Digital Technology in Clinical Medicine: Correspondence.

We found the article on "The Digital Technology in Clinical Medicine: From Calculators to ChatGPT" interesting.1 According to Kulkarni et al., humanity has witnesses four important social system changes, starting with the primitive huntersgatherers and progressing to horticultural, agricultural, industrial, and the current fifth, which is based on digital information technology and has altered the way we present, recognize, and utilize different factors of production. In clinical medicine, digital technology has advanced significantly since the days of computations. According to Kulkarni et al., we have to benefit from these advancements as we all improve the lives of our patients while being cautious not to overturn the doctor-patient relationship. If technology, clinical expertise, and humanistic values are properly balanced, Kulkarni et al. concluded that the future is quite glorious.1 Regulatory organizations are pushing for improvements through clinical trials as a result of recognition of the expanding influence of digital technology in healthcare delivery. The "World Health Organizations Guidelines for Digital Interventions" and the "Food and Drug Administration's Digital Health Center of Excellence" are only two of the projects that are currently being highlighted in the study as efforts to analyze and implement digital health services.

Causality in digital medicine.

Ben Glocker (an expert in machine learning for medical imaging, Imperial College London), Mirco Musolesi (a data science and digital health expert, University College London), Jonathan Richens (an expert in diagnostic machine learning models, Babylon Health) and Caroline Uhler (a computational biology expert, MIT) talked to Nature Communications about their research interests in causality inference and how this can provide a robust framework for digital medicine studies and their implementation, across different fields of application.

Editorial: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Clinical Medicine and the 2020 CONSORT-AI Study Guidelines.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical medicine includes physical robotics and devices and virtual AI and machine learning. Concerns have been raised regarding ethical issues for the use of AI in surgery, including guidance for surgical decisions, patient confidentiality, and the need for support from controlled clinical trials to use these methods so that clinical guidelines can be developed. The most common applications for virtual AI include disease diagnosis, health monitoring and digital patient consultations, clinical training, patient data management, drug development, and personalized medicine. In September 2020, the CONSORT-A1 extension was developed with 14 additional items that should be reported for AI studies that include clear descriptions of the AI intervention, skills required, study setting, inputs and outputs of the AI intervention, analysis of errors, and the human and AI interactions. This Editorial aims to present current applications and challenges of AI in clinical medicine and the importance of the new 2020 CONSORT-AI study guidelines.

Disentangling the clinical data chaos: User-centered interface system design for trauma centers.

This paper presents a year-long study of our project, aiming at (1) understanding the work practices of clinical staff in trauma intensive care units (TICUs) at a trauma center, with respect to their usage of clinical data interface systems, and (2) developing and evaluating an intuitive and user-centered clinical data interface system for their TICU environments. Based on a long-term field study in an urban trauma center that involved observation-, interview-, and survey-based studies to understand our target users and their working environment, we designed and implemented MediSenseView as a working prototype. MediSenseView is a clinical-data interface system, which was developed through the identification of three core challenges of existing interface system use in a trauma care unit-device separation, usage inefficiency, and system immobility-from the perspectives of three staff groups in our target environment (i.e., doctors, clinical nurses and research nurses), and through an iterative design study. The results from our pilot deployment of MediSenseView and a user study performed with 28 trauma center staff members highlight their work efficiency and satisfaction with MediSenseView compared to existing clinical data interface systems in the hospital.

Primera experiencia en Uruguay en enseñanza curricular de resucitación cardíaca avanzada en el Ciclo Internado Rotatorio en el período 2017-2018, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Comunicación y evaluación / Inclusion of advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation in curricular education of medical doctors in Uruguay. First experience in the Rotating Internship between 2017-2018. School of Medicine, University of Uruguay. Communication and Evaluation / Primeira experiência no Uruguai no ensino curricular de Reanimação Cardíaca Avançada no Ciclo de Estágios Rotatórios no período 2017-2018, Faculdade de Medicina, UdelaR. Comunicação e avaliação

Resumen: A partir del año 2017, la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de la República (UdelaR) incorpora la enseñanza en reanimación cardíaca avanzada como actividad curricular obligatoria durante el Ciclo Internado Rotatorio (CIR). Esto se justifica dada la relevancia que presenta en términos de morbilidad y mortalidad la patología cardiovascular, en particular los paros cardiorrespiratorios y específicamente la muerte súbita. Los cursos de reanimación permiten la adquisición de habilidades técnicas y no técnicas para dar respuesta tanto a esta patología tan prevalente como a la falta de estos cursos en la formación médica. Los objetivos del trabajo son comunicar y evaluar la primera experiencia durante el CIR 2017-2018. Para dichos objetivos se realizó un estudio transversal donde se analizaron los números de participantes y el porcentaje de aprobados. Además, se realizó una encuesta de valoración de autopercepción de habilidades previas y posteriores al curso y una evaluación de conformidad con éste. De los resultados se desprende la amplia aprobación en una primera instancia del curso y la valoración positiva que se realiza. También es positiva la mejora en la autopercepción de habilidades identificadas por los internos. Como debilidad se desprende el uso de un cuestionario no validado y que la evaluación no fue completada por todos los internos, ambos aspectos a mejorar en futuras evaluaciones. Como conclusión, se logró comunicar la experiencia, los cursos de Resucitación cardíaca avanzda (RCA) son una fortaleza en sí mismos y han sido un avance significativo en la formación profesional del futuro médico.

Summary: In 2017 the School of Medicine of the University of the Republic included advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a mandatory curricular activity during the rotating internship. The decision is justified by morbility and mortality rates of heart disease, in particular cardiopulmonary arrests and sudden death. Resuscitation courses enable the acquisition of technical and non- technical skills to respond to a prevalent condition and to compensate the absence of this specific training in the training of medical doctors. The study aimed to communicate and evaluate the first experience during the 2017-2018 rotating internship. A transversal study was conducted to analyse the number of participants and the percentage of successful candidates. Likewise, a survey was designed to assess self-perception of skills prior to the course and skills acquired during the course, as well as a course satisfaction. Results revealed the high acceptance rate of this first instance of the course and its positive assessment. Similarly, interns evidenced improvement in their self-perception of identified skills. As to a weaknesses found, the questionnaire used had not been validated and not all Interns completed the assessment, both aspects that will be improved in future assessments. To conclude, we managed to inform about the experience, advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses are an advantage in itself, and it has been a significant advance in the professional training of future medical doctors.

Resumo: A partir de 2017, a Faculdade de Medicina da Universidad de la República (UdelaR) incorporou o ensino de ressuscitação cardíaca avançada como atividade curricular obrigatória durante o ciclo de estágio rotativo (CIR). Isso se justifica dada a relevância das doenças cardiovasculares em termos de morbimortalidade, em especial a parada cardiorrespiratória e especificamente a morte súbita. Os cursos de reanimação permitem a aquisição de competências técnicas e não técnicas para responder, tanto a esta patologia prevalente, como à falta destes cursos na formação médica. Os objetivos deste trabalho são comunicar e avaliar a primeira experiência durante o Ciclo de Estágios Rotativo 2017-2018. Com esse fim foi realizado um estudo transversal onde foram analisados o número de participantes e o percentual de aprovação. Além disso, foi realizada uma pesquisa para avaliar a autopercepção de habilidades antes e depois do curso, bem como uma avaliação da adesão ao curso. Os resultados mostram a ampla aprovação na primeira instância do curso e a avaliação positiva que se faz do mesmo. A melhora na autopercepção das habilidades identificadas pelos estagiários também é positiva. Como fragilidade, surge a utilização de um questionário não validado e que a avaliação não foi respondida por todos os internos, aspectos que devem ser melhorados em avaliações futuras. Como conclusão foi possível comunicar a experiência, os cursos RCA são uma força em si e têm sido um avanço significativo na formação profissional do futuro médico.

El método clínico y el carácter científico de la medicina clínica / The clinical method and the scientific character of clinical medicine

Introducción: El cuestionamiento del carácter científico de la medicina clínica se incluye entre los problemas epistemológicos de las ciencias. Objetivo: Revisar la contribución de la medicina clínica como ciencia aplicada, con énfasis en la metódica que le distingue: el método clínico. Métodos: Se revisó la bibliografía especializada, complementada con el empleo de procedimientos de investigación cualitativa que incluyeron: entrevistas a profesionales de reconocida experiencia, trabajo con grupos focales y sesiones en profundidad. Desarrollo: El desarrollo histórico del pensamiento científico tuvo impacto en la medicina clínica, la cientificidad del método clínico explicada desde diferentes enfoques, la respuesta a las críticas del positivismo y la manera en que la medicina clínica cumple con los requerimientos para su aceptación como ciencia aplicada. Conclusiones: Se fundamentó la cientificidad de la medicina clínica desde un enfoque dialéctico distinguida por su carácter interdisciplinar, su condición de ciencia aplicada y por una metódica científica que posibilita el desempeño profesional del médico con el enfermo, el individuo en riesgo de enfermar y el hombre aparentemente sano: el método clínico(AU)

Introduction: The questioning the scientific character of clinical medicine is included among the epistemological problems of science. Objective: To review the contribution of clinical medicine as an applied science, with emphasis on the method that distinguishes it: the clinical method. Methods: The specialized bibliography was reviewed, complemented with the use of qualitative research procedures that included interviews with professionals with proven experience, working with focus groups and in-depth sessions. Findings: The historical development of scientific thought had an impact on clinical medicine, the scientificity of the clinical method explained from different approaches, the response to the criticisms of positivism and the way in which clinical medicine meets the requirements for its acceptance as applied science. Conclusions: The scientificity of clinical medicine was founded from a dialectical approach distinguished by its interdisciplinary nature, its condition of applied science and by a scientific method that enables the professional performance of the physician with the patient, the individual at risk of becoming ill and apparently healthy man: the clinical method(AU)

T Lymphocytes Cash Their Value in Clinical Medicine.

Empowering the ability of cytotoxic T cells to kill tumor cells or the reframing of their receptor to eliminate cancer cells has revolutionized cancer treatment. Simultaneously, the empowering of regulatory subsets has met success in mitigating autoimmune diseases. T cells, the major first responders of the immune system, are produced in the thymus, an organ that serves as their 'training camp'. On their exit to the periphery, T cells are effector cells that control infections or regulatory cells, which limit excessive responses.

Efficacy and Safety of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Corona virus disease (COVID-19) has now spread to all parts of the world and almost all countries are battling against it. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Hereinafter referred to as "Integrated Medicine") to COVID-19. We searched six major Chinese and English databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case-control studies (CCSs) of Integrated Medicine on COVID-19. Two reviewers independently screened, identified studies, and extracted data. Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used to assess the quality of included RCTs and CCSs, respectively. Stata (version 13.0; StataCorp) was used to perform meta-analyses with the random-effects model. Risk ratio (RR) was used for dichotomous data while the weighted mean difference (WMD) was adopted for continuous variables as effect size, both of which were demonstrated in effect size and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 11 studies were included. Four were RCTs and seven were CCSs. The sample size of including studies ranged from 42 to 200 (total 982). The traditional Chinese medicine included Chinese medicine compound drugs (QingFei TouXie FuZhengFang) and Chinese patent medicine (e.g. Shufeng Jiedu Capsule, Lianhua Qingwen granules). Compared with the control group, the overall response rate [RR = 1.230, 95%CI (1.113, 1.359), P = 0.000], cure rate [RR = 1.604, 95%CI (1.181, 2.177), P = 0.002], severity illness rate [RR = 0.350, 95%CI (0.154, 0.792), P = 0.012], and hospital stay [WMD = -1.991, 95%CI (-3.278, -0.703), P = 0.002] of the intervention group were better. In addition, Integrated Medicine can improve the disappearance rate of fever, cough, expectoration, fatigue, chest tightness and anorexia and reduce patients' fever, and fatigue time (P < 0.05). This review found that Integrated Medicine had better effects and did not increase adverse drug reactions for COVID-19. More high-quality RCTs are needed in the future.

Rehabilitation, the Great Absentee of Virtual Coaching in Medical Care: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: In the last few years, several studies have focused on describing and understanding how virtual coaches (ie, coaching program or smart device aiming to provide coaching support through a variety of application contexts) could be key drivers for health promotion in home care settings. As there has been enormous technological progress in the field of artificial intelligence and data processing in the past decade, the use of virtual coaches gains an augmented attention in the considerations of medical innovations. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed at providing an overview of the applications of a virtual coach in the clinical field. In particular, the review focused on the papers that provide tangible information for coaching activities with an active implication for engaging and guiding patients who have an ongoing plan of care. METHODS: We aimed to investigate the use of the term virtual coach in the clinical field performing a methodical review of the relevant literature indexed on PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases to find virtual coach papers focused on specific activities dealing with clinical or medical contexts, excluding those aimed at surgical settings or electronic learning purposes. RESULTS: After a careful revision of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 46 records were selected for the full-text review. Most of the identified articles directly or indirectly addressed the topic of physical activity. Some papers were focused on the use of virtual coaching (VC) to manage overweight or nutritional issues. Other papers dealt with technological interfaces to facilitate interactions with patients suffering from different chronic clinical conditions such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, and chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS: Although physical activity is a healthy practice that is most encouraged by a virtual coach system, in the current scenario, rehabilitation is the great absentee. This paper gives an overview of the tangible applications of this tool in the medical field and may inspire new ideas for future research on VC.

Assessment of the new World Health Organization's dengue classification for predicting severity of illness and level of healthcare required.

The objective of this study was to assess the validity of the new dengue classification proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2009 and to develop pragmatic guidelines for case triage and management. This retrospective study involved 357 laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue infection diagnosed at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia over a 4-year period from 2014 to 2017. The sensitivity of the new classification for identifying severe cases was limited (65%) but higher than the old one (30%). It had a higher sensitivity for identifying patients who needed advanced healthcare compared to the old one (72% versus 32%, respectively). We propose adding decompensation of chronic diseases and thrombocytopenia-related bleeding to the category of severe dengue in the new classification. This modification improves sensitivity from 72% to 98% for identifying patients who need advanced healthcare without altering specificity (97%). It also improves sensitivity in predicting severe outcomes from 32% to 88%. In conclusion, the new classification had a low sensitivity for identifying patients needing advanced care and for predicting morbidity and mortality. We propose to include decompensation of chronic diseases and thrombocytopenia-related bleeding to the category of severe dengue in the new classification to improve the sensitivity of predicting cases requiring advanced care.

Electromagnetic⁻Acoustic Sensing for Biomedical Applications.

This paper reviews the theories and applications of electromagnetic⁻acoustic (EMA) techniques (covering light-induced photoacoustic, microwave-induced thermoacoustic, magnetic-modulated thermoacoustic, and X-ray-induced thermoacoustic) belonging to the more general area of electromagnetic (EM) hybrid techniques. The theories cover excitation of high-power EM field (laser, microwave, magnetic field, and X-ray) and subsequent acoustic wave generation. The applications of EMA methods include structural imaging, blood flowmetry, thermometry, dosimetry for radiation therapy, hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO2) sensing, fingerprint imaging and sensing, glucose sensing, pH sensing, etc. Several other EM-related acoustic methods, including magnetoacoustic, magnetomotive ultrasound, and magnetomotive photoacoustic are also described. It is believed that EMA has great potential in both pre-clinical research and medical practice.