Learning social determinants of health through a home visiting course in the clinical years

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a new experience-based educational program aiming to teach social determinants of health (SDH) and health disparities, through a post-discharge home-visit conducted with patients recruited in hospital.Methods105 clinical-year students visited 177 patients living in disadvantaged circumstances. Their home-visit reports were analyzed employing mixed methodology. Content analysis was conducted for classifying issues raised by students, and quantitative analysis to compare reports by level of elaboration, gender and class.ResultsFifteen taxonomy items were identified. Social support and patients' medical conditions were most prevalent, followed by personal-related and community-related issues. Analysis demonstrated students' understanding of the relationship between SDH and patient health, and challenges patients face following discharge. Women and mixed couples provided more elaborate reports, which contained significantly greater critique of medical care.ConclusionsMeeting patients both in hospital and at home enhanced awareness of SDH. Students learned to view the patient comprehensively, and to understand the diverse factors affecting their health. Students, who had essentially sole responsibility for the home-visit, successfully integrated their skills to take action when needed.Practice implicationsThe ETGAR experience provided a means for effective learning about how social determinants impact on health.     

Application of the adverse outcome pathway framework to genotoxic modes of action

In May 2017, the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute's Genetic Toxicology Technical Committee hosted a workshop to discuss whether mode of action (MOA) investigation is enhanced through the application of the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework. As AOPs are a relatively new approach in genetic toxicology, this report describes how AOPs could be harnessed to advance MOA analysis of genotoxicity pathways using five example case studies. Each of these genetic toxicology AOPs proposed for further development includes the relevant molecular initiating events, key events, and adverse outcomes (AOs), identification and/or further development of the appropriate assays to link an agent to these events, and discussion regarding the biological plausibility of the proposed AOP. A key difference between these proposed genetic toxicology AOPs versus traditional AOPs is that the AO is a genetic toxicology endpoint of potential significance in risk characterization, in contrast to an adverse state of an organism or a population. The first two detailed case studies describe provisional AOPs for aurora kinase inhibition and tubulin binding, leading to the common AO of aneuploidy. The remaining three case studies highlight provisional AOPs that lead to chromosome breakage or mutation via indirect DNA interaction (inhibition of topoisomerase II, production of cellular reactive oxygen species, and inhibition of DNA synthesis). These case studies serve as starting points for genotoxicity AOPs that could ultimately be published and utilized by the broader toxicology community and illustrate the practical considerations and evidence required to formalize such AOPs so that they may be applied to genetic toxicity evaluation schemes. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:114–134, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effectiveness of a nurse-led multidisciplinary self-management program for patients with coronary heart disease in communities: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led multidisciplinary self-management program (NMSP) on self-management behaviors, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and unplanned health service utilization (HSU) among Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in communities.MethodsA randomized controlled trial with repeated measurements was used. A convenience sample of 144 participants was recruited from a community health center in China. All participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 72) in the newly developed NMSP or a control group (n = 72) in routine care. Outcome measurement was performed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months using Coronary Artery Disease Self-Management Scale (CADSs), Self-efficacy for Chronic Disease 6-item Scale (SECD6), and Short Form-12 health survey questionnaire (SF-12).ResultsOver the six months, the two groups reported significant differences in disease medical and emotional management of CADSs, confidence in symptom and disease management of SECD6, physical and mental component summary of SF-12, as well as emergency and outpatient visits of unplanned HSU.ConclusionsThe NMSP improves self-management behaviors, self-efficacy, HRQoL and reduces unplanned HSU among CHD patients in communities.Practice implicationsThis study provides an effective approach to empower CHD patients with emphasizing on collaboration support of health professionals in communities.     

German pathologist Walter Büngeler (1900–1987)—Nazi victim or political influencer in Brazil?

One of the most wellknown German pathologists of the twentieth century, Walter Büngeler became internationally known for his elemental research on leukemia and the pathology of tumors. In 1936, Büngeler left Nazi Germany for Brazil, but returned to Germany in 1942. After the war ended in 1945, Büngeler portrayed himself as a political victim who had been expelled first by the National Socialists and later by the Brazilian government, and in fact, he was able to successfully perpetuate this image and emerged unscathed from his de-Nazification procedure, continuing on to a successful university career with stations in Kiel and Munich as both professor and dean, as well as a term as DGP president. Up until very recently, Büngeler was portrayed in literature as a victim and critic of Nazism.Does this self-portrayal stand up to a critical examination of the facts? It is precisely this question that is the focus of this article. The analysis draws upon primary sources; namely, Büngeler’s own claims from a curriculum vitae filled out in 1943 as well as his de-Nazification file from the post-war period.This article exposes significant contradictions between these two sources. The statements Büngeler made in his de-Nazification file can be verified as false in all relevant aspects. Nevertheless, Büngeler managed to create a wide-reaching and successful version of himself; a picture which persisted until only very recently.     

基于网络药理学的黄芪抗心力衰竭作用机制

目的 基于网络药理学研究黄芪抗心力衰竭的作用机制。方法 采用活性成分筛选与靶点预测技术,结合生物信息学手段,预测黄芪抗心力衰竭的潜在作用靶点,并进行信号通路分析,从而探讨其治疗心力衰竭的分子机制。结果 在TCMSP数据中搜索筛选得到20个相应黄芪化学成分,同时利用靶点预测技术共筛选出相关靶点121个。同时在疾病基因数据库检索得到10 962个与心力衰竭发生、发展有关的已知靶点基因,利用string数据库和Cytoscape软件中的网络拓扑分析共筛选获取关键靶点8个。GO富集分析显示,黄芪可通过参与细胞能量代谢、血管内环境变化、神经活性配受体作用、激素活性等10个生物功能的PI3K/AKT、p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(p38MAPK)和MAPK/NF-κB等10条关键信号通路发挥抗心力衰竭的作用。结论 中药黄芪抗心力衰竭的作用具有多成分、多靶点、协同作用的特点。     

基于小波能量谱的先天或风湿性心脏病异常心音分类算法研究

目的为解决先天性心脏病或风湿性心脏病异常心音分辨问题,应用离散小波频带能量对异常心音分类算法进行研究。方法采集22人的正常心音和116人的异常心音,对心音信号做离散小波变换,根据病理性心杂音在频域内的分布范围划分5层频带,计算得到各层频带的能量占比,根据单因素方差分析方法,提出了基于小波能量谱的心音分类指标。结果对正常心音和异常心音的4个听诊区域进行了分类,最优分类准确率为92%。区分动脉导管未闭和其余异常心音的最优分类准确率为81.9%。结论基于小波能量谱的心音分类算法无需对心音信号进行分割,提取特征值少,可准确有效地对心音信号进行分类,相较于传统的心音听诊,算法的引入能够在异常心音临床诊断中提供参考数据。     

以胸大肌肱骨止点确定肱骨假体高度的临床体会

目的探讨胸大肌肌腱肱骨止点(pectoralismajor tendon,PMT)上缘作为半肩置换术中假体高度定位参考的临床应用。方法2014年1月至2014年12月间行切开解剖复位钢板内固定的肱骨近端骨折病例12例,男4例,女8例;年龄56~72岁,平均(65.3±5.2)岁。测量PMT上缘到肱骨头最高点的平均距离为(5.21±0.42)cm。2015年1月至2018年12月的38例老年严重肱骨近端骨折行半肩置换的患者,参照PMT上缘到肱骨头最高点的距离5.2 cm确定肱骨假体高度,男7例,女31例;年龄60~82岁,平均(72.0±6.5)岁。术后3个月拍摄双侧肱骨全长X线片并测量长度,比较双侧差异是否有统计学意义。根据对侧肱骨长度(humeruslength,HL),采用HL×0.176计算PMT到肱骨头最高点距离,与(5.21±0.42)cm比较差异是否有统计学意义。结果所有患者均随访3个月,半肩置换侧肱骨全长与对侧肱骨全长分别为(32.41±2.47)cm、(31.93±2.82)cm,比较差异无统计学意义。根据对侧HL×0.176计算PMT到肱骨头最高点距离为(5.61±2.82)cm,与(5.21±0.42)cm比较差异无统计学意义。结论PMT可以作为肱骨假体高度的可靠参照,PMT上缘到肱骨头最高点距离为(5.21±0.42)cm,可以作为参考数值之一。     

“双一流”背景下高校理工类中文综合性期刊的发展定位与策略

【目的】 研究高校主办的理工类综合性中文学报在建设“双一流”高校和培育世界一流科技期刊双重背景下的发展定位与策略。【方法】 利用中国知网数据库,统计42所“一流大学”建设高校主办的中文理工类综合性学报近10年(2009—2018年)发文特征与学校建设的“一流学科”之间的相关性。【结果】 “一流大学”建设高校的理工类综合性中文学报学术影响力整体较强,但在“双一流”建设背景下,学报与“双一流”建设的相关性差异较大;针对“一流大学”建设高校的学科优势,提出高校理工类综合性中文学报应该采取增大发文量、调整发文方向和转型为专业刊3种策略。【结论】 培育世界一流科技期刊对高校中文理工类综合性学报提出更高要求,未来高校中文理工类综合性学报的发展定位是培养科研新人、培育新兴学科与交叉学科和服务国家重大发展战略。