Treat-to-target strategy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Audit of adherence from real world clinical data

IntroductionThe current paradigm of the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) recommends achieving a state of remission or low disease activity through the treat-to-target strategy. Our study assesses adherence to this strategy.MethodPatients with RA (ACR-EULAR 2010 criteria) were included. From each centre, 19 patients were randomly selected. Clinical histories (CH) were assessed by independent auditors, checking compliance with predefined quality criteria. The study was approved by ethics committees.ResultsWe included 856 patients (mean age 54 years; 71% women). The use of a combined index (CI) was recorded in 61% of cases. Visits were recorded every 4 weeks using a CI in 4% of CH while attempts were made to achieve remission. Monitoring of disease activity every 6–8 months after reaching the target was recorded in 73% of cases.ConclusionsThe implementation of the treat-to-target strategy is barely recorded in patients with RA in routine clinical practice.     

Myocardial deformation assessment in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension: A cardiac magnetic resonance study

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate right atrial and ventricular strain parameters on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and whether they can aid in the assessment of PPH prognosis.Materials and methodsAdult patients with groups 1 and 4 PPH were invited to participate in the study. Age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were also recruited as controls. At baseline, patients underwent clinical examination, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide measurement and CMR with feature tracking post-processing (CMR-FT). Healthy controls underwent only CMR-FT. The study's primary endpoint was clinical failure, defined as death, hospitalization or demonstrable clinical deterioration during follow-up. Patients who were unable to perform 6-minute walking test due to musculoskeletal disorders were excluded from the study.ResultsThirty-six patients (8 men, 28 women; mean age, 50.6 ± 13.8 [SD] years [range: 18.6–78.5 years]) and 12 healthy control subjects (5 mean, 7 women; mean age, 40.6 ± 13.5 [SD] years [range: 23.1–64.4 years]) were recruited. Right ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) was significantly impaired in PPH patients (?20.2 ± 5.3 [SD] % [range: ?28.8 to ?9.1%] vs. ?28.4 ± 3.1% [?33.7 to ?22.7%] respectively, P < 0.001). The right atrial GLS was significantly impaired in PPH compared to healthy controls (?19.9 ± 4.5% [range: ?28.6 to ?3.6%] vs. ?26.5 ± 4.2% [range: ?32.8 to ?15.8%] respectively) (P < 0.001). Clinical failure occurred in 19 (19/36, 53%) of patients. Right ventricular GLS predicted clinical failure most reliably among CMR parameters (?22.6 ± 3.8 [SD] % [range: ?27.6 to ?12.7%] for patients without clinical failure vs. ?18 ± 5.6 [SD] % [range: ?28.8 to ?9.1%] for patients with clinical failure; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.85; P = 0.007; area under the AUC curve = 0.75). Lower absolute right atrial GLS was significantly associated with clinical failure (?22.7 ± 3.0 [SD] % [range: ?28.6 to ?17.7%] for patients without clinical failure vs. ?16.9 ± 5.8 [SD] % [range: ?24.2 to ?3.6%] for patients with clinical failure) (HR = 1.53; P = 0.035).ConclusionCMR feature tracking-derived myocardial strain parameters of both the right atrium and ventricle can assist clinicians in the prognosis of PPH.     

基于网络药理学和分子对接技术研究黄芪-赤芍治疗COPD的作用机制＊

目的 基于网络药理学和分子对接技术探究黄芪-赤芍配伍对治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病（chronic obstructive pulmonary disease，COPD）的作用机制。方法 利用TCMSP，Pharmmaper数据库，筛选黄芪-赤芍治疗COPD的活性成分和潜在靶点；结合Genecards数据库挖掘的COPD相关靶点，对黄芪-赤芍药对与COPD靶点进行PPI网络构建，交互处理得到黄芪-赤芍药对治疗COPD的关键靶点，并进行GO分析和KEGG通路富集分析；并采用分子对接技术将主要活性成分与TNF-α（肿瘤坏死因子），IL-6（白细胞介素6）等进行分子对接；最后利用A549炎症细胞与人脐静脉内皮细胞缺氧损伤模型进行体外细胞实验对结果加以验证。结果 黄芪-赤芍药对中44个有效成分作用于COPD，核心成分为：槲皮素、山奈酚、丁子香萜、芍药苷、（2R，3R）-4-methoxyl-distylin、二氢异黄酮；黄芪-赤芍药对通过IL6、PTGS2、TNF等113个靶蛋白，调控Ras、PI3KAkt、IL-17等多条信号通路治疗COPD，且分子对接结果显示槲皮素、山奈酚、丁子香萜、芍药苷与IL-6、PTGS2、TNF大分子蛋白有良好的结合性，体外细胞试验证实，槲皮素与山奈酚均能减少IL-8，MMP-9炎症因子的分泌，具有不同程度的抗炎效果；芍药苷有明显的扩血管、抗血栓之效。结论 黄芪-赤芍药对治疗COPD具有多成分、多靶点、多通路、整体调节的作用特点。初步揭示了黄芪-赤芍药对通过抑制炎症反应、调节上皮细胞生长增强保护屏障等预测出黄芪-赤芍药对治疗COPD的潜在作用机制，以期为其活性成分的药效物质基础提供理论研究和思路。     

“三全育人”视角下思政教育机制实践与探索——“杏林成长导师”计划的构建

“三全育人”是高校思政教育工作的关键一环，也是中医药高校推动思政教育的重要内容。以“三全育人”为视角对北京中医药大学思想政治教育举措“杏林成长导师”计划路径、内容深入分析，运用统计分析和文献研究方法，剖析该计划对中医学专业大学生的学业、思想和实践等多个层面的现实成效，从而为“三全育人”理念在中医药院校制度建构中的应用提供新的视角与方法。     

不同年龄段勃起功能障碍患者的心理状况与人格特征分析

目的探讨不同年龄段勃起功能障碍(ED)患者心理状况的差异。方法回顾性分析郑州大学第三附属医院2018年7月至2019年7月收治的401例ED患者的临床资料。年龄20~60岁。将所有患者按年龄段分为4组:A组158例,年龄20~29岁;B组182例,年龄30~39岁;C组38例,年龄40~49岁;D组23例,年龄50~60岁。基于国际勃起功能评分表(IIEF-5)评估患者的勃起功能情况。采用症状自评量表(SCL-90)评估患者的敌对、焦虑、精神病性、恐怖、偏执、强迫、躯体化、人际关系、抑郁等9项心理状况。采用状态-特质焦虑量表(STAI)区分患者是否存在状态性或特质性的焦虑情绪。采用艾森克人格问卷(EPQ)分析患者的人格类型。分析患者组与文献报道的全国常模组SCL-90、STAI和EPQ量表的差异。分析不同年龄组患者各项指标的差异。结果患者组SCL-90量表的敌对(1.64±0.67,t=4.81,P<0.001)、焦虑(1.58±0.66,t=6.83,P<0.001)、精神病性(1.62±0.68,t=11.87,P<0.001)、偏执(1.55±0.66,t=3.58,P<0.001)、强迫(1.95±0.70,t=9.56,P<0.001)、躯体化(1.43±0.58,t=2.10,P=0.036)、人际关系/敏感(1.74±0.74,t=2.79,P=0.005)、抑郁(1.66±0.74,t=4.50,P<0.001)等因子分,以及总分(1.53±0.63,t=3.07,P=0.002)均显著高于全国常模组。A、B、C、D组的人际关系/敏感得分差异有统计学意义(1.72±0.78、1.65±0.69、1.58±0.92、1.43±0.59,F=2.84,P=0.038)。患者组STAI量表的状态焦虑(t=7.35,P<0.001)、特质焦虑(t=6.31,P<0.001)等因子分和总分(t=8.41,P<0.001)均显著高于全国常模组,不同年龄组的状态焦虑(F=5.29,P=0.001)、特质焦虑(F=5.54,P<0.001)因子分和总分(F=5.66,P<0.001)差异有统计学意义。患者组的精神质(t=30.56,P<0.001)、情绪(t=45.94,P<0.001)、外倾-内倾(t=11.72,P<0.001)、掩饰性(t=29.16,P<0.001)等因子分和总分(t=30.56,P<0.001)均显著高于全国常模组。401例的人格类型分别为抑郁质183例(45.64%),胆汁质94例(23.44%),黏液质66例(16.46%),多血质58例(14.46%)。不同年龄组的抑郁质、胆汁质、黏液质、多血质人格类型分布分别为A组76、35、26、21例,B组87、40、32、23例,C组14、10、6、8例,D组6、9、2、6例,组间比较差异无统计学意义(χ^2=10.65,P=0.30)。结论ED患者存在一系列异常的情绪、躯体化的不适感,敏感的人际关系以及内向、情绪不稳定的人格特征;年龄越小的患者其焦虑情绪越严重,人际关系越敏感,可能与其内向的个性特征及情绪的不稳定性相关。     

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.