Postgraduate medical journal
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Multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) are debilitating degenerative diseases. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical options for multilevel CSM and OPLL include laminoplasty (LP) and laminectomy with fusion (LF). In this updated meta-analysis, we aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and complications of both approaches. ⋯ Although LP and LF shared similar clinical improvement, LP had fewer complications, a lower incidence of C5 palsy, and better NDI scores and recovery outcomes than LF. Randomised studies are warranted to validate these findings.
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Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Inflammation has been seen to be a key feature of atherosclerosis and CAD, with a raised C-reactive protein being a marker of poor prognosis. ⋯ Here, we discuss the role of colchicine in stable CAD and post-acute coronary syndrome. We suggest that colchicine may play a key role in prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with stable and unstable CAD as colchicine is associated with a reduction in the rate of myocardial infarction and other major cardiovascular outcomes.
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To determine if multiple Genetic Risk Scores (GRSs) improve bone mineral density (BMD) prediction over single GRS in an independent sample of Caucasian women. ⋯ The multipolygenic score model explained a considerable amount of BMD variation. Compared with single score models, multipolygenic score model provided significant improvement in explaining BMD variation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Utility of nasal application of lignocaine gel using cotton tip swab versus squirting with slip-tip syringe for transnasal fibreoptic bronchoscopy: a pilot randomised controlled trial.
During flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy through the nasal route, anaesthesia of the nasal passage is achieved by lignocaine gel application by a slip-tip syringe or with the help of a cotton tip swab. No studies in existing literature have compared the two techniques in terms of efficacy. ⋯ Application of 2% lignocaine gel by slip-tip syringe and cotton tip swab are equivalent in terms of observed and narrated pain experienced by patients, frequency of epistaxis and nasal blocks. Vision was better preserved in the cotton tip swab group.
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As we all know, medical postgraduate education is very important for training high-quality clinicians, and can have a long-term impact on the promotion of the global health service system. In recent years, following the example of developed countries in Europe and America, the Chinese government has reformed the training mode of medical postgraduates and implemented the double tutor system. Although this system will bring many positive effects in theory, the difficulties encountered in implementing this system are real and need the joint efforts of schools, tutors and students to solve them. This article closely follows the background of the current era, compares the differences between Chinese and foreign graduate training modes, and emphatically discusses the significance and problems of the double tutor system in the postgraduate education reform in China.