Validation and confirmatory factor analysis of the pediatric Adherence Barriers to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Questionnaire

ObjectiveTo evaluate and refine a newly proposed factor structure for the Adherence Barriers to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Questionnaire (ABCQ) and to present psychometric data from a large, geographically diverse sample of children and young adults with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) treated with positive airway pressure (PAP).MethodsA sample of 181 patients prescribed PAP for treatment of SDB, ages 8–21 years, and caregivers (n = 234) of patients ages 2–21 years, completed the ABCQ during routine sleep medicine clinic visits. Adherence data from participants' PAP machines were obtained via electronic download, providing objective data on PAP adherence immediately preceding the clinic visit during which the ABCQ was completed.ResultsA three-factor structure (1. Behavior, Beliefs, Environment, 2. Emotional Barriers, & 3. Physical Barriers) exhibited good model fit in confirmatory factor analysis. Results indicate that the ABCQ has strong psychometric properties, including good internal consistency among subscales and strong convergent validity with objectively measured PAP adherence. Analysis of the Receiver Operator Characteristic Curve (ROC) yielded an ABCQ total cut-off score of 46.5 for patient report and 53.5 for caregiver report. Scores above the cutpoint predicted nonadherence to PAP, defined as failure to use PAP for ≥4 h on 70% of nights.ConclusionsThe three-factor ABCQ appears to be a useful patient- and caregiver-report instrument to measure barriers to PAP treatment in children and young adults with sleep disordered breathing.     

DryEyeRhythm: A reliable and valid smartphone application for the diagnosis assistance of dry eye

PurposeUndiagnosed or inadequately treated dry eye disease (DED) decreases the quality of life. We aimed to investigate the reliability, validity, and feasibility of the DryEyeRhythm smartphone application (app) for the diagnosis assistance of DED.MethodsThis prospective, cross-sectional, observational, single-center study recruited 82 participants (42 with DED) aged ≥20 years (July 2020–May 2021). Patients with a history of eyelid disorder, ptosis, mental disease, Parkinson's disease, or any other disease affecting blinking were excluded. Participants underwent DED examinations, including the Japanese version of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (J-OSDI) and maximum blink interval (MBI). We analyzed their app-based J-OSDI and MBI results. Internal consistency reliability and concurrent validity were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficients and Pearson's test, respectively. The discriminant validity of the app-based DED diagnosis was assessed by comparing the results of the clinical-based J-OSDI and MBI. The app feasibility and screening performance were evaluated using the precision rate and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.ResultsThe app-based J-OSDI showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.874). The app-based J-OSDI and MBI were positively correlated with their clinical-based counterparts (r = 0.891 and r = 0.329, respectively). Discriminant validity of the app-based J-OSDI and MBI yielded significantly higher total scores for the DED cohort (8.6 ± 9.3 vs. 28.4 ± 14.9, P < 0.001; 19.0 ± 11.1 vs. 13.2 ± 9.3, P < 0.001). The app's positive and negative predictive values were 91.3% and 69.1%, respectively. The area under the curve (95% confidence interval) was 0.910 (0.846–0.973) with concurrent use of the app-based J-OSDI and MBI.ConclusionsDryEyeRhythm app is a novel, non-invasive, reliable, and valid instrument for assessing DED.     

87例糖尿病合并肺结核患者临床特点分析

目的探究糖尿病合并肺结核患者临床特点。方法对研究组87例糖尿病合并肺结核患者与对照组87例单纯糖尿病患者临床资料进行回顾性分析,内容包括年龄、糖尿病病程、空腹血糖、维生素A水平、体质量指数、糖尿病相关并发症发生情况等。结果研究组年龄、糖尿病病程、体内空腹血糖含量、糖尿病相关并发症发生率均高于对照组,而其体质量指数(BMI)、维生素A水平则低于对照组,P0.05,差异具有统计学意义;两组性别所占比例对比,P0.05,差异不具有统计学意义。结论临床医生应准确掌握糖尿病合并肺结核相关特征,为高危人群提供针对性的干预措施降低疾病发生率,对疑似病例积极给予各类检查确诊病情,采取正确有效的治疗方法保障其生活质量及生命安全。     

津沽推拿流派学术概要

发源于天津地区的津沽推拿流派,具有历史悠久、底蕴深厚、风格独特、学术特点突出等特点。作为全国具有代表性的推拿流派,津沽推拿流派已有百余年发展历史,现已形成津沽伤科推拿、津沽脏腑推拿、津沽小儿推拿3大稳定的学术分支。津沽推拿流派注重理论传承,强调道术结合,又具有典型的手法特点。津沽推拿流派对近代推拿的发展贡献突出,目前该流派的传承推广应用工作成绩卓著,引起了推拿学界的广泛关注。     

Artificial Intelligence–Augmented Electrocardiogram Detection of Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in the General Population

ObjectiveTo validate an artificial intelligence–augmented electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) algorithm for the detection of preclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in a large community-based cohort.MethodsWe identified a randomly selected community-based cohort of 2041 subjects age 45 years or older in Olmsted County, Minnesota. All participants underwent a study echocardiogram and ECG. We first assessed the performance of the AI-ECG to identify LVSD (ejection fraction ≤40%). After excluding participants with clinical heart failure, we further assessed the AI-ECG to detect preclinical LVSD among all patients (n=1996) and in a high-risk subgroup (n=1348). Next we modelled an imputed screening program for preclinical LVSD detection where a positive AI-ECG triggered an echocardiogram. Finally, we assessed the ability of the AI-ECG to predict future LVSD. Participants were enrolled between January 1, 1997, and September 30, 2000; and LVSD surveillance was performed for 10 years after enrollment.ResultsFor detection of LVSD in the total population (prevalence, 2.0%), the area under the receiver operating curve for AI-ECG was 0.97 (sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 92%); in the high-risk subgroup (prevalence 2.7%), the area under the curve was 0.97 (sensitivity, 92%; specificity, 93%). In an imputed screening program, identification of one preclinical LSVD case would require 88.3 AI-ECGs and 8.7 echocardiograms in the total population and 65.7 AI-ECGs and 5.5 echocardiograms in the high-risk subgroup. The unadjusted hazard ratio for a positive AI-ECG for incident LVSD over 10 years was 2.31 (95% CI, 1.32 to 4.05; P=.004).ConclusionArtificial intelligence–augmented ECG can identify preclinical LVSD in the community and warrants further study as a screening tool for preclinical LVSD.