Assessing the quality of clinical and administrative data extracted from hospitals: the General Medicine Inpatient Initiative (GEMINI) experience

ObjectiveLarge clinical databases are increasingly used for research and quality improvement. We describe an approach to data quality assessment from the General Medicine Inpatient Initiative (GEMINI), which collects and standardizes administrative and clinical data from hospitals.MethodsThe GEMINI database contained 245 559 patient admissions at 7 hospitals in Ontario, Canada from 2010 to 2017. We performed 7 computational data quality checks and iteratively re-extracted data from hospitals to correct problems. Thereafter, GEMINI data were compared to data that were manually abstracted from the hospital’s electronic medical record for 23 419 selected data points on a sample of 7488 patients.ResultsComputational checks flagged 103 potential data quality issues, which were either corrected or documented to inform future analysis. For example, we identified the inclusion of canceled radiology tests, a time shift of transfusion data, and mistakenly processing the chemical symbol for sodium (“Na”) as a missing value. Manual validation identified 1 important data quality issue that was not detected by computational checks: transfusion dates and times at 1 site were unreliable. Apart from that single issue, across all data tables, GEMINI data had high overall accuracy (ranging from 98%–100%), sensitivity (95%–100%), specificity (99%–100%), positive predictive value (93%–100%), and negative predictive value (99%–100%) compared to the gold standard.Discussion and ConclusionComputational data quality checks with iterative re-extraction facilitated reliable data collection from hospitals but missed 1 critical quality issue. Combining computational and manual approaches may be optimal for assessing the quality of large multisite clinical databases.     

术中 X-线定位在神经内镜切除甲介型蝶窦垂体瘤手术中的应用简

目的探讨术中x-线定位在经神经内镜下甲介型蝶窦垂体瘤手术的应用。方法回顾性分析6例甲介型蝶窦垂体瘤病人的临床资料,均采用神经内镜下垂体瘤切除结合术中X-线定位方法。结果术中X-线定位准确4例;2例发生纵向偏差,均纠正。肿瘤全切除5例,次全切除1例。术后激素水平正常,视力视野改善。出现暂时性尿崩1例,治疗后痊愈。无脑脊液鼻漏、垂体功能低下、蝶窦炎发生,无死亡病例。6例病人随访3年,均无复发。结论神经内镜技术结合术中X-线定位是一种治疗甲介型蝶窦垂体瘤的安全、有效方法。     

Attenuation of Reserpine-Induced Pain/Depression Dyad by Gentiopicroside Through Downregulation of GluN2B Receptors in the Amygdala of Mice

Epidemiological studies demonstrate that pain frequently occurs comorbid with depression. Gentiopicroside (Gent) is a secoiridoid compound isolated from Gentiana lutea that exhibits analgesic properties and inhibits the expression of GluN2B-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the anterior cingulate cortex of mice. However, the effects of Gent on the reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad and its underlying mechanisms are unclear. Reserpine administration (1 mg/kg subcutaneous daily for 3 days) caused a significant decrease in the nociceptive threshold as evidenced by the reduced paw withdrawal latency in response to a radiant heat source and mechanical allodynia. Behavioral detection indicated a significant increase in immobility time during a forced swim test, as well as decreased time in the central area and total travel distance in an open field test. Furthermore, reserpinized animals exhibited increased oxidative stress. Systemic Gent administration dose-dependently ameliorated the behavioral deficits associated with reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad. At the same time, the decrease in biogenic amine levels (norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin) was integrated with the increase in caspase-3 levels and GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in the amygdala of the reserpine-injected mice. Gent significantly reversed the changes in the levels of biogenic amines, caspase-3, and GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in amygdala. However, Gent did not affect the expression of GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors. The inhibitory effects of Gent on oxidative stress were occluded by simultaneous treatment of GluN2B receptors antagonist Ro25-6981. Our study provides strong evidence that Gent inhibits reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad by downregulating GluN2B receptors in the amygdala.     

人骨唾液蛋白非融合荧光蛋白载体的构建及在乳腺癌细胞中的表达

背景：人骨唾液蛋白基因在矿化组织以外的易发生骨转移的人乳腺癌中表达。临床观察显示骨转移处的乳腺癌细胞骨唾液蛋白的表达量要高于原发部位的乳腺癌细胞，因此骨唾液蛋白有可能与肿瘤特异性骨转移的关系密切。研究乳腺癌骨转移可为将来临床的预防和治疗提供新的药物靶点。目的：建立骨唾液蛋白的稳定表达乳腺癌细胞系，观察骨唾液蛋白在乳腺癌骨转移的整个过程中的作用。设计：对照实验。单位：华南理工大学生物科学与工程学院，解放军广州军区广州总医院医学实验中心。材料：实验于2003-11／2004-03在解放军广州军区广州总医院医学实验室完成。质粒、菌种和细胞：pIRES2-EGFP载体质粒，E．Coli．Top10、含有人骨唾液蛋白基因全长的克隆载体pB-hBSP和发生特异性骨转移以及脑转移的人乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231BO和MDA-MB-23lBR。方法：将人骨唾液蛋白基因通过聚合酶链式反应的方法从构建好的pB-hBSP载体中亚克隆出来，在其5’和3’端分别引入BglⅡ和PsiⅠ限制性酶切位点，定向克隆至真核表达载体pIRES2-EGFP，构建重组载体pIRES2-hBSP-EGFP。利用脂质体转染的方法将构建好的重组质粒转入特异性脑转移和骨转移的乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231BR和MDA-MB-231BO中。主要观察指标：pIRES2-hBSP-EGFP重组表达载体的构建。重组表达载体pIRES2-hBSP-EGFP转染乳腺癌细胞。结果：①成功构建人骨唾液蛋白和绿色荧光蛋白非融合表达的真核表达载体pIRES2-hBSP-EGFP。②成功转染特异骨转移和脑转移的乳腺癌细胞株，可在荧光显微镜下观察到荧光蛋白标记，人骨唾液蛋白得到相应表达。结论：真核表达载体pIRES2-hBSP-EGFP的构建及转染可为骨唾液蛋白在乳腺癌骨转移中的作用的体内、外研究奠定一定的基础。     

In vitro degradation and controlled release behavior of D,L-PLGA50 and PCL-b-D,L-PLGA50 copolymer microspheres.

Blank and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded microspheres based on poly(lactic-acid-alt-glycolic acid) (D,L-PLGA50) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(lactic-acid-alt-glycolic acid) (PCL-b-D,L-PLGA50) were successfully fabricated using water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double-emulsion extraction/evaporation technique. In vitro degradation of the blank microspheres was characterized by techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The PCL-b-D,L-PLGA50 copolymer (Mn: number-average molecular weight, Mw: weight-average molecular weight, Mn=44800, Mw/Mn=MWD=1.24, epsilon-caprolactone (CL) %=20.4% in molar ratio) had similar rate of molecular weight reduction compared with the D,L-PLGA50 copolymer before 5 weeks of in vitro degradation. The BSA % loading efficiency of microspheres was mainly controlled by both block copolymer composition and macromolecular architecture, while the sequence structure and the molecular weight of copolymer had no apparent effect on it. Significantly, The PCL-b-D,L-PLGA50 copolymer microspheres showed good release profiles with a nearly constant release during 20-110 days.     

Comparison of neck movement smoothness between patients with mechanical neck disorder and healthy volunteers using the spectral entropy method

Purpose

Mechanical neck disorder is one of the most common health issues. No related observations have applied spectral entropy to explore the smoothness of cervical movement. Therefore, the objectives were to ascertain whether the spectral entropy of time-series linear acceleration could extend to estimate the smoothness of cervical movement and compare the characteristics of the smoothness of cervical movement in patients with mechanical neck pain (MND) with healthy volunteers.

Methods

The smoothness of cervical movement during cervical circumduction from 36 subjects (MND: n = 18, asymptomatic: n = 18) was quantified by the spectral entropy of time-series linear acceleration and other speed-dependent parameters, respectively.

Results

Patients with MND showed significantly longer movement time, higher value in the spectral entropy and wider band response in frequency spectrum than healthy volunteers (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

The spectral entropy would be suitable to discriminate the smoothness of cervical movement between patients with MND with healthy volunteers and demonstrated patients with MND had significantly less smooth cervical movement.     

腹腔镜下巨大卵巢囊肿穿刺抽液的一种简便方法

目的 探讨腹腔镜下巨大卵巢囊肿穿刺抽液的简便方法.方法 2008年6月~2012年1月,68例单纯性巨大卵巢囊肿行腹腔镜下卵巢囊肿剥除术或切除术,囊肿直径10~20 cm,平均15 cm.术中使用穿刺套管（套管鞘cannula＋棱锥形套管针trocar）稍用力穿刺囊壁进入囊腔,退出trocar,然后插入吸管,抽吸囊内液体.结果 手术均在腹腔镜下完成,术中6例囊液外溢.手术时间30~55 min,平均40 min,术中出血30~100 ml,平均55 ml,术后病理回报均为良性肿瘤（57例浆液性囊腺瘤,11例黏液性囊腺瘤）,未发生并发症.结论 该方法应用于腹腔镜下巨大卵巢囊肿剥除术或切除术中,简单易行,安全有效,值得临床推广使用.     

将案例教学嵌入BOPPPS模型的“制药工艺学”教学实践

目的:对案例教学嵌入BOPPPS模型的《制药工艺学》教学模式进行实践研究。方法:以浙江中医药大学制药工程专业2012级30人为对照组,2015级25人为观察组,从课堂效果、能力素养、考试成绩等方面进行评价。结果:新的教学模式有助于提高学生的学习兴趣、能力和素养,引导学生积极参与教学,显著提高其学习成绩。结论:将案例教学嵌入BOPPPS模型的教学模式能够促使学生参与教学,提高学习效果。