Randomized controlled trial(RCT) represents the "gold standard" for estimating the causal effects of interventions; however, their implementation in the field of health policy evaluation is frequently hindered by logistical feasibility and ethical constraints. Target Trial Emulation (TTE), a framework originating in clinical epidemiology, facilitates rigorous causal inference from observational data by explicitly emulating the design of an idealized "target trial". Recently, the application of TTE has transitioned from individual-level clinical interventions—such as pharmacological or surgical treatments—to population-level health policy evaluations. This interdisciplinary translation is not a localized conceptual shift but necessitates a series of comprehen-sive methodological adaptations. This paper systematically delineates the core logic of extending the TTEframework into the realm of health policy, providing a profound analysis of the transformation and reconstruction of critical elements, including study units, intervention definitions, time zero, causal estimands, and analytical strategies. Furthermore, it examines the unique challenges inherent in policy contexts, such as policy heterogeneity, staggered adoption, concurrent policy interference, and data granularity limitations. The paper also evaluates the integration of analytical methods, such as instrumental variables (IV) and difference-in-differences (DID), within the TTE framework. This synthesis aims to provide methodological guidance and prospective insights for conducting high-quality policy evaluations using real-world data (RWD).

BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To analyze the relationship between the optimal surgical margin value and clinical prognosis of transoral robotic surgery（TORS） in treating human papillomavirus（HPV） -positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods:A single-center, prospective, observational cohort study was conducted, enrolling patients with early and moderated stage（≤T3 stage） oropharyngeal carcinoma undergoing TORS between July 2020 and April 2024. The proposed optimal surgical margin cutoff value for TORS was set as 2 mm. The primary objectives were to evaluate the optimal clear margin for TORS and its association with overall survival（OS） and progression-free survival（PFS）. Logistic regression was used to analyze correlations between surgical margins and clinical variables, while Cox regression models assessed the impact of surgical margins on OS and PFS. Results:A total of 90 patients（60 males, 66.7%） were included, all had squamous cell carcinoma, with a mean age of 58.0±9.0 years（range: 39-84 years） old. The 1, 2 and 3-year OS rates were 92.3%, 89.9% and 85.0%, respectively, while the 1, 2 and 3-year PFS rates were all 90.1%. For surgical margins ≤2 mm, the 1, 2 and 3-year OS rates were 80.8%, 69.3% and 69.3%, respectively, and PFS rates were 77.9% across three time points. For surgical margins>2 mm, the 1, 2 and 3-year OS rates were 96.5%, 96.5% and 90.6%, respectively, with PFS rates of 94.6%. Logistic regression showed no correlation between surgical margins and tumor type, T/N stage, smoking, alcohol use, or gender（P>0.05）. Cox analysis identified surgical margins>2 mm as a significant factor improving PFS（HR=0.14, 95%CI 0.02-0.90, P=0.038）. Conclusion:This systematic analysis suggests setting a 2 mm and longer as clear surgical margin for TORS. Margins>2 mm are associated with superior postoperative PFS rate and prolonged PFS time in HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/virology* ; Human Papillomavirus Viruses/isolation & purification* ; Margins of Excision ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/virology* ; Papillomavirus Infections/virology* ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods*

Objective To explore the facilitators and barriers of palliative care volunteering,and to provide references for further advancement of palliative care volunteering.Methods Purposeful sampling was used to select 12 volunteers from a palliative care ward in Hangzhou,Zhejiang Province,between April and September 2024.Semi-structured interviews were conducted,and directed content analysis was applied to organize and analyze the data,followed by theme analysis.Results Facilitators and barriers for volunteers' participation in palliative care volunteering were extracted.The 5 sub-themes of facilitators include motivating factors and perceived benefits,support and collaboration among volunteers,professional training and healthcare recognition,increased social awareness and public acceptance,and government support and institutional safeguards.The 5 sub-themes of barriers include limitations in individual capacity,challenges in collaboration with patients,families and healthcare workers,inadequate management and service mechanisms,uneven development of palliative care and insufficient public attention to psychological problems,and inadequate relevant laws and incentives.Conclusion There are more factors affecting the development of palliative care volunteering,and healthcare professionals should adopt targeted strategies to promote the active participation of volunteers in order to promote the sustainable development of palliative care volunteering.

Objective To investigate the treatment effect of Xunjing Tongbian Guasha technique in skin itching of blood deficiency and wind-dryness type uremia.Methods Eighty patients with blood deficiency and wind-dryness type uremia skin itching treated in this hospital were selected as the study subjects and divided into the control group and experiment group by using the random number table method,40 cases in each group.The control group adopted the simple conventional treatment regimen and the experimental group a-dopted the combined intervention of Tongbian Guasha on the basis of the control group.The itching VAS score,PSOI score and QOL-BRIEF score were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the itching VAS score in the experiment group was lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05);after treatment,the each dimensional scores of PSQI in the two groups were lower than those before treatment in the same group,moreover the scores in each dimension in the experiment group were lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The each dimensional scores of QOL-BRIEF after treatment in the two groups were higher than those before treatment in the same group,moreover the each dimensional scores in the experiment group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Xunjing Tongbian Guasha tech-nique could effectively relieve the itching symptoms of the patients with blood deficiency wind-dryness type uremia and improve the quality of sleep and life.

Objective To investigate the associations between physical health status,refraction and ocular biometrics in school-age children,and further clarify the relation of eyes'refractive status to physical growth and development,so as to provide scientific evidences for myopia prevention and con-trol.Methods A total of 1718 children(977 boys and 741 girls)aged 8-12 years were enrolled in this study.They were collected uncorrected visual acuity,refraction and ocular biometrics,including spherical equivalent,cylindrical equivalent,axial length(AL),corneal refraction(K1,K2)and anteri-or chamber depth(ACD),as well as the AL/CR ratio and spherical equivalent refraction(SER).Moreover,their height,weight and physical fitness level were measured,including speed,strength,flexibility,agility and aerobic endurance.Then all data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation,One-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression model.Results The overall prevalence of myopia was 43.83%,which was higher in girls than in boys(46.96%vs.41.45%).Moreover,the height and weight of school-age children were negatively correlated with SER(P<0.01),but positively correlated with AL,ACD and AL/CR(P<0.01).After controlling the age and gender variables in the multiple linear regression model,it was found that for 10-cm increase in height,SER decreased by 0.013 D(P<0.01),AL extended by 0.022 mm(P<0.01),and ACD increased by 0.002 mm(P<0.05).In addi-tion,for 10-kg increase in the body weight,the AL would be 0.009 mm longer(P<0.05)and ACD 0.002 mm deeper(P<0.05).Moreover,the speed,strength and agility were negatively correlated with SER(P<0.01,P<0.05),but positively correlated with AL,ACD and AL/CR(P<0.01,P<0.05).The maximal oxygen uptake level was positively correlated with SER(P<0.01),and negatively correlated with AL,ACD and AL/CR(P<0.01,P<0.05).After controlling the age and gender variables in the multiple linear regression model,it was found that the children with worse speed quality had shorter AL(-0.043 D,P<0.05).Meanwhile,the better agility was accompanied by the lower SER(-0.003 D,P<0.01),longer AL(+0.002 mm,P<0.05),lighter ACD(+4.812e-4 mm,P<0.05),and higher AL/CR(+2.446e-4,P<0.05).Conclusion With variables of age and gender controlled,the height,weight,and the speed and agility quality are highly associated with eyes'refractive status among chil-dren aged 8-12 years old.It is suggested that the human body may have a coordination mechanism to regulate the development of the body stature,physical fitness and ocular biometrics in the early child-hood,which should be considered in their myopia prevention and control.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the unmet needs and challenges of caregivers of cancer patients at home and clarify their unmet needs.Methods:A computerized search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Scopus, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP, and China Biology Medicine disc for qualitative studies on the unmet needs and challenges of caregivers of cancer patients in the home environment. The search time limit was from the establishment of the databases to April 30, 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare's quality assessment criteria for qualitative research were used to evaluate the quality of the literatures, and the aggregative integration method was used to summarize and integrate the research results.Results:A total of 17 articles were finally included, which were summarized into eight new categories. Further synthesis yielded three integrated results: caregivers in the home environment face multi-dimensional unmet needs and challenges related to patients; caregivers in the home environment face challenges and unmet needs in self-care; caregivers in the home environment are hesitant to obtain external support, and continuity and sustainability are hindered.Conclusions:Medical staff should accurately assess the unmet needs of caregivers of cancer patients at home, pay attention to their negative experiences, promote positive coping, optimize the patient-and family-centered cancer care model, and strengthen social support.

Objective To explore the facilitators and barriers of palliative care volunteering,and to provide references for further advancement of palliative care volunteering.Methods Purposeful sampling was used to select 12 volunteers from a palliative care ward in Hangzhou,Zhejiang Province,between April and September 2024.Semi-structured interviews were conducted,and directed content analysis was applied to organize and analyze the data,followed by theme analysis.Results Facilitators and barriers for volunteers' participation in palliative care volunteering were extracted.The 5 sub-themes of facilitators include motivating factors and perceived benefits,support and collaboration among volunteers,professional training and healthcare recognition,increased social awareness and public acceptance,and government support and institutional safeguards.The 5 sub-themes of barriers include limitations in individual capacity,challenges in collaboration with patients,families and healthcare workers,inadequate management and service mechanisms,uneven development of palliative care and insufficient public attention to psychological problems,and inadequate relevant laws and incentives.Conclusion There are more factors affecting the development of palliative care volunteering,and healthcare professionals should adopt targeted strategies to promote the active participation of volunteers in order to promote the sustainable development of palliative care volunteering.

Objective To investigate the associations between physical health status,refraction and ocular biometrics in school-age children,and further clarify the relation of eyes'refractive status to physical growth and development,so as to provide scientific evidences for myopia prevention and con-trol.Methods A total of 1718 children(977 boys and 741 girls)aged 8-12 years were enrolled in this study.They were collected uncorrected visual acuity,refraction and ocular biometrics,including spherical equivalent,cylindrical equivalent,axial length(AL),corneal refraction(K1,K2)and anteri-or chamber depth(ACD),as well as the AL/CR ratio and spherical equivalent refraction(SER).Moreover,their height,weight and physical fitness level were measured,including speed,strength,flexibility,agility and aerobic endurance.Then all data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation,One-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression model.Results The overall prevalence of myopia was 43.83%,which was higher in girls than in boys(46.96%vs.41.45%).Moreover,the height and weight of school-age children were negatively correlated with SER(P<0.01),but positively correlated with AL,ACD and AL/CR(P<0.01).After controlling the age and gender variables in the multiple linear regression model,it was found that for 10-cm increase in height,SER decreased by 0.013 D(P<0.01),AL extended by 0.022 mm(P<0.01),and ACD increased by 0.002 mm(P<0.05).In addi-tion,for 10-kg increase in the body weight,the AL would be 0.009 mm longer(P<0.05)and ACD 0.002 mm deeper(P<0.05).Moreover,the speed,strength and agility were negatively correlated with SER(P<0.01,P<0.05),but positively correlated with AL,ACD and AL/CR(P<0.01,P<0.05).The maximal oxygen uptake level was positively correlated with SER(P<0.01),and negatively correlated with AL,ACD and AL/CR(P<0.01,P<0.05).After controlling the age and gender variables in the multiple linear regression model,it was found that the children with worse speed quality had shorter AL(-0.043 D,P<0.05).Meanwhile,the better agility was accompanied by the lower SER(-0.003 D,P<0.01),longer AL(+0.002 mm,P<0.05),lighter ACD(+4.812e-4 mm,P<0.05),and higher AL/CR(+2.446e-4,P<0.05).Conclusion With variables of age and gender controlled,the height,weight,and the speed and agility quality are highly associated with eyes'refractive status among chil-dren aged 8-12 years old.It is suggested that the human body may have a coordination mechanism to regulate the development of the body stature,physical fitness and ocular biometrics in the early child-hood,which should be considered in their myopia prevention and control.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the unmet needs and challenges of caregivers of cancer patients at home and clarify their unmet needs.Methods:A computerized search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Scopus, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP, and China Biology Medicine disc for qualitative studies on the unmet needs and challenges of caregivers of cancer patients in the home environment. The search time limit was from the establishment of the databases to April 30, 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare's quality assessment criteria for qualitative research were used to evaluate the quality of the literatures, and the aggregative integration method was used to summarize and integrate the research results.Results:A total of 17 articles were finally included, which were summarized into eight new categories. Further synthesis yielded three integrated results: caregivers in the home environment face multi-dimensional unmet needs and challenges related to patients; caregivers in the home environment face challenges and unmet needs in self-care; caregivers in the home environment are hesitant to obtain external support, and continuity and sustainability are hindered.Conclusions:Medical staff should accurately assess the unmet needs of caregivers of cancer patients at home, pay attention to their negative experiences, promote positive coping, optimize the patient-and family-centered cancer care model, and strengthen social support.