Method’s corner: Allergist’s guide to network meta-analysis

Network meta-analyses (NMAs) simultaneously estimate the effects of multiple possible treatment options for a given clinical presentation. For allergists to benefit optimally from NMAs, they must understand the process and be able to interpret the results. Through a worked example published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, we summarize how to identify credible NMAs and interpret them with a focus on recent innovations in the GRADE approach (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). NMAs build on traditional systematic reviews and meta-analyses that consider only direct paired comparisons by including indirect evidence, thus allowing the simultaneous assessment of the relative effect of all pairs of competing alternatives. Our framework informs clinicians of how to identify credible NMAs and address the certainty of the evidence. Trustworthy NMAs fill a critical gap in providing key inferences using direct and indirect evidence to inform clinical decision making when faced with more than two competing courses of treatment options. This document will help allergists to identify trustworthy NMAs to enhance patient care.     

基于弥散张量成像的脑白质微结构分析方法在视路损伤中的应用进展

视觉通路包括视神经、视交叉、视束、视放射及视皮质。常规磁共振检查技术难以发现视路损伤后白质纤维微结构改变,眼科学检查也存在一定的局限性及主观性,且不能探测后视路的变化。弥散张量成像(diffusion tensor imaging,DTI)作为一种新兴的磁共振成像技术,通过各种后处理分析方法结合不同的参数进行分析,可提供组织的微结构信息,并能够直观显示活体白质纤维束,在无创地探索疾病的神经病理机制、评估预后方面起着重要的作用。近年来随着DTI后处理方法的不断创新,其在视路损伤中的研究越来越多。本文在介绍DTI的主要参数及常见脑白质微结构分析方法的同时,阐述了其在视路损伤研究中的应用,并进一步对各种分析方法的优缺点进行总结。     

基于方剂构成信息的知识发现和关联网络构建挖掘海洋中药海马历代用药经验＊

目的 通过对含海马方剂构成信息进行数据挖掘和知识发现，构建关联网络，分析海马的历代应用情况，挖掘海马用药配伍经验，发现海马潜在功效和主治病症，为海马的临床应用和开发提供依据。方法 以《中医方剂大辞典》《中国药典》《中华医典》等多部著作为方源，收集含有海马的相关方剂，并进行频数分析、关联规则挖掘和关联网络的构建。结果 共筛选有文献记载的含海马方剂154首。从剂型看，大多为散剂，从方剂分布年代来看，海马的应用虽然有很长历史，但是古代应用并不广泛，现代应用较多。通过对配伍药物进行分析发现，与海马配伍频率较高的是“鹿茸”、“熟地黄”、“肉苁蓉”等补益药物。从功效主治方面看，大多数方剂具有“补肾”、“温阳”、“益精”等传统功效外，还具有健脑等功效；主治病症中，除“阳痿”、“癥瘕”、“疔疮”等《中国药典》所记载的疾病之外，还可治疗“虚劳”、“健忘”、“瘿病”、“不寐”、“痹证”、“小便淋沥或不通”等。对其进行关联关系分析发现，海马配伍补肾温阳的效果较为明显，多用于治疗阳痿，且腰痛、虚劳、遗精、健忘、不育等疾病的治疗与补肾关系密切；在治疗癥瘕时，多与醋、樗鸡、干漆、硇砂、斑蝥、水蛭、没药、当归配伍。结论 该研究不仅发现了含海马方剂的常用剂型、分布年代和药物配伍规律，发现了历代医家应用海马的临床经验，还探索了海马的潜在应用价值。海马作为一味海洋中药，具有温、补、托、消等特性，除常用于治疗阳痿外，还可用于治疗腰痛、健忘、瘿病、不寐、痹证等病症，这些研究结果可为拓展海马的临床应用提供理论基础及依据。     

江西省2017年度临床核医学应用频度调查与分析

目的 掌握江西省临床核医学应用频度和受检者的分布特点，估算2017年全省临床核医学应用频度。方法 对全省范围内开展临床核医学工作的各级医疗机构进行普查，以发放调查问卷的形式对样本医院进行应用频度调查与分析。结果 除正电子发射断层扫描（PET）检查男性多于女性外，其余临床核医学诊疗项目均为女性多于男性；全省临床核医学诊疗应用频度为0.67人次/千人口，其中诊断频度为0.58人次/千人口，治疗频度为0.09次/千人口。结论 与"九五"期间相比，江西省临床核医学应用频度迅猛发展，有必要进一步规范核医学诊疗工作，增强核医学工作人员的放射防护意识，促进核医学健康有序地发展。     

EEG power spectral density under Propofol and its association with burst suppression,a marker of cerebral fragility

ObjectiveUnder General Anesthesia (GA), age and Burst Suppression (BS) are associated with cognitive postoperative complications, yet how these parameters are related to per-operative EEG and hypnotic doses is unclear. In this prospective study, we address this question comparing age and BS occurrences with a new score (BP_TIVA) based on Propofol doses, EEG and alpha-band power spectral densities, evaluated for SEF₉₅ = 8–13 Hz.Methods59 patients (55 [34–67] yr, 67% female) undergoing neuroradiology or orthopedic surgery were included. Total IntraVenous Anesthesia was used for Propofol and analgesics infusion. Cerebral activity was monitored from a frontal electrodes montage EEG.ResultsBP_TIVA was inversely correlated with age (Pearson r = −0.78, p < 0.001), and was significantly lower (p < 0.001) when BS occurred during the GA first minutes (induction). Additionally, the age-free BP_TIVA score was better associated with BS at induction than age (AUC = 0.94 versus 0.82, p < 0.05).ConclusionWe designed BP_TIVA score based on hypnotics and EEG. It was correlated with age yet was better associated to BS occurring during GA induction, the latter being a cerebral fragility sign.SignificanceThis advocate for an approach based on evaluating the cerebral physiological age (« brain age ») to predict postoperative cognitive evolution.     

A case-control study of risk factors for intussusception among infants in eastern France after the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine

ObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to investigate the risk factors for intussusception (IS) among infants, including vaccination against rotavirus.MethodsCase-control study with systematic inclusion of all infants aged <1 year with suspected IS admitted to emergency departments in the eastern region of France between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2012. All cases classed level 1 according to the Brighton classification were matched to 4 hospital controls. Two exposure windows were examined; exposure to the first dose of rotavirus vaccine in the 7 and in the 14 days prior to the occurrence of IS.ResultsA total of 115 cases were matched with 457 controls. The average vaccination coverage rate over the 4 years of study was 8.6%. Rotavirus vaccine was not found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of IS in the 7 days (odds ratio (OR) not calculated; p = 0.99) and in the 14 days after administration of one dose vaccine (OR 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14–12.82). Infant formula alone or combined with breastfeeding was associated with an excess risk of IS (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.10–6.79). A history of gastroenteritis within 2 weeks prior to hospitalisation was also associated with an increased risk (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.07–4.67).ConclusionOur study indicates that infant formula alone or combined with breastfeeding is a risk factor for IS. A small, non-significant increase in the risk of IS was observed after rotavirus vaccination, although the low vaccine coverage rate likely precluded detection of a significant increase in risk.     

Extending multilevel spatial models to include spatially varying coefficients

Multilevel models have long been used by health geographers working on questions of space, place, and health. Similarly, health geographers have pursued interests in determining whether or not the effect of an exposure on a health outcome varies spatially. However, relatively little work has sought to use multilevel models to explore spatial variability in the effects of a contextual exposure on a health outcome. Methodologically, extending multilevel models to allow intercepts and slopes to vary spatially is straightforward. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to show how multilevel spatial models can be extended to include spatially varying covariate effects. We provide an empirical example on the effect of agriculture on malaria risk in children under 5 years of age in the Democratic Republic of Congo.     

Challenges in the Practice of Sexual Medicine in the Time of COVID-19 in China

BackgroundIn March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a pandemic. Currently, data on changes in sexual behavior during the COVID-19 outbreak are limited.AimThe present study aimed to obtain a preliminary understanding of the changes in people's sexual behavior, as a result of the pandemic, and explore the context in which they manifest.MethodsA convenience sample of 270 men and 189 women who completed an online survey consisting of 12 items plus an additional question were included in the study.OutcomesThe study outcomes were obtained using a study-specific questionnaire to assess the changes in people's sexual behavior.ResultsWhile there was a wide range of individual responses, our results showed that 44% of participants reported a decrease in the number of sexual partners and about 37% of participants reported a decrease in sexual frequency. Multiple regression analysis showed that age, partner relationship, and sexual desire were closely related to sexual frequency. In addition, we found that most individuals with risky sexual experiences had a rapid reduction in risky sexual behavior.Clinical ImplicationsThe current findings contribute to identifying another potential health implication associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and report preliminary evidence of the need to provide potential interventions for the population.Strength & LimitationsThis study is the first to perform a preliminary exploration of sexual behavior during the COVID-19 outbreak. The generalizability of the results is limited, given that only a small convenience sample was used.ConclusionDuring the height of the COVID-19 outbreak, overall sexual activity, frequency, and risky behaviors declined significantly among young men and women in China.Li W, Li G, Xin C, et al. Challenges in the Practice of Sexual Medicine in the Time of COVID-19 in China. J Sex Med 2020;17:1225–1228.