Economic Evaluation of an Enhanced Post-Discharge Home-Based Care Program for Stroke Survivors.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the cost-effectiveness of an enhanced postdischarge home-based care program for stroke survivors compared with usual care. METHODS: This was a trial-based economic evaluation study. One hundred and sixteen patients with ischemic stroke were recruited from neurology units in a Chinese hospital and randomized into intervention (n = 58) or usual care groups (n = 58). The intervention commenced with predischarge planning and transitioned to home follow-up postdischarge. Trained nurse case managers supported by an interdisciplinary team provided comprehensive assessment, individualized goal setting, and skill training to support home-based rehabilitation for intervention group participants. Standard care was provided to usual care group participants. Total cost and quality-adjusted life-years gained at 3-month (T1), 6-month (T2), and 12-month (T3) follow-ups were calculated. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios between the groups were obtained. RESULTS: The intervention group showed a significant increase in utility compared with the usual care group at T1 (P = .003), T2 (P = .007), and T3 (P < .001). The average total QALY gain from baseline for the intervention group was higher than for the usual care group at all time points. The likelihood of being cost-effective ranged from 61.9% to 67.2% from the provider perspective, and from 59.7% to 66.8% from the societal perspective. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the intervention program was cost-effective with significantly higher quality-adjusted life-years for stroke survivors when compared with usual care. It provides economic evidence to support the development of home-based stroke rehabilitation program, especially in the low- and middle-income countries.

Effects of a transitional home-based care program for stroke survivors in Harbin, China: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: China has the biggest stroke burden in the world. Continued measures have been taken to enhance post-stroke rehabilitation management in the last two decades. The weak link is with home-based rehabilitation, with more attention and resources devoted to inpatient rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: to address the service gap, this study tested a home-based transitional care model for stroke survivors. METHODS: a randomized controlled trial was conducted from February 2019 to May 2020 in Harbin, China, involving 116 patients with ischemic stroke. The intervention group participants (n = 58, 50%) received a 12-week home-based care program with components of transitional care measures and the national guidelines for facilitating patients to perform home-based exercises with continued monitoring and gradual progression. Control group participants received standard care including medication advice, rehabilitation exercise and one nurse-initiated follow-up call. Data were collected at baseline and after a 90-day (post-intervention) and a 180-day (post-intervention) follow-up. The primary outcome was quality of life (QOL), measured using the EuroQol-Five Dimension 5-Level scale (EQ-5D-5L). RESULTS: both intervention and control groups showed improvement in EQ-5D-5L from baseline to post-intervention (0.66 versus 0.83, P < 0.001) and (0.66 versus 0.77, P < 0.001), respectively, and there was significant group-by-time interaction in EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale from baseline to post-intervention at 90 days and follow-up at 180 days with the intervention group experiencing better improvement. Similarly, significant interaction effects were also found in the Stroke Impact Symptom scale, self-efficacy and modified Barthel Index. CONCLUSIONS: home-based transitional care was effective in improving QOL, symptoms, self-efficacy and activities of daily living.

Substitution of SF-36 by SF-12 Among Hong Kong Chinese Older Adults: Secondary Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the appropriateness of substituting the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) by its shortened version (SF-12) in measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older Chinese population. METHODS: Secondary analysis of two transitional care management programs, conducted from 2009 to 2012, were analyzed (n = 1188, aged 60-97). Participants were discharged patients with respiratory disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiac disease, and renal disease, and were classified according to number of chronic diseases. SF-36 was administered at baseline and 4-week follow-up. RESULTS: Both overestimations and underestimations of HRQoL by SF-12 were found. Most domain scores of SF-36 and SF-12 were highly correlated (Spearman correlation (ρ) > 0.85), with the exception of General Health (ρ = 0.64) and Vitality subscales (ρ = 0.82). Multiple linear regression adjusted for demographic characteristics showed that the four out of eight domains of SF-36 and SF-12 were equivalent in measuring the difference across numbers of chronic diseases (all p < 0.05). Paired sample t tests in 989 (83.2 %) who completed the SF-36 survey 4 weeks after baseline showed that SF-12 overestimated the 4-week changes in most of the domains. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the Chinese version of SF-12v2 for reporting the change over time in quality of life among medical patients after hospital discharge may need to be interpreted with caution. The SF-12 tends to underestimate the difference when compared with the SF-36.

Disaster Preparedness Among Populations in Shenzhen, China, With and Without Chronic Disease.

OBJECTIVE: This survey examined and compared the disaster perception and preparedness of 2421 residents with and without chronic disease in Shenzhen, China. METHODS: The participants were recruited and were asked to complete a survey in 2018. RESULTS: Three types of disasters considered most likely to happen in Shenzhen were: typhoons (73.5% vs 74.9%), major transport accidents (61.5% vs 64.7%), and major fires (60.8% vs 63.0%). Only 5.9% and 5% of them, respectively, considered infectious diseases pandemics to be likely. There were significant differences between those with and without chronic disease in disaster preparedness, only a small percentage could be considered to have prepared for disaster (20.7% vs 14.5%). Logistic regression analyses showed that those aged 65 or older (odds ratio [OR] = 2.76), who had attained a Master's degree or higher (OR = 2.0), and with chronic disease (OR = 1.38) were more prepared for disasters. CONCLUSIONS: Although participants with chronic disease were better prepared than those without, overall, Shenzhen residents were inadequately prepared for disasters and in need of public education.

Perception of E-health Technology Scale in Chinese Brief (PETS-C Brief): Translation, item reduction, and psychometric testing.

Introduction: Perception of e-health is a broad concept involving many aspects of values and thoughts related to e-health. It is an important precursor to using e-health technologies to promote health. The purpose of this study is to validate an instrument for measuring perceptions of e-health technology among healthcare professionals. Methods: This methodological study was conducted in China. We based on an existing instrument to develop a new instrument (i.e. PETS-C Brief). In phase 1, we modified and translated the existing instrument into Chinese. Subsequently, we employed the modified and translated instrument to conduct a cross-sectional survey. In phase 2, we randomly selected data from 400 participants to run an exploratory factor analysis and item analysis to reduce the number of items and develop factors. In phase 3, we employed the data from the remaining participants to run a confirmatory factor analysis to confirm the instrument structure. Results: In phase 1, the modified and translated instrument showed good content and face validities (S-CVI = 0.96, mean comprehensibility = 93.5%). 1338 participants completed the survey. In phase 2, the number of items was reduced from 40 to 19, which demonstrated a 4-factor model. In phase 3, the goodness-of-fit of the 4-factor PETS-C Brief was shown to be acceptable (χ2/d.f. = 6.40, CFI = 0.93, RMR = 0.40, NFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.076, IFI = 0.93). Discussion: This study suggests using this instrument to survey perceptions of e-health technology in Chinese people. Future studies should examine its other important psychometric properties, including convergent/discriminant and predictive validity on behaviors using e-health technology.

Examining advanced nursing practice in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

OBJECTIVE: There were studies evaluating advanced nursing practice independently in the mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, but there was no attempt to make a comparison of practice between them. This study employed a case study method to examine and compare advanced nursing practice in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. METHOD: Purposive sampling method was used to recruit 24 advanced practice nurses (APN) who came from the specialty of medical, surgical and pediatric in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. A questionnaire survey and semi-structured interview were conducted to solicit quantitative and qualitative data for exploring the structure-process-outcome of advanced nursing practice. The structure component explored the factors influencing advanced nursing practice. The process part examined APN role components and illustrations of exemplary advanced nursing practice. The outcomes described outcome indicators that best reflected advanced nursing practice. FINDINGS: Findings revealed that in the structure domain, APN education and career development, team approach in healthcare, and support from management, physicians and professional associations were important contextual factors for APN development in both cities. For the process domain, participants had at least 80% of their time practicing independently/interdependently and were engaged in APN activities including direct/indirect patient care, research/project work, initiation of staff and patient protocols. All participants demonstrated competencies with impacts on patient, service and profession in their description of exemplary practice. Participants from both cities ranked patient-related outcomes as top indicators for their advanced nursing practice. CONCLUSION: This study has revealed that APNs in Guangzhou and Hong Kong shared similar work involvement and impacts and their demonstrated competencies were on par with international counterparts. Continued efforts need to be put in establishing formal APN education, clear clinical career pathway and title protection to empower nurses to provide optimal care to the fullest extent that they are prepared for.

Comparison studies of ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injection and balloon catheter dilatation in the treatment of neurogenic cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction (CPD) management has been challenging in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injection and balloon catheter dilatation in treating CPD. METHODS: Forty patients with CPD were randomly divided into two groups, namely the botulinum toxin injection group (BTX group) and balloon dilatation group (BD group). Patients in the BTX group received a single ultrasound-guided injection of 50 units of botulinum toxin type A, while the BD group received dilatation therapy five times per week, consecutively for two weeks. Relative opening percentage of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), the penetration-aspiration scale (PAS), and the Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (DOSS) were evaluated by a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) at baseline, 1-month, and 3-months posttreatment. The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) were also used to evaluate participants' swallowing function at baseline and the 1-week, 2-week, 1-month, and 3-month follow-ups. RESULTS: A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model revealed the significant main effect for time in UES, PAS, DOSS, FOIS, and SSA compared to baseline (P <0.05), while no group-by-time interactions (except for the PAS assessment) or main effect for treatment was detected among the above multiple variances. No systematic complications or severe adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSION: Both ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin type A injections and balloon dilatation therapy have been proven as safe and effective treatments for CPD patients. Future clinical trials with longer follow-up periods and more participants are warranted.

[Molecular subtyping of Vibrio cholerae isolates from outbreaks of cholera by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in Hainan in 2008].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the molecular characteristics and genetic correlations of Vibrio cholerae isolates in Hainan in 2008, so as to provide pathogenic proof to diagnose the plague. METHODS: Seventy six cholera strains were isolated from this cholera epidemic.69 strains were obtained from patients, 7 were isolated from external environment, among which, one was from patient's toilet, one from water sample, three were isolated from fish pond near patient's home, one came from swab of the patient vomit on the ground of health center and one from swab of kitchen knife from Hainan University canteen respectively. With conventional aetiological methods, pulse-field gel electrophoresis was conducted and the patterns of the 76 isolates were analyzed. The PFGE image was analyzed using BioNumerics (Version4.0, Applied Maths BVBA, Belium). Image bands were identified and similarity coefficient was automatically generated. RESULTS: Seventy six strains were isolated from Vibrio cholerae outbreaks in Hainan in 2008.5 PFGE patterns of patient's isolates in June were the same, sharing a similarity coefficient of 100%. 70 PFGE patterns of patients and water in October and November were completely same, the similarity coefficient being 100%. But they were not same as that of June. 1 PFGE pattern of isolate from the sample in Hainan University was different, only sharing a similarity coefficient of 79.7%, which showed no correlation with the outbreak. CONCLUSION: Different outbreaks of Vibrio cholera occurred in Hainan in 2008. The epidemic in October and November at different counties was one outbreak. The pollution of water in environment was an important factor for outbreak.

[Study on the identification of ganoderma by multi-steps infrared macro-fingerprint method].

Ganoderma lucidum, ganoderma atrum, ganderma tsugae Murr. and ganoderma lipsiense can be discriminated and identified by using multi-steps infrared macro-fingerprint method. The 1D-1R spectra, based on the peaks intensity at 1153 and 1078 cm(-1), which are the fingerprint characteristic peaks of glucoside compounds, show that the content of glucoside compounds of them was in the order of: ganoderma lucidum>ganoderma atrum>ganderma tsugae Murr. >ganoderma lipsiense. Generally, the second derivative IR spectra can clearly enhance the spectra resolution. In the range of 1600-1720 cm(-1), the position and sharpness of characteristics peaks were very different, and it's proved that amino acid peptide compounds of them were different. In the 2D-IR spectra, four of them have the same autopeak at 1100 cm(-1), which is the autopeaks of glucoside, but the number of autopeaks of ganoderma lucidum was 4 and its strongest autopeak was 1040 cm(-1), while 5 autopeaks, 4 autopeaks and 5 autopeaks were for ganoderma atrum, ganderma tsugae Murr. and ganoderma lipsiense respectively, and their strongest autopeaks were 1040, 1139, 1140 and 1134 cm(-1) respectively. The multi-steps infrared maro-fingerprint identification testified that the contents of glucoside compounds and amino acid peptide compounds in these four kinds of ganoderma are different. It's proved that multi-steps infrared maro-fingerprint method can be used to analyze and distinguish ganoderma lucidum, ganoderma atrum, ganderma tsugae Murr. and ganoderma lipsiense.

Electronic Media Device Usage and Its Associations With BMI and Obesity in a Rapidly Developing City in South China.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the television (TV) viewing and computer and mobile phone usage duration in a community sample of Chinese adults and examine their associations with BMI and obesity. Methods: We conducted a community-based health needs assessment study from February to December 2018 among 2,873 Chinese adults in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, China. We used self-administered questionnaires to collect the data from 24 community health service centers in Nanshan District. The participants individually recorded the time they spent watching TV and using computers and mobile phones. They also answered questions about their sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. We measured their height and weight by using ultrasonic height and weight scales. Then, we calculated and categorized their BMI in accordance with the standards prescribed by the World Health Organization for Asians. Results: Most of the participants were young adults (aged 18-44 years, 74.2%). The overall prevalence of obesity was 15.30%. The prevalence of TV, computer, and mobile phone usage was 75.5, 71.2, and 93.8% in females and 71.1, 75.7, and 94.2% in males, respectively. The youth (18-24 years) and the elderly (65 years or older) had the longest time using mobile phones (3.78 ± 2.51 h) and watching TV programs (2.12 ± 1.38 h), respectively. Longer usage of computers and mobile phones was evident in males (p < 0.05) and participants with a high education level (p < 0.01). The univariate analysis results showed an association between high BMI and obesity and short duration of using computers and mobile phones (all p < 0.05). By contrast, no significant associations were found between the length of TV program viewing and mobile phone usage and BMI (p > 0.05). After we adjusted for potential confounders, we found that computer usage time and the overall usage time of the three electronic devices had an inverse association with BMI (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Mobile phones were the most popular electronic device in Nanshan residents of Shenzhen. Unlike most previous studies, we found an inverse association between screen time and BMI. Nevertheless, scholars should conduct further studies to explore this association. Overall, we strongly encourage the appropriate use of electronic devices.

Curcumin, a potential inhibitor of up-regulation of TNF-alpha and IL-6 induced by palmitate in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through NF-kappaB and JNK pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the attenuating effect of curcumin, an anti-inflammatory compound derived from dietary spice turmeric (Curcuma longa) on the pro-inflammatory insulin-resistant state in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. METHODS: Glucose uptake rate was determined with the [3H] 2-deoxyglucose uptake method. Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by quantitative RT-PCR analysis and ELISA. Nuclear transcription factor kappaB p65 (NF-kappa p65) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) were detected by Western blot assay. RESULTS: The basal glucose uptake was not altered, and curcumin increased the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells. Curcumin suppressed the transcription and secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-6 induced by palmitate in a concentration-dependent manner. Palmitate induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. The activities of Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38MAPK decreased in the presence of curcumin. Moreover, pretreatment with SP600125 (inhibitor of JNK) instead of PD98059 or SB203580 (inhibitor of ERK1/2 or p38MAPK, respectively) decreased the up-regulation of TNF-alpha induced by palmitate. CONCLUSION: Curcumin reverses palmitate-induced insulin resistance state in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through the NF-kappaB and JNK pathway.

[Di-n-butytin tridentate acylhydrazone Schiff base complexes: synthesis and studies by infrared spectroscopy].

Four tridentate acylhydrazone schiff base ligands H2L [H2L1:C6H5C(O)NHN = CHC6H4OH-2, H2L2:C6H5C(O)NHN = CHC6H3(OH)(2)-2,4, H2L3:NC5H4C(O)NHN = CHC6H4OH-2, H2L4:NC5H4C(O)NHN = CHC6H3(OH)(2)-2,4] were synthesized and use to form four novel di-n-Butytin complexes of the type (n-Bu)2SnL with di-n-Butytin oxide [(n-Bu)2SnO]. All these ligands and complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Their principal infrared spectral absorption peaks were assigned and discussed for the region of 4,000-400 cm-1. A comparison of the infrared spectra of the ligands with those of the corresponding complexes reveals that the disappearance of the bands assigned to carbonyl unambiguously confirms that the ligands coordinate with tin in the enol form. The coordination manner for tridentate acylhydrazone schiff base ligands with tin atom in the complexes was determined. The results indicated that the Sn atom in these complexes is five-coordinated.