Review article: Goals‐of‐care discussions for adult patients nearing end of life in emergency departments: A systematic review

Goals‐of‐care discussions at end‐of‐life are associated with increased patient satisfaction and reduced treatment burdens, reduced family and healthcare worker distress and healthcare costs, while achieving equal life‐expectancy. It is unclear how goals‐of‐care discussions should occur. The objective of the study was to determine which patients could benefit, requirements, content, documentation, and harms and benefits of emergency medicine goals‐of‐care discussions. We sought primary evidence on goals‐of‐care discussions in EDs with adult patients nearing end‐of‐life, published in English after 1989. Data sources included Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science and reference lists of included articles. One thousand nine hundred and twenty abstracts were screened, five articles selected. There was no consensus on the meaning of goals‐of‐care, which is often confused with advanced care planning and treatment limitation. Emergency clinicians can identify most patients needing discussions following training. There was no evidence for how to involve stakeholders, nor how to adapt conversations to meet cultural and linguistically diverse needs. Expert panels have suggested requirements and content for conversations with little supporting evidence. There was no evidence for how emergency conversations differ to those in other settings, nor for harms or benefits for holding goals‐of‐care conversations in EDs. Increased ED goals‐of‐care conversations increased hospice referral and reduced in‐patient admissions. Most studies were of moderate quality only, outcomes were not standardised and sample sizes were small. ‘Goals‐of‐care’ is used inconsistently across the literature. This is the first systematic review regarding goals‐of‐care discussions in EDs. Further research is needed on all aspects of these conversations.     

实时剪切波弹性成像及彩色脉搏波成像技术评估不同级别高血压患者颈总动脉弹性

目的应用实时剪切波弹性成像及彩色脉搏波成像技术分析高血压患者颈总动脉纵向及环向血管壁硬度,比较不同级别高血压患者颈总动脉血管壁硬度差异,探讨2种技术在高血压分级诊断中的应用价值。 方法选取2016年2至12月云南省第二人民医院收治的临床确诊的高血压患者120例。根据中国高血压防治指南（2010年版）分级分为1、2、3级高血压组3组各40例。另选取同期云南省第二人民医院体检无高血压病史的健康志愿者40名作为健康对照组。应用实时剪切波弹性成像技术获得所有研究对象颈总动脉前壁及后壁的弹性模量值（Mean、Max、Min）,得到颈动脉的纵向血管壁硬度;应用彩色脉搏波成像技术获得所有研究对象颈总动脉壁的脉搏波速度,包括收缩期开始时的脉搏波速度（PWVBS）、收缩期结束时的脉搏波速度（PWVES）,得到颈动脉的环向血管壁硬度。采用单因素方差分析比较不同级别高血压组患者与健康对照组受试者颈总动脉壁硬度值（Mean、Max、Min、PWVBS、PWVES）,进一步组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验;采用Pearson相关分析法分析高血压患者颈动脉壁硬度值（Mean、Max、Min、PWVBS、PWVES）与高血压级数的相关性。 结果颈总动脉（前壁及后壁）的弹性模量值（Mean、Max、Min）均为高血压3级组>高血压2级组>高血压1级组>健康对照组,且任意2组间比较差异均有统计学意义。Pearson相关分析结果显示,颈总动脉（前壁及后壁）的弹性模量值（Mean、Max、Min）与高血压级数均有相关性（r=0.817、0.767、0.796,P均<0.05）。随着高血压级数的增高,高血压患者颈总动脉（前壁及后壁）的弹性模量值（Mean、Max、Min）呈增高趋势。颈总动脉脉搏波速度（PWVBS、PWVES）均为高血压3组>高血压2组>高血压1组>健康对照组,且任意2组间比较差异均有统计学意义。Pearson相关分析结果显示,脉搏波速度（PWVES、PWVBS）与高血压级数均有相关性（r=0.650、0.585,P<0.05）。随着高血压级数的增高,高血压患者脉搏波速度（PWVBS、PWVES）呈增高趋势。 结论实时剪切波弹性成像及彩色脉搏波成像技术为高血压分级诊断提供了一种有价值的参考。随着高血压级数的增高,高血压患者颈总动脉壁的纵向及环向血管壁硬度均呈增高趋势,且两者具有一致性。     

Weight gain in breast cancer survivors: prevalence,pattern and health consequences

Weight gain is a common and persistent problem for many breast cancer survivors and is associated with adverse health consequences. A comprehensive review of the English language literature was conducted to investigate the frequency, magnitude and pattern of weight gain among breast cancer survivors, to identify factors that are associated with these changes and to review the clinical significance of weight gain on disease free survival and overall health. While there appears to be a general trend toward a reduction in the magnitude of weight gain in recent years, as many as 50–96% of women experience weight gain during treatment and many, including some women who remain weight stable during treatment, report progressive weight gain in the months and years after diagnosis. Weight gain is more common in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, especially for women receiving longer duration treatments and seems to be especially pronounced in premenopausal women. With or without weight gain, unfavourable changes in body composition including fat gain and loss of lean tissue are prevalent. This unique pattern of weight gain and change in body composition is distressing for most women, poses significant risk for the development of co‐morbid conditions and may impact on long term disease‐free survival.     

硫酸氢氯吡格雷与低分子肝素钠联合治疗急性进展性脑梗死的临床观察

目的探讨进展性脑梗死的有效治疗措施,从而改善急性进展性脑梗死的预后。方法将90例急性进展性脑梗死患者随机分为2组:治疗组45例,采用硫酸氢氯吡格雷75mg,1次/d,连用10d,同时低分子肝素钠0.5ml腹部皮下注射,2次/d,连用10d,其他除不用肠溶阿司匹林外,余治疗同对照组;对照组45例,用肠溶阿司匹林100mg口服,1次/d,血栓通250mg+NS 250ml静滴,1次/d,共10d。结果治疗组疗效明显优于对照组P0.01。结论应用硫酸氢氯吡格雷与低分子肝素钠联合治疗急性进展性脑梗死均有明显控制病情发展作用,二者具有协同作用,使用简便、安全,值得临床应用。     

A Pilot Comprehensive School Nutrition Program Improves Knowledge and Intentions for Intake of Milk and Milk Alternatives Among Youth in a Remote First Nation

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a pilot comprehensive school nutrition program modeled on Social Cognitive Theory on knowledge, intentions, self-efficacy, and intake of milk and milk alternatives (MMA) in First Nations youth.MethodsA pilot school nutrition program was implemented at Peetabeck Academy in Fort Albany, Ontario in May, 2010. The Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, and Intentions Questionnaire (KSIQ) and Waterloo Web-based Eating Behavior Questionnaire (WEB-Q) were used to assess change in attitudes and behavior from pre- to postprogram.ResultsThe KSIQ preprogram (n = 26), postprogram (n = 19); WEB-Q preprogram (n = 30), postprogram (n = 10). Improved knowledge (6.0 ± 1.5 vs 6.9 ± 1.5, P = .05) and intention scores (9.6 ± 4.4 vs 11.3 ± 4.1, P = .01) were observed.Conclusions and ImplicationsA comprehensive school nutrition program can improve knowledge and intentions for intake of MMA in First Nations youth. Environmental constraints beyond the school environment need to be addressed.     

抗氧化反应元件调控的EGFP在HepG2细胞中的表达

目的:采用增强绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)作为报告基因,用HepG2细胞构建可敏感、快速、方便地筛选出Ⅱ相酶诱导剂的评价体系。方法:通过分子生物学技术,将TK启动子克隆到pEGFP-N1上,再将人工合成的抗氧化反应元件(ARE)序列插入TK启动子上游,并转染入HepG2细胞株,经G418筛选,挑取单克隆扩大培养。结果:重组载体经酶切和PCR鉴定,发现有TK和ARE-TK基因特异条带。DNA测序发现ARE-TK-EGFP框架正确。转染细胞在荧光显微镜下可见大量的绿色荧光颗粒,该细胞经不同浓度已知Ⅱ相酶诱导剂tBHQ作用后,与EGFP表达量有剂量效应关系。结论:ARE调控的EGFP在HepG2细胞中成功表达。为进一步高通量筛选Ⅱ相酶诱导剂奠定了基础。     

垂体腺瘤患者胰岛素抵抗和皮质醇水平的相关性研究

目的 探讨垂体腺瘤(PA)患者胰岛素抵抗(IR)、血清皮质醇水平及昼夜分泌节律情况.方法 选取2016年10月至2017年4月该院收治的67例PA患者(垂体性Cushing综合征23例,生长激素腺瘤15例,泌乳素瘤16例,无功能性腺瘤13例)作为观察组,选取该院同期体检的49例健康体检者作为对照组.分别测定两组对象的空腹血糖(FPG)、空腹胰岛素(FINS)、血清皮质醇等生化指标,计算IR指数(HOMA-IR),并分析患者IR与血清皮质醇的相关性.结果 观察组皮质醇昼夜分泌节律紊乱的发生率为58.21％;皮质醇分泌节律异常的PA组患者空腹血清皮质醇水平明显高于相应的皮质醇分泌节律正常的PA组和对照组;垂体性Cushing综合征和生长激素腺瘤组的FINS水平和HOMA-IR均高于对照组,相关性分析显示,垂体性Cushing综合征和生长激素腺瘤患者的HOMA-IR与空腹血清皮质醇、FINS水平呈正相关(P＜0.05).结论 垂体性Cushing综合征和生长激素腺瘤存在IR的发生,这可能与血清皮质醇升高密切相关.     

Predicting breast cancer risk: implications of a “weak” family history

Published guidelines adopted in many countries recommend that women whose family history of breast cancer places them at a risk ≥1.7 times that of the age-matched general population, should be considered for inclusion in special surveillance programmes. However validation of risk assessment models has been called for as a matter of urgency. The databases of the four Scottish Familial Breast Cancer clinics and the Scottish Cancer Registry have been searched to identify breast cancers occurring among 1,125 women aged 40–56, with family histories placing them below the “moderate” level of genetic risk. The observed incidence over 6 years was compared with age-specific data for the Scottish population. Our findings confirm that when there are two affected relatives (one first degree) the relative risk (RR) exceeds 1.7 regardless of their ages at diagnosis. When only one (first degree) relative was affected at any age from 40 to 55, the RR does not reach 1.7 if that relative was a mother but exceeds it if the relative was a sister. The probable explanation is that sisters are more likely than mother/daughter pairs to share homozygosity for a risk allele. Surveillance programmes might therefore accommodate sisters of women affected before age 55. Evidence that “low penetrance” alleles contributing to breast cancer risk may be recessive should be taken into account in strategies for identifying them. All the authors are from the Scottish Cancer Family Clinical Centres.