Tag: nevin manimala

BMC Palliat Care. 2023 Apr 10;22(1):37. doi: 10.1186/s12904-023-01158-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Palliative care teams work under challenging conditions in a sensitive setting with difficult tasks. The multi-professional team can play an important role. Mindfulness and compassion-based practices are used to build resilience. Our aim was to examine (1) feasibility and acceptability, (2) satisfaction and impact, and (3) opportunities and limitations of a mindfulness course.

METHODS: An eight-week mindfulness and compassion course was delivered in a university-based specialized palliative care unit. A meditation teacher provided preparatory evening sessions and meditation exercises that could be integrated into daily activities. The scientific analysis of the course was based on a questionnaire developed for quality assessmentThe first two parts consisted of demographic, Likert-type, and free-text items. Part 3 consisted of learning objectives that were self-assessed after finishing the course (post-then). In the analysis, we used descriptive statistics, qualitative content analysis, and comparative self-assessment.

RESULTS: Twenty four employees participated. 58% of participants attended 4 or more of the 7 voluntary mindfulness days. 91% expressed moderate to high satisfaction and would recommend the palliative care program to others. Three main categories emerged in the qualitative content analysis: providing feedback on the course, personal impact, and impact on professional life. The opportunity for self-care in a professional context was highlighted. Learning gains (CSA Gain) were high (38.5-49.4%) in terms of knowledge and techniques, moderate (26.2-34.5%) in terms of implementation of learned skills, and rather low (12.7-24.6%) in terms of changes to attitude.

CONCLUSION: Our evaluation shows that the participants of a mindfulness and compassion course considered it as a feasible and welcome tool to familiarize a multi-professional palliative care team with self-care techniques.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Internal Clinical Trial Register of the Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, No. 2018074763 (registered retrospectively on 30^th July 2018).

PMID:37032372 | DOI:10.1186/s12904-023-01158-9

BMC Surg. 2023 Apr 10;23(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s12893-023-01981-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal adhesion formation is an inevitable consequence of abnormal repair of the peritoneum following different peritoneal injuries of intra-abdominal operations with the subsequent morbidity that they represent. Vast efforts have been made to elucidate the cause and prevent the development of abdominal adhesions. The aim of our study is to compare the capability of colchicine versus diphenhydramine (DPH) and methylprednisolone (MP), and also prednisolone in adhesion prevention.

METHODS: Sixty-one male Wistar stock rats were divided into four groups. The first group attended as the control group. Groups 2, 3, and 4 received oral combination of MP + DPH solution (20 mg/kg), colchicine (0.02 mg/kg), and prednisolone (1 mg/ kg), respectively. Adhesion bands were induced by standardized abrasion of the peritoneum through a midline laparotomy. All rats were sacrificed on the 15^th-day post medication administration and the subjects underwent an exploratory laparotomy. The presence of adhesions was evaluated with the modified using Nair’s classification.

RESULTS: The proportion of the control group with substantial adhesion bands (73.3%) was significantly higher than that of the MP + DPH (13.3%), colchicine (33.3%), and prednisolone (31.3%) groups. There were significant differences between the scores of the control and the MP + DPH, colchicine, and prednisolone groups (P = 0.001, 0.028, and 0.019, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference to favor colchicine against MP + DPH (P = 0.390) or MP + DPH against prednisolone (P = 0.394).

CONCLUSIONS: Both colchicine and combination of DPH + MP prevented postoperative abdominal adhesions separately in our study. However, the lowest adhesion formation rate was observed in the DPH + MP group, even lower than the prednisolone group.

PMID:37032367 | DOI:10.1186/s12893-023-01981-0

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2023 Apr 9;15(1):54. doi: 10.1186/s13102-023-00667-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lateral ankle sprains account for a large proportion of musculoskeletal injuries among civilians and military service members, with up to 40% of patients developing chronic ankle instability (CAI). Although foot function is compromised in patients with CAI, these impairments are not routinely addressed by current standard of care (SOC) rehabilitation protocols, potentially limiting their effectiveness. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to determine if a Foot Intensive REhabilitation (FIRE) protocol is more effective compared to SOC rehabilitation for patients with CAI.

METHODS: This study will use a three-site, single-blind, randomized controlled trial design with data collected over four data collection points (baseline and post-intervention with 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-ups) to assess variables related to recurrent injury, sensorimotor function, and self-reported function. A total of 150 CAI patients (50 per site) will be randomly assigned to one of two rehabilitation groups (FIRE or SOC). Rehabilitation will consist of a 6-week intervention composed of supervised and home exercises. Patients assigned to SOC will complete exercises focused on ankle strengthening, balance training, and range of motion, while patients assigned to FIRE will complete a modified SOC program along with additional exercises focused on intrinsic foot muscle activation, dynamic foot stability, and plantar cutaneous stimulation.

DISCUSSION: The overall goal of this trial is to compare the effectiveness of a FIRE program versus a SOC program on near- and long-term functional outcomes in patients with CAI. We hypothesize the FIRE program will reduce the occurrence of future ankle sprains and ankle giving way episodes while creating clinically relevant improvements in sensorimotor function and self-reported disability beyond the SOC program alone. This study will also provide longitudinal outcome findings for both FIRE and SOC for up to two years. Enhancing the current SOC for CAI will improve the ability of rehabilitation to reduce subsequent ankle injuries, diminish CAI-related impairments, and improve patient-oriented measures of health, which are critical for the immediate and long-term health of civilians and service members with this condition. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov Registry: NCT #NCT04493645 (7/29/20).

PMID:37032355 | DOI:10.1186/s13102-023-00667-7

World J Surg Oncol. 2023 Apr 10;21(1):127. doi: 10.1186/s12957-023-03007-8.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Primary breast lymphoma (PBL) is a rare disease, treatment of which excerpts does not reach a consensus. This retrospective study was conducted to analyze clinical features and survival outcomes of different therapeutic methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of 67 patients with stage IE/IIE primary breast lymphoma were reviewed from the medical record system. Survival information was gathered by searching the outpatient system. Clinicopathological characteristics were compared by chi-squared or Fisher’s exact tests. A comparison of survival curves was performed by log-rank tests. The Cox proportional hazard model was applied for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS: At the median follow-up time of 65.23 months (range, 9-150 months), there were 27 (40.3%) relapses, 28 (41.8%) distant metastases, and 21 (31.3%) deaths. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 52.1% and 72.4%. Pathological types (DLBCL vs. non-DLBCL, p = 0.001) and rituximab use (p < 0.001) were statistically associated with longer PFS in patients with PBL. Nodal sites involved and radiotherapy administration were significant predictors for 5-year OS. Multivariate analysis suggested that nodal sites involved (p = 0.005) and radiotherapy administration (p < 0.003) were independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with PBL (p < 0.05). Radical surgery was not an independent factor for patients with PBL.

CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy improved the survival of patients with PBL. Radical mastectomy offered no additional benefit in the treatment of PBL.

PMID:37032326 | DOI:10.1186/s12957-023-03007-8

Eur Urol Focus. 2023 Apr 7:S2405-4569(23)00093-7. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2023.03.023. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Treatment response is traditionally monitored using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and conventional imaging in patients with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic performance of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) when monitoring mPCa patients receiving systemic treatment and also to investigate the concordance between PSMA PET response according to the PSMA PET progression (PPP) criteria and biochemical response.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 96 patients with ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT-detected mPCa at baseline PSMA PET/CT (bPSMA) who underwent at least one follow-up scan after receiving systemic treatment were included in the study. PSA levels at bPSMA and follow-up PSMA PET (fPSMA) scans were recorded. The PPP criteria were used to define PSMA progression. Biochemical progression was defined as ≥25% increase in PSA. PSMA PET and PSA responses were dichotomized into progressive disease (PD) versus non-PD, and the concordance between PSA and PSMA responses was evaluated.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The concordance between PSA and PSMA PET responses was presented using frequencies, percentages, and Cohen’s kappa test.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 345 serial PSMA PET/CT (96 bPSMA and 249 fPSMA) scans were evaluated. The positivity rates of PSMA PET scans for PSA levels of <0.01, 0.01-0.2, 0.2-4, and >4 ng/ml were 55.6%, 75.0%, 100%, and 98.8%, respectively. PSA and PSMA responses showed moderate-to-high concordance (Cohen’s κ = 0.623, p < 0.001). PSA-PSMA discordance was detected in 39 scans (17%). The most common cause of discordance was the discordant results between different metastatic lesions (16/28, 57.1%) in patients with PPP without PSA progression and local progression in prostate (n = 7/11, 63.6%) in patients with PSA progression without PPP.

CONCLUSIONS: PSMA PET/CT showed very high detection rates of malignant lesions even at very low PSA values and showed significant concordance with PSA response when monitoring treatment response in patients receiving systemic treatment for mPCa.

PATIENT SUMMARY: This study describes that prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET), a new sensitive imaging tool, can detect malignant lesions even at very low prostate-specific antigen values when monitoring metastatic prostate cancer. The PSMA PET response and biochemical response showed significant concordance, and the reason for discordant results seems to be the different responses of metastatic lesions and prostatic lesions to systemic treatment.

PMID:37032281 | DOI:10.1016/j.euf.2023.03.023

Eur Urol Focus. 2023 Apr 7:S2405-4569(23)00090-1. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2023.03.021. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nerve-sparing (NS) radical prostatectomy (RP) results in better functional outcomes. Intraoperative neurovascular structure-adjacent frozen section examination (NeuroSAFE) significantly increases the frequency of NS surgery. The effect of NeuroSAFE on postoperative erectile function (EF) and continence is not yet clear.

OBJECTIVE: To describe EF and continence outcomes for men undergoing RP with the NeuroSAFE technique.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Between September 2018 and February 2021, 1034 men underwent robot-assisted RP. Data for patient-reported outcomes were collected via validated questionnaires.

INTERVENTION: NeuroSAFE technique for RP.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Continence was assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) or Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite short form (EPIC-26) and defined as use of 0-1 pads/d. EF was evaluated using EPIC-26 or the International Index of Erectile Function short form (IIEF-5), with data converted according to the Vertosick method and categorized. Descriptive statistics were used to asses and describe tumor characteristics and continence and EF outcomes.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Of the 1034 men who underwent RP after introduction of the NeuroSAFE technique, 63% and 60% completed a preoperative and at least one postoperative questionnaire on continence and EF, respectively. Of the men who underwent unilateral or bilateral NS surgery, use of 0-1 pads/d was reported by 93% after 1 yr and 96% after 2 yr; the corresponding rates for men who underwent non-NS surgery were 86% and 78%. Overall, use of 0-1 pads/d was reported by 92% of the men at 1 yr and by 94% at 2 yr after RP. Men in the NS group had a good or intermediate Vertosick score after RP more often than the non-NS group. Overall, 44% of the men had a good or intermediate Vertosick score at 1 and 2 yr after RP.

CONCLUSIONS: After introduction of the NeuroSAFE technique, the continence rate was 92% at 1 yr and 94% at 2 yr after RP. The NS group had a greater percentage of men with an intermediate or good Vertosick score and a higher continence rate after RP in comparison to the non-NS group.

PATIENT SUMMARY: Our study shows that after introduction of the NeuroSAFE technique during removal of the prostate, the continence rate among patients was 92% at 1 year and 94% at 2 years after surgery. Some 44% of the men had a good or intermediate score for erectile function 1 and 2 years after surgery.

PMID:37032279 | DOI:10.1016/j.euf.2023.03.021

Surgery. 2023 Apr 7:S0039-6060(23)00124-1. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2023.03.002. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To introduce an innovative elastic compression hemostasis technique for extremity excision in extensively burnt patients and investigate its effectiveness.

METHODS: Ten patients were included and divided into 2 groups: the control group (4 patients, 12 extremities) receiving the conventional hemostasis technique and the experimental group (6 patients, 14 extremities) receiving the innovative technique. General data of the patients were collected, excision size measured, hemostasis time recorded, average blood loss per 1% total body surface area of the excised wound calculated, incidence of subcutaneous hematoma and take rate determined.

RESULTS: The 2 groups had no statistical difference in the baseline data. Average blood loss per 1% total body surface area of the excised wound in the upper and the lower extremities was (62.1 ± 11.5) mL and (35.6 ± 11.0) mL in the experimental group, significantly less than (94.3 ± 6.9) mL and (82.3 ± 6.2) mL in the control group; a reduction of 34.1% and 56.8% respectively. Hemostasis time in the upper and the lower extremities were (5.0 ± 0.7) min/1% total body surface area and (2.6 ± 0.3) min/1% total body surface area, respectively, in the experimental group, significantly less than (7.4 ± 0.6) min/1% total body surface area and (4.0 ± 0.9) min/1% total body surface area in the control group; a reduction of 31.8% and 34.9% respectively. The incidences of subcutaneous hematoma were 7.1% and 8.3%, and the take rate (85.9 ± 6.0)% and (86.5 ± 4.8)% in the experimental and the control group, respectively, with no statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSION: The innovative elastic compression hemostasis technique is a reliable new method that significantly reduces blood loss during extremity excision in patients with extensive burns and is worth wider understanding and application.

PMID:37032269 | DOI:10.1016/j.surg.2023.03.002

J Surg Educ. 2023 Apr 7:S1931-7204(23)00094-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.03.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Traditional education of clinical training mainly relies on a single mode of lecture-based learning (LBL), in which the teacher lectures and the students listen, and the teaching effect is often unsatisfactory. This study aims to explore the effect of simulation-based learning (SBL) combined with case and problem-based learning (CPBL) teaching mode in the clinical education of joint surgery.

DESIGN: Through objective evaluation of joint surgery students’ theoretical knowledge and clinical skills, and subjective evaluation of teaching quality by anonymous questionnaire, the teaching effects of LBL teaching mode, CPBL teaching mode and SBL combined with CPBL teaching mode in clinical teaching of joint surgery were compared.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Sixty students who participated in the standardized training of residents in the Center for Joint Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army University, China from March 2020 to September 2021 were selected and randomly divided into groups A, B, and C, with 20 students in each group. Group A adopted traditional LBL mode, group B adopted CPBL mode, and group C adopted SBL combined with CPBL mode.

RESULTS: The scores of theoretical knowledge, clinical skills and total score of group C were (86.40 ± 9.76), (92.15 ± 4.49), (88.70 ± 5.75) points respectively, which were significantly higher than (78.80 ± 10.50), (86.60 ± 8.79), (81.92 ± 6.97) points in group B, and (80.50 ± 6.64), (85.35 ± 7.99), (82.44 ± 5.97) points in group A, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The scores of 5 self-evaluation items, i.e., learning interest, self-learning ability, problem-solving ability, clinical skills and comprehensive competency were (18.90 ± 1.22), (18.85 ± 1.01), (18.75 ± 1.13), (18.90 ± 1.22), (18.50 ± 1.02), (18.80 ± 0.81) points in group C, which were higher than (15.90 ± 1.41), (14.30 ± 2.47), (13.95 ± 2.01), (14.50 ± 1.63), (14.70 ± 1.38) points in group B, and (11.65 ± 2.90), (10.05 ± 1.69), (9.75 ± 1.67), (14.35 ± 1.90), (12.75 ± 2.12) points in group A, the difference was statistically significant (p <0.05). The satisfaction of students in group C (95.00%) was significantly better than that in group B (80.00%) and group A (65.00%), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: SBL combined with CPBL teaching mode can effectively improve the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills of the students, which could improve self-assessment and teaching satisfaction rate, and is worthy of application and promotion in the clinical teaching of joint surgery.

PMID:37032261 | DOI:10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.03.001

Neural Netw. 2023 Mar 27:S0893-6080(23)00170-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neunet.2023.03.035. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In domain adaptation, when there is a large distance between the source and target domains, the prediction performance will degrade. Gradual domain adaptation is one of the solutions to such an issue, assuming that we have access to intermediate domains, which shift gradually from the source to the target domain. In previous works, it was assumed that the number of samples in the intermediate domains was sufficiently large; hence, self-training was possible without the need for labeled data. If the number of accessible intermediate domains is restricted, the distances between domains become large, and self-training will fail. Practically, the cost of samples in intermediate domains will vary, and it is natural to consider that the closer an intermediate domain is to the target domain, the higher the cost of obtaining samples from the intermediate domain is. To solve the trade-off between cost and accuracy, we propose a framework that combines multifidelity and active domain adaptation. The effectiveness of the proposed method is evaluated by experiments with real-world datasets.

PMID:37032243 | DOI:10.1016/j.neunet.2023.03.035

Arch Med Res. 2023 Apr 7:S0188-4409(23)00054-1. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2023.03.008. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:37032233 | DOI:10.1016/j.arcmed.2023.03.008