MCI的情志病机及疏肝法干预的可行性探讨＊

轻度认知障碍（Mild cognition impairment， MCI）是尚未达到阿尔兹海默病（Alzheimer’s disease， AD）的诊断标准且可逆转为正常脑老化状态的最佳窗口期。情志异常、肝失疏泄（肝失疏泄日久致肝郁）已被证实为MCI的重要情志病机，且“长期负性情绪积累肝失疏泄致衰加速脑老化”的科学假说已在本课题组前期研究中得到初步证实，疏肝法干预肝郁型MCI患者疗效显著，但以上作用机制尚未得到完全阐述。因此本研究系统总结了中医学对MCI的认识，长期情绪不调肝失疏泄对MCI的影响及可能机制，疏肝解郁方药及其成分改善肝郁型MCI的可行性，并提出使用无束缚性设计的眼动技术以探索疏肝法改善肝郁型MCI的可行性，为MCI的中医药干预及其神经机制探讨提供新思路，为中医情志衰老学说增添新内涵。     

Memory related molecular signatures: The pivots for memory consolidation and Alzheimer's related memory decline

Age-related cognitive decline is the major cause of concern due to its 70% more incidence than dementia cases worldwide. Moreover, aging is also the major risk factor of Alzheimer's disease (AD), associated with progressive memory loss. Approx. 13 million people will have Alzheimer-related memory decline by 2050. Learning and memory is the fundamental process of brain functions. However, the mechanism for the same is still under investigation. Thus, it is critical to understand the process of memory consolidation in the brain and extrapolate its understanding to the memory decline mechanism. Research on learning and memory has identified several molecular signatures such as Protein kinase M zeta (PKMζ), Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) crucial for the maintenance and stabilization of long-term memory in the brain. Interestingly, memory decline in AD has also been linked to the abnormality in expressing these memory-related molecular signatures. Hence, in the present consolidated review, we explored the role of these memory-related molecular signatures in long-term memory consolidation. Additionally, the effect of amyloid-beta toxicity on these molecular signatures is discussed in detail.     

Inferior Vena Cava Filters: Aligning Practice With Evidence to Improve Patient Outcomes

BackgroundDespite indications for the removal of temporary inferior vena cava (IVC) filters, many filters are unintentionally left in place, predisposing patients to adverse outcomes.ObjectiveThis quality improvement study set out to determine the impact of an IVC filter retrieval protocol on filter retrieval rates and patients lost to follow-up for patients who had undergone placement of a temporary IVC filter.MethodsFollowing a quasi-experimental design, data of all consecutive patients who underwent insertion of a temporary IVC filter for a period of 24-month preprotocol and 12-month postprotocol were compared.ResultsFilter retrieval rates of eligible filters increased from 64.2% to 100%; patients lost to follow-up decreased from 35.9% to 0% (p < .01, both outcomes).ConclusionAdoption of a comprehensive IVC filter protocol by the service that implants these devices can improve filter retrieval rates and decrease patients being lost to follow-up.     

Nursing Home Resident Admission Characteristics and Potentially Preventable Emergency Department Transfers

ObjectivesTo determine which nursing home (NH) resident-level admission characteristics are associated with potentially preventable emergency department (PPED) transfers.DesignWe conducted a population-level retrospective cohort study on NH resident data collected using the Resident Assessment Instrument-Minimum Data Set Version 2.0 and linked to the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System for ED transfers.SettingWe used all NH resident admission assessments from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018, in Ontario.ParticipantsThe cohort included the admission assessment of 56,433 NH residents.MethodsPPED transfers were defined based on the International Classification of Disease, Version 10 (Canadian) We used logistic regression with 10-fold cross-validation and computed average marginal effects to identify the association between resident characteristics at NH admission and PPED transfers within 92 days after admission.ResultsOverall, 6.2% of residents had at least 1 PPED transfer within 92 days of NH admission. After adjustment, variables that had a prevalence of 10% or more that were associated with a 1% or more absolute increase in the risk of a PPED transfer included polypharmacy [of cohort (OC) 84.4%, risk difference (RD) 2.0%], congestive heart failure (OC 29.0%, RD 3.0%), and renal failure (OC 11.6%, RD 1.2%). Female sex (OC 63.2%, RD -1.3%), a do not hospitalize directive (OC 24.4%, RD -2.6%), change in mood (OC 66.9%, RD -1.2%), and Alzheimer's or dementia (OC 62.1%, RD -1.2%) were more than 10% prevalent and associated with a 1% or more absolute decrease in the risk of a PPED.Conclusions and ImplicationsThough many routinely collected resident characteristics were associated with a PPED transfer, the absence of sufficiently discriminating characteristics suggests that emergency department visits by NH residents are multifactorial and difficult to predict. Future studies should assess the clinical utility of risk factor identification to prevent transfers.     

Factors Associated With Low and High Social Engagement Among Older Nursing Home Residents in Korea

ObjectivesWith the increase in older adults receiving long-term care in facilities, the level of social engagement within nursing homes is a growing concern for improving the quality of life of residents. This study seeks to assess the level of social engagement and identify the factors associated with high and low engagement among older adults in Korean nursing homes.DesignCross-sectional study.Setting and ParticipantsData were obtained from a nationally representative sample of 1453 older residents in 92 long-term care facilities across Korea.MethodsMultilevel-multivariate analyses were carried out to identify individual- and institution-level risk factors of social engagement, as measured by the Revised Index of Social Engagement (RISE).ResultsThree-fourths of older residents had a low level of social engagement, whereas only about one tenth showed a high level of social engagement. Being male, having severe functional impairments, having depression, and having no supportive family relationships were risk factors for low social engagement. Conversely, a high level of social engagement was significantly associated with being female, having no impairments, and a longer length of stay. Meeting staffing requirements for personal care assistants, an institution-level factor, was negatively associated with low social engagement and positively associated with high social engagement.Conclusions and ImplicationsLow social engagement is very common in Korean nursing homes and is concentrated among those with poor functional and social outcomes. Future efforts to improve long-term care will need to address the various factors associated with social engagement in designing social care for nursing home residents.     

Clinicians' Views of Patient-initiated Follow-up in Head and Neck Cancer: a Qualitative Study to Inform the PETNECK2 Trial

AimsCurrent follow-up for head and neck cancer (HNC) is ineffective, expensive and fails to address patients' needs. The PETNECK2 trial will compare a new model of patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) with routine scheduled follow-up. This article reports UK clinicians' views about HNC follow-up and PIFU, to inform the trial design.Materials and methodsOnline focus groups with surgeons (ear, nose and throat/maxillofacial), oncologists, clinical nurse specialists and allied health professionals. Clinicians were recruited from professional bodies, mailing lists and personal contacts. Focus groups explored views on current follow-up and acceptability of the proposed PIFU intervention and randomised controlled trial design (presented by the study co-chief investigator), preferences, margins of equipoise, potential organisational barriers and thoughts about the content and format of PIFU. Data were interpreted using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsEight focus groups with 34 clinicians were conducted. Clinicians highlighted already known limitations with HNC follow-up – lack of flexibility to address the wide-ranging needs of HNC patients, expense and lack of evidence – and agreed that follow-up needs to change. They were enthusiastic about the PETNECK2 trial to develop and evaluate PIFU but had concerns that PIFU may not suit disengaged patients and may aggravate patient anxiety/fear of recurrence and delay detection of recurrence. Anticipated issues with implementation included ensuring a reliable route back to clinic and workload burden on nurses and allied health professionals.ConclusionsClinicians supported the evaluation of PIFU but voiced concerns about barriers to help-seeking. An emphasis on patient engagement, psychosocial issues, symptom reporting and reliable, quick routes back to clinic will be important. Certain patient groups may be less suited to PIFU, which will be evaluated in the trial. Early, meaningful, ongoing engagement with clinical teams and managers around the trial rationale and recruitment process will be important to discourage selective recruitment and address risk-averse behaviour and potential workload burden.     

光学相干断层扫描血管成像对玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗治疗湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性的随访观察

目的 利用光学相干断层扫描血管成像(OCTA)观察雷珠单抗玻璃体腔注射3次+必要时(3+PRN)方案治疗湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性(AMD)的图像特征。方法 选取2016年9月至2017年5月经荧光素眼底血管造影(FFA)、吲哚菁绿血管造影(ICGA)检查确诊且未予治疗的湿性AMD患者8例8只眼,按照3+PRN治疗方案给予玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗(0.5 mg/0.05 ml)治疗,采用OCTA 6 mm×6 mm范围模式扫描黄斑区视网膜,在患者治疗前,治疗后1、3、6个月进行规律的门诊随访,记录患者最小分辨角对数(logMAR)矫正视力、脉络膜新生血管(CNV)分型、CNV形态特征及变化、黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度(CRT)、黄斑区视网膜外层血流密度(ORVD)及脉络膜毛细血管层血流密度(CCVD)。结果 男性4例4只眼,女性4例4只眼,平均年龄(70.9±10.6)岁;3只眼为Ⅰ型CNV,5只眼为Ⅱ型CNV。治疗前,治疗后1、3、6个月最佳矫正视力(BCVA)分别为0.55(0.33,0.87)、0.35(0.24,0.84)、0.35(0.22,0.58)、0.26(0.10,0.58)logMAR,各组间差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05);CRT分别为(271.88±91.95)、(204.00±45.78)、(196.00±31.14)、(219.25±71.32)μm,其中,治疗3个月与治疗前差异有统计学意义(t=2.211,P=0.044);ORVD分别为(41.38±2.77)%、(41.73±3.60)%、(42.53±1.95)%、(41.40±2.33)%,各组间差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05);CCVD分别为(64.38±2.24)%、(64.96±1.39)%、(64.16±1.39)%、(64.63±1.86)%,各组间差异也均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。相关性分析结果显示,BCVA与CRT(P=0.009, RR=0.457)和CCVD(P=0.001,RR=0.574)显著相关,与ORVD(P=0.093,RR=0.302)不相关。治疗前CNV形态特征,2只眼为团状,2只眼为线条样,2只眼为纠缠错乱状,1只眼为椭圆环形,1只眼为碎片样。治疗1个月,7只眼CNV形态趋于正常化,表现为CNV最大直径减小、断裂/破碎、周边毛细血管丢失、数量和密度下降、所在区域最大横截面积减小;1只眼CNV形态较前恶化,表现为CNV吻合成环、密度增加、最大血管直径增加。治疗3个月,7只眼CNV形态趋于正常化,1只眼较前无明显变化。治疗6个月,5只眼CNV趋于正常化,3只眼恶化。随访中未发现眼内感染或玻璃体内注射的其他并发症。结论 利用OCTA技术观察CNV特征能够评估湿性AMD患者接受雷珠单抗治疗的疗效,可为湿性AMD患者的治疗与随访提供指导。