Dying is the Most Grown-Up Thing We Ever Do: But Do Health Care Professionals Prevent Us from Taking It Seriously?

This paper takes a somewhat slant perspective on flourishing and care in the context of suffering, death and dying, arguing that care in this context consists principally of ‘acts of work and courage that enable flourishing’. Starting with the perception that individuals, society and health care professionals have become dulled to death and the process of dying in Western advanced health systems, it suggests that for flourishing to occur, both of these aspects of life need to be faced more directly. The last days of life need to be ‘undulled’. Reflections upon the experiences of the author as carer and daughter in the face of her mother’s experience of death are used as basis for making suggestions about how care systems and professionals might better assist people in dealing with ‘the most grown up thing’ humans ever do, which is to die.     

阿帕替尼治疗晚期及术后复发肺肉瘤样癌的疗效分析

目的探索阿帕替尼治疗晚期及术后复发肺肉瘤样癌的疗效。方法收集2016年6月至2019年8月Ⅲ~Ⅳ期及术后复发的肺肉瘤样癌患者21例,口服阿帕替尼(250~425 mg/d)治疗,30 d为1个疗程,观察并分析疗效及评价安全性。结果21例患者中,完全缓解(CR)为0,部分缓解(PR)为14.3%(3例),稳定(SD)为33.3%(7例),疾病进展(PD)为52.4%(11例);客观反应率(ORR)为13.3%(3例),疾病控制率(DCR)为47.6%(10例)。中位总生存期(mOS)为4.6个月,中位无进展生存期(mPFS)为1.0个月。病灶≥6 cm(或≥5 cm)较<6 cm(或<5 cm)平均OS明显缩短,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);术后分期Ⅰ~Ⅱ期较Ⅲ~Ⅳ期平均OS明显延长(P<0.05)。位于中央的病灶较周围的病灶平均OS明显缩短,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。性别、年龄(>60岁,≤60岁)、吸烟史(是/否)对疗效影响差异无统计学意义。常见不良反应包括高血压38.1%(8例)、蛋白尿23.8%(5例)、手足综合征28.6%(6例)、腹泻28.6(6例)、骨髓抑制38.1%(8例)。结论阿帕替尼治疗晚期及术后复发肺肉瘤样癌具有一定疗效,不良反应可控,病灶大小、位置及分期可能是疗效的独立影响因素。     

经自然腔道取标本手术在结直肠外科手术中的应用进展

随着腔镜技术的进一步发展以及微创理念应用于结直肠外科疾病的诊治中,结直肠相关疾病的诊治发生了翻天覆地的变化。由传统的经腹手术到腹腔镜手术、经自然腔道手术,再到经自然腔道取标本手术(NOSES),结直肠疾病的外科诊治在微创领域取得了巨大成果。NOSES技术是目前结直肠外科在微创领域前沿的手术方式之一,它通过经直肠、阴道取标本来避免了腹壁的辅助取标本切口,从而将结直肠外科手术进一步微创化。NOSES技术集传统腹腔镜手术的优势与现代微创外科的理念于一体,它在确保手术效果的基础上集中体现了微创、加速康复外科、功能外科、"无疤"等理念的特点。本文主要就国内外各中心开展NOSES技术在结直肠外科诊治开展中的相关经验、心得和体会进行综述。     

Nanomedicines: From Bench to Bedside and Beyond

Advancing nanomedicines from concept to clinic requires integration of new science with traditional pharmaceutical development. The medical and commercial success of nanomedicines is greatly facilitated when those charged with developing nanomedicines are cognizant of the unique opportunities and technical challenges that these products present. These individuals must also be knowledgeable about the processes of clinical and product development, including regulatory considerations, to maximize the odds for successful product registration. This article outlines these topics with a goal to accelerate the combination of academic innovation with collaborative industrial scientists who understand pharmaceutical development and regulatory approval requirements—only together can they realize the full potential of nanomedicines for patients.     

Reciprocal Peer Support for Post-partum Patients with Diabetes: A Needs Assessment for the Diabetes Buddy Program

While peer support has been investigated in multiple clinical contexts, its application to the postpartum setting is unknown. The aim was to assess acceptability of a postpartum peer support program for women with diabetes. Observational survey-based needs assessment of forty low-income women with diabetes, receiving care at a major medical institution. Mean age and gravidity were 30.7 years and 3.15 ± 1.67 respectively. 45 % expressed interest in a “buddy.” There was no significant difference between groups desiring and not desiring this program. A majority of respondents desired telephone, text messaging, and in-person contacts (79.2, 72.1, 83.8 %), with 72.5 % of patients desiring diabetes-related activities during clinic waiting time. Many women desire a postpartum diabetes reciprocal peer program for support outside of clinician visits. Patients are receptive to educational services during their wait and outside of clinic time, a potentially valuable opportunity to share important health information.