Effect of group reminiscence therapy on depression and perceived meaning of life of veterans diagnosed with dementia at veteran homes

ABSTRACT

Most senior veterans who live in veteran homes in Taiwan have few interpersonal relationships. Aging is often accompanied by solitude and illness, which causes senior veterans to doubt the meaning of life and to lose confidence in the value of life. This study tested the effectiveness of a group reminiscence therapy protocol on the depression and meaning of life among elderly institutionalized veterans. A quasi-experimental design was applied. A convenience sample of older adults was drawn from two veteran homes in southern Taiwan. Participants were assigned to intervention or control groups based on the veterans' homes they attended. The participants in the intervention group carried out group reminiscence therapy for 8 weeks in addition to their daily activities. The participants in the comparison group maintained their daily activities. Both groups were evaluated using the GDS-SF and MLS scale including two aspects of depression mood and meaning of life in weeks 1 and 8. The overall life satisfaction increased significantly over time for the intervention group compared to the comparison group from week 1 to week 8. The group reminiscence therapy programs showed promising effects in improving the depression and meaning of life of older veterans living in veteran homes.     

肝内胆管癌新辅助治疗共识与争议

肝内胆管癌（ICC）恶性程度高，症状隐匿，早期症状不明显，由于缺乏有效的筛查，确诊时多处于进展期，大多失去手术切除机会。目前，根治性手术仍是惟一可以使病人获得长期生存的治疗方式，但存在切除率低、术后易复发等难题。新辅助治疗能缩小原有病灶及转移的淋巴结，提高R0切除率，对于无法切除的局部晚期ICC，新辅助治疗可使局部进展的ICC降期为可切除，也可改善肝移植病人的预后。但目前对ICC行新辅助治疗的潜在效用仍存在争议。     

延续护理干预对慢性乙型肝炎患者抗病毒治疗依从性的影响观察

目的:分析延续护理干预对慢性乙型肝炎患者抗病毒治疗依从性的影响。方法:研究选取2017年1月~2017年12月某院肝二病区收治的112例乙型肝炎患者和2018年1月~2018年12月收治的98例乙型肝炎病毒患者作为研究对象,所有患者均进行抗病毒治疗,回顾性分析患者的病历资料。将2017年收治的112例患者作为常规组实施常规护理,将2018年收治的98例患者的作为研究组实施延续性护理,比较两组的护理效果。结果:研究组的治疗依从率为93.88%(92例),远高于常规组的77.68%(87例),两组数据比较存在统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:延续性护理措施可以有效提高慢性乙型肝炎抗病毒治疗的依从性,可以在临床中推广使用。     

非小细胞肺癌新辅助靶向及免疫治疗研究进展和展望

肺癌是全球发病率和死亡率最高的恶性肿瘤。近年来,随着新型药物的出现和治疗模式的优化,肺癌患者的预后已有一定改善。新辅助治疗是指对潜在可接受手术切除的患者,先给予术前抗肿瘤治疗后再行手术治疗。新辅助治疗通过术前治疗可以缩小肿瘤体积,降低肿瘤分期;并且可以杀灭患者机体中循环肿瘤细胞及微转移病灶,令患者远期生存获益。靶向治疗及免疫治疗已被应用于晚期非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)的一线治疗。因此,有临床试验尝试将以上两种治疗手段应用于早期可切除NSCLC患者的新辅助治疗。本文针对新辅助靶向及免疫治疗对早期可切除NSCLC患者的疗效、治疗中的潜在风险予以综述,并探讨新辅助治疗的未来发展方向。     

Sequential Therapy Based on Evolvement of Patterns: A New Model for Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

In order to solve the problem of long-term (>9 months) efficacy in the treatment of Alzheimer''s disease (AD) by conventional therapy (CT), a staged and multiply-targeted sequential therapy based on the evolvement of patterns (STEP) was developed. Its main innovations include: (1) the time order of evolution of patterns defined by Chinese medicine (CM) in AD was found, that is, "the orderly pattern evolution starting from Shen (Kidney) deficiency, progressing to phlegm, stasis and fire, and worsening to severe toxin as well as functional collapse"; (2) the cascade hypothesis of Shen deficiency in AD and its sequential therapy based on Shen-reinforcing was proposed, that is, "reinforcing Shen in the early stage and throughout the whole process, resolving phlegm, activating blood and purging fire in the middle stage, detoxifying and replenishing vitality to stop the collapse in the advanced stage", and through meta-analysis, clinical drug use was optimized, thus the leap from "inferential selection" to "evidence-based selection" was realized; (3) the STEP regimen combined with CT maintained cognitive and behavioral stability in AD patients for at least 12 months, with cognitive enhancement and behavioral synergy after 9 months, and cognitive benefit was superior to CT at 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 months, respectively. The 2-year cognitive improvement rate was increased by 25.64% (P=0.020) and the cognitive deterioration rate was decreased by 48.71% (P=0.000). Among them, the cognitive and functional benefits of Shen-reinforcing therapy for very early AD (350 cases) for 1 year were better than the placebo (P<0.001), and the dementia conversion rate was reduced by 8.85% (P=0.002). The behavioral symptomatic relief of patients with vascular dementia received fire-purging therapy (540 cases) was superior to those received CT (P=0.016). These data suggested that the STEP regimen has synergistic effects on CTs at least in terms of cognitive benefit, and the earlier the use, the greater the benefit will have. Therefore, the STEP regimen should be considered as one of the clinical options, particularly for the dearth of effective pharmaceutical or immunological interventions that are currently available for AD.     

武连仲教授治疗坐骨神经痛经验

全国名中医天津中医药大学第一附属医院针灸科武连仲教授用多年的临床经验总结概括出针刺的理、法、方、穴、术，其创立的"通经止痛"针刺疗法在临床中疗效佳，武老在治疗坐骨神经痛时，取足太阳膀胱经和足少阳胆经具有走窜针感的经穴为主穴，其配伍精确，组方严密，手法独特，可供临床参考。本文将武老运用"痛经止痛"针刺法治疗坐骨神经痛的经验从"理、法、方、穴、术"方面做浅述。     

Outcomes after occupational therapy intervention for traumatic brachial plexus injury: A prospective longitudinal cohort study

Study DesignProspective longitudinal cohort study.IntroductionTraumatic brachial plexus injuries (BPIs) can be devastating and negatively impact daily function and quality of life. Occupational therapists play an important role in rehabilitation; however, studies identifying outcomes are lacking.PurposeThis study aims to describe outcomes including motor recovery, upper limb function, participation, pain, and quality of life for people receiving occupational therapy intervention.MethodsA convenience sample of English-speaking adults (n = 30) with a traumatic BPI, attending the clinic between December 1, 2014, to November 30, 2016, participated. Participants received occupational therapy focusing on sensorimotor retraining and activity-based rehabilitation. Data on active range of motion (goniometry), strength (Medical Research Council (MRC)), upper-limb function (UEFI15, QuickDASH), participation (PSFS), pain (Brief Pain Inventory), and quality of life (EQ-5D-3L) were collected at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.ResultsElbow flexion strength showed significant improvement at all time-points, average increase 2.17 (MRC) (95% confidence interval: 1.29-3.04; P < .001) and mean final MRC grading 3.86 (standard error: 0.44). Significant improvements at 12 months were seen in: shoulder abduction strength and range, flexion strength and range, external rotation range; elbow extension strength and flexion range; thumb flexion and extension strength. Upper limb function (QuickDASH) showed significant improvement (mean change = 18.85; 95% confidence interval: 4.12-33.59; P = .02). Forearm protonation range and finger flexion strength were significantly worse. Remaining outcomes did not show significant improvement.ConclusionsOccupational therapy with surgical intervention can improve strength, range, and upper limb function with people following traumatic BPI. Further investigations into impact on participation, pain, and quality of life are required.     

肝包虫病的诊治方法研究进展

肝包虫病是流行于世界畜牧业发达地区的常见人畜共患性寄生虫病。文章介绍了肝包虫病的症状体征、诊断依据,以及各种治疗方法,以期对该病的防治提供参考。