Effects of tamoxifen on normal breast tissue histological composition: Results from a randomised six-arm placebo-controlled trial in healthy women

Tamoxifen prevents recurrence of breast cancer and is suggested for preventive risk-reducing therapy. Tamoxifen reduces mammographic density, a proxy for therapy response, but little is known about its effects in remodelling normal breast tissue. Our study, a substudy within the double-blinded dose-determination trial KARISMA, investigated tamoxifen-specific changes in breast tissue composition and histological markers in healthy women. We included 83 healthy women randomised to 6 months daily intake of 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1 mg of tamoxifen or placebo. The groups were combined to “no dose” (0-1 mg), “low-dose” (2.5-5 mg) or “high-dose” (10-20 mg) of tamoxifen. Ultrasound-guided biopsies were collected before and after tamoxifen exposure. In each biopsy, epithelial, stromal and adipose tissues was quantified, and expression of epithelial and stromal Ki67, oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) analysed. Mammographic density using STRATUS was measured at baseline and end-of-tamoxifen-exposure. We found that different doses of tamoxifen reduced mammographic density and glandular-epithelial area in premenopausal women and associated with reduced epithelium and increased adipose tissue. High-dose tamoxifen also decreased epithelial ER and PR expressions in premenopausal women. Premenopausal women with the greatest reduction in proliferation also had the greatest epithelial reduction. In postmenopausal women, high-dose tamoxifen decreased the epithelial area with no measurable density decrease. Tamoxifen at both low and high doses influences breast tissue composition and expression of histological markers in the normal breast. Our findings connect epithelial proliferation with tissue remodelling in premenopausal women and provide novel insights to understanding biological mechanisms of primary prevention with tamoxifen.     

The Optimal Primary Treatment for Pediatric Perianal Abscess and Anal Fistula: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundPerianal abscesses and anal fistulas are common. The principle of intention-to-treat has not been considered in previous systemic reviews. Thus, the comparison between primary and post-recurrence management was confused, and the recommendation of primary treatment is obscure. The current study aims to identify the optimal initial treatment for pediatric patients.MethodsUsing PRISMA guidelines, studies were identified from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar without any language or study design restriction. The inclusion criteria include original articles or articles with original data, studies of management for a perianal abscess with or without anal fistula, and patient age of <18 years. Patients with local malignancy, Crohn's disease, or other underlying predisposing conditions were excluded. Studies without analyzing recurrence, case series of <5, and irrelevant articles were excluded in the screening stage. Of the 124 screened articles, 14 articles had no full texts or detailed information. Articles written in a language other than English or Mandarin were translated by Google Translation first and confirmed with native speakers. After the eligibility process, studies that compared identified primary managements were then included in the qualitative synthesis.ResultsThirty-one studies involving 2507 pediatric patients met the inclusion criteria. The study design consisted of two prospective case series of 47 patients and retrospective cohort studies. No randomized control trials were identified. Meta-analyses for recurrence after initial management were performed with a random-effects model. Conservative treatment and drainage revealed no difference (Odds ratio [OR], 1.222; 95% Confidential interval [CI]: 0.615–2.427, p = 0.567). Conservative management had a higher risk of recurrence than surgery without statistical significance (OR 0.278, 95% CI: 0.109–0.707, p = 0.007). Compared with incision/drainage, surgery can prevent recurrence remarkably (OR 4.360, 95% CI: 1.761–10.792, p = 0.001). Subgroup analysis of different approaches within conservative treatment and operation was not performed for lacking information.ConclusionStrong recommendations cannot be made due to the lack of prospective or randomized controlled studies. However, the current study based on real primary management supports initial surgical intervention for pediatric patients with perianal abscesses and anal fistula to prevent recurrence.Level of evidenceType of study: Systemic review; Evidence level: Level II.     

医院信息化平台住院陪护人员管理功能的开发与应用

目的 探讨医院信息系统中增加住院陪护管理功能的应用效果。方法 基于互联网医院、智慧医院等信息系统，开发信息化住院陪护管理功能，包括流行病学史调查、免费核酸申请、电子陪护证办理、体温监测登记及上报和统计查询。该功能与医院智慧护理链接后全院应用。比较功能应用前和应用后的遵医嘱一患一陪达标率、有效陪护证达标率、体温监测并登记日上报达标率和陪护证使用追溯率，评价护士和管理者疫情防控管理的人均耗时以及对该管理功能的满意度。结果 应用信息化陪护管理功能后，一患一陪达标率、有效陪护证达标率、体温监测并登记日上报达标率和陪护证使用追溯率显著高于应用前（均P＜0.05）；护士陪护管理人均耗时从（554.13±30.77）s降至（311.67±21.54）s（P＜0.05）；护士和管理者对该信息化陪护管理功能的满意度显著提高（均P＜0.05）。结论 信息化住院陪护管理功能的应用有效提升了疫情期间陪护的管理质量和管理效率，提高了一线护士和管理者的满意度。     

Policy Analysis for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Aged Care

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze national influenza infection control policy documents within aged care settings by identifying the consistencies, inconsistencies, and gaps with the current evidence and by evaluating methodological quality. Aged care providers can use these findings to identify their policy documents' strengths and weaknesses.DesignA quality and content analysis of national level policy documents.Setting and ParticipantsAged care settings rely on national agencies' policy recommendations to control and prevent outbreaks. There is limited research on the effectiveness of control measures to prevent and treat influenza within aged care settings. Because of the complexities around aged care governance, the primary responsibility in developing a comprehensive facility-level, infection-prevention policy, falls to the providers.MethodsThe analysis was conducted using the (1) International Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation assessment tool, containing 23 items across 6 domains; and the (2) Influenza Related Control Measures in Aged Care settings checklist, developed by the authors, with 82 recommendations covering: medical interventions, nonmedical interventions, and physical layout.ResultsThere were 19 documents from 9 different high-income countries, with a moderately high methodological quality in general. The quality assessment's average score was 40.2% (95% CI 31.9%–44.7%). “Stakeholder involvement” ranked third, and “Editorial independence” and “Rigor of development” had the lowest average scores across all domains. The content analysis' average score was 37.2% (95% CI 10.5%–21.5%). The highest scoring document (59.1%) included term definitions, cited evidence for recommendations, and clear measurable instructions. “Physical Layout” had the least coverage and averaged 21.9% (95% CI 4.2%–37.5%), which shows a substantial gap in built environment recommendations.Conclusions and ImplicationsExisting policy documents vary in their comprehensiveness. The higher scoring documents provide an ideal model for providers. The checklist tools can be used to assess and enhance documents. Further research on document end-user evaluation would be useful, as there is room for improvement in methodological quality and coverage of recommendation coverage, especially related to physical layout.     

Effects of anteriorly-loaded treadmill walking on dynamic gait stability in young adults

BackgroundAnteriorly-loaded walking is common in many occupations and may increase fall risk. Dynamic gait stability, defined by the Feasible Stability Region (FSR) theory, quantifies the kinematic relationship between the body’s center of mass (COM) and base of support (BOS). FSR-based dynamic gait stability has been used to evaluate the fall risk.Research questionHow does front load carriage affect dynamic gait stability, step length, and trunk angle among young adults during treadmill walking?MethodsIn this between-subject design study, 30 healthy young adults were evenly randomized into three load groups (0%, 10%, or 20% of body weight). Participants carried their assigned load while walking on a treadmill at a speed of 1.2 m/s. Body kinematics were collected during treadmill walking. Dynamic gait stability (the primary variable) was calculated for two gait events: touchdown and liftoff. Step length and trunk angle were measured as secondary variables. One-way analysis of variance was conducted to detect any group-related differences for all variables. Post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni correction was performed when main group differences were found.ResultsNo significant differences but medium to large effect sizes were found between groups for dynamic gait stability at touchdown (p = 0.194, η² = 0.114) and liftoff (p = 0.122, η² = 0.139). Trunk angle significantly increased (indicating backward lean) with the front load at touchdown (p < 0.001, η² = 0.648) and liftoff (p < 0.001, η² = 0.543). No significant between-group difference was found related to the step length (p = 0.344, η² = 0.076).SignificanceCarrying a front load during walking significantly alters the trunk orientation and may change the COM-BOS kinematic relationship and, therefore, fall risk. The findings could inform the design of future studies focusing on the impact of anterior load carriage on fall risk during different locomotion.     

冠状动脉慢血流的危险因素及冠状动脉病变特点的研究

目的研究冠状动脉慢血流现象(CSFP)患者的危险因素和分析累及冠状动脉病变的特点。方法回顾性收集本院2019年1月—2021年1月因疑似冠心病行冠状动脉造影术的514例患者,分析患者的临床资料、实验室指标及冠状动脉造影结果等相关资料,按照TIMI血流分级分为慢血流组(n=288)和对照组(n=226),比较两组之间的差异,并通过logistics回归分析探讨CSFP患者的危险因素。结果 (1)两组间在性别、民族、吸烟及饮酒史上存在统计学差异(P<0.05)。(2)CSFP组的血红蛋白、游离三碘甲状原氨酸、血肌酐值、血尿酸水平、空腹血糖水平和左室舒张末期大小均高于对照组(P<0.05);而CSFP组的血小板分布宽度、游离甲状腺素、总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白A1和白蛋白水平均低于对照组(P<0.05);(3)CSFP以三支血管病变最多见,为124例(43.0%),而单支血管病变和双支血管病变病例数一样,均为82例(28.5%)。单支血管病变中最多见的是前降支67例(81.7%),其次是右冠状动脉12例(14.6%),左回旋支较少见;(4)多因素logistic回归分析发现:性别、民族、游离甲状腺素、载脂蛋白A1和白蛋白水平是CSFP患者的独立危险因素。结论 (1)男性、少数民族、游离甲状腺素、载脂蛋白A1和白蛋白水平是CSFP的独立危险因素;(2)CSFP更常见于三支冠状动脉病变组,单支冠状动脉病变者更常见于左前降支。     

435例原发性高血压患者脉图参数与心血管危险分层的相关性分析

目的 本研究旨在探讨原发性高血压患者脉图参数与心血管危险分层的相关性，为原发性高血压患者心血管风险事件预警提供中医特色的依据。方法 采集435例原发性高血压患者的症状体征、脉象信息、生化指标等，分为低中危组、高危组、很高危组，采用单因素方差分析、秩和检验、有序logistic回归分析等方法，探讨原发性高血压患者脉图参数与心血管危险分层的相关性。结果 ①高血压低中危组→高危组→很高危组患者病程逐渐延长，两两组间比较有统计学差异；②高血压低中危组→高危组→很高危组患者的脉图参数H3/H1、H4/H1逐渐上升；高血压患者很高危组H5/H1、T1/T低于低中危组；③有序logistic回归分析结果显示，脉图参数T1、T4、T5、T为影响因素。结论 病程、血脂、肾功能是高血压患者心血管危险分层的影响因素之一。心血管危险分层等级的升高与脉图参数H3/H1、H4/H1、T5、T的升高及H5/H1、T4、T1的降低相关，说明脉图能一定程度上反映原发性高血压患者血管壁增厚、血管内壁受损、血管硬化及左心室收缩功能的减退程度。