Bayesian consensus clustering for multivariate longitudinal data

In clinical and epidemiological studies, there is a growing interest in studying the heterogeneity among patients based on longitudinal characteristics to identify subtypes of the study population. Compared to clustering a single longitudinal marker, simultaneously clustering multiple longitudinal markers allow additional information to be incorporated into the clustering process, which reveals co-existing longitudinal patterns and generates deeper biological insight. In the current study, we propose a Bayesian consensus clustering (BCC) model for multivariate longitudinal data. Instead of arriving at a single overall clustering, the proposed model allows each marker to follow marker-specific local clustering and these local clusterings are aggregated to find a global (consensus) clustering. To estimate the posterior distribution of model parameters, a Gibbs sampling algorithm is proposed. We apply our proposed model to the primary biliary cirrhosis study to identify patient subtypes that may be associated with their prognosis. We also perform simulation studies to compare the clustering performance between the proposed model and existing models under several scenarios. The results demonstrate that the proposed BCC model serves as a useful tool for clustering multivariate longitudinal data.     

衰减伪影对冠心病患者门控心肌灌注显像图像质量及灌注结果的影响

目的探讨衰减伪影对冠心病患者门控心肌灌注显像(GMPI)图像质量及灌注结果的影响。资料与方法回顾性分析2020年3月—2021年3月在郑州大学第一附属医院核医学科经冠状动脉造影证实且于造影前后1周行GMPI的99例冠心病患者的图像,定性及半定量分析衰减校正前后GMPI图像结果,比较衰减校正前后左心室各壁段平均放射性计数及灌注结果的差异,进一步分析衰减校正前后灌注结果不一致部分的受检者的节段性室壁运动及增厚情况。结果与衰减校正前比较,衰减校正后左心室间隔、下后壁及侧壁的平均放射性计数较高(Z=-7.302、-8.014、-3.991,P均<0.001),心尖部较低(Z=-8.021,P<0.001)。其中女性衰减校正后前壁平均放射性计数减低(Z=-2.314,P=0.021)。男性衰减校正前后下后壁放射性计数差值明显高于女性(t=-8.408,P<0.05)。衰减校正后44%(44/99)的左前降支及37%(37/99)的右冠状动脉分支供血区域显像结果发生改变,结合超声心动图及GMPI结果显示其中85%(35/41)的左前降支及81%(29/36)的右冠状动脉分支供血区域室壁运动及室壁增厚率均正常。结论衰减伪影对GMPI的图像质量和灌注结果有较大影响,结合室壁运动和增厚情况等有助于鉴别衰减伪影,提高诊断准确度与特异度。     

PCI术后病人的体力活动水平及其影响因素分析研究

目的:探讨经皮冠状动脉介入(PCI)术后病人的体力活动水平及其影响因素。方法:选择常州市三级甲等综合医院心内科接受PCI治疗的冠心病病人,收集资料,分析PCI术后冠心病病人体力活动动机、体力活动和自我效能现状;冠心病病人自我效能、体力活动动机与体力活动的相关性,并分析影响PCI术后病人体力活动水平的相关危险因素。结果:共发放调查问卷400份,回收400份,有效率为94.75%(379/400);379例冠心病病人术后每周体力活动为(3570.85±314.19)MET-min,以低、中强度为主;冠心病病人术后自我效能总分、体力活动动机总分与体力活动呈正相关(P<0.05);体质指数(BMI)、PCI次数≥2次、年龄、PCI支架数量≥3枚、自我效能、体力活动动机是影响PCI术后冠心病病人体力活动水平的高危因素(OR>1且P<0.05)。结论:PCI术后病人体力活动水平处于较低的水平,PCI次数、BMI、年龄、PCI支架数量、自我效能、体力活动动机是影响PCI术后冠心病病人体力活动水平的高危因素,临床需针对各高危因素制定相应的干预措施,提高病人体力活动水平。     

乳腺癌内分泌治疗患者症状评估量表的编制和信效度检验

目的 根据乳腺癌内分泌治疗患者的症状特征,编制适用于我国乳腺癌内分泌治疗患者的症状评估量表,并检验其信效度。方法 在文献回顾及参照现有症状评估量表的基础上编制量表初始条目池;通过2轮德尔菲专家函询,形成初始版量表;通过对11例患者的认知性访谈,对量表条目进一步修订,形成临床测试版量表。便利选取2020年7月—9月在浙江省某三级甲等肿瘤医院门诊或住院的325例乳腺癌内分泌治疗患者进行问卷调查,检验量表信效度。 结果 形成的最终版乳腺癌内分泌治疗患者症状评估量表包括33个条目,探索性因子分析提取7个公因子,累计方差贡献率为68.76%;各条目内容效度指数为0.78~1.00,量表内容效度指数为0.91;内在相关性检验结果显示,量表各维度与总量表相关系数为0.58~0.79（P<0.05）;维度间相关系数为0.26~0.52（P<0.05）;总量表Cronbach’s α系数为0.94,重测信度为0.95,折半信度为0.84。结论 编制的乳腺癌内分泌治疗患者症状评估量表具有良好的信效度,适用于相关人群的症状测评。     

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.     

“保胆”理念正误

胆囊切除术是公认的胆囊良性疾病的治愈手段，国内外学术界对于手术适应证和手术时机已有明确共识。近年来，“保胆手术”治疗胆囊良性疾病颇受热议，一些医生将“保护胆囊”的学术观点等同于“保留胆囊”的手术技术，这种误解可能导致病人出现差异性的预后。因此，临床医师应明晰“保护胆囊”理念与“保胆手术”的差别，对胆囊良性疾病的诊疗原则有正确的理解和应用。     

Efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) created using covered stents of different diameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to make a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the stent diameter (8 mm vs. 10 mm) that conveys better safety and clinical efficacy for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).Materials and methodsFour databases were used to identify clinical trials published from inception until March 2020. Data were extracted to estimate and compare one-year and three-year overall survivals, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal rebleeding, and shunt dysfunction rates between patients with 8 mm covered stents and those with 10 mm covered stents.ResultsFive eligible studies were selected, which included 489 patients (316 men, 173 women). The 8 mm covered stent group had higher efficacy regarding one-year or three-year overall survival (odds ratio [OR], 2.88; P = 0.003) and (OR, 1.81; P = 0.04) and lower hepatic encephalopathy (OR, 0.69; P = 0.04) compared with 10 mm covered stent group. There were no significant differences in variceal rebleeding rate (OR 0.80; P = 0.67). However, shunt dysfunction was lower in 10 mm covered stent group (OR, 2.26; P = 0.003).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the use of 8 mm covered stents should be preferred to that of 10 mm covered stents for TIPS placement when portal pressure is frequently monitored.