Epidemiologic and socioeconomic factors impacting hepatitis B virus and related hepatocellular carcinoma

Chronic Hepatitis B is a highly prevalent disease worldwide and is estimated to cause more than 800000 annual deaths from complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although universal hepatitis B vaccination programs may have reduced the incidence and prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and related HCC, the disease still imposes a significant healthcare burden in many endemic regions such as Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. This is especially concerning given the global underdiagnosis of hepatitis B and the limited availability of vaccination, screening, and treatment in low-resource regions. Demographics including male gender, older age, ethnicity, and geographic location as well as low socioeconomic status are more heavily impacted by chronic hepatitis B and related HCC. Methods to mitigate this impact include increasing screening in high-risk groups according to national guidelines, increasing awareness and health literacy in vulnerable populations, and developing more robust vaccination programs in under-served regions.     

Robust antibody response after a third BNT162b2 vaccine compared to the second among immunocompromised and healthy individuals,a prospective longitudinal cohort study

PurposeAs protection from COVID-19 following two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine showed a time dependent waning, a third (booster) dose was administrated. This study aims to compare the antibody response following the third dose versus the second and to evaluate post-booster seroconversion.MethodsA prospective observational study conducted in Maccabi Healthcare Services. Serial SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG tests, 1,2,3 and 6 months following the second vaccine dose and one month following the third were obtained. Neutralizing antibody levels were measured in a subset of participants. Per individual SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG titer ratios were calculated one month after the booster administration compared to titers one month following the second dose and prior to booster.ResultsAmong 110 participants, 56 (51%) were women. Mean age was 61.7 ± 1.9 years and 66 (60%) were immunocompromised. One month after third dose, IgG titers were induced 7.83 (95 %CI 5.25–11.67) folds and 2.40 (95 %CI 1.90–3.03) folds compared to one month after the second, in the immunocompromised and immunocompetent groups, respectively. Of the 17 immunocompromised participants who were seronegative after the second dose, 4 (24%) became seropositive following the third. Comparing the titers prior to the third dose, an increase of 50.7 (95 %CI 32.5–79.1) fold in the immunocompromised group and 25.7 (95 %CI 19.1–34.7) fold in and immunocompetent group, was observed.ConclusionA third BNT162b2 vaccine elicited robust humoral response, superior to the response observed following the second, among immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.     

我国家庭医生签约服务政策执行的制约因素与优化路径：基于史密斯政策执行过程模型

深化家庭医生签约服务是深化医药卫生体制改革、强化基层医疗卫生服务、实现"健康中国"战略目标的重要选择，也是当前更好维护人民群众健康的重要途径。为有效推进签约服务工作，国家陆续推出各项政策，全国各地也在积极进行实践探索，成效明显。但是，签约服务仍面临诸多问题，其中"执行难"是签约服务深度推进的一大困境。通过史密斯政策执行过程模型，结合签约服务政策执行过程，发现签约服务仍存在法治性不足、政策执行人员水平不高、激励不足、政策环境影响等诸多制约因素。因此，需要从法律和制度方面进行顶层设计、提升执行人员素质和职业认同、建立医患互信、优化政策执行环境等角度进行政策创新，探索家庭医生签约服务可持续发展的路径。     

The Influence of Prior Functional Status on Self-Care Improvement During a Skilled Nursing Facility Stay

ObjectivesOlder adults' prior health status can influence their recovery after a major illness. We investigated the association between older adults’ independence in self-care tasks prior to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay and their self-care function at SNF admission, discharge, and the change in self-care function during an SNF stay.DesignRetrospective study of 100% national CMS data files from October 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019.Settings and ParticipantsThe sample included 616,073 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who were discharged from an SNF between October 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019.MethodsThe admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) was used to determine residents’ prior ability (independent, some help, dependent) to complete self-care tasks before the current illness, exacerbation, or injury. Seven self-care tasks from MDS Section GG were used to calculate total scores (range 7-42 points) for self-care at admission, discharge, and the change in self-care between admission and discharge.ResultsMost residents (62.0%) were independent, 35.3% needed some help, and 2.64% were dependent in self-care prior to SNF admission. Nearly 25% of residents with urinary incontinence, 28.8% with bowel incontinence, and 31.7% with moderate-severe cognitive impairment were independent in self-care prior to SNF admission compared with approximately 70% of residents without these conditions. Compared with residents who were dependent in self-care prior to SNF admission, those who were independent or needed some help had significantly higher self-care total scores at admission (5.67 vs 4.21 points, respectively) and discharge (6.44 vs 3.82 points, respectively) and exhibited greater improvement in self-care (3.48 vs 1.62 points, respectively).Conclusions and ImplicationsOur findings are evidence that the new MDS item for a resident's independence in self-care tasks before SNF admission is a valid measure of their prior self-care function. This is clinically useful information and should be considered when developing rehabilitation goals.     

上海市社区药学服务需求现状

背景 随着患者就诊下沉明显，联合家庭医生团队开展社区药学服务日益重要，但如何发挥家庭医生团队作用以满足患者社区药学服务需求仍有待进一步探索。 目的 了解上海市社区药学服务需求现状，为改进社区药学人员参与家庭医生团队开展服务的方式提供参考建议。 方法 于2020年9—12月，采用多阶段抽样法抽取349例老年慢性病患者和855例家庭医生团队主要成员〔全科医生（n=481）、护士（n=234）、公共卫生医生（n=140）〕进行问卷调查。针对老年慢性病患者的调查问卷主要内容包括基本情况、患病情况、用药情况、社区药学服务需求情况和社区药学服务利用情况。针对家庭医生团队成员的调查问卷主要内容包括基本情况、社区药学服务认知情况和社区药学服务需求情况。 结果 349例老年慢性病患者中，125例（35.8%）同时患有≥3种慢性病，305例（87.4%）每日需多次用药。用药管理类药学服务方面，"用药重整及随访"需求人数最多，为52例（14.9%），"用药随访"利用人数最多，为49例（14.0%）。用药教育类药学服务方面，"慢性病用药特殊性的普及教育"需求人数最多，为247例（70.8%），"宣传健康生活方式"利用人数最多，为33例（9.4%）。家庭医生团队成员中，全科医生、护士、公共卫生医生对药学服务的了解程度方面，分别有440例（91.5%）、202例（86.3%）、112例（80.0%）表示了解；对药师的信任程度方面，分别有302例（62.8%）、183例（78.2%）、103例（73.6%）表示非常信任；"协同医师做好药物使用遴选"服务项目的需求人数分别有359例（74.6%）、112例（47.9%）、81例（57.8%）；"指导护士使用与管理药品"服务项目的需求人数分别有190例（39.5%）、153例（65.4%）、57例（40.7%）。 结论 一方面患者实际迫切需要用药管理类药学服务，另一方面患者的用药教育类药学服务需求远未得到满足。鉴于社区药学人员队伍薄弱及家庭医生团队对社区药学服务认知局限的现状，社区药学人员应通过培训团队成员，提升团队的社区药学服务认知水平及服务能力，借助团队力量及成员特性，更广泛高效地开展社区药学服务。