Limited knowledge of chronic kidney disease among primary care patients – a cross-sectional survey

Background

Kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in Singapore. While preventive effects have focused on early detection and education, little is known about the knowledge level of chronic kidney disease (CKD) locally. We seek to evaluate the knowledge of CKD among primary care patients.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 1520 patients from 3 primary care centers. Those with existing CKD or on dialysis were excluded. Knowledge was assessed based on 7 questions on CKD in the self-administered questionnaire. One point was given for each correct answer with a maximum of 7 points.

Results

1435 completed all 7 questions on CKD. Mean age was 48.9 ±15.0 (SD) years. 50.9% were male. 62.3% had a secondary and below education and 52.4% had a monthly household income of????$2000. 43.7% had chronic diseases. Mean score was 3.44?±?1.53 (out of a maximum of 7). Median score was 4. In multivariate logistic regression, being older {>60?years [Odds Ratio (OR) 0.50, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.32-0.79]; 40?C60?years (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43,0.89)}, less educated [up to primary education (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.22-0.49)], having a lower monthly household income [<S$2000 (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.26-0.66); S$2000-4999 (OR 0.53, 95%CI, 0.33-0.83)], and being non-professionals [OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.43-0.99] (all p?<?0.05)] were likely to score less.

Conclusion

This suggests that CKD education should be targeted at older patients with lower education and lower socioeconomic status.     

The aging properties and phase morphology of silica filled silicone rubber/butadiene rubber composites

Large amounts of antioxidants are used in unsaturated rubber composites, such as butadiene rubber (BR), which would inevitably cause surface discoloration. In this study, silicone rubber (VMQ) was blended with BR for improving its anti-aging properties. It was found that VMQ/BR exhibits better thermal oxidative aging and ozone aging resistance than BR, especially for 20/80 VMQ/BR. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied to characterize the phase morphology of VMQ–silica master-batch/BR, indicating that VMQ phases present island-dispersed domains of circular and elliptical shapes in the BR matrix, and silica particles mainly exist at the interface between BR and VMQ phases. These are two decisive factors for the improved aging properties of VMQ/BR.

Relationship between the aging properties and phase morphology of silica filled silicone rubber (VMQ)/butadiene rubber (BR) composites.     

Drug-loaded dual targeting graphene oxide-based molecularly imprinted composite and recognition of carcino-embryonic antigen

Despite extensive research on functional graphene oxide for anticancer drug delivery, the sensitivity of traditional protein targeting ligands to the environment limits the practical applications of targeted drug delivery. A unique molecularly imprinted magnetic graphene oxide was used as a novel drug delivery system for the treatment of tumors. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) synthesized by molecular imprinting technology have the advantages of good stability against chemical and enzymatic attacks, high specificity for a target template, and resistance to harsh environments. In our work, the MIP was used for specificity to tumor cells with carcino-embryonic (CEA) tumor markers as the template, and dopamine as the functional monomer was grafted on boronic acid-functionalized magnetic graphene oxide. The structure of the nanoparticles was optimized and characterized in detail by vibrating sample magnetometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, UV-vis spectroscopy, and flow cytometry. The prepared polymer has magnetic properties, specific recognition to CEA, biocompatibility and pH sensitivity for drug delivery. Cell culture research was carried out on the tumor cells and normal cells. The composites exhibited dual targeting properties that not only magnetically target but also specifically increase the drug cytotoxicity to the tumor cells by selectively binding to CEA. On the basis of these results, this study developed a novel approach for targeting tumor cells for drug delivery without needing to modify the protein ligand.

In the research we designed a CEA-molecularly imprinted polymers using molecular imprinting technique with CEA tumor marker as template, boronic acid functionalized MGO as substrate for dual targeted delivery of drug to tumor cells.     

Posterior hemivertebra resection with bisegmental fusion for congenital scoliosis: more than 3 year outcomes and analysis of unanticipated surgeries

Purpose

Until now there have been many reports on hemivertebra resection. But there were no large series on the posterior hemivertebra resection with bisegmental fusion. This is a retrospective study to evaluate the surgical outcomes of posterior hemivertebra resection only with bisegmental fusion for congenital scoliosis caused by fully segmented non-incarcerated hemivertebra.

Methods

In our study, 36 consecutive cases (19 males, 17 females) diagnosed with congenital scoliosis, resulting from fully segmented non-incarcerated hemivertebra, treated by posterior hemivertebra resection with bisegmental fusion were investigated retrospectively, with at least a 3 year follow-up period (36–106 months).

Results

The total number of resected hemivertebra was 36. Mean operation time was 188.6 min with average blood loss of 364.2 ml. The segmental scoliosis was corrected from 36.6° to 5.1° with a correction rate of 86.1 %, and segmental kyphosis(difference to normal segmental alignment) from 21.2° to 5.8° at the latest follow-up. The correction rate of the compensatory cranial and caudal curve is 76.4 and 75.1 %. Unanticipated surgeries were performed on eight patients, including one delayed wound healing, two pedicle fractures, one progressive deformity and four implants removals.

Conclusions

Posterior hemivertebra resection with bisegmental fusion allows for early intervention in very young children. Excellent correction can be obtained while the growth potential of the unaffected spine could be preserved well. However, it is not indicated for the hemivertebra between L5 and S1. The most common complication of this procedure is implant failure. Furthermore, in the very young children we noted that although solid fusion could be observed in the fusion level, implants migration may still happen during the time of adolescence, when the height of the body developed rapidly. So a close follow-up is necessary.     

血友病足踝部病变的外科治疗

目的探讨外科治疗血友病足踝部病变围术期处理方法、术式选择及疗效。方法 1998年6月-2012年2月,收治血友病足踝部病变男性患者10例(12足)。年龄13～41岁,平均22.6岁。其中甲型血友病9例(11足),乙型血友病1例(1足)。单足受累8例,双足2例;左侧3足,右侧9足。病程5～84个月,平均32.2个月。术前根据美国矫形足踝协会(AOFAS)评分为(43.2±21.1)分,简明健康调查量表(SF-36量表)评分总分为(45.4±20.0)分。入院后给予凝血因子2 000～3 500 U行预试验,围术期行凝血因子替代方案治疗。行踝关节融合术4例(4足),单纯跟腱延长/肌腱转移术7例(8足);其中1例左足行单纯跟腱延长术,右足行踝关节融合术。结果手术时间65～265 min,平均141.1 min;除1例术中出血400 mL、术中回输200 mL自体血外,其余患者出血量均<50 mL,围术期均未输血。患者切口均Ⅰ期愈合,术后无感染、下肢深静脉血栓形成、神经损伤等并发症发生。患者均获随访,随访时间6个月～14年3个月,中位时间22个月。行踝关节融合术患者末次随访时X线片检查示踝关节完全融合。术后6个月及末次随访时,AOFAS评分分别为(78.8±14.7)分和(75.8±14.5)分,SF-36量表评分总分分别为(76.6±13.1)分和(75.5±13.2)分,两指标与术前比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);术后6个月与末次随访时比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论对于血友病足踝部病变患者,手术治疗可以缓解足踝部疼痛,改善功能。术前行凝血因子预试验,围手术期行凝血因子替代方案,可降低术后大出血发生率。     

人工膝关节置换术后发热特点及趋势的相关分析

背景：围手术期发热在人工膝关节置换术患者中十分常见,但关节术后感染尤其是假体周围感染可产生灾难性后果,因此骨科医师对其患者术后发热仍难免特别担心。 目的：探讨人工膝关节置换术后发热的相关特点和趋势,以及人工膝关节置换术后发热与感染等因素的潜在关系。 方法：回顾性分析2009年7月至2012年5月行膝关节置换术的700例患者的病历资料。详细记录每例患者术前1 d至术后10 d每天的最高体温,术后血红蛋白丢失量、是否输血、麻醉方式、是否发生感染及感染类型等。 结果：351例（50.1%）人工膝关节置换术患者出现术后发热。在发热患者中,第1次发热症状最常出现在术后第1天（204例,占所有发热病例数的58.1%）,手术当日（55例,15.7%）和术后第2天（62例,17.7%）次之。整个住院期间的最高体温最常出现在术后第1天（168例,47.9%）、第2天（125例,35.6%）。25例（3.6%）患者发生术后感染事件,术后发热与感染事件、输血显著相关;与年龄、性别、血红蛋白丢失、麻醉方式等因素之间没有显著的相关性。在感染事件中,呼吸系感染最易引起术后发热。 结论：人工膝关节置换术患者术后发热与感染事件、输血明显相关,而连续发热、超过39℃的发热尤其需要引起医师对术后感染的警惕。     

钩钢板治疗Neer II型锁骨骨折术后锁骨中段骨折的危险因素分析

目的分析钩钢板治疗Neer II型锁骨骨折术后锁骨中段骨折的潜在危险因素。 方法在2009年3月至2019年7月期间,有294例患者使用了钩钢板治疗锁骨远端骨折并符合入选标准,其中279例术后未发生锁骨中段骨折的患者（对照组）、15例发生了术后锁骨中段骨折的患者（并发症组）。本研究收集了患者的数据,包括性别、年龄、骨折患侧、体重指数、吸烟情况、最内侧螺钉的种类、是否由住院医师作为术者进行手术、术中钩钢板是否进行了塑型、钢板的孔数、钩的深度、并发症的发生时间和发生时有无第二次创伤。本研究采用卡方检验对所有潜在的危险因素在对照组和并发症组间进行了比较。最后对具有统计学差异的变量进行了Logistic回归分析。 结果高龄患者在使用钩钢板治疗锁骨远端骨折后,更容易出现锁骨中段骨折（OR= 3.478; 95% CI : 1.719~15.407; P= 0.003）。 结论患者高龄可以显著增加钩钢板固定后锁骨中段骨折的发生率。     

Risk factors for failure of repeat midurethral sling surgery for recurrent or persistent stress urinary incontinence

Introduction and hypothesis

To study the outcomes following repeat midurethral sling (MUS) surgery in patients with persistent or recurrent stress urinary incontinence after failure of primary MUS surgery and risk factors for surgical failure.

Methods

The medical records of 24 patients who underwent repeat MUS surgery at a single tertiary center from January 2004 to February 2014 were reviewed. The types of MUS used for the repeat surgey were transobturator, retropubic and single incision slings. Objective cure was defined as no demonstrable involuntary leakage of urine during increased abdominal pressure in the absence of a detrusor contraction observed during filling cystometry, and subjective cure was defined as a negative response to Urogenital Distress Inventory six (UDI-6) question 3 during follow-up between 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. The change in the inclination angle between the urethra and pubic axis was measured with introital ultrasonography and the cotton swab test performed.

Results

The objective and subjective cure rates were 79.2 % and 75 %, respectively. There were no differences in demographics between the patients with failure of surgery and those with successful surgery. Significant independent risk factors for failure of repeat MUS surgery were a change in cotton swab angle at rest and straining of <30° (OR 4.6, 95 % CI 2.5 – 7.9°), a change in inclination angle of <30° (OR 4.6, 95 % CI 2.5 – 7.9°), intrinsic sphincter deficiency (OR 3.4, 95 % CI 1.8 – 6.1) and a mean urethral closure pressure of <60 cm H₂O (OR 2.9, 95 % CI 1.5 – 4.5). In one patient the bladder was perforated.

Conclusions

Repeat MUS surgery is safe and has a good short-term success rate, both objectively and subjectively, with independent risk factors for failure related to bladder neck hypomobility and poor urethral function.

     

两种抗生素复合骨水泥的材料学性能及抗菌活性研究

目的探讨复合万古霉素、美罗培南、万古霉素+美罗培南的抗生素复合骨水泥(AIBC)的性质,以探索抗菌谱更广、耐药可能性更低的AIBC。方法以Palacos为载药骨水泥,复合万古霉素、美罗培南、万古霉素+美罗培南,分别检测不同配方的AIBC的抗压强度、洗脱特性和抗菌活性。结果 5%质量分数的AIBC,其抗压强度降低至70 MPa左右,万古霉素、美罗培南均能够从AIBC中有效释放,万古霉素+美罗培南复合的AIBC万古霉素释放量高于仅复合万古霉素的AIBC,且差异有统计学意义(7.96%vs 5.25%,t=47.51,P0.01);同时美罗培南洗脱比例也轻度升高,且差异有统计学意义(2.86%vs 2.70%,t=2.98,P0.01),但不影响抗生素的抗菌活性。结论万古霉素与美罗培南复合后的AIBC促进万古霉素释放,对美罗培南的释放影响不大,能覆盖更广的PJI细菌谱,不降低材料学特性,不影响抗菌活性,在治疗PJI时应考虑使用。