Health economics analysis has become increasingly important in recent years. It is essential to master the use of relevant software to conduct research in health economics. TreeAge Pro software is widely used in the healthcare decision analysis. It can carry out decision analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and Monte Carlo simulation. With powerful functionlity and outstanding visualization, it can build Markov disease transition models to analyze Markov processes according to disease models and accomplish decision analysis with decision trees and influence diagrams. This paper introduces cost-effectiveness analysis based on Markov model with examples and explains the main graphs.
Lipid globules in retina and choroid are new definitions based on pathology and high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT examination shows that the lipid globules are low reflective circular cavities in the choroid and retina, without strong reflective boundaries around them, followed by a characteristic superreflective tail. It occurs in healthy human eyes and in age-related macular degeneration characterized by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy. Its characteristic superreflective tail is the key to distinguishing it from other diseases. At present, the understanding of lipid globules is still in the initial stage. Although lipid globules can be observed in healthy human eyes, a certain prevalence rate indicates that they are associated with choroidal hypoperfusion and RPE atrophy. In the future, larger randomized controlled trials and longer follow-up time are needed to explore its pathogenesis, pathological characteristics and treatment prognosis.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the prognosis factors for early death (within 60 days) of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients for early identification and prevention of the disease.
MethodsWe analyzed the information of AML patients who were admitted to the emergency department between May 2009 and July 2010, and analyzed their clinical data, such as gender, age, prehospital time, myocardial enzyme, electrocardiogram, complications, whether the patients had thrombolysis therapy, time of thrombolysis, end point observation and time of death, ect. Cox multivariate survival analysis was performed with the use of SPSS 18.0 software.
ResultsSeventy-one cases were collected with one of them excluded for fragmented data. After analysing, we found that patients' age and isoenzymes of creatine kinase (CK-MB) level were prognosis factors for early death. Further analysis showed that the relative risk (RR) of age was 1.166 (P=0.023), and the RR of CK-MB was 1.001 (P=0.004).
ConclusionPatients' age has predictive value for early death of AML. More attention should be paid to AML patients with advanced age. Detecting myocardial enzymes levels, especially the CK-MB level, is significant for predicting early death. Other indicators need to be further explored due to the possible limitation of our study.
Objective
To explore the clinical effect and complications of lumbar plexus block through different approaches on perioperative analgesia in aged proximal femur surgery, and find the best method for analgesia in these patients.
Methods
From January to December 2015, 150 elderly patients scheduled for proximal femur surgery were randomly divided into three groups: psoas compartment block (PCB group, n=50), Winnie " 3 in 1” block (Winnie group, n=50), and fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB group, n=50). Twelve hours before surgery, guided by ultrasound and nerve stimulator, lumbar plexus blocks were performed in all the patients, then patient-controlled analgesia (the formula and the usage were the same) was done. All patients received epidural anesthesia, and were maintained postoperative analgesia for 72 hours. If Rest Visual Analogue Scale>3 or Initiative Movement Visual Analogue Scale>4, sufentanyl 10 μgi.m. was given. Muscle strength grades and complications were recorded. Anesthetic effect of sensory block of femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, and obturator nerves were measured and recorded too.
Results
There were two cases of epidural block, and one case of puncture point bleeding in group PCB; no complication in the other groups was found. There was no remedy for inadequate analgesia in the three groups. Compared with group PCB, the muscle strength grades during postoperative 24–72 hours in group FICB were higher (P<0.05). The successful rate of the block of lateral femoral cutaneous nerves was 64%, 91% and 96% in group Winnie, group PCB and group FICB, respectively, and the differences between the three groups were all statistically significant (P<0.05). The successful rate of the block of obturator nerves in group FICB (62%) was lower than that in group PCB (89%) and Winnie group (84%) (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Continuous fascia iliaca compartment block on perioperative analgesia in aged proximal femur surgery, with exact effect, less complications and simple operation, is better than the psoas compartment block and Winne " 3 in 1” nerve block.
Objective To explore the feasibility and effect of remote medical education model using online film reading training to improve the ability of ophthalmologists in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (hereinafter referred to as “Xinjiang Region”) in diagnosing fundus diseases. MethodsThe three-level film reading training system of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps system division hospital-Corps Hospital-Peking Union Medical College Hospital was established. From June 2022 to January 2023, 4 159 posterior color fundus images were continuously collected from Department of Ophthalmology of Xinjiang Corps Hospital and 4 divisional hospitals in the Corps medical system. Among them, hypertensive retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), atrophic AMD and retinal vein occlusion were 3 073, 651, 43, 186 and 206 cases, respectively. The images were divided into 3 rounds (first, second and last) according to the proportion of diseases. The doctors who participated in the training (hereinafter referred to as the "training") were 15 ophthalmologists from the Corps Hospital of Xinjiang Region and the division hospital of the Corps system. There were 7 male and 8 female. Age was (38.1±4.0) years. The titles of senior, deputy senior, intermediate and junior are 1, 6, 5 and 3 respectively; Bachelor's degree and master's degree are 13 and 2 respectively. The working time of fundus disease specialty was (9.6±3.3) years. The film reading system training was conducted before the first round of labeling, and after each round of film reading, the doctors of Peking Union Medical College Hospital gave feedback and explanation on the film reading results. The diagnostic consistency, sensitivity and specificity were compared by paired sample t test. Spearman or Pearson correlation analysis was conducted between the improvement of diagnostic level and professional title, education, age and working hours of ocular fundus disease. ResultsAll the participating doctors completed the first, second and last reading. After each round of film reading, the film reading summary was carried out for 2 hours. The average diagnostic agreement rates of participating physicians were 53.0%, 67.0% and 75.0%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.38, 0.69, 054 and 0.66, 0.85, 0.96, respectively. There was significant difference between the first and last examination (P＜0.001). The sensitivity of the second reading was significantly higher than that of the first reading, and the sensitivity of the last reading was significantly lower than that of the second reading, with statistical significance (P＜0.05). The specificity of the second reading was significantly higher than that of the first reading, and the last reading was significantly higher than that of the second reading, with statistical significance (P＜0.05). There was no significant correlation (P＞0.05) between the improvement of diagnostic level of participating physicians and educational background (Rho=0.07), professional title (Rho=0.13), age (r=0.20), and working time of ophthalmofundus disease specialty (r=0.26).ConclusionsRelying on the three-level online telemedicine training, it can improve the ability of ophthalmologists in Xinjiang region to diagnose fundus diseases. The preliminary telemedicine education model has demonstrated potential for feasibility and effectiveness in remote areas with inadequate medical resources.
Human amnion (hAM), as a biomaterial, has made significant progress in the field of ophthalmology, particularly in the treatment of retinal diseases. hAM possesses biological properties such as promoting tissue repair, inhibiting inflammation and neovascularization, and reducing fibrosis, which have led to its promising clinical outcomes in treating macular holes, retinal detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, optic disc depression-related macular detachment, and age-related macular degeneration. The application of hAM can improve surgical success rates and promote vision recovery, with no significant rejection reactions observed due to its low immunogenicity. Nevertheless, the use of hAM still faces challenges in optimizing preparation and storage techniques, enhancing therapeutic efficacy, and reducing the risk of infectious disease transmission. Future research should focus on addressing these issues to further promote the application of hAM in retinal disease treatment and enhance its effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of different screening tools for sarcopenia in the community for the elderly with sarcopenia, and to provide evidence-based support for the accurate screening of elderly patients with sarcopenia. MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, VIP, CBM, and WanFang Data databases were searched by computer, and the relevant research on the diagnosis of sarcopenia in the elderly by publicly published risk screening tools was found. The retrieval time was from inception to June 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies, and then data analysis was performed by using Stata 15.1 and Meta Disc 1.4 software. ResultsA total of 24 studies were included, including 10 961 patients, involving 8 risk screening tools for sarcopenia in the elderly: leg circumference, MSRA-5, MSRA-7, upper arm circumference, ring test, Ishii score, SARC-CalF and SARC-F. Meta-analysis showed that the combined sensitivities of eight screening tools were 0.84 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.15), 0.82 (95% CI 0.48 to 1.38), 0.80 (95% CI 0.47 to 1.36) and 0.72 (95%CI 0.33 to 1.55), 0.67 (95%CI 0.37 to 1.21), 0.63 (95%CI 0.33 to 1.19), 0.49 (95%CI 0.38 to 0.63), 0.24 (95%CI 0.18 to 0.30), and the combined specificities were 0.39 (95%CI 0.18 to 0.82)、0.52 (95%CI 0.29 to 0.93)、0.54 (95%CI 0.29 to 1.03)、0.62 (95%CI 0.49 to 0.79)、0.63 (95%CI 0.50 to 0.78).The results of reticular meta-analysis showed that the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) of the eight screening tools ranked from high to low according to the cumulative sensitivity: calf circumference (67.4%) > MSRA-5 (65.3%) > MSRA-7 (64.1%) > upper arm circumference (54.5%) > ring test (46.5%) > Ishii score. The values of specificity SUCRA from highest to lowest were as follows: SARC-F (72.2%) > SARC-CALF (71.3%) > Ishii score (60.2%) > ring test (57.1%) > upper arm circumference (40.1%) > lower leg circumference (36.2%) > MSRA-5. ConclusionThe simple screening tool for common sarcopenia has high sensitivity and high specificity, so medical staff can give priority to the combination of the two screening tools, namely SARC-CalF. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective
To study the ultrasonographic manifestation character of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods
The ultrasonographic manifestation of thirty-five cases (38 eyes) of AMD diagnosed by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) with positive findings of ultrasonic B-scan were analysed．
Results
The ultrasonic appearance of interlamellar transaudient cleft were found in 26 eyes, in which FFA appearance were serous detachment of pigment epithelium and subretinal neovascularization, 5 of them associated with small excavation of choroid, 4 of them associated with b echo belt at the posterior edge of the interlamellar transaudient cleft in which the FFA appearance was extensive subretinal neovascularization．In another 4 eyes with choroidal hematoma under FFA revealed thin echo light spots in the interlamellar transaudient cleft． There was scar-staining in the other 8 eyes in which the ultrasonic appearance showed an unequal thickening of the ocular wall in the posterior pole,unequal echo of interior edge and irregular inner echo．
Conclusion
The main ultrasonographic manifestation of AMD is the presence of interlamellar transaudient cleft in the thickened ocular wall.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:228-230)
Objective To summarize the experience of sequentially minimally invasive treatment for aged and high risk symptomatic pancreatic pseudocyst under ultrasound guided percutaneous catheter drainage combined with endoscopic technique. Methods The clinical data of 30 patients with aged and high risk pancreatic pseudocyst treated from January 2009 to January 2012 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Results Percutaneous tubes were successfully placed in 30 patients， cystic liquid was sufficiently drained， and the compression symptom of cyst was relieved immediately. After stable disease， 12 patients with communicating cysts were diagnosed by using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Pancreatic duct stents were inserted in 12 patients with communicating cysts for 60-90d （with an average 70d） after endoscopic sphincterectomy and endoscopic pancreatic sphincterectomy. Cysts disappeared in the other 18 cases receiving external drainage with external drainage tubes， the drainage time was 15-90 d with an average 30d. Neither recurrence nor complications were found in all the cases during 12-21 months （with an average 18 months） follow-up. Conclusion Interventional ultrasound combined with endoscopic technique sequentially minimally invasive treatment for aged and high risk symptomatic pancreatic pseudocyst has superiorities in little trauma， fewer complications， and exact effect.
The Technical Specifications for Evaluation of Age-friendly Medical Institutions is a set of evaluation standard for admittance of age-friendly medical institutions. The standard was prepared by Beijing Geriatric Hospital, organized by Beijing Municipal Health Commission and issued by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Market Supervision and Administration in 2021. The standard evaluates the construction of age-friendly medical institutions in four profiles, involving age-friendly culture, age-friendly management, age-friendly service, and age-friendly environment, and standardizes the specific links in the medical institutions evaluation and acceptance, displaying important guiding value for construction activities of national age-friendly medical institutions.
