The Australian Obesity Management Algorithm: A simple tool to guide the management of obesity in primary care

Obesity is a complex and multifactorial chronic disease with genetic, environmental, physiological and behavioural determinants that requires long-term care. Obesity is associated with a broad range of complications including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidaemia, metabolic associated fatty liver disease, reproductive hormonal abnormalities, sleep apnoea, depression, osteoarthritis and certain cancers. An algorithm has been developed (with PubMed and Medline searched for all relevant articles from 1 Jan 2000–1 Oct 2021) to (i) assist primary care physicians in treatment decisions for non-pregnant adults with obesity, and (ii) provide a practical clinical tool to guide the implementation of existing guidelines (summarised in Appendix 1) for the treatment of obesity in the Australian primary care setting.Main recommendations and changes in managementTreatment pathways should be determined by a person’s anthropometry (body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)) and the presence and severity of obesity-related complications. A target of 10–15% weight loss is recommended for people with BMI 30–40 kg/m² or abdominal obesity (WC > 88 cm in females, WC > 102 cm in males) without complications. The treatment focus should be supervised lifestyle interventions that may include a reduced or low energy diet, very low energy diet (VLED) or pharmacotherapy. For people with BMI 30–40 kg/m² or abdominal obesity and complications, or those with BMI > 40 kg/m² a weight loss target of 10–15% body weight is recommended, and management should include intensive interventions such as VLED, pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery, which may be required in combination. A weight loss target of > 15% is recommended for those with BMI > 40 kg/m² and complications and they should be referred to specialist care. Their treatment should include a VLED with or without pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery.     

西洛他唑治疗糖尿病合并下肢动脉闭塞症的功效及安全性观察

目的：观察西洛他唑治疗糖尿病合并下肢动脉闭塞症的效果及安全性。方法：选择糖尿病合并下肢动脉闭塞症患者33例,给予西洛他唑第一周50mg,2次／日。第二周始改为100mg,2次／日,观察并检测治疗前后症状体征,双下肢血管直径及峰值血流速度,肝肾功能,血尿常规,血脂及血液流变学等指标。结果：患者主观症状改善率在80％以上,双下肢血流峰值速度治疗后有显著性增加（P＜0．01）,血尿常规,肝肾功能等各项指标治疗前后无明显差异。结论：西洛他唑对糖尿病合并下肢动脉闭塞症是一种安全有效的药物。     

低出生体重儿危险因素病例对照研究

目的 探索低出生体重儿发生的相关危险因素。方法 对沈阳市妇婴等15家医院分娩的部分产妇进行低出出生重儿的病例对照研究。结果 在控制孕妇患慢性疾病,生殖器官畸形,严重妊妊反应,化程度和巨细胞病毒等感染以及主动吸烟等混杂因素后,产妇受孕期受被动吸烟,自然流产、人工流产史,家族低出生体重史,孕前体重指数（BMI）,职业接触有机物以及丈夫饮酒史诸因素影响,分娩低出生体重儿的危险性为对照组的2．95,2．17,2．25,2．04,2．98和1．75倍。结论 上述因素均可能是低出生体重儿的危险因素。     

低分子肝素治疗不稳定型心绞痛33例疗效观察

目的：探讨低分子肝素治疗不稳定型心绞痛的疗效及安全性,方法：不稳定型心绞痛33例,经内科常规药物治疗疗效不佳,加用低分子肝素0．4ml,2次／d腹壁皮下注射,疗程10d。结果：低分子肝素治疗后总有效率93．9％,心绞痛发作次数,持续时间,硝酸甘油用量均显著减少（P＜0．01）,全血粘度,血浆粘度和纤维蛋白原均明显降低（P＜0．05）,无发生急性心肌梗塞和猝死,无出血不良反应,结论：低分子肝素治疗不稳定型心绞痛安全,有效。     

低频交变磁场对小鼠骨髓细胞微核率的影响

目的 :研究低频交变磁场对小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核率的影响。方法 :用强度为 10mT和 15mT的低频交变磁场作用于小鼠后 ,检测其骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核率。结果 :经强度为 10mT的低频交变磁场作用后的小鼠微核率与阴性对照组比较无显著性差异 ,而强度为 15mT的实验组较阴性对照组微核率有明显增高 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,较阳性对照组有非常显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :当小鼠受到 15mT的低频交变磁场作用时 ,细胞微核率增加 ,可能会致突变。     

槲皮素、异鼠李素对Cu2+介导极低密度脂蛋白氧化修饰的影响

目的　观察槲皮素 (Que)及异鼠李素 (Iso)对 Cu2 +介导的极低密度脂蛋白 (VL DL)氧化修饰的影响。方法　采用一次性密度梯度离心法分离人血浆 VL DL,用 Cu2 +进行体外氧化修饰 ,抗氧化组在温育前加入不同浓度的 Que和 Iso。分别检测脂蛋白中丙二醛 (MDA)、维生素 E(Vit E)及超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)活性。结果　Que和 Iso可明显降低 OX- VL DL 中 MDA含量 ,延缓 OX- VL DL 中 Vit E含量的减少 ;显著提高脂蛋白中 SOD活性。结论　 Que和 Iso可显著抑制 Cu2 +诱导的 VL DL 的氧化修饰 ,且二者的作用相近 ,这与其抗自由基氧化活性密切相关。     

Conversion of Fused Hip to Total Hip Arthroplasty: Long-Term Clinical and Radiological Outcomes

BackgroundDespite promising results at the mid-term followup, several aspects of conversion of the fused hip to total hip arthroplasty (THA) remain controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes with a minimum 5-year followup in patients who underwent conversion of the fused hip to THA.MethodsFifty-seven patients (59 hips) were evaluated. The Harris Hip Score (HHS), range of motion (ROM), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to assess hip function and low back pain. Subjective satisfaction with surgery and the presence of the Trendelenburg sign was also evaluated. Radiological assessment was performed pre- and postoperatively to evaluate loosening and heterotopic ossification (HO).ResultsAfter a mean followup of 13.0 ± 6.2 years, HHS and VAS significantly improved from 46.0 ± 16.7 to 80.8 ± 18.8 and from 4.4 ± 1.5 to 2.1 ± 1.4 (both P < .001), respectively. Twenty-three patients (40.4%) had a positive Trendelenburg sign, and HOs were found in 29 cases (49.1%). An overall 29.8% complication rate was noted. Smoking habits and rheumatoid arthritis were predictive of Trendelenburg sign (P = .046 and P = .038, respectively). Implant survival rate as the end point was 98.7 ± 1.3% at 5 years, 92.4 ± 3.3% at 10 years, 82.1 ± 5.7% at 15 years, and 73.4 ± 8.0% at 20 and 25 years. A worse cumulative implant survival rate was noted in patients who underwent previous hip surgery, defined as any hip operation before fusion (P = .005).ConclusionConversion of the fused hip to hip arthroplasty provides high levels of hip functionality and satisfaction with surgery at long-term followup. An implant survival rate higher than 70% can be expected 25 years postoperatively.     

Dual antibiotic loaded bone cement in patients at high infection risks in arthroplasty: Rationale of use for prophylaxis and scientific evidence

In view of the demographic changes and projected increase of arthroplasty procedures worldwide, the number of prosthetic joint infection cases will naturally grow. Therefore, in order to counteract this trend more rigid rules and a stricter implementation of effective preventive strategies is of highest importance. In the absence of a "miracle weapon" priorities should lie in evidence-based measures including preoperative optimization of patients at higher infection risks, the fulfilment of strict hygiene rules in the operating theatre and an effective antibiotic prophylaxis regimen. Instead of a "one size fits all" philosophy, it has been proposed to adjust the antibiotic prophylaxis protocol to major infection risks taking into account important patient-and procedure-related risk factors. A stronger focus on the local application mode via use of high dose dual antibioticloaded bone cement in such risk situations may have its advantages and is easy to apply in the theatre. The more potent antimicrobial growth inhibition in vitro and the strong reduction of the prosthetic joint infection rate in risk for infection patients with aid of dual antibiotic-loaded bone cement in clinical studies align with this hypothesis.     

Inequities in access to VA’S aid and attendance enhanced pension benefit to help Veterans pay for long‐term care

ObjectiveTo examine characteristics that are associated with receipt of Aid and Attendance (A&A), an enhanced pension benefit for Veterans who qualify on the basis of needing daily assistance, among Veterans who receive pensions.Data sourcesSecondary data analysis of 2016‐2017 national VA administrative data linked with Medicare claims.Study designObservational study examining sociodemographic, medical, and healthcare utilization characteristics associated with receipt of A&A among Veterans receiving pension.Principal findingsIn 2017, 9.7% of Veterans with pension newly received the A&A benefit. The probability of receiving A&A among black and Hispanic pensioners was 4.6 percentage points lower than for white pensioners (95%CI = −0.051, −0.042). Married Veterans receiving pension had a 4.4‐percentage point higher probability of receiving A&A (95%CI = 0.039, 0.048). Most indicators of need for assistance (eg, home health utilization, dementia, stroke) were associated with significantly higher probabilities of receiving A&A, with notable exceptions: pensioners with a diagnosis of Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder (marginal effect = −0.029 95%CI = −0.037, −0.021) or enrolled in Medicaid (marginal effect = −0.053, 95%CI = −0.057, −0.050) had lower probabilities of receiving A&A. Unadjusted and adjusted rates of receiving A&A among Veterans receiving pension varied by VA medical center.ConclusionsThis study identified potential inequities in receipt of the A&A enhanced pension among a sample of Veterans receiving pension. Increased Veteran outreach, provider education, and VA office coordination can potentially reduce inequities in access to this benefit.     

Issues in adherence with pediatric regimens

Adherence to recommendations for health care is an area of serious concern for pediatric psychologists. The present article highlights several key issues affecting research and clinical work in this area. They include: difficulties defining and measuring adherence; developmental aspects of adherence; special concerns with low income populations; and limitations of intervention research. In addition, several directions for future investigation in the area of pediatric adherence are addressed.