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Application of the wireless wearable monitoring system improves the turnaround time in gastrointestinal endoscopy center

Abstract Objectives To investigate whether the wireless monitoring system can reduce the turnaround time in gastrointestinal endoscopy center. Methods Enrolled patients were randomly allocated to the study or control group. The primary outcome was the turnaround time. The secondary outcomes included the total time from entering examination room to discharge (T1), the total time of monitoring mean arterial pressure (T5), incidences of hypotension, bradycardia, and hypoxia, evaluation of the medical staff, and rate of effective monitoring. Results 166 patients were analyzed. The turnaround time of study group was significantly shorter than that of control group (1.49 ± 1.82 vs. 4.78 ± 3.77 min, P <.001). The study group had a significantly shorter T1 (44.69 ± 4.54 vs. 49.49 ± 5.53 min, P <.001), but a longer T5 (44.39 ± 4.38 vs. 42.21 ± 4.97 min, P =.012). The medical staff gave higher scores to the wireless monitoring system in terms of practicability and application value ( P <.05), but gave equally high evaluations on data reliability ( P >.05). The rate of effective monitoring was acceptable in both groups. Conclusion Application of the wireless monitoring system in an endoscopy center is feasible and acceptable, and improves the turnaround time. Trial registration This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on 19 April 2024 (ChiCTR2400083277). Key messages What is already known on this topic? Wireless wearable monitoring system has been applied to the wards. What this study adds? Wireless wearable monitoring system can be used in endoscopy centers and can reduce the turnaround time. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy? This system may further improve the safety of anesthesia by global monitoring.

Administrative meetings, where minutes go to die: a humorous survival guide for clinicians &amp; academics

Ah, the administrative meeting. That sacred ritual where clinicians and academicians alike are gathered, corralled, politely tethered to chairs or Zoom screens, and subjected to an exercise in endurance that rivals a marathon—minus the medals, plus the PowerPoint-induced eye strain. We enter hopeful, for the express purpose of discussing…well, something. What exactly? One rarely knows, as the agendas are mysterious and discussions meander. But the clock ticks and the lost time accumulates like dust on a rarely read academic tome, and we leave painfully aware of lost hours and tested patience. And often the only “decision” made is the date and place of the next meeting—a master class in spectacularly unproductive deliberation.

Comparative analysis of lipid and blood glucose profiles and their association with short-term progression of carotid plaque among middle-aged adults

AbstractBackgroundThe progression of carotid atherosclerotic plaques is a significant predictor of cardiovascular events; however, there is a paucity of comparative analyses regarding metabolic biomarkers that can forecast short-term carotid plaque progression in middle-aged adults.MethodsThis prospective cohort study included adults without initial carotid abnormalities who underwent serial carotid ultrasounds and metabolic profiling. A total of 11 blood lipid and glucose profiles were examined. Carotid artery plaque progression was defined as the emergence of new plaques within a 2-year period. The association between each metabolic indicator and the outcome was analyzed using Pearson correlation, restricted cubic splines, multivariable logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curves. The five indicators with the strongest associations were identified, and a logistic regression model, adjusted for covariates, was utilized to assess the impact of the coexistence of risk factors on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis.ResultsA total of 7703 individuals were included in the study, among which 9.52% (n = 733) developed new carotid plaques over the 2-year period. The elevated total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio [odds ratio (OR) = 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28–1.49], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to HDL-C ratio (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.49–1.85), and triglyceride-glucose index (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.17–1.53) demonstrated the strongest correlations with plaque progression. Cumulative risk factor analysis indicated that individuals with five or more risk factors faced a 3-fold increased risk (OR = 3.02, 95% CI 2.28–4.01) relative to those with no risk factors. Subgroup analyses confirmed the robustness of the total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio across various metabolic subgroups, while the triglyceride-glucose index diminished in hypertensive and obese populations.ConclusionsBoth traditional lipid ratios, particularly the total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio, and indices of insulin resistance, such as triglyceride-glucose index, are significant risk factors of carotid plaque progression. A dose–response relationship was observed between the accumulation of identified risk factors and the progression of carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, risk stratification in health screenings should prioritize these biomarkers to improve early detection and prevention strategies for atherosclerosis.Key messagesWhat is already known on this topic: Existing evidence has established associations between various individual lipid parameters [e.g. low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG)] and glucose metabolism markers with the presence of carotid atherosclerosis. Furthermore, composite ratios like TC/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) index have shown superior predictive capability for cardiovascular risk compared to individual parameters in cross-sectional studies. However, comparative longitudinal analyses of these biomarkers for predicting short-term carotid plaque progression specifically in middle-aged, screening populations are scarce.What this study adds: This prospective cohort study demonstrates that among 11 lipid and glucose profiles, traditional lipid ratios—especially the TC/HDL-C ratio—and the insulin resistance index (TyG) are the strongest independent risk factors for short-term carotid plaque progression in a middle-aged health-screening cohort. We further established a clear dose–response relationship, where the accumulation of identified risk factors (specifically elevated LDL-C, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, TC, and TG) significantly increased the risk of plaque development.How this study might affect research, practice or policy: Our findings suggest that the TC/HDL-C ratio, a cost-effective and readily available metric, should be prioritized in routine health screenings for better early risk stratification of subclinical atherosclerosis. For clinical practice, this supports integrated risk assessment that considers the cumulative effect of multiple lipid abnormalities. Future research should validate the established cut-off values prospectively and explore whether interventions targeting these key biomarkers can effectively retard plaque progression.