Update on the global neurosurgery movement: A systematic review of international vernacular,research trends,and authorship

In 2015, key global and neurosurgical organizations increased collaboration to improve neurosurgical care access, delivery, and outcomes, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs); sparking what has been termed the global neurosurgery movement. The authors sought to assess trends in usage of the term ‘global neurosurgery’ in academic literature with particular focus on author affiliations, world regions most frequently discussed, and topics of research performed. A PubMed search for articles indexed as ‘global neurosurgery’ was completed yielding 277 articles which met inclusion criteria. It was found that over time, use of the term ‘global neurosurgery’ has increased, with increasing growth notable starting in the year 2008 and continuing into October 2019. Statistical comparisons showed authors with affiliated global neurosurgery centers were more likely to publish studies related to the continent of Africa (47.4% vs 15.9%, p < 0.001), and less likely to focus on countries in Asia (2.6% vs 20.9%, p = 0.023). Use of the term ‘global neurosurgery’ in the article abstract/title/keywords was associated with focus on LMICs (18.6% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.006). Use of the term ‘global neurosurgery’ was associated with workforce and capacity as research topics (41.9% vs 22.6%, p = 0.036). While fairly new, the global neurosurgery movement has seen a rapid increase in publications utilizing the term ‘global neurosurgery.’ Articles frequently have focused on collaborative, targeted workforce capacity building in LMICs. We encourage the development of more global neurosurgery academic centers, especially in non-USA countries, to continue this momentum.     

The association between tic medication therapy and psychiatric comorbidities among patients with Tourette syndrome: A national population-based study in Taiwan

BackgroundTourette syndrome (TS) is often comorbid with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and depression. Medications are the main treatment for TS. Relationships between TS medication therapy and psychiatric comorbidities remain unclear. This study explored the impacts of TS medication on the risk of psychiatric comorbidities using a nationally representative sample of TS in Taiwan.MethodsData from National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan was used to identify 997,213 children and adolescents aged 6–18 years who had received a diagnosis of TS based on ICD-9-CM codes in 2000–2010. Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted to estimate the risk of comorbidities among subjects with and without tic medication therapy.ResultsWe found that in TS patients, a lower risk of psychiatric comorbidities occurred in the tic medication therapy group (p = 0.012) and the crude hazard ratio (HR) was 0.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.4–0.8, p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders of gender, age, income, level of care, department visited, brain injury, and the number of suicide attempts, the risk of comorbidities was still significantly lower in the tic medication therapy group (adjusted HR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3–0.6, p < 0.001).DiscussionOne limitation was that we did not include all mediations used to treat psychiatric comorbidities among TS patients. This study found the effectiveness of TS medications on improving psychiatric comorbidities.ConclusionsCompared to those without medication, medication therapy appears to have a benefit of decreasing the risk of psychiatric comorbidities. Strategies to improve medication regimens should be considered in clinical settings.     

现行论文作者署名制度存在的问题及对策建议

【目的】 梳理归纳现行论文作者署名制度存在的主要问题并提出相应的对策。【方法】 采用网络调查法、文献调研法,从科技期刊、科研管理机构、资助机构及研究人员等视角对现行论文作者署名制度进行分析。【结果】 作者署名制度存在作者身份标准缺乏统一性、作者贡献揭示程度低、未能涵盖所有的贡献角色等问题,可以从建立通用的作者身份标准、采用CRediT贡献分类法、与ORCID建立关联、建立健全科研评价指标体系四个方面进行补充完善。【结论】 提高作者贡献的透明性和可获取性,为研究人员的职称评定、绩效考核、项目申请等提供基于具体贡献的评价指标。     

Validity of SMART-COP score in prognosis and severity of community acquired pneumonia in the emergency department

BackgroundDetermining prognosis in community acquired pneumonia (CAP), is very important. Many scores are introduced up to now for prediction of pneumonia prognosis like SMART-COP.ObjectiveTo evaluate validity of SMART-COP score in prognosis and severity of CAP in emergency department (ED).MethodsAll patients older than 18 years old with clinical suspicion of CAP (meeting the inclusion criteria), were enrolled in our study. In this prospective study, patients were admitted to the ED of a tertiary referral center. Hospital length of stay, rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mortality rate, number of intensive respiratory or vasopressor support (IRVS) use, patients' SMART-COP scores and all demographic data were recorded. Validity of SMART-COP in the prediction of IRVS rate and its correlation with other variables were determined.ResultsIn this study, 47.6% and 52.4% of patients were females and males respectively. The mean age of patients was 68.13 ± 16.60 years old. The mean hospital length of stay was 13.49 ± 5.62 days. Of all patients entered in our study, 55 cases (38.5%) needed ICU admission, 29 cases (20.3%) were expired within 1 month and 44 cases (30.8%) needed IRVS during their treatment. SMART-COP ≥5 (high risk CAP) accurately predicted the rate of ICU admission, one-month mortality and IRVS need (p-value = 0.001).ConclusionsSMART-COP≥5 had a high sensitivity and specificity in the prediction of patients' prognosis with severe CAP in the ED.     

Severe Obesity Increases Risk of Infection After Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty

BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of obesity has resulted in an increased number of revision total hip arthroplasties (rTHAs) performed in patients with a high body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study is to evaluate whether obesity negatively affects (1) complication rate, (2) reoperation and revision rate, and (3) patient-reported outcome in rTHA.MethodsIn this registry-based study, we prospectively followed 444 rTHAs (cup: n = 265, stem: n = 57, both: n = 122) performed in a specialized high-volume orthopedic center between 2013 and 2015. The number of complications, and reoperation and revision surgery was registered until 5 years postoperatively. Oxford Hip Score (OHS) was evaluated preoperatively, and at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Patients were categorized based on BMI to nonobese (<30 kg/m², n = 328), obese (30-35 kg/m², n = 82), and severe obese (≥35 kg/m², n = 34).ResultsSevere obese patients, but not obese patients, had higher risks of complications and re-revision than nonobese patients. In particular, the risk of infection following rTHA was higher in severe obese patients (24%) compared to nonobese patients (3%; relative risk, 7.7). Severe obese patients had overall poorer OHS than nonobese patients, but improvement in OHS did not differ between severe obese and nonobese patients. No differences between obese and nonobese groups on OHS were observed.ConclusionIn our study, severe obesity was associated with an increased risk of infection following rTHA. Patients with high BMI should be counseled appropriately before surgery.     

Activity spaces in studies of the environment and physical activity: A review and synthesis of implications for causality

Activity spaces are increasingly used to understand how people interact with their environment and engage in activity but their use may raise challenges regarding causal inference. We conducted a systematic review of findings and the methodological, analytical and conceptual issues relevant to causal inference. Studies were included if they comprised a spatial summary of locations visited, assessed any part of the causal pathway between the environment, physical activity and health, and used quantitative or qualitative methods. We searched seven electronic databases in January 2018 and screened 11910 articles for eligibility. Forty-seven studies were included for review. Studies answered research questions about features of or environmental features within activity spaces using a range of spatial and temporal summary techniques. The conceptual challenge of using activity spaces to strengthen causal inference was rarely considered, although some studies discussed circularity, temporality, and plausibility. Future studies should use longitudinal and experimental designs and consider the potential and actual use of spaces for physical activity, and their relationship with total levels of activity.     

他汀类药物在直肠癌新辅助放化疗中的研究进展

对于局部晚期直肠癌术前新辅助放化疗后行TME手术是目前规范的治疗方法。近年来国外多项研究表明他汀类药物在抗肿瘤方面具有一定积极作用,我们从机制和临床应用方面综述如下。