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.Application evaluation of cardiopulmonary exercise test to guide comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with pneumoconiosis
Congxia YAN ; Baoping LI ; Fuhai SHEN ; Hong CAO ; Jing LI ; Lirong ZHANG ; Zhiping SUN ; Bowen HOU ; Lini GAO ; Xinyu LI ; Chaoyi MA ; Xiaolu LIU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(1):47-53
Background At present, the practice of pulmonary rehabilitation for pneumoconiosis in China is in a primary stage. The basis for formulating an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation plan is still insufficient, which is one of the factors limiting the development of community-level rehabilitation work. Objective To formulate an exercise prescription based on maximum heart rate measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), conduct an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program with the exercise prescription for patients with stable pneumoconiosis, and evaluate its role in improving exercise endurance and quality of life, thus provide a basis for the application and promotion of pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods A total of 68 patients were recruited from the Occupational Disease Prevention Hospital of Jinneng Holding Coal Industry Group Co., Ltd. from April to August 2022 , and were divided into an intervention group and a control group by random number table method, with 34 cases in each group. All the pneumoconiosis patients participated in a baseline test. The control group was given routine drug treatment, while the intervention group received multidisciplinary comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation treatment on the basis of routine drug treatment, including health education, breathing training, exercise training, nutrition guidance, psychological intervention, and sleep management, whose exercise intensity was determined according to the maximum heart rate provided by CPET. The rehabilitation training lasted for 24 weeks. Patients were evaluated at registration and the end of study respectively. CPET was used to measure peak oxygen uptake per kilogram (pVO2/kg), anaerobic threshold (AT), carbon dioxide equivalent of ventilation (EqCO2), maximum metabolic equivalent (METs), and maximum work (Wmax). The modified British Medical Research Council Dyspnea Questionnaire (mMRC), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT), and Short Form of Health Survey (SF-36) were used to evaluate the potential effect of the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program. Results Among the included 68 patients, 63 patients were having complete data, then 31 cases were assigned in the control group and 32 cases in the interventional group. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in pVO2/kg, AT, EqCO2, METs, or Wmax between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the indicators like pVO2/kg [(19.81±2.38) mL·(min·kg)−1], AT [(14.48±2.33) mL·(min·kg)−1], METs (5.64±0.69), and Wmax [(85.25±14) W] of patients in the intervention group were all higher than those [(13.90±2.37) mL·(min·kg)−1, (11.70±1.94) mL·(min kg)−1, (3.97±0.70), and (61.77±14.72) W, respectively] in the control group (P<0.001); there was no significant difference in EqCO2 between the two groups (P=0.083). Before the trial, there was no significant difference in mMRC, SAS, SDS, PSQI, or CAT scores between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the mMRC score (1.16±0.57), SAS score (27.93±2.12), SDS score (26.48±1.44), PSQI score (1.08±0.88), and CAT score (4.34±3.28) of patients in the intervention group were lower than those [(2.03±0.83), (35.87±6.91), (34.23±6.65), (5.37±3.03), and (13.87±7.53), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001). The SF-36 scores of bodily pain (94.13±10.72), general health (87.50±5.68), vitality (95.31±5.53), mental health (99.88±0.71), and health changes (74.22±4.42) in the intervention group were higher than those [(71.87±32.72), (65.81±15.55), (74.52±16.45), (86.97±16.56), and (29.84±13.50), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001), and no significant difference was found in social functioning and role emotional scores (P>0.05). Conclusion Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation can increase the oxygen intake and exercise endurance of pneumoconiosis patients, ameliorate dyspnea symptoms, elevate psychological state and sleep quality, and improve the quality of life.
4.Finite element model establishment and stress analysis of lumbar-sacral intervertebral disc in ankylosing spondylitis
Zhijie KANG ; Zhenhua CAO ; Yangyang XU ; Yunfeng ZHANG ; Feng JIN ; Baoke SU ; Lidong WANG ; Ling TONG ; Qinghua LIU ; Yuan FANG ; Lirong SHA ; Liang LIANG ; Mengmeng LI ; Yifei DU ; Lin LIN ; Haiyan WANG ; Xiaohe LI ; Zhijun LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(6):840-846
BACKGROUND:Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with chronic rheumatic immunity.Soft tissue ossification and fusion and spinal stiffness can cause biomechanical changes. OBJECTIVE:To reconstruct the lumbar-sacral intervertebral disc in ankylosing spondylitis patients with lumbar kyphosis by finite element analysis,and to study the range of motion of each segment of T11-S1 and the biomechanical characteristics of annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. METHODS:The imaging data were obtained from an ankylosing spondylitis patient with lumbar kyphosis.The original CT image data of continuously scanned spine were imported into Mimics 21.0 in DICOM format,and T11-S1 was reconstructed respectively.The established model was imported into 3-Matic software in the format of"Stl"to reconstruct the intervertebral disc,and the fibrous intervertebral disc model was obtained.The improved model was further imported into Hypermesh software,and the vertebra,nucleus pulposus,annulus fibrosus and ligament were mesh-divided.After the material properties were given,the model was imported into ABAQUS software to observe the range of motion of each vertebral body in seven different working conditions of T11-S1,and analyze the biomechanical characteristics of each segment of annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The range of motion of L1 vertebrae was higher than that of other vertebrae under six different working conditions:extension,forward flexion,rotation(left and right),and lateral flexion(left and right).The maximum range of motion was 2.18° during L1 vertebral flexion,and the minimum range of motion was 0.12° during L5 vertebral extension.(2)The annular fiber flexion at L2-L3 segments was greater than the extension(P<0.05),and the annular fiber flexion at L3-L4 and L4-L5 segments was less than the extension(P<0.05).The left rotation of L1-L2 annular fibers was greater than the right rotation(P<0.05).The left flexion of the annulus was greater than the right flexion in L1-L2,L2-L3,L3-L4,L4-L5 and L5-S1 segments(P<0.05).(3)The nucleus pulposus stresses of T11-L12,L1-L2,L2-L3,L3-L4 and L4-L5 segments in forward flexion were greater than in extension(P<0.05).The left rotation of T12-L1 and L3-L4 segments was smaller than the right rotation(P<0.05),and that of T11-T12,L1-L2,and L2-L3 segments was larger than the right rotation(P<0.05).The left flexion was larger than the right flexion in the T11-S1 segment.(4)It is concluded that in ankylosing spondylitis patients with lumbar kyphosis,the minimum range of motion of the vertebral body is located at the L5 vertebral body in extension.To prevent fractures,it is recommended to avoid exercise in the extension position.During the onset of lumbar kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis,the maximum stress of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus is located in the L1-L2 segment,which is fixed and will not alter with the change of body position.The late surgical treatment and correction of deformity should focus on releasing the pressure of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus in this segment to avoid the rupture of the annulus fibrosus and the injury of the nucleus pulposus.
5.Biomechanical features of posterior"Y"osteotomy and fixation in treatment of ankylosing spondylitis based on finite element simulation analysis
Le ZHANG ; Zhenhua CAO ; Yunfeng ZHANG ; Yangyang XU ; Feng JIN ; Baoke SU ; Lidong WANG ; Xing WANG ; Ling TONG ; Qinghua LIU ; Yuan FANG ; Lirong SHA ; Haiyan WANG ; Xiaohe LI ; Zhijun LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(12):1842-1848
BACKGROUND:Ankylosing spondylitis is a progressive inflammation of spinal stiffness deformity caused by tissue ossification and fibrosis.The posture of ankylosing spondylitis patients is abnormal and their activities are limited that minor injuries can lead to thoracolumbar fractures.Traditional medical image observation limits doctors'preoperative decision planning and postoperative disease prevention for ankylosing spondylitis treatment. OBJECTIVE:Based on the spinal model of ankylosing spondylitis patients before and after posterior spinal cancellous ossification osteotomy("Y"osteotomy for short),to explore the biomechanical changes of"Y"osteotomy and fixation in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS:Based on the preoperative and postoperative CT images of an ankylosing spondylitis patient who went to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University,a three-dimensional spine model(T11-S1)before and after"Y"osteotomy(L3 osteotomy)was reconstructed in Mimics 19.0 software.A 7.5 Nm torque was applied to the top of T11 vertebral body to simulate the movement of the spine under six conditions:flexion,extension,left bending,right bending,left rotation and right rotation.Finally,the range of motion of each vertebral body,the stress of each intervertebral disc,and the stress of the screw rod system were simulated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)After"Y"type osteotomy and posterior fixation,the range of motion of all vertebrae in the spine decreased,and the loss rate of upper vertebrae was large(L1:77.95%).(2)The maximum stress of the spinal intervertebral disc before operation occurred at the L1-L2 segment(0.55 MPa),and the maximum stress of the spinal intervertebral disc after operation occurred at the T11-T12 segment(0.50 MPa),and the stress of intervertebral disc below T12 was far less than that before operation.(3)The maximum stress of the screw rod system(166.67 MPa)occurred in the upper and middle segments of the rod body and the root of the pedicle screw.(4)In conclusion,the"Y"type posterior fixation operation enhances the stability of the spine and reduces the range of motion of the spine.The vertebral body decompression of the fixed segment is great and the stress-shielding phenomenon of the lower vertebral body is significant.The stiffness of the rod body and the stress concentration area of the pedicle screw should be strengthened to avoid the fracture of the rod caused by stress fatigue.
6.Research progress and application of 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics in lymphoma
Huli LIU ; Peng ZHOU ; Lirong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2024;44(3):183-186
18F-FDG PET/CT is one of the most advanced diagnostic methods for lymphoma, which plays an important role in the diagnosis, efficacy evaluation, prognosis prediction and clinical decision-making of lymphoma. Radiomics, which uses complex bioinformatics methods to extract quantitative information from medical images to characterize tumor heterogeneity, has blossomed over the past decade. Radiomics has been applied to 18F-FDG PET/CT to quantify the heterogeneity within tumors, which has great potential and value in the study of lymphoma. This article reviews the research progress and application of 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics in lymphoma.
7.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.
8.Transcriptomic analysis and antagonist screening of cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer
Xiaoxiao WANG ; Jiahui DU ; Lirong LI ; Weiqiang GUO ; Songbai LIU
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(4):481-486
Objective To investigate the transcriptome differences of ovarian cancer cells after cisplatin(DDP)resistance,and to find potential antagonists based on this screening.Methods DDP-resistant cell line A2780-DDP was constructed with A2780 cells as the research object.Through transcriptome sequencing anal-ysis,the key factors of DDP resistance were found and verified by quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR)and Western blot experiments.Through the screening of small molecule inhibitors,CCK-8 cell viability assay was used to find potential antagonists.Results A2780-DDP were successfully constructed,and it was found that there was no difference in cell proliferation after drug resistance,but the ability of cell invasion and migration was enhanced.Through transcriptome sequencing analysis,it was found that ITGB7 and Akt may be the key genes of A2780-DDP,and qPCR and Western blot showed that they were highly expressed in A2780-DDP.CCK-8 results showed that triptolide(TPL)and Olaparib had good inhibitory effects in DDP-resistant cell lines.Conclusion The ITGB7/Akt pathway plays an important role in DDP resistance,and potential DDP re-sistance antagonists such as TPL can provide new ideas for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
9.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.
10.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.


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