A systematic review of the methodological quality of economic evaluations in genetic screening and testing for monogenic disorders

PurposeUnderstanding the value of genetic screening and testing for monogenic disorders requires high-quality, methodologically robust economic evaluations. This systematic review sought to assess the methodological quality among such studies and examined opportunities for improvement.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science for economic evaluations of genetic screening/testing (2013-2019). Methodological rigor and adherence to best practices were systematically assessed using the British Medical Journal checklist.ResultsAcross the 47 identified studies, there were substantial variations in modeling approaches, reporting detail, and sophistication. Models ranged from simple decision trees to individual-level microsimulations that compared between 2 and >20 alternative interventions. Many studies failed to report sufficient detail to enable replication or did not justify modeling assumptions, especially for costing methods and utility values. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, or calibration were rarely used to derive parameter estimates. Nearly all studies conducted some sensitivity analysis, and more sophisticated studies implemented probabilistic sensitivity/uncertainty analysis, threshold analysis, and value of information analysis.ConclusionWe describe a heterogeneous body of work and present recommendations and exemplar studies across the methodological domains of (1) perspective, scope, and parameter selection; (2) use of uncertainty/sensitivity analyses; and (3) reporting transparency for improvement in the economic evaluation of genetic screening/testing.     

灯盏乙素介入IP3R-Ca2+途径抑制β淀粉样蛋白诱导的神经细胞凋亡

目的：观察灯盏乙素（Scu）对β淀粉样蛋白（Aβ）诱导的细胞模型中1，4，5-三磷酸肌醇受体（IP₃R）-Ca²⁺途径的影响，探讨其在阿尔茨海默病（AD）病程中可能发挥的积极作用。方法：选用神经母细胞瘤细胞分为对照组、Scu处理组、Aβ处理组、Aβ+Scu （高、中、低）处理组及Aβ+IP₃R拮抗剂组，用CCK-8法筛选药物浓度并检测各组细胞生存率；用酶联免疫吸附法检测各组细胞中1，4，5-三磷酸肌醇（IP₃）的含量；用蛋白印迹和实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应方法检测各组细胞IP₃R和凋亡相关因子Caspase-3、Bcl-2、Bax的蛋白及mRNA的表达水平；用激光共聚焦显微镜观察各组细胞内Ca²⁺浓度的变化；用AnnexinV/PI双染法测定各组细胞的凋亡率。结果：与对照组和Scu处理组相比，Aβ处理组细胞存活率下降，IP₃含量升高，IP₃R、Bax和Caspase-3的蛋白及mRNA表达上调，Bcl-2蛋白及mRNA的表达下调，细胞胞浆内Ca²⁺浓度及细胞凋亡率升高；Aβ+Scu处理组细胞中各检测指标的变化与Aβ处理组的结果正好相反，IP₃R通道下游指标的变化与Aβ+IP₃R拮抗剂组基本一致。结论：Scu能够下调通路蛋白IP₃、IP₃R的表达，抑制Aβ介导的Ca²⁺内流所致的细胞凋亡，可能通过对IP₃R-Ca²⁺途径的调控来影响AD病程。     

外周动脉闭塞患者的交感神经皮肤反应

目的：描述胚胎种植前遗传诊断在1例携带Ⅰ型白细胞黏附缺陷病（LAD-1）携带者并完成健康妊娠夫妇中的应用。设计：病例报道。机构：大学医院生殖中心。患者：1例男女双方都是LAD-1携带者的夫妇，女方CD18基因的外显子4携带有G400A置换，男方的外显子5携带有C562T置换。干预：标准体外受精（IVF）后第3天行卵裂期活检和分裂球遗传分析以检测2处突变以及21号染色体标记物。主要观察指标：1个未罹患LAD-1婴儿的出生。结果：得到15个卵母细胞，其中10个受精。8个胚胎适宜胚胎活组织检查。     

Right aortic arch detected in fetal life.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prenatal distribution, associated conditions and outcome of the different types of right aortic arch (RAA) detected in fetal life. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of all cases of RAA detected prenatally between 1998 and 2005 in two tertiary referral centers. RESULTS: In the study period 71 cases of RAA were detected; 26 (37%) had RAA with aberrant left subclavian artery, 23 (32%) had RAA with mirror-image branching, 20 (28%) had RAA of unknown type and two (3%) had double aortic arch. While 20/26 cases with RAA and aberrant left subclavian artery were isolated findings, all 23 cases with RAA and mirror-image branching were associated with cardiac defects, namely tetralogy of Fallot (43%) or pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (22%). Of the 20 cases with RAA, 19 of unknown type were associated with heterotaxy syndromes and had additional cardiac malformations and ambiguities of the situs. The two cases with DAA were isolated findings. Seven cases in our series (10%) had a microdeletion 22q11 and these were significantly associated with extracardiac malformations. The outcome in our series depended solely on the associated cardiac and extracardiac malformations, with the exception of one infant with isolated DAA, in whom a surgical correction was warranted. CONCLUSIONS: RAA detected in fetal life is associated frequently with other cardiac/non-cardiac malformations, heterotaxy syndromes and microdeletions 22q11. The associated conditions vary depending on the branching type of the brachiocephalic vessels and the presence of extracardiac malformations.     

Nutritional status in anorexia nervosa: clinical chemistry, vitamins, iron and zinc

Routine clinical chemical variables and parameters of the vitamin, iron and zinc status were measured in 20 female patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and in 10 lean and 10 normal weight, healthy, female control subjects. Patients with AN had higher activities of L-gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and a higher concentration of prealbumin in serum and lower leucocyte and lymphocyte counts in blood. For the other routine clinical chemical parameters no significant differences between the groups were observed. AN patients had higher serum vitamin B12 and retinol levels. No significant differences were found for the status parameters of thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folate, vitamin E and vitamin D. Contradictory results were obtained for the riboflavin status: AN patients had a lower level of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in blood and a lower stimulation ratio of the glutathione reductase activity in erythrocytes (alpha-EGR). Patients with AN had higher serum ferritin concentration and lower total iron binding capacity (TIBC). However, haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Ht) and iron saturation were not significantly different. No significant difference was found in the concentration of zinc in plasma. In spite of the poor intake of nutrients and energy, the results obtained did not indicate an inadequate status of vitamins, iron and zinc in patients with AN.     

Activation of glucocorticoid receptors and the effect of naloxone during hemorrhagic hypotension.

Evidence indicates that endogenous opioid peptides and glucocorticoids participate in the control of cardiovascular regulation during hemorrhagic shock. In the present study, we investigated a possible interaction between brain opioid peptides and adrenal corticosteroids regarding the control of arterial pressure during hemorrhage. The bleeding volumes required to lower arterial pressure to 80, 60 and 40 mmHg were studied in anesthetized sham-operated (SHAM) and adrenalectomized (ADX) rats. I.c.v. administration of 10 micrograms of naloxone resulted in a significant increase in the bleeding volume required to lower arterial pressure from 60 to 40 mmHg in SHAM animals, whereas no effect of naloxone was observed in ADX animals. Replacement therapy with a 100% corticosterone pellet (100 mg, s.c.), but not with a 12.5% corticosterone pellet (12.5 mg corticosterone and 87.5 mg cholesterol, s.c.), resulted in an effect of naloxone on the bleeding volume in ADX animals. The effect of replacement therapy could be inhibited by i.c.v. pretreatment with the synthetic glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU38486 (100 ng). These data suggest that (1) opioid mechanisms are involved in the regulation of blood pressure during hemorrhage, and (2) occupancy of glucocorticoid receptors is required for naloxone to exert its hemodynamic effect during hemorrhagic hypotension in ADX rats.     

颈丛阻滞、硬膜外阻滞下甲状腺手术应激反应的比较

目的 :比较颈丛阻滞、硬膜外阻滞下甲状腺手术应激反应的大小。方法 :选择ASAⅠ～Ⅱ级 ,女性 ,甲状腺手术患者 30例 ,年龄 2 2～ 5 5岁 ,术前无呼吸、循环和内分泌疾病 ,随机分为颈丛阻滞组 (颈丛组 ) 15例 ,硬膜外阻滞组(硬膜外组 ) 15例 ;颈丛阻滞选用 0 .8%利多卡因和 0 .2 5 %布比卡因混合液 ,以C4一点法行双侧深浅丛阻滞 ;硬膜外阻滞选用 1.3%利多卡因和 0 .15 %丁卡因混合液 ,穿刺点选择C4～ 5或C5～ 6间隙 ,采用侧卧位直入法 ,并向头置管 3cm ;分别测定并记录麻醉前、麻醉后 2 0min、切皮、分上极、切腺体和术毕共六个时点的血糖、血压和心率的变化。结果 :两组病例各时点血糖均逐步上升 ,于分上极、切腺体和术毕血糖值与麻醉前比较有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1) ;硬膜外组只在分上极时SBP与麻醉前比较有差异外 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,而颈丛组在分上极、切腺体时DBP与麻醉前比较有差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,SBP、MAP与麻醉前比较有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :本研究表明颈丛阻滞、硬膜外阻滞均不能完全抑制甲状腺手术的应激反应 ,在稳定甲状腺手术循环功能方面硬膜外阻滞优于颈丛阻滞     

On verification of hyperthermia treatment planning for cervical carcinoma patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to verify hyperthermia treatment planning calculations by means of measurements performed during hyperthermia treatments. The calculated specific absorption rate (SAR(calc)) was compared with clinically measured SAR values, during 11 treatments in seven cervical carcinoma patients. METHODS: Hyperthermia treatments were performed using the 70 MHz AMC-4 waveguide system. Temperatures were measured using multisensor thermocouple probes. One invasive thermometry catheter in the cervical tumour and two non-invasive catheters in the vagina were used. For optimal tissue contact and fixation of the catheters, a gynaecological tampon was inserted, moisturized with distilled water (4 treatments), or saline (6 treatments) for better thermal contact. During one treatment no tampon was used. At the start of treatment the temperature rise (DeltaT(meas)) after a short power pulse was measured, which is proportional to SAR(meas). The SAR(calc) along the catheter tracks was extracted from the calculated SAR distribution and compared with the DeltaT(meas)-profiles. RESULTS: The correlation between DeltaT(meas) and SAR(calc) was on average R = 0.56 +/- 0.28, but appeared highly dependent on the wetness of the tampon (preferably with saline) and the tissue contact of the catheters. Correlations were strong (R approximately 0.85-0.93) when thermal contact was good, but much weaker (R approximately 0.14-0.48) for cases with poor thermal contact. CONCLUSION: Good correlations between measurements and calculations were found when tissue contact of the catheters was good. The main difficulties for accurate verification were of clinical nature, arising from improper use of the gynaecological tampon. Poor thermal contact between thermocouples and tissue caused measurement artefacts that were difficult to correlate with calculations.