Innovations in indwelling urethral catheterisation

The indwelling urethral catheter remains an integral part of contemporary medical care, despite its significant design shortcomings. Urethral catheterisation is responsible for well-recognised complications including catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), catheter-associated urethral injury (CAUI), catheter blockage, and bladder mucosal irritation. In this narrative review, we provide an update on current innovations in urethral catheter design, aimed at safeguarding against these complications. There is an obvious need to improve catheter technology and urologists should support the translation of innovations into clinical practice.     

Effect of COVID‐19 in selecting otolaryngology as a specialty

Coronavirus disease 2019 has undoubtedly impacted the health care system while causing lasting and profound implications for medical education. Senior medical students seeking exposure to the field of otolaryngology now find themselves in the challenging position of obtaining the experiences to make an informed decision on a future specialty. Virtual electives using comprehensive online material, discussion, and videos as well as the advent of telemedicine may be potential solutions to increase exposure to otolaryngology. While incorporating opportunities for authentic patient interactions is still a challenge, it is crucial that the academic otolaryngology community prioritize seeking solutions for interested medical students.     

Timing of Palliative Care Referral Before and After Evidence from Trials Supporting Early Palliative Care

BackgroundEvidence from randomized controlled trials has demonstrated benefits in quality of life outcomes from early palliative care concurrent with standard oncology care in patients with advanced cancer. We hypothesized that there would be earlier referral to outpatient palliative care at a comprehensive cancer center following this evidence.Materials and MethodsAdministrative databases were reviewed for two cohorts of patients: the pre‐evidence cohort was seen in outpatient palliative care between June and November 2006, and the post‐evidence cohort was seen between June and November 2015. Timing of referral was categorized, according to time from referral to death, as early (>12 months), intermediate (>6 months to 12 months), and late (≤6 months from referral to death). Univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to determine demographic and medical factors associated with timing of referral.ResultsLate referrals decreased from 68.8% pre‐evidence to 44.8% post‐evidence; early referrals increased from 13.4% to 31.1% (p < .0001). The median time from palliative care referral to death increased from 3.5 to 7.0 months (p < .0001); time from diagnosis to referral was also reduced (p < .05). On multivariable regression analysis, earlier referral to palliative care was associated with post‐evidence group (p < .0001), adjusting for shorter time since diagnosis (p < .0001), referral for pain and symptom management (p = .002), and patient sex (p = .04). Late referrals were reduced to <50% in the breast, gynecological, genitourinary, lung, and gastrointestinal tumor sites.ConclusionsFollowing robust evidence from trials supporting early palliative care for patients with advanced cancer, patients were referred substantially earlier to outpatient palliative care.Implications for PracticeFollowing published evidence demonstrating the benefit of early referral to palliative care for patients with advanced cancer, there was a substantial increase in early referrals to outpatient palliative care at a comprehensive cancer center. The increase in early referrals occurred mainly in tumor sites that have been included in trials of early palliative care. These results indicate that oncologists’ referral practices can change if positive consequences of earlier referral are demonstrated. Future research should focus on demonstrating benefits of early palliative care for tumor sites that have tended to be omitted from early palliative care trials.     

Clinical competence in developmental‐behavioural paediatrics: Raising the bar

For our specialist paediatric workforce to be suitably equipped to deal with current childhood morbidity, a high level of competence in developmental‐behavioural paediatrics (DBP) is necessary. New models of training and assessment are required to meet this challenge. An evolution of training in DBP, built around the centrepiece of competency‐based medical education, is proposed. Summative assessment based upon entrustable professional activities, and a menu of formative workplace‐based assessments specific to the DBP context are key components. A pilot project to develop and implement these changes is recommended.     

宗气不足证临床表征医案文献分析

目的了解宗气不足证临床常见症状、体征,为其临床诊治提供依据。方法通过检索中国期刊全文数据库(CNKI)1954年1月-2013年10月及中国学术期刊数据库(万方数据)1985年1月-2013年10月所收录期刊中129则宗气不足医案,将医案中所含有的症状、体征进行归类统计分析,结合专家意见,初步归纳宗气不足证常见临床表征。结果宗气不足证主要症状为气短,动则加重、甚则气喘;伴见症状为面色白或晦黯、神疲、乏力、少气懒言、不寐、头晕、目眩等;常见并发症状为心肺气血运行不畅之胸闷、胸痛、心悸、紫绀、咳嗽等,脾虚不运之纳呆、便溏、腹胀,阳虚气化失利之四肢逆冷、畏寒、浮肿、小便不利、口干。结论本研究总结了医案报道中宗气不足证的临床表征,为规范宗气不足证临床诊治、阐释其科学内涵提供了依据。     

基于病案的“伤寒金匮温病综合实训课”临床思维培养

本文以"伤寒金匮温病综合实训课"中的一个典型病案为切入点,以小组讨论为线索,在病因病机分析过程中广泛结合伤寒、金匮、温病,力求从不同侧面体现其联系和区别,重点探讨病案中临床思维的建立,以及由临床思维引申的发散思维。通过典型病案分析,希望为伤寒、金匮、温病综合学习及运用提供一定的借鉴。     

中医医案文献自动分词研究

目的研究适用于中医医案文献自动分词的方案。方法使用层叠隐马模型作为分词模型,建立相关中医领域词典及测试语料库,对语料库中古代医案文献和现代医案文献各300篇进行分词及评测。结果在未使用中医领域词典时,两类医案文献分词准确率均为75%左右;使用中医领域词典后,古代医案文献的分词准确率达到90.73%,现代医案文献的分词准确率达到95.66%。在未使用中医领域词典时,词性标注准确率古代医案文献为56.74%,现代医案文献为64.81%;使用中医领域词典后,现代医案文献为91.45%,明显高于古代医案文献的78.47%。结论现有分词方案初步解决了中医医案文献的分词问题,对现代医案文献的词性标注也基本正确,但古代医案文献的词性标注影响因素较多,还需进一步研究。