Translation and validation of the Canadian diabetes risk assessment questionnaire in China

Objectives

To adapt the Canadian Diabetes Risk Assessment Questionnaire for the Chinese population and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Design and Sample

A cross‐sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 194 individuals aged 35–74 years from October 2014 to April 2015.

Methods

The Canadian Diabetes Risk Assessment Questionnaire was adapted and translated for the Chinese population. Test–retest reliability was conducted to measure stability. Criterion and convergent validity of the adapted questionnaire were assessed using 2‐hr 75 g oral glucose tolerance tests and the Finnish Diabetes Risk Scores, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were evaluated to establish its predictive validity.

Results

The test–retest reliability was 0.988. Adequate validity of the adapted questionnaire was demonstrated by positive correlations found between the scores and 2‐hr 75 g oral glucose tolerance tests (r = .343, p < .001) and with the Finnish Diabetes Risk Scores (r = .738, p < .001). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.705 (95% CI .632, .778), demonstrating moderate diagnostic value at a cutoff score of 30. The sensitivity was 73%, with a positive predictive value of 57% and negative predictive value of 78%.

Conclusions

Our results provided evidence supporting the translation consistency, content validity, convergent validity, criterion validity, sensitivity, and specificity of the translated Canadian Diabetes Risk Assessment Questionnaire with minor modifications. This paper provides clinical, practical, and methodological information on how to adapt a diabetes risk calculator between cultures for public health nurses.     

Impact of upstream high bolus dose tirofiban on left ventricular systolic function in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction treated by primary coronary intervention

BackgroundGlycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor therapy during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) decreases the incidence of major adverse cardiac events.AimTo study the impact of high bolus dose tirofiban on left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with acute anterior ST segment elevation MI treated with primary PCI.Patients and methodsForty patients presenting to Ain Shams University, and specialized hospitals with the diagnosis of acute anterior STEMI were treated with primary PCI. Twenty patients were given conventional intravenous bolus dose tirofiban (10 μg/kg) upstream prior to primary angioplasty and twenty patients were given intravenous high bolus dose tirofiban (25 μg/kg) upstream prior to PCI. In-hospital follow up was done including echocardiography, and serial cardiac enzymes in addition to clinical follow up for MACE and bleeding complications.ResultsSuccessful primary angioplasty was attained in all patients. The LV systolic function was significantly better in the high bolus dose group in comparison to the conventional bolus dose groups (48% vs 41%, P < 0.01). The incidence of recurrent ischemia was statistically non-significant between the two groups (5% vs 25%, P > 0.05). Both regimens were safe and the bleeding complications were minimal and did not differ between the study groups.ConclusionIn patients presenting with acute anterior STEMI and treated with primary PCI, the high bolus dose tirofiban given intravenously upstream prior to PCI seems to be a safe and effective regimen to achieve a better left ventricular ejection fraction in comparison to the conventional bolus dose regimen, without increasing the risk of bleeding.     

Age‐related changes in mastication

The paper reviews human mastication, focusing on its age‐related changes. The first part describes mastication adaptation in young healthy individuals. Adaptation to obtain a food bolus ready to be swallowed relies on variations in number of cycles, muscle strength and volume of emitted saliva. As a result, the food bolus displays granulometric and rheological properties, the values of which are maintained within the adaptive range of deglutition. The second part concerns healthy ageing. Some mastication parameters are slightly modified by age, but ageing itself does not impair mastication, as the adaptation possibilities remain operant. The third part reports on very aged subjects, who display frequent systemic or local diseases. Local and/or general diseases such as tooth loss, salivary defect, or motor impairment are then indistinguishably superimposed on the effects of very old age. The resulting impaired function increases the risk of aspiration and choking. Lastly, the consequences for eating behaviour and nutrition are evoked.     

Bolus administration of cladribine in the treatment of Waldenström macroglobulinaemia

This phase II clinical trial evaluated bolus cladribine as a single agent in Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM).
Cladribine was administered to 20 patients at a dose of 0.12 mg/kg/d by 2 h intravenous infusion for 5 consecutive days at monthly intervals for three courses. Partially responding patients were continued on therapy until maximal response and/or prohibitive toxicity, to a maximum of eight courses. Complete responders were treated with one additional course of cladribine.
After a median of three courses of cladribine, all 20 patients were evaluable; one achieved a complete response (CR) (5%) and 10 achieved a partial response (PR) (50%). The median duration of response follow-up was 28 months (range 1–37 months). Four of 7 (57%) untreated and 7/13 (54%) previously treated patients responded. The major toxicity encountered was myelosuppression with 60% of patients demonstrating grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Non-haematological toxicities included two patients with herpes zoster and two patients with non-melanoma skin cancers. At a median follow-up duration of 20 months, 17 patients remain alive and three have died.
We confirm that bolus cladribine is an effective and safe method of drug delivery in WM patients. Recommendations regarding the equivalence of the continuous infusion and bolus methods in untreated patients requires further study. Bolus cladribine is more convenient and less costly than infusional cladribine since it obviates the need for central catheters and infusional devices.     

3D打印组织补偿块在鼻腔NK/T细胞淋巴瘤放疗中的应用

目的:利用3D打印技术为鼻腔NK/T细胞淋巴瘤患者定制个性化的组织补偿块,研究其在放疗计划中的剂量学影响。方法:选取10例早期鼻腔NK/T淋巴瘤患者,分别采用无组织补偿块的常规CTno-bolus图像和3D打印组织补偿块的CTbolus图像进行放疗计划设计,靶区处方剂量均为50 Gy/25次。使用剂量体积直方图评估两种计划中计划靶区、危及器官的剂量学差异。结果:3D打印组织补偿块与体表紧密贴合,提高了靶区的均匀性和适形度;晶体、视神经和腮腺剂量在3D打印组织补偿块计划中均低于无组织补偿块计划（P<0.05）。结论:3D打印组织补偿块有效提高了鼻腔NK/T细胞淋巴瘤紧邻体表靶区的剂量分布,值得临床推广。     

A Study of Patient Experience Using a Blood Glucose Meter With an In-Built Insulin Dose Calculator

Background:Accurate calculation and adjustment of insulin doses is integral to maintaining glycemic control in insulin treated patients. Difficulties with insulin dose calculations may lead to poor adherence to blood glucose monitoring and insulin treatment regimes, resulting in poor metabolic control. The main objective of this study was to evaluate ease of use and user preference of a high specification touch screen blood glucose meter, which has an in-built insulin calculator, compared to patients’ usual method of testing blood glucose and deciding insulin doses.Methods:Patients with diabetes on a multiple daily injection insulin regime used the Test Meter without the insulin calculator and 1 of 3 comparator meters, each for a 7-day period. They then used the Test Meter with the in-built calculator for 10 days. Patients completed an ease of use questionnaire after each 7-day period, a preference questionnaire after the second 7-day period, and a questionnaire comparing the Test Meter with their usual method after the final 10-day period.Results:Of 164 patients who completed the study, 76% stated a preference for the Test Meter as a diabetes management tool compared to their usual method. A small number of patients preferred familiar methods and/or calculating insulin doses themselves. The log book function of meters was important to most patients.Conclusions:The Test Meter system with in-built insulin calculator supports people to better manage their diabetes and increases their confidence. Patients have different needs and preferences which should be acknowledged and supported in a patient centered health service.     

Automated impedance‐manometry analysis detects esophageal motor dysfunction in patients who have non‐obstructive dysphagia with normal manometry

Background Automated integrated analysis of impedance and pressure signals has been reported to identify patients at risk of developing dysphagia post fundoplication. This study aimed to investigate this analysis in the evaluation of patients with non‐obstructive dysphagia (NOD) and normal manometry (NOD/NM). Methods Combined impedance‐manometry was performed in 42 patients (27F : 15M; 56.2 ± 5.1 years) and compared with that of 24 healthy subjects (8F : 16M; 48.2 ± 2.9 years). Both liquid and viscous boluses were tested. MATLAB‐based algorithms defined the median intrabolus pressure (IBP), IBP slope, peak pressure (PP), and timing of bolus flow relative to peak pressure (TNadImp‐PP). An index of pressure and flow (PFI) in the distal esophagus was derived from these variables. Key Results Diagnoses based on conventional manometric assessment: diffuse spasm (n = 5), non‐specific motor disorders (n = 19), and normal (n = 11). Patients with achalasia (n = 7) were excluded from automated impedance‐manometry (AIM) analysis. Only 2/11 (18%) patients with NOD/NM had evidence of flow abnormality on conventional impedance analysis. Several variables derived by integrated impedance‐pressure analysis were significantly different in patients as compared with healthy: higher PNadImp (P < 0.01), IBP (P < 0.01) and IBP slope (P < 0.05), and shorter TNadImp_PP (P = 0.01). The PFI of NOD/NM patients was significantly higher than that in healthy (liquid: 6.7 vs 1.2, P = 0.02; viscous: 27.1 vs 5.7, P < 0.001) and 9/11 NOD/NM patients had abnormal PFI. Overall, the addition of AIM analysis provided diagnoses and/or a plausible explanation in 95% (40/42) of patients who presented with NOD. Conclusions & Inferences Compared with conventional pressure‐impedance assessment, integrated analysis is more sensitive in detecting subtle abnormalities in esophageal function in patients with NOD and normal manometry.