Economic impact of powered stapler in video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for lung Cancer in a Chinese tertiary hospital: a cost-minimization analysis.

BACKGROUND: To assess the economic impact of powered stapler use in video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for lung cancer in a Chinese tertiary care hospital. METHODS: This study identified 388 patients who received VATS lobectomy using the ECHELON powered stapler (n = 296) or the ECHELON manual stapler (n = 92) for lung cancer in a Chinese tertiary hospital. Multiple generalized linear regression analyses were conducted using data on hospital costs and patient characteristics to develop predictive equations for hospital costs in a cost-minimization analysis (CMA) model comparing hospital costs associated with the ECHELON powered stapler and the ECHELON manual stapler. CMA model was used to conduct scenario analysis to compare the ECHELON powered stapler with another manual stapler (Victor Medical). RESULTS: The multiple generalized linear regression analyses identified that using the ECHELON powered stapler in VATS lobectomy for lung cancer was associated with significantly lower drug costs than using the ECHELON manual stapler (coefficient - 0.256, 95% confidence interval: - 0.375 to - 0.139). The CMA model estimated that the ECHELON powered stapler could save hospital costs by ¥1653 when compared with the ECHELON manual stapler (¥65,531 vs. ¥67,184). The use of the ECHELON powered stapler also saved hospital costs by ¥4411 when compared with the Victor Medical manual stapler (¥65,531 vs. ¥69,942) in the scenario analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the two manual staplers used for VATS lobectomy for lung cancer in a Chinese tertiary hospital, the ECHELON powered stapler had 100% probability to save total hospital costs under present prices of the three staplers according to the CMA.

Clinical and economic impact of oxidized regenerated cellulose for surgeries in a Chinese tertiary care hospital.

Aim: To assess the impact of oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) on blood transfusion and hospital costs associated with surgeries. Patients & methods: This retrospective cohort study selected ten surgeries to create propensity-score matching groups to compare ORC versus nonORC (conventional hemostatic techniques such as manual pressure, ligature and electrocautery). Results: NonORC was associated with both higher blood transfusion volume and higher hospital costs than ORC in endoscopic transnasal sphenoidal surgery, nonskull base craniotomy, hepatectomy, cholangiotomy, gastrectomy and lumbar surgery. However, nonORC was associated with better outcomes than ORC in open colorectal surgery, mammectomy and hip arthroplasty surgery. Conclusion: When compared with conventional hemostatic technique, using ORC could impact blood transfusion and hospital costs differently by surgical settings.

Antigenic Patterns and Evolution of the Human Influenza A (H1N1) Virus.

The influenza A (H1N1) virus causes seasonal epidemics that result in severe illnesses and deaths almost every year. A deep understanding of the antigenic patterns and evolution of human influenza A (H1N1) virus is extremely important for its effective surveillance and prevention. Through development of antigenicity inference method for human influenza A (H1N1), named PREDAC-H1, we systematically mapped the antigenic patterns and evolution of the human influenza A (H1N1) virus. Eight dominant antigenic clusters have been inferred for seasonal H1N1 viruses since 1977, which demonstrated sequential replacements over time with a similar pattern in Asia, Europe and North America. Among them, six clusters emerged first in Asia. As for China, three of the eight antigenic clusters were detected in South China earlier than in North China, indicating the leading role of South China in H1N1 transmission. The comprehensive view of the antigenic evolution of human influenza A (H1N1) virus can help formulate better strategy for its prevention and control.

Cost-effective large-scale synthesis of ZnO photocatalyst with excellent performance for dye photodegradation.

Zinc oxide with excellent photocatalytic performance for the photodegradation of dyes (superior to Degussa P25 TiO(2)) could be easily prepared in large quantity by direct calcination of zinc acetate (Zn(Ac)(2)·2H(2)O).