Diagnostics and Treatments of COVID-19: A Living Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations

ObjectivesAs healthcare systems continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, cost-effectiveness evidence will be needed to identify which tests and treatments for COVID-19 offer value for money. We sought to review economic evaluations of diagnostic tests and treatments for COVID-19, critically appraising the methodological approaches used and reporting cost-effectiveness estimates, using a “living” systematic review approach.MethodsKey databases (including MEDLINE, EconLit, Embase) were last searched on July 12, 2021. Gray literature and model repositories were also searched. Only full economic evaluations published in English were included. Studies were quality assessed and data were extracted into standard tables. Results were narratively summarized. The review was completed by 2 reviewers independently, with disagreements resolved through discussion with a senior reviewer.ResultsOverall, 3540 records were identified, with 13 meeting the inclusion criteria. After quality assessment, 6 were excluded because of very severe limitations. Of the 7 studies included, 5 were cost-utility analyses and 2 were cost-effectiveness analyses. All were model-based analyses. A total of 5 evaluated treatments (dexamethasone, remdesivir, hypothetical) and 2 evaluated hypothetical testing strategies. Cost-effectiveness estimates were sensitive to the treatment effect on survival and hospitalization, testing speed and accuracy, disease severity, and price.ConclusionsPresently, there are few economic evaluations for COVID-19 tests and treatments. They suggest treatments that confer a survival benefit and fast diagnostic tests may be cost effective. Nevertheless, studies are subject to major evidence gaps and take inconsistent analytical approaches. The evidence may improve for planned updates of this “living” review.     

基于混合测序策略的两品种当归中类黄酮调控基因差异分析

目的 比较2个不同茎叶色当归品种岷归1号与岷归2号转录水平差异。方法 以2种颜色当归的新鲜叶片（带叶柄）和上端茎为材料,采用混合测序策略,应用全长转录组技术构建当归无参全长转录本文库,利用RNA-seq技术对两品种进行差异基因表达分析,再利用公共数据库对差异基因的生物学功能进行注释和精细分类,筛选调控当归茎叶色差异的主要候选基因。结果 当归转录本的测序结果良好,测序数据质量较高,当归全长转录本的34 528条序列在非冗余蛋白（NR）、京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）、SwissProt及KOG数据库中分别注释到33 947、33 241、29 150和22 601条。对两品种当归差异表达基因（DEGs）进行精细分类,具有生物学功能和分子功能的705个DGEs可分为11类,主要富集在初级代谢（17.87%）、逆境响应（14.47%）、次级代谢（11.49%）等功能上,与颜色有关的差异表达基因主要集中在类黄酮生物合成途径上。结论 两品种当归茎叶颜色差异的主要原因可能与调控类黄酮的生物合成基因的表达差异有关,可为后续进行功能验证,进一步明确与当归主要药效成分之间的联系奠定基础。     

电子鼻技术应用于白及及其近似饮片快速辨识的可行性分析

目的：探讨电子鼻技术应用于白及及其近似饮片快速辨识的可行性。方法：收集134批白及及其近似饮片（白及45批、天麻30批、玉竹30批、黄花白及29批）作为待测样品,使用PEN3型电子鼻采集样品嗅觉感官数据作为自变量X,基于2020年版《中华人民共和国药典》和地方标准的鉴别结果,以及各饮片高效液相色谱法（HPLC）指纹图谱和原始采购信息,获得辨识模型的标杆数据Y,分别采用主成分分析-判别分析（PCA-DA）、偏最小二乘法-判别分析（PLS-DA）、最小二乘法-支持向量机（LS-SVM）及K-最近邻（KNN）4种化学计量学方法建立45批白及与89批非白及的二分类辨识模型和上述4种饮片的四分类辨识模型Y=F(X)。结果：经留一法交互验证,在二分类辨识中,上述4种模型分类正判率分别为97.01%、97.01%、98.51%和97.01%;在四分类辨识中,这4种模型分类正判率分别为97.76%、89.55%、98.51%和97.01%。二分类和四分类辨识模型的最高正判率均可达到98.51%,且均以LS-SVM算法为最优,最优核函数分别选择径向基核函数和线性核函数。最优模型判别结果良好,没有未分类样...     

数字医学技术在儿童腹部实质脏器损伤诊治中的临床应用效果

目的:探讨儿童腹部实质脏器损伤诊治中应用数字医学技术的效果。方法:选取2016年1月至2022年8月贵港市人民医院采用数字医学技术指导期间诊治的100例腹部实质脏器损伤患儿作为观察组,另选取2012年1月至2015年12月未采用数字医学技术指导期间诊治的100例腹部实质脏器损伤患儿作为对照组,比较两组患儿中,不同创伤类型患儿在保守治疗中的输血量、住院时间、保守治疗成功率;以及不同创伤类型的患儿中转手术治疗的术中出血量、手术时间及术后并发症情况。结果:选择保守治疗的患儿中,观察组肝损伤、脾损伤、肾损伤患儿的保守治疗成功率均高于对照组,输血量均少于对照组,住院时间均短于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P <0.05);中转手术治疗的患儿中,观察组肝损伤、脾损伤、肾损伤患儿的术中出血量均少于对照组,手术时间均短于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P <0.05);两组中不同创伤类型患儿的手术并发症发生率比较,差异均无统计学意义(P> 0.05)。结论:数字医学技术应用在儿童腹部实质脏器损伤诊治中,可为治疗方案的选择提供准确的指导,有助于提高治疗方案的效果,改善患儿临床指标,缩短住...     

3D打印技术在脊柱侧凸矫形中的应用效果分析

目的探讨3D打印技术在脊柱侧凸矫形中的应用效果。方法 76例脊柱侧凸患者随机分为两组各38例。两组均实施后路小切口微创分期术,对照组行常规CT或X线辅助手术治疗,观察组行术前3D打印技术辅助手术治疗。比较两组的手术效果以及并发症。结果观察组的置钉准确率高于对照组,平均置钉时间短于对照组(P <0.05)。术后,观察组的终末融合后侧凸主侧凸冠状位Cobb角低于对照组,初次平均矫正率高于对照组(P <0.05)。两组的并发症发生率无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论术前应用3D打印技术辅助治疗脊柱侧凸,可有效提升手术效果,更好地恢复脊柱生理弯曲,提高矫形成功率。     

Impact of Mixed Cognitive Intervention Training on Early Onset Dementia

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of mixed cognitive intervention training using spaced retrieval training, and errorless learning in participants with early onset dementia. This was based on reality orientation therapy for cognitive function, depression, and occupational performance of patients.MethodsTwo early onset vascular dementia patients (> 65 years) with mild or moderate impairment were enrolled in a pre-test - post-test single-subject research design study. Prior to the study, the caregivers were interviewed about meaningful times, people, places, and areas of interest for the participant. A list of individual training words were selected based upon this information, and the participant was instructed to recall them after a 45-second, 90-second, 6-minute, and 12-minute delay. Baseline (3 sessions), intervention (20 sessions), and a second baseline period (3 sessions) were conducted. Activities of daily living were measured, and cognition was measured using the Consortium to Establish a Registry of Alzheimer’s Disease Korean version, whilst depression was measured using the Korean Form Geriatric Depression Scale, and task performance and satisfaction measured by the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.ResultsAfter intervention, both participants showed improvements in activities of daily living (ADL), word list memory/recognition, trail making A, occupational performance, and satisfaction improvement, which was clinically significant in 1 participant who also had a reduced score in the scale of depression classifying him as not depressed.ConclusionSpaced retrieval training and errorless learning based on reality orientation therapy is an effective intervention in patients with early onset dementia and mild or moderate impairment.     

How Assessment-Schedule Matching Limits Bias When Comparing Progression-Free Survival in Single-Arm Studies: An Application in Second-Line Urothelial Carcinoma Treatments

ObjectivesPopulation-adjusted comparisons of progression-free survival (PFS) from single-arm trials of cancer treatments can be derived using matching-adjusted indirect comparisons (MAICs); however, results are still susceptible to bias, particularly if the trials had different tumor assessment schedules. This study aims to assess the effects of assessment-schedule matching (ASM) on the relative effectiveness on the PFS of avelumab versus approved comparator immunotherapies or chemotherapy after population matching in the second-line (2L) setting for metastatic urothelial carcinoma.MethodsThe MAIC used patient-level data for avelumab from the JAVELIN Solid Tumor trial (NCT01772004). PFS was compared with published curves for other treatments to obtain population-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). The MAIC was repeated after conducting ASM for differences in tumor assessment scheduled first at 6 weeks for avelumab and durvalumab and at 8 or 9 weeks for other treatments.ResultsMAIC adjustment alone altered the HR estimates up to 23%, whereas MAIC plus ASM resulted in up to 32.7% reductions from naive comparisons. Even in cases in which MAIC had little effect, ASM brought an additional change of 11.1% to 15.4%. Overall, the HR range of avelumab versus other treatments changed from 0.83 to 1.25 for naive comparisons to 0.76 to 0.99 after ASM plus MAIC, numerically favoring avelumab.ConclusionsSmall variations in assessment schedules can introduce bias in unanchored indirect treatment comparisons of interval-censored time-to-event outcomes. In this study, adjusted PFS was comparable across second-line urothelial carcinoma treatment options, numerically favoring avelumab versus immunotherapies and chemotherapy agents. Correcting this bias is especially important when HRs are applied in cost-effectiveness models to transition patients between states.     

Antimicrobial Resistance: Is Health Technology Assessment Part of the Solution or Part of the Problem?

Antimicrobial resistance is a serious challenge to the success and sustainability of our healthcare systems. There has been increasing policy attention given to antimicrobial resistance in the last few years, and increased amounts of funding have been channeled into funding for research and development of antimicrobial agents. Nevertheless, manufacturers doubt whether there will be a market for new antimicrobial technologies sufficient to enable them to recoup their investment. Health technology assessment (HTA) has a critical role in creating confidence that if valuable technologies can be developed they will be reimbursed at a level that captures their true value. We identify 3 deficiencies of current HTA processes for appraising antimicrobial agents: a methods-centric approach rather than problem-centric approach for dealing with new challenges, a lack of tools for thinking about changing patterns of infection, and the absence of an approach to epidemiological risks. We argue that, to play their role more effectively, HTA agencies need to broaden their methodological tool kit, design and communicate their analysis to a wider set of users, and incorporate long-term policy goals, such as containing resistance, as part of their evaluation criteria alongside immediate health gains.     

分析核磁共振技术诊断膝关节损伤的临床效果

目的:研究关于核磁共振技术对膝关节损伤进行诊断的临床诊断效果和价值。方法:本文调查时间选择2019年1月~2020年1月,将在此期间到本院接受膝关节损伤治疗的35例患者作为研究对象,分别对所有患者选择采用核磁共振技术和CT诊断技术行膝关节损伤的诊断,并分析比较两种不同诊断方法诊断的效果和价值。结果:经过比较分析可以得出,应用核磁共振诊断技术对膝关节损伤进行诊断的准确率明显高于CT诊断手段,两组数据进行统计学分析比较,P<0.05,存在统计学差异性。结论:通过核磁共振技术对膝关节损伤进行诊断能够有效地提升诊断的准确率,可以实现对于各类损伤类型的诊断,可以及时地帮助患者提供相关的治疗依据。