Day case ankle arthroplasty: are they safe and cost effective? A single-centre case-control study

BackgroundMost patients who have an ankle replacement in the United Kingdom stay in hospital for 2–4 days. This study looked at the safety & cost-effectiveness of a day case ankle replacement pathway.MethodsThis was a retrospective case-control study looking at day case pathway for ankle replacements set up in collaboration with anaesthetists, nurses and physiotherapists. Patients practiced mobilization with crutches before surgery. Patients were discharged home with enough analgesia, and reviewed within 2–5 days of discharge.ResultsTwenty ankle replacements done between November 2017 and November 2019 were reviewed with a mean follow up of 38.4 months. None of these patients required to be readmitted within the first 28 days. No complications were related to the surgery being done as day case. Except one, all patients described the experience as excellent or good.ConclusionPer case the cost savings are estimated to be £880 in comparison to 20 matched inpatient ankle replacements. We conclude that ankle replacements can be safely carried out as day case with appropriate patient selection, pre-operative education and a multi-disciplinary approach.     

Outcomes of Incidental Lung Nodules With Structured Recommendations and Electronic Tracking

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of structured recommendations on follow-up completion for incidental lung nodules (ILNs).MethodsPatients with ILNs before and after implementation of structured Fleischner recommendations and electronic tracking were sampled randomly. The cohorts were compared for imaging follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess appropriate follow-up and loss to follow-up, with independent variables including use of structured recommendations or tracking, age, sex, race, ethnicity, setting of the index test (inpatient, outpatient, emergency department), smoking history, and nodule features.ResultsIn all, 1,301 patients met final inclusion criteria, including 255 patients before and 1,046 patients after structured recommendations or tracking. Baseline differences were found in the pre- and postintervention groups, with smaller ILNs and younger age after implementing structured recommendations. Comparing pre- versus postintervention outcomes, 40.0% (100 of 250) versus 29.5% (309 of 1,046) of patients had no follow-up despite Fleischner indications for imaging (P = .002), and among the remaining patients, 56.6% (82 of 145) versus 75.0% (553 of 737) followed up on time (P < .001). Delayed follow-up was more frequent before intervention. Differences postintervention were mostly accounted for by nodules ≤8 mm in the outpatient setting (P < .001). In multivariable analysis, younger age, White race, outpatient setting, and larger nodule size showed significant association with appropriate follow-up completion (P < .015), but structured recommendations did not. Similar results applied for loss to follow-up.DiscussionConsistent use of structured reporting is likely key to mitigate selection bias when benchmarking rates of appropriate follow-up of ILN. Emergency department patients and inpatients are at high risk of missed or delayed follow-up despite structured recommendations.     

Active learning in head and neck trauma: outcomes after an innovative educational course

Excellence in teaching and learning is fundamental to the provision of quality training for doctors and for this a sound knowledge of the principles of adult learning theory is important. We present an educational course in head and neck trauma skills for emergency medicine (EM) registrars, using the pedagogical principle of active learning. Our aim was to provide trainees with skills in the evaluation and management of hard and soft tissue injuries to the head, neck, and mouth. Active learning has been shown to provide a superior experience in classrooms, creating a ‘deep’ understanding of the material. To maximise learning, we used these principles to develop small group seminars led by a diverse range of teachers that allowed trainees to acquire hands-on skills. Questionnaires that were completed before and after the course showed an appreciable educational impact. We conclude that innovative teaching methods facilitate the sharing of knowledge that will benefit patient care.     

活态中医药传统知识数据库的构建与应用意义＊

目的 国家印发《关于促进中医药传承创新发展的意见》指出要依托现有资源建设国家和省级中医药数据中心，以信息化支撑中医药服务体系建设。本文提出活态中医药传统知识数据库的构建思路和具体实施，为推动中医药知识信息化和推广中医药保护提供参考。方法 主要采用文献分析法了解国外数据库进展，梳理国内中医药数据库运行经验，剖析活态中医药传统知识数据库的建设和运行的实际问题，明确数据库建设思路与意义。结果 国家利用资源建立中医药传统知识保护数据库，信息化在知识的保护和传承创新方面发挥一定的作用，但世界上许多传统知识较为丰富的国家和地区，如印度、韩国等已经走在在传统知识数据保护的前列，我国数据库建设和应用仍需要研究、探索和改善，中医药传统知识的保护和分类建设亟需加强，数据信息挖掘与共享合作等规范需要确立。结论 国家高度重视中医药的传承与发展，要以信息化支撑中医药传统知识体系建设，活态中医药传统知识数据库系统帮助数据信息收集整理的同时，也对中医药传统知识的专家人才队伍和技术标准化体系建设有积极作用，以及将来中医药行业规范化建设形成坚实的数据基础。     

Out of the boxes,out of the silos: The need of interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce poor-quality medical products in the supply chain

In this paper, we argue that understanding and addressing the problem of poor-quality medical products requires a more interdisciplinary approach than has been evident to date. While prospective studies based on rigorous standardized methodologies are the gold standard for measuring the prevalence of poor-quality medical products and understanding their distribution nationally and internationally, they should be complemented by social science research to unpack the complex set of social, economic, and governance factors that underlie these patterns. In the following sections, we discuss specific examples of prospective quality surveys and of social science studies, highlighting the value of cross-sector partnerships in driving high-quality, policy-relevant research in this area.     

Pentobarbital overdose: A case of contract killing

Suicides by pentobarbital overdose have increased since about 2012, which appear to be influenced by technical information on active euthanasia that has spread over the Internet. We encountered a pentobarbital poisoning case of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A caregiver found the patient unconscious immediately after two visitors left the room. The patient was immediately transferred to the emergency hospital but eventually declared dead. A fatal concentration of pentobarbital was detected in peripheral blood samples collected in the emergency hospital and during autopsy (53.8 μg/mL and 29.4 μg/mL, respectively). Because the ratios of pentobarbital concentrations between the gastric contents and peripheral blood were 35 and 29 in the hospital and autopsy samples, respectively, it is likely that pentobarbital was administered via the gastrostomy tube. The patient had contacted the visitors through social media. Although the patient had requested the doctor perform active euthanasia and expressed a desire to end their life on social media, nobody had noticed the plan to commit suicide.     

Visualizing changes in physical activity behavioral patterns after redesigning urban infrastructure

The aim of this study was to explore effects of a major urban reconstruction on physical activity (PA) behavior by comparing PA intensity hotspots before and after the tunneling of a highway with a new infrastructure prioritized for walking and cycling. In total, 126 individuals participated before and after the tunneling. GPS loggers and accelerometers were used to assess location and PA levels. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to perform optimized hotspot analyses on PA data, both on transport and stationary data points. The results showed several changes in PA hotspots on trip data, even if total PA levels did not change. At follow-up, PA intensity hotspots were more connected, with the new infrastructure as a central connection. This was true for higher and lower educated individuals. Therefore, if changes in the built environment do not result in changes on population-level outcomes, this does not imply that they have no impact on behavior.     

基于网络药理学研究黄连解毒汤抗幽门螺杆菌感染作用机制

目的运用网络药理学方法预测黄连解毒汤抗Hp感染的主要有效成分、靶点及信号通路,挖掘其潜在作用机制,为后续实验研究提供依据。方法应用TCMSP筛选黄连解毒汤中黄连、黄芩、黄柏、栀子4味中药的主要有效成分及其潜在作用靶点。通过GeneCards数据库和人类孟德尔遗传数据库(OMIM)筛选Hp感染相关靶点,并取药物和疾病的交集靶点。将交集靶点导入Cytoscape 3.7.2构建有效成分和Hp感染相关靶点网络,并进行拓扑学分析。应用STRING在线分析平台构建靶蛋白相互作用(PPI)网络并进行分析。运用R语言在线检索Bioconductor平台对靶点进行GO功能富集;通过DAVID数据库对靶点进行KEGG通路富集分析。结果黄连解毒汤中共筛选出85个有效成分,主要包括槲皮素、小檗碱、山柰酚、汉黄芩素、黄芩素等。对应靶点112个,疾病相关靶点1960个,药物疾病共同靶点71个。网络中度值最高的有效成分为槲皮素,度值最高的靶点为环加氧酶1(PTGS1)。PPI网络中69个节点中度值较高的靶蛋白包括半胱氨酸蛋白酶3(CASP3)、IL6、MAPK8、原癌基因(MYC)、VEGFA、表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)等。GO功能富集分析共获得89个条目,KEGG通路富集分析共筛选12条存在显著差异的信号通路,其中发挥主要作用的有癌症通路、ErbB信号通路、p53信号通路、凋亡、黏附斑等。结论黄连解毒汤可通过多成分、多靶点、多通路发挥对Hp的治疗作用,可通过抗肿瘤机制调控胃癌进程,本研究可为其有效成分研究和抗Hp机制研究提供依据。     

神经外科教学中虚拟现实技术、Seminar模式应用

目的探讨神经外科教学中虚拟现实技术、Seminar模式的应用效果。方法选取本院2014级临床专业实习学生24人,随机选取12人作为对照组,采用传统教学法;12人为观察组,采用虚拟现实技术、Seminar模式教学法。比较两组学生的病理分析能力,多学科协作能力,临床操作能力。结果观察组理论考试和操作考试评分分别为(84.5±3.9)分、(86.3±2.7)分,对照组分别为(80.2±2.8)分、(80.0±2.1)分,观察组理论考试和操作考试评分均高于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组病情分析、临床操作、手术胜任和多学科协作能力评分分别为(1.8±0.7)分、(1.7±0.5)分、(1.6±0.4)分、(1.5±0.5)分;对照组分别为(1.2±0.4)分、(1.1±0.2)分、(1.0±0.3)分、(1.1±0.2)分,观察组病情分析、临床操作、手术胜任和多学科协作能力评分均高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论虚拟现实技术、Seminar模式教学法联合应用提高学生的学习主动性、理论知识水平和实践技能操作水平,提高了神经外科教学效果。