Reliability and validity of the gait classification system in children with cerebral palsy (GCS-CP)

BackgroundGait classification systems (GCS) may enable clinicians to differentiate gait patterns into clinically significant categories that assist in clinical decision-making and assessment of outcomes. Davids and Bagley in 2014 [1] described a GCS for children with cerebral palsy (GCS-CP). The purpose of our study was to use the GCS-CP for the first time on a sample of patients with CP and to evaluate the reliability and utility of the classification system.MethodsThe gait of 131 children with CP was retrospectively reviewed and classified according to Davids and Bagley’s classification using two-dimensional (2D) video and three-dimensional (3D) lower limb kinematics and kinetics. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels were determined, and the Gait Profile Scores (GPS) calculated to characterize the sample concerning gait classification. The comparison between the groups was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test with respect to the non-normal distribution of the data. The intrarater and interrater reliability was determined using the Kappa index (k) statistics with 95% CI.ResultsAll GCS-CP groups were represented within the evaluated sample. Of the 131 cases evaluated, 127 (96.95%) were able to be classified with respect to sagittal plane stance phase gait deviations. All patients in the sample were able to be classified with respect to sagittal plane swing phase and transverse plane gait deviations. The interrater reliability was 0.596 and 0.485 for the first and second levels of the classification, respectively, according to the Fleiss’s Kappa statistics. Intrarater reliability was 0.776 and 0.714 for the raters one and two, respectively, according to the Cohen’s Kappa statistics.SignificanceThe GCS-CP exhibited clinical utility, successfully classifying almost all subjects with CP in two planes, based upon kinematic and kinetic data. The classification is valid and has moderate interrater and moderate to substantial intrarater reliability.     

Arterial spin labeling MR image denoising and reconstruction using unsupervised deep learning

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging is a powerful magnetic resonance imaging technique that allows to quantitatively measure blood perfusion non-invasively, which has great potential for assessing tissue viability in various clinical settings. However, the clinical applications of ASL are currently limited by its low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), limited spatial resolution, and long imaging time. In this work, we propose an unsupervised deep learning-based image denoising and reconstruction framework to improve the SNR and accelerate the imaging speed of high resolution ASL imaging. The unique feature of the proposed framework is that it does not require any prior training pairs but only the subject's own anatomical prior, such as T1-weighted images, as network input. The neural network was trained from scratch in the denoising or reconstruction process, with noisy images or sparely sampled k-space data as training labels. Performance of the proposed method was evaluated using in vivo experiment data obtained from 3 healthy subjects on a 3T MR scanner, using ASL images acquired with 44-min acquisition time as the ground truth. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed txtc framework over the reference methods. In summary, our proposed unsupervised deep learning-based denoising and reconstruction framework can improve the image quality and accelerate the imaging speed of ASL imaging.     

Secondary Qualitative Analysis of Moral Injury in Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses

ObjectiveTo investigate the presence of symptoms of moral injury in obstetric and neonatal nurses.DesignA secondary qualitative analysis using an analytic expansion of three primary studies.SettingPostal mail and electronic surveys.ParticipantsI used three primary studies: participants in the first consisted of 78 labor and delivery nurses, participants in the second consisted of 75 nurse-midwives, and participants in the third consisted of 22 NICU nurses.MethodsI used Krippendorff’s content analysis method for qualitative data to reanalyze the three primary data sets. The categories I used in this analysis were the 10 symptoms of moral injury that are assessed by the Moral Injury Symptoms Scale–Health Professionals Version.ResultsWhen combining the three types of obstetric and neonatal participants, the top three most frequently cited symptoms of moral injury were moral concern, guilt, and self-condemnation. For participants in labor and delivery units and NICUs, moral concern was the most often described symptom, whereas for participants in midwifery it was guilt. None of the participants reported loss of meaning in their lives, loss of faith, or religious struggle. Participants who worked in NICUs did not describe any symptoms of shame or difficulty forgiving.ConclusionIn addition to the primary symptoms of moral injury, reported secondary consequences of moral injury can include depression, anxiety, anger, self-harm, and social problems. Interventions such as acceptance and commitment therapy are needed to help nurses address the potential for moral injury and repair its effects. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever, moral injury needs to be recognized in obstetric and neonatal nurses and not just in the military population.     

社区严重精神障碍患者规律面访情况及其影响因素研究

背景严重精神障碍患者因自知力欠缺及高复发性、高致残性等特点，对社会稳定造成严重威胁。做好社区面访管理工作意义重大，通过定期面访患者本人，可以更好地综合评估患者病情，以便及时采取措施，提高管理服务质量。目的了解社区严重精神障碍患者规律面访情况及其影响因素，为提高社区患者的面访服务管理质量提供参考依据。方法2020年10—12月，利用2019年底江苏省严重精神障碍管理系统中建档管理的无锡市严重精神障碍患者基础档案及随访管理信息，分析当年度无锡市社区严重精神障碍患者规律面访情况，采用Logistic回归分析规律面访的影响因素。结果共纳入27 778例研究对象，其规律面访率为81.08%（22 523/27 778）。Logistic回归分析结果显示，非本地户籍〔OR（95%CI）=0.704（0.640，0.775）〕、年龄≤44岁〔OR（95%CI）=0.522（0.472，0.578）〕、学历为高中及以上〔高中/中专OR（95%CI）=0.493（0.446，0.545），大专及以上OR（95%CI）=0.470（0.415，0.532）〕、目前有正式工作〔OR（95%CI）=0.715（0.668，0.766）〕、未婚〔OR（95%CI）=0.746（0.665，0.838）〕、经济状况为非贫困〔OR（95%CI）=0.587（0.517，0.666）〕、没有进行抗精神病药物治疗〔OR（95%CI）=0.491（0.440，0.548）〕、服药时长0~10年〔OR（95%CI）=0.881（0.778，0.998）〕、不是"以奖代补"监护补助对象〔OR（95%CI）=0.807（0.704，0.926）〕、不参加社区康复服务〔OR（95%CI）=0.844（0.716，0.996）〕是患者规律面访的消极影响因素（P<0.05）。结论无锡市社区严重精神障碍患者规律面访率尚需进一步提高，应重点关注非本地户籍、年龄≤44岁、高中及以上学历、目前有正式工作、未婚、经济非贫困、没有进行抗精神病药物治疗、服药时长0~10年、不是监护补助对象和不参加社区康复服务的社区严重精神障碍患者。可通过制定倾斜性政策、开展宣传教育、降低患者病耻感、改善患者疾病认知、加强患者社会支持等措施提高患者规律面访率。     

Occurrence,detection and ecotoxicity studies of selected pharmaceuticals in aqueous ecosystems- a systematic appraisal

Pharmaceutical compounds (PCs) have globally emerged as a significant group of environmental contaminants due to the constant detection of their residues in the environment. The main scope of this review is to fill the void of information on the knowledge on the African occurrence of selected PCs in environmental matrices in comparison with those outside Africa and their respective toxic actions on both aquatic and non-aquatic biota through ecotoxicity bioassays. To achieve this objective, the study focused on commonly used and detected pharmaceutical drugs (residues). Based on the conducted literature survey, Africa has the highest levels of ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, lamivudine, acetaminophen, and diclofenac while Europe has the lowest of all these PC residues in her physical environments. For ecotoxicity bioassays, the few data available are mostly on individual groups of pharmaceuticals whereas there is sparsely available data on their combined forms.     

Differences in Evidentiary Requirements Between European Medicines Agency and European Health Technology Assessment of Oncology Drugs—Can Alignment Be Enhanced?

ObjectivesNational health technology assessments (HTAs) across Europe show differences in evidentiary requirements from assessments by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), affecting time to patient access for drugs after marketing authorization. This article analyzes the differences between EMA and HTA bodies’ evidentiary requirements for oncology drugs and provides recommendations on potential further alignment to minimize and optimally manage the remaining differences.MethodsInterviews were performed with representatives and drug assessment experts from EMA and HTA bodies to identify evidentiary requirements for several subdomains and collect recommendations for potentially more efficiently addressing differences. A comparative analysis of acceptability of the evidence by EMA and the HTA bodies and for potential further alignment between both authorities was conducted.ResultsAcceptability of available evidence was higher for EMA than HTA bodies. HTA bodies and EMA were aligned on evidentiary requirements in most cases. The subdomains showing notable differences concerned the acceptance of limitation of the target population and extrapolation of target populations, progression-free survival and (other) surrogate endpoints as outcomes, cross-over designs, short trial duration, and clinical relevance of the effect size. Recommendations for reducing or optimally managing differences included joint early dialogues, joint relative effectiveness assessments, and the use of managed entry agreements.ConclusionsDifferences between assessments of EMA and HTA bodies were identified in important areas of evidentiary requirements. Increased alignment between EMA and HTA bodies is suggested and recommendations for realization are discussed.     

Understanding Hispanic Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth During COVID-19

BackgroundRecent studies have described the use of telehealth for pediatric surgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate equity in telehealth use by comparing rates of utilization and satisfaction with pediatric surgical telemedicine among Hispanic patients.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients seen by a surgical subspecialty provider in the outpatient setting at a quaternary pediatric hospital between April 1 and June 30, 2020. Patients evaluated in the same three-month period in 2019 were analyzed as a historic control. Differences in Family Experience Survey (FES) responses based on race and ethnicity and preferred language of care were assessed using univariable and multivariable generalized linear modeling.ResultsThe pandemic cohort included fewer patients of Hispanic ethnicity and fewer Spanish-speakers. After controlling for visit type, comparison of Spanish-speaking and English-speaking patients revealed that Spanish-speaking families had significantly lower scores for FES items that evaluated healthcare provider explaining (IRR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61–0.90), listening (IRR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63–0.92), and time spent with the family (IRR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.60–0.89). There were no differences in FES responses based on insurance status or degree of medical complexity.ConclusionsTelehealth services were less commonly used among Hispanic and Spanish-speaking patients. Language may differentially affect family satisfaction with healthcare and telehealth solutions. Strategies to mitigate these inequities are needed and may include strengthening interpreter services and providing language-concordant care.Level of evidenceLevel IV.     

Novice nurses’ experiences from teamwork in the emergency department: A qualitative content analysis

Background and aimTeamwork is assumed crucial in nursing. Nevertheless, nursing shortages in medical centers have thus far compelled nurse managers to use novice nurses. The present study aimd to explaining the challenges and experiences of novice nurses regarding teamwork in emergency departments.Materials and methodsUsing qualitative content analysis, 11 novice nurses working at emergency department, participated in this study. Data were collected with semi structured interview and analyzed by Graneheim and Lundman.ResultsThe data analysis led to the emergence of four themes of “essential teamwork skills development”, “contradictory relationships between team members”, “unpleasant feelings and experiences”, and, “personal growth and maturation during teamwork”.ConclusionFostering different personal aspects as prerequisites for teamwork, novice nurses will be able to deal with unpleasant feelings and experiences as well as contradictory relationships between team members in an effective manner. This challenging experience will thus give rise to personal growth and maturation during teamwork among them in emergency department.