Mapping Levels of Palliative Care Development in 198 Countries: The Situation in 2017

ContextPalliative care is gaining ground globally and is endorsed in high-level policy commitments, but service provision, supporting policies, education, and funding are incommensurate with rapidly growing needs.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to describe current levels of global palliative care development and report on changes since 2006.MethodsAn online survey of experts in 198 countries generated 2017 data on 10 indicators of palliative care provision, fitted to six categories of development. Factor analysis and discriminant analysis showed the validity of the categorization. Spearman correlation analyses assessed the relationship with World Bank Income Level (WBIL), Human Development Index (HDI), and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).ResultsNumbers (percentages) of countries in each development category were as follows: 1) no known palliative care activity, 47 (24%); 2) capacity-building, 13 (7%); 3a) isolated provision, 65 (33%); 3b) generalized provision, 22 (11%); 4a) preliminary integration into mainstream provision, 21 (11%); 4b) advanced integration, 30 (15%). Development levels were significantly associated with WBIL (r_S = 0.4785), UHC (r_S = 0.5558), and HDI (r_S = 0.5426) with P < 0.001. Net improvement between 2006 and 2017 saw 32 fewer countries in Categories 1/2, 16 more countries in 3a/3b, and 17 more countries in 4a/4b.ConclusionPalliative care at the highest level of provision is available for only 14% of the global population and is concentrated in European countries. An 87% global increase in serious health-related suffering amenable to palliative care interventions is predicted by 2060. With an increasing need, palliative care is not reaching the levels required by at least half of the global population.     

思维导图在本科护生精神科实习带教中的应用

目的　探讨思维导图在本科护生精神科实习带教中的应用效果。方法　选取2018年6月至12月31名本科护生为试验组，采用思维导图进行带教；选取2019年4月至7月32名本科护生作为对照组，采用传统的带教方法进行带教。比较两组前后评判性思维能力、对带教方法的评价，以及两组护生的理论、操作考试成绩。采用SPSS 20.0进行t检验、卡方检验和秩和检验。结果　试验组在评判性思维能力量表各项得分明显提高，由带教前的（248.09±24.45）分提高至（331.03±14.31）分，且高于对照组（P<0.05）。试验组在带教方法肯定性评价各项得分均高于对照组，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。试验组带教后理论成绩为（88.35±7.71）分、操作考试成绩为（86.45±5.03）分，对照组带教后理论成绩为（74.41±10.27）分、操作考试成绩为（81.02±6.64）分，两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论　运用思维导图对精神科护生进行临床带教，提高了护生学习积极性，学习由被动变主动，同时促进了护生评判性思维能力培养，值得临床推广。     

PBL与思维导图相结合教学模式在临床教学中的应用

目的探讨PBL与思维导图相结合教学模式在临床教学中的应用。方法本文研究对象为在我院见习的临床本科生,为大理大学2015级一个班级,共55名学生,数据收集时间为2019年1月;按照授课方式的差异将学生分为实验班与对照班,实验班27名学生,对照班28名学生;对照班实施常规教学法,实验班实施PBL与思维导图相结合教学法。结果实验班教学结束测试得分为(85.60±3.46)分,对照班教学结束测试得分为(77.48±3.12)分,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);实验班教学方式满意度评分为(90.35±4.12)分,对照班教学方式满意度评分为(80.25±4.05)分,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论在临床教学中采用PBL与思维导图相结合教学模式,能够提高学生的专业知识掌握水平与对教学模式的认可度。     

Effect of interictal epileptiform discharges on EEG-based functional connectivity networks

ObjectiveFunctional connectivity networks (FCNs) based on interictal electroencephalography (EEG) can identify pathological brain networks associated with epilepsy. FCNs are altered by interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), but it is unknown whether this is due to the morphology of the IED or the underlying pathological activity. Therefore, we characterized the impact of IEDs on the FCN through simulations and EEG analysis.MethodsWe introduced simulated IEDs to sleep EEG recordings of eight healthy controls and analyzed the effect of IED amplitude and rate on the FCN. We then generated FCNs based on epochs with and without IEDs and compared them to the analogous FCNs from eight subjects with infantile spasms (IS), based on 1340 visually marked IEDs. Differences in network structure and strength were assessed.ResultsIEDs in IS subjects caused increased connectivity strength but no change in network structure. In controls, simulated IEDs with physiological amplitudes and rates did not alter network strength or structure.ConclusionsIncreases in connectivity strength in IS subjects are not artifacts caused by the interictal spike waveform and may be related to the underlying pathophysiology of IS.SignificanceDynamic changes in EEG-based FCNs during IEDs may be valuable for identification of pathological networks associated with epilepsy.     

Reproducibility of Computerized Measurements of QT Interval from Multiple Leads at Rest and During Exercise

Background: Accurate measurement of the QT interval is important for diagnosing long QT syndrome (LQTS), and in research on determinants of ventricular repolarization time. We tested automatic analysis of QT intervals from multiple ECG leads on chest. Methods: Eleven healthy volunteers and 10 genotyped LQTS patients were tested at rest and during exercise with a bicycle ergometer twice 1–31 months apart. Electrocardiograms were recorded with the body surface potential mapping system, and 12 precordial channels were selected for analysis. Averaged QT peak and QT end intervals were determined with an automated algorithm, and the difference QT end minus QT peak (Tp‐e) was calculated. Repeatability was assessed by coefficient of variation (CV) between measurements. Results: Within one test at rest the QT end intervals were highly repeatable with CV 0.6%. In repeated tests CV was 4.4% for QT end interval and 3.5% when the QT interval was corrected for heart rate. In exercise test at specified heart rates, mean CV was 3.0% for QT end and 2.9% for QT peak interval. The CV of Tp‐e interval was 10.2% at rest, and 9.3% in exercise test. Reproducibility was comparable between healthy subjects and LQTS patients. Conclusions: The BSPM system with automated analysis produced accurate and highly repeatable QT interval measurements. Reproducibility was adequate also over prolonged time periods both at rest and in exercise stress test. The method can be applied in studying duration of ventricular repolarization time in different physiologic and pharmacologic interventions.     

High-Density Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Mapping with a 20-Pole Expandable Circular Mapping Catheter

The differentiation of pulmonary vein (PV) electrograms from atrial far-field signals during PV isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) may be difficult. In addition, owing to highly variable PV ostial sizes, current fixed-diameter circular PV mapping catheters may not yield optimal electrograms. We evaluated an expandable, circular 15–25 mm diameter, 20-pole mapping catheter for PV mapping during sustained AF in 25 patients. After selective PV angiography to define the ostial position and size, the catheter was introduced into each PV and withdrawn to the most stable proximal position, with optimal wall contact ensured by progressive loop expansion. At each PV ostium, electrograms recorded at high resolution (HR) were compared with those recorded at a resolution similar to that of a standard 10-pole Lasso catheter. After PVI performed during ongoing AF, the presence of residual far-field potentials (FFP) under both set-ups was compared. We mapped 97 PV, including 4 pairs with common ostia. In the HR recordings, the PV potentials had greater amplitude (0.5 ± 0.1 vs 0.3 ± 0.1 mV, P = 0.001) and fragmentation, whereas left atrial FFP were minimized. After successful isolation of all PV, FFP were observed in 33% of left superior and 28% of left inferior PV on the HR recordings, compared to 66% and 61%, respectively under normal resolution. Catheter stability and optimal wall contact, in combination with HR electrograms can optimize circumferential PV mapping during AF and improve the discrimination of FFP postablation.     

The role of Self-Defined Race/Ethnicity in Population Structure Control

Population-based association studies are powerful tools for the genetic mapping of complex diseases. However, this method is sensitive to potential confounding by population structure. While statistical methods that use genetic markers to detect and control for population structure have been the focus of current literature, the utility of self-defined race/ethnicity in controlling for population structure has been controversial. In this study of 1334 individuals, who self-identified as either African American, European American or Hispanic, we demonstrated that when the true underlying genetic structure and the self-defined racial/ethnic groups were roughly in agreement with each other, the self-defined race/ethnicity information was useful in the control of population structure.