Talking the same language on patient empowerment: Development and content validation of a taxonomy of self‐management interventions for chronic conditions

ContextThe literature on self‐management interventions (SMIs) is growing exponentially, but it is characterized by heterogeneous reporting that limits comparability across studies and interventions. Building an SMI taxonomy is the first step towards creating a common language for stakeholders to drive research in this area and promote patient self‐management and empowerment.ObjectiveTo develop and validate the content of a comprehensive taxonomy of SMIs for long‐term conditions that will help identify key characteristics and facilitate design, reporting and comparisons of SMIs.MethodsWe employed a mixed‐methods approach incorporating a literature review, an iterative consultation process and mapping of key domains, concepts and elements to develop an initial SMI taxonomy that was subsequently reviewed in a two‐round online Delphi survey with a purposive sample of international experts.ResultsThe final SMI taxonomy has 132 components classified into four domains: intervention characteristics, expected patient/caregiver self‐management behaviours, outcomes for measuring SMIs and target population characteristics. The two‐round Delphi exercise involving 27 international experts demonstrated overall high agreement with the proposed items, with a mean score (on a scale of 1‐9) per component of 8.0 (range 6.1‐8.8) in round 1 and 8.1 (range 7.0‐8.9) in round 2.ConclusionsThe SMI taxonomy contributes to building a common framework for the patient self‐management field and can help implement and improve patient empowerment and facilitate comparative effectiveness research of SMIs.Patient or public contribution.Patients’ representatives contributed as experts in the Delphi process and as partners of the consortium.     

二尖瓣球囊扩张术后远期心功能储备变化的随访观察

目的 探讨二尖瓣储备功能在经皮球囊二尖瓣成形术（ＰＢＭＶ）之后和长期随访中的变化及与负荷超声心动图积 分的关系，以预测ＰＢＭＶ远期疗效。方法　对二尖瓣狭窄患者静脉滴注异丙肾上腺素提高心率，模拟轻、中、重度体力活 动，分别于术后、随访期采用超声心动图观察心功能各项指标，并于术前进行Wilkins积分，术后进行负荷超声心动图 积分。结果　ＰＢＭＶ术后二尖瓣储备、心功能储备部分恢复。负荷超声心动图积分与远期心功能相关性良好（ｒ＝－０．８２）。 结论ＰＢＭＶ术导致二尖瓣面积增大同时其储备功能部分恢复。负荷超声心动图积分较Wilkins积分对远期心功能的 评价具有更大价值。     

Platelet adhesion to collagen type IV under flow conditions

Collagen type IV is a sheet-forming collagen and a major constituent of the vessel wall. To find out which conditions are important for platelet adhesion to collagen type IV, we performed perfusion studies with anticoagulated blood in parallel plate perfusion chambers. The role of divalent cations was investigated by using plasmas with variable concentrations of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions. When Mg2+ concentration was decreased from 2.00 mmol/L to 0.25 mmol/L at a fixed Ca2+ concentration of 1.25 mmol/L, platelet coverage on the collagen type IV surface decreased from 22.8% +/- 1.8% (n = 4) to 4.6% +/- 0.6% (n = 4) at a shear rate of 1,600 s-1. Also, platelet aggregate formation on collagen type IV was strongly impaired. A monoclonal antibody against the glycoprotein (Gp) Ib receptor and von Willebrand factor (vWF)- depleted plasma reduced the platelet coverage to collagen type IV to, respectively, 10% and 45% of the control value. Electron microscopy showed that vWF was only present between platelets and between the platelet and the collagen type IV surface, but did not bind elsewhere to collagen type IV. These data indicate that collagen type IV is a reactive collagen for platelets. Differences in physiologic plasma magnesium concentrations may in part explain the differences in platelet reactivity to collagen type IV between individuals, and perhaps contribute to differences in the risk for thrombosis.     

Platelet adhesion to collagen and endothelial cell matrix under flow conditions is not dependent on platelet glycoprotein IV

Platelet membrane glycoprotein IV (GPIV) is a cell-surface glycoprotein that has been proposed as a receptor for collagen. Recently, it has been shown that platelets with the Naka-negative phenotype lack GPIV on their surface, whereas donors with this phenotype are healthy and do not suffer from hematologic disorders. In this study, we compared Naka- negative platelets with normal platelets in adhesion to collagen types I, III, IV, and V and the extracellular matrix of endothelial cells (ECM) under static and flow conditions. No differences in platelet adhesion and subsequent aggregate formation on the collagens types I, III, and IV were observed under static and flow conditions. Adhesion of both homozygous and heterozygous Naka-negative platelets to collagen type V was strongly reduced under static conditions. Collagen type V was not adhesive under flow conditions. No difference in platelet adhesion to ECM was observed, which suggests that GPIV is not important in adhesion to subendothelium, for which ECM may serve as a model. These results indicate that GPIV is not a functional receptor for collagen under flow conditions.     

No evidence of linkage to chromosome 1q42.2-43 in 131 prostate cancer families from the ACTANE consortium. Anglo, Canada, Texas, Australia, Norway, EU Biomed

Genetic linkage studies worldwide have proposed various chromosomal localizations for prostate cancer susceptibility genes. A recent study found evidence for linkage to chromosome 1q42.2-43. The aim of our study was to attempt to confirm these findings by performing linkage analysis in 131 families with multiple prostate cancer cases selected from the ACTANE (Anglo, Canada, Texas, Australia, Norway, EU Biomed) Consortium. Parametric and non-parametric linkage (NPL) analyses were performed. Two-point LOD scores failed to show evidence of linkage at any marker (maximum two-point LOD score = 0. 40 at recombination fraction theta = 0.2 with marker D1S2850). Using a multipoint heterogeneity analysis, the estimated proportion of families linked to this putative locus (alpha) was 0% (95% CI = 0. 00-0.33). Non-parametric linkage analysis also found no evidence of linkage (maximum NPL score = -0.12, P = 0.55). This analysis of 131 ACTANE families does not support the presence of a locus for a prostate cancer susceptibility gene at 1q42.2-43. Although we cannot rule out the existence of such a locus, analysis indicates that less than 16% of families could be linked to this region. These findings may be a reflection of the locus heterogeneity involved in this disease indicating that there are still other major susceptibility loci to be identified.     

Value of updating a systematic review in surgery using individual patient data

BACKGROUND: Previous research has highlighted the advantages of individual patient data (IPD) meta-analyses. However, they are resource intensive and take considerable time to complete. The aim of this study was to determine whether the extra investment is justified by greater accuracy or usefulness by means of a case study in surgery. METHODS: An updated review using IPD, where possible, was compared with an earlier version based on aggregate published data to determine whether there were statistically significant changes in estimates of effectiveness for hernia recurrence and persisting pain. Differences related to the type of laparoscopic repair, the type of open repair and methodological quality were also explored. RESULTS: The results for hernia recurrence changed little. However, the IPD update led to divergent conclusions for persisting pain. The published data implied a statistically significant benefit in favour of open repair, whereas the IPD result implied a statistically significant benefit in favour of laparoscopic repair (P < 0.001). Methodological quality did not account for this difference. CONCLUSION: Updating of systematic reviews using IPD can be conducted successfully in surgery. This example led to little change in estimates of effectiveness for hernia recurrence but yielded qualitatively different estimates for persisting pain, an outcome rarely included in the published reports.     

Cost-effectiveness of alternative methods of surgical repair of inguinal hernia

OBJECTIVES: To assess the relative cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic methods of inguinal hernia repair compared with open flat mesh and open non-mesh repair. METHODS: Data on the effectiveness of these alternatives came from three systematic reviews comparing: (i) laparoscopic methods with open flat mesh or non-mesh methods; (ii) open flat mesh with open non-mesh repair; and (iii) methods that used synthetic mesh to repair the hernia defect with those that did not. Data on costs were obtained from the authors of economic evaluations previously conducted alongside trials included in the reviews. A Markov model was used to model cost-effectiveness for a five-year period after the initial operation. The outcomes of the model were presented using a balance sheet approach and as cost per hernia recurrence avoided and cost per extra day at usual activities. RESULTS: Open flat mesh was the most cost-effective method of preventing recurrences. Laparoscopic repair provided a shorter period of convalescence and less long-term pain compared with open flat mesh but was more costly. The mean incremental cost per additional day back at usual activities compared with open flat mesh was Euro 38 and Euro 80 for totally extraperitoneal and transabdominal preperitoneal repair, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic repair is not cost-effective compared with open flat mesh repair in terms of cost per recurrence avoided. Decisions about the use of laparoscopic repair depend on whether the benefits (reduced pain and earlier return to usual activities) outweigh the extra costs and intraoperative risks. On the evidence presented here, these extra costs are unlikely to be offset by the short-term benefits of laparoscopic repair.     

华人遗传性混合息肉病综合征BMPR1A基因种系突变检测

[目的]探讨遗传性混合息肉病综合征华人家系中BMPR1A基因是否存在种系突变.[方法]34个家系成员外周血提取基因组DNA,利用聚合酶链式反应分别扩增BMPR1A基因全部外显子,进行DNA测序与突变分析,对突变外显子PCR扩增产物作变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳鉴定.[结果]家系12和2所有发病成员BMPR1A基因2号外显子位于codon23处缺失11个碱基(AAAGTCAGAAA),同时2号外显子PCR扩增产物变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳也发现异常迁移条带,而家系中正常成员的检测未发现这一突变.[结论]两华人HMPS家系中BMPR1A基因缺失突变与疾病共遗传,该基因极可能是HMPS华人家系的致病基因.