Effectiveness,Patient Satisfaction,and Cost Reduction of Virtual Joint Replacement Clinic Follow-Up of Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundTotal hip and knee arthroplasties are increasingly performed operations, and routine follow-up places huge demands on orthopedic services. This study investigates the effectiveness, patients’ satisfaction, and cost reduction of Virtual Joint Replacement Clinic (VJRC) follow-up of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty patients in a university hospital. VJRC is especially valuable when in-person appointments are not advised or feasible such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA total of 1749 patients who were invited for VJRC follow-up for knee or hip arthroplasty from January 2017 to December 2018 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were referred to VJRC after their 6-week postoperative review. Routine VJRC postoperative review was undertaken at 1 and 7 years and then 3-yearly thereafter. We evaluated the VJRC patient response rate, acceptability, and outcome. Patient satisfaction was measured in a subgroup of patients using a satisfaction survey. VJRC costs were calculated compared to face-to-face follow-up.ResultsThe VJRC had a 92.05% overall response rate. Only 7.22% required further in-person appointments with only 3% being reviewed by an orthopedic consultant. VJRC resulted in an estimated saving of £42,644 per year at our institution. The patients’ satisfaction survey showed that 89.29% of the patients were either satisfied or very satisfied with VJRC follow-up.ConclusionVJRC follow-up for hip and knee arthroplasty patients is an effective alternative to in-person clinic assessment which is accepted by patients, has high patient satisfaction, and can reduce the cost to both health services and patients.     

Fluoxetine-induced hepatic lipid accumulation is mediated by prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 1 and is linked to elevated 15-deoxy-Δ12,14PGJ2

Major depressive disorder and other neuropsychiatric disorders are often managed with long-term use of antidepressant medication. Fluoxetine, an SSRI antidepressant, is widely used as a first-line treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, fluoxetine has also been shown to increase the risk of metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fluoxetine has been shown to increase hepatic lipid accumulation in vivo and in vitro. In addition, fluoxetine has been shown to alter the production of prostaglandins which have also been implicated in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of fluoxetine exposure on the prostaglandin biosynthetic pathway and lipid accumulation in a hepatic cell line (H4-II-E-C3 cells). Fluoxetine treatment increased mRNA expression of prostaglandin biosynthetic enzymes (Ptgs1, Ptgs2, and Ptgds), PPAR gamma (Pparg), and PPAR gamma downstream targets involved in fatty acid uptake (Cd36, Fatp2, and Fatp5) as well as production of 15-deoxy-Δ^12,14PGJ₂ a PPAR gamma ligand. The effects of fluoxetine to induce lipid accumulation were attenuated with a PTGS1 specific inhibitor (SC-560), whereas inhibition of PTGS2 had no effect. Moreover, SC-560 attenuated 15-deoxy-Δ^12,14PGJ₂ production and expression of PPAR gamma downstream target genes. Taken together these results suggest that fluoxetine-induced lipid abnormalities appear to be mediated via PTGS1 and its downstream product 15d-PGJ₂ and suggest a novel therapeutic target to prevent some of the adverse effects of fluoxetine treatment.     

Split-face comparative study between intradermal tranexamic acid injection alone versus intradermal tranexamic acid injection combined with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in melasma treatment: dermoscopic and clinical evaluation

Lasers in Medical Science - Melasma is a chronic, dark brown–pigmented patches and macules commonly on the face. Many treatment modalities for melasma have been used as hydroquinone, laser...     

玳玳果黄酮降脂提取物体内组织分布规律及特征研究

目的：建立UPLC-MS/MS分析方法同时测定玳玳果黄酮降脂提取物效应组分新橙皮苷和柚皮苷在大鼠10种脏器组织中含量，分布规律及特征。方法：采用UPLC-MS/MS技术建立提取物效应组分新橙皮苷及柚皮苷在大鼠心、肝、脾、肺、肾、脑、胃、小肠、脂质、肌肉组织中的定量分析方法；大鼠给药后分别于0.33，0.67，1，4，8 h的5个时间点，分别摘取以上10种脏器组织，测定脏器组织及血液中效应组分的质量浓度，采用DAS（V 2.0）药动学软件对各样本的药物浓度-时间数据进行房室拟合，并计算不同组织效应组分的药-时曲线下面积（AUC）及平均滞留时间（MRT）。结果：所建立的UPLC-MS/MS定量分析方法具备良好的专属性、标准曲线及线性范围良好、方法准确度与精密度、定量下限均符合有关规定；玳玳果黄酮降脂提取物效应组分在血液中的分布符合一室模型，除肾脏及脑组织外，其余脏器中提取物效应组分的房室特征多为静脉注射的二室模型，柚皮苷在肾脏中的拟合结果为非静脉注射的二室模型，新橙皮苷在脑组织拟合结果为静脉注射的三室模型，给药后8 h各组织中效应组分新橙皮苷及柚皮苷AUC值大小顺序均为小肠 > 胃 > 肾 > 脂质 ≈ 脾脏 > 肺 > 肌肉 > 肝 > 心 > 脑，效应组分在各脏器中均无明显蓄积；效应组分在血液、肾脏、肝脏中的滞留时间较长，MRT均大于2 h，脂质最短，MRT不足1 h；各脏器中新橙皮苷的药-时曲线下面积约是柚皮苷的3倍，而心、肝、肾中则是3.5，2.1和3.4倍。结论：玳玳果黄酮降脂提取物效应组分在大鼠组织中分布迅速，达峰时间早于血液；效应组分在肠道内消除缓慢，给药8 h后在各脏器中的含量均显著下降且无特异的蓄积部位。研究结果揭示玳玳果黄酮降脂提取物效应组分在大鼠体内的分布特征及规律，为进一步理解玳玳果黄酮降脂提取物在体内的作用靶点及机制奠定了基础。     

神经源性声带运动障碍与喉神经电生理

声带运动障碍的病因和临床表现复杂多变，涉及多学科，从病因上分为神经源性和非神经源性。对于神经源性声带运动障碍的诊治，首先通过喉镜等检查明确有无声带运动障碍及严重程度，值得注意的是声带纵向张力变化障碍也属于运动障碍的范畴；然后采用喉肌电图（LEMG）检查进行定性分析，在确诊神经源性损伤后，进一步对神经损伤部位进行定位诊断并查找导致神经损伤的病因；同时根据喉部神经电生理评估结果，判断预后。最后综合上述的评估结果制定相应的治疗策略。     

温室作业对蔬菜种植人员职业性肌肉骨骼疾患的影响

目的 探讨温室作业对蔬菜种植人员职业性肌肉骨骼疾患（WMSDs）的影响。方法 采用流行病学横断面调查方法，选取西北某地区602人作为研究对象，其中温室作业人员（温室组）307人、非温室作业人员（非温室组）295人。通过问卷调查和体格检查，收集研究对象个人基本信息和各部位WMSDs检出信息。采用卡方检验进行组间WMSDs检出率的比较、Logistic回归模型进行多因素分析。结果 温室组WMSDs检出率为84.04%，高于非温室组（60.68%）（χ2=41.265，P＜0.001）。温室组颈部、肩部、下背部、手部和腿部5个部位WMSDs检出率分别为36.2%、29.0%、62.2%、20.2%和51.1%，均显著高于非温室组（24.7%、18.6%、41.4%、12.2%和26.4%）（P＜0.05）。温室组2个部位、3个部位和≥4个部位WMSDs检出率分别为25.1%、16.9%和19.2%，亦显著高于非温室组（18.3%、9.2%和10.2%），但两组间单一部位WMSDs检出率差异无统计学意义。校正性别、年龄等因素后，从事温室作业能增加作业人员WMSDs的风险（OR=3.558，95%CI 2.338～5.414），女性患病风险（OR=4.682，95%CI 2.600～8.433）高于男性（OR=2.667，95%CI 1.421～5.007）。结论 温室作业可增加蔬菜种植人员WMSDs的患病风险，多部位WMSDs尤其值得关注。