Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion,A Misnomer?: Where Do We Go From Here?

The importance of the left atrial appendage (LAA) as the source of thromboembolism including stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is well documented, with more than 90% of ischemic strokes related to a LAA thrombus. Although oral anticoagulation has been the standard of care, approximately 50% to 60% of patients either have contraindications to oral anticoagulation or do not continue the medication beyond the first year. This led to the development of local site-specific therapy to occlude the LAA by either surgical or transcatheter means. Despite marked advancements, incomplete LAA closure with surgical and transcatheter approaches remains frequent. The etiology of incomplete LAA closure and its clinical implications remain unclear. Multiple strategies are in development including changes in deployment techniques, a new device design, and alternative approaches to leak closure.     

Systemic therapy for hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early stage and metastatic breast cancer

Hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer is defined by the presence of the estrogen receptor and/or the progesterone receptor and the absence of HER2 gene amplification. HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer accounts for 65%–70% of all breast cancers, and incidence increases with increasing age. Treatment varies by stage, and endocrine therapy is the mainstay of treatment in both early stage and late-stage disease. Combinations with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors have reduced distant recurrence in the early stage setting and improved overall survival in the metastatic setting. Chemotherapy is used based on stage and tumor biology in the early stage setting and after endocrine resistance for advanced disease. New therapies, including novel endocrine agents and antibody-drug conjugates, are now changing the treatment landscape. With the availability of new treatment options, it is important to define the optimal sequence of treatment to maximize clinical benefit while minimizing toxicity. In this review, the authors first discuss the pathologic and molecular features of HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer and mechanisms of endocrine resistance. Then, they discuss current and emerging therapies for both early stage and metastatic HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, including treatment algorithms based on current data.     

胎儿头面部异常的临床咨询

胎儿头面部异常，是较为常见的结构异常。文章就常见的胎儿头面异常，包括唇腭裂、小颌畸形、耳郭畸形、巨舌症、眼畸形、颈项透明层增厚和颈部淋巴水囊瘤的分型与发生率、影像学诊断、病因、临床处理及预后分别进行论述，为临床决策和咨询提供参考。       

Effect of Preclinical Simulation on Family Nurse Practitioner Student’s Readiness for Practice

This project aimed to enhance clinical education preparation in a family nurse practitioner graduate program in rural central Appalachian by providing a psychomotor skills-based simulation with the use of the defusing, discovering, and deepening (3D) debriefing method. The students were surveyed after graduation to determine effectiveness. Program outcomes to measure readiness to practice were graduation, employment, and certification rates. The postgraduation surveys indicated the simulation contributed to an increase in psychomotor skill performance, practicing safe patient care, and making independent decisions in practice. Common themes emerged of feeling “prepared for practice” and being “more marketable” with the procedural skills learned in the simulation.     

Factors influencing the rating of sonographer students’ clinical performance

IntroductionLittle is known about the factors influencing clinical supervisor-assessors’ ratings of sonographer students’ performance. This study identifies these influential factors and relates them to professional competency standards, with the aim of raising awareness and improving assessment practice.MethodsThis study used archived written comments from 94 clinical assessors describing 174 sonographer students’ performance one month into their initial clinical practice (2015–6). Qualitative mixed method analysis revealed factors influencing assessor ratings of student performance and provided an estimate of the valency, association, and frequency of these factors.ResultsAssessors provided written comments for 93 % (n = 162/174) of students. Comments totaled 7190 words (mean of 44 words/student). One-third of comment paragraphs were wholly positive, two-thirds were equivocal. None were wholly negative. Thematic analysis revealed eleven factors, and eight sub-factors, influencing assessor impressions of five dimensions of performance. Of the factors mentioned, 84.6 % (n = 853/1008) related to professional competencies. While 15.4 % (n = 155/1008) were unrelated to competencies, instead reflecting humanistic factors such as student motivation, disposition, approach to learning, prospects and impact on supervisor and staff. Factors were prioritised and combined independently, although some associated.ConclusionClinical assessors formed impressions based on student performance, humanistic behaviours and personal qualities not necessarily outlined in educational outcomes or professional competency standards. Their presence, and interrelations, impact success in clinical practice, through their contribution to, and indication of, competence.Implications for practiceSonographer student curricula and assessor training should raise awareness of the factors influencing performance ratings and judgement of clinical competence, particularly the importance of humanistic factors. Inclusion of narrative comments, multiple assessors, and broad performance dimensions would enhance clinical assessment of sonographer student performance.     

直肠癌新辅助放疗研究进展

在过去的近40年里，直肠癌的治疗方案逐渐标准化。大多数早期直肠癌患者仅通过手术即可得到充分的治疗。然而，相当比例的直肠癌患者处于局部进展期，此类患者需要行新辅助治疗。直肠癌的新辅助放射治疗已被证明能有效地降低患者术前肿瘤分期、改善患者生存以及降低直肠癌局部复发率等，随之而来的是患者放疗后出现的不同程度的放疗不良反应，但随着放射治疗规范化、放射治疗技术及设备的改进，放疗不良反应严重程度在逐渐降低。本文就新辅助放疗中的放疗方案的选择、放射治疗技术、放疗不良反应、放疗后的手术时间以及放疗后的观察与等待等问题的最新研究进展进行了系统性的综述，从而为临床直肠癌新辅助治疗提供有力依据。     

孙丽平教授运用对药辨治小儿咳嗽临证荟萃

阐述了孙丽平教授治疗小儿咳嗽临床常用的8组对药,即前胡与白前、紫菀与款冬花、苦杏仁与桃仁、橘红与桔梗、瓜蒌与冬瓜子、地龙与僵蚕、川贝母与浙贝母、沙参与麦冬的配伍特点及临床应用心得,并列举其临证经典医案,结合中药学理论和现代药理学研究,总结分析孙教授运用对药治疗小儿咳嗽的学术经验及用药思路。孙教授认为小儿体属稚阳,其咳多起肺虚实之热,主以清热护肺,次以运脾滋阴,主次同疗,则阴阳平矣,强调小儿咳嗽用药,应以辨别个体体质差异为基础,提倡对药组方"肺脾同治、气血通调、阴阳平补"的用药理念。附案例1则,以资验证。     

实习护生情绪智力、临床实习环境与病人安全感知能力的中介效应

目的:了解实习护生情绪智力、临床实习环境与病人安全感知能力现状并探讨三者关系。方法:采用情绪智力量表、临床实习环境量表和卫生职业教育病人安全感知量表对492名实习护生进行调查。结果:实习护生情绪智力总分为(123.81±18.69)分,临床实习环境总分为(119.48±22.16)分,病人安全感知能力总分为(67.16±12.06)分,情绪智力、临床实习环境与病人安全感知能力呈正相关(r值分别为0.723和0.720,P<0.01);情绪智力在临床实习环境和病人安全感知能力间起部分中介效应,中介效应估计值为0.286(28.6%)。结论:学校要举办人文课程活动以培养情绪智力;医院应制订计划增加学习机会,选拔给予护生充分支持的带教老师,改善临床实习环境。