Risk communication in a patient decision aid for radiotherapy in breast cancer: How to deal with uncertainty?

Background and aimPatient decision aids for oncological treatment options, provide information on the effect on recurrence rates and/or survival benefit, and on side-effects and/or burden of different treatment options. However, often uncertainty exists around the probability estimates for recurrence/survival and side-effects which is too relevant to be ignored. Evidence is lacking on the best way to communicate these uncertainties. The aim of this study is to develop a method to incorporate uncertainties in a patient decision aid for breast cancer patients to support their decision on radiotherapy.MethodsFirstly, qualitative interviews were held with patients and health care professionals. Secondly, in the development phase, thinking aloud sessions were organized with four patients and 12 health care professionals, individual and group-wise.ResultsConsensus was reached on a pictograph illustrating the whole range of uncertainty for local recurrence risks, in combination with textual explanation that a more exact personalized risk would be given by their own physician. The pictograph consisted of 100 female icons in a 10 x 10 array. Icons with a stepwise gradient color indicated the uncertainty margin. The prevalence and severity of possible side-effects were explained using verbal labels.ConclusionsWe developed a novel way of visualizing uncertainties in recurrence rates in a patient decision aid. The effect of this way of communicating risk uncertainty is currently being tested in the BRASA study (NCT03375801).     

血清β-Amyloid水平在膝骨关节炎发生评估中的应用价值

目的：探讨膝骨关节炎（KOA）患者血清中β-Amyloid水平与KOA发生及预后的相关性。方法：从温州医科大学附属第二医院育英儿童医院住院患者中选取56例经全膝关节置换或膝关节镜手术治疗的KOA患者为试验组和25 例非KOA患者为对照组。试验组根据X线Kellgren-Lawrence（K-L）分级方法分级，同时收集手术患者术前术后血清标本，采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA)测定血清β-Amyloid水平后，绘制受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线评价血清β-Amyloid对KOA的预测价值，采用Spearman秩相关分析患者血清β-Amyloid水平与KOA的相关性，应用Pearson相关性分析患者手术前后血清β-Amyloid变化值与患者住院时间的相关性。结果：试验组患者血清β-Amyloid水平高于对照组（P ＜0.001）；Logistic回归分析显示β-Amyloid是KOA患病的危险因素（OR =15.122，P ＜0.05)；ROC曲线分析显示，β-Amyloid cut off值等 于0.770，曲线下面积（AUC）为0.752，95%CI =0.636～0.867，敏感度85.5%，特异度60.0%；K-L2组患者血清β-Amyloid低于K-L3/4组患者（P =0.041）；β-Amyloid的表达与KOA严重程度分级呈显著正相关（r =0.332，P =0.013）；术前KOA患者血清β-Amyloid水平高于术后（P =0.002），KOA患者手术前后血清β-Amyloid变化 值与患者住院时间呈显著负相关（r =-0.949，P ＜ 0.001）。结论：β-Amyloid是KOA患病的危险因素，血清β-Amyloid水平可能成为一种潜在的评估KOA发生及预后的生物标志物。     

The role of protein intake in the relationship between egg consumption and body composition in young adults. A mediation analysis

Background & aimsTo date, the literature examining the effects of whole-egg consumption on health outcomes focuses primarily on cardiovascular health markers; however, a significant gap exists in the literature about how egg consumption may influence body composition indicators. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between egg consumption and body composition indicators and to examine whether this relationship is mediated by protein intake in young adults.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted involving 355 first-year university students (aged 18–30 years) from a Spanish public university. Body composition was measured using bioimpedance and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and fitness components were determined using the course-navette test. Egg consumption and protein intake (both in g/day/kg of body weight) were determined using a 137-item Food-Frequency Questionnaire. ANCOVA models were used to test the mean differences in body composition indicators (body mass index [BMI], ratio waist circumference/height [WC/height], body fat mass percentage, and body lean mass percentage) by egg consumption categories (<1 egg/week, 1–4 eggs/week, ≥5 eggs/week). Hayes's PROCESS macro was used for mediation analyses.ResultsParticipants reporting high egg consumption (≥5 eggs/week) showed significantly lower BMI, WC/height and body fat mass percentage values and higher body lean mass percentage values than those reporting low egg consumption (<1 egg/week) (p < 0.05). However, these relationships were not maintained after adjusting for protein intake. Protein intake acted as a full mediator of the relationships of egg consumption with BMI (indirect effect [IE] = ?1.19; 95% CI [?3.33; ?0.36]), WC/height (IE = ?0.01; 95% CI [?0.04; ?0.01]) and body lean mass percentage (IE = 2.99; 95% CI [1.26; 5.73]) as a partial mediator of the relationship be-tween egg consumption and body fat mass percentage (IE = ?2.19; 95% CI [?4.92; ?0.46]).ConclusionsThe association between egg consumption and body composition is mediated by protein intake. This finding is important from a public health perspective, suggesting that higher egg consumption (≥5 eggs/week) may lead to a healthier body composition, especially due to higher protein intake.     

CalliSpheres载药微球TACE联合微波消融治疗原发性大肝癌疗效评价

目的探讨CalliSpheres载药微球经导管肝动脉化疗栓塞术(TACE)联合微波消融治疗原发性大肝癌的临床疗效。方法23例直径5~10cm原发性肝癌患者施行了CalliSpheres载药微球TACE联合微波消融治疗。术后1、3、6、9、12个月及以后每3个月采用肝脏增强MRI随访。结果23例患者共行33次CalliSpheres载药微球TACE联合微波消融治疗,无肝脓肿、胆脂瘤等并发症发生。23例患者随访3~22(平均9.2±3.9)个月,术后1、3、6、9、12和15个月客观缓解率分别为86.9%、87%、93.8%、77.0%、63.6%、57.2%,疾病控制率分别为100.0%、95.7%、93.8%、92.3%、81.8%、85.7%。术后3、6、9、12和15个月生存率分别为100%、93.8%、84.6%、81.8%、71.4%。结论CalliSpheres载药微球TACE联合微波消融治疗原发性大肝癌安全可靠,近中期疗效较好。     

Exuberant case of verrucous cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis represents a public health problem that affects 85 countries. It is an endemic disease in Brazil, having an important socioeconomic impact. An exuberant case of cutaneous leishmaniasis is reported herein. A 28-year-old male patient with Down syndrome had had verrucous plaques on the back for over a year, with progressive growth. PCR of a lesion sample was positive for Leishmania braziliensis. The patient's condition was classified as atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis. He was successfully treated with amphotericin B and miltefosine. The treatment remains a challenge, given the toxicity and low cure rate of the currently recommended drugs.     

结核特异性抗原与CD4+T细胞计数比值对AIDS合并肺结核的辅助诊断价值

目的:评价结核特异性抗原(TBAg)与CD4⁺T淋巴细胞(简称“CD4”)计数的比值(TBAg/CD4)对AIDS合并活动性肺结核(PTB)的辅助诊断价值。方法:采用前瞻性研究的方法,参照入组标准纳入2018年1月至2020年12月苏州市第五人民医院收治的262例疑似活动性PTB的AIDS患者,并将患者分为AIDS+PTB组(152例)和AIDS组(110例)。采集患者入院次日清晨静脉血进行干扰素体外释放酶联免疫法(TB-IGRA)、血常规、CD4检测,比较两组间TBAg水平和TBAg/CD4比值的差异。以临床诊断为参考标准,评价TB-IGRA检测AIDS合并PTB的效能,并以受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)下面积(AUC)确定诊断效能最佳的检测指标。结果:以临床诊断为参考标准,TB-IGRA检测AIDS合并活动性PTB的敏感度和特异度分别为53.95%(82/152)和75.45%(83/110)。TB-IGRA检测AIDS+PTB组的TBAg、TBAg/CD4水平[分别为92.51(-68.20,906.10)pg/ml和1.01(0.00,10.12)]均明显高于AIDS组[分别为85.20(-33.80,801.30)pg/ml和0.11(0.00,2.07)],对照培养管抗原浓度[529.50(12.50,1160.50)pg/ml]明显低于AIDS组[694.50(29.90,990.00)pg/ml],差异均有统计学意义(Z=-3.481、-9.557、3.289,P值均<0.001)。ROC曲线分析显示,对照培养管抗原浓度、TBAg、TBAg/CD4对诊断AIDS合并活动性PTB的AUC值分别为0.718、0.637和0.842;当TBAg/CD4的临界值为0.592时,约登指数最大,其敏感度为88.10%,特异度为77.10%。结论:相较于AIDS患者,AIDS合并PTB患者的TBAg和TBAg/CD4水平均明显升高,尤以TBAg/CD4诊断价值高,结合患者免疫状态的影响,认为TBAg/CD4对AIDS合并PTB患者具有一定辅助诊断价值。     

新型冠状病毒(2019-nCoV)感染的肺炎的影像学检查与感染防控的工作方案

2019新型冠状病毒(2019 novel coronavirus,2019-nCoV)感染的肺炎,自2019年12月发现以来,目前正呈蔓延之势,疫情就是命令,防控就是责任。为进一步做好2019-nCoV感染的肺炎的预防与控制工作,有效预防交叉感染,保护患者和医务人员,笔者结合相关重要国家文件、国家标准和参考文献以及本单位在防控新型冠状病毒(2019-nCoV)感染的肺炎工作中的体会,制定了新型冠状病毒(2019-nCoV)感染的肺炎的影像学检查与感染防控的工作方案,本研究重点介绍影像学检查的质控方案,包括影像学检查技术和CT诊断要点;以及感染防控的质控方案,包括科室环境和布局防控要求,登记人员、技师、医师和护师岗位防控要求,设备和环境防控要求,"感染防控防护级别"和"医务人员穿脱防护用品流程"两个附录。