精益六西格玛管理法在提高24 h尿液标本留取合格率中的应用

目的　提高患者24 h尿液标本留取合格率，明确诊断，及时治疗，提高患者满意度。方法　本研究采用前瞻性研究，于2021年1月至12月，在广州中医药大学第二临床医学院芳村医院内分泌科选取需要留取24 h尿液标本检验的患者。对照组为2021年1—5月50例住院患者，观察组为2021年6—12月53例住院患者。对照组男30例，女20例，年龄（57.30±12.88）岁，病程（5.78±4.82）年；观察组男30例，女23例，年龄（58.00±12.19）岁，病程（6.83±5.76）年。对照组采用常规方法，观察组采用精益六西格玛管理体系，使用DMAIC（define， measure， analyze， improve， control）循环，即界定、测量、分析、改进、控制5个阶段构成的过程，改进方法进行项目推进，同时利用鱼骨图工艺改进工具，优化24 h尿液标本的留取流程，并对全过程进行有效监控。比较两组患者留尿时间正确率、标本污染率、标本量不足率、记录尿量正确率、护士规范宣教率、满意度。采用χ²检验、Fisher确切概率法、独立样本t检验。结果　对照组留尿时间正确率为90.00%（45/50），观察组留尿时间正确率为100.00%（53/53），差异有统计学意义（P=0.024）；对照组记录尿量正确率为90.00%（45/50），观察组记录尿量正确率为100.00%（53/53），差异有统计学意义（P=0.024）。调查患者的满意度，实施前后均调查50人，患者总体满意度评分由实施前的（3.86±0.57）分提升为实施后的（4.20±0.45）分，实施前后结果比较，差异有统计学意义（t=3.310，P=0.001）。结论　基于精益六西格玛管理，24 h尿液标本留取流程取得了较好的改进效果，能提升护理服务质量和患者满意度，得出一套适用于医院推广和借鉴的留取24 h尿液标本的优化流程。     

Which dietary diversity indicator is best to assess micronutrient adequacy in children 1 to 9 y?

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the best dietary diversity indicator to measure dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy in children.MethodsA national representative cross-sectional survey of children ages 1 to 9 y (N = 2,200) was undertaken in all ethnic groups in South Africa. A 24-h recall was done with the mother or caregiver of each child. A dietary diversity score (DDS), the number of food groups consumed at least once in a period of 24 h, was calculated for each child in accordance with 6-, 9-, 13-, and 21-food group (G) indicators and compared with a mean adequacy ratio (MAR). The nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) was calculated for 11 micronutrients by comparing the distributions of estimated intakes with the Estimated Average Requirements for that micronutrient. The MAR was the average of all NARs. Correlations were done between MAR and DDS and sensitivity and specificity calculated for each group indicator.ResultsPearson’s correlations between food group indicators and MAR indicate that r values were all highly significant (P < 0.0001). There were no consistent or large differences found between the different group indicators although G13 and G21 appeared to be marginally better. Sensitivity and specificity values in the current study lay between DDS of 3 and 5, suggesting one of these as the best indication of (low) micronutrient adequacy.ConclusionsOverall results seem to indicate that any of the four G indicators can be used in dietary assessment studies on children, with G13 and G21 being marginally better. A cut-off DDS of 4 and 5, respectively, appear best.     

Consenso Mexicano para el Tratamiento de la Hepatitis C

The aim of the Mexican Consensus on the Treatment of Hepatitis C was to develop clinical practice guidelines applicable to Mexico. The expert opinion of specialists in the following areas was taken into account: gastroenterology, infectious diseases, and hepatology. A search of the medical literature was carried out on the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases through keywords related to hepatitis C treatment. The quality of evidence was subsequently evaluated using the GRADE system and the consensus statements were formulated. The statements were then voted upon, using the modified Delphi system, and reviewed and corrected by a panel of 34 voting participants. Finally, the level of agreement was classified for each statement. The present guidelines provide recommendations with an emphasis on the new direct-acting antivirals, to facilitate their use in clinical practice. Each case must be individualized according to the comorbidities involved and patient management must always be multidisciplinary.     

CD47-retargeted oncolytic adenovirus armed with melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 suppresses in vivo leukemia cell growth

Our previous studies have suggested that harboring a soluble coxsackie-adenovirus receptor-ligand (sCAR-ligand) fusion protein expression cassette in the viral genome may provide a universal method to redirect oncolytic adenoviruses to various membrane receptors on cancer cells resisting to serotype 5 adenovirus infection. We report here a novel oncolytic adenovirus vector redirected to CD47+ leukemia cells though carrying a sCAR-4N1 expression cassette in the viral genome, forming Ad.4N1, in which 4N1 represents the C-terminal CD47-binding domain of thrombospondin-1. The infection and cytotoxicity of Ad.4N1 in leukemia cells were determined to be mediated by the 4N1-CD47 interaction. Ad.4N1 was further engineered to harbor a gene encoding melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24), forming Ad.4N1-IL24, which replicated dramatically faster than Ad.4N1, and elicited significantly enhanced antileukemia effect in vitro and in a HL60/Luc xenograft mouse model. Our data suggest that Ad.4N1 could act as a novel oncolytic adenovirus vector for CD47+ leukemia targeting gene transfer, and Ad.4N1 harboring anticancer genes may provide novel antileukemia agents.     

Reliability and relative validity of a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire for use among adults in Italian population

Our objective was to assess the reliability and relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) among adult people. In a cross-sectional study carried out in northern Italy, 112 adults were recruited. A total of 189 food and drink items were selected according to those typically consumed by Italians. FFQ reliability was assessed by two repeated administrations at 6 weeks. The FFQ was validated using four 24-h recalls repeated in the same period of time. For the validation study, classification into quartiles from the two methods and Bland–Altman plot were also performed. The reliability study showed a good correlation between the two methods. Bland–Altman plots showed that the two methods are very likely to agree for individual energy and macronutrient intakes. The reliability and relative validity of this FFQ was good, supporting its use in assessing dietary intakes of Italians in nutritional surveillance programs and in epidemiological dietary surveys.     

Beta prime regression with application to risky behavior frequency screening

Our aim is to model the frequency of certain behavioral acts, especially those that are likely to transmit communicable diseases between persons. We develop a generalized linear model on the basis of the beta prime distribution to model the responses to a survey question of the form, ‘When was the last time that you engaged in this behavior?’ Intuitively, individuals reporting more recent events are more likely to have greater frequency of the risky behavior. The beta prime distribution is especially suited to this application because of its long tail. We adjust for length‐biased sampling. We show how to use this distribution as the basis of a linear regression model that accounts for differences in demographic and psychological characteristics of the respondents. We discuss estimation of parameters, residuals, tests for heterogeneity of these parameters, and jackknife measures of influence. We apply the methods to a survey of alcohol abuse use among individuals who are at high risk for spreading HIV and other communicable diseases in a study conducted in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

膀胱癌中miR-9对CBX7表达的调控作用

目的研究mi R-9在膀胱癌中对CBX7基因表达的调控作用及机制。方法应用荧光定量PCR方法检测膀胱癌及癌旁组织中mi R-9及CBX7基因的表达。培养膀胱癌T24细胞,转染mi R-9的前体pre-mi R-9,Western blot检测CBX7蛋白的表达。荧光素酶报告基因表达分析明确mi R-9与CBX7基因3'非翻译区(3'UTR)的结合。结果 mi R-9在膀胱癌组织中的表达较癌旁组织呈现显著的上调,而CBX7的表达则下调明显,二者的表达呈显著负相关。在转染后膀胱癌T24细胞中,pre-mi R-9能够分别下调T24细胞中CBX7蛋白的表达。荧光素酶报告基因表达分析明确mi R-9能够与CBX7基因的3'UTR结合并负性调节其表达。结论 mi R-9与CBX7基因的表达改变与膀胱癌相关,mi R-9能够在膀胱癌细胞中靶向负性调节CBX7基因的表达。     

The 24-h reporting of Gram stains from positive blood cultures contributes to physician's use of appropriate antimicrobials: Experience at a university hospital

Although recent technological advances for the diagnosis of bloodstream infection (BSI) provide rapid and accurate results, blood culture maintains a key role in the diagnosis of BSI. The objective of this study was to determine whether 24-h reporting by telephone to disclose the suspected microorganism based on the Gram stain morphology from positive blood cultures (first laboratory report) affects a physician's use of appropriate antimicrobials. A total of 627 (14%) out of 4413 blood samples, excluding duplicate samples from the same patient on the same day, were positive for blood cultures between January and December 2016. The contamination rate of blood cultures during the study period was 2.3%. Among 627 patients with positive blood cultures, 538 (86%) were receiving antibiotics at the time of the first laboratory report, of which 502 (80%) thereafter continued the same antimicrobials, and the remaining 36 (6%) were changed to appropriate antimicrobials after the first laboratory report. An additional 25 (4%) were newly administered appropriate antimicrobials after the first laboratory report, whereas an additional 21 (3%) were newly administered appropriate antimicrobials after infection control team (ICT)-intervention. The median time lag (interquartile ranges) from flagging culture bottles as positive to a physician's use of appropriate antimicrobials after the first laboratory report (4 h, 2–7) was significantly (p < 0.001) shorter than that after ICT-intervention (12 h, 10–17). During the study period, no cases of discrepancy between the Gram stain morphology in the first laboratory report and definitive identification of microorganisms in the final laboratory report were observed. Because the timing of flagging culture bottles as positive tends to fall outside normal working hours, immediate 24-h reporting by telephone to disclose the suspected microorganism based on the Gram stain morphology from positive blood cultures may contribute to an early recognition of bacteremia and the physician's use of appropriate antimicrobials.