BACKGROUND: The FAVOR (Comparison of Quantitative Flow Ratio Guided and Angiography Guided Percutaneous Intervention in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease) III China trial demonstrated that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) lesion selection using quantitative flow ratio (QFR) measurement, a novel angiography-based approach for estimating fractional flow reserve, improved two-year clinical outcomes compared with standard angiography guidance. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of QFR-guided PCI from the perspective of the current Chinese healthcare system. METHODS: This study is a pre-specified analysis of the FAVOR III China trial, which included 3825 patients randomized between December 25, 2018, and January 19, 2020, from 26 centers in China. Patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris or those ≥72 hours post-myocardial infarction who had at least one lesion with a diameter stenosis between 50% and 90% in a coronary artery with a ≥2.5 mm reference vessel diameter by visual assessment were randomized to a QFR-guided strategy or an angiography-guided strategy with 1:1 ratio. During the two-year follow-up, data were collected on clinical outcomes, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), estimated costs of index procedure hospitalization, outpatient cardiovascular medication use, and rehospitalization due to major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The primary analysis calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) as the cost per MACCE avoided. An ICER of ¥10,000/MACCE event avoided was considered economically attractive in China. RESULTS: At two years, the QFR-guided group demonstrated a reduced rate of MACCE compared to the angiography-guided group (10.8% vs . 14.7%, P <0.01). Total two-year costs were similar between the groups (¥50,803 ± 21,121 vs . ¥50,685 ± 23,495, P = 0.87). The ICER for the QFR-guided strategy was ¥3055 per MACCE avoided, and the probability of QFR being economically attractive was 64% at a willingness-to-pay threshold of ¥10,000/MACCE avoided. Sensitivity analysis showed that QFR-guided PCI would become cost-saving if the cost of QFR were below ¥3682 (current cost: ¥3800). Cost-utility analysis yielded an ICER of ¥56,163 per QALY gained, with a 53% probability of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of ¥85,000 per QALY gained. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing PCI, a QFR-guided strategy appears economically attractive compared to angiographic guidance from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03656848.
Humans ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Angiography/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease/surgery* ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial/physiology*

As the third part of a series introducing the "national plan for NHS blood and transplant and hospitals to address blood shortage in the UK", this article details the development and full content of the plan to address red cell shortages. It primarily outlines an action framework and specific measures to be taken under the four defined red cell supply levels. The article places particular emphasis on the formulation and implementation of the Emergency Blood Management Arrangements (EBMA), transfusion indications, the impact and monitoring of blood shortages, and the work involved in the recovery phase of blood supply. Furthermore, by referencing appendix content, it presents the above information graphically in charts and tables.

As the fourth installment in the series introducing the "national plan for NHS blood and transplant and hospitals to address blood shortage in the UK" details the development process and full content of the "Guidance for transfusion triage and blood allocation in massively bleeding patients during a severe national blood shortage". It primarily covers: defining "massive haemorrhage," outlining the activation and implementation procedures for Emergency Blood Management Arrangements, and introducing the emergency decision-making framework for blood allocation in patients anticipated to require massive transfusion. It also elaborates on the transfusion triage process and the methods for re-evaluating triaged patients, supported by examples cited from the appendices. Notably, it proposes ethical principles for the triage of transfusion patients, offering reference principles for China in formulating relevant policies and corresponding measures. As the final article in the series on the “Overview of national plan for NHS blood and transplant and hospitals to address blood shortage in the United Kingdom ", this piece summarizes the entire collection. It concludes that unified national planning, close cross-institutional collaboration, deep involvement of specialist committees, and evidence-based clinical practice are indispensable pillars for building a blood emergency management system capable of withstanding various shocks and consistently safeguarding patient lives. For China, which is committed to refining its own blood emergency management system, the UK's experience offers profound insights and lessons for reference, particularly in areas such as system architecture, legal framework development, the operation of specialist committees, and standardized processes.

As a vital resource, blood directly impacts the life and health of patients and the continuity of medical care. Given that it can only be obtained through voluntary donations from blood donors, its supply is susceptible to shortages due to various external factors. As the first article in a series introducing the " National Plan for NHS Blood and Transplant and Hospitals to Address Blood Shortage in the United Kingdom", this paper provides a detailed overview of the UK’s emergency management system, with a particular focus on its health emergency management framework. Regarding the UK’s emergency management system, this article elaborates on the regulatory and standards framework and institutional mechanisms for emergency management, non-statutory guidance documents offering preparation and implementation advice, the local resilience forums (LRFs) system enabling cross-departmental and multi-agency emergency coordination and collaboration, the UK government’s capacity-building efforts, as well as emergency response entities and command-and-control mechanisms. Supplementing the preceding review, the article further details the legal basis of the UK’s health emergency system and the core standards framework of national health service (NHS) emergency preparedness, resilience, and response (EPRR), with specific reference to relevant documents.

As the second installment in our series introducing the UK Blood Shortage Response Plan, this article outlines the UK's blood emergency management framework, including: Business Continuity Management (BCM) for healthcare institutions; Structure of emergency command coordination and participating organizations in the UK; Key components of blood emergency management guidelines. Simultaneously, by detailing the National Blood Transfusion Committee's component agencies, institutional responsibilities, operational requirements and operational remit, it provides deeper insights into the development and functioning of the UK's blood emergency management system, thereby delivering comprehensive foundational knowledge for understanding the implementation of the Blood Shortage Response Plan.

As the second installment in our series introducing the UK Blood Shortage Response Plan, this article outlines the UK's blood emergency management framework, including: Business Continuity Management (BCM) for healthcare institutions; Structure of emergency command coordination and participating organizations in the UK; Key components of blood emergency management guidelines. Simultaneously, by detailing the National Blood Transfusion Committee's component agencies, institutional responsibilities, operational requirements and operational remit, it provides deeper insights into the development and functioning of the UK's blood emergency management system, thereby delivering comprehensive foundational knowledge for understanding the implementation of the Blood Shortage Response Plan.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term outcomes and predictors of coronary atherosclerotic lesions deemed functionally non-ischemic (quantitative flow ratio(QFR)>0.80) and deferred from intervention.Methods:This study is a post-hoc analysis of the FAVOR Ⅲ China trial, which enrolled 3 825 patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris or with myocardial infarction occurring at least 72 hours prior to screening, between December 5, 2018 and January 9, 2020 from 26 research centers in China. Coronary vessels with QFR>0.80 and without interventional treatment were analyzed in this study. The primary endpoint was 3-year target vessel revascularization. Vessels with revascularization (revascularized group) during follow-up were matched 1∶1 using propensity score matching to comparable vessels without revascularization (non-revascularized group). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for target vessel revascularization (TVR).Results:A total of 6 212 functionally negative vessels with deferred intervention were included in the final analysis, among which 153 vessels (2.5%) underwent TVR during a 3-year follow-up. Prior to propensity score matching, 6 059 vessels comprised the non-revascularized group. At the vessel level, compared to the non-revascularized group, the revascularized group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of males (79.1% (121/153) vs. 70.2% (4 253/6 059), P=0.018), higher body mass index ((25.6±4.0) kg/m2 vs. (24.3±5.2) kg/m2, P=0.003), and a higher prevalence of hypertension (73.9% (113/153) vs. 65.1% (3 944/6 059), P=0.025). And 152 pairs of vessels were successfully matched. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified in-stent restenosis lesions ( HR=2.59, 95% CI 1.28-5.23, P=0.008) as an independent risk factor for target vessel revascularization. Conclusions:Coronary lesions classified as functionally non-ischemic at baseline are not entirely stable and may progress to lesions that requiring revascularization over time. In-stent restenosis emerges as a critical independent predictor of revascularization.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term outcomes and predictors of coronary atherosclerotic lesions deemed functionally non-ischemic (quantitative flow ratio(QFR)>0.80) and deferred from intervention.Methods:This study is a post-hoc analysis of the FAVOR Ⅲ China trial, which enrolled 3 825 patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris or with myocardial infarction occurring at least 72 hours prior to screening, between December 5, 2018 and January 9, 2020 from 26 research centers in China. Coronary vessels with QFR>0.80 and without interventional treatment were analyzed in this study. The primary endpoint was 3-year target vessel revascularization. Vessels with revascularization (revascularized group) during follow-up were matched 1∶1 using propensity score matching to comparable vessels without revascularization (non-revascularized group). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for target vessel revascularization (TVR).Results:A total of 6 212 functionally negative vessels with deferred intervention were included in the final analysis, among which 153 vessels (2.5%) underwent TVR during a 3-year follow-up. Prior to propensity score matching, 6 059 vessels comprised the non-revascularized group. At the vessel level, compared to the non-revascularized group, the revascularized group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of males (79.1% (121/153) vs. 70.2% (4 253/6 059), P=0.018), higher body mass index ((25.6±4.0) kg/m2 vs. (24.3±5.2) kg/m2, P=0.003), and a higher prevalence of hypertension (73.9% (113/153) vs. 65.1% (3 944/6 059), P=0.025). And 152 pairs of vessels were successfully matched. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified in-stent restenosis lesions ( HR=2.59, 95% CI 1.28-5.23, P=0.008) as an independent risk factor for target vessel revascularization. Conclusions:Coronary lesions classified as functionally non-ischemic at baseline are not entirely stable and may progress to lesions that requiring revascularization over time. In-stent restenosis emerges as a critical independent predictor of revascularization.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of elderly patients with moyamoya disease and clinical outcomes after combined revascularization, and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this method in elderly patients.Methods:Moyamoya disease patients aged 60 years or older who had undergone combined revascularization at the Neurosurgery Center of Aeronautical General Hospital from January 2016 to September 2021 were selected as study subjects.Then patients' clinical data and postoperative complications within two weeks of surgery were collected and a followed-up was conducted.The results were compared with those of previous reports.Results:A total of 46 combined revascularization procedures were carried out in 30 patients.The ages at surgery ranged between 60-75 years, with a mean age of(66.1±4.4)years.The rate of complications within two weeks after surgery was 37%, and the most common complication was speech dysfunction, followed by epilepsy and hyperperfusion.No serious complications such as cerebral hemorrhage and death occurred.The follow-up varied between 3-67 months, with an average follow-up time of(26.8±18.4)months.The MRS score was <3 at 3 months after surgery, and there was no death or severe disability.Conclusions:Perioperative complications in elderly patients with moyamoya disease have a higher incidence rate than in other populations, but patients can usually recover after close perioperative management for 2 weeks.The follow-up has demonstrated that outcomes at 3 months and in longer terms after surgery are satisfactory and clinical symptoms will improve significantly.

Objective:To develop a stoichiometric relationship between iohexol injection and its refractive index. Methods: Ru-dolph J257 and Mettler Toledo RE40D were adopted to determine the refractive index of iohexol injection produced by different facto-ries. The relationship between the refractive index and the concentration of iohexol determined by potentiometric titration was described as C=2.828R-3.769. Results:The relative deviation of simulated content calculated by the stoichiometric and titration content was less than 2%. Little contribution by excipients could be ignored. Conclusion:The proposed method shows simplicity,rapidity and ac-curacy,which can be applied in the process control and the market supervision of iohexol.