1.Practice of billable pharmacy service programs and billing in the United States
Lirong YANG ; Siyu LIU ; Shushan WU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(10):1161-1165
OBJECTIVE To introduce the characteristics and practice of billable pharmacy service programs in the United States, aiming to provide reference for the development of clinical pharmacy service and the establishment of corresponding billing criteria in China. METHODS By searching the official websites of American Pharmacists Association, American Society of Health- System Pharmacists, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the PubMed database, the contents of American billable pharmacy service programs, corresponding service billing criteria, the approaches to being paid as pharmacists and the clinical practice evidence were summarized. RESULTS Current major billable pharmacy service programs implemented in the United States included medication therapy management, outpatient pharmacy service, transition of care management, chronic disease management, annual wellness visits, as well as diabetes self-management training/education. Except for diabetes self-management training/education, which lacked robust data on practice outcomes, all other programs mentioned above were demonstrated to have positive impact on patient outcomes, reducing health care cost and/or generating revenues. The most common approaches for pharmacists to obtain reimbursement were “incident to” billing and using procedure codes. CONCLUSIONS Billable pharmacy practice programs in the United States are achieving progress in service specialization and billing standardization. China can learn from successful cases in the United States while considering its own national context, with the ultimate goal of improving the overall health outcomes of patients, so that pharmacy services can become an important part of the medical service system.
2. Determination of docusate sodium by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography
Lirong CAI ; Haiping SHU ; Sha XIAO ; Yue TAN ; Jinfeng ZHENG ; Changliang LI ; Yanming LIU
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(2):183-187
To reduce the dependency on high-carbon-load chromatographic columns,a new method has been established for the determination of the content of docusate sodium using ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC). Tetrapropylammonium chloride was used as the ion-pair reagent with a mobile phase, composition of acetonitrile:10 mmol/L tetrapropylammonium chloride solution = 66∶34, adjusting pH to 6.5 with 0.1% phosphoric acid solution,flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, detection wavelength of 214 nm,column temperature of 35 °C, and an injection volume of 25 μL,and quantified by an external standard method. The main peak of docusate sodium exhibited a tailing factor of 1.34. The method showed good linearity within the range of 0.02 mg/mL to 0.40 mg/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.999 9. It also demonstrated good repeatability, with recovery ranging from 97.0% to 98.2% (n=6). The quantification limit was 3.31 μg/mL, and the detection limit was 2.76 μg/mL.In summary,the new method shows good durability, a wide linear range, and high sensitivity, it is suitable for the determination of docusate sodium.
3.Earthworm Protein Protects Vascular Endothelial Function in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats via PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Huilin ZHAO ; Xiaojing LI ; Lirong WANG ; Yaohui HUO ; Yun LI ; Tianlong DING ; Kai LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):118-126
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of earthworm protein on the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (PI3K/Akt/Nrf2) pathway in the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and explore mechanism of earthworm protein in treating hypertensive vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED). MethodTen 10-week-old Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats and fifty SHR rats were selected for a week of adaptive feeding. WKY rats were selected as the normal group, and fifty SHR rats were randomized according to body weight into model, valsartan (8×10-3 g·kg-1·d-1), and high-, medium-, and low-dose (0.2, 0.1, 0.05 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively) earthworm protein groups. The normal and model groups were administrated with equal volume of double distilled water by gavage. During the drug intervention period, the general situations of rats in each group were observed and their blood pressure was monitored at specific time points every other week before and after administration. After 8 weeks of drug intervention, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of angiotensin-Ⅱ (Ang-Ⅱ) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the serum of rats in each group. The corresponding kits were used to determine the levels of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ferrous ion (Fe2+). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to observe the changes in the intima of the aorta. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was employed to measure the mRNA levels of PI3K, Akt, Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in the aortic tissue. Western blotting was used to determine the protein levels of p-PI3K (Tyr467/199), PI3K, p-Akt (Ser473), Akt, Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX4 in the thoracic aorta. ResultCompared with the normal group, the model group had decreased body mass, increased irritability, severe endothelial damage, elevated blood pressure and serum levels of Ang-Ⅱ, ET1, MDA, and Fe2+ (P<0.01), lowered NO level (P<0.01), and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of p-PI3K (Tyr467/199), PI3K, p-Akt (Ser473), Akt, Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX4 in the aortic tissue (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, drug intervention caused no significant change in the body mass, calmed the rats, alleviated the endothelial damage, lowered blood pressure and serum levels of Ang-Ⅱ, ET1, MDA, and Fe2+ (P<0.01), elevated the NO level (P<0.05), and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of p-PI3K (Tyr467/199), PI3K, p-Akt (Ser473), Akt, Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX4 (P<0.05). ConclusionThe earthworm protein can exert antihypertensive effects by ameliorating VED in SHR. Specifically, it may regulate the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 signaling pathway to inhibit oxidative stress and ferroptosis.
4.Advance of research on Hereditary spastic paraplegia type 4
Jie WANG ; Yaxian LIU ; Lichun ZHANG ; Lirong ZHAO ; Xiaoxia LIU ; Xiaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(1):113-119
Spastic paraplegia type 4 (SPG4) is the most common type of autosomally inherited spastic paraplegia. Its main clinical features include typical simple hereditary spastic paraplegia, with neurological impairments limited to lower limb spasticity, hypertonic bladder dysfunction, and mild weakening of lower limb vibration sensation, without accompanying features such as nerve atrophy, ataxia, cognitive impairment, seizures, and muscle tone disorders. SPAST is the main pathogenic gene underlying SPG4, and various pathogenic SPAST variants have been discovered. This disease has featured a high degree of clinical heterogeneity, and the same pathogenic variant can have different age of onset and severity among patients and even within the same family. There is a lack of systematic research on the correlation between the genotype and phenotype of SPG4, and the pathogenic mechanism has remained controversial. This article has provided a review for the clinical characteristics, pathogenic gene characteristics, correlation between the genotype and phenotype, and pathogenic mechanism of this disease, with an aim to provide reference for its clinical diagnosis and treatment.
5.Analysis of the correlation between the clinical features of 1 865 children and adolescents with supernumerary teeth and the selection of anesthesia methods
ZHANG Yaqiu ; FENG Caihua ; LIANG Lirong ; LIU Fei ; WU Long ; WANG Peijuan ; GAO Zhenzhen ; LIU Bing
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2024;32(12):954-962
Objective:
To retrospectively analyze the epidemiological characteristics of supernumerary teeth in patients aged 4-18 years old and the influencing factors on the selection of anesthesia methods, and to provide a reference for the selection of anesthesia plans for children and adolescents with supernumerary teeth.
Methods:
This study is a retrospective study approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Based on clinical electronic medical record system and cone beam CT (CBCT) data, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 2 210 patients 4-18 years of age who underwent supernumerary tooth extraction at the School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University from August 2019 to July 2021. Inclusion criteria: ① Age 4-18 years old; and ② The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classifies anesthesia into grades I-II; and ③ Have complete oral and anesthesia case records and relevant imaging data. Exclusion criteria: ① Incomplete medical records or unclear imaging data; and ② Patients with ASA grade II or above. Patients’ gender and age, the number of supernumerary teeth, arch, location, orientation, eruption status, reason for appointment, anxiety level, degree of cooperation, anesthesia method, and other relevant information were collected and statistically analyzed.
Results:
A total of 1 865 eligible patients were included, with an average age of (8.9±3.2) years old. There were more male patients (71.37%, 1 331 cases) than female patients (28.63%, 534 cases) (P < 0.001), with a gender ratio of 2.49:1. The majority of supernumerary teeth were single (75.97%, 1 417/1 865), primarily located in the maxilla (97.2%, 1 812/1 865) and the anterior dental region (94.2%, 1 757/1 865), and in a centric position (77.3%, 1 442/1 865). The majority of patients with erupted supernumerary teeth were active in seeking treatment (97.67%, 335/343). Patients with supernumerary teeth located in the maxilla and mandible bones, as well as in the nasal floor, were mainly referred to the department for diagnosis, accounting for 94.38%(1 361/1 442) and 90.00% (72/80) (χ2=1 363.24, P < 0.001), respectively. Regarding anesthesia methods, the largest proportion of patients received nitrous oxide sedation-assisted local anesthesia or nerve block anesthesia, accounting for 38.07% (710/1 865), followed by local anesthesia, accounting for 35.23% (657/1 865). The proportion of patients receiving midazolam intravenous sedation with local anesthesia or nerve block anesthesia and general anesthesia was relatively small, accounting for 20.86% (389/1 865) and 5.84% (109/1 865). Patients 13-18 years of age with supernumerary teeth in the mandibular and posterior regions and without anxiety had the highest proportion of local anesthesia use (P < 0.001). In contrast, patients who had supernumerary teeth located at the base of the nose (50%), severe anxiety (94.12%), and poor cooperation (98.18%) had the highest proportion of general anesthesia use (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference (P = 0.35) in the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications after the extraction of supernumerary teeth. However, the proportion of anesthesia-related complications, such as dizziness, coughing, and respiratory depression, occurring in patients who received general anesthesia was higher than local anesthesia, accounting for 3.81% (P = 0.006).
Conclusion
There is a gender difference in the incidence of supernumerary teeth in patients 4-18 years of age, with a higher prevalence in males. The majority of supernumerary teeth are single and located in the maxillary anterior region, predominantly in a centric position. Patients whose teeth had erupted were more likely to seek medical treatment voluntarily, while patients with supernumerary teeth located in the maxilla and mandible bones, as well as in the nasal floor were more likely to be referred to the department. Patients with high levels of anxiety, poor cooperation, young age, multiple teeth, and high surgical difficulty were more inclined to choose general anesthesia.
6.Regression tree model for blood pressure estimation using the minimalist characteristics of photoplethysmography signal
Xun LI ; Lirong LIU ; Hao LI ; Lianlin YANG ; Zhimin WANG ; Mei ZOU
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2024;41(6):769-775
Objective To propose a regression tree model for the estimation of blood pressure using the minimalist characteristics of photoplethysmography(PPG)signals.Methods Fifteen characteristic parameters were extracted from the PPG signals,and the 4 parameters with the highest correlations with blood pressure were screened using the Spearman correlation coefficient to construct a regression tree model for blood pressure estimation using the minimalist characteristics.Results The estimation errors of systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the constructed model were(-0.02±3.63)mmHg and(-0.04±2.10)mmHg,respectively.Conclusion The proposed regression tree model has a simple structure and high accuracy,which is of great significance for using a single-channel PPG signal for blood pressure estimation in wearable devices.
7.Potential of new self-crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel on the recovery of endometrium after artificial abortion: a multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial
Chunying LI ; Lirong TENG ; Qing LIN ; Liping ZHAO ; Yunxia ZHU ; Xin MI ; Zhenna WANG ; Xiaoye WANG ; Lisong ZHANG ; Dan HAN ; Lili MA ; Wenpei BAI ; Jianmei WANG ; Jun NI ; Huiping SHEN ; Qinfang CHEN ; Hongmei XU ; Chenchen REN ; Jing JIANG ; Guanyuan LIU ; Ping PENG ; Xinyan LIU
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2024;59(11):864-870
Objective:To evaluate the impact of self-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (SCH) gel on endometrium recovery after artificial abortion.Methods:A multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted across 18 hospitals from December 2021 to February 2023, involving 382 women who underwent artificial abortion. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either treatment with SCH gel (SCH group) or no treatment (control group) in a 1∶1 ratio. The primary outcome was endometrium thickness in 14 to 18 days after the first postoperative menstruation. Secondary outcomes included changes in menstrual volume during the first postoperative menstruation, menstruation resumption within 6 postoperative weeks, time to menstruation resumption, duration of the first postoperative menstruation, and incidence of dysmenorrhea.Results:Baseline characteristics of participants were comparable between the two groups (all P>0.05), with 95.3% (182/191) in SCH group and 92.7% (177/191) in the control group completed the study. The postoperative endometrial thickness in SCH group was significantly greater than that in the control group [(9.78±3.15) vs (8.95±2.32) mm; P=0.005]. SCH group also had significantly fewer participants with reduced menstrual volume [23 cases (12.6%, 23/182) vs 31 cases (17.5%, 31/177); P=0.038]. Although SCH group experienced less dysmenorrhea during the first postoperative menstrual period, this difference was not statistically significant [28.5% (51/179) vs 37.1% (65/175); P=0.083]. Outcomes were similar between SCH group and the control group regarding the proportion of participants who resumed menstruation within 6 weeks postoperatively, time to menstruation resumption, and duration of the first postoperative menstruation ( P=0.792, 0.485, and 0.254, respectively). No serious adverse events were observed during the study period, and no adverse events were attributed to SCH gel treatment. Conclusion:The application of SCH gel after artificial abortion is safe and might aid in the recovery of the endometrium.
8.Research on the beam delivery method of carbon ion beam FLASH irradiation experiment
Zhiqiang LIU ; Lirong ZHOU ; Qiuning ZHANG ; Jian SHI ; Xiaohu WANG
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2024;33(6):548-553
Objective:To perform FLASH irradiation experiments on cells and animals with carbon ion beams by updating the beam conditions and testing the performance of a clinical carbon ion therapy system.Methods:By using the vertical beam of the carbon ion therapy system and shortening the synchrotron beam extraction time to increase the current intensity, ultra-high dose rate beam could be achieved. Spreading the high current beam in the depth direction using a ridge filter and expanding it horizontally using point scanning technology could form the required field for cellular and animal experiments. The field flatness, penumbra, absorbed dose, average dose rate and other parameters were measured to verify whether the beam performance met the requirements.Results:The spread-out Bragg peak in the depth direction was consistent with the design, and the parameters such as field flatness and penumbra obtained by the measured lateral dose curve met the experimental requirements. After expansion, within a target volume of 20 mm×20 mm×10 mm, the absorbed dose in the field reaches 8 Gy, with the equivalent field dose rate of over 60 Gy/s and the maximum could reach 100 Gy/s. Within a target volume of 30 mm×30 mm×10 mm, the absorbed dose in the field is 4 Gy, and the equivalent filed dose rate of some energy in the field is greater than 40 Gy/s. In the experiment, the energy with a suitable dose rate can be selected for irradiation.Conclusion:After beam optimization, the carbon ion FLASH irradiation conditions for cytology and animal experiments can be realized on synchrotrons, and the beam performance parameters can meet the experimental requirements.
9.Construction and validation of a cognitive frailty risk prediction model in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes
Yun LIU ; Yuanyuan SUN ; Shen WANG ; Lirong WEI ; Yanan WANG ; Yan HE ; Qingxiu TIAN ; Xiaoxia DU ; Ridong XU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(31):4254-4261
Objective:To develop and validate a risk prediction model for cognitive frailty in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:A total of 483 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes who visited Tianjin First Central Hospital from June to December 2022 were selected using convenience sampling. They were randomly divided into a modeling group ( n=338) and a validation group ( n=145). Data were collected using a self-designed general information questionnaire, the Short-Form Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF), the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), the Frailty Phenotype (FP), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the influencing factors. A cognitive frailty risk prediction nomogram model was constructed based on the results. The model was validated in the validation group, and its predictive performance and clinical applicability were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ( AUC), calibration curve, and clinical decision curve analysis. A total of 483 questionnaires were distributed and all were returned as valid, resulting in a 100.0% response rate. Results:The prevalence of cognitive frailty in the 483 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes was 20.3% (98/483). Age, regular exercise, duration of diabetes, HbA1c levels, depression and nutritional status were identified as predictive factors in the model. The AUC of the model was 0.886, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a χ 2 value of 8.004 ( P=0.433). The optimal cutoff value was 0.335, and the accuracy was 89.0%. Conclusions:The prediction model demonstrates good fit and strong predictive performance, and can intuitively and easily identify elderly patients with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk of cognitive frailty, providing a reference for early screening and intervention.
10.A multicenter study on effect of delayed chemotherapy on prognosis of Burkitt lymphoma in children
Li SONG ; Ling JIN ; Yonghong ZHANG ; Xiaomei YANG ; Yanlong DUAN ; Mincui ZHENG ; Xiaowen ZHAI ; Ying LIU ; Wei LIU ; Ansheng LIU ; Xiaojun YUAN ; Yunpeng DAI ; Leping ZHANG ; Jian WANG ; Lirong SUN ; Rong LIU ; Baoxi ZHANG ; Lian JIANG ; Huixia WEI ; Kailan CHEN ; Runming JIN ; Xige WANG ; Haixia ZHOU ; Hongmei WANG ; Shushuan ZHUANG ; Chunju ZHOU ; Zifen GAO ; Xiao MU ; Kaihui ZHANG ; Fu LI
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2024;62(10):941-948
Objective:To analyze the factors affecting delayed chemotherapy in children with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and their influence on prognosis.Methods:Retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of 591 children aged ≤18 years with BL from May 2017 to December 2022 in China Net Childhood Lymphoma (CNCL) was collected. The patients were treated according to the protocol CNCL-BL-2017. According to the clinical characteristics, therapeutic regimen was divided into group A, group B and group C .Based on whether the total chemotherapy time was delayed, patients were divided into two groups: the delayed chemotherapy group and the non-delayed chemotherapy group. Based on the total delayed time of chemotherapy, patients in group C were divided into non-delayed chemotherapy group, 1-7 days delayed group and more than 7 days delayed group. Relationships between delayed chemotherapy and gender, age, tumor lysis syndrome before chemotherapy, bone marrow involvement, disease group (B/C group), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) > 4 times than normal, grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ myelosuppression after chemotherapy, minimal residual disease in the interim assessment, and severe infection (including severe pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis, chickenpox, etc.) were analyzed. Logistic analysis was used to identify the relevant factors. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the patients' survival information. Log-Rank was used for comparison between groups.Results:Among 591 patients, 504 were males and 87 were females, the follow-up time was 34.8 (18.6,50.1) months. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was (92.5±1.1)%,and the 3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was (90.5±1.2)%. Seventy-three (12.4%) patients were in delayed chemotherapy group and 518 (87.6%) patients were in non-delayed chemotherapy group. The reasons for chemotherapy delay included 72 cases (98.6%) of severe infection, 65 cases (89.0%) of bone marrow suppression, 35 cases (47.9%) of organ dysfunction, 22 cases (30.1%) of tumor lysis syndrome,etc. There were 7 cases of chemotherapy delay in group B, which were seen in COPADM (vincristine+cyclophosphamide+prednisone+daunorubicin+methotrexate+intrathecal injection,4 cases) and CYM (methotrexate+cytarabine+intrathecal injection,3 cases) stages. There were 66 cases of chemotherapy delay in group C, which were common in COPADM (28 cases) and CYVE 1 (low dose cytarabine+high dose cytarabine+etoposide+methotrexate, 12 cases) stages. Multinomial Logistic regression analysis showed that the age over 10 years old ( OR=0.54,95% CI 0.30-0.93), tumor lysis syndrome before chemotherapy ( OR=0.48,95% CI 0.27-0.84) and grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ myelosuppression after chemotherapy ( OR=0.55,95% CI 0.33-0.91)were independent risk factors for chemotherapy delay.The 3-year OS rate and the 3-year EFS rate of children with Burkitt lymphoma in the delayed chemotherapy group were lower than those in the non-delayed chemotherapy group ((79.4±4.9)% vs. (94.2±1.1)%, (80.2±4.8)% vs. (92.0±1.2)%,both P<0.05). The 3-year OS rate of the group C with chemotherapy delay >7 days (42 cases) was lower than that of the group with chemotherapy delay of 1-7 days (22 cases) and the non-delay group (399 cases) ((76.7±6.9)% vs. (81.8±8.2)% vs. (92.7±1.3)%, P=0.002).The 3-year OS rate of the chemotherapy delay group (9 cases) in the COP (vincristine+cyclophosphamide+prednisone) phase was lower than that of the non-chemotherapy delay group (454 cases) ((66.7±15.7)% vs. (91.3±1.4)%, P=0.005). Similarly, the 3-year OS rate of the chemotherapy delay group (11 cases) in the COPADM1 phase was lower than that of the non-chemotherapy delay group (452 cases) ((63.6±14.5)% vs. (91.5±1.3)%, P=0.001). Conclusions:The delayed chemotherapy was related to the age over 10 years old, tumor lysis syndrome before chemotherapy and grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ myelosuppression after chemotherapy in pediatric BL. There is a significant relationship between delayed chemotherapy and prognosis of BL in children.


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