Method’s corner: Allergist’s guide to network meta-analysis

Network meta-analyses (NMAs) simultaneously estimate the effects of multiple possible treatment options for a given clinical presentation. For allergists to benefit optimally from NMAs, they must understand the process and be able to interpret the results. Through a worked example published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, we summarize how to identify credible NMAs and interpret them with a focus on recent innovations in the GRADE approach (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). NMAs build on traditional systematic reviews and meta-analyses that consider only direct paired comparisons by including indirect evidence, thus allowing the simultaneous assessment of the relative effect of all pairs of competing alternatives. Our framework informs clinicians of how to identify credible NMAs and address the certainty of the evidence. Trustworthy NMAs fill a critical gap in providing key inferences using direct and indirect evidence to inform clinical decision making when faced with more than two competing courses of treatment options. This document will help allergists to identify trustworthy NMAs to enhance patient care.     

Adherence to a Mediterranean Lifestyle and Changes in Frequency,Severity, and Localization of Pain in Older Adults

ObjectiveTo assess the association between adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle and changes in pain, and its characteristics over time in older adults.Patients and MethodsWe analyzed data from 864 and 862 community-dwelling individuals aged 65+ years from the Study on Cardiovascular Health, Nutrition and Frailty in Older Adults in Spain (Seniors-ENRICA) Seniors-ENRICA-1 (2008–2010 to 2012) and Seniors-ENRICA-2 (2015–2017 to 2019) cohorts, with a median follow-up of 2.8 and 2.4 years, respectively. Adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle was assessed at baseline with the 27-item Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index. Pain changes over time were calculated with a pain scale that assessed the frequency, severity, and the number of pain locations both at baseline and follow-up. Multivariable-adjusted relative risk ratios (RRRs) were obtained using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsIn the pooled cohorts, after a median follow-up of 2.6 years, pain worsened for 697 participants, improved for 734, and did not change for 295. Compared with the lowest category of MEDLIFE adherence, those in the highest category showed an RRR of improvement vs worsening of overall pain of 1.85 (95% CI, 1.28 to 2.67; P-trend<.001). MEDLIFE adherence was also linked to improvement in pain frequency (RRR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.31 to 3.01; P-trend=.001), pain severity (RRR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.33 to 3.00; P-trend=.001), and a reduction in the number of pain locations (RRR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.50; P-trend=.004). Limitations of this study are the use of self-reported lifestyle data.ConclusionA Mediterranean lifestyle was associated with improvement of pain characteristics in older adults. Experimental studies should assess the efficacy of an integral lifestyle approach for the management of pain in older adults.     

Clinical presentation,management, screening and surveillance for colorectal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

Management of colorectal cancer (CRC) was severely affected by the changes implemented during the pandemic, and this resulted in delayed elective presentation, increased emergency presentation, reduced screening and delayed definitive therapy. This review was conducted to analyze the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on management of CRC and to identify the changes made in order to adapt to the pandemic. We performed a literature search in PubMed, Medline, Index Medicus, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Reference Citation Analysis (https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/) and Google Scholar using the following keywords in various combinations: Colorectal cancer, elective surgery, emergency surgery, stage upgrading, screening, surveillance and the COVID-19 pandemic. Only studies published in English were included. To curtail the spread of COVID-19 infection, there were modifications made in the management of CRC. Screening was limited to high risk individuals, and the screening tests of choice during the pandemic were fecal occult blood test, fecal immunochemical test and stool DNA testing. The use of capsule colonoscopy and open access colonoscopy was also encouraged. Blood-based tests like serum methylated septin 9 were also encouraged for screening of CRC during the pandemic. The presentation of CRC was also affected by the pandemic with more patients presenting with emergencies like obstruction and perforation. Stage migration was also observed during the pandemic with more patients presenting with more advanced tumors. The operative therapy of CRC was altered by the pandemic as more emergencies surgeries were done, which may require exteriorization by stoma. This was to reduce the morbidity associated with anastomosis and encourage early discharge from the hospital. There was also an initial reduction in laparoscopic surgical procedures due to the fear of aerosols and COVID-19 infection. As we gradually come out of the pandemic, we should remember the lessons learned and continue to apply them even after the pandemic passes.     

上海市社区药学服务需求现状

背景 随着患者就诊下沉明显，联合家庭医生团队开展社区药学服务日益重要，但如何发挥家庭医生团队作用以满足患者社区药学服务需求仍有待进一步探索。 目的 了解上海市社区药学服务需求现状，为改进社区药学人员参与家庭医生团队开展服务的方式提供参考建议。 方法 于2020年9—12月，采用多阶段抽样法抽取349例老年慢性病患者和855例家庭医生团队主要成员〔全科医生（n=481）、护士（n=234）、公共卫生医生（n=140）〕进行问卷调查。针对老年慢性病患者的调查问卷主要内容包括基本情况、患病情况、用药情况、社区药学服务需求情况和社区药学服务利用情况。针对家庭医生团队成员的调查问卷主要内容包括基本情况、社区药学服务认知情况和社区药学服务需求情况。 结果 349例老年慢性病患者中，125例（35.8%）同时患有≥3种慢性病，305例（87.4%）每日需多次用药。用药管理类药学服务方面，"用药重整及随访"需求人数最多，为52例（14.9%），"用药随访"利用人数最多，为49例（14.0%）。用药教育类药学服务方面，"慢性病用药特殊性的普及教育"需求人数最多，为247例（70.8%），"宣传健康生活方式"利用人数最多，为33例（9.4%）。家庭医生团队成员中，全科医生、护士、公共卫生医生对药学服务的了解程度方面，分别有440例（91.5%）、202例（86.3%）、112例（80.0%）表示了解；对药师的信任程度方面，分别有302例（62.8%）、183例（78.2%）、103例（73.6%）表示非常信任；"协同医师做好药物使用遴选"服务项目的需求人数分别有359例（74.6%）、112例（47.9%）、81例（57.8%）；"指导护士使用与管理药品"服务项目的需求人数分别有190例（39.5%）、153例（65.4%）、57例（40.7%）。 结论 一方面患者实际迫切需要用药管理类药学服务，另一方面患者的用药教育类药学服务需求远未得到满足。鉴于社区药学人员队伍薄弱及家庭医生团队对社区药学服务认知局限的现状，社区药学人员应通过培训团队成员，提升团队的社区药学服务认知水平及服务能力，借助团队力量及成员特性，更广泛高效地开展社区药学服务。     

1 192例乳腺癌患者癌因性疲乏的调查及影响因素分析

目的了解乳腺癌患者癌因性疲乏（cancer-related fatigue， CRF）现状，并分析其影响因素。方法采用横断面调查方法，向乳腺癌患者发放调查问卷，按照IDC-10诊断标准判断是否存在CRF，根据Piper疲乏量表中文修订版（Revised Piper Fatigue Scale, RPFS）得分评价疲乏程度，调查乳腺癌患者CRF的发生情况，并分析其影响因素。结果1 192例患者完成了全部调查问卷，乳腺癌患者发生CRF为668例（占56.04%）；以轻、中度疲乏为主，分别占23.95%、55.24%，其中感觉维度得分最高。单因素分析结果显示，文化程度、乳腺癌病程、肿瘤分期、化疗周期、疼痛、上肢水肿、白细胞减少、恶心呕吐、贫血、潮热盗汗、失眠与乳腺癌患者CRF的发生有关（P＜0.05）；多因素Logistic回归分析显示，乳腺癌肿瘤分期、疼痛、白细胞减少、恶心呕吐、潮热盗汗、失眠是CRF发生的危险因素（P＜0.05），病程是其保护因素（P＜0.05）。CRF认知调查显示，乳腺癌患者对CRF认知度低，医护人员对其宣教度低。结论乳腺癌患者发生CRF较为普遍，以轻、中度疲乏为主；乳腺癌肿瘤分期、疼痛、白细胞减少、恶心呕吐、潮热盗汗、失眠是影响患者CRF的危险因素；乳腺癌患者对CRF认知度低。     

超声引导下辅助诊断和治疗冻结肩的研究进展

冻结肩是常见的肩部疾病,传统非可视化治疗冻结肩效果欠佳。近年来,超声引导具有动态实时定位、无辐射、便携性、低成本等优点在辅助诊断和治疗冻结肩患者中得到成功应用,不仅能提供精确的诊断,也提高了患者中长期的疗效。本文就超声引导辅助诊断和治疗冻结肩的研究进展进行综述。     

hsacirc0006867在结直肠癌组织中的表达及其临床意义北大核心

目的:探讨环状RNA hsa_circ_0006867在结直肠癌中的表达及其与临床病理因素的关系。方法:全转录组测序筛选结直肠癌中特异circRNAs表达谱,挑选出差异表达显著的hsa_circ_0006867,qRT-PCR检测54例结直肠癌组织及癌旁组织中hsa_circ_0006867表达情况,分析其表达水平与结直肠癌临床病理特征的相关性,ROC曲线分析hsa_circ_0006867在结直肠癌中的诊断价值。结果:测序获得circRNAs在结直肠癌中的差异表达谱,qRT-PCR验证hsa_circ_0006867在结直肠癌中表达下调(P<0.05)。其表达水平与肿瘤分化程度和远处转移有关(P<0.05)。ROC曲线显示hsa_circ_0006867诊断结直肠癌AUC为0.851(95%CI:0.775~0.927),当截断值为0.0146时,敏感度为88.46%(95%CI:0.770~0.946),特异度为73.08%(95%CI:0.598~0.832),差异具有统计学意义(P<0.001)。结论:hsa_circ_0006867在结直肠癌中表达下调,与相关临床病理特征密切联系,可作为潜在结直肠癌临床诊断指标。