Effects of Chinese Medicine on Symptoms, Syndrome Evolution, and Lung Inflammation Absorption in COVID-19 Convalescent Patients during 84-Day Follow-Up after Hospital Discharge: A Prospective Cohort and Nested Case-Control Study

Objective:To observe the changes of symptoms,Chinese medicine(CM)syndrome,and lung inflammation absorption during convalescence in patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)who had not totally recovered after hospital discharge and whether CM could promote the improvement process.Methods:This study was designed as a prospective cohort and nested case-control study.A total of 96 eligible patients with COVID-19 in convalescence were enrolled from Beijing Youan Hospital and Beijing Huimin Hospital and followed up from the hospital discharged day.Patients were divided into the CM(64 cases)and the control groups(32 cases)based on the treatment with or without CM and followed up at 14,28,56,and 84 days after discharge.In the CM group,patients received the 28-day CM treatment according to two types of CM syndrome.Improvements in clinical symptoms,CM syndrome,and absorption of lung inflammation were observed.Results:All the 96 patients completed the 84-day follow-up from January 21 to March 28,2020.By the 84th day of follow-up,respiratory symptoms were less than 5%.There was no significant difference in the improvement rates of symptoms,including fatigue,sputum,cough,dry throat,thirst,and upset,between the two groups(P>0.05).Totally 82 patients(85.42%)showed complete lung inflammation absorption at the 84-day follow-up.On day 14,the CM group had a significantly higher absorption rate than the control group(P<0.05)and the relative risk of absorption for CM vs.control group was 3.029(95%confidence interval:1.026-8.940).The proportions of CM syndrome types changed with time prolonging:the proportion of the pathogen residue syndrome gradually decreased,and the proportion of both qi and yin deficiency syndrome gradually increased.Conclusions:Patients with COVID-19 in convalescence had symptoms and lung inflammation after hospital discharge and recovered with time prolonging.CM could improve lung inflammation for early recovery.The types of CM syndrome can be transformed with time prolonging.     

Assessing Empathy in Anesthesia Residents with the Chinese Version of the Consultation and Relational Empathy: A Pilot Standardized Patient Program

Objectives To validate the reliability of the Chinese version of the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) in physician-standardized patient (SP) encounter. We also tried to examine the agreement between video-based ratings and in-room ratings, as well as the agreement between the faculty ratings and SP ratings. Methods The CARE was translated into Chinese. Forty-eight anesthesia residents were recruited to make preoperative interview in SP-counter. Performance of each resident was graded by in-room raters, video raters and SP raters. Consistency between different raters was examined. Results The Chinese-CARE measure demonstrated high scale reliability with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.95 and high consistency in the in-room ratings in intraclass correlation (coefficient=0.888, P<0.001). Despite a good consistency in intraclass correlation, video ratings were significantly higher than in-room ratings (39.6±7.1 vs. 24.0±10.0, P<0.001), and Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that the pass/fail rate was significantly higher based on video ratings than based on in-room ratings (45/48 vs. 22/48, P<0.001). SP ratings had a moderate consistency with in-room faculty ratings (coefficient=0.568, P<0.001), and there was no significant difference between the pass/fail rates based on the in-room ratings and SP ratings (22/48 vs. 28/48, P=0.12). Conclusions The Chinese-CARE measure is reliable in the assessment of empathy during preoperative anesthesia interview. In-room and video ratings are not equivalent, while SP may provide a feasible alternative for the faculty rater in the assessment of communication skills with an appropriate measure.     

Persistent inequitable design and implementation of patient portals for users at the margins

ObjectiveDiane Forsythe and other feminist scholars have long shown how system builders’ tacit assumptions lead to the systematic erasure of certain users from the design process. In spite of this phenomena being known in the health informatics literature for decades, recent research shows how patient portals and electronic patients health records continue to reproduce health inequalities in Western societies. To better understand this discrepancy between scholarly awareness of such inequities and mainstream design, this study unravels the (conceptual) assumptions and practices of designers and others responsible for portal implementation in the Netherlands and how citizens living in vulnerable circumstances are included in this process.Materials and methodsWe conducted semistructured interviews (n = 24) and questionnaires (n = 14) with portal designers, health professionals, and policy advisors.ResultsIn daily design practices, equity is seen as an “end-of-the-pipeline” concern. Respondents identify health care professionals rather than patients as their main users. If patients are included in the design, this generally entails patients in privileged positions. The needs of citizens living in vulnerable circumstances are not prioritized in design processes. Developers legitimize their focus with reference to the innovation-theoretical approach of the Diffusion of Innovations.Discussion and conclusionAlthough feminist scholars have developed important understandings of the exclusion of citizens living in vulnerable circumstances from portal design, other academic efforts have profoundly shaped daily practices of portal development. Diane Forsythe would likely have taken up this discrepancy as a challenge by finding ways to translate these insights into mainstream systems design.     

高危肾盂癌患者的简化手术治疗

目的:探讨高危肾盂癌患者的治疗方法。方法:自2009年7月~2012年12月对14例高龄且伴有严重并发症的肾盂癌患者行经腹膜后途径腹腔镜下肾脏+中上段输尿管切除术,术后正规膀胱灌注表柔比星注射液,以预防再发膀胱癌,并定期进行影像学及膀胱镜检查。结果:14例手术全部成功,手术时间63~105min,平均78.3min。术后24~48小时恢复饮食,5~9天出院。术后病理检查2例为鳞状细胞癌,12例为尿路上皮细胞癌;其中2例为浸润性肾盂癌伴肾门处淋巴结转移。术后13例得到随访,1例失访;随访8~36个月,平均21.4个月。1例术后13个月死于肺部转移,2例术后21个月因心肺疾病死亡;2例术后再发膀胱癌,行根治性全膀胱切除。结论:对于高危肾盂癌患者,简化手术,腹腔镜下切除肾脏+中上段输尿管,术后配合正规膀胱灌注化疗是一种有效安全的治疗方法。     

Disposable circumcision suture device： clinical effect and patient satisfaction

In our experience patients undergoing circumcision are mostly concerned about pain and penile appearances. We conducted a prospective randomized trial to assess the benefits of a new disposable circumcision suture device （DCSD）. A total of 942 patients were equally divided into three groups （conventional circumcision, Shang ring and disposable suture device group）. Patients in the DCSD group were anesthetized with compound 5% lidocaine cream, the others with a 2% lidocaine penile block. Operation time, intra-operative blood loss, incision healing time, intra-operative and post-operative pain, the penile appearance and overall satisfaction degree were measured. Operation time and intra-operative blood loss were significantly lower in the Shang ring and suture device groups compared to the conventional group （P 〈 0.001）. Intra-operative pain was less in the suture device group compared With the other two groups （P 〈 0.001）; whereas post-operative pain was higher in the conventional group compared to the other two groups （P 〈 0.001）. Patients in the suture device （80.57%） and Shang ring （73,57%） groups were more satisfied with penile appearances compared with the conventional circumcision group （20.06%, P 〈 0.05）. Patients in suture device group also healed markedly faster than the conventional group （P 〈 0.01）. The overall satisfaction rate was better in the suture device group （78.66%） compared with the conventional （47.13%） and Shang ring （50.00%） groups （P 〈 0.05）. The combination of DCSD and lidocaine cream resulted in shorter operation and incision healing times, reduced intra-operative and post-operative pain and improved patient satisfaction with the cosmetic appearances.     

Automated nursing documentation: A design perspective

Summary The concept of an automated nursing documentation system has been subject to casual debate for a number of years. During this time, Hewlett-Packard developed a system that is both adequate and workable from many perspectives (i.e. the Staff Notes Subsystem of the Patient Data Management System — PDMS). This package has been used as the primary method to document patient care for six years in the Critical Care Units of Phoenix Baptist Hospital. With the aid of Baptist Hospitals and Health Systems (BHHS) Design Engineers, it continues to evolve predicated on a singular intent: To provide the type of documentation required by the medical staff.The objective of this paper is multifold. Foremost, generalized criteria are established to provide a vehicle for standardizing the design or evolution of a staff notes package. The generic structure of the PDMS notes subsystem is discussed in regard to its parity with these criteria. Finally, custom modifications and additions to this package will be presented, and recommendations for future enhancements will be outlined.     

Use of the Patient State Index (PSI) to Assist in the Diagnosis of Perioperative Neurological Injury and Brain Death

We present a series of three postoperative cases that were admitted to a cardiothoracic intensive care unit (ICU) after major surgery. Due to the possible presence of residual postoperative neuromuscular blockade after surgery, a processed electroencephalograph (EEG) was applied prior to starting sedation. This was markedly abnormal in all three cases, and not in keeping with the residual anesthesia. The patients were immediately transported for a CT scan. In all three cases there was severe neurological injury incompatible with survival and end of life decisions were made. Although the utility of quantitative EEG technology, like the Bispectral index (BIS) or Patient State Analyzer (PSA), is becoming better defined in the operating room, the role in the ICU is less clear. We propose that the ICU use of the PSA 4000 may have affected our decision weighing the risk versus benefit of transporting a fresh postoperative case to the radiology suite, expedited the neurological diagnosis, and may have reduced overall ICU resource utilization.     

刍议护理语言的应用及作用

从临床护理语言在疾病康复中的作用出发 ,探讨了护士的社会角色、融洽护患关系等问题。提出临床护理语言是一个广义的概念 ,护患沟通中语言交流与非语言交流同等重要 ,是影响病人身体康复的重要社会因素。