Efficacy of early treatment with hydroxychloroquine in people with mild to moderate COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionNo early treatment intervention for COVID-19 has proven effective to date. We systematically reviewed the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine as early treatment for COVID-19.Material and methodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating hydroxychloroquine for early treatment of COVID-19 were searched in five engines and preprint websites until September 14, 2021. Primary outcomes were hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included COVID-19 symptom resolution, viral clearance, and adverse events. Inverse variance random-effects meta-analyses were performed and quality of evidence (QoE) per outcome was assessed with GRADE methods.ResultsFive RCTs (n = 1848) were included. The comparator was placebo in four RCTs and usual care in one RCT. The RCTs used hydroxychloroquine total doses between 1,600 and 4,400 mg and had follow-up times between 14 and 90 days. Compared to the controls, early treatment with hydroxychloroquine did not reduce hospitalizations (RR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.47–1.36, I² = 2%, 5 RCTs, low QoE), all-cause mortality (RR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.16–3.68, I² = 0%, 5 RCTs, very low QoE), symptom resolution (RR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.77–1.16, I² = 71%, 3 RCTs, low QoE) or viral clearance at 14 days (RR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.82–1.27, I² = 65%, 2 RCTs, low QoE). There was a larger non-significant increase of adverse events with hydroxychloroquine vs. controls (RR = 2.17, 95% CI: 0.86–5.45, I² = 92%, 5 RCTs, very low QoE).ConclusionsHydroxychloroquine was not efficacious as early treatment for COVID-19 infections in RCTs with low to very low quality of evidence for all outcomes. More RCTs are needed to elucidate the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine as early treatment intervention.     

Problematic Methods in the Assessment of Scholarly Productivity in Clinical PhD Programs

We review the methods in the ranking of clinical psychology doctoral programs provided by Stewart, Roberts, and Roy (2007). Using our own program as an example, we identify several areas of concern (e.g., authorship credits, criteria applied, faculty attrition). The inaccuracies identified for our program ranking, in combination with methodological concerns highlighted by previous commentaries, suggest that the validity of the rankings can be called into question.     

United Kingdom national paediatric bilateral project: Demographics and results of localization and speech perception testing

Objectives: To assess longitudinal outcomes in a large and varied population of children receiving bilateral cochlear implants both simultaneously and sequentially.

Methods: This observational non-randomized service evaluation collected localization and speech recognition in noise data from simultaneously and sequentially implanted children at four time points: before bilateral cochlear implants or before the sequential implant, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after bilateral implants. No inclusion criteria were applied, so children with additional difficulties, cochleovestibular anomalies, varying educational placements, 23 different home languages, a full range of outcomes and varying device use were included.

Results: 1001 children were included: 465 implanted simultaneously and 536 sequentially, representing just over 50% of children receiving bilateral implants in the UK in this period. In simultaneously implanted children the median age at implant was 2.1 years; 7% were implanted at less than 1 year of age. In sequentially implanted children the interval between implants ranged from 0.1 to 14.5 years. Children with simultaneous bilateral implants localized better than those with one implant. On average children receiving a second (sequential) cochlear implant showed improvement in localization and listening in background noise after 1 year of bilateral listening. The interval between sequential implants had no effect on localization improvement although a smaller interval gave more improvement in speech recognition in noise. Children with sequential implants on average were able to use their second device to obtain spatial release from masking after 2 years of bilateral listening. Although ranges were large, bilateral cochlear implants on average offered an improvement in localization and speech perception in noise over unilateral implants.

Conclusion: These data represent the diverse population of children with bilateral cochlear implants in the UK from 2010 to 2012. Predictions of outcomes for individual patients are not possible from these data. However, there are no indications to preclude children with long inter-implant interval having the chance of a second cochlear implant.     

盆腔器官脱垂手术前后盆底电生理评估

盆腔器官脱垂手术治疗可以恢复中、重度盆腔器官脱垂患者的盆底解剖,改善部分盆底功能障碍症状,提高患者的生活质量。但对其盆底肌肌力、疲劳度、肌电位及压力等电生理指标没有改善,亦不能显著提高正常A3反射及盆腹肌肉收缩协调的比例,即不能改善盆底电生理功能。因此,提出盆底手术前后应重视盆底电生理的评估,及时行盆底功能康复治疗,以达到既恢复盆底解剖又改善盆底功能的目的。     

高龄孕妇对2种不同唐氏产前诊断方案的需求及经济学评价

目的:探讨高龄孕妇对2种不同唐氏产前诊断方案的需求,并对这2种方案进行经济学评价。方法:选择2015年3月1日至2016年3月31日孕20+6周前在深圳市妇幼保健院产科就诊的单胎高龄孕妇4104例,由孕妇自主选择先行无创胎儿DNA检测(NIPT),NIPT高风险再行羊膜腔穿刺(方案1)或直接羊膜腔穿刺(方案2)。比较孕妇对2种方案的需求及其影响因素,并对2种方案进行经济学评价。结果:选择方案1的比率明显高于方案2[51.34%(2107/4104)vs 7.65%(314/4104),χ~2=1883.431,P0.001]。Logistic回归分析显示,孕妇年龄、传统唐氏筛查结果和胎儿颈部透明层厚度(NT)是影响孕妇选择的因素。与方案2相比,方案1可以节省67.21%的总费用。结论:高龄孕妇对NIPT有巨大的需求,且高龄孕妇采用NIPT筛查阳性后再行羊膜腔穿刺术可节省医疗费用,建议在充分知情同意的基础上可将NIPT用于高龄孕妇的一线筛查,尤其是适用于年龄较轻、传统唐氏筛查非高风险、NT正常的高龄孕妇。     

Placental and fetal effects of antenatal exposure to antidepressants or untreated maternal depression

Objective: To assess systematically the effects of antidepressants and untreated maternal depression on human placenta and the developing fetus.

Methods: Pertinent medical literature information was identified using MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE. Electronic searches, limited to human studies published in English, provided 21 studies reporting primary data on placental and fetal effects of antidepressant exposure or untreated gestational depression.

Results: The impact of antidepressants and non-medicated maternal depression on placental functioning and fetal biochemical architecture seems to be demonstrated, although its clinical significance remains unclear. More robust data seem to indicate that exposure to either antidepressants or untreated maternal depression may induce epigenetic changes and interfere with the physiological fetal behavior. Two cases of iatrogenic fetal tachyarrhythmia have also been reported.

Conclusions: Future research should clarify the clinical relevance of the impact of antidepressant and untreated maternal depression exposure on placental functioning. Moreover, ultrasound studies investigating fetal responses to antidepressants or maternal depressive symptoms are mandatory. This assessment should be performed during the whole duration of gestational period, when different fetal behavioral patterns become progressively detectable. Analyses of biochemical and epigenetic modifications associated with maternal mood symptoms and antidepressant treatment should also be implemented.     

法洛四联症患者妊娠安全性探讨

目的:探讨法洛四联症(TF)患者妊娠安全性的相关因素。方法:对上海仁济医院1993年1月至2015年6月收治的70例妊娠合并TF患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果:(1)70例妊娠合并TF患者成功妊娠61例(87.1%),无孕产妇死亡,孕妇发生心脏并发症主要为心力衰竭(5例,7.14%),其中孕前未行心脏矫治手术3例,心脏矫治术后仍然有结构异常2例。(2)孕前行心脏矫治手术的TF患者(47例),其血红蛋白(Hb)、血细胞比容(HCT)、氧饱和度(≥0.90)、氧分压值、心脏彩色超声检查结果(右心室肥厚、肺动脉狭窄、室间隔缺损的比例)均明显优于孕前未行手术者(23例)(P0.05)。(3)围生儿存活61例(87.14%),足月产47例(67.14%)。围生儿不良结局包括早产14例(20.00%),小于胎龄儿14例(20.00%),新生儿窒息2例(2.86%),新生儿心脏畸形3例(4.29%),新生儿死亡1例(1.43%),治疗性流产8例(11.43%)。(4)孕前手术矫正者的足月产率、分娩天数、新生儿出生体质量及治疗性流产、小于胎龄儿、新生儿心脏畸形的发生率均明显优于孕前未手术者(P0.05)。(5)氧饱和度0.90是预测TF患者及其围生儿不良结局的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论:妊娠合并TF可导致孕产妇及围生儿不良结局,孕前行心脏矫治手术可改善母体妊娠情况及母儿结局。孕期应重视对孕妇氧饱和度及Hb、HCT和心脏彩超检查指标的监测。未手术矫正或者心脏矫治术后仍然有结构异常者要严格掌握妊娠指征。     

Airway foreign body removal by flexible bronchoscopy: experience with 1027 children during 2000–2008

Background  Foreign body aspiration (FBA) into the tracheobronchial tree is a common problem in children necessitating prompt recognition and management. This study aimed to report our experience in airway foreign body removal by flexible bronchoscopy in children. Methods  A total of 1027 patients with FBA were reviewed retrospectively. They were 626 boys and 401 girls aged from 5 months to 14 years with a median age of 17 months. The clinical manifestations, radiological findings, bronchoscopic findings and complications of the procedure were analyzed. Results  Among the patients, only 53.4% had a definite history of FBA. The most frequent symptom was paroxysmal cough (84.3%), followed by stridor or wheezing, fever and dyspnea. Chest X-ray showed emphysema in 68.8% of the patients, atelectasis in 13.3% and bronchopneumonia in 56.3%. A bronchoscope was inserted intranasally in most children, but through mouth and endotracheal tube in 17 and 3 children, respectively. Foreign bodies were removed successfully by flexible bronchoscopy with disposable grasping forceps or biopsy forceps in 938 (91.3%) of the patients. The other 89 patients turned to rigid bronchoscopy. During the procedures, 132 (12.9%) of the patients showed transient hypoxia, which was alleviated by oxygen supplement and/or temporary cessation of the procedure. A small amount of bleeding was found in 17 patients and bradycardia in 3. Air leak and laryngeal edema were noted in 2 patients and relieved within 24 hours. Conclusions  Flexible bronchoscopy is useful and safe in retrieving airway foreign bodies in children. With skilled personnel and perfect equipments, flexible bronchoscopy could be considered as the first choice for the removal of airway foreign body.     

Does the transition zone reliably delineate aganglionic bowel in Hirschsprung’s disease?

Background: Knowledge of the extent of aganglionic bowel is important for preoperative planning of trans-anal surgery in patients with Hirschsprungs disease (HD). Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of the transition zone, as identified by contrast enema study, for identifying the extent of aganglionic bowel. Materials and methods: A total of 32 patients with preoperative contrast enema studies and pathologic identification of aganglionic extent were reviewed. Two pediatric radiologists independently reviewed the contrast enema studies. The radiographic transition zone was compared to the pathological extent of aganglionic bowel. Results: Radiologist agreement of the site of transition zone on contrast enema was 90.6%. The concordance between the radiographic transition zone and pathologic extent of aganglionic bowel was 62.5%. The subgroup of patients with long-segment HD revealed a concordance of only 25%. Conclusion: Contrast enema delineation of the transition zone in HD needs to be regarded with caution. This is especially true in long-segment disease, where knowledge of the extent of aganglionic bowel is most crucial to surgical planning.