Identifying food components: INFOODS tagnames and other component identification systems

Food components need to be identified correctly and unambiguously. This is essential in the documentation and interchange of compositional data and it avoids confusion and misinterpretation for the users of these data. For this purpose, INFOODS published the first set of component identifiers, also called tagnames, in 1989. Since then, reported food components have vastly increased in number due to advances in analytical methods and increased interest in bioactive non-nutrient components. Users of food composition data are increasingly interested in more detailed data on fatty acids (e.g. positional and geometric isomers), individual vitamers and the speciation of nutrient elements. Several hundred tagnames have been added to the INFOODS database in the past 15 years. In order to keep up with the plethora of food components being analyzed and compiled in food composition databases, as well demands from new sectors and user, INFOODS held a technical consultation in 2003 to review and update principles and practices. Recommendations included separating units and base quantities from the definition of a tagname, maintaining the principle of different tagnames for highly empirical methods, and maintaining the keyword approach through which the components can be further defined. The comparison between INFOODS tagnames and other component identification systems such as EUROFOODS shows that the majority of component identifiers are the same. Further discussions and trials are needed to continue the evolution of the harmonized system of component identification through the lenses of both nutrition science and information technology.     

Trams,trains, planes and automobiles: logistics of conducting a statewide audit of medical records

Objective: This paper reports on the logistics of conducting a validation study of a routinely collected dataset against medical records at hospitals to inform planning of similar studies. Method: A stratified random sample of 15 hospitals and two homebirth practitioners was included. Site visits were arranged following consent. In addition to the validation of perinatal data, information was collected regarding logistics. Results: Records at 14 metropolitan and rural hospitals up to 500 km from the research centre, and two homebirth practitioners, were audited. Obtaining consent to participate took between 5 days and 10 months. Auditors visited sites on 101 days, auditing 737 medical record pairs at 16 sites. Median audit time per record was 51.3 minutes; electronic records each took 36 minutes longer than paper. Travel time accounted for nearly one‐quarter of audit time. Conclusions: Delays obtaining consents, long travel times and electronic records prolonged audit duration and expense. Employment of experts maximised use of available audit time. Conducting a validation study is a time‐consuming and expensive exercise; however, confidence in the accuracy of public health data is vital. Implications: Validation studies are unquestionably important. Three alternative strategies have been proposed to make future studies viable.     

Development and content validity of the Experienced Patient‐Centeredness Questionnaire (EPAT)—A best practice example for generating patient‐reported measures from qualitative data

IntroductionTo effectively foster patient‐centeredness (PC), it is crucial to measure its implementation. So far, there is no German measure to assess PC comprehensively. The aim of this study is to develop and select items for the Experienced Patient‐Centeredness (EPAT) Questionnaire, a patient‐reported experience measure (PREM). The EPAT intends to assess PC from the perspective of adult patients treated for different chronic diseases in inpatient and outpatient settings in Germany. Furthermore, we aim at providing a best‐practice example for developing PREMs from qualitative data.MethodsThe development process comprised a three‐phase mixed‐method design: (1) preparation, (2) item generation and (3) item selection and testing of content validity. We generated items using qualitative content analysis based on information from focus groups, key informant interviews and literature search. We selected items using relevance rating and cognitive interviews. Participants were patients from four chronic disease groups (cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental disorder, musculoskeletal disorder) and healthcare experts (e.g., clinicians, researchers, patient representatives).ResultsWe conducted six focus groups with a total of 40 patients, key informant interviews with 10 experts and identified 48 PREMs from international literature. After team discussion, we reached a preliminary pool of 152 items. We conducted a relevance rating with 32 experts and 34 cognitive interviews with 21 patients. We selected 125 items assessing 16 dimensions of PC and showed high relevance and comprehensibility.ConclusionsThe EPAT questionnaire is currently undergoing psychometric testing. The transparent step‐by‐step report provides a best practice example that other researchers may consider for developing PREMs. Integrating literature and experts with a strong focus on patient feedback ensured good content validity. The EPAT questionnaire will be helpful in assessing PC in routine clinical practice in inpatient and outpatient settings for research and quality improvement.Patient or Public ContributionPatients were not involved as active members of the research team. While developing the funding proposal, we informally reached out to several patient organizations who all gave us positive feedback on the study aims, thereby confirming their relevance. Those patient organizations endorsed the funding proposal with formal letters of support and supported recruitment by disseminating advertisements for study participation.     

Timely Hepatitis C RNA Testing and Treatment in the Era of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy among People with Hepatitis C in New South Wales,Australia

This study aimed to identify the factors associated with timely (within four weeks) HCV RNA testing and timely (within six months) DAA initiation following HCV notification in the DAA era. We conducted a cohort study of people with an HCV notification in NSW, Australia. Notifications of positive HCV serology were linked to administrative datasets. Weights were applied to account for spontaneous clearance. Logistic regression analyses were performed. Among 5582 people with an HCV notification during 2016–2017, 3867 (69%) were tested for HCV RNA, including 2770 (50%) who received timely testing. Among an estimated 3925 people with chronic HCV infection, 2372 (60%) initiated DAA therapy, including 1370 (35%) who received timely treatment. Factors associated with timely HCV RNA testing included age (≥30 years), female sex, non-Aboriginal ethnicity, country of birth being Australia, and no history of drug dependence. Factors associated with timely treatment were age (≥30 years), male sex, non-Aboriginal ethnicity, country of birth being Australia, no history of drug dependence, and HCV/HIV co-infection. In the DAA era, 50% of people with an HCV notification did not receive timely HCV RNA testing. Most people with an HCV infection received therapy; however, DAA initiation was delayed among many.     

心脑血管疾病用药不良反应与药品品种关系的聚类分析

目的寻找心脑血管疾病用药的不良反应与药品品种间聚类关系,促进临床安全合理用药。方法运用数据挖掘技术中的两阶段聚类算法对药品的严重不良反应与药品品种间的关系进行聚类分析。结果由聚类结果可知,在使用心脑血管疾病用药时,出现的严重和新的严重不良反应为肝功能异常、肾功能异常、呼吸困难、横纹肌溶解,导致这些严重不良反应的药物有受体类药物、钙离子拮抗剂、降低胆固醇类药物。结论在选择心脑血管疾病用药时,受体类药物、钙离子拮抗剂、降低胆固醇类药物应慎用、少用,尽量避免严重的不良反应发生。     

Thresholding Methods for Reduction in Data Processing Errors in the Laser-Textured Surface Topography Measurements

There are many factors influencing the accuracy of surface topography measurement results: one of them is the vibrations caused by the high-frequency noise occurrence. It is extremely difficult to extract results defined as noise from the real measured data, especially the application of various methods requiring skilled users and, additionally, the improper use of software may cause errors in the data processing. Accordingly, various thresholding methods for the minimization of errors in the raw surface topography data processing were proposed and compared with commonly used (available in the commercial software) techniques. Applied procedures were used for the minimization of errors in the surface topography parameters (from ISO 25178 standard) calculation after the removal and reduction, respectively, of the high-frequency noise (S-filter). Methods were applied for analysis of the laser-textured surfaces with a comparison of many regular methods, proposed previously in the commercial measuring equipment. It was found that the application of commonly used algorithms can be suitable for the processing of the measured data when selected procedures are provided. Moreover, errors in both the measurement process and the data processing can be reduced when thresholding methods support regular algorithms and procedures. From applied, commonly used methods (regular Gaussian regression filter, robust Gaussian regression filter, spline filter and fast Fourier transform filter), the most encouraging results were obtained for high-frequency noise reduction in laser-textured details when the fast Fourier transform filter was supported by a thresholding approach.     

Hit-and-runs more common with pedestrians lying on the road: Analysis of a nationwide database in Japan

Purpose: To determine the trends with fatally or otherwise injured pedestrians lying on the road and the relationship to hit-and-run incidents in Japan. Methods: We extracted data for 2012e2016 from the records of the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis, Japan, a nationwide traffic accident database. All the injured and fatally injured pedestrians were selected. We examined the levels of pedestrian injury, vehicle speed immediately before the collision, whether or not the pedestrian was lying on the road, and hit-and-run incidents. Chi-square test was employed to make a statistical comparison between the two groups. Results: The database contained data on 286,383 pedestrian casualties and 7256 fatalities; 8.3% of fatalities (602 persons) and 0.6% of casualties (1827 persons) involved pedestrians lying on the road. The rates of fatalities and severe injuries were significantly higher for pedestrians who were lying on the road than for those who were not. Hit-and-run incidents were evident in 4.0% of casualties and 7.3% of fatalities. The rate of hit-and-run cases was also significantly higher among pedestrians who were lying on the road. Among fatally injured pedestrians not lying on the road, the rates with speeds of 30 km/h did not differ significantly between hit-and-run and other cases. However, when the pedestrians were lying on the road, the rate was significantly increased in hit-and-run cases. Conclusion: This is the first report to focus on pedestrians lying on the road and being involved in hitand-run incidents. In addition to preventing hit-and-run incidents, prevention of pedestrians lying on the road could also decrease fatalities.     

研制中医药科学数据集分类与编码标准的思考

中医药科学数据集分类与编码标准是共享工程建设中的数据类标准组成部分,从技术层面为实现中医药科学数据共享提供支撑。分类与编码标准以数据共享为基础,结合中医药科学数据资源自身的客观规律来制定。分类体系采用面分类法和线分类法相结合的技术路线进行设计,并兼顾稳定与发展;类名科学、规范,符合中医药学术习惯;代码的位数应尽可能少,保证编码的简洁性。     

县级医院科室直接成本数据采集方法探讨

目的：通过医院现有的HIS和财务等信息管理系统采集科室直接成本核算电子数据,降低工作量,提高核算的准确性。方法：围绕科室7项成本,规范数据来源、数据采集项、字段名称和数据类型。结果：依据规范文本,从医院信息管理系统采集数据,再通过手工微调转化为可用的标准化医院各科室直接成本核算数据。但是在采集过程中,部分医院由于管理等因素存在数据缺失的问题。结论：规范县级医院财务、信息、药品及卫生材料等管理,确保成本核算数据的完整、真实和准确。