Update on adrenal cortical neoplasia

The adrenal cortex gives rise to a biologically heterogenous group of neoplasms, each with a distinct morphology, antigen expression and molecular profile. Adrenal cortical adenomas have excellent prognosis and are usually cured by surgical resection alone, while adrenal cortical carcinomas are very aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis regardless of therapy. These tumors are rare and often challenging for a pathologist to diagnose, as significant overlap exists between benign and malignant lesions in some cases. In this review, we attempt to summarize most important histologic and clinical features of adrenal cortical adenomas and carcinomas, clarify the use of different grading systems, the use of special stains and the differential diagnosis for practicing pathologists. Most relevant hereditary syndromes associated with adrenal cortical tumors are listed. Updates in molecular alterations in adrenal cortical neoplasms and hyperplastic diseases as well as their clinical significance and potential therapeutic implications are also discussed.     

A meta-analysis for Lianhua Qingwen on the treatment of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

BackgroundTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been proven to played a great important role on the treatment of COVID-19. As one of the drugs recommended in Chinese guidelines, Lianhua Qingwen Granules or Capsules (LQ) are widely used.This systematic review and meta-analysis amis to evaluate the clinical efficacy of LQ on the treatment of COVID-19.MethodsSeven databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CNKI, VIP, CBM and Wanfang) were searched to include all appropriate clinical trials that explore the efficacy of LQ on the treatment of COVID-19.ResultA total of 3 trials including 245 COVID-19 patients were eventually enrolled.Compared with the control group,the LQ group showed great significant difference on reducing the rate of clinical change to severe or critical condition[RR = 0.38, 95 %CI (0.17,0.85), P < 0.05]and the fever time (SMD =-0.57,95 %CI (-0.96,-0.17), P<0.05),as well as the significant improvement on the disappearance rate of the clinical symptoms: fever [RR = 1.36,95 %CI (1.14,1.61), P < 0.05],cough[RR = 1.99,95 %CI (1.39,2.86), P < 0.05],fatigue[RR = 1.52,95 %CI (1.15,2.01), P < 0.05] and anhelation [RR = 4.18,95 %CI (1.99,8.81), P < 0.05], but no significance on expectoration[RR = 2.46,95 %CI (0.81,7.51), P < 0.05].ConclusionThe clinical application of LQ on the treatment of COVID-19 has significant efficacy in improving clinical symptoms and reducing the rate of clinical change to severe or critical condition. Nevertheless, due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more and higher quality trials with more observational indicators are expected to be published.     

COVID-19 Gender Disparities and Mitigation Recommendations: A Narrative Review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly created widespread impacts on global health and the economy. Data suggest that women are less susceptible to severe illness. However, sex-disaggregated data are incomplete, leaving room for misinterpretation, and focusing only on biologic sex underestimates the gendered impact of the pandemic on women. This narrative review summarizes what is known about gender disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic, domestic, and health burdens along with overlapping vulnerabilities related to the pandemic. In addition, this review outlines recommended strategies that advocacy groups, community leaders, and policymakers should implement to mitigate the widening gender disparities related to COVID-19.     

Emergency Care EMTALA Alterations During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of health care delivery in the United States, and the emergency medicine system has been hit particularly hard while dealing with this public health crisis. In an unprecedented time in our history, medical systems and clinicians have been asked to be creative, flexible, and innovative, all while continuing to uphold the important standards in the US health care system. To continue providing quality services to patients during this extraordinary time, care providers, organizations, administrators, and insurers have needed to alter longstanding models and procedures to respond to the dynamics of a pandemic. The Emergency Medicine Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986, or EMTALA, is 1 example of where these alterations have allowed health care facilities and clinicians to continue their work of caring for patients while protecting both the patients and the clinicians themselves from infectious exposures at the same time.     

人工智能在中医药领域的应用进展及现状思考

人工智能（Artificial Intelligence，AI）的蓬勃兴起为现代社会带来了前所未有的机遇，中医药是中华民族传承千年的文化瑰宝。随着人工智能技术不断在中医药领域的科技创新中崭露头角，二者的融合不断加深，人工智能在中医药领域的发展前景、争议挑战也引发了诸多思考。本文将从人工智能在中医药领域的应用入手，对人工智能辅助中医诊断、智能决策与数据挖掘、健康管理及中草药现代化研究等方面，就近年来国内外研究进展进行总结与分析，以期为AI视域下实现中医药现代化、智能化赋能。     

The influence of smoking on foot and ankle surgery: a review of the literature

The effect of tobacco smoking on foot and ankle procedures is likely to be more pronounced when compared to other orthopaedic surgery. This is due to the peripheral nature of the vasculature involved. This paper reviews the current clinical evidence on the effects of smoking foot and ankle surgery. In the trauma setting, the evidence suggests that wound complications and non-unions are significantly higher in the smoking population. In the elective setting there is a significantly increased risk of non-union in ankle and hindfoot arthrodeses in smokers. In the setting of diabetes, ulceration rate in smokers is higher and there may be a higher risk of amputation.