刺络联合舒利迭吸入疗法防治小儿哮喘的疗效观察

目的:探讨刺络联合舒利迭吸入疗法治疗小儿哮喘的临床疗效,并观察其用药前后的代谢组学变化。方法:选取2013年10月至2015年9月上海市宝山区中西医结合医院收治的哮喘患儿50例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组和观察组,每组25例。对照组采用沙美特罗替卡松粉吸入剂治疗,观察组在对照组治疗的基础上针刺四缝和少商穴位以及耳尖放血,间隔1 d进行1次,周期90 d。采集患儿用药前0 d,用药30 d,用药60 d,用药90 d的尿液,采用气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)检测尿液内源性代谢物,观察治疗前后2组患儿临床症状评分、免疫指标以及代谢谱的变化情况。结果:观察组总有效率高于对照组,2组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);与治疗前比较,2组患儿各项中医症候均明显减轻,观察组改善程度比对照组更为显著,差异有统计学意义,2组免疫学指标与治疗前比较均显著降低(P<0.05),与对照组比较(90 d),观察组(90 d)各指标降低程度更为明显,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。采用有监督的分析-OPLS分析了治疗前对照组和观察组(0 d),治疗后(90 d)对照组和观察组的尿液代谢谱,结果显示4组代谢谱分离良好,鉴定了21个相关代谢标志物。结论:刺络联合舒利迭吸入疗法治疗小儿哮喘的临床效果确切,可改善患儿症状,降低免疫指标,其作用机制可能与丙氨酸,天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢、乙醛酸和二羧酸代谢和组氨酸代谢等代谢异常有关。     

Validation of PATHFx 2.0: An open-source tool for estimating survival in patients undergoing pathologic fracture fixation

Treatment decisions in patients with metastatic bone disease rely on accurate survival estimation. We developed the original PATHFx models using expensive, proprietary software and now seek to provide a more cost-effective solution. Using open-source machine learning software to create PATHFx version 2.0, we asked whether PATHFx 2.0 could be created using open-source methods and externally validated in two unique patient populations. The training set of a well-characterized, database records of 189 patients and the bnlearn package within R Version 3.5.1 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing), was used to establish a series of Bayesian belief network models designed to predict survival at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Each was externally validated in both a Scandinavian (n = 815 patients) and a Japanese (n = 261 patients) data set. Brier scores and receiver operating characteristic curves to assessed discriminatory ability. Decision curve analysis (DCA) evaluated whether models should be used clinically. DCA showed that the model should be used clinically at all time points in the Scandinavian data set. For the 1-month time point, DCA of the Japanese data set suggested to expect better outcomes assuming all patients will survive greater than 1 month. Brier scores for each curve demonstrate that the models are accurate at each time point. Statement of Clinical Significance: we successfully transitioned to PATHFx 2.0 using open-source software and externally validated it in two unique patient populations, which can be used as a cost-effective option to guide surgical decisions in patients with metastatic bone disease.     

Neurophysiology of motor skill learning in chronic stroke

ObjectiveMotor learning is relevant in chronic stroke for acquiring compensatory strategies to motor control deficits. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying motor skill acquisition with the paretic upper limb have received little systematic investigation. The aim of this study was to assess the modulation of corticomotor excitability and intracortical inhibition within ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1) during motor skill learning.MethodsTen people at the chronic stage after stroke and twelve healthy controls trained on a sequential visuomotor isometric wrist extension task. Skill was quantified before, immediately after, 24 hours and 7 days post-training. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to examine corticomotor excitability and short- and long-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI and LICI) pre- and post-training.ResultsThe patient group exhibited successful skill acquisition and retention, although absolute skill level was lower compared with controls. In contrast to controls, patients’ ipsilesional corticomotor excitability was not modulated during skill acquisition, which may be attributed to excessive ipsilesional LICI relative to controls. SICI decreased after training for both patient and control groups.ConclusionsOur findings indicate distinct inhibitory networks within M1 that may be relevant for motor learning after stroke.SignificanceThese findings have potential clinical relevance for neurorehabilitation adjuvants aimed at augmenting the recovery of motor function.     

影响2型糖尿病老年患者并发周围神经病变的logistic分析

目的 探讨2型糖尿病老年患者并发周围神经病变的影响因素。方法 选取2016年2月—2018年7月本院治疗的2型糖尿病老年患者120例作为研究对象,统计并发周围神经病变发生情况,根据有无发生周围神经病变分为DPN组57例和非DPN组63例,并对其影响因素进行调查分析。结果 DPN组患者与非DPN组患者的年龄、糖尿病病程、吸烟史、饮酒史、高血压病史、高血脂病史、BMI指数、FPG、HbA1c、UA水平差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),DPN组患者与非DPN组患者的性别、ALT、AST水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);Logisitic回归分析结果显示,年龄、糖尿病病程、吸烟史、饮酒史、高血压病史、高血脂病史、BMI指数、FPG、HbA1c、UA水平是2型糖尿病老年患者并发周围神经病变的影响因素。结论 年龄、糖尿病病程、吸烟史、饮酒史、高血压病史、高血脂病史、BMI指数、FPG、HbA1c、UA水平是2型糖尿病老年患者并发周围神经病变的影响因素,应积极采取有效措施进行控制糖尿病周围神经病变的发生与发展,提高2型糖尿病老年患者的生活质量。     

Defunciones por COVID-19: no están todas las que son y no son todas las que están

The death counts from COVID-19 have generated public controversy. The regional health councils’ need for information regardind the cases, has generated a variety of formats and procedures, used to report this information. Consecuently, this data has not always been communicated in a comparable maner to the Ministry of Health. The compilation of mortality statistics is complex. Central and autonomous public administrations are involved, and not in the same way. The medical death certificate (DC) is the main source of information that allows to specify place of occurrence and causes of death. The on-line registration of the DC in the computerized civil registry and/or digital medical records, would allow to establish a statistical processing circuit, and to obtain a death count more quickly according to causes of death in the event of a health emergency. This requires a multi-level institutional agreement for a total telematics statistic process of death causes in Spain.     

Mean differences and individual changes in nursing students' attitudes toward statistics: The role of math background and personality traits

Nursing students have compulsory statistics courses in their degree program, but they usually have negative attitudes toward statistics that may hinder their learning. The present study aims: (i) to investigate nurse students’ attitudes toward statistics and the relationships with mathematical background and personality traits; (ii) to stress individual changes in attitude that occur during the course; and (iii) to explore if mathematical background and personality traits influence these changes. We adopted a one-group pre-post survey study. Fifty nursing students were enrolled in an introductory statistics course at the Sapienza University of Rome in Italy during the 2018–2019 academic year. Participants were surveyed at the beginning and end of the course administering a multidimensional measure of attitude toward statistics. Multiple regression analyses were run to establish the relative impact of mathematical background and Big Five personality factors on attitude components, as well as the changes in these attitude components. Results confirmed the predictive role of mathematic competence on some attitude dimensions and showed that also personality traits influenced attitudes toward statistics. However, the observed changes in attitudes during the course were minimally influenced by these factors. Findings suggest that course pedagogy can enhance students’ attitudes regardless their mathematical background and personality.     

Normative values for the Sensory Organization Test in an active duty military cohort

BackgroundComputerized dynamic posturography is commonly used to assess balance in service members, but normative values for the military population have not been established.Research questionWhat are the normative values for the Motor Control Test (MCT), Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and the enhanced SOT (eSOT) within the military population and at which point do they differ?MethodsCross-sectional study. 237 active duty service members (78 % male) completed the MCT, SOT and the eSOT with the sway manipulated at a gain of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, or 2.0. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the means of men and women for the SOT and MCT composite scores. A Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the means of age groups for the SOT composite score. An independent t-test was used to compare the SOT composite scores from our military population to the manufacturer’s normative (civilian) data. The means and standard deviations for the eSOT scores were reported for each gain. Paired-samples t-tests were performed to compare the SOT composite score with the eSOT composite score for each level of gain.ResultsThere was no difference between SOT composite scores for men and women (Mann-Whitney U = 4363.50, p = 0.19) or among age groups (Kruskal-Wallis = 2.77, p = 0.25). The mean SOT composite scores were not different from the manufacturer’s normative values (p = 0.155). SOT composite scores were significantly higher than eSOT composite scores for gains of 1.4 (t = 3.16, p = 0.003), 1.6 (t = 5.73, p < 0.001), 1.8 (t = 5.26, p < 0.001) and 2.0 (t = 5.89, p < 0.001). MCT composite scores were lower in the 18−26 year old than the 36−45 year old age group (p = 0.013).SignificanceThis study establishes normative values for the MCT, SOT and eSOT in active duty military service members. The results suggest that the manufacturer’s normal values are appropriate for making judgments about the postural stability of service members.