Overview and Insight from the China Research Report on the Global Youth Survey of Social and Emotional Skills by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Social and emotional skills are important for students in 21st century study, life, and future work. In 2018, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) officially launched the first round of social and emotional skills tests for 10-year-old and 15-year-old students worldwide. After 3 years of research, the first round of global data collection ended and at the end of 2019 the OECD published the Social and Emotional Ability Assessment International Report. As one of the participating cities, Suzhou, China, successfully completed the first round of testing and released a series of reports. This article summarizes the research work of the OECD and China on social and emotional capabilities of students and discusses a few insights from the data.

Estudio interregional comparado de la Educación Matemática en la formación inicial del profesorado de Educación Primaria

This article analyses the initial training in Mathematical Education of the Degree in Primary Education in the public universities in Spain. The aim is to study the type of mathematical knowledge defined in syllabus. For this purpose, it has been carried out a comparative study about preservice teachers' curriculum. Two comparison parameters included in the TEDS-M International report have been into account: knowledge of mathematical content and knowledge of pedagogical content. The results obtained show a high variability in the distribution of the number and nature of ECTS offered and a prevalence of the knowledge of the mathematical content in relation to the pedagogical content.

The Critical Importance of Molecular Biomarkers and Imaging in the Study of Electrohypersensitivity. A Scientific Consensus International Report

Clinical research aiming at objectively identifying and characterizing diseases via clinical observations and biological and radiological findings is a critical initial research step when establishing objective diagnostic criteria and treatments. Failure to first define such diagnostic criteria may lead research on pathogenesis and etiology to serious confounding biases and erroneous medical interpretations. This is particularly the case for electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and more particularly for the so-called “provocation tests”, which do not investigate the causal origin of EHS but rather the EHS-associated particular environmental intolerance state with hypersensitivity to man-made electromagnetic fields (EMF). However, because those tests depend on multiple EMF-associated physical and biological parameters and have been conducted in patients without having first defined EHS objectively and/or endpoints adequately, they cannot presently be considered to be valid pathogenesis research methodologies. Consequently, the negative results obtained by these tests do not preclude a role of EMF exposure as a symptomatic trigger in EHS patients. Moreover, there is no proof that EHS symptoms or EHS itself are caused by psychosomatic or nocebo effects. This international consensus report pleads for the acknowledgement of EHS as a distinct neuropathological disorder and for its inclusion in the WHO International Classification of Diseases.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Interfacility Transport: An International Report Using the Ground Air Medical Quality in Transport (GAMUT) Database

Background. With the regionalization of specialty care, there is an increasing need for interfacility transport from local to regional hospitals. There are very limited data on rates of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during medical transport and relationship between transport-specific factors, such as transport program type and need of CPR during transport of critically ill patients. We present the first, multicenter, international report of CPR during medical transport using the large Ground and Air Medical qUality Transport (GAMUT) database. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the GAMUT database from January 2014 to March 2017 for CPR during transport. We determined the overall CPR rate and CPR rates for adult, pediatric, and neonatal transport programs. The rate of CPR per total transports was expressed as percentage, and then, Spearman’s rho nonparametric associations were determined between CPR and other quality metrics tracked in the GAMUT database. Examples include advanced airway presence, waveform capnography usage, average mobilization time from the start of referral until en route, 1st attempt intubation success rate, and DASH1A intubation success (definitive airway sans hypoxia/hypotension on 1st attempt). Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, and in the presence of overall significance, post hoc Bonferroni adjusted z tests were performed. Results. There were 72 programs that had at least one CPR event during the study period. The overall CPR rate was 0.42% (777 CPR episodes/184,272 patient contacts) from 115 programs reporting transport volume and CPR events from the GAMUT database during the study period. Adult, pediatric, and neonatal transport programs (n = 57, 40 and 16, respectively) had significantly different CPR rates (P<0.001) i.e., 0.68% (555/82,094), 0.18% (138/76,430), and 0.33% (73/21,823), respectively. Presence of an advanced airway and mobilization time was significantly associated with CPR episodes (P<0.001) (Rs = +0.41 and Rs = −0.60, respectively). Other transport quality metrics such as waveform capnography, first attempt intubation, and DASH1A success rate were not significantly associated with CPR episodes. Conclusion. The overall CPR rate during medical transport is 0.42%. Adult, pediatric, and neonatal program types have significantly different overall rates of CPR. Presence of advanced airway and mobilization time had an association with the rate of CPR during transport.

Effectiveness of Superior Hypogastric Plexus Neurolysis for Pelvic Cancer Pain

Background: The superior hypogastric plexus block has been indicated for visceral pelvic pain treatment associated with malignancy. The first international report of this technique was published by Plancarte et al, in which a posterior percutaneous approach guided by fluoroscopy was described by applying neurolytic agents. The considerable variability in the data reported gave rise to 2 clinical approaches to those who performed the blockade early and those who executed it at a later stage of cancer. Objectives: The present study aims to provide more evidence regarding the effectiveness of this procedure. Study Design: This is a retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive study. Setting: The study was held at the pain unit service of the National Cancer Institute, Mexico City. Methods: A nonprobabilistic sample was selected; the data collection took place from January 2006 to December 2016 with patients diagnosed with pelvic pain, confirmed by imaging and biopsy studies. Patients who received any other type of intervention of the sympathetic axis, patients with a different approach than the classic or paravertebral technique, and patients with low survival rate were excluded. The Student t test was used to measure the significant difference between Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and morphine equivalent daily dose. The Cochran–Mantel– Haenszel test and the Gamma test were used to measure the association between the initial Karnofsky and blockade success. Results: The study included a total of 180 patients. The success rate was 59.4% at 1 month, 55.5% at 3 months, and 48.8% at 6 months. There was a sustained and significant VAS reduction that was 49.55% at 3 months. A significant reduction in opioid consumption of 12.55% was found at 3 months. There was no significant statistical evidence related to either opioid consumption or the functionality of the patient before the blockade as an influential variable in the success of the procedure. Limitations: Retrospective study, developed in a single center. Conclusions: Although opioids remain the cornerstone of cancer pain treatment, they produce many deleterious side effects. The superior hypogastric plexus neurolysis represents a reproducible and effective alternative in the management of pain in this group of patients. Key words: Pelvic pain, neoplasms, chemical neurolysis, pain management, cancer pain, palliative care, analgesia, nerve block