This paper is aimed to introduce the definition and application of Population Impact Measures (PIMs). The PIMs use Number Need to Treat (NNT) for reference and generalize the variables of clinical research to interest population, which then can be used to measure the effectiveness of interventions and the harmfulness of risk factors, so as to provide evidence for making public health policy. Of the PIMs, the variables used for measuring the effectiveness of interventions include Disease Impact Number (DIN), Population Impact Number (PIN) and Number of Events Prevented in your Population (NEPP); The variables used for measuring the harmfulness of risk factors include Exposure Impact Number (EIN), Exposed Cases Impact Number (ECIN), Population Impact Number (PIN), Case Impact Number (CIN) and Population Impact Number of Eliminating a Risk factor (PIN-ER-t).
Objective To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) on airway remodeling in obese asthmatic mice and intervention effects of pirfenidone. Methods Seventy-five C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups, namely a blank control group (group A), an obese group (group B), an obese asthmatic group (group C), a budesonide treatment group (group D) and a pirfenidone treatment group (group E). The mice in the B, C, D, and E groups were fed with high fat diets, then the mice in the C, D, and E groups were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to establish the model of chronic obese asthma. The mice in group A were fed with normal diets, sensitized and challenged with normal saline. The mice in group D were treated with budesonide (0.5 mg/ml), and the mice in group E were treated with pirfenidone (300 mg/kg). After 4 weeks of treatment, the total number of white cells as well as the percentage of leukocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted. ELISA and Western blot were used to evaluate the expression of TGF-β. The pathological changes of mice were observed under light microscope by HE and periodic acid-Schiff staining. Meanwhile the remodeling indices were measured including total bronchial wall area (WAt), smooth muscle area (WAm), and bronchial basement membrane perimeter (Pbm). Results The levels of leukocyte and eosinophils in BALF, expression of TGF-β, WAt/Pbm and WAm/Pbm in group C were higher than those in group A, B, D, and E (allP<0.05). The levels of eosinophils in BALF, WAt/Pbm in group E were lower than those in group D (allP<0.05). The level of TGF-β decreased in a sequence of group C>D>E>B>A (allP<0.05). The expression of TGF-β was in a positive correlation with eosinophil percentage in BALF (r=0.79,P<0.01). Conclusions The expression of TGF-β in the airway of obese asthmatic mice is closely related to airway inflammation, airway hyper-secretion and airway remodeling. Pirfenidone can effectively inhibit the expression of TGF-β and improve airway remodeling.
In recent years, domestic and foreign scholars have carried out extensive research on the prognostic factors of gastric cancer. Among them, non-specific inflammatory markers and nutritional indicators are the most concentrated in gastric cancer. C-reactive protein, as an acute phase protein, has been widely used to diagnose acute and chronic inflammation throughout the body. Prealbumin is a sensitive indicator of nutrition with a shorter half-life, which can quickly reflect the nutritional status of the body. At present, C-reactive protein and prealbumin as sensitive indicators of inflammation and nutrition, have shown certain predictive value in terms of postoperative complications and prognosis of gastric cancer. This article reviews the use of C-reactive protein, prealbumin and their ratios in predicting postoperative complications and prognosis of gastric cancer, aiming to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of patients after gastric cancer.
目的 總結前交通動脈瘤栓塞治療的經驗。 方法 2008年1月－2011年8月，23例前交通動脈瘤患者均在全身麻醉下行動脈瘤內栓塞治療。其中4例在導絲或導管保護動脈瘤頸情況下行栓塞治療；1例術中導絲刺破動脈瘤，繼續快速填塞至動脈瘤完全栓塞；1例栓塞后彈簧圈突入載瘤動脈，行A1-A2段支架后置入。 結果 23例患者手術技術成功率100%。術后即刻造影，動脈瘤完全栓塞11例，＞90%栓塞8例，＜90%栓塞4例。支架后置入患者術后出現腦梗死，經治療1個月后康復出院。所有患者臨床隨訪6～24個月，未見再出血。16例患者行全腦血管數字減影血管成像復查，動脈瘤未見復發，其中3例＞90%栓塞、2例＜90%栓塞患者動脈瘤完全閉塞。 結論 彈簧圈栓塞治療前交通動脈瘤是一種安全、有效的治療方式。但其技術難度相對較大，需要細致操作。
Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a revolutionary human-computer interaction technology, which includes both BCI that can output instructions directly from the brain to external devices or machines without relying on the peripheral nerve and muscle system, and BCI that bypasses the peripheral nerve and muscle system and inputs electrical, magnetic, acoustic and optical stimuli or neural feedback directly to the brain from external devices or machines. With the development of BCI technology, it has potential application not only in medical field, but also in non-medical fields, such as education, military, finance, entertainment, smart home and so on. At present, there is little literature on the relevant application of BCI technology, the current situation of BCI industrialization at home and abroad and its commercial value. Therefore, this paper expounds and discusses the above contents, which are expected to provide valuable information for the public and organizations, BCI researchers, BCI industry translators and salespeople, and improve the cognitive level of BCI technology, further promote the application and industrial transformation of BCI technology and enhance the commercial value of BCI, so as to serve mankind better.
Artificial intelligence-enhanced brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are expected to significantly improve the performance of traditional BCIs in multiple aspects, including usability, user experience, and user satisfaction, particularly in terms of intelligence. However, such AI-integrated or AI-based BCI systems may introduce new ethical issues. This paper first evaluated the potential of AI technology, especially deep learning, in enhancing the performance of BCI systems, including improving decoding accuracy, information transfer rate, real-time performance, and adaptability. Building on this, it was considered that AI-enhanced BCI systems might introduce new or more severe ethical issues compared to traditional BCI systems. These include the possibility of making users’ intentions and behaviors more predictable and manipulable, as well as the increased likelihood of technological abuse. The discussion also addressed measures to mitigate the ethical risks associated with these issues. It is hoped that this paper will promote a deeper understanding and reflection on the ethical risks and corresponding regulations of AI-enhanced BCIs.
Implantable brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have potentially important clinical applications due to the high spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of electrodes that are closer to or implanted in the cerebral cortex. However, the surgery and electrodes of implantable BCIs carry safety risks of brain tissue damage, and their medical applications face ethical challenges, with little literature to date systematically considering ethical norms for the medical applications of implantable BCIs. In order to promote the clinical translation of this type of BCI, we considered the ethics of practice for the medical application of implantable BCIs, including: reducing the risk of brain tissue damage from implantable BCI surgery and electrodes, providing patients with customized and personalized implantable BCI treatments, ensuring multidisciplinary collaboration in the clinical application of implantable BCIs, and the responsible use of implantable BCIs, among others. It is expected that this article will provide thoughts and references for the research and development of ethics of the medical application of implantable BCI.
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) versus cyclophosphamide (CTX) in the induction treatment for lupus nephritis (LN). Methods Such databases as MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCIE, The Cochrane Library, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, CBM, and CNKI were searched from their establishment date to August of 2010 to retrieve the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about MMF versus CTX for LN. The methodology quality of included studies was evaluated. The efficacy indexes i.e. the clinical total remission (TR), complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), pathological activity index, the chronicity index and complete induction therapy rate (CIR), and the safety indexes i.e. the rate of patient intolerance-to-drug, the incidence of infection, leukopenia and diarrhea, were abstracted. Finally the Meta-analyses were conducted by using Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2. Results Eight RCTs involving 773 patients met the inclusive criteria. The results of meta-analyses showed that the total remission rate (OR=1.49, 95%CI 1.10 to 2.02) and complete remission rate (OR=1.67, 95%CI 1.08 to 2.57) were significantly higher in the MMF group than the CTX group. There was no significant difference in the rate of partial remission, the complete induction rate, the rate of patient intolerance-to-drug, the incidence of infection and leukopenia. However, the incidence of diarrhea was higher in the MMF group (OR=2.99, 95%CI 1.87 to 4.78). The results of meta-analyses for type IV LN were the same. Conclusion MMF is superior to CTX in the induction therapy to Lupus Nephritis (type III, IV, V), but the incidence of diarrhea is higher.
Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a revolutionizing technology that disrupts traditional human-computer interaction by establishing direct communication and control between the brain and computer, bypassing the peripheral nervous and muscular systems. With the rapid advancement of BCI technology, growing application demands, and an increasing need for specialized BCI professionals, a new academic major—BCI major—has gradually emerged. However, few studies to date have discussed the interdisciplinary nature and training framework of this emerging major. To address this gap, this paper first introduced the application demands of BCI, including the demand for BCI technology in both medical and non-medical fields. The paper also described the interdisciplinary nature of the BCI major and the urgent need for specialized professionals in this field. Subsequently, a training program of the BCI major was presented, with careful consideration of the multidisciplinary nature of BCI research and development, along with recommendations for curriculum structure and credit distribution. Additionally, the facing challenges of the construction of the BCI major were analyzed, and suggested strategies for addressing these challenges were offered. Finally, the future of the BCI major was envisioned. It is hoped that this paper will provide valuable reference for the development and construction of the BCI major.
Objective To reflect the correlation between social support and mental health of the aged through the Pearson correlation coefficient. Methods Databases including PubMed, SpringerLink, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, VIP, WanFang Data and CNKI were searched from inception to October, 2011 to collect literature on the correlation between social support and mental health of the aged. The studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After extracting data and assessing the quality of the included studies, meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0 software. Results Of the 2 396 identified studies, 4 studies were included. The results showed that 4 studies were not high in the overall quality. The total score of social support of the elderly and its three dimensions were related to mental health. Among 9 factors associated with mental health, somatization, depression and anxiety were weakly correlated to the objective support while the others were extremely weakly correlated. Anxiety and phobic anxiety were weakly correlated to the subjective support while the others were extremely weakly correlated. Phobic anxiety was weakly correlated to the utilizing degree while the others were extremely weakly correlated. Somatization, anxiety and phobic anxiety were weakly correlated to the total score of social support while the others were extremely weakly correlated. Conclusion Social support probably improves mental health of the aged to some extent.