Manipulation and free will in shared decision making

In recent years, there has been an increased focus on patient involvement in treatment planning in the health care system. To reduce the risk of the clinician moving towards paternalism, various methods have been introduced—shared decision making, among others. The goal of shared decision making is for the clinician and patient to share available evidence on the best treatment and to raise awareness on the needs and preferences of the patient as to make a genuinely informed choice. However, in the present article, we discuss to which degree paternalism can be avoided in light of the clinician's role as an authority with certain knowledge and expertise. Through the philosophical theory of reasons‐responsiveness, we discuss to which extend free will and control applies to the patient. Through theoretical analysis, we come to suggest that the clinician has a role as an ally rather than manipulator.     

The role of geriatric palliative care in hospitalized older adults

ABSTRACT

Take-Away Points:

1. Geriatric palliative care requires integrating the disciplines of hospital medicine and palliative care in pursuit of delivering comprehensive, whole-person care to aging patients with serious illnesses.

2. Older adults have unique palliative care needs compared to the general population, different prevalence and intensity of symptoms, more frequent neuropsychiatric challenges, increased social needs, distinct spiritual, religious, and cultural considerations, and complex medicolegal and ethical issues.

3. Hospital-based palliative care interdisciplinary teams can take many forms and provide high-quality, goal-concordant care to older adults and their families.     

基于“证治代谢组学”假说探讨中药（单体/复方）药效物质基础的研究思路与实践＊

中药(单体/复方)药效物质基础研究是中医药现代研究的关键问题之一。然而,目前运用的生化和分子生物学方法很难诠释其多靶点、整体性和动态性的整合调节作用。课题组提出的"证治代谢组学"假说理论指出,不同的证候存在"证相关代谢谱群"和"证相关生物标志物",这可能是中药药效物质基础所在,辨证论治后偏离的代谢网络功能呈现回归趋势。基于"证治代谢组学"假说开展中药(单体/复方)药效物质基础研究,这将为阐释中药(单体/复方)防病治病和养生保健的科学内涵及其对疾病个体的整合调节作用提供新的思路。本文以冠心病为研究载体、气阴虚血瘀证为切入点、活血保心丸为干预措施,就该研究思路的内涵与总体模式、提出的背景与依据、实践的方式与可行性、创新与特色及其研究意义等进行了简要介绍。     

基于数据挖掘方法总结王树声教授治疗上尿路结石的用药经验

目的:运用中医传承辅助平台系统(V2.5)深入分析王树声教授治疗上尿路结石的用药经验，挖掘其核心经验 方组成和辨证用药规律。方法:收集王教授门诊治疗上尿路结石的治疗验方304 首，将方药信息录入系统，采用药物频次统计、 关联规则分析和熵聚类分析等方法分析处方用药规律。结果:304 首处方中涉及中药97 味，用药频次超过100 次的有14 味。所用药物药性多寒、温、平，药味多甘、苦，主归肝、肾、脾经；共得出25 组核心组合和9 首新处方。结论:王教授治疗 上尿路结石以益气固本、清热通淋为主，用药的关键在于“扶正固本”的把握和“祛邪通淋”的权衡，为临证用药和新方 开发提供参考。     

基于频数分析法的骨伤科中成药用药规律研究

目的：探讨骨伤科中成药的用药规律，为临床合理用药及新药开发提供参考。方法：以《中国药典》2015年版一部收载的骨伤科类中成药共149个为研究对象，运用频数分析的方法研究其主治病症、所用剂型、各类方剂高频药物、核心药物组成，分析骨伤科中成药用药规律。结果：常用骨伤科中成药中治疗骨关节痹症的最多，其次为跌打损伤和骨关节退行性疾病的中成药；剂型以胶囊剂、片剂、丸剂为主；以活血化瘀药、祛风湿药、补虚药为核心药物组合，各类方剂中三者比例偏重不同。结论：通过对研究结果进行分析，提出了新药研发的方向。     

颈前入路相关结构三维可视化研究

目的：建立颈前入路相关结构的三维可视化模型。方法：选取首例中国数字化可视人体数据集中第3颈椎上缘至第7颈椎下缘的连续薄层断面图像。运用3D—DOCTOR软件，在计算机上分割重建该手术入路相关的解剖结构并立体显示。结果：成功重建并立体显示第3～7颈椎、椎间盘、脊髓、颈神经、椎动脉、颈长肌、喉（气管）、咽（食管）、颈总动脉（颈内、外动脉）、颈内静脉、迷走神经和胸锁乳突肌等解剖结构的位置关系，建立了颈前入路相关结构的三维可视化模型。结论：在颈部三维可视化模型基础上，参照颈前入路手术步骤可逐层显示该手术相关的重要结构．为该手术的术前训练和模拟提供形态学依据。     

Concerns for medical radiation programs in Australian universities

The Australian higher education system is in a state of great change. The Federal education minister, Dr Brendan Nelson, has indicated that he intends to continue introducing far-reaching reforms that will impact significantly on how universities conduct teaching and research. The future allocation of government funding for university programs, including those in medical radiation, will have a significant effect on how those programs are delivered and could even determine whether programs remain viable. There will be a financial imperative for academic departments to strengthen research activity and to obtain funding from non-government sources, such as full-fee paying students, in order to generate enough income to cover program delivery. Medical radiation education in Australia is also facing many other challenges. Some of these are longstanding, such as the high cost of medical radiation program delivery, poor levels of research activity and difficulty in recruiting and retaining academic staff. Other problems have arisen recently, such as increased competition for students and a critical shortage of available training placements in clinical practice. The aim of this paper is to raise and explore these issues from a university perspective.