Work productivity loss among adults aged 18–64 years with Multiple Sclerosis in the United States: A propensity score matched study

BackgroundScarce data exists regarding United States (US) national-level work productivity loss among adults with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).ObjectiveTo address this significant knowledge gap, we examined the national-level productivity loss among adults (18≤ age ≤64 years) with MS compared to propensity score matched non-MS controls.MethodsWe adopted a retrospective, cross-sectional, matched cohort study design with pooled data from alternate years (2005/2007/2009/2011/2013/2015) of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). We included adults who were employed and alive during the calendar year. Clinical Classification System code of “80” was used to identify individuals with MS. We matched adults with MS to non-MS adults utilizing propensity scores generated based on age, gender, and race/ethnicity using a greedy matching algorithm (8:1-digit matching). Missed workdays measured productivity loss of MEPS respondents. We selected Negative Binomial Regression (NBR) analysis as the count data model for this study. Analyses were conducted using SAS 9.4 and STATA 15.0 and accounted for the complex survey design of MEPS to generate US national-level estimates.ResultsThe final propensity-score matched sample consisted of 104 and 312 (unweighted) adults with and without MS, respectively. US national-level mean [Standard Error (SE)] annual missed workdays among individuals with MS [8.94 (SE:1.59)] was significantly higher (p = 0.001) compared to propensity score matched non-MS controls [3.15 (SE:0.40)]. After adjusting for several factors, NBR showed an approximately two-fold higher rate of missed work days among individuals with MS compared to propensity score matched non-MS controls (Incidence Rate Ratio: 1.98, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.18–3.33). Severity of pain, marital status, region, and hypertension also negatively impacted work productivity in this sample.ConclusionsIndividuals with MS in the US experience significantly higher productivity loss compared to propensity score matched non-MS controls. Interventions (e.g., improved management of MS symptoms) are warranted to reduce productivity loss among individuals with MS.     

Perception of a Natural Joint After Total Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundAssessing patients’ functional outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with traditional scoring systems is limited by their ceiling effects. Patient’s Joint Perception (PJP) question of the reconstructed joint is also of significant interest. Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) was created as a more discriminating option. The actual score constituting a “forgotten joint” has not yet been defined. The primary objective of this study is to compare the PJP and the FJS in TKA patients to determine the FJS score that corresponds to the patient’s perception of a natural joint.MethodsOne hundred TKAs were assessed at a mean of 40.6 months of follow-up using the PJP question, FJS, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Correlation between the 3 scores and their ceiling effects were analyzed.ResultsWith PJP question, 39% of the patients perceived a natural joint (FJS: 92.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 89.4-96.4), 12% an artificial joint with no restriction (FJS: 79.5; 95% CI, 65.7-93.3), 36% an artificial joint with minor restrictions (FJS: 70.0; 95% CI, 63.2-76.9), and 13% had major restrictions (FJS: 47.3; 95% CI. 32.8-61.7). PJP has a high correlation with FJS and WOMAC (Spearman’s rho, −0.705 and −0.680, respectively). FJS and WOMAC had a significant ceiling effect with both reaching the best possible score in >15%.ConclusionPatients perceiving their TKA as a natural knee based on PJP have a FJS ≥89. PJP has a good correlation with FJS and may be a shorter, simple, and acceptable alternative.     

Epithelial ovarian cancer risk: A review of the current genetic landscape

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in women in the developed world, and one of the most heritable cancers. One of the most significant risk factors for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Combined risk factors can be used in models to stratify risk of EOC, and aid in decisions regarding risk-reduction strategies. Germline pathogenic variants in EOC susceptibility genes including those involved in homologous recombination and mismatch repair pathways are present in approximately 22% to 25% of EOC. These genes are associated with an estimated lifetime risk of EOC of 13% to 60% for BRCA1 variants and 10% to 25% for BRCA2 variants, with lower risks associated with remaining genes. Genome-wide association studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) thought to explain an additional 6.4% of the familial risk of ovarian cancer, with 34 susceptibility loci identified to date. However, an unknown proportion of the genetic component of EOC risk remains unexplained. This review comprises an overview of individual genes and SNPs suspected to contribute to risk of EOC, and discusses use of a polygenic risk score to predict individual cancer risk more accurately.     

芪地固肾方治疗特发性膜性肾病的临床分析

目的:回顾性分析芪地固肾方治疗特发性膜性肾病(IMN)的临床疗效与安全性。方法:选取2014年1月至2017年6月陕西中医药大学附属医院肾病科门诊及住院IMN患者141例,根据用药方案分为西药组(西药标准疗法)、中西药结合组(芪地固肾方+西药标准疗法)和中药组(芪地固肾方)3组各47例,观察3组患者治疗后临床疗效、复发率及不良反应等。结果:治疗6个月后,中西药结合组和西药组总有效率72.34%、68.09%高于中药组,治疗12个月时3组有效率比较差异无统计学意义,治疗18个月后中药组和中西药结合组总有效率75.76%、78.72%高于西药组。中药组和中西药结合组在治疗12个月和18个月后较西药组在提高中医证候疗效、减少中医证候积分上更具优势。中药组和中西药结合组复发率更低,3组均未出现严重不良反应。结论:芪地固肾方能提高IMN缓解率,在提高中医证候疗效、降低复发率上更具优势,远期疗效可观,值得进一步推广应用。     

玉液汤对2型糖尿病肥胖患者肠道菌群及脂质代谢的影响

目的：探讨玉液汤对2型糖尿病肥胖患者肠道菌群及脂质代谢影响。方法：选取2017年2月至2019年2月广州市中医医院收治的2型糖尿病肥胖患者106例作为研究对象，按照就诊顺序分为对照组和观察组，每组53例。2组均给予基础治疗+药物治疗，观察组再加用玉液汤治疗。观察2组治疗前、完成治疗后肠道菌群、脂质代谢、中医症状积分、血糖相关指标、体质量、腰围、体质量指数(BMI)变化并比较。结果：2组治疗前各指标比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05），完成治疗后观察组患者的中医症状积分、FINS、HOMA-IR、HbAlc、BMI、腰围、体质量、TC、TG、LDL-C、肠杆菌、酵母菌、肠球菌、畏寒肢冷、腰膝酸软、脘腹2组患者治疗后HDL-C、双岐杆菌、乳杆菌、拟杆菌均较治疗后明显上升，且观察组高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：玉液汤能改善2型糖尿病肥胖患者脂质代谢和临床症状，降低血糖，能调节肠道菌群紊乱，从而提高疗效。     

Improving the international prognostic index score using peripheral blood counts: Results of a large multicenter study involving 520 patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma

The main purpose of this study was to assess whether it is possible to improve the prognostic impact of international prognostic index (IPI) score by combining it with peripheral blood counts. Thus, we evaluated the prognostic power of lymphocyte, neutrophil, and monocyte counts in 520 patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP, confirming that these parameters have a strong impact on overall survival (OS). Using revised IPI (R-IPI), 44% of patients were categorized as poor-risk and showed an OS at 5 years of 46%. As OS at 5 years of the 520 patients is 67%, it is clearly evident that R-IPI tends to overestimate the proportion of patients with poor prognosis. Accordingly, in an attempt to improve the discriminating power of R-IPI, we evaluated and compared three different scores by combining the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and absolute monocyte count (AMC) with the following values: (a) IPI score 3-5, (b) age > 60 years and performance status, (c) age ≥ 65 years and LDH > ULN. The three indexes studied, had a similar 5 years OS for the high-risk group (46%-52%), but the proportion of patients classified as poor-risk were 37%, 20%, and 32%, respectively, which are lower than 44% identified with R-IPI. Thus, while R-IPI overestimates the number of high-risk patients, after applying our models, it is possible to recognize patients who are truly at high-risk. Of the three scores, the most accurate appears to be that based on NLR, AMC, LDH > ULN and age ≥ 65 years, which identifies 32% of high-risk patients, correlating well with what is seen in clinical practice.     

非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与冠心病患者冠状动脉病变Gensini评分的相关性研究

目的 探讨非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平(non-HDL-C)与冠心病(CHD)患者冠状动脉病变Gensini评分的关系及临床意义。方法 对225例疑诊或既往临床诊断CHD患者予以冠状动脉造影(CAG),将造影阴性的39例作为对照组(HC组),造影阳性的186例患者诊断为CHD,结合临床特点分为心绞痛组(AP组)122例和心肌梗死组(AMI组)64例。采用Gensini评分对冠状动脉病变程度评分,测定患者全套血脂水平,探讨non-HDL-C及相关脂质成分与冠状动脉病变程度Gensini评分的相关性;同时对他汀类药物强化降脂达标,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)<1.80 mmol/L的AP组患者进行non-HDL-C与冠状动脉病变程度Gensini评分的亚组分析。结果 AMI组non-HDL-C水平高于AP组及HC组,AP组non-HDL-C水平高于HC组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);CHD患者non-HDL-C水平与Gensini评分呈正相关(r=0.562,P<0.05);LDL-C控制达标的AP组患者,高non-HDL-C组(≥2.60 mmol/L)比低non-HDL-C组(<2.60 mmol/L)Gensini评分明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 non-HDL-C与冠状动脉病变程度密切相关,non-HDL-C在评估LDL-C控制达标患者的冠状动脉病变程度及再发心血管事件风险上有一定价值,可作为LDL-C达标后心血管残余风险新的观察指标。     

The relationships among monocyte subsets,miRNAs and inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes irreversible myocardial damage and release of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines and miRNAs. We aimed to investigate changes in the levels of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10), miRNAs profiles (miR-146 and miR-155) and distribution of different monocyte subsets (CD14++CD16-, CD14++CD16+, CD14+CD16++) in the acute and post-healing phases of AMI.