlations between EGC and moderate-to-severe EGA (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.06-3.58, P = 0.031) and OLGA stages III-IV (OR = 3.14, 95%CI: 1.71-5.81, P < 0.001), but no significant correlation between EGC and OLGIM stages III-IV (P = 0.781). H. pylori infection rate was significantly higher in patients with moderate-to-severe EGA (75.0% vs 54.1%, P = 0.001) or OLGA/OLGIM stages III-IV (OLGA: 83.6% vs 55.8%, P < 0.001; OLGIM: 83.6% vs 57.8%, P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: OLGA classification is optimal for EGC screening. A surveillance program including OLGA stage and H. pylori infection status may facilitate early detection of gastric cancer.

Making Outcomes Assessment （Relatively） Painless, One Approach to Address the Issue

Given the pressures and constraints of assessment of learning in today＇s environment consistent with accreditation requirements, this paper presents the utilization of a course embedded assessment. That is, instead of creating an extra assessment outside the normal activities of the course, this paper examines an assessment that is part of the course. Additionally, not only is the course embedded assessment part of the course, it measures 100% of assessments employed in the course, instead of only a sample of the assessments. This paper presents background information regarding the utilization of a course embedded assessment, including The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International [AACSB] requirements for fulfilling assessment of learning outcomes. Discussion of course embedded assessments takes place. The dialogue then illustrates an approach that can be used for the data organization and analysis stages of assessment. It is hoped that the use of such an approach may save instructors time and effort in their assessment endeavors, while providing a superior quality assessment encompassing the entire course instead of merely a sample. This occurs by transferring the objective nature of the assessments into a computerized format.

APPLICATION OF SINTAP TO THE SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF X65 PIPELINE STEEL

The recently developed European flaw assessment procedure, structural integrity assessment procedure（SiNTAP） is applied to assessment for welded joints of the API 5L X65 pipeline steel with an assumed embedded flaw and surface flaw at the weld toe. As one of the basic input data, fracture toughness crack tip opening displacement （CTOD） tests are conducted at 0℃ and performed according to the requirements of the standard of BS7448. For the heat affected zone （HAZ） specimens, the microstructure observation is performed to insure that the tip of the crack is located in the coarse grain zone. The result explains the dispersity of the test values. In structural integrity assessment procedure-fracture assessment diagram（SINTAP FAD） method, the failure curves of welded joints at level 1 and 3 are derived from the tensile test results. The results of the assessment show that all assessment points are located within the failure lines of analysis level 1 and 3. So the welded joint of the pipeline is safe. This study laid the foundation of application of SINTAP to pipeline structure assessment.

Study on wave energy resource assessing method based on altimeter data——A case study in Northwest Pacific

Wave energy resource is a very important ocean renewable energy. A reliable assessment of wave energy resources must be performed before they can be exploited. Compared with wave model, altimeter can provide more accurate in situ observations for ocean wave which can be as a novel method for wave energy assessment.The advantage of altimeter data is to provide accurate significant wave height observations for wave. In order to develop characteristic and advantage of altimeter data and apply altimeter data to wave energy assessment, in this study, we established an assessing method for wave energy in local sea area which is dedicated to altimeter data.This method includes three parts including data selection and processing, establishment of evaluation indexes system and criterion of regional division. Then a case study of Northwest Pacific was performed to discuss specific application for this method. The results show that assessing method in this paper can assess reserves and temporal and spatial distribution effectively and provide scientific references for the siting of wave power plants and the design of wave energy convertors.

How to select elderly colorectal cancer patients for surgery: a pilot study in an Italian academic medical center

Objective: Cancer is one of the most common diagnoses in elderly patients. Of all types of abdominal cancer, colorectal cancer(CRC) is undoubtedly the most frequent. Median age at diagnosis is approximately 70 years old worldwide. Due to the multiple comorbidities affecting elderly people, frailty evaluation is very important in order to avoid over- or undertreatment. This pilot study was designed to investigate the variables capable of predicting the long-term risk of mortality and living situation after surgery for CRC.Methods: Patients with 70 years old and older undergoing elective surgery for CRC were prospectively enrolled in the study. The patients were preoperatively screened using 11 internationally-validated-frailty-assessment tests. The endpoints of the study were long-term mortality and living situation. The data were analyzed using univariate Cox proportional-hazard regression analysis to verify the predictive value of score indices in order to identify possible risk factors.Results: Forty-six patients were studied. The median follow-up time after surgery was 4.6 years(range, 2.9-5.7 years) and no patients were lost to follow-up. The overall mortality rate was 39%. Four of the patients who survived(4/28, 14%) lost their functional autonomy. The preoperative impaired Timed Up and Go(TUG), Eastern Cooperative Group Performance Status(ECOG PS), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(IADLs), Vulnerable Elders Survey(VES-13) scoring systems were significantly associated with increased long term mortality risk.Conclusion: Simplified frailty-assessing tools should be routinely used in elderly cancer patients before treatment in order to stratify patient risk. The TUG, ECOG-PS, IADLs and VES-13 scoring systems are potentially able to predict long-term mortality and disability. Additional studies will be needed to confirm the preliminary data in order to improve management strategies for oncogeriatric surgical patients.

Differences in cognitive profiles between traumatic brain injury and stroke： A comparison of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination

Purpose： To investigate the profiles of cognitive impairment through Montreal Cognitive Assessment （MoCA） and Mini-Mental State Examination （MMSE） in patients with chronic traumatic brain injury （TBI） or stroke and to evaluate the sensitivity of the two scales in patients with TBI. Methods： In this cohort study, a total of 230 patients were evaluated, including TBI group （n = 103） and stroke group （n - 127）. The cognitive functions of two groups were evaluated by designated specialists using MoCA （Beijing version） and MMSE （Chinese version）. Results： Compared with the patients with stroke, the patients with TBI received significantly lower score in orientation subtest and recall subtest in both tests. MoCA abnormal rates in the TBI group and stroke group were 94.17% and 86.61% respectively, while MMSE abnormal rates were 69.90% and 57.48%, respectively. In the TBI group, 87.10% patients with normal MMSE score had abnormal MoCA score and in the stroke group, about 70.37% patients with normal MMSE score had abnormal MoCA score. The diagnostic consistency of two scales in the TBI group and the stroke group were 72% and 69%, re.spectively. Conclusion： In our rehabilitation center, patients with TBI may have mare extensive and severe cognitive impairments than patients with stroke, prominently in orientation and recall domain. In screening post- TBI cognitive impairment, MoCA tends to be more sensitive than MIV[SE.

Assessing proprioception:What do you really want to know?——Response to Krewer et al.

Dear editor,In their comment,Krewer et al.1argue that before selecting a specific method for assessing proprioception,it is essential to consider which component of proprioception is to be assessed.They also note that there is no single method for assessing all aspects of the various proprioceptive senses,

Review and Prospects of the Global Earthquake Model Project ( GEM)

This paper reviewed the main target,functions,tool( Open Quake software) and research achievements of the Global Earthquake Model( GEM) Foundation,and made a simple prospect on the development and application of projects of GEM in the future. Learning from GEM and Open Quake is helpful to improve the seismic hazard model of China and enhance the scientificity of the seismic hazard assessment for metropolitans and major engineering facilities near major seismogenic structures.