A nonlinear model of the arterial vessels within a limb segment

The relationship between the arterial blood pressure and the volume of the arteries within a segment of an extremity is nonlinear. The present paper shows how the flow and volume pulsations of the arteries within a limb segment can be simulated taking this property into account. An electrical model was constructed comprising one resistor and two voltage dependent ‘capacitors’, the latter corresponding to the pressure dependent elasticity, or compliance, of the arteries. Adequate simulations were obtained over a wide pressure range, which is impossible with linear models. The nonlinear, i.e. pressure dependent, relationship between the volume and pressure of arteries, observed under static conditions, must also be taken into consideration when studying pulsatile events with models whether mathematical or physical.     

Epidural pressure and its relation to spread of epidural analgesia

The relationships between the epidural pressures following the injection of local anesthetic solution and the spread of epidural analgesia were investigated. In 46 patients, 15ml of 2% mepivacaine was injected into the lumbar epidural space at a constant rate (1ml/sec) using an electropowered syringe pump. Injection pressures and residual pressures were recorded and the spread of analgesia to pinprick was assessed. The changes of the epidural pressures during and following the injection of a volume of local anesthetic solution in old subjects were significantly smaller than those in young subjects (P < 0.05). The spread of analgesia closely correlated with the epidural pressures during and following the injection of local anesthetic solution. The most close correlation was found between the epidural pressure immediately after the completion of injection and the spread of analgesia (r = –0.5659, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the lower the terminal injection pressure and the residual pressures associated with higher age, the wider the spread of epidural analgesia.(Hirabayashi Y, Matsuda I, Inoue S et al.: Epidural pressure and its relation to spread of epidural analgesia. J Anesth 1: 168–172, 1987)     

艾滋病患者渐进性肌肉放松训练配合心理干预的应用效果

目的 探讨渐进性肌肉放松训练配合心理干预对艾滋病患者服药依从性及心理状态的影响。方法 选择2017年8月—2020年8月于本院就诊的68例艾滋病患者,按随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组34例。对照组实施常规护理干预,观察组在此基础上实施渐进性肌肉放松训练配合心理干预,比较两组服药依从性及医院焦虑抑郁量表(HospitalAnxietyand Depresseo Scale,HAD)评分。结果 观察组服药总依从率为97.06%,高于对照组的70.59%,(χ2=8.785,P=0.003);观察组干预2周后焦虑评分为(14.35±1.67)分、抑郁评分为(13.98±1.38)分,均低于对照组的(15.63±1.59)分、(15.08±1.27)分,(t=3.237、3.420,P=0.002、0.001)。结论 渐进性肌肉放松训练配合心理干预应用于艾滋病患者,能够提高患者服药依从性,改善患者心理状态。     

Undiagnosed Depression among Hypertensive Individuals in Gaza: A Cross-sectional Survey from Palestine

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and to determine the associated factors of undiagnosed depression amongst hypertensive patients (HTNP) at primary health care centers (PHCC) in Gaza.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted including 538 HTNP as a recruitment phase of a clustered randomized controlled trial. Data were collected through face-to-face structured interview, and depression status was assessed by Beck''s Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Data were analyzed by STATA version 14 using standard complex survey analyses, accounted for unresponsiveness and clustering approach. Generalized linear regression analysis was performed to assess associations.ResultsThe prevalence of undiagnosed clinical depression was 11.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.1, 16.3). Moreover, prevalence of 15.4% (95% CI: 10.8, 21.6) was found for mild depression symptoms. We found that non-adherence to antihypertensive medications (AHTNM) (β = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.17, 1.7), having more health-care system support (β = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.6, 3.9) and number of AHTNM (β = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.6, 2.5) remain significantly positively associated with BDI-II score. On the other hand, older age (β = -0.1, 95% CI: -0.2, -0.02), having better social support (β = -6.8, 95% CI: -8.9, -4.7) and having stronger patient-doctor relationship (β = -4.1, 95% CI: -6.9, -1.2) kept significantly negative association.ConclusionThe prevalence of undiagnosed depression was about one-quarter of all cases; half of them were moderate to severe. Routine screening of depression status should be a part of the care of HTNP in PHCC.     

东营区≥45岁人群结直肠癌初筛结果分析及肠镜顺应性调查

目的 对东营区≥45岁常住居民进行结直肠癌筛查,并探讨初筛阳性者肠镜顺应性及其影响因素,为提高居民结直肠癌筛查工作提供科学依据。方法 采用方便抽样方法选择辖区内2个镇和3个街道的社区卫生服务中心作为结直肠癌筛查志愿者招募点招募≥45岁常住居民为研究对象开展结直肠癌筛查及问卷调查,对初筛阳性者进一步进行肠镜检查,采用描述性分析方法对居民结直肠筛查结果及肠镜顺应性进行分析,并对其影响因素进行单、多因素分析。结果 本研究共纳入1 201人进行分析,男662人,女539人,45~59岁372人,60~69岁495人,70~79岁334人。初筛阳性人数总计371例,其中危险因素初筛阳性154例,FOBT阳性298例,危险因素和FOBT阳性双阳性者81例,初筛阳性率为30.89%。男性（OR=3.177）、黏液血便史（OR=7.683）以及肠道息肉病史（OR=5.008）为结直肠癌初筛阳性的危险因素。371例初筛阳性者中121例完成结肠镜检查,结肠镜检查顺应率为32.61%。性别（OR=2.776）、年龄（OR=0.511、0.433）、婚姻状况（OR=4.267）、文化程度（OR=2.782、3.916）、医疗保险（OR=2.743）是结直肠癌初筛阳性者结肠镜检查顺应性的影响因素。结论 东营市东营区结直肠癌初筛阳性率较高,应加强对存在黏液血便史以及肠道息肉病史男性个体人群的结直肠癌筛查。居民结直肠镜检查顺应性较低,尤其是60岁及以上、非在婚、文化程度较低、无医保的女性个体,可特异性强化对该群体个体的健康教育,提高其结直肠镜顺应性。     

硒补充剂对妊娠期糖尿病患者血糖和血脂代谢及妊娠结局的影响分析

目的探讨硒补充剂对妊娠期糖尿病患者血糖、血脂代谢和妊娠结局的影响。方法将2018年7月-2019年6月盘锦市中心医院收治的45例妊娠期糖尿病患者随机分为对照组21例和硒酵母组24例。两组患者均给予健康教育、饮食指导、运动指导等常规治疗,硒酵母组在常规治疗基础上给予硒酵母片治疗。比较两组治疗前后空腹血糖、胰岛素抵抗指数、总胆固醇、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平及妊娠结局。结果治疗后两组空腹血糖和胰岛素抵抗指数均较治疗前下降,且硒酵母组两项指标均低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后两组孕妇总胆固醇、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平较治疗前下降,且硒酵母组三项指标水平低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后硒酵母组高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平高于治疗前,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。对照组治疗前后以及两组治疗后高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。硒酵母组新生儿高胆红素血症发生率和新生儿住院率均低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组其他不良妊娠结局差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论硒补充剂能够进一步改善妊娠期糖尿病患者的血糖和血脂代谢,同时,也能降低新生儿高胆红素血症发生率和住院率,值得推广使用。     

《2020 ACOG实践简报:孕龄≤70 d药物流产(No.225)》解读

药物流产(MA)是早孕期避孕失败的补救措施,主要药物为米非司酮和米索前列醇,二者联合使用,可使早孕期孕妇完全终止妊娠率达到90%。但是,MA导致的患者阴道流血时间长、量多,甚至阴道大流血,而需采取急诊刮宫术治疗等,尚未被彻底解决。如何安全、有效终止早孕期妊娠,保护女性生殖健康是目前国内外该领域的研究重点。美国妇产科医师学学会(ACOG)发布的《2020 ACOG实践简报:孕龄≤70 d药物流产(No.225)》对早孕期孕妇终止妊娠,具有重要指导作用。笔者拟就该简报对MA用于孕龄≤70 d孕妇的临床效果评估,MA用药方案、禁忌证、适应证,MA前咨询和检查,MA疼痛管理,MA后观察、预防性抗菌药物使用、随访管理、避孕措施9个方面基于循证医学推荐进行解读。     

Quantifying Patient Engagement in Total Joint Arthroplasty Using Digital Application-Based Technology

BackgroundDigital patient engagement has been suggested as a mean to increase patient activation and patient satisfaction after total joint arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to assess patient engagement with application-based educational tools and to explore what content was most useful to patients in the perioperative period surrounding total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), respectively.MethodsPatients undergoing THA and TKA between October 2017 and January 2020 were enrolled to use an application-based digital technology. The App provides comprehensive patient education using a series of modules delivered at set intervals preoperatively and postoperatively. Patient engagement was defined as patients viewing at least one time the modules that were sent, or marking them as completed. Patient satisfaction was assessed using an in-application survey.ResultsComplete data were available on 207 patients of which 95 (46%) underwent THA and 112 (54%) underwent TKA. The average age was 60 years. 54% with patients invited to the program completed registration. An average compliance rate of 48% (41 modules engaged out of 83) was observed. Of all modules completed, the top three most popular categories included physical therapy/exercise videos, health literacy, and anxiety/stress/pain management. The least viewed category was nutrition planning and education.ConclusionWhen presented educational material related to THA and TKA, patients had a high rate of compliance. Digital technology platforms provide a scalable, meaningful approach to engaging patients throughout the continuum of joint replacement care and may serve as a cost-effective adjunct to traditional methods.     

基于数据挖掘的中医药治疗小儿湿疹组方用药规律研究

目的：通过应用中医传承辅助平台（V 2.5）挖掘中医药治疗小儿湿疹的组方用药规律,并对高频药物、用药模式及治疗思路进行探讨。方法：搜集国家知识基础设施数据库（CNKI）、中国学术期刊数据库（CSPD）及中文科技期刊数据库（CCD）中2000—2021年应用中医药治疗小儿湿疹的相关文献,经过筛选后建立方药数据库,运用中医传承辅助平台（V 2.5）集成的改进互信息法、关联规则Apriori算法、复杂系统熵聚类与无监督熵聚类等算法对药物频次、性味归经、用药模式、规则分析及新处方等结果进行输出,并进行网络可视化展示。结果：纳入处方200首,共涉及206味中药,高频药物包括甘草、白鲜皮、薏苡仁、茯苓、生地黄、金银花、蝉蜕、地肤子、防风、牡丹皮等,药性以寒性（52.76%）居多,药味以甘（38.89%）、苦（33.37%）、辛（21.96%）味为主,归经以胃经（1 138次）、脾经（1 088次）、肝经（1 061次）居多,并且得到药物之间的关联规则,以及新处方6个。结论：小儿湿疹用药以补虚药、利水渗湿药、清热药、清热解毒药、解表药为主,治疗以疏风清热,燥湿健脾,养血活血为主要大法,分析结果与本病诊疗指南较为吻合,可为小儿湿疹的临床治疗及新药开发提供参考。     

Remote intervention engagement and outcomes in the Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation in Children consortium multisite trial

Remote interventions are increasingly used in transplant medicine but have rarely been rigorously evaluated. We investigated a remote intervention targeting immunosuppressant management in pediatric lung transplant recipients. Patients were recruited from a larger multisite trial if they had a Medication Level Variability Index (MLVI) ≥2.0, indicating worrisome tacrolimus level fluctuation. The manualized intervention included three weekly phone calls and regular follow-up calls. A comparison group included patients who met enrollment criteria after the subprotocol ended. Outcomes were defined before the intent-to-treat analysis. Feasibility was defined as ≥50% of participants completing the weekly calls. MLVI was compared pre- and 180 days postenrollment and between intervention and comparison groups. Of 18 eligible patients, 15 enrolled. Seven additional patients served as the comparison. Seventy-five percent of participants completed ≥3 weekly calls; average time on protocol was 257.7 days. Average intervention group MLVI was significantly lower (indicating improved blood level stability) at 180 days postenrollment (2.9 ± 1.29) compared with pre-enrollment (4.6 ± 2.10), p = .02. At 180 days, MLVI decreased by 1.6 points in the intervention group but increased by 0.6 in the comparison group (p = .054). Participants successfully engaged in a long-term remote intervention, and their medication blood levels stabilized. NCT02266888.