Work productivity loss among adults aged 18–64 years with Multiple Sclerosis in the United States: A propensity score matched study

BackgroundScarce data exists regarding United States (US) national-level work productivity loss among adults with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).ObjectiveTo address this significant knowledge gap, we examined the national-level productivity loss among adults (18≤ age ≤64 years) with MS compared to propensity score matched non-MS controls.MethodsWe adopted a retrospective, cross-sectional, matched cohort study design with pooled data from alternate years (2005/2007/2009/2011/2013/2015) of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). We included adults who were employed and alive during the calendar year. Clinical Classification System code of “80” was used to identify individuals with MS. We matched adults with MS to non-MS adults utilizing propensity scores generated based on age, gender, and race/ethnicity using a greedy matching algorithm (8:1-digit matching). Missed workdays measured productivity loss of MEPS respondents. We selected Negative Binomial Regression (NBR) analysis as the count data model for this study. Analyses were conducted using SAS 9.4 and STATA 15.0 and accounted for the complex survey design of MEPS to generate US national-level estimates.ResultsThe final propensity-score matched sample consisted of 104 and 312 (unweighted) adults with and without MS, respectively. US national-level mean [Standard Error (SE)] annual missed workdays among individuals with MS [8.94 (SE:1.59)] was significantly higher (p = 0.001) compared to propensity score matched non-MS controls [3.15 (SE:0.40)]. After adjusting for several factors, NBR showed an approximately two-fold higher rate of missed work days among individuals with MS compared to propensity score matched non-MS controls (Incidence Rate Ratio: 1.98, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.18–3.33). Severity of pain, marital status, region, and hypertension also negatively impacted work productivity in this sample.ConclusionsIndividuals with MS in the US experience significantly higher productivity loss compared to propensity score matched non-MS controls. Interventions (e.g., improved management of MS symptoms) are warranted to reduce productivity loss among individuals with MS.     

Breakfast in Latin America: Evaluation of Nutrient and Food Group Intake Toward a Nutrient-Based Recommendation

BackgroundLittle is known about breakfast habits of the Latin American (LA) population to support nutritional recommendations for a balanced breakfast in this region.ObjectiveTo evaluate the nutritional composition of breakfast in the LA population and to propose recommendations for a balanced breakfast.DesignThis multicenter cross-sectional study evaluated food and nutrient intake of nationally representative samples of urban populations of 8 LA countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela) in 2014-2015.Participants/settingThe sample comprised 8714 participants from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health, aged 15 to 65 years, randomly recruited according to geographical location, sex, age, and socioeconomic level.Main outcome measuresTwo 24-hour recalls were used to examine dietary intake. Breakfast consumers were stratified by tertiles of Nutrient-Rich Foods Index 9.3 (NRF9.3) to assess the overall diet quality of individuals. Nutrient intake at breakfast of those in the upper tertile of NRF9.3 pooled for the 8 countries was used as a reference for the development of recommendations for LA adolescents and adults.Statistical analysesComparison of food and nutrient intake of breakfast across NRF9.3 tertiles were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test.ResultsOverall breakfast was an important contributor to protein, carbohydrate, and B vitamin intakes but also to added sugar and total and saturated fat intakes relative to daily intakes. Individuals in the upper NRF9.3 tertile had higher intake of key micronutrients such as calcium and potassium at breakfast compared with other tertiles. White breads/rolls/tortillas were the most consumed food group (60%), followed by butter/margarine (40%) and coffee/tea without milk (34%-50%).ConclusionsBreakfast contributed to the daily intake of B vitamins, protein, and carbohydrates but also added sugar and total and saturated fat intakes for all countries. The proposed recommendations support the nutrient density of existing highest-quality breakfast in the LA population while addressing concerns about nutrients to be encouraged or reduced.     

Measurement errors in control risk regression: A comparison of correction techniques

Control risk regression is a diffuse approach for meta-analysis about the effectiveness of a treatment, relating the measure of risk with which the outcome occurs in the treated group to that in the control group. The severity of illness is a source of between-study heterogeneity that can be difficult to measure. It can be approximated by the rate of events in the control group. Since the estimate is a surrogate for the underlying risk, it is prone to measurement error. Correction methods are necessary to provide reliable inference. This article illustrates the extent of measurement error effects under different scenarios, including departures from the classical normality assumption for the control risk distribution. The performance of different measurement error corrections is examined. Attention will be paid to likelihood-based structural methods assuming a distribution for the control risk measure and to functional methods avoiding the assumption, namely, a simulation-based method and two score function methods. Advantages and limits of the approaches are evaluated through simulation. In case of large heterogeneity, structural approaches are preferable to score methods, while score methods perform better for small heterogeneity and small sample size. The simulation-based approach has a satisfactory behavior whichever the examined scenario, with no convergence issues. The methods are applied to a meta-analysis about the association between diabetes and risk of Parkinson disease. The study intends to make researchers aware of the measurement error problem occurring in control risk regression and lead them to the use of appropriate correction techniques to prevent fallacious conclusions.     

Efficacy and safety of cold snare polypectomy for sessile serrated polyps ≥ 10 mm: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundCold snare polypectomy (CSP) is a promising technique for the removal of sessile serrated polyps (SSPs) ≥ 10 mm. However, the efficacy and safety of this technique remain undetermined.AimsWe aimed to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of CSP for SSPs ≥ 10 mm.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched up to January 2021.ResultsA total of 10 studies consisting of 1727 SSPs (range, 10–40 mm) from 1021 patients were included. The overall rates of technical success, adverse events (AEs) and residual SSPs were 100%, 0.7% and 2.9%, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the rates of technical success and AEs were comparable between CSP and cold endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) (99.9% vs. 100% and 1.3% vs. 0.5%, respectively), between the proximal and distal colon (100% vs. 99.9% and 0.3% vs. 0, respectively), and between polyps of 10–19 mm and ≥20 mm (99.8% vs. 100% and 0.9% vs. 0, respectively). However, subgroup analysis showed that the rate of residual SSPs was slightly lower in CSP compared with cold EMR (1.3% vs. 3.9%), as well as in polyps of 10–19 mm compared with those ≥20 mm (3.1% vs. 4.7%).ConclusionCSP was an effective and safe technique for removing SSPs ≥ 10 mm.     

Liver fibrosis scores and risk of liver-related mortality in young adults with chronic hepatitis B: A cohort study

The predictive role of noninvasive liver fibrosis scores on liver-related mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis B below 40 years of age remains unclarified. We examined the association of liver fibrosis scores with liver-related mortality in young (<40 years) and older adults with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A cohort study was performed in 21,360 HBsAg-positive Korean adults without liver cirrhosis or liver cancer at baseline who were followed up for up to 18 years. The liver fibrosis scores were determined using the fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4) and aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI). Patients’ vital status and cause of death were ascertained through the National Death Records. During a median follow-up of 10.2 years, 283 liver-related deaths were identified (liver-related mortality, 127.4/10⁵ person-years). The liver fibrosis scores were significantly associated with increased risks of liver-related mortality; this association did not differ by age group (<40 vs. ≥40 years). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals for liver-related mortality comparing intermediate and high to low FIB-4 scores were 4.23 (1.99–9.00), and 15.16 (5.18–44.38), respectively, among individuals under 40, and 4.46 (3.03–6.56) and 22.47 (15.11–33.41), respectively, among older individuals. These associations were similar in analyses using APRI. In this cohort of HBsAg-positive individuals, the liver fibrosis scores were associated with increased risks of liver-related mortality in young and older adults. The liver fibrosis scores have a role in predicting liver mortality, even in young adults with HBV.     

内镜柔性器械腱鞘传动模型及实验研究

目的 建立内镜柔性器械腱鞘系统的推力传动模型，研究影响传动效率的关键因素。方法 建立腱鞘系统在器械推送作用下力和位移的传动模型并进行仿真计算；搭建腱鞘系统传动测试的实验平台以验证模型的准确性，研究传动速度、腱鞘直径比、弯曲半径等对传动效率的影响。结果 腱鞘传动过程中存在显著的非线性传递现象，传动模型仿真与实验结果基本符合；传动速度、腱鞘直径比、弯曲半径均对内镜柔性器械的推力传动有较大影响，对位移传动的影响相对小一些。结论 该模型可用于内镜柔性器械中腱鞘系统推力传动的计算，提供给医生器械工作末端的力反馈，以保证器械的安全操作和提高手术效果；在内镜柔性器械的精准控制中需要综合考虑传动速度、腱鞘传动比、弯曲半径等对运动传递的影响。     

洛索洛芬钠片辅助治疗骨关节炎的疗效及不良反应

目的探讨洛索洛芬钠片辅助治疗骨关节炎的效果及不良反应。方法选择2018年1月至2020年1月郑州市骨科医院收治的150例确诊为骨关节炎的患者作为观察对象,根据治疗方式不同分为观察组和对照组,每组75例。对照组基于玻璃酸钠注射液治疗,每周行关节腔内注射25 mg,5次为1疗程,共治疗2个疗程。观察组在此基础上联合洛索洛芬钠片,每次60 mg,每天3次,持续治疗10周。比较治疗前后两组患者关节滑液肿瘤坏死因子、细胞白介素水平;患者疼痛程度、膝关节功能以及不良反应情况。结果观察组治疗有效率为97.33%(73/75),对照组为84.00%(63/75),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗前,两组之间的VAS和WOMAC评分比较差异未见统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗后观察组膝关节疼痛和疼痛的改善优于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗前两组患者的白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β),白细胞介素-6(IL-6)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平比较差异未见统计学意义(P>0.05),治疗后观察组上述炎性因子水平低于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组不良反应发生率为2.67%(2/75),低于对照组(12%,9/75),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论洛索洛芬钠片能有效患者患者疼痛和膝关节症状,提高患者治疗效果且疗效确切,值得借鉴。     

肺部超声引导下胸部物理治疗急性呼吸窘迫综合征的临床疗效观察

目的对比肺部超声引导下胸部物理治疗与单纯胸部物理治疗对机械通气急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)患者的疗效,探讨肺部超声在ARDS胸部物理治疗中的应用价值。方法选取在我院行机械通气的ARDS患者104例,根据ARDS限制性保护通气策略随机分为两组,对照组52例,常规治疗加机械辅助排痰;超声组52例,常规治疗加超声引导机械辅助排痰。每组根据氧合指数再分为轻度(200 mm Hg≤氧合指数<300 mm Hg)、中度(100 mm Hg≤氧合指数<200 mm Hg)、重度(氧合指数<100 mm Hg),比较两组及不同严重程度患者治疗前、治疗24 h和48 h后血气分析、肺超声评分。结果治疗过程期间提前脱机11例,死亡6例;最终纳入87例,其中对照组45例(轻度14例、中度23例、重度8例),超声组42例(轻度16例、中度19例、重度7例)。对照组与超声组治疗前氧合指数和肺超声评分比较差异均无统计学意义;对照组和超声组治疗48 h后氧合指数明显上升,超声评分明显下降,与治疗前比较差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。两组中度患者治疗后24 h和48 h肺超声评分比较差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05),两组轻度和重度患者间治疗后24 h和48 h肺超声评分比较差异均无统计学意义。两组中度患者治疗后24 h氧合指数比较差异无统计学意义,治疗后48 h后氧合指数比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组轻度及重度患者间治疗后24 h和48 h氧合指数比较差异均无统计学意义。氧合指数与肺部超声评分呈负相关(r=-0.510,P<0.01)。结论与单纯胸部物理治疗比较,超声引导下胸部物理治疗有助于改善部分ARDS患者氧合指数和肺超声评分,具有潜在临床应用价值。