An Environmental Scan of the National and Provincial Diagnostic Reference Levels in Canada for Common Adult Computed Tomography Scans

Several regulatory bodies have agreed that low-dose radiation used in medical imaging is a weak carcinogen that follows a linear, non-threshold model of cancer risk. While avoiding radiation is the best course of action to mitigate risk, computed tomography (CT) scans are often critical for diagnosis. In addition to the as low as reasonably achievable principle, a more concrete method of dose reduction for common CT imaging exams is the use of a diagnostic reference level (DRL). This paper examines Canada's national DRL values from the recent CT survey and compares it to published provincial DRLs as well as the DRLs in the United Kingdom and the United States of America for the 3 most common CT exams: head, chest, and abdomen/pelvis. Canada compares well on the international scale, but it should consider using more electronic dose monitoring solutions to create a culture of dose optimization.     

Novel β-Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): Current and future aspects of pharmacological treatments

The novel coronavirus outbreak has reported to be rapidly spreading across the countries and becomes a foremost community health alarm. At present, no vaccine or specific drug is on hand for the treatment of this infectious disease. This review investigates the drugs, which are being evaluated and found to be effective against nCOVID-19 infection. A thorough literature search was performedon the recently published research papers in between January 2020 to May 2020, through various databases like “Science Direct”, “Google Scholar”, “PubMed”,“Medline”, “Web of Science”, and “World Health Organization (WHO)”. We reviewed and documented the information related with the current and future aspects for the management and cure of COVID-19. As of 21st July 2020 a total of 14,562,550 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 607,781 deaths have been reported world-wide. The main clinical feature of COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic disease to mild lower respiratory tract illness to severe pneumonia, acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ dysfunction, and death. The drugs at present used in COVID-19 patients and ongoing clinical trials focusing on drug repurposing of various therapeutic classes of drug e.g. antiviral, anti-inflammatory and/or immunomodulatory drugs along with adjuvant/supportive care. Many drugs on clinical trials shows effective results on preliminary scale and now used currently in patients. Adjuvant/supportive care therapy are used in patients to get the best results in order to minimize the short and long-term complications. However, further studies and clinical trials are needed on large scale of population to reach any firm conclusion in terms of its efficacy and safety.     

不同药物方案治疗儿童双相情感障碍疗效比较及代谢指标观察

目的 探讨儿童双相情感障碍经不同药物方案治疗后代谢指标的变化及治疗疗效。方法 回顾性分析2017年1月至2020年1月于该院就诊的220例儿童双相情感障碍患儿的临床资料。根据治疗方法分组，单纯采用非典型抗精神病药物治疗的112例患儿纳入对照组，采用非典型抗精神病药物联合心境稳定剂治疗的108例患儿纳入研究组。比较两组基线资料水平，治疗前后代谢指标空腹胰岛素（FIN）、糖化血红蛋白（HbAlc）、总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）水平变化，以及代谢综合征发生情况及临床疗效。结果 两组患儿年龄、性别、病程等基线资料比较差异均无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。研究组总有效率为92.6%，高于对照组（82.1%，P < 0.05）。治疗前，两组FIN、HbAlc水平比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）；治疗后，对照组FIN水平高于治疗前，且高于研究组（P < 0.05）；但研究组治疗前后FIN水平比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）；两组治疗前后HbAlc水平比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。治疗前，两组TC、TG、HDL-C、LDL-C水平比较，差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）；治疗后，对照组TC、TG水平均高于治疗前，且高于研究组（P < 0.05）；但研究组治疗前后TC、TG水平比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）；两组治疗前后HDL-C、LDL-C水平比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。研究组代谢综合征发生率（2.8%）低于对照组（9.8%）（P < 0.05）。结论 儿童双相情感障碍采用非经典抗精神病药物联合心境稳定剂治疗对代谢指标水平影响较小，且疗效显著。     

床旁多普勒超声引导下经皮气管切开术在重症脑出血患者中的应用

目的探讨床旁多普勒超声引导下经皮气管切开术（PDT）在重症脑出血患者中的应用价值。方法选取2014年1月—2019年4月南方医科大学附属小榄医院重症医学科监护治疗的重症脑出血患者126例，在ICU床旁采用超声引导下行PDT。术前采用超声进行检查，明确气管位置、周围组织及血管情况，确定穿刺部位及深度，指导术前气管导管退管。术中实时超声引导，确保手术安全。术后超声确认气管切开套管位置，筛查排除气胸等相关并发症。观察操作时间（从皮肤穿刺到成功置入气管套管时间）、一针穿刺成功率、置管成功率、气管插管意外脱管率；观察术中及术后并发症：出血量、血管/甲状腺损伤、气管后壁损伤、皮下气肿、气胸、低氧血症发生率等。结果126例患者手术均一次操作成功，一针穿刺成功率及置管成功率均为100%，未发生气管插管意外脱管。操作时间5~12 min，平均操作时间7.5 min。术中及术后未发生难以控制的大出血、严重低氧血症、血管/甲状腺损伤、气管后壁损伤、皮下气肿及气胸等并发症。结论对重症脑出血患者行床旁实时超声引导下行PDT，提高了手术的可视性、操作性和安全性，提高PDT成功率，降低相关并发症，具有良好的临床价值。     

延续护理干预对慢性乙型肝炎患者抗病毒治疗依从性的影响观察

目的:分析延续护理干预对慢性乙型肝炎患者抗病毒治疗依从性的影响。方法:研究选取2017年1月~2017年12月某院肝二病区收治的112例乙型肝炎患者和2018年1月~2018年12月收治的98例乙型肝炎病毒患者作为研究对象,所有患者均进行抗病毒治疗,回顾性分析患者的病历资料。将2017年收治的112例患者作为常规组实施常规护理,将2018年收治的98例患者的作为研究组实施延续性护理,比较两组的护理效果。结果:研究组的治疗依从率为93.88%(92例),远高于常规组的77.68%(87例),两组数据比较存在统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:延续性护理措施可以有效提高慢性乙型肝炎抗病毒治疗的依从性,可以在临床中推广使用。     

Steep Decrease of Gender Difference in DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison of Two Nation-wide Surveys Conducted 10 Years Apart in Korea

While decreasing trend in gender differences in alcohol use disorders was reported in Western countries, the change in Asian countries is unknown. This study aims to explore the shifts in gender difference in alcohol abuse (AA) and dependence (AD) in Korea. We compared the data from two nation-wide community surveys to evaluate gender differences in lifetime AA and AD by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Face-to-face interviews using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) were applied to all subjects in 2001 (n=6,220) and 2011 (n=6,022). Male-to-female ratio of odds was decreased from 6.41 (95% CI, 4.81-8.54) to 4.37 (95% CI, 3.35-5.71) for AA and from 3.75 (95% CI, 2.96-4.75) to 2.40 (95% CI, 1.80-3.19) for AD. Among those aged 18-29, gender gap even became statistically insignificant for AA (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.97-2.63) and AD (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.80-2.41) in 2011. Men generally showed decreased odds for AD (0.55; 95% CI, 0.45-0.67) and women aged 30-39 showed increased odds for AA (2.13; 95% CI 1.18-3.84) in 2011 compared to 2001. Decreased AD in men and increased AA in women seem to contribute to the decrease of gender gap. Increased risk for AA in young women suggests needs for interventions.