The longitudinal validity,reproducibility and responsiveness of the Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile (caregiver report for young children version) for measuring health-related quality of life in children with burn scars

BackgroundThe measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) provides information about the perceived burden of the health condition and treatments from a lived experience. The Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile (caregiver report for young children, BBSIP^0–8), developed in 2013, is a proxy-report measure of burn scar-specific HRQoL. The aim of this study was to report its psychometric properties in line with an evaluative purpose.MethodsCaregivers of children up to 8 years of age at risk of burn scarring were recruited into a prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Caregivers completed the BBSIP^0–8, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale at baseline (approximately ≥85% of the total body surface area re-epithelialised), 1–2 weeks after baseline and 1-month after baseline. Psychometric properties measured included internal consistency, test–retest reliability, validity and responsiveness.ResultsEighty-six caregivers of mostly male children (55%), of a median age (IQR) of 1 year, 10 months (2 years, 1 month) and total body surface area burn of 1.5% (3.0%) were recruited. Over one third of participants were grafted and 15% had contractures or skin tightness at baseline. Internal consistency of ten item groups ranged from 0.73 to 0.96. Hypothesised correlations of changes in the BBSIP^0–8 items with changes in criterion measures supported longitudinal validity (ρ ranging from ?0.73 to 0.68). The majority of item groups had acceptable reproducibility (ICC = 0.65–0.83). The responsiveness of five item groups was supported (AUC = 0.71–0.90).ConclusionThe psychometric properties tested support the use of the BBSIP^0–8 as an evaluative measure of burn scar-related health-related quality of life for children aged below eight years in the early post-acute period of rehabilitation. Further investigation at longer time period after burn injury is indicated.     

Changes in Quality of Health Care Delivery after Vertical Integration

ObjectivesTo fill an empirical gap in the literature by examining changes in quality of care measures occurring when multispecialty clinic systems were acquired by hospital-owned, vertically integrated health care delivery systems in the Twin Cities area.ConclusionsMoving a clinic system into a vertically integrated delivery system resulted in limited increases in quality of care indicators. Caution is warranted when the acquisition causes disruption in referral patterns.     

责任制整体护理在结直肠外科病房的实现

目的：探讨责任制整体护理在结直肠外科病房的实施的可能性及实施效果。方法：总结责任制整体护理在某三级甲等医院结直肠外科病房的试验实施方案，调查执行该护理模式前后出院患者的满意程度和临床护理质量，并进行统计学分析。结果：试验执行责任制整体护理后，患者对临床护理的满意程度大幅提高，科室的临床护理质量也有显著提升，但是在护理文件整理方面仍有待调整。结论：责任制整体护理模式在结直肠外科病房可以实现，且能提高患者的满意程度和护理质量，深入实施后，能为患者提供更优质的临床护理服务。     

抑郁症大鼠模型海马区及前额叶组织BDNF因子、Trkb蛋白表达的实验研究

目的:观察抑郁症大鼠模型脑组织不同部位神经营养因子水平的变化及抗抑郁药物使用后改变。方法:将成年SD大鼠30只分为正常对照组、模型对照组、药物干预组,每组10只,雌雄对半;正常组正常养殖,模型组采用慢性不可预知应激结合孤养方式制备抑郁模型大鼠4周。药物干预组采用模型组造模过程4周后给予药物(氟西汀)给入,自实验开始之后每周观察大鼠体重、糖水消耗、旷场实验指标的变化,最后采用荧光定量PCR法观察大鼠脑部BDNF因子及Trkb的表达。结果:与正常对照组大鼠相比,模型组大鼠体重增加缓慢、糖水消耗减少、旷场试验各项指标较正常组间差异具有统计学意义;荧光定量PCR结果显示:模型组较对照组各脑区BDNF及Trkb受体表达减少,药物干预组脑区BDNF及Trkb受体表达显著高于模型对照组。结论:脑部BDNF因子及Trkb的表达在抑郁症发生与治疗中有所改变。     

Innovation in Indigenous Health and Medical Education: The Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network as a Community of Practice

Problem: The Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of Indigenous health in medical education as well as best practice in the recruitment, retention, and graduation of Indigenous medical students. Intervention: In this article we explore the utility of Etienne Wenger's “communities of practice” (CoP) concept in providing a theoretical framework to better understand the LIME Network as a form of social infrastructure to further knowledge and innovation in this important area of health care education reform. Context: The Network operates across all medical schools in Australia and New Zealand. Outcome: Utilizing a model of evaluation of communities of practice developed by Fung-Kee-Fung et al., we seek to analyze the outcomes of the LIME Network as a CoP and assess its approach and contribution to improving the implementation of Indigenous health in the medical curriculum and the graduation of Indigenous medical students. Lessons Learned: By reflecting on the Network through a community of practice lens, this article highlights the synthesis between the LIME Network and Wenger's theory and provides a framework with which to measure Network outputs. It also posits an opportunity to better capture the impact of Network activities into the future to ensure that it remains a relevant and sustainable entity.     

基于“祛邪为第一要义”从清热化湿论治新型冠状病毒肺炎

结合验案分析,基于"祛邪为第一要义"探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎从清热化湿论治的思路与方法。认为新型冠状病毒肺炎主要是属于"湿热"性质的疫病,治疗应强调清热化湿,以"祛邪为第一要义",辅以扶正。在中医祛邪与扶正理论指导下,通过宣肺平喘、通腑泻热、芳香化湿等治法,祛邪为主,肺肠合治,可以使发热减轻或消退,使大便通畅,从而截断病情进展,避免或减少危重症的发生及死亡的风险;通过清热化湿、疏肝健脾、凉血化瘀等治法,祛邪兼以扶正,肺与肝、脾合调,可以改善肝功能损伤,减少病情加重的风险;通过补气健脾等扶正治法,可以改善患者的精神和体力,促使病毒更快转阴,缩短病程,促进患者早日康复。     

“Real life” polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mixtures modulate hCG,hPL and hPLGF levels and disrupt the physiological ratio of MMP-2 to MMP-9 and VEGF expression in human placenta cell lines

Using JEG-3 and BeWo cells, we examined the effect of “real life” mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), at doses reported in maternal blood (Mix I) and in placental tissue (Mix II), on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), placental lactogen (hPL) and placental growth factor (hPLGF) secretion, protein expression and immunolocalization. Additionally, the action of PAH mixtures on basal and hormone-stimulated matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression was evaluated. Under basal conditions, the PAH mixtures increased hCG and decreased hPLGF levels in both cell lines, while hPL expression was stimulated in JEG-3 and inhibited in BeWo. There was no effect on the MMP-2/MMP-9 ratio or VEGF expression. In hormone-stimulated cells, PAH mixtures changed the MMP-2/MMP-9 ratio in JEG-3 cells in favor of MMP-9, while in BeWo MMP-2 was favored. The effect on VEGF expression was cell specific and dependent on the mixture. In hCG-treated cells, only Mix II inhibited VEGF expression in JEG-3 cells. Neither PAH mixtures affected this protein in BeWo cells. In hPL-treated cells, Mix I had a stimulatory effect in JEG-3 cells, while Mix II exerted an inhibitory effect in BeWo cells. In hPLGF-treated cells, Mix II decreased in JEG-3 cells, but in BeWo cells, both mixtures increased VEGF expression. Considering that the evaluated protein hormones play crucial roles in angiogenesis and neovascularization in the placenta, “real life” PAH mixtures by disrupting protein hormones levels, the MMP-2/MMP-9 ratio and VEGF expression can lead to insufficiency and many pregnancy-related disorders.