Five‐year efficacy of finasteride in 801 Japanese men with androgenetic alopecia

Finasteride is standard medical treatment for androgenetic alopecia; however, no large studies with 5 years or more of follow up have been performed in Japan. The authors followed Japanese men with androgenetic alopecia treated with finasteride for 5 years to evaluate long‐term treatment efficacy. Of 903 men treated with finasteride (1 mg/day), 801 patients were evaluated over 5 years by modified global photographic assessment. Although the proportion of improvement was high (99.4%), modified global photographic assessment scores after 5 years of treatment were lower in patients with more advanced disease as measured by the modified Norwood–Hamilton scale. After separating patients into “sufficient” and “insufficient” efficacy groups according to the modified global photographic assessment score after 5 years (scores ≥6 and <6, respectively), multivariate analysis showed that independent risk factors of insufficient efficacy were age at start of treatment of 40 years or more (P = 0.021) and classification on the modified Norwood–Hamilton scale (P < 0.001), whereas presence of stress at start of treatment was a negative predictor (P = 0.025). In conclusion, continuous finasteride treatment for 5 years improved androgenetic alopecia with sustained effect among Japanese. Younger age and less advanced disease at start of treatment were the key predictors of higher finasteride efficacy.     

Effect of a Simple Exercise Program on Hospitalization-Associated Disability in Older Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveHospitalization-associated disability [HAD, ie, the loss of ability to perform ≥1 basic activities of daily living (ADLs) independently at discharge] is a frequent condition among older patients. The present study assessed whether a simple inpatient exercise program decreases HAD incidence in acutely hospitalized very old patients.DesignIn this randomized controlled trial (Activity in Geriatric Acute Care) participants were assigned to a control or intervention group and were assessed at baseline, admission, discharge, and 3 months thereafter.Setting and ParticipantsIn total, 268 patients (mean age 88 years, range 75–102) admitted to an acute care for older patients unit of a public hospital were randomized to a control (n = 125) or intervention (exercise) group (n = 143).MethodsBoth groups received usual care, and patients in the intervention group also performed simple supervised exercises (walking and rising from a chair, for a total duration of ∼20 minutes/day). We measured ADL function (Katz index) and incident HAD at discharge and after 3 months (primary outcome) and Short Physical Performance Battery, ambulatory capacity, number of falls, rehospitalization, and death during a 3-month follow-up (secondary outcomes).ResultsMedian duration of hospitalization was 7 days (interquartile range 4 days). The intervention group had a lower risk of HAD with reference to both baseline [odds ratio (OR) 0.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17–0.76, P = .007] and admission (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.10–0.89, P = .030). A trend toward an improved ADL function at discharge vs admission was found in the intervention group compared with controls (OR 0.32; 95% CI ‒0.04 to 0.68; P = .083). No between-group differences were noted for the other endpoints (all P > .05).Conclusion and ImplicationsA simple inpatient exercise program decreases risk of HAD in acutely hospitalized, very old patients.     

Assessing perceived quality of primary care under hospital-township health centre integration: A cross-sectional study in China

Since the new round of health care reform in 2009, the vertical integration of hospitals and primary health institutions has become widely implemented in China as an efficient method for improving quality of primary care. This study aimed to answer the following questions: (a) What is the perceived quality of township health centres (THCs) under integration? (B) What differences could be observed among the three typical integration models, namely, private hospital-THC integration, public hospital-THC integration, and loose collaboration? Two rounds of cross-sectional surveys were conducted from November 2016 to June 2018. The Chinese version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool was used to evaluate perceived quality of sample THCs, and 1118 adult patients were interviewed in total. Multiple linear regressions were employed to compare the quality scores between two survey rounds and among different integration models after controlling for potential confounders. The results revealed that the quality of care significantly improved under private hospital-THC integration as observed by comparing two survey rounds, while no change or slight changes were observed in the other two models. The difference observed among the three models was that the perceived quality of THCs integrated with private hospitals was worse than that of THCs integrated with public hospitals and THCs under loose collaboration, while no significant difference was observed between public hospital-THC integration and loose collaboration. Increased attention should be given to highlighting the tight integration between hospitals and THCs and the different roles played by private and public hospitals in the current reform.     

Cardiovascular risk assessment tools: A scoping review

ObjectivesThe objective of this review was to describe cardiovascular risk (CVR) assessment methods and to identify evidence-based practice recommendations when dealing with population at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.Review methods and data sourcesA literature review following the Arksey and O'Malley scoping review methodology was conducted. By using appropriate key terms, literature searches were conducted in PubMed, SciELO, Cochrane Library, Dialnet, ENFISPO, Medigraphic, ScienceDirect, Cuiden, and Lilacs databases. A complementary search on websites related to the area of interest was conducted. Articles published in English or Spanish in peer-review journals between 2010 and 2017. Critical appraisal for methodological quality was conducted. Data was extracted using ad-hoc tables and qualitatively synthesized.ResultsAfter eliminating duplicates, 55 325 records remained, and 1432 records were selected for screening. Out of these, 88 full-text articles were selected for eligibility criteria, and finally, 67 studies were selected for this review, and 25 studies were selected for evidence synthesis. In total, 23 CVR assessment tools have been identified, pioneered by the Framingham study. Qualitative findings were grouped into four thematic areas: assessment tools and scores, CVR indicators, comparative models, and evidence-based recommendations.ConclusionsIt is necessary to adapt the instruments to the epidemiological reality of the population. The most appropriate way to estimate CVR is to choose the assessment tool that best suits individual conditions, accompanied by a comprehensive assessment of the patient. More research is required to determine a single, adequate, and reliable tool.     

《艾滋病诊疗指南第三版(2015版)》更新解读

2015年中华医学会感染病学分会艾滋病学组发布了第三版《艾滋病诊疗指南》。新版指南强调抗病毒治疗时点前移:一旦成人确诊感染人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV), 若无禁忌宜尽早启动抗HIV治疗。对于合并机会性感染的HIV感染者, 在感染控制、病情稳定后也应及早开始抗病毒治疗。尤其强调HIV合并结核患者在CD4阳性淋巴细胞数少于200/μL的情况下, 建议抗结核两周内即开始抗病毒治疗。在抗HIV治疗用药中, 淘汰了一些毒副作用大、依从性较差的药物, 如司他夫定、去羟肌苷、茚地那韦等, 优选抗病毒效力强、服药方便的组合, 如拉米夫定、替诺福韦、依非韦伦组合。对于HIV感染的婴幼儿, 亦主张及早抗HIV治疗。对于五岁以内的幼儿, 主张确诊后即启动抗病毒治疗。对于HIV感染的孕产妇, 建议尽快予以全程、联合抗HIV治疗, 寓防于治。     

腹腔镜与开腹手术治疗老年胆囊炎患者的分析

目的观察在治疗老年急性胆囊炎患者采取开腹手术与腹腔镜手术的治疗效果并分析。方法将2017年1月—2018年9月期间医院收治的74例急性胆囊炎患者采用随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组,对照组37例采取开腹手术治疗,观察组37例采取腹腔镜治疗,对比两组治疗效果。结果观察组并发症发生率5.4%、治疗总有效率97.3%优于对照组的24.3%、78.4%,P<0.05。观察组术中出血量(15.7±3.4)mL、手术时间(40.7±4.4)min、住院时间(7.1±1.8)d、术后肠道恢复时间(3.3±1.2)d均低于对照组的(46.4±3.5)mL、(68.6±14.7)min、(12.6±2.3)d、(6.1±1.5)d,P<0.05。观察组躯体疼痛(87.3±0.5)分、总体健康(85.2±1.2)分、精神状况(86.4±1.3)分、社会活动评分(90.2±1.3)分均高于于对照组(78.3±1.2)分、(70.3±10.8)分、(71.3±0.5)分、(75.5±2.1)分,对比有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论腹腔镜手术治疗老年急性胆囊炎患者效果良好,可有效减少患者病程,促进康复和提高生活质量,值得推广。