Medicine
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Observational Study
Performance of the LACE index to identify elderly patients at high risk for hospital readmission in Singapore.
Unplanned readmissions may be avoided by accurate risk prediction and appropriate resources could be allocated to high risk patients. The Length of stay, Acuity of admission, Charlson comorbidity index, Emergency department visits in past six months (LACE) index was developed to predict hospital readmissions in Canada. In this study, we assessed the performance of the LACE index in a Singaporean cohort by identifying elderly patients at high risk of 30-day readmissions. ⋯ The final predictive model was better than the LACE index in terms of discriminative ability; c-statistic of LACE index and final logistic regression model was 0.595 and 0.628, respectively. The LACE index had poor discriminative ability in identifying elderly patients at high risk of 30-day readmission, even if it was augmented with additional risk factors. Further studies should be conducted to discover additional factors that may enable more accurate and timely identification of patients at elevated risk of readmissions, so that necessary preventive actions can be taken.
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Improving employees' perception of organizational climate, and coaching them to remain steadfast when managing occupational risks associated with their job, might have an important effect on their psychosocial wellbeing and occupational health. This study examined the effects of a rational emotive occupational health therapy intervention program on the perceptions of organizational climate and occupational risk management practices. ⋯ Corporate application of a rational emotive behavior therapy as an occupational health therapy intervention program is essential for improving the perceptions of organizational climate and promoting the adoption of feasible occupational risk management strategies in the workplace.
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Case Reports
Marked response to nab-paclitaxel in EGFR mutated lung neuroendocrine carcinoma: A case report.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which target mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), have been the first-line treatment of late-stage lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutation. EGFR mutations are mostly identified in lung adenocarcinoma. However, it is rarely seen in lung neuroendocrine carcinoma, and treatment strategies remain under reported. ⋯ This case highlights that EGFR mutated lung neuroendocrine carcinoma is not responsive to single-agent EGFR-TKI. However, combined application with nab-paclitaxel can improve its efficacy and prolong the patient's survival.
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High prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has increased the demands for more convenient and accessible diagnostic devices other than standard in-lab polysomnography (PSG). Despite the increasing utility of photoplethysmograph (PPG), it remains understudied in underserved populations. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of a standard pulse oximeter system with an automated analysis based on the PPG signal for the diagnosis of OSA, as compared with PSG derived measures. ⋯ The overall sensitivity and specificity of PPG are good, especially in moderate and severe OSA groups. The tested PPG approach yielded acceptable results compared to the gold standard PSG among moderate to severe OSA patients. A pulse oximeter system with PPG recording can be used for the diagnosis or screening of OSA in high risk population.
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Observational Study
Radiographic anatomical relationship between spinous process and pedicle in thoracolumbar and lumbar spine.
Pedicle screws are widely used in spinal surgeries, but it remains technically demanding to place. There are numerous studies on the anatomy of pedicle; however, there is very little insight on the relationship between the pedicle and the spinous process, which is an important part of the spinal posterior column. The aim of the study was to investigate the radiographic anatomical relationship between spinous processes and pedicles in the thoracolumbar and lumbar spine, in order to reveal a novel entrance point for pedicle screw insertion. ⋯ The study reveals the radiographic anatomical relationship between the pedicle and the spinous process. The pedicle axis is around the horizontal line of the superior margin of spinous process root. It provides a new anatomic mark of pedicle screw entrance point.