Objectives To establish a course evaluation model for overseas medical students in West China Medical School of Sichuan University, to identify problems in teaching and to solve problems based on evidence so as to futher improve the quality of teaching. Methods We conducted a preliminary course evaluation to determine the limitations of our evaluation methods and to convey our intention to related stakeholders. Firstly, we identified problems in teaching according to the feedback from our students using a questionnaire. Secondly, we proposed an initial list of possible solutions to these problems based on evidence from literature searching and discussion within the Department of Teaching Affairs. We submitted the initial list to the administrative departments, teaching departments (teachers) and students to identify applicable solutions through two rounds of formal consensus. Their attitudes to this procedure of evaluation and decision-making were collected. Finally, incentives were given out by administrative departments and teaching departments to facilitate the implementation of applicable solutions. Results Teachers’ English ability and the didactic teaching methods were the most concerned problems. In addition, some semesters and courses were not well arranged and there was not enough practice time. An initial list of 14 items was submitted to teaching departments and students. They all agreed with the procedure of evaluation and decision-making. We also found that some aspects of the evaluation methods and styles need to be improved. An additional paper would report further results. Conclusion This preliminary evaluation was helpful for improving teaching and formal evaluation in the future. We need to strengthen the English language skills of younger faculty and gradually adopt a model of student-centered and enquiry-based teaching. This process of evaluation and improvement should be applied as a long-term policy and an evidence-based research group should be established to work together with our quality assurance unit.
ObjectiveTo investigate the long-term efficacy and the influencing factors of thymectomy for thymoma patients associated with myasthenia gravis. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data of 126 thymoma patients associated with myasthenia gravis underwent extended thymectomy from June 2002 to December 2015 in our hospital. There were 26 males and 37 females at the mean age of 54.51±12.62 years. We built up survival analysis model to analyze the effect of those following factors on postoperative result:sex, the age when operated, the preoperative course of disease, the condition of associating with other diseases, history of critical illness, steroid administration time before operation, Osserman classification, Masaoka staging, WHO pathological type, surgical approach, tumor size and so on. Result The average follow-up time was 35(5-96) months. During follow-up period, 12 patients (19%) achieved complete remission, 39 patients (62%) achieved partial remission, 7 patients (11%) kept stable, 5 patients (8%) deteriorated and the total effective rate was 81%. The result of log-rank analysis showed that the preoperative course of disease (P=0.027), history of critical illness on myasthenia gravis (P=0.035) and Osserman classification (P=0.018) were related to incomplete remission, whlie the result of Cox regression analysis showed that the preoperative course of disease (P=0.001) and Osserman classification (P=0.012) were the independent risk factors for incomplete remission. ConclusionExtended thymectomy is an effective treatment for thymoma patients associated with myasthenia gravis, but the symptom of those patients whose preoperative course of disease are more than 12 months or Osserman classification is at ⅡB, Ⅲ and Ⅳ type of Osserman classification have poor effect after operation.
Objective To evaluate the effect of releasable sutures on shallow anterior chamber, filtering bleb and long-term intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods We searched MEDLINE (1971 to 2007), OVID (1971 to 2007) and National Science and Technology Library (1971 to 2007). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the effect of releasable sutures on trabeculectomy were collected. Study selection and assessment, data collection and analyses were undertaken and cross-checked by two reviewers. Meta-analyses were performed with The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2.10 software. Results Six RCTs involving 341 eyes were included. Significant differences were observed in the reduction of postoperative shallow anterior chamber (RD –0.23, 95%CI –0.31 to –0.14, Plt;0.000 01) and functional filtering blebs (RD –0.15, 95%CI –0.27 to –0.02, P=0.02). But, no differences were observed for the control of long-term IOP (SMD –0.13, 95%CI –0.37 to 0.10, P=0.27). Conclusion The evidence currently available showed that releasable sutures could reduce the incidence of shallow anterior chamber and has no beneficial effect in controlling long-term IOP. The current evidence is insufficient to define the efficacy of maintaining functional filtering blebs. Further large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed.
ObjectiveTo analyze the long-term efficacy and its influencing factors in the treatment of the permanent atrial fibrillation(AF) using monopolar radiofrequency ablation during concomitant cardiac valve replacement surgery with rheumatic heart disease. MethodsClinical data of the 116 patients with rheumatic heart disease and permanent AF who underwent modified maze procedure using monopolar radiofrequency ablation and concomitant cardiac valve replacement in the affiliated hospital of Qingdao university from October 2004 to December 2010 were collected and retrospectively analyzed, including 43 males and 73 females with their age of 50.5±7.5 years. Electrocardiogram (ECG) with 12-lead and echocardiography data, as well as the related complications, cardiac function and life quality were collected at the time of the immediately after the operation, discharge from hospital, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year postoperatively and every year after the operation. Patients were divided into eliminating group of AF (including sinus rhythm and nodal rhythm) and AF group according to the results of the ECG at the time of the ending follow-up. In the eliminating group of AF, there were 52 patients (16 males, 36 females) with their age of 48.4±7.3 years, and in the AF group, there were 50 patients (22 males, 28 females) with their age of 51.9±7.1 years. Analyzed the difference of the related factors between the two groups using statistical methods and tried to find the factors affecting the long-term clinical efficacy of the operation. ResultsThree patients died in hospital (one died of the hemolysis, acute renal insufficiency and hyperkalemia. One died of the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by the acute renal insufficiency. And the other one died of the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by the repetitive ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation on the day of the automatic discharge). Three patients died during the follow-up (one died after the reoperation because of the perivalvular leakage in other hospital, and the causes of death in the two others could not be catched). One patient occurred cerebral embolism, and the other one occurred cerebral hemorrhage in the af group during the follow-up. There was statistical significance between two group at the aspects of age, preoperative AF duration, preoperative left atrium diameter, time of the cardiopulmonary bypass and time of the cross-clamp ascending aorta. In multivariate analysis, age and preoperative left atrium diameter are risk factors affecting the long-term efficacy. ConclusionThe treatment of the permanent atrial fibrillation using monopolar radiofrequency ablation concomitant cardiac valve replacement with rheumatic heart disease is effective and has good long-term efficacy. The factors of affecting the long-term clinical efficacy are the patient's age and the diameter of left atrium.
Objective To explore the daytime variables which are predictive to nocturnal hyoxemia among COPD patients unqualified for long-term oxygen therapy ( LTOT) . Methods Forty-eight stable COPD patients with SaO2≥90% were enrolled in this study and regarded as patients unqualified for LTOT. All patients underwent lung function examination during daytime. Their nocturnal oxygen saturation was monitored with overnight pulse oximetry ( OPO) . ResultsDaytime oxygen saturation was positively correlated with nocturnal mean SaO2 ( r =0. 79, P lt;0. 0001) , and negatively correlated with time spend with saturation below 90% ( TB90) ( r = - 0. 75, P lt; 0. 0001) . No significant relationship was found between lung function parameters and nocturnal SaO2 . The patients with daytime oxygen saturation between 90% and 95% were more likely to have lower nocturnal oxygen saturation and longer TB90 ( P lt;0. 05) .Conclusions Daytime oxygen saturation may effectively predict the occurrence of nocturnal hyoxemia in stable COPD patients unqualified for LTOT. To reduce COPD complications and improve prognosis, we suggest a relative indication of LTOT for patients with daytime oxygen saturation between 90% and 95% and with nocturnal hyoxemia.
ObjectiveTo explore the influence of evidence-based nursing care of catheterization on the incidence of urinary tract injury and urinary tract infection in patients with spinal cord injury and long-term indwelling catheters.MethodsFrom July 1st, 2017 to November 30th, 2018, 100 patients with spinal cord injury indwelling catheters in Department of Spinal Surgery were prospectively selected as the research objects. According to the admission time, patients admitted between July 2017 and February 2018 were assigned into the control group (n=50), and patients admitted between March 2018 and November 2018 were assigned into the observation group (n=50). Traditional catheter placement was used in the control group, while evidence-based catheter placement was used in the observation group. The incidences of catheter-related urethral injury and urinary tract infection after the catheterization were compared between the two groups.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in gender, age, diagnosis, or length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). Catheter placement was performed 57 times in the control group and 59 times in the observation group during hospitalization. After catheterization, the incidences of urethral hemorrhage and gross hematuria in the control group [22.80% (13/57) and 15.78% (9/57), respectively] were higher than those in the observation group [both were 1.69% (1/59)], with statistical differences between the two groups (P<0.05). The incidence of urinary tract infection in the control group differed from that in the observation group [42.0% (21/50) vs. 18.0% (9/50), P=0.009].ConclusionThe evidence-based urinary catheterization method for patients with spinal cord injury and long-term indwelling catheter can effectively prevent catheter-related urinary tract injury, reduce the incidence of catheter-related urinary tract infection during hospitalization, and improve the quality of clinical care.
Objective To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of treating early-middle stage avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) with core decompression and bone grafting. Methods Between January 2000 and December 2006, 87 ANFH patients (114 hips) were treated with core decompression and bone grafting, including 54 cases (62.1%) of alcohol-induced ANFH, 26 cases (29.9%) of steroid-induced ANFH, and 7 cases (8.0%) of idiopathic ANFH. There were 74 males (97 hips) and 13 females (17 hips), aged 20-56 years (mean, 38 years). The disease duration was 3-46 months (mean, 18 months). According to Ficat staging, 16 hips were at stage I, 68 hips at stage II, and 30 hips at stage III. The Harris score and Ficat stage were compared between pre- and post-operation to assess the outcomes clinically and radiologically. The hip survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Eighty-seven patients were followed up 5 years to 11 years and 10 months (mean, 8 years and 9 months). The Harris hip score was significantly increased from 73.13 ± 7.17 at preoperation to 81.59 ± 13.23 at postoperation (t= — 9.318, P=0.000). The clinical success rate was 69.3% (79/114) and the radiological success rate was 54.4% (62/114). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the overall survival rate was 84.2% (96/114); the survival rates of Ficat stage I [100% (16/16)] and stage II [91.2% (62/68)] were higher than that of stage III [60.0%(18/30)] (P lt; 0.01); there was no significant difference between Ficat stage I and II (χ2=1.520, P=0.218). Conclusion Core decompression with bone grafting is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of Ficat stages I-II (early stage) ANFH, and the long-term effectiveness is satisfactory. But the long-term effectiveness is unsatisfactory for the patients at the Ficat stage III (middle stage).
ObjectiveTo systematically review the long-term efficacy of biologics for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. MethodsPubMed, EMbase, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the long-term efficacy of approved biologics for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis from inception to May 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies; then, the network meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 16.0 software. ResultsA total of 26 RCTs were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that among 11 biologics, the most effective biologics were risankizumab, followed by bimekizumab, brodalumab, guselkumab, and ixekizumab, and followed by secukinumab, adalimumab, ustekinumab, and etanercept was the last. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that risankizumab is likely to be the best option for long-term treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo assess the long-term efficacy of extended thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis(MG) and the factors influencing the results. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 45 MG patients who underwent extended thymectomy in our hospital from January 2005 through December 2010. There were 11males and 34 females at age of 32.6(16-50) years. The overall effective rate was calculated. Univariate analysis was used to analyze the risk factors including sex, age, Osserman classification, and pathological type for outcomes. ResultsAll the patients were followed up for a mean of 58.3 months(ranged from 36 to 108 months). The overall effective rate was 80.0%(36/45) and rose with the extention of time. Age(P=0.019), pathological type(P=0.024) of thymus and Osserman classification(P=0.043) of MG were the main factors influencing the outcomes of the treatment except sex(P=0.666). ConclusionExtended thymectomy in the treatment of MG has better outcomes. And the overall effective rate rises with the extention of time.
ObjectiveTo summarize the indication and surgical experiences of valve replacement, high-risk factors and long-term results for aortic regurgitation and large left ventricle. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 42 patients with aortic regurgitation and left ventricle end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) ≥70 mm and left ventricle end-systolic diameter (LVESD) ≥ 50 mm in our hospital from March 2004 through December 2012. There were 38 males and 4 females,aged 16-73 (45.86±14.99) years. The patients underwent aortic valve replacement, who were evaluated by echocardiography at pre-operation, pre-discharge and early follow-up. The follow up period was 12-132 months. ResultsEarly death occurred in one patient. And five patients died during the follow-up. One week after surgery in 41 patients, LVEDD (62.00±13.21 mm), LVESD (50.71±14.02 mm), indexed LVEDD (35.23±8.58 mm/m2), indexed LVESD (28.92±9.08 mm/m2), LVEF (46.41%±12.49%), were significantly smaller than those before the operation (P<0.01). Heart function grades, preoperative EF, LVEDD and indexed LVEDD were the predictors for left ventricular function recovery. One-year, 5-year, 10-year survival rate was 92.9%, 90.2%, 83.8%, respectively. ConclusionMost of patients with aortic regurgitation and large left ventricle still have indications for surgical treatment, but severe left ventricular dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmia are high risk factors for long-term survival.