Conectar
This study measures the differences in inpatient performance after a points-counting payment policy based on diagnosis-related group (DRG) was implemented. The point value is dynamic; its change depends on the annual DRGs’ cost settlements and points of the current year, which are calculated at the beginning of the following year.
A longitudinal study using a robust multiple interrupted time series model to evaluate service performance following policy implementation.
Twenty-two public general hospitals (8 tertiary institutions and 14 secondary institutions) in Wenzhou, China.
The intervention was implemented in January 2020.
The indicators were case mix index (CMI), cost per hospitalisation (CPH), average length of stay (ALOS), cost efficiency index (CEI) and time efficiency index (TEI). The study employed the means of these indicators.
The impact of COVID-19, which reached Zhejiang Province at the end of January 2020, was temporary given rapid containment following strict control measures. After the intervention, except for the ALOS mean, the change-points for the other outcomes (p0.05), the uptrend of the CEI mean in tertiary institutions alleviated (p0.05).
This study showed a positive effect of the DRG policy in Wenzhou, even during COVID-19. The policy can motivate public general hospitals to improve their comprehensive capacity and mitigate discrepancies in treatment expenses efficiency for similar diseases. Policymakers are interested in whether the reform successfully motivates hospitals to strengthen their internal impetus and improve their performance, and this is supported by this study.
Lateral violence is a global social problem that has attracted considerable attention in the field of public health. This has seriously affected the quality of care, the safety of patients' lives and the career development of nurses.
To systematically evaluate the factors influencing of nursing lateral violence and provide evidence for preventing and reducing inter-nursing lateral violence.
A systematic review of qualitative study was performed in accordance with the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. We collected qualitative studies on the factors influencing of inter-nursing lateral violence by searching PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, Science Direct, WanFang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP) and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM). Data from inception to September 2023. Literature screening and data extraction were independently conducted by two reviewers. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) scale was employed to assess the quality of the studies, including objectives, methodologies, designs, results and contributions.
A total of 25 studies involving 882 participants were included. The results of the thematic analysis indicated that inter-nursing lateral violence was influenced by hospital management, perpetrators, victims and sociodemographic factors.
Inter-nursing lateral violence was influenced by multidimensional factors. To reduce the occurrence of horizontal violence among nurses, hospitals need to explore the establishment and improvement of a horizontal violence resolution mechanism, and schools should pay attention to the joint support and education of nursing students, create a good working environment and harmonious nursing culture, and promote mutual respect among nurses.
This review emphasises the importance of the influencing factors of horizontal violence among nurses, analyses the importance of influencing factors from different perspectives, and proposes corresponding measures to reduce inter-nursing lateral violence.
This study was mostly a literature review; neither patients nor pertinent staff were involved in either the design or conduct of the investigation.
Sleep disturbance is highly prevalent among post-operative cardiac patients, with negative impacts on surgical recovery and rehabilitation. Post-operative pain and anxiety commonly seen in cardiac surgery patients are associated with poor sleep. Sleep medications commonly used are not ideal with prolonged usage, and non-pharmacological interventions can be good alternatives or complements.
To examine effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in post-operative cardiac settings on sleep quality, pain intensity and anxiety.
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, CNKI and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were searched on 12 October 2022. Randomised controlled trials of non-pharmacological interventions examining sleep quality for adult post-operative cardiac patients were included. Included studies were appraised using Cochrane Risk of Bias tool version 1. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan version 5.4.1, and heterogeneity was assessed using I 2 statistics and Cochran Q's test.
Eighteen studies involving 1701 participants were identified. Coronary artery bypass graft was most common. Non-pharmacological interventions varied in types and duration. All intervention groups were compared to usual care, placebo, no interventions or active comparators. Statistically significant improvement in sleep quality (SMD = −.91, 95% CI = −1.17 to −.65) was found among intervention groups that explored cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation techniques, exercise, massage, acupressure, aromatherapy, music, eye mask and earplugs. Pain intensity was reduced (SMD = −.63, 95% CI = −1.05 to −.20) with cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation techniques, massage, music and eye mask. Anxiety was improved (SMD = −.21, 95% CI = −.38 to −.04) with exercise and music.
The overall use of non-pharmacological interventions can optimise sleep after cardiac surgery. Further research with greater methodological rigour is needed to investigate different intervention-related characteristics while considering potential confounders.
Post-operative cardiac settings can consider incorporating non-pharmacological interventions. Patients and healthcare providers can be better informed about the use of such interventions to improve sleep.
PROSPERO CRD42022384991.
To assess the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on clinical variables as part of the routine clinical monitoring of patients with chronic diseases in primary care.
A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in primary care centres of the Andalusian Health Service.
Data were recorded before the pandemic (T1), during the declaration of the state of emergency (T2) and in the transition phase (T3). The Barthel index and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) were used to analyse functional and cognitive changes at the three time points. HbA1c, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, BMI and lipid levels were assessed as clinical variables. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric chi-square test were used for analysis. STROBE checklist was used for the preparation of this paper.
A total fo148 patients with chronic conditions were included in the analysis. Data analysis revealed in T2 only significant reductions in BMI, total levels of cholesterol and HDL during the onset of the pandemic. Barthel Index, SPMSQ, blood pressure and triglycerides and LDL levels worsened in T2, and the negative effects were maintained in T3. Compared to pre-pandemic values, HbA1c levels improved in T3, but HDL levels worsened.
COVID-19 has drastically disrupted several functional, cognitive and biological variables. These results may be useful in identifying clinical parameters that deserve closer attention in the case of a new health crisis. Further studies are needed to assess the potential impacts of each specific chronic condition.
Cognitive and functional status, blood pressure and triglycerides and LDL levels worsen in short term, maintaining the negative effects in medium-term.
To investigate the factors that facilitate or hinder nurses in providing patient education.
A mixed-method systematic review.
Six databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, MEDLINE and ERIC) were systematically searched for relevant publications.
The study was conducted following the JBI for mixed-method systematic reviews, and the reporting followed the PRISMA guideline. Two researchers independently performed literature screening, literature evaluation, data extraction and synthesis. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023427451.
Twenty-six eligible articles were included, including 15 quantitative articles, 10 qualitative articles and 2 mixed-methods articles. The resultant synthesis of key findings led to the identification of these barriers and facilitators, categorised into five distinct levels: nurse-related factors, organisational factors, patient-related factors, the nurse–patient relationship and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The findings highlight the factors that facilitate or hinder nurses in providing patient education, suggesting that multifaceted interventions can enhance the practice of patient education in nursing and support the development of appropriate patient education guidelines or public policies.
This review delineates the facilitators and barriers influencing nurses' provision of patient education, offering an initial framework for nursing managers to craft interventions aimed at enhancing the quality of patient education provided by nurses, consequently elevating the overall quality of nursing.
To establish a supportive care framework for addressing unmet needs among breast cancer survivors, providing practical guidance for healthcare providers to assess and manage these needs, ultimately enhancing the health outcomes and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.
We conducted a two-round Delphi survey to gather expert opinions regarding the unmet needs supportive care framework for breast cancer survivors.
Initial framework identification and inquiry questionnaire creation was achieved via literature search and expert group discussions, which included 15 experts from nursing practice, clinical medicine, nursing management and nursing education was conducted using a Delphi survey. To establish consensus, a two-round Delphi poll was done, using criteria based on the mean (≥4.0), coefficient of variation (CV < 0.25) and percentage for entire score (≥20%).
Experts reached a consensus, leading to six care modules, and 28 care entries: Tumour Detection Support (three care entries), Management of Complications of Antitumor Therapy (seven care entries), Healthy Lifestyle Management (five care entries), Sexual and Fertility Support (four care entries), Psychosocial Support (four care entries) and Resource and Linkage Support (five care entries).
To address breast cancer survivors' unmet needs, a supportive framework was developed to actively enhance their health outcomes. However, further refinement and feasibility testing using mobile devices or artificial intelligence are required.
This pioneering framework prioritises addressing unmet needs and equips healthcare providers to assess and manage these needs effectively, facilitating the implementation of programs aimed at improving the well-being of breast cancer survivors.
This study was guided by a modified guideline for the Conducting and Reporting of Delphi Studies (CREDES) (Palliative Medicine, 31(8), 684, 2017).
No Patient or Public Contribution.
The Delphi study methodology does not require registration.
To systematically evaluate the efficacy of auricular acupressure on lung function, sleep quality and quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
Auricular acupressure has been increasingly used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, such as lung function and sleep quality, but the efficacy has not yet been unified.
A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Randomised controlled trials comparing auricular acupressure intervention with non-auricular acupressure intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were included. We searched English databases and Chinese databases from the inception to 26 December 2022. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The PRISMA statement was used to report a meta-analysis.
A total of 12 randomised controlled trials with 987 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that auricular acupressure had significant differences in improving lung function, including FEV1 (MD = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.37, p < .0001), FVC (MD = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.34, p < .0001) and FEV1/FVC (MD = 4.70, 95% CI: 3.63 to 5.78, p < .0001). There was also a positive effect on sleep quality (MD = −0.71, 95% CI: −0.89 to −0.53, p < .0001) and quality of life (MD = −3.20, 95% CI: −3.92 to −2.49, p < .0001).
The results indicated auricular acupressure had a positive efficacy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients to improve lung function, sleep quality and quality of life, but these results should be treated with caution due to the low quality of included studies. Future researchers need to conduct more high-quality randomised controlled trials to provide a solid basis to demonstrate the efficacy of auricular acupressure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
Auricular acupressure has the advantages of being non-invasive, convenient and without significant side effects. This review suggested auricular acupressure could be considered a non-pharmacological intervention for patients. Clinical nurses can teach chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients to perform auricular acupressure to help self-manage complications.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
To examine the effectiveness of family-centred interventions among family caregivers.
Family-centred interventions are an emerging form of intervention that can be effective at improving physical and mental health outcomes for patients and family caregivers. To date, no reviews have examined the effectiveness of family-centred interventions for family caregivers.
A systematic review, including a meta-analysis, was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) checklist.
Seven English and two Chinese electronic databases were compressively searched from the outset to March 2023. Two researchers independently reviewed the abstracts and full texts, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias independently by using the Cochrane ‘Risk of bias assessment tool’.
This systematic review and meta-analysis included 20 articles. The results of the meta-analysis showed that family-centred interventions could significantly improve caregiver burden (p=0.003), quality of life (p = 0.007), depression (p = 0.0002), and stress (p < 0.0001) but not anxiety or family functioning. According to our subgroup analysis, the family-centred empowerment model (p = 0.009) was superior to the other family intervention (p=0.004) in reducing caregiver burden. Family-centred interventions are more effective at reducing the burden of caregiving on family caregivers of adolescent patients (SMD=−0.79, 95% CI[−1.22,−0.36], p = 0.0003) than on adult patients (SMD=−0.37, 95% CI [−0.61,−0.12], p = 0.004).
Family-centred interventions could enhance family caregivers’ burden, quality of life, stress and depression but had no significant impact on anxiety or family functioning.
Family-centred interventions have the potential to improve the health status and caregiving burden of family caregivers. Rigorous and high-quality evidence is needed to confirm the long-term effects of these interventions on family caregivers.
The protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (Protocol registration ID: CRD42023453607).
Healthcare consumers require diverse resources to assist their navigation of complex healthcare interactions, however, these resources need to be fit for purpose.
In this study, we evaluated the utility, usability and feasibility of children, families and adults requiring long-term intravenous therapy using a recently developed mobile health application (App), intravenous (IV) Passport.
Multi-site, parallel, multi-method, prospective cohort study.
A multi-site, multi-method study was carried out in 2020–2021, with 46 participants (20 adults, 26 children/family) reporting on their experiences surrounding the use of the IV Passport for up to 6 months.
Overall, utility rates were acceptable, with 78.3% (N = 36) using the IV Passport over the follow-up period, with high rates of planned future use for those still active in the project (N = 21; 73%), especially in the child/family cohort (N = 13; 100%). Acceptability rates were high (9/10; IQR 6.5–10), with the IV Passport primarily used for documenting new devices and complications. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes (and multiple subthemes) in the qualitative data: Advocacy for healthcare needs, Complexity of healthcare and App design and functionality.
Several recommendations were made to improve the end-user experience including ‘how to’ instructions; and scheduling functionality for routine care.
The IV Passport can be safely and appropriately integrated into healthcare, to support consumers.
Patient-/parent-reported feedback suggests the Intravenous Passport is a useful tool for record-keeping, and positive communication between patients/parents, and clinicians.
Not applicable.
Consumers reported their experiences surrounding the use of the IV Passport for up to 6 months.
To develop a nomogram to provide a screening tool for recognising patients at risk of post-operative pain undergoing abdominal operations.
Risk prediction models for acute post-operative pain can allow initiating prevention strategies, which are valuable for post-operative pain management and recovery. Despite the increasing number of studies on risk factors, there were inconsistent findings across different studies. In addition, few studies have comprehensively explored predictors of post-operative acute pain and built prediction models.
A prospective observational study.
A total of 352 patients undergoing abdominal operations from June 2022 to December 2022 participated in this investigation. A nomogram was developed for predicting the probability of acute pain after abdominal surgery according to the results of binary logistic regression. The nomogram's predictive performance was assessed by discrimination and calibration. Internal validation was performed via Bootstrap with 1000 re-samplings.
A total of 139 patients experienced acute post-operative pain following abdominal surgery, with an incidence of 39.49%. Age <60, marital status (unmarried, divorced, or widowed), consumption of intraoperative remifentanil >2 mg, indwelling of drainage tubes, poor quality sleep, high pain catastrophizing, low pain self-efficacy, and PCIA not used were predictors of inadequate pain control in patients after abdominal surgery. Using these variables, we developed a nomogram model. All tested indicators showed that the model has reliable discrimination and calibration.
This study established an online dynamic predictive model that can offer an individualised risk assessment of acute pain after abdominal surgery. Our model had good differentiation and calibration and was verified internally as a useful tool for risk assessment.
The constructed nomogram model could be a practical tool for predicting the risk of experiencing acute post-operative pain in patients undergoing abdominal operations, which would be helpful to realise personalised management and prevention strategies for post-operative pain.
The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines were adopted in this study.
Before the surgery, research group members visited the patients who met the inclusion criteria and explained the purpose and scope of the study to them. After informed consent, they completed the questionnaire. The patients' pain scores (VAS) were regularly assessed and documented by the bedside nurse for the first 3 days following surgery. Other information was obtained from medical records.
To determine the association between nurse and institutional characteristics and perceived professional nurse knowledge and self-efficacy of reporting child abuse and neglect.
A sample of N = 166 nurses were recruited to respond to the Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (RSCAN) survey.
A multiple linear regression examined whether nurse characteristics and institutional characteristics were associated with the two RSCAN survey domain scores.
Perceived knowledge of a workplace child abuse and neglect protocol was associated with the knowledge subscale. Education and child abuse and neglect expertise were significant predictors of the self-efficacy subscale. Nurses with a master's or higher degree and those who identified as being either forensic, paediatric or Emergency Department nurses, had less perceived institutional barriers to self-efficacy of reporting child abuse and neglect.
This study provides a preliminary insight into the institutional barriers and facilitators of nurses as child abuse and neglect mandated reporters.
To encourage innovative education and collaborations to support nurses as fully informed child abuse and neglect mandated reporters.
This research identifies the gaps and facilitators of nurses as child abuse and neglect mandated reporters to inform healthcare professionals and academic institutions on the importance of nurse education and experience in nurse knowledge and self-efficacy in reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
The authors of this study have adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines: STROBE.
There is no patient or public contribution as the study only looked at nurses.
To summarize the best evidence-based strategies for the management of cognitive dysfunction in patients with brain injury and to provide a reference for clinical nursing practice.
Review.
The review was presented using PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of evidence on the management of cognitive dysfunction in patients with brain injury was conducted in computerized decision systems, guideline websites, professional association websites and comprehensive databases from the date of creation to 21 June 2023. The types of evidence included were clinical decision making, guidelines, evidence summaries, best practices, recommended practices, expert consensus, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Two researchers trained in evidence-based methodological systems independently evaluated the quality of the literature and extracted, integrated and graded the evidence for inclusion.
A total of 20 articles were selected, including nine guidelines, three expert consensus articles, one clinical practice article and seven systematic reviews, and the overall quality of the literature was high. Thirty pieces of evidence were summarized in seven areas: assessment, multidisciplinary team, rehabilitation program, cognitive intervention, exercise intervention, music intervention and medication management.
This study summarizes the latest evidence on the management of cognitive dysfunction in the care of adults with brain injury and provides a reference for clinical nursing practice. The best evidence should be selected for localized and individualized application in clinical work, and the best evidence should be continuously updated to standardize nursing practice.
Patients with cognitive impairment after brain injury often suffer from memory loss, attention deficit and disorientation and are unable to have a normal life and experience much enjoyment, which seriously affects their physical and mental health and creates a great burden of care for their families and society. Best evidence-based strategies for the nursing management of cognitive impairment in brain injury are essential for standardizing clinical nursing practice and providing timely, professional, systematic and comprehensive nursing interventions for patients.
This review is reported following the PRISMA 2020 statement guidelines, as applicable, to enhance transparency in reporting the evidence synthesis.
This study has been registered with the Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing, a JBI Centre of Excellence under registration number ES20232566, http://ebn.nursing.fudan.edu.cn/myRegisterList.
No patient or public contribution.
The poor usability of electronic health records contributes to increased nurses' workload, workarounds, and potential threats to patient safety. Understanding nurses' perceptions of electronic health record usability and incorporating human factors engineering principles are essential for improving electronic health records and aligning them with nursing workflows. This review aimed to synthesize studies focused on nurses' perceived electronic health record usability and categorize the findings in alignment with three human factor goals: satisfaction, performance, and safety. This systematic review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. Five hundred forty-nine studies were identified from January 2009 to June 2023. Twenty-one studies were included in this review. The majority of the studies utilized reliable and validated questionnaires (n = 15) to capture the viewpoints of hospital-based nurses (n = 20). When categorizing usability-related findings according to the goals of good human factor design, namely, improving satisfaction, performance, and safety, studies used performance-related measures most. Only four studies measured safety-related aspects of electronic health record usability. Electronic health record redesign is necessary to improve nurses' perceptions of electronic health record usability, but future efforts should systematically address all three goals of good human factor design.
To systematically explore the effects of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) versus intramedullary nail (IMN) on wound infection and wound healing in patients with distal tibia fractures. A computerised search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Wanfang, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases was performed, from their inception to October 2023, to identify relevant studies on the application of MIPO and IMN in patients with distal tibial fractures. The quality of the included literature was evaluated by two researchers based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and basic information of the literature was collected, with wound infection, postoperative complications and wound healing time as the main indicators for analysis. Stata 17.0 software was applied for analysis. Overall, 23 papers and 2099 patients were included, including 1026 patients in the MIPO group and 1073 patients in the IMN group. The results revealed, when compared with IMN treatment, patients with distal tibia fractures who underwent MIPO treatment had a lower incidence of postoperative complications (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.25–0.42, p < 0.001) and a shorter wound healing time (SMD = −1.00, 95% CI: −1.51 to −0.49, p < 0.001), but the incidence of postoperative wound infection was higher (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.35–3.01, p = 0.001). Both MIPO and IMN are excellent treatments for distal tibia fractures. MIPO is effective in reducing the incidence of complications as well as shortening the time of wound healing time but increases the risk of wound infection. In clinical practice, surgeons can make individual choices based on the patient's wishes and proficiency in both techniques.
This research is intended to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) versus percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF), which is associated with post-operative pain. Eligible studies were screened by searching multiple databases and sources such as PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE for search terms updated to October 2023, and relevant literature sources were searched. Randomized, controlled, prospective or retrospective, and cohort studies were eligible. For the analysis of the primary results, an analysis of the data was carried out, such as mean difference (MD) or odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (CI). In the present research, 1933 research was screened in 4 databases, and 30 articles were chosen to be examined under strict exclusion criteria. No statistical significance was found in the use of bone cement in the PVP group and PKP (MD, −0.60; 95% CI, −1.40, 0.21, p = 0.15); PKP was associated with a reduced risk of cement leak compared with PVP group (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.38, 3.46, p = 0.0009); no statistical significance was found in the wound VAS score in PVP operation compared with that of PKP (MD, 0.16; 95% CI, −0.07, 0.40, p = 0.17); no statistical significance was found between the time of PVP operation and the time of PKP operation (MD, −2.65; 95% CI, −8.91, 3.60, p = 0.41). Compared with PVP technology, the PKP treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures reduces post-operative cement leakage, but there is no significant difference in the number of operative cement and wound VAS after operation. Nor did there appear to be a statistically significant difference in time between the two operations.
Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy is becoming an increasingly important part of the management of lung cancer to facilitate surgical resection. This study aimed to summarize the treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and wound complications of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eligible studies of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for NSCLC were identified from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. The endpoints mainly included TRAEs and wound complications. Stata18 software was used for statistical analysis with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Twenty studies including a total of 1072 patients were eligible for this study. Among the patients who received neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy, the pooled prevalence of any grade TRAEs was 77% (95% confidence interval [CI] [0.64–0.86]), grade 1–2 TRAEs was 77% (95% CI [0.58–0.89]) and grade ≥3 TRAEs was 26% (95% CI [0.16–0.38]). Surgery-related complications rate was 22% (95% CI [0.14–0.33]). Among the wound complications, the pooled rate of air leakage was 10% (95% CI [0.04–0.23]), pulmonary/wound infection was 8% (95% CI [0.05–0.13]), bronchopleural fistula was 8% (95% CI [0.02–0.27]), bronchopulmonary haemorrhage was 3% (95% CI [0.01–0.05]), pneumonia was 5% (95% CI [0.02–0.10]), pulmonary embolism was 1% (95% CI [0.01–0.03]), pleural effusion was 7% (95% CI [0.03–0.14]) and chylothorax was 4% (95% CI [0.02–0.09]). Overall, neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in NSCLC results a high incidence of grade 1–2 TRAEs but a low risk of increasing the incidence of ≥3 grade TRAEs and wound complications. These results need to be confirmed by more large-scale prospective randomized controlled trials and studies.
Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is a major complication after total laryngectomy, with significant morbidity and mortality. Whether mechanical stapler closure of the pharynx reduces fistula rates compared to hand-sewn techniques remains unclear. We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify this question. Five databases were systematically searched from inception through November 2023 for studies comparing stapler versus suture closure for fistula outcomes after laryngectomy. Odds ratios (OR) were pooled using random-effects models and fixed-effects models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Risk of bias was appraised using NHLBI tools. Nine studies with 803 patients were included. Mechanical closure significantly reduced fistula incidence versus suture closure (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.34–0.95, p = 0.03). Subgroup analysis found that stapling's protective effect varied by patient age, country/region, linear stapler size and female percentage. Stapling reduced fistula odds by 80% in the Turkey subgroup (OR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.09–0.50) but showed no benefit in other regions. Patients <60 years showed an 84% fistula reduction with stapling (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.06–0.45), whereas older subgroups did not. Linear stapler size of 60 mm significantly reduced fistula occurrence while 75 mm did not. There was no evidence that low female percentage mitigated stapling benefits. Mechanical stapler closure after total laryngectomy meaningfully reduces the likelihood of postoperative PCF formation compared to hand-sewn closure, especially for patients younger than 60 years old. The absolute risk reduction supports its utility to prevent this complication.
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious chronic complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of disability and death in diabetic patients. However, current treatments remain unsatisfactory. Although macrophages are associated with DFU, their exact role in this disease remains uncertain. This study sought to detect macrophage-related genes in DFU and identify possible therapeutic targets. Single-cell datasets (GSE223964) and RNA-seq datasets (GSM68183, GSE80178, GSE134431 and GSE147890) associated with DFU were retrieved from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database for this study. Analysis of the provided single-cell data revealed the distribution of macrophage subpopulations in the DFU. Four independent RNA-seq datasets were merged into a single DFU cohort and further analysed using bioinformatics. This included differential expression (DEG) analysis, multiple machine learning algorithms to identify biomarkers and enrichment analysis. Finally, key results were validated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western bolt. Finally, the findings were validated using RT-qPCR and western blot. We obtained 802 macrophage-related genes in single-cell analysis. Differential expression analysis yielded 743 DEGs. Thirty-seven macrophage-associated DEGs were identified by cross-analysis of marker genes with macrophage-associated DEGs. Thirty-seven intersections were screened and cross-analysed using four machine learning algorithms. Finally, HMOX1 was identified as a potentially valuable biomarker. HMOX1 was significantly associated with biological pathways such as the insulin signalling pathway. The results showed that HMOX1 was significantly overexpressed in DFU samples. In conclusion, the analytical results of this study identified HMOX1 as a potentially valuable biomarker associated with macrophages in DFU. The results of our analysis improve our understanding of the mechanism of macrophage action in this disease and may be useful in developing targeted therapies for DFU.
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