Does time of CCI measurement affect the evaluation of platelet transfusion effectiveness?

The measurement of corrected count increment at 1-h post-transfusion (CCI-1 h) of platelet concentrate (PC) transfusion is recommended, but in the revised Japanese Guideline (2017) it was changed to “after 10-min to 1-h”, following the revision of the guidelines from Western countries. Here, we aimed to investigate on the feasibility to apply the CCI measured at 10-min or 30-min post-transfusion as the surrogate of CCI-1 h. Peripheral blood was collected at 10-min, 30-min and 1-h post-transfusion of PC and the effectiveness of the transfusion was analyzed based on the CCI. In the period from December 2017 to February 2020, 8 patients, who received multiple PC transfusion (total 208) at our institution, were analyzed. We performed the univariate analyses to examine the relationship between CCI value and the categorical variables, p-value <0.1 was obtained for gender (p = 2.91 × 10^?19), fever after transfusion (p = 0.0163). The qualitative variables, namely measurement time (p = 0.0553), also showed p-value <0.1. Using these factors as covariates in the mixed effect model, we found that the measurement time (p = 0.0007) had a significant effect on the CCI value when looking at fixed effects. Although there is a tendency for decreased CCI values with time progression, the slope of the change in the mixed model was -0.00307, indicating that the CCI difference among the 3 measurements was small. Here we provide evidence that CCI measured at 10-min and 30-min post-transfusion give results comparable to those measured at 1-h post-transfusion, under the Japanese practice of platelet transfusion, which relies on 100 % single-donor apheresis PC, and ABO-identical whenever possible.     

Quantity and quality of complementary and alternative medicine recommendations in clinical practice guidelines for type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

AimsApproximately 70% of Americans with diabetes have used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the past year. Healthcare providers often receive minimal training on these therapies and subsequently rely on clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to supplement their knowledge about the safe and effective use of CAM for the treatment/management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the quantity and assess the quality of CAM recommendations in CPGs for the treatment and/or management of T2DM.Data synthesisMEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL were systematically searched from 2009 to 2020, in addition to the Guidelines International Network and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health websites. CPGs containing treatment and/or management recommendations for T2DM were eligible; those with CAM recommendations were quality-assessed with the AGREE II instrument twice, once for the overall CPG and once for the CAM sections. Twenty-seven CPGs were deemed eligible, of which 7 made CAM recommendations. Mean scaled domain percentages were (overall, CAM): scope and purpose (89.7%, 79.8%), clarity of presentation (85.7%, 48.4%), stakeholder involvement (67.9%, 28.2%), applicability (54.8%, 20.2%), rigour of development (49.7%, 35.7%), and editorial independence (44.1%, 44.1%).ConclusionsQuality varied within and across CPGs; domain scores across CAM sections generally scored lower than the overall CPG. Given that CAM therapies for T2DM are only represented in one-quarter of eligible CPGs and are of lower quality, a knowledge gap exists for healthcare providers who seek evidence-based information on this topic in order to effectively counsel inquiring patients.     

中国慢性鼻-鼻窦炎诊断和治疗指南全国应用调查

目的 调查中国慢性鼻-鼻窦炎诊断和治疗指南(2008年,南昌)在全国范围的知晓与应用状况.方法 将指南内容及应用指标设计成初始问卷,通过预调查形成正式问卷,然后分层选择全国不同地区、不同等级医院的耳鼻咽喉科医师作为调查对象,统一培训人员,深入各家医院进行面访问卷调查,汇总整理数据,统计指南知晓度与应用度的评估指标,并进行影响因素的分析.以SPSS16.0软件进行数据分析.结果 2012年12月至2013年6月间实施问卷发放、调查及回收,完成全国30个省、市、自治区或直辖市的350家医院的1 240名耳鼻咽喉科医师的有效调查.通过分类汇总,受访者对指南各项内容的平均知晓度为48.7％,对指南推荐治疗药物的平均应用度为40.8％,两者之间呈正相关趋势(r =0.280,P=0.000).通过线性回归,区县医院、低年资医师、非鼻科专业方向是造成知晓度和应用度较低的因素;此外,我国西部地区受访者的指南知晓度与药物应用度均比东部地区、中部地区低.结论 我国慢性鼻-鼻窦炎诊断和治疗指南的知晓程度与应用程度普遍偏低,亟待加强宣传学习与贯彻落实,尤其需加大对重点地区、重点医院、重点人群的推广力度.     

Argentinian clinical practice guideline for surveillance,diagnosis, staging and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

The A.A.E.E.H has developed this guideline for the best care of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from Argentina. It was done from May 2018 to March 2020. Specific clinical research questions were systematically searched. The quality of evidence and level of recommendations were organized according to GRADE. HCC surveillance is strongly recommended with abdominal ultrasound (US) every six months in the population at risk for HCC (cirrhosis, hepatitis B or hepatitis C); it is suggested to add alpha-feto protein (AFP) levels in case of inexeperienced sonographers. Imaging diagnosis in patients at risk for HCC has high specificity and tumor biopsy is not mandatory. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer algorithm is strongly recommended for HCC staging and treatment-decision processes. Liver resection is strongly recommended for patients without portal hypertension and preserved liver function. Composite models are suggested for liver transplant selection criteria. Therapies for HCC with robust clinical evidence include transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and first to second line systemic treatment options (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib and ramucirumab). Immunotherapy with nivolumab and pembrolizumab has failed to show statistical benefit but the novel combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab has recently shown survival benefit over sorafenib in frontline.     

Australian consensus guidelines for the safe handling of monoclonal antibodies for cancer treatment by healthcare personnel

These consensus guidelines provide recommendations for the safe handling of monoclonal antibodies. Definitive recommendations are given for the minimum safe handling requirements to protect healthcare personnel. The seven recommendations cover: (i) appropriate determinants for evaluating occupational exposure risk; (ii) occupational risk level compared with other hazardous and non‐hazardous drugs; (iii) stratification of risk based on healthcare personnel factors; (iv) waste products; (v) interventions and safeguards; (vi) operational and clinical factors and (vii) handling recommendations. The seventh recommendation includes a risk assessment model and flow chart for institutions to consider and evaluate clinical and operational factors unique to individual healthcare services. These guidelines specifically evaluated monoclonal antibodies used in the Australian cancer clinical practice setting; however, the principles may be applicable to monoclonal antibodies used in non‐cancer settings. The guidelines are only applicable to parenterally administered agents.