Evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of free influenza vaccination policy for older adults in Yinzhou,China: Study protocol of a real-world analyses

BackgroundInfluenza causes excessive morbidity and mortality among older adults. While influenza vaccine provides protection against its infection, the vaccination coverage in China among older adults has been very low. Previous evidence on the cost-effectiveness of government-sponsored free influenza vaccination programs in China was primarily based on literature data, which might not always reflect real-world patient populations. The Yinzhou Health Information System (YHIS) is a regional database that captures electronic health records, insurance claims data, etc. for all residents in Yinzhou district, Zhejiang province, China. We will use YHIS to study the effectiveness, influenza-related direct medical cost and cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of the free influenza vaccination program for older adults. In this paper, we describe the study design and innovations in detail.MethodsWe will establish a retrospective cohort of permanent older residents aged 65 and over, using YHIS between 2016 and 2021. We will estimate the vaccine coverage rate, influenza incidence rate and influenza-related direct medical cost from 2016 to 2021. Regression discontinuity will be used to estimate vaccine effectiveness for the 2020/2021 season. We will build a decision tree model to compare the cost-effectiveness of three influenza vaccination options (free trivalent influenza vaccine, free quadrivalent influenza vaccine, and no policy) from both societal and health system perspectives. Parameter inputs will be gathered from both YHIS and published literature. We will calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio with cost and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) discounted at 5 % annually.DiscussionOur CEA solidifies multiple sources including regional real-world data and literature for a rigorous evaluation of the government-sponsored free influenza vaccination program. The results will provide real-world evidence from real-world data on the cost-effectiveness of a real-world policy. Our findings are expected to support evidence-based policy making and to promote health for older adults.     

加速康复外科理念下肱骨近端骨折诊疗规范的专家共识

肱骨近端骨折是创伤骨科最常见的骨折之一,国外文献报道其发生率占全身骨折的4%~5%,国内文献报道约占2.5%。大多数肱骨近端骨折是老年人低能量骨质疏松性骨折,主要由平地摔倒所致,男女比为2~3∶1。随着人口结构的老龄化,其发病率呈快速上升趋势,在近30年移位骨折占所有肱骨近端骨折的比例上升了50%。饮食中低钙摄入、骨质疏松等均会增加肱骨近端骨折的风险,其他危险因素还包括亚健康状态、髋部骨折家族史、糖尿病、视力减退及神经肌肉功能减退等。     

Spinal cord concussion in previously undiagnosed osteogenesis imperfecta

An 11-year-old boy was a victim of a motor vehicle accident. He initially presented with paraplegia and inability to detect pain below the fourth thoracic dermatome. Two hours later, he had full return of motor and sensory function. Thoracolumbar spine radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple compression fractures and marked osteopenia of the vertebrae. The patient's family history is significant for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), although the patient had not been previously diagnosed with this disorder. Although the patient had no prior fractures or any of the classic stigmata of OI except for short stature, plain radiographic and MRI findings in conjunction with his family history support the diagnosis of OI. A brief discussion of both OI and spinal cord concussion is presented.     

截骨矫形术中估算断端移位参数的方法

 目的 建立一套截骨矫形术中估算断端移位参数的方法。方法 针对截骨后远端部分的旋转过程建立数学模型,并对成角旋转中心、旋转轴和截骨点三点不同空间位置关系的情形分别予以分析,推导断端移位参数的近似计算公式,并与实验测量结果进行比较。结果 对不同参数条件下截骨矫形断端移位参数的理论预测值与实验测量值进行比较,二者差异无统计学意义。本研究理论预测值的相对误差均<10%,明显小于其他通行的方法,差异有统计学意义(P=0.005)。结论 推导所得的计算公式可用于截骨矫形术中预测断端移位程度,有利于截骨矫形手术术前制定规划。     

High variability in anterior cruciate ligament femoral footprint: Implications for anatomical anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

BackgroundThe study aimed to (1) investigate the variability of the femoral ACL center in ACL-ruptured patients, (2) identify whether the currently available over-the-top femoral ACL guides could allow for anatomical reconstruction of the native ACL footprint.Material and methodsMagnetic resonance images of 95 knees with an ACL rupture were used to create three-dimensional models of the femur. The femoral ACL footprint area was outlined on each model, and the location of the femoral ACL center was reported using an anatomical coordinate system. The distance of the femoral ACL center from the over-the-top position was measured.ResultsThe femoral ACL center demonstrated a high intersubject variability ranging from 1.8 mm (9%) to 12.3 mm (60%) posterior and from 7.7 mm (37%) distal to 4.8 mm (23%) proximal using the posterior condyle circle reference. The average distance of the femoral ACL center from the over-the-top position was 1.9 ± 1.5 mm posterior and 13.8 ± 2.7 mm distal, respectively. The contemporary over-the-top femoral ACL aimers could restore the femoral ACL center in only 6.5% of the patients.ConclusionsThe femoral ACL center demonstrated a high variation on its location, which resulted in a high intersubject variability from the over-the-top position. The contemporary over-the-top femoral tunnel guides do not provide sufficient offset to allow for an anatomical ACL reconstruction. Anteromedial-portal specific femoral ACL guides with a femoral offset ranging from 10 to 18 mm in the proximal/distal direction are required to restore the native ACL footprint.     

Predictors of poor pre-operative psychological status among patients with cartilage defects

BackgroundWe evaluated the risk factors for pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and elevated depressive symptoms among patients undergoing high-grade cartilage defect surgery. We hypothesized that cartilage patients would demonstrate high scores on pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and depression testing prior to surgery.MethodsTwo hundred and ten patients undergoing surgery for high-grade cartilage defects (56% chondroplasty, 36% microfracture, 22% autologous chondrocyte implantation) completed a preoperative survey before undergoing surgery. Outcome scores assessed were: International Knee Documentation Committee-Symptom (IKDC-S) score, Tegner activity score, Pain catastrophizing scale (PCS), Tampa scale for kinesiophobia (TSK-11), and Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-9). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine what pre-operative factors predicted pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and elevated depressive symptoms.ResultsThe mean pre-operative Tegner score was 5.8 (SD 2.4) and IKDC-S score was 44.7 (SD 11.1). Prior to surgery, 19% had abnormal pain catastrophizing (PCS ≥ 20 points), 14.4% had moderate-severe depression (PHQ ≥ 10), and 49.0% had high kinesiophobia (TSK-11 ≥ 25). Lower pre-operative Tegner scores predicted moderate-severe depressive symptoms (per point decrease, OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.06, 1.76; p = 0.008). Predictors of elevated pain catastrophizing were lower pre-operative IKDC-S scores (per 5-point decrease, OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.08, 1.51; p = 0.002) and symptom duration >6 months (OR 2.20 CI 1.14, 4.32; p = 0.02). A lower pre-operative IKDC-S score (per 5-point decrease, OR 1.17, CI 1.03, 1.33; p = 0.02) predicted elevated kinesiophobia.ConclusionLow self-reported function, low activity level and symptom duration greater than six months are associated with poor preoperative psychological status.     

Evaluating Cognitive-Linguistic Approaches to Interventions for Aphasia Within the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System

The Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) provides a framework to identify specific components of treatments developed within various rehabilitation disciplines (eg, physical, occupational, or speech-language therapy). Furthermore, this framework offers the opportunity to identify the target and active ingredients of a therapy approach as well as the mechanism of action by which it is hypothesized to effect change in abilities or functions. In this article, we apply the RTSS framework to the characterization of a sample of treatments for aphasia that are based on cognitive-linguistic models of language processing. Our discussion of these applications centers on the benefits of this classification system and additional criteria to consider when evaluating cognitive-linguistic treatments for aphasia.