Development and pretesting of “Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly”: Empowering governments for global scaling up of breastfeeding programmes

Scaling up breastfeeding programmes has not been highly prioritized despite overwhelming evidence that breastfeeding benefits the health of mothers and children. Lack of evidence‐based tools for scaling up may deter countries from prioritizing breastfeeding. To fill this gap, Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF) was developed to guide countries in effectively scaling up programmes to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. BBF includes an evidence‐based toolbox that consists of a BBF Index, case studies, and a 5‐meeting process. These three interrelated components enable countries to assess their breastfeeding scaling up environment, identify gaps, propose policy recommendations, develop a scaling up plan, and track progress. The toolbox was developed based on current evidence and expert guidance from a Technical Advisory Group, which was composed of global breastfeeding and metric experts with experience in the scaling up of health and nutrition programmes in low‐, middle‐, and high‐income countries. The BBF toolbox required a step‐by‐step iterative approach to describe and systematize each component, thus an operational manual was developed. The BBF toolbox and BBF operational manual underwent intensive pretesting in two countries, Ghana and Mexico, resulting in the modification of each component plus the operational manual. Pretesting continues in six additional countries demonstrating that BBF is a robust and dynamic multi‐sectoral process that, with relatively minor adaptations, can be successfully implemented in countries across world regions.     

Constructing Large Scale Cohort for Clinical Study on Heart Failure with Electronic Health Record in Regional Healthcare Platform: Challenges and Strategies in Data Reuse

Regional healthcare platforms collect clinical data from hospitals in specific areas for the purpose of healthcare management. It is a common requirement to reuse the data for clinical research. However, we have to face challenges like the inconsistence of terminology in electronic health records (EHR) and the complexities in data quality and data formats in regional healthcare platform. In this paper, we propose methodology and process on constructing large scale cohorts which forms the basis of causality and comparative effectiveness relationship in epidemiology. We firstly constructed a Chinese terminology knowledge graph to deal with the diversity of vocabularies on regional platform. Secondly, we built special disease case repositories (i.e., heart failure repository) that utilize the graph to search the related patients and to normalize the data. Based on the requirements of the clinical research which aimed to explore the effectiveness of taking statin on 180-days readmission in patients with heart failure, we built a large-scale retrospective cohort with 29647 cases of heart failure patients from the heart failure repository. After the propensity score matching, the study group (n=6346) and the control group (n=6346) with parallel clinical characteristics were acquired. Logistic regression analysis showed that taking statins had a negative correlation with 180-days readmission in heart failure patients. This paper presents the workflow and application example of big data mining based on regional EHR data.     

Pressure ulcer incidence and Braden subscales: Retrospective cohort analysis in general wards of a Portuguese hospital

AimTo study the influence of Braden subscales scores (at the first pressure ulcer risk assessment) on pressure ulcer incidence using a univariate and a multivariate time to event analysis.Materials and methodsRetrospective cohort analysis of electronic health record database from adult patients admitted without pressure ulcer(s) to medical and surgical wards of a Portuguese hospital during 2012. The hazard ratio of developing a pressure ulcer during the length of inpatient stay was calculated by univariate Cox regression for each variable of interest and by multivariate Cox regression for the Braden subscales that were statistically significant.ResultsThis study included a sample of 6552 participants. During the length of stay, 153 participants developed (at least) one pressure ulcer, giving a pressure ulcer incidence of 2.3%. The univariate time to event analysis showed that all Braden subscales, except “nutrition”, were associated with the development of pressure ulcer. By multivariate analysis the scores for “mobility” and “activity” were independently predictive of the development of pressure ulcer(s) for all participants.Conclusion(Im)“mobility” (the lack of ability to change and control body position) and (in)“activity” (the limited degree of physical activity) were the major risk factors assessed by Braden Scale for pressure ulcer development during the length of inpatient stay. Thus, the greatest efforts in managing pressure ulcer risk should be on “mobility” and “activity”, independently of the total Braden Scale score.     

认知行为疗法在强迫症患者中的应用效果观察

目的探讨认知行为疗法在强迫症患者中的应用效果。方法选择强迫症患者52例,随机均分为A组和B组,每组各26例,两组患者给予常规护理,在此基础上B组患者实施认知行为疗法。在就诊时及治疗后(治疗第4周和第8周),采用耶鲁布朗强迫症状量表(Y-BOCS)对两组患者进行测评。结果治疗第4周和第8周,两组患者Y-BOCS总评分比较,均P<0.05,差异具有统计学意义。结论在强迫症患者的治疗过程中,实施认知行为疗法,可提高临床疗效,促进疾病的康复。     

A Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial of Oral Pregabalin for Relief of Shoulder Pain after Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery

Study ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of pregabalin for the relief of postoperative shoulder pain after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.DesignProspective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I).SettingTertiary referral center, university hospital.PatientsFifty-six women undergoing elective laparoscopic gynecologic surgery between June 2012 and March 2013.InterventionsWomen in the study group received 75 mg pregabalin 2 hours before surgery and then every 12 hours for 2 doses, and women in the control group received an identical capsule and the same dosage of placebo.Measurements and Main ResultsVisual analog scale (VAS) scores for shoulder pain and surgical pain at 24 and 48 hours after surgery were evaluated as primary outcome. Postoperative analgesics used and drug-related adverse events were also monitored. Patients in the pregabalin group had significantly lower postoperative VAS scores for shoulder pain at 24 hours, compared with the placebo group (median, 23.14 [range, 13.67–32.61] vs 37.22 [27.75–46.64]; p = .04), and required less analgesic (p = .01). There were no significant differences in VAS scores for surgical pain and adverse events between the 2 groups (p = .56).ConclusionsPerioperative administration of 75 mg pregabalin significantly reduced postoperative laparoscopic shoulder pain and amount of analgesic used.     

A Postmarketing Clinical Experience Study of Metadate® CD

Summary

Objective:The objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of Metadate® CD (methylphenidate HCl, USP) Extended Release Capsules in the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), in actual clinical practice.

Method:This was a multicenter, open-label, postmarketing study. Eligible patients were aged 6-17 with a diagnosis of ADHD and receiving either no treatment or maintenance treatment with another approved methylphenidate (MPH) product. Metadate® CD was administered once daily for 3 weeks, titrated against reported and observed symptoms. Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores at Week 3 were used for the primary efficacy evaluation. Patient treatment satisfaction was determined by questionnaire at the final evaluation visit. Safety was assessed through adverse event reporting, laboratory tests and vital sign measurements.

Results: Overall, of the 308 patients in the Intent-To-Treat population, the majority (65%) demonstrated a positive response to Metadate® CD (defined as CGI Global Improvement rating of very much or much improved). In addition, patients previously treated with immediate-release or extended-release tablet formulations of MPH were successfully converted to Metadate® CD at a comparable dose. Most patients (87%) were very satisfied or moderately satisfied with study treatment, and among previously treated patients, 71% rated Metadate® CD as much better or better than their previous MPH treatment. Adverse events were consistent with current FDA-approved product labeling for Metadate® CD.

Conclusions: Metadate® CD is effective and well-tolerated in actual clinical use for ADHD.     

An ensemble with the chinese pentatonic scale using electroencephalogram from both hemispheres

To listen to brain activity as a piece of music,we previously proposed scale-free brainwave music（SFBM）technology,which translated the scalp electroencephalogram（EEG）into musical notes according to the power law of both the EEG and music.In this study,the methodology was further extended to ensemble music on two channels from the two hemispheres.EEG data from two channels symmetrically located on the left and right hemispheres were translated into MIDI sequences by SFBM,and the EEG parameters modulated the pitch,duration and volume of each note.Then,the two sequences were filtered into an ensemble with two voices：the pentatonic scale（traditional Chinese music）or the heptatonic scale（standard Western music）.We demonstrated differences in harmony between the two scales generated at different sleep stages,with the pentatonic scale being more harmonious.The harmony intervals of this brain ensemble at various sleep stages followed the power law.Compared with the heptatonic scale,it was easier to distinguish the different stages using the pentatonic scale.These results suggested that the hemispheric ensemble can represent brain activity by variations in pitch,tempo and harmony.The ensemble with the pentatonic scale sounds more consonant,and partially reflects the relations of the two hemispheres.This can be used to distinguish the different states of brain activity and provide a new perspective on EEG analysis.     

Altered REM sleep architecture in patients with Myotonic dystrophy type 1: is related to sleep apnea?

ObjectiveTo determine the sleep architecture and sleep respiratory abnormalities and to correlate with sleep symptoms in patients with Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).MethodsWe recruited a cohort of genetically confirmed patients with DM1, who attended the Neuromuscular clinic between July 2016 and December 2019. Clinical, sleep and whole night polysomnography data were collected. The analysis of sleep architecture, sleep respiratory parameters and comparison with healthy controls (HC) was performed in our sleep laboratory.ResultsA total of 59 patients with DM1 underwent sleep evaluation. Hypersomnolence in 42 (77.8%), ESS>10 in 23 (39%), and PSQI>5 in 18 (30.5%) were found in patients with DM1. Thirty-one (68.89%) patients with DM1 and 22 (95.65%) HC had more than 4-h of total sleep time (TST). More than 4 h of TST was taken to compare respiratory and sleep architecture parameters. Patients with DM1 had reduced sleep efficiency, reduced N2 sleep, and increase in N1 sleep, wake index, stage shift index, nocturnal sleep-onset REM periods compared to HC. AHI>15 was found in 16 (51.61%) DM1 and in 3 HC (13.64%). AHI had positive correlation with BMI, but not with age, ESS or disease progression (MIRS). All DM1 with AHI>15; 8(80%) and 1(33.33%) in AHI5to15, and AHI<5 groups, respectively had hypersomnolence.ConclusionIn this first study on Indian cohort, daytime hypersomnolence, poor nocturnal sleep quality, sleep architecture irregularities are identified to be common in patients with DM1. These abnormalities may be explained by sleep-related breathing disorders that are highly prevalent in these patients.