Objective To undertake a preliminary study of the concept and approach of patient value and preference and to learn how to understand and elicit patient preference in the light of evidence-based medicine so as to promote evidence-based practice and improve the relationship between clinicians and patients. Methods The searching key words were developed and pertinent data were retrospectively retrieved for the years of 1992-2002. MEDLINE and CBMdisc were searched along with handsearching 9 Chinese medical journals and 4 evidence-based medicine books. Data were scanned and analyzed. Results A total of 2 646 related articles were identified, most of which were found in MEDLINE (2 403), followed by CBMdisc (185) and the journals (58). Currently there is no original article to study in this field from a point of view of evidence-based medicine in China. Conclusion Patient value and preference have been emphasized in the approach of evidence-based medicine and it is a worthwhile topic for us to explore.
Lung cancer ranks among the most prevalent and lethal malignancies globally. Its prognostic outcomes are not only contingent upon tumor characteristics and therapeutic interventions but also intricately linked to the nutritional and immune profiles of patients. This article conducts a thorough review of both domestic and international research, providing a comprehensive synthesis of the prognostic value of widely investigated nutritional and immune indicators in the context of lung cancer. The primary objective is to identify optimal prognostic markers in clinical practice, offering guidance for precise post-treatment assessment and early intervention for lung cancer patients.
Blockchain is a modern technological model for concatenating transaction records (also called blocks) by means of cryptography to concatenate and protect the contents. The core of blockchain technology lies in the demand of reducing cost, improving efficiency and optimizing the industry credit environment. The role of blockchain is mainly manifested in the value increment brought by application in industrial scenarios. This paper introduces the application of blockchain technology in medical records information preservation and sharing, regional medical complex construction, protection of sensitive information of patients, improvement of industry transparency, drug authenticity tracing, improvement of medical work mode, and effective improvement of medical cost safety accounting efficiency and discusses the existing problems in the application of blockchain technology in medical care industry, aiming to provide a reference for better application of blockchain technology in medical care industry in the future.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). MethodWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 110 patients with surgical pathology confirmed GISTs between January 2008 and December 2013. All the patients underwent routine ultrasound examination. Thirty-two patients accepted oral contrast enhanced bowel ultrasonography, and 5 patients underwent trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS). ResultsA total of 107 cases were detected out of the 110 cases of GISTs by ultrasonography, and the other three cases were missed. Among the 107 cases, 104 were shown to be masses, and 3 had thick gastric or intestinal walls. Among the 104 masses, hypo-echoic lesions were found in 73, heterogeneous lesions were found in 25, and hyper-echoic lesions were found in 6; 30 cases of tumor were less than 5 cm in diameter, 54 were between 5 cm to 10 cm in diameter, and 20 were longer than 10 cm in diameter (including 5 were longer than 20 cm in diameter). In the 107 cases, 12 were found to have liver metastasis, 4 were detected to have abdominal lymph node enlargement, and 3 had ascites. Surgery and pathological results showed that among the 110 cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, 91 developed from the stomach and intestine and the other 19 were extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors; 72 were at high risk, 21medium risk, and 17 low risk. ConclusionsThe detection rate of GISTs by ultrasonography is high, but the quantitative and qualitative diagnosis ability should be raised.
As the medical industry continuously raises its demands for efficiency and quality, hospital performance management has gradually become the focus of reform. The Resource-based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) evaluation system, as an effective performance evaluation tool, has been adopted and implemented by numerous hospitals both domestically and internationally. Based on the analysis of the current status of performance reform using RBRVS in hospitals at home and abroad, this article comprehensively introduces the origin, development, and basic principles of RBRVS. Furthermore, it provides an evaluation of the difficulties encountered in the practical application of this system and suggests optimization measures.
ObjectivesTo investigate the diagnostic value of different diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) models between two Gaussian DWI models including mono-exponential and bi-exponential, and the non-Gaussian kurtosis model in poorly differentiated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.MethodsSubjects comprised 52 patients with poorly differentiated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma which had been confirmed by surgery. All patients underwent DWI (1.5T, multi-b values: 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 500, 800, 1000, 1 500, 2 000s/mm2). Mean values of DWI-derived metrics ADCstandard, ADCslow, ADCfast, f, MD, MK and ADCstandard were calculated from regions of interest in all tumours and non-tumorous parenchyma and compared. ANOVA and Mann Whitney U test was used to compare the MRI paremeters. ROC was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency.ResultsMean ADCstandard, ADCfast, f and MK values showed significant differences between tumours and non-tumorous parenchyma (P<0.05). AUC for ADCstandard, MD, ADCfast and f were 0.705, 0.665, 0.648, 0.614, respectively. The ROC curve integrated with ADCstandard and MD had better diagnostic efficiency (AUC was about 0.754).ConclusionsADCstandard, ADCfast, f and MK values can differentiate tumours from non-tumorous parenchyma. The combination of Gaussion distribution model and non-Gaussion distribution model has the potential to increase the diagnostic accuracy of DWI in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
The application of economic tools to evaluate the cost and health benefits and screen out more cost-effective drugs and technologies is an important measure to improve efficiency of medical resource allocation in China. Given the inherent differences between strict clinical trials and clinical routine practice, using trial-based economic evaluations to guide relevant medical decisions may lead to a certain risk of value deviation. Recent development of real-world data provides opportunities to assess the cost-effectiveness of drugs under the practical utilization, and has gradually become a new research hotspot. However, the complexity of the actual clinical environment also puts higher demands on researchers and decision makers to construct, understand and apply real-world evidence. In order to further prompt the normalization of economic evaluation based on real-world data and promote the scientific application of real-world evidence in medical and health decision-making, this project aims at the crucial issues including scope, research design and quality evaluation, to clarify the key considerations on the using of real-world evidence in medical decision-making. Combined with the international guidelines, the latest advancement of relevant research areas and the advice and opinions from multidisciplinary experts, we aim to provide technical references and guidance for researchers and decision makers, and to strengthen the evidence base of management policies.
目的：总结胸腺类癌的临床表现、病理特征、CT表现及其临床价值。方法：对本院收治的2例胸腺类癌进行分析并结合文献复习。结果：胸腺类癌发病率低，大部分早期患者无临床症状，经胸部X线、CT检查时发现；中晚期始出现症状。病理检查出类癌后，电镜可见神经内分泌颗粒，免疫组化显示神经特异性烯醇化酶、肿瘤嗜铬蛋白A、促皮质素阳性。胸部CT表现特征为起于前上纵隔肿块，常位于心底部大血管和心包周围，肿块内密度不均，可见钙化，增强后轻中度强化，易发生胸内外转移。结论：胸腺类癌是一罕见的前纵隔肿瘤，根据CT特征，结合临床可有助诊断、指导手术、推测预后，因此CT在临床诊治中有非常重要的价值。
ObjectiveTo analyze the multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) findings of normal appendices and appendices of acute appendicitis in old patients, and to explore the clinical value of MDCT in assessing acute appendicitis in old patients. MethodsSixty-six cases of acute appendicitis confirmed by surgery in 24 hours after MDCT scan from Jun. to Oct. 2016 (acute appendicitis group), and 40 cases underwent MDCT scan for non-abdominal pain causes without appendiceal lesions from Sep. to Oct. 2016 (normal appendices group), were included, and the MDCT images of both 2 groups were retrospectively analyzed. Observation items included:location, diameter, mural thickness, intra-luminal contents, and changes of surrounding structures. Results① Rate of appendices visualization. In total of 95.5% (63/66) appendices were visualized on MDCT in acute appendicitis group, while 95.0% (38/40) appendices were visualized on MDCT in normal appendices group (P > 0.05). ② Locations of appendices. Acute appendicitis group:appendices were found to be located at pelvic cavity in 22 cases, in front of ileum in 2 cases, behind ileum in 10 cases, below cecum in 25 cases, and behind cecum in 4 cases. Normal appendices group:appendices were found to be located at pelvic cavity in 15 cases, in front of ileum in 3 cases, behind ileum in 7 cases, below cecum in 5 cases, and behind cecum in 8 cases. There was significant difference between 2 groups in terms of location of appendices (P < 0.05). The appendices in acute appendicitis group located mainly at pelvic cavity and below cecum, while the appendices in normal appendices group located mainly at pelvic cavity. ③ The diameter and thickness of appendices. The appendiceal diameter and thickness in acute appendicitis group were (11.4±4.2) mm (6.2-21.9) mm and (4.3±2.2) mm (1.1-8.6) mm, respectively, while those in normal appendices group were (6.1±1.4) mm (3.7-8.6) mm and (1.7±0.8) mm (0.5-3.2) mm, respectively. The diameter and thickness of appendices in acute appendicitis group were significantly greater than those in normal appendices group, respectively (P < 0.05). ④ Contents of appendices. Acute appendices group:there was effusion with air in 14 cases in appendiceal cavity, full of effusion in 36 cases, and appendicolith combined with effusion in 13 cases. Normal appendices group:there was full of air in 15 cases in appendiceal cavity, air with a little faeces of higher density in 13 cases, and nothing in 10 cases. Effusion was more common in appendiceal cavity in acute appendicitis group, while air was more common in normal appendices group. ⑤ Around appendices. Fat stranding was seen in 57 cases, adjacent parietal peritoneum thickening was seen in 56 cases, focal effusion was seen in 18 cases, abscess was seen in 2 cases, free air in peritoneal cavity was seen in 8 cases, and lymphadenopathy was seen in 35 cases. None of these imaging features were seen in normal appendices group. ConclusionsMDCT can demonstrate features of normal appendices and acute appendicitis in old patients. MDCT yield high diagnostic accuracy in acute appendicitis in old patients, and can provide useful information before surgery.