Methodological Quality Assessment of Meta-analyses and Systematic Reviews of the Relationship Between Periodontal and Systemic Diseases

ObjectivesThe aims of this article are to identify all the published systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) that studied the relationship between periodontal and systemic diseases and to assess their quality using 2 scales (the Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire [OQAQ] and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews [AMSTAR] checklist).MethodsFor SRs and MAs to be included, they should have investigated one of the following systemic diseases: pulmonary conditions, cardiac conditions, endocrine conditions, cancer, blood disorders, psychological conditions, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and several other diseases. Two investigators screened MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The tools used to evaluate quality were the AMSTAR scale and OQAQ. The protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018102208).ResultsThe search strategy found 691 unique articles, 42 of which met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Diabetes mellitus was the most investigated disease (14 out of 42 studies), followed by obesity (11 studies) and cardiovascular diseases (5 studies). A total of 40 reviews reported on the characteristics of included studies, and, as per the AMSTAR scale, 39 reviews had an a priori design. The number of reviews that fulfilled the status of publication criterion was the lowest (7 reviews only), followed by the number used in the assessment of publication bias (11 reviews). The number of high-quality reviews was higher with the OQAQ than with the AMSTAR checklist (33 vs 25 studies), but the AMSTAR showed a higher number of medium-quality reviews than the OQAQ (14 vs 6 studies). Both showed the same number of low-quality reviews.ConclusionsHigh-quality SRs and MAs are crucial to understanding the relationship between systemic and periodontal diseases. Medical practitioners must be able to inform patients about oral health and specific periodontal health concerns.     

产前血型IgG抗体水平的检测及其临床意义

目的探讨ABO血型不合孕妇的产前IgG抗体水平,了解IgG抗体效价异常在孕妇中所占比率及临床意义,为预防及诊治新生儿溶血病（HDN）采取有效的防治措施。方法用抗人球蛋白试管凝集法进行IgG抗A或抗B的ABO血型抗体效价检测。结果910例孕妇中,血清效价大于64者有108例,异常检出率为11.9%。IgG抗A效价大于64者有64例,检测率为11.8%;检测IgG抗B效价大于64者有54例,检测率为14.1%。讨论妊娠中IgG抗体效价与新生儿溶血密切相关,ABO血型不合的孕妇应及时作产前血清学的检测,可预防新生儿溶血病的发生及减轻胎儿受害的程度。     

Osteotomy around the knee: Assessment of quality,content and readability of online information

BackgroundAs knee osteotomy surgery becomes increasingly accessible, more patients may turn to the Internet for information. This study examined the source, quality, content and readability of online information regarding osteotomy around the knee.MethodsThe first 70 websites returned by the top four search engines were identified using the key words: “knee osteotomy” and “high tibial osteotomy.” The websites were categorised by type and assessed using the DISCERN score, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria and a novel Knee Osteotomy-Specific Score (KOSS). The presence of the Health On the Net (HON) code accreditation seal was noted. Readability of each website was assessed using eight readability formulae. The mean reading grade level (RGL) was compared to the 6th and 8th grade reading levels. The mean RGL of each category was also compared.ResultsOf the 45 unique websites analysed, the majority were Physician (33%) and Journal websites (31%). The mean DISCERN score was 36.7 (±8.9) which is classified as ‘poor.’ The mean JAMA benchmark criteria score was 2.04 (±1.5) and Physician websites were most likely to be scored zero. The mean KOSS was 15.4 (±5.7). The highest scoring website was a Commercial site but, overall, Journal category sites provided the best quality information. Websites that bore the HONcode seal obtained higher DISCERN, JAMA benchmark criteria and Knee Osteotomy - Specific Scores.The cumulative mean RGL was 13.2 (±2.2) which exceeded the 6th grade level by an average of 7.2 grade levels and the 8th grade level by an average of 5.2 grade levels. No website (0%) was written at or below either the 6th or the 8th grade reading levels. The mean Flesch Reading Ease Score of all websites was 41.13 (±14.7) which is classified as ‘difficult.’ Journal websites had the highest RGL.ConclusionThe information available online regarding osteotomy around the knee varies tremendously in quality and completeness. Physician sites predominate, but these were among the lowest scoring of all websites. Even where high quality information is available, it is set at too high a level to be easily understood.Level of evidenceSurvey of materials – Internet.     

Inhaled lodoxamide tromethamine in the treatment of perennial asthma: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

The efficacy of lodoxamide tromethamine in the treatment of asthma was studied in a 16-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 68 perennial allergic subjects with asthma. Patients received either lodoxamide tromethamine, 0.25 mg four times daily, or placebo, administered by metered-dose inhaler. Response to treatment was assessed by analyzing changes in asthma symptoms, inhaled bronchodilator requirements, and pulmonary function when compared to a 2-week baseline period. Patients treated with lodoxamide tromethamine demonstrated an improvement in daytime breathing difficulty, cough, sputum production, and sleep (p less than 0.01 to 0.05), but improvement was not significantly different from that demonstrated by placebo-treated patients. Patients from both treatment groups were able to reduce their inhaled bronchodilators (p less than 0.01), but again no significant difference was apparent between lodoxamide tromethamine and placebo treatment, nor were there any differences in peak expiratory flow rate or FEV1 between the two groups. Seven patients who received lodoxamide tromethamine withdrew because of a sensation of heat and gastrointestinal symptoms. Thus, although lodoxamide tromethamine possesses potent mast cell-stabilizing activity in vitro, we have failed to demonstrate any useful long-term effect in the treatment of mild allergic asthma.     

Endocrine toxicology: A Review of the application of endocrinology in experimental toxicology

In the past endocrine toxicology has not been a common subject in routine toxicity studies. However, since the endocrine system is an important integrating system of the body, controlling the major physiological functions, it is important to investigate the mechanism of action of exogenous compounds in endocrine target organs or hormonal target cells. The following procedure is suggested to detect effects on the endocrine system in routine toxicity experiments: (1) determination of the weight of endocrine organs and histology as screening parameters; (2) determination of circulating hormones in combination with morphological or immunocytochemical methods: (3) specific function tests and in vitro methods to determine dysfunction of specific endocrine organs or cells. That the use of such an approach has provided insight into the mechanism of action of chemical compounds will be demonstrated by results of endocrine toxicity studies with the antibiotic compound sulphadimidine, interfering with thyroid hormone synthesis as a secondary mechanism leading to thyroid tumour formation, the androgenic compound trenbolone acetate, used for growth promotion, for which the disturbance of the gonadal function formed the basis for the establishment of the no-observed-hormonal-effect level, the antibacterial compound furazolidone, suspected of having an oestrogenic activity which was hypothesized as the underlying mechanism for the observed mammary tumour formation, and the antimicrobial agent carbadox, used as feed additive for pigs, for which the interference with adrenal function, resulted in a severe disturbance of the water and salt balance in target animals. Originally presented at ECCP 93.     

基于几何活动轮廓的神经元干细胞序列图像的自动分割

一个快速稳定的分割系统是研究神经元干细胞变化的基础，为完善此系统，针对多连接边缘模糊的细胞分割提取问题，根据曲线进化原理，我们提出了一种基于水平集方法的改进的几何活动轮廓算法。此算法能自动解决图像的拓扑变化，并能获得更加真实的细胞轮廓边缘。将此方法应用于神经元干细胞的序列图像分割，实验结果证明了此算法的有效性与准确性。     

血浆内皮素与降钙素基因相关肽改变在高血压病中的意义

用特异性放射免疫分析法测定50例原发性高血压（EH）患者和32名正常人的血浆内皮素（ET）和降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）水平，结果显示：EH患者ET的水平明显高于对照组，且有左室重塑组明显高于无左室重塑组。EH患者的CGRP水平明显低于对照组，有左室重塑组明显低于无左室重塑组。ET／ＣＧＲP比值越大，病情越重，预后越差。提示：循环血中ET增高，CGRP含量不足可能是EH发病及导致左室重塑的重要因素之一。     

“一院两区”医疗质量管理信息平台的研制与应用

医疗质量同质化是“一院多区”医院管理工作中的难点。同济大学附属东方医院通过搭建“一院两区”医疗质量管理信息平台,充分借助信息化手段,实现医疗质量管理委员会、医疗质量管理部门、临床科室三级联动的闭环管理模式,助力提升院区间医疗质量同质化水平。     

贵州省肺结核病医疗保障现状调查分析

目的 调查贵州省结核病（TB）定点医院肺结核诊疗费用在不同医疗保障政策中的报销情况,为贵州省进一步完善TB医疗保障政策提供依据。方法 采用统一设计的调查表,对贵州省97家TB定点医院2020年肺结核诊疗费用在四种不同医疗保障政策中的报销情况进行调查,分析起付线、报销比例、封顶额等。结果 全省97家TB定点医院,门诊实施单病种包干政策的比例为38.14%（37/97）;在城镇居民基本医疗保险(URBMI)、新型农村合作医疗保险（UCMS）、城乡居民基本医疗保险（城乡居）和城镇职工基本医疗保险(UEBMI)四种医疗保障政策中,门诊报销比例依次为92.86%（26/28）、100%（28/28）、81.16%（56/69）、36.08%（35/97）;门诊报销比例中位数依次为50%（P25:50%,P75:57.50%）、55%（P25:50%,P75:100%）、75%（P25:45%,P75:100%）、0（P25:0,P75:72.50%）;URBMI、UCMS、城乡居住院报销比例的中位数均为80%（P25:75%,P75:80%）,UEBMI为85%（P25:80%,P75:90%）。医疗救助覆盖率为50.56%。结论 贵州省目前的医疗保险体系对TB的医疗费用保障水平相对有限,基本医疗保障政策对肺结核门诊诊疗费用报销覆盖面较窄,报销比例和封顶额相对较低,肺结核患者的经济负担仍较重,建议将TB纳入门诊统筹病种,切实提高TB患者医疗保障水平。