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.     

The effect of massage therapy on pain after surgery: A comprehensive meta-analysis

BackgroundFindings on the usefulness of massage therapy (MT) in postoperative pain management are often inconsistent among studies.ObjectivesThis study’s aim is to conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) to clarify the effects of massage therapy in the treatment of postoperative pain.MethodsThree databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched for RCTs published from database inception through January 26, 2021. The primary outcome was pain relief. The quality of RCTs was appraised with the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. The random-effect model was used to calculate the effect sizes and standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95 % confidential intervals (CIs) as a summary effect. The heterogeneity test was conducted through I². Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were used to explore the source of heterogeneity. Possible publication bias was assessed using visual inspection of funnel plot asymmetry.ResultsThe analysis included 33 RCTs and showed that MT is effective in reducing postoperative pain (SMD, −1.32; 95 % CI, −2.01 to −0.63; p = 0.0002; I² = 98.67 %). A similar significant effect was found for both short (immediate assessment) and long terms (assessment performed 4–6 weeks after the MT). Remarkably, we found neither the duration per session nor the dose had an impact on the effect of MT and there seemed to be no difference in the effects of different MT types. In addition, MT seemed to be more effective for adults. Furthermore, MT had better analgesic effects on cesarean section and heart surgery than orthopedic surgery.LimitationsPublication bias is possible due to the inclusion of studies in English only. Additionally, the included studies were extremely heterogeneous. Double-blind research on MT is difficult to implement, and none of the included studies is double-blind. There was some heterogeneity and publication bias in the included studies. In addition, there is no uniform evaluation standard for the operation level of massage practitioners, which may lead to research implementation bias.ConclusionsMT is effective in reducing postoperative pain in both short and long terms.     

Variability in non-core vaccination rates of dogs and cats in veterinary clinics across the United States

Vaccination guidelines for dogs and cats indicate that core vaccines (for dogs, rabies, distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus; for cats, feline parvovirus, herpes virus-1, calicivirus) are essential to maintain health, and that non-core vaccines be administered according to a clinician’s assessment of a pet’s risk of exposure and susceptibility to infection. A reliance on individual risk assessment introduces the potential for between-practice inconsistencies in non-core vaccine recommendations. A study was initiated to determine non-core vaccination rates of dogs (Leptospira, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine influenza virus) and cats (feline leukemia virus) in patients current for core vaccines in veterinary practices across the United States. Transactional data for 5,531,866 dogs (1,670 practices) and 1,914,373 cats (1,661 practices) were retrieved from practice management systems for the period November 1, 2016 through January 1, 2020, deidentified and normalized. Non-core vaccination status was evaluated in 2,798,875 dogs and 788,772 cats that were core-vaccine current. Nationally, median clinic vaccination rates for dogs were highest for leptospirosis (70.5%) and B. bronchiseptica (68.7%), and much lower for canine influenza (4.8%). In Lyme-endemic states, the median clinic borreliosis vaccination rate was 51.8%. Feline leukemia median clinic vaccination rates were low for adult cats (34.6%) and for kittens and 1-year old cats (36.8%). Individual clinic vaccination rates ranged from 0 to 100% for leptospirosis, B. bronchiseptica and feline leukemia, 0–96% for canine influenza, and 0–94% for borreliosis. Wide variation in non-core vaccination rates between clinics in similar geographies indicates that factors other than disease risk are driving the use of non-core vaccines in pet dogs and cats, highlighting a need for veterinary practices to address gaps in patient protection. Failure to implement effective non-core vaccination strategies leaves susceptible dogs and cats unprotected against vaccine-preventable diseases.     

Emergency Care EMTALA Alterations During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of health care delivery in the United States, and the emergency medicine system has been hit particularly hard while dealing with this public health crisis. In an unprecedented time in our history, medical systems and clinicians have been asked to be creative, flexible, and innovative, all while continuing to uphold the important standards in the US health care system. To continue providing quality services to patients during this extraordinary time, care providers, organizations, administrators, and insurers have needed to alter longstanding models and procedures to respond to the dynamics of a pandemic. The Emergency Medicine Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986, or EMTALA, is 1 example of where these alterations have allowed health care facilities and clinicians to continue their work of caring for patients while protecting both the patients and the clinicians themselves from infectious exposures at the same time.     

基于内容分析法的中医类APP现状分析

随着手机APP对人们日常工作和生活方式的改变，中医类APP日益得到关注。文章基于内容分析法对目前中医类APP现状进行梳理，分析存在的问题，对未来中医类APP的设计和开发提出建议。以每一个APP为分析单元，从一般情况、主要功能、用户评价等3个方面进行分析，建立了7个维度22个细目的编码体系，进行频数统计和分析。发现目前中医类APP功能丰富，用户广泛，成为中医药服务及中医科学传播的重要载体，具有良好的用户粘度及巨大市场需求，但存在质量良莠不齐、内容资源不佳等问题。提出中医类APP开发应符合中医药发展战略的方向，应进一步规范中医类APP隐私政策和相关法律法规；并探索中医类APP的评价标准和评价指标体系，促进和规范中医类APP的质量提升和不断发展。     

中西医一体化防治增生性瘢痕的研究现状

皮肤瘢痕是一个巨大的医学问题,每年约有1亿患者产生瘢痕。瘢痕的预防/治疗在很大程度上还没有得到满足的临床需求。瘢痕的形成通常是皮肤创伤的病理结果。而增生性瘢痕(hypertrophic scar,HTS)常发生在人深部损伤后。HTS通常被认为是组织收缩和过度的细胞外基质沉积的结果。肌成纤维细胞作为主要由成纤维细胞分化而来的效应细胞,在HTS的病理生理中起着至关重要的作用。多种生长因子、炎症因子参与了HTS发生的过程。目前,随着对HTS的深入探索和临床研究,各种创造性和有效的治疗方法正在萌芽。本文就HTS中西医形成机制研究进展进行综述,并针对其病理生理特点,对现有的中西医综合治疗方法进行综述。此外,我们进一步展望更适合的HTS中西医综合治疗的特色与方法。     

Patients’ narratives of orthognathic treatment for facial asymmetry: a qualitative study

To explore patients’ experiences of orthognathic treatment for facial asymmetry and their adaptation to facial changes after surgery, we did a qualitative, cross-sectional study of patients after treatment for non-cleft asymmetry at two UK sites. A total of 15 patients aged 19-40 years were approached after being identified using patient databases and clinical notes. Individual and photo-elicitation interviews were conducted covering experiences prior to treatment, during treatment, and after surgery. Interviews were transcribed and thematic narrative analysis undertaken. Participants were largely positive about their orthognathic treatment. The following themes were identified: preoperative (becoming aware, negative impacts of asymmetry, committing to treatment, establishing expectations), pre-surgery orthodontics and inpatient experiences (challenges and coping strategies, preparedness, support, and shared experiences); and postoperative (surgery as ‘worth it’, positive impacts of treatment, adapting to facial change). Undergoing orthognathic surgery was portrayed as a journey involving recognisable narratives (treatment unfinished, threat of liminality, treatment as resolution, and treatment as transformation). Patients’ experiences of facial asymmetry are associated with feeling ‘abnormal’, and negative impacts, and orthognathic treatment for facial asymmetry is worthwhile. Having the feeling that something is ‘wrong’ legitimised by clinicians allows patients access to a recognisable treatment narrative (resolution). Orthognathic treatment is also described as transformation from ‘normal abnormality’ to being ‘normal’. Nevertheless, the associated challenges can be frustrating, particularly if resolution is hard to envisage. Further psychological input could help patients cope with these challenges and the complex process of adapting to facial change.     

中成药联合普利或沙坦类药物治疗糖尿病肾病的网状Meta分析＊

目的 运用网状Meta分析方法，以单纯ACEI/ARB（angiotensin receptor blockers，ARB；angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor，ACE）治疗为共同参照，对比海昆肾喜胶囊、黄葵胶囊、尿毒清颗粒、肾衰宁胶囊、雷公藤多苷片、金水宝胶囊、百令胶囊、火把花根片对糖尿病肾病的临床疗效。方法 计算机检索有关海昆肾喜胶囊、黄葵胶囊，尿毒清颗粒、肾衰宁胶囊、雷公藤多苷片、金水宝胶囊、百令胶囊、火把花根片联合ACEI/ARB治疗糖尿病肾病的随机对照试验。由2名研究人员独立筛选，包括质量、评估，数据采用R、Gemtc、ＲevMan 5.3软件进行网状Meta分析和传统Meta分析。最终纳入86篇RCTs，共7413例患者，涉及9种干预措施。结果 Meta分析结果显示：①在综合疗效方面，金水宝胶囊、雷公藤多苷片、肾衰宁胶囊联合ACEI/ARB排序靠前，其中雷公藤多苷片联合ACEI/ARB降低24 h尿蛋白（24 h UPQ）和尿微量蛋白（UAER）的疗效最佳，肾衰宁胶囊联合ACEI/ARB降低血肌酐（Scr）、糖化血红蛋白（HBA1C）和空腹血糖（FPG）的疗效最佳；②在安全性方面，联合中成药均较单纯ACEI/ARB治疗有一定改善，因临床异质性较大无法定量合并，所有纳入研究未发生严重不良反应。由于纳入文献质量相对偏低，得出的结论尚有待临床验证。结论 结合网状Meta分析结果和文献信息，在治疗有效率方面，金水宝胶囊联合ACEI/ARB疗效最优；在降低24 h尿蛋白（24 hUPQ）和尿微量蛋白（UAER）方面，均为雷公藤多苷片联合ACEI/ARB疗效最优；在降低血肌酐（Scr）、糖化血红蛋白（HBA1C）和空腹血糖（FPG）方面，均为肾衰宁胶囊联合ACEI/ARB疗效最优。