The clinical impact of tricuspid regurgitation in patients with a biatrial orthotopic heart transplant / 医学前沿

In this study, we aim to elucidate the clinical impact and long-term course of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), taking into account its dynamic nature, after biatrial orthotopic heart transplant (OHT). All consecutive adult patients undergoing biatrial OHT (1984-2017) with an available follow-up echocardiogram were included. Mixed-models were used to model the evolution of TR. The mixed-model was inserted into a Cox model in order to address the association of the dynamic TR with mortality. In total, 572 patients were included (median age: 50 years, males: 74.9%). Approximately 32% of patients had moderate-to-severe TR immediately after surgery. However, this declined to 11% on 5 years and 9% on 10 years after surgery, adjusted for survival bias. Pre-implant mechanical support was associated with less TR during follow-up, whereas concurrent LV dysfunction was significantly associated with more TR during follow-up. Survival at 1, 5, 10, 20 years was 97% ± 1%, 88% ± 1%, 66% ± 2% and 23% ± 2%, respectively. The presence of moderate-to-severe TR during follow-up was associated with higher mortality (HR: 1.07, 95% CI (1.02-1.12), p = 0.006). The course of TR was positively correlated with the course of creatinine (R = 0.45). TR during follow-up is significantly associated with higher mortality and worse renal function. Nevertheless, probability of TR is the highest immediately after OHT and decreases thereafter. Therefore, it may be reasonable to refrain from surgical intervention for TR during earlier phase after OHT.

The impact of obesity: a narrative review

Obesity is a disease with a major negative impact on human health. However, people with obesity may not perceive their weight to be a significant problem and less than half of patients with obesity are advised by their physicians to lose weight. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of managing overweight and obesity by discussing the adverse consequences and impact of obesity. In summary, obesity is strongly related to >50 medical conditions, with many of them having evidence from Mendelian randomisation studies to support causality. The clinical, social and economic burdens of obesity are considerable, with these burdens potentially impacting future generations as well. This review highlights the adverse health and economic consequences of obesity and the importance of an urgent and concerted effort towards the prevention and management of obesity to reduce the burden of obesity.

Cost-Effectiveness and Clinical Impact of Antiviral Strategies of HBeAG-Positive and Negative Chronic Hepatitis B

ABSTRACT Introduction. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is associated with high burden and healthcare costs. Virologic response achieved with antivirals is associated with progression avoidance. This study aimed to estimate the efficiency and clinical impact of antiviral strategies in CHB patients. Material and methods. A Markov model estimated lifetime complications and direct costs in both, HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative cohorts. Strategy 1 (71% of treated population) and strategy 2 (100%), both based on pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) followed by oral tenofovir or entecavir, were compared to no treatment. Progression was based on HBV-DNA levels. Rescue therapy with oral antivirals was applied for peg-IFN failure. Disease costs (€, 2014) and utilities were obtained from literature. Results. Compared to natural history, strategy 1 increased QALY (3.98 in HBeAg-positive, 2.16 in -negative cohort). With strategy 2, survival was up to 5.60 (HBeAg-positive) and 3.05 QALY (in HBeAg-negative). The model predicted avoidance of 128 and 86 carcinomas in HBeAg-positive and -negative patients with strategy 1, and up to 181 and 121 in HBeAg-positive and -negative for strategy 2. Total cost increased up to €102,841 (strategy 1) and €105,408 (strategy 2) in HBeAg-positive, and €85,858 and €93,754 in HBeAg-negative. A€1,581/QALY gained ratio was estimated versus the natural history for both strategies. In conclusion, increasing antiviral coverage would be efficient, reducing complications.

Effects of valsartan and amlodipine on urinary microalbumin in elderly patients with hypertension / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of valsartan and amlodipine on urinary microalbumin in elderly hypertensive patients. Methods 100 elderly patients with hypertension treated in our hospital from May 2015 to October 2016 were selected and randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group, with 50 patients in each group. The patients in the control group received oral valsartan, and the patients in the experimental group were treated with valsartan and amlodipine. The treatment time of the experimental group and the control group was 12 weeks. The clinical indexes of the experimental group and the control group were compared and analyzed. Results After the corresponding treatment, the experimental group and the control group did not have obvious adverse reactions. There were 2 cases of headache in the experimental group, 1 cases of vertigo, and 2 cases of vertigo in the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the experimental group and the control group, and there was no statistical significance. The antihypertensive effect of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). After treatment, the urinary microalbumin in the experimental group and the control group was significantly lower than that in the treatment group, and the level of microalbuminuria in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion The clinical effect of treatment of elderly patients with hypertension better combined with valsartan and amlodipine, antihypertensive effect is stronger, can significantly improve the patient's urinary albumin, with further clinical promotion and application significance.

Effect of psychological intervention on compliance of patients with hepatitis B treated with pegylated interferon alpha 2a / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate and analyze the influence of psychological intervention on the compliance of patients with hepatitis B treated with pegylated interferon alpha 2a. Methods 100 patients with hepatitis B treated in our hospital from April 2014 to October 2016 were selected and randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group, with 50 patients in each group. The experimental group and the control group patients were treated with pegylated interferon alpha 2a treatment, treatment time was 48 weeks, no other antiviral therapy. The control group was given routine care, and the experimental group was given psychological intervention on the basis of the control group. The treatment compliance of the two groups was compared and analyzed. Results After the corresponding treatment, the score of mental health in the experimental group was (9.94±2.01) points, and the score of mental health in the control group was (6.41±2.27) points. The scores of mental health in the control group were significantly lower than those in the experimental group, with statistical difference (P<0.05). Among the patients in the experimental group, three patients had poor compliance, 20 patients had good compliance, and 27 patients had good treatment compliance, and the compliance rate was 94%. Among the patients in the control group, 15 patients had poor compliance and the rate of compliance was 70%. The rate of good treatment compliance in the control group (70%) was significantly higher than that in the experimental group (94%), with statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion Ppsychological intervention can significantly improve the treatment compliance of pegylated interferon alpha 2a in patients with hepatitis B, and improve the quality of life of patients, so it has the clinical significance of further promotion and application.

Radiographic Analysis of the Lumbosacral Juncture: Is There a Critical Sacral Angle for Total Disc Replacement?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of a patient cohort through a prospective study. PURPOSE: To determine whether there are correlations between radiographic measurements, including sacral slope (SS) and pelvic incidence (PI), and self-reported clinical outcomes among single-level L5/S1 ProDisc-L patients. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The lumbosacral juncture presents unique biomechanical challenges with respect to artificial disc replacement (ADR) because of its orientation and consequential shear loading. Reports of inferior outcomes at L5/S1 compared to those of the outcomes at the levels above, including increased facet joint pain, suggest a relationship with the sacral inclination at L5/S1. METHODS: Plain standing lateral radiographs of 71 patients (age, 26–65 years) who underwent ADR at L5/S1 for degenerative disc disease were reviewed. SS and PI were measured based on pretreatment and initial follow-up standing films. Patient's average adjusted self assessments included the Oswestry disability index and visual analog scale for pain 2 years after ADR. Correlation coefficients were computed to evaluate relationships between radiographic parameters and clinical outcomes. Analysis of covariance was used to evaluate multivariate relationships among factors, including radiographic parameters, body mass index (BMI), and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: SS and PI values were obtained from 71 patients. The average SS was 33.3° and average PI was 39.9°. At the 24-month follow-up, no significant correlations (p≥0.05) were observed between radiographic parameters and clinical outcomes. BMI, age, and sex did not explain any variability in the relationships between clinical outcomes and SS and PI. CONCLUSIONS: We reviewed a large range of SS angles and found no associations between SS, PI, or BMI and clinical outcomes after ADR at L5/S1. These preliminary results demonstrate that ADR provided maintainence of pain relief and functional improvement for a wide range of SS angles, suggesting that steeper angles are not a contraindication for ADR.

Role of blood culture in critically sick paediatric patients and its clinical impact: a tertiary care hospital based study.

Background: Blood cultures form a critical part of evaluation of patients with suspected sepsis. The present study was undertaken to study the risk factors, duration of incubation for obtaining positive cultures, and the clinical impact of the culture report. Methods: A total of 224 samples from 110 critically sick pediatric patients presenting with suspected bacteraemia were processed aerobically. Results: Cultures were positive in 25.45% of the Patients. Most of the positive cultures were obtained after 24 hours of incubation of the broth and no isolates were obtained beyond day 4 of incubation. Therapy was modified in 52.73% of the patients after receipt of culture report. Conclusions: Incubation beyond four days (unless with specific indication like enteric fever) may be unnecessary for issuing a negative culture report. Repeated isolation of doubtful pathogens confirms true bacteraemia. Early culture report increases therapeutic compliance.

Effect of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in ABCC2 on Clinical Drug Application / 中国药师

Objective:To summarize the single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) in ABCC2 and the effect on clinical drug appli-cation. Methods:According to the related articles published in domestic and abroad, the correlation between the single nucleotide pol-ymorphisms in ABCC2 and drug responses was classified and summarized. Results:ABCC2 translocator played an important role in the transmembrane transport of many physiological compounds and exogenous compounds. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the single nucleotide polymorphisms in ABCC2 possibly affected the expression or activity of ABCC2, which leading to the variation in the absorption, distribution and excretion of certain drugs and toxicants. However, the limitation and controversy were still emerged in the results. Conclusion:The influence of ABCC2 single nucleotide polymorphisms on clinical drug application shows significantly referen-tial value for the guidance of medication and the evaluation of efficacy, however, it can not be used as the only indicator yet.

Clinico-pathological impact of cytogenetic subgroups in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Experience from India.

BACKGROUND: The present study of 238 B‑cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (B‑CLL) patients were undertaken to seek the prevalence and to evaluate clinico‑pathological significance of recurrent genetic abnormalities such as del(13q14.3), trisomy 12, del(11q22.3) (ATM), TP53 deletion, del(6q21) and IgH translocation/deletion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We applied interphase – fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on total 238 cases of B‑CLL. RESULTS: Our study disclosed 69% of patients with genetic aberrations such as 13q deletion (63%), trisomy 12 (28%), 11q deletion (18%), 6q21 deletion (11%) with comparatively higher frequency of TP53 deletion (22%). Deletion 13q displayed as a most frequent sole abnormality. In group with coexistence of ≥2 aberrations, 13q deletion was a major clone indicating del(13q) as a primary event followed by 11q deletion, TP53 deletion, trisomy 12, 6q deletion as secondary progressive events. In comparison with del(13q), trisomy 12, group with coexistence of ≥2 aberrations associated with poor risk factors such as hyperleukocytosis, advanced stage, and multiple nodes involvement. In a separate study of 116 patients, analysis of IgH abnormalities revealed either partial deletion (24%) or translocation (5%) and were associated with del(13q), trisomy 12, TP53 and ATM deletion. Two of 7 cases had t(14;18), one case had t(8;14), and four cases had other variant IgH translocation t(?;14). CONCLUSION: Detail characterization and clinical impact are necessary to ensure that IgH translocation positive CLL is a distinct pathological entity. Our data suggests that CLL with various cytogenetic subsets, group with coexistence of ≥2 aberrations seems to be a complex cytogenetic subset, needs more attention to understand biological significance and to seek clinical impact for better management of disease.

Impacto clínico y económico de las intervenciones farmacéuticas / Clinical and economic impact of pharmaceutical interventions

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo durante el periodo comprendido entre noviembre del 2008 y abril del 2009 a partir del sistema de distribución de medicamentos en dosis unitarias, con el objetivo de documentar el valor de la intervención farmacéutica, tanto en datos descriptivos como en datos económicos y de eficiencia, mediante el empleo de un programa de equivalentes terapéuticos. Las intervenciones farmacéuticas se agruparon en dosis/intervalo, sustitución, vía de administración, interacciones, alergias y otros. En cuanto al impacto económico, los valores de precios se obtuvieron a partir de los precios de compra de los medicamentos y del catálogo de especialidades farmacéuticas. Se realizaron un total de 297 intervenciones repartidas en 50 dosis/intervalo, 174 sustituciones, 34 de vía, 25 de interacciones, 3 de alergia y 11 en el apartado de otros. El ahorro real calculado supuso 18 146,39 euros. El registro de las intervenciones se valora como beneficioso para la detección de problemas prioritarios y áreas de actuación, además de constituir una herramienta útil para poder demostrar el coste/efectividad de las acciones.

A retrospective study was conducted from November 2008 to April 2009 in the unit-dose drug distribution system. The objective was to document the value of the pharmaceutical intervention both in descriptive and economic/efficiency data by using a program of therapeutic equivalences. The pharmaceutical interventions were grouped into dose/interval, substitutions, route of administration, interactions, allergies and others. Regarding the economic impact, the values of prices were derived from the drug purchase prices and the catalogue of pharmaceutical specialties. Two hundred ninety seven interventions were performed and distributed as follows: 50 dose / interval, 174 substitutions, 34 routes of administration, 25 interactions, 3 allergies and 11 of other types. Actual estimated savings amounted to 18 146.39 euros. The record of interventions is considered advantageous for the detection of priority problems and areas for action, in addition to being a useful tool to prove the cost-effectiveness of actions. Key words: Pharmaceutical intervention, clinical impact, economic impact.

Clinical impact of prophylactic HPV (Human papillomavirus) Vaccine / 대한산부인과학회지

A safe, and affordable HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer must meet several programatic challenges. First, It should be multivalent because many types of oncogenic HPVs are known as the important causative factor for the development of cervical cancer. Second, the vaccine must offer long-lasting immunity for protection against HPV infection, preferably without booster injections. Third, a vaccine suitable for developing countries must minimize financial and logical demands on health care systems. The ideal prophylactic HPV vaccine would have low production costs, a long shelf life, and no need for a cold chain; it also would require only a sing dose and would be administered orally or via a nasal spray rather than by injection. According to the above challenges, the clinical impact of prophylactic HPV vaccines would be largely determined. Absolutely, HPV vaccine development holds great promise for reducing the impact of cervical cancer on the world's women.

Clinical Impact of Antimicrobial Resistance among Invasive Pneumococcal Pathogens in Asian Countries:Asian Network for Surveillance of Resistant Pathogens (ANSORP) Study

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread emergence of antimicrobial resistance among pneumococcal strains worldwide, clinical implications of in vitro resistance still remain an open question. To evaluate the clinical impact of pneumococcal resistance in Asian countries where the prevalence of pneumococcal resistance was reported to be highest in the world, ANSORP has performed a prospective, multinational surveillance study with cases with invasive pneumococcal diseases in Asian countries. METHODS: In vitro susceptibility of pneumococcal isolates was determined by broth microdilution tests with 16 antimicrobial agents. All enrolled cases of pneumococcal infections were analyzed with regard to demographic data, clinical features, risk factors and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 646 patients with pneumococcal infections were enrolled from 14 centers in 12 countries between the period from November 1999 to August 2001. Pneumonia (58.4%) was the most common clinical disease followed by bacteremia (33.4%), otitis media (10.4%), and meningitis (10.2%). Among 646 isolates, 347 (53.7%) were penicillin non-susceptible (intermediate 23.1%, resistant 30.7%). MIC90s for penicillin ranged from 0.03 (India) to 4.0 microgram/mL (Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Hong Kong). Overall mortality from pneumococcal diseases by penicillin non-susceptible strains was not different from that by susceptible strains. Pneumococcal pneumonia caused by penicillin- or erythromycin-resistant strains showed similar mortality, severity of illness, or complications to that by susceptible strains. Mortality from pneumococcal meningitis caused by penicillin non-susceptible strains was also similar to that by susceptible strains. CONCLUSION: Data suggest that current situation of in vitro resistance to penicillin or macrolides may not affect the mortality from pneumococal pneumonia or meningitis caused by antibiotic-resistant strains.

Clinical Impact of Antimicrobial Resistance among Invasive Pneumococcal Pathogens in Asian Countries:Asian Network for Surveillance of Resistant Pathogens (ANSORP) Study

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread emergence of antimicrobial resistance among pneumococcal strains worldwide, clinical implications of in vitro resistance still remain an open question. To evaluate the clinical impact of pneumococcal resistance in Asian countries where the prevalence of pneumococcal resistance was reported to be highest in the world, ANSORP has performed a prospective, multinational surveillance study with cases with invasive pneumococcal diseases in Asian countries. METHODS: In vitro susceptibility of pneumococcal isolates was determined by broth microdilution tests with 16 antimicrobial agents. All enrolled cases of pneumococcal infections were analyzed with regard to demographic data, clinical features, risk factors and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 646 patients with pneumococcal infections were enrolled from 14 centers in 12 countries between the period from November 1999 to August 2001. Pneumonia (58.4%) was the most common clinical disease followed by bacteremia (33.4%), otitis media (10.4%), and meningitis (10.2%). Among 646 isolates, 347 (53.7%) were penicillin non-susceptible (intermediate 23.1%, resistant 30.7%). MIC90s for penicillin ranged from 0.03 (India) to 4.0 microgram/mL (Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Hong Kong). Overall mortality from pneumococcal diseases by penicillin non-susceptible strains was not different from that by susceptible strains. Pneumococcal pneumonia caused by penicillin- or erythromycin-resistant strains showed similar mortality, severity of illness, or complications to that by susceptible strains. Mortality from pneumococcal meningitis caused by penicillin non-susceptible strains was also similar to that by susceptible strains. CONCLUSION: Data suggest that current situation of in vitro resistance to penicillin or macrolides may not affect the mortality from pneumococal pneumonia or meningitis caused by antibiotic-resistant strains.