Analysis on the academic characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion in YANG Jizhou's Sheng Yu Ge. / 杨继洲《胜玉歌》针灸学术特点探析.

Taking Sheng Yu Ge (Verse on Better-Than-Jade Acupoints) as the object, combining with the notes of Yu Long Ge (Verse on Jade-Dragon Acupoints) by YANG Jizhou and the medical cases of Zhenjiu Dacheng (Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), the paper introduces the systematic collection of YANG's academic characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion. In Sheng Yu Ge, the diseases are extensively recorded, focusing on pain syndrome. The diagnosis and treatment of acute and critical diseases are specifically described, with high value of clinical application. The theory of meridian and collateral is emphasized and specific point and single-use of acupoint are predominated in acupoint selection. In clinical practice, the great attention is laid to syndrome differentiation and reinforcing and reducing techniques; and acupuncture and moxibustion are equally effective. YANG Jizhou inherits and develops the approaches to acupoint selection explained in Yu Long Ge and enrichs the clinical experience in acupoint selection.

[Academic characteristics of contemporary famous traditional Chinese medicine experts and schools in treatment of chronic renal failure based on SrTO].

According to the systematic review of text and opinion(SrTO) developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute(JBI), this study integrated the evidence of the medical cases, papers, medical experience, and other related research of famous experts and schools on the treatment of chronic renal failure in the field of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) nephropathy, analyzed the academic characteristics and influencing factors from the aspects of the principle, method, recipe, and medicines, and explored the internal logic and law of inheritance and innovation in TCM nephropathy. A total of 36 famous TCM experts and 4 schools were included. The work areas are concentrated in North and South China. 94.0% of the famous TCM experts have experienced master-disciple teaching. 27.8% have studied TCM through family succession. 38.9% have been taught by multiple famous teachers. And 5.6% have not experienced master-disciple teaching. In terms of principle, method, recipe, and medicines, many innovations have been made, with 30.6% of famous TCM experts proposing new theories, 11.1% advocating staged treatment of chronic renal failure, and 47.2% summarizing the treatment methods. The formation of the academic thoughts of contemporary famous TCM experts and schools on the treatment of chronic renal failure is closely related to the learning mode, era, and work area. Contemporary famous TCM experts and schools have the academic characteristics of combining classical and clinical theories and paying more attention to TCM with western medicine supplemented. The field of TCM nephropathy has the characteristics of simultaneous inheritance and innovation. On the basis of inheriting the classical theories of TCM, it absorbs modern medical theories, combines clinical diagnosis with the syndrome and treatment law of contemporary diseases, and makes innovations in principle, method, recipe, and medicines, which has significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of chronic renal failure.

Predictors of Students' Performance in Nursing and Midwifery Technician Licensure Examination in Southern Malawi.

Introduction: Success in the nursing and midwifery licensure examination is the only legal prerequisite to practice as a nurse and midwife in Malawi. However, the past decade has registered poor performance of students in Nursing and Midwifery Technician (NMT) licensure examinations for candidates who failed on the first attempt. The study sought to unravel whether students' socio-demographic and academic characteristics could predict NMT licensure examination performance on the first attempt. Methods: We conducted a quantitative ex post facto using stratified random sampling. We reviewed 280 former NMT licensure exam candidate records from 2013 to 2017 with a study population of 2,668 NMTs. We reported descriptive statistics and used Chi-square / Fisher's exact test and logistic regression to determine the significance of associations and predictors respectively. Results: We found that the NMT licensure examination could be predicted by students' academic characteristics, especially entry Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) point scores [p < 0.001, OR 0.830, 95% CI (0.771-0.892)], and exit college final scores [p < 0.001, OR 1.214, 95% CI (1.131-1.303)]. We established that students' socio-demographic characteristics like age [χ2 (2, N =280) =13.143, p < 0.001], and marital status [χ2 (1, N = 280) = 5.645, p = 0.018] were significantly associated with NMT licensure examination performance but were not predictors of NMT licensure examination outcome. Furthermore, we did not find any association between NMT licensure examination performance and the sex of the students [χ2 (1, N = 280) = 0.523, p = 0.470]. Conclusion: NMT licensure examinations performance predictors are academic variables like entry MSCE and exit college final scores. Consequently, teaching institutions should frame relevant admission criteria, and timely support the students at risk of failure in licensure exams.

Alunos com Deficiência na Universidade Federal do Pará: Dificuldades e Sugestões de Melhoramento / Students with Disabilities at the Federal University of Pará: Difficulties and Suggestions for Improvement

RESUMO Este estudo identificou as características socioeconômicas e acadêmicas de alunos com deficiência da Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), suas dificuldades e sugestões de melhoramento das acessibilidades. Cinquenta alunos responderam ao questionário socioeconômico e foram analisados por meio da estatística descritiva. A oferta de cotas, o suporte acadêmico no momento do Exame Nacional de Ensino Médio (ENEM) e a não evasão e repetência foram ações facilitadoras que contribuíram para a permanência desses alunos no Campus. A UFPA necessita investir em pesquisa, monitoria e extensão, planejar ações de apoio financeiro voltadas a suprir as necessidades físicas e materiais e melhorar as condições da acessibilidade arquitetônica. Conhecimento apropriado pode patrocinar o planejamento de ações afirmativas que favoreça a inclusão e o bem-estar desses alunos.

ABSTRACT This study identified the socioeconomic and academic characteristics of students with disabilities at the Federal University of Pará, their difficulties and suggestions for improving accessibility. Fifty students answered the socioeconomic questionnaire and were analyzed through descriptive statistics. The offer of quotas, the academic support at the National High School Exam (Exame Nacional de Ensino Médio - ENEM) and the non-dropout and repetition were facilitating actions that contributed to the permanence of these students in the Campus. The Federal University of Pará needs to invest in research, monitoring and extension, planning financial support actions aimed at meeting the physical and material needs and improving the conditions of architectural accessibility. Appropriate knowledge can sponsor the planning of affirmative actions that favors the inclusion and well-being of these students.