[Observation of the consistency between intellectualized and manual-based cognitive assessment tools in the outpatient clinic].

Objective: The intellectualized versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) and the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) (i-MoCA/i-MMSE) were developed. The validity of this system was evaluated in a clinical sample through comparing with the manual-based assessments. Methods: A total of 88 patients [aged (66.82±11.37) years, 30 males and 58 females] were enrolled in the outpatient clinic of Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University with complaints of cognitive decline, from February to October 2023. All participants completed manual-based and intellectualized assessments in a randomized order, with an interval of 2 weeks to control for the practice effect. The reliability of the intellectualized version of assessments was evaluated based on the manual-based version using the Concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The difference between the intellectualized and the manual-based assessments was tested by the Repeated ANCOVA with demographic information controlled. The accuracy of evaluation of the i-MoCA and i-MMSE was analyzed by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: High concordance was observed between the intellectualized version and the manual-based assessments (CCCMoCA=0.87, CCCMMSE=0.83). Controlling for basic demographic information, there was no significant difference in the scores of the intellectualized version and the manual-based assessments (all P>0.05). The accuracy of i-MoCA in screening patients with cognitive impairment was 94.3% (sensitivity=94.6%, specificity=78.1%), while the accuracy of i-MMSE in screening patients with cognitive impairment was 94.9% (sensitivity=94.9%, specificity=77.6%). In addition, the majority of subdomains measured by the cognitive assessments exhibited high consistency across the intellectualized the manual-based versions (CCCMoCA=0.32-0.78; CCCMMSE=0.54-0.79). Conclusion: Both the i-MoCA and i-MMSE showed high consistency and diagnostic accuracy with the manual-based versions in terms of overall cognitive function and subdomains.

[Main non-state actors and progress of actions in global malaria elimination programme: a review].

With the joint efforts of countries and global non-state actors, great achievements have been made in the global malaria control programme; however, malaria remains a serious threat to human health. As the global leader for combating malaria, WHO formulated The Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030, and the Global Malaria Programme, under the leadership of WHO, is responsible for implementing 5 key projects to achieve the goal proposed in The Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030. In addition, the Global Fund, the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation also play an important role in global malaria elimination programme. This review describes the currently main non-state actors participating in the global malaria elimination programme, and calls for the enhanced inter-actor coordination and close collaboration with state governments to achieve the great goal of malaria elimination in the world.

[Research on equity and influencing factors of disability among Chinese middle-aged and old people].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate disability status and equity of the middle-aged and old population in China, and to explore the influencing factors contributing to the inequity of disability. METHODS: This study was based on data collected from the first wave survey (2007-2010) of World Health Organization Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE). Concentration index (CI) and concentration curve were calculated to measure the economic-related inequity of disability among the Chinese middle-aged and old people. The CI was further decomposed in which the attributions of social and individual determinants were calculated. RESULTS: The mean score of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Sche-dule (WHODAS) was 7.32 among the Chinese middle-aged and old people, 6.37 for males and 8.21 for females. The CI for the whole participants was -0.190 9, compared with -0.184 4 for the middle-aged and old men and -0.196 1 for the women. After decomposition of the CI, socioeconomic status contributed most to disability inequity among the Chinese middle-aged and old population. Financial status, educational level and work type contributed 66.41%, 16.45% and 13.10% respectively to inequity of disability. Individual lifestyle factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption and physical activities, contributed less to inequity of disability compared with social structural determinants. CONCLUSION: There was inequity of disability among Chinese middle-aged and old population, and those with better financial status were less likely to suffer from functional disability. Middle-aged and old males were less disabled than females, and had less inequity of disability. Financial status, educational level and work type took the highest contribution to inequity of disability among Chinese middle-aged and old population, suggesting that promoting healthy lifestyles alone cannot effectively reduce the inequity of disability. The government needs to continually strengthen and improve appropriate social and medical protection measures on the basis of the importance it attaches to the health of the middle-aged and old population, and makes reducing health inequities a policy priority. The government should pay attention to the provision of healthcare and other resources in areas where development is relatively lagging and where there is a relative concentration of middle-aged and old population. Meanwhile, there should be more significant support for research on health status and equity among the middle-aged and old population to obtain more evidence for proactive responses to rapid population aging in China and policy development.

MH II-DAB gene expression in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes) after infection with the ciliate parasite, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

The grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), is one of the most extensively aquacultured freshwater fish in China. However, because of the lack of effective control measures and the high-density culture environment, considerable economic losses are caused by infection of C. idella with the parasitic ciliate, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. The major histocompatibility (MH) DAB gene belongs to antigen-presented genes in the class II genomic region, which is associated with parasite resistance. To understand the relationship of the DAB gene with I. multifiliis infection in grass carp, the expression profiles of MH II-DAB were studied in tissues using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that expression of the MH II-DAB gene was up-regulated in head kidney after I. multifiliis infection, and the expression peak appeared earlier in the study (case) group than in the control group. The obvious up-regulation peak of MH II-DAB gene was found at days 2 and 4 in skin; at 12 h to day 4 in spleen; at 12 h and days 1 and 6 in gill; and at day 10 in blood, whereas the MH II-DAB gene was down-regulated in liver and intestines after I. multifiliis infection. These results have implications for better understanding C. idella resistance to I. multifiliis infection.