Risultati per: Passo 11. Monitorare la pratica professionale del proprio gruppo: GPG Network

Annals of Internal Medicine, Ahead of Print.

Studio pubblicato nella rivista Nature Communications

Background
Prior to the introduction of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs), children with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) typically did not survive beyond the age of 2 years; management was mainly palliative. Novel therapies have made this a treatable condition, resulting in increased life expectancy and more time spent upright. Survival and improved function mean spinal asymmetry is a new complication with limited data on its prevalence and severity and no current guidelines on management and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the spinal presentation and management of type 1 SMA children on nusinersen across the SMA-REACH UK network.

Methods
Spinal presentation and management of 80 children (age range 4 months–14 years, median 4 years 2 months) with type 1 SMA on nusinersen across the SMA-REACH UK network were reviewed through retrospective data analysis.

Results
There were 60 type 1 children who developed a spinal asymmetry, of which 40 had kyphosis and 50 used a supportive thoraco-lumbar-sacral orthosis (TLSO). TLSOs were predominantly a one-piece jacket with abdominal hole, advised to be worn when upright during the day. Reduced neck range of movement was found in 33, 1 of these had plagiocephaly and 5 had torticollis. Of those with reduced neck range of movement, 26 (79%) had spinal asymmetry. Spinal surgery was performed in 7.

Conclusions
Our study confirms high prevalence of spinal asymmetry in this cohort, requiring long-term management planning. It provides information on presentation and treatment options, facilitating development of guidelines for these new complications observed in children surviving longer with DMTs.

Introduction
Primary hypertension (PH) affects over one billion individuals globally, yet less than 30% achieve controlled blood pressure (BP) with medication. Many patients require a combination of multiple medications to reach targets, but adverse effects and financial burdens undermine adherence. Additionally, prehypertension affects 25%–50% of adults, increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications. Early detection and management of prehypertension are crucial for delaying the need for pharmacological interventions. In recent years, clinical guidelines have increasingly emphasised non-pharmacological interventions for PH management. However, the diversity of non-pharmacological therapies and the inconsistencies in efficacy challenge clinical decision-making. This study aims to use network meta-analysis (NMA) to synthesise existing evidence on non-pharmacological interventions for PH, offering updated clinical insights and evidence-based support to optimise treatment strategies. It will also provide recommendations for integrating these interventions into community-based chronic disease management.

Methods and analysis
To identify potentially relevant randomised controlled trials, a reverse search strategy will be employed to ascertain all non-pharmacological interventions for PH. A well-constructed search strategy will be applied across nine academic databases (Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, AMED, CNKI, WF and VIP database) and three clinical trial registries (WHO ICTRP, ClinicalTrials.gov and ChiCTR) for studies conducted between 1 January 2014 and 1 August 2024. Two investigators will independently extract information from eligible articles and document reasons for exclusions. The primary outcomes will encompass changes in systolic and diastolic BP. Pairwise and Bayesian NMA will be conducted using ‘meta’ and ‘GeMTC’ package (R 4.4.1). Risk of bias will be assessed using the Risk of Bias 2 tool, and the quality of evidence will be evaluated according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Ethics and dissemination
As this review involves secondary analysis of previously published data, ethical approval is not required. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42023451073.

Objectives
The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between loneliness and socioeconomic status and social networks in older adults with activity of daily living (ADL) disabilities in China and investigate people who are more likely to feel lonely.

Design
Cross-sectional study.

Setting
This study was conducted in six districts of Nantong, Jiangsu, China.

Participants
A total of 880 older adults with ADL disabilities who participated in long-term care insurance and had an ADL score of less than 40 were investigated by the convenient sampling method.

Primary outcome measures
The UCLA Loneliness Scale (V.3) was used to assess loneliness.

Results
Among 880 participants, the mean age was 80.64 years (SD 10.29) and 59.43% were females. The mean score of loneliness was 44.70 (SD=10.01), and the majority suffered from moderate (39.89%) or moderate to severe (40.11%) loneliness. Regression showed that lower loneliness was associated with being females (β=–1.534, 95% CI: –2.841 to –0.228), married (β=–3.554, 95% CI: –4.959 to –2.149), often communicating with children (β=–3.213, 95% CI: –4.519 to –1.908), having more than two friends (β=–5.373, 95% CI: –6.939 to –3.808) and receiving home-based rehabilitation once a day (β=–3.692, 95% CI: –5.642 to –1.743). Participants who lived in rural areas (β=1.926, 95% CI: 0.658 to 3.193) and were unemployed before retirement (β=4.691, 95% CI: 1.485 to 7.898) experienced higher loneliness for older adults with ADL disability. The classification and regression tree model showed fewer friends and communication with children sometimes, and living in rural areas felt more lonely.

Conclusions
The poorer socioeconomic status and social network among older adults with ADL disability perceived more loneliness. Attention should be paid to the loneliness status of such vulnerable people, particularly those with ADL disabilities living in rural areas and having fewer social networks.

Nel 2023 raddoppiata la spesa per i gettonisti

‘Più della metà solo nel 2020-2023, situazione senza prendenti’

Objectives
To determine the prevalence of hospital discharge communication problems with older adults, compare them across countries and determine factors associated with those problems.

Design
Secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data.

Setting
2021 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy (IHP) Survey of Older Adults conducted across 11 high-income countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.

Participants
4501 respondents aged 60 and older in the USA and 65 and older in all other included countries who were hospitalised at least once in the past 2 years before the survey and answered discharge communication-related questions.

Primary outcome measure
Our primary outcome measure is poor discharge communication (PDC), a composite variable of three IHP questions related to written information, doctor follow-up and medicines discussed.

Results
Overall PDC rate was 19.2% (864/4501), although rates varied by nation. PDC was highest in Norway (31.5%) and lowest in the USA (7.5%). Gender, education, income and the presence of at least one chronic disease were not statistically associated with PDC.

Conclusions
Given the high rate of PDC observed, hospital discharge teams and leadership should carefully examine communication during the hospital discharge process to ensure minimisation of care gaps, particularly regarding medication, since this was the most reported problem.

Objectives
While multiple studies have shown the safety and efficacy of non-operative management, appendectomy remains the standard treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis (UAA). This study presents a protocol for a meta-analysis comparing antibiotic therapy, endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) and appendectomy in patients with UAA.

Methods and analysis
We will conduct a systematic search of several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and the Cochrane Library. The search will cover the full range of database records up to September 2024. Eligible studies will include randomised-controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of antibiotic therapy, ERAT and appendectomy for UAA. The primary outcome will be treatment success, while secondary outcomes will include major complications, hospital costs, length of stay and recurrence of appendicitis. Two independent reviewers will select studies, extract data and assess bias risk. A Bayesian approach will be used for the network meta-analysis.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval is not required as the study will use data from published RCTs. The findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024554427.

Introduction
Available therapies for peripheral nerve injury (PNI) include surgical and non-surgical treatments. Surgical treatment includes neurorrhaphy, grafting (allografts and autografts) and tissue-engineered grafting (artificial nerve guide conduits), while non-surgical treatment methods include electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation, laser phototherapy and administration of nerve growth factors. However, the treatments currently available to best manage the different PNI manifestations remain undetermined. This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) aims to address this and determine the best treatment or combination of treatments for PNI.

Methods and analysis
A comprehensive search of MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database, Wanfang Database, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov and the Chinese Clinical Trial Register will be completed using the following keywords: peripheral nerve injury, therapies and related entry terms. Studies will be included based on specific eligibility criteria, and the reference lists of the included studies will be manually searched. Relevant data will be extracted from the included studies using a specially designed data extraction sheet. The risk of bias in the included studies will be assessed, and the overall strength of the evidence will be summarised. A random-effects model was used for all pairwise meta-analyses (95% CI). Bayesian NMA is used to explore the relative benefits of various treatments. The review will be reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews incorporating NMA statement.

Ethics and dissemination
As the protocol for this systematic review and Bayesian NMA is based on studies with published results and does not involve patient interventions, no ethical review is required. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42023475135.

Taken together with clinical importance, evidence available supports three forms of tDCS as effective treatments for post-stroke spasticity and/or motor impairments, whereas BoNT, HFrTMS, and LFrTMS for motor impairments. These modalities could be considered alongside rehabilitation interventions as core treatments for post-stroke spasticity and motor impairments.

Introduction
Children represent a large and vulnerable patient group. However, the evidence base for most paediatric diagnostic and therapeutic procedures remains limited or is often inferred from adults. There is an urgency to improve paediatric healthcare provision based on real-world evidence generation. Digital transformation is a unique opportunity to shape a data-driven, agile, learning healthcare system and deliver more efficient and personalised care to children and their families. The goal of Paediatric Personalized Research Network Switzerland (SwissPedHealth) is to build a sustainable and scalable infrastructure to make routine clinical data from paediatric hospitals in Switzerland interoperable, standardised, quality-controlled, and ready for observational research, quality assurance, trials and health-policy creation. This study describes the design, aims and current achievements of SwissPedHealth.

Methods and analysis
SwissPedHealth was started in September 2022 as one of four national data streams co-funded by the Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN) and the Personalized Health and Related Technologies (PHRT). SwissPedHealth develops modular governance and regulatory strategies and harnesses SPHN automatisation procedures in collaboration with clinical data warehouses, the Data Coordination Center, Biomedical Information Technology Network, and other SPHN institutions and funded projects. The SwissPedHealth consortium is led by a multisite, multidisciplinary Steering Committee, incorporating patient and family representatives. The data stream contains work packages focusing on (1) governance and implementation of standardised data collection, (2) nested projects to test the feasibility of the data stream, (3) a lighthouse project that enriches the data stream by integrating multi-omics data, aiming to improve diagnoses of rare diseases and 4) engagement with families through patient and public involvement activities and bioethics interviews.

Ethics and dissemination
The health database regulation of SwissPedHealth was approved by the ethics committee (AO_2022-00018). Research findings will be disseminated through national and international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals, and in lay language via online media and podcasts.

Premio all’innovazione. Istituto presente nel Lazio e in Abruzzo

Introduction
Alleviating postoperative pain from developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) surgery is beneficial for paediatric patients. The most commonly used anaesthetic approach currently is general anaesthesia combined with regional nerve blocks. Existing research primarily focuses on studies comparing regional nerve blocks with placebo controls, or studies comparing two different regional nerve blocking techniques. However, the conclusions from these studies offer limited assistance to clinicians in selecting the safest and most effective nerve block. Therefore, we plan to conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of different regional nerve blocks in managing postoperative pain in children undergoing surgery for DDH.

Methods and analysis
We will systematically search the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials via Ovid, as well as the Chinese databases CNKI and Wanfang. We will comprehensively search from the inception of each database to April 2024 and will include randomised controlled trials without restrictions on language or publication status. The primary outcome are postoperative pain scores at 4 hours following surgery. The quality of all included trials will be assessed using version 2 of the Cochrane Randomised Trial Risk of Bias Tool. We will employ the GeMTC package in R software for both direct and indirect comparisons within a Bayesian framework using a random effects model. Additionally, the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis method will be employed to assess the quality of evidence.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval is not required for this study, as it exclusively involves the compilation of published data. We plan to submit our review to academic conferences and peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42024527459.