Tag: pubmed

Neurologia (Engl Ed). 2021 Jul-Aug;36(6):433-439. doi: 10.1016/j.nrleng.2018.03.003. Epub 2020 Feb 7.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Pain is highly prevalent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS); it is chronic in 50% of cases and is classified as nociceptive, neuropathic, or mixed-type. Pain affects quality of life, sleep, and the activities of daily living. Electrotherapy is an interesting alternative or complementary treatment in the management of pain in MS, with new innovations constantly appearing.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study evaluates the effectiveness of treatment with monopolar dielectric transmission of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) for pain associated with MS. We performed a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial including 24 patients, who were assessed with the Brief Pain Inventory, the Multiple Sclerosis International Quality of Life questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale.

RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were observed in maximum and mean pain scores, as well as in the impact of pain on work, personal relationships, and sleep and rest. Not significant differences were found between the treatment and placebo groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with PEMF may be effective in reducing pain in patients with MS, although further research is necessary to confirm its effectiveness over placebo and to differentiate which type of pain may be more susceptible to this treatment.

PMID:34238526 | DOI:10.1016/j.nrleng.2018.03.003

J Prosthet Dent. 2021 Jul 5:S0022-3913(21)00266-3. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.04.027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Information regarding the rotational freedom of internal connection implants is sparse.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the rotational freedom of different internal conical and internal nonconical connections.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty implants, 30 straight manufactured standard abutments, and 30 standard abutment screws were obtained for each of the 5 implant systems tested. Three implant systems had indexed internal conical connections with different antirotational geometries: hexagon (Naturall+), cam-groove (ID CAM M), and octagon (Bone Level). Two implant systems had internal nonconical connections with hexagonal antirotational geometry (Tapered Screw-Vent and Seven). The implants were mounted in a steel plate, and a metal reference arm was attached to the abutment. Before tightening the standard abutment screw, a modified torque wrench was used to rotate the abutment clockwise until reaching the clockwise rotational endpoint. This modified torque wrench was connected to the abutment’s outer surface. It allowed free access to the standard abutment screw for a second torque wrench, specific to each implant system. The modified torque wrench applied a controlled torque of 5 Ncm, which held the abutment at the clockwise rotational endpoint. The standard abutment screw was then tightened to the manufacturer’s specified torque value with the second torque wrench. Angle value corresponding to the clockwise endpoint was measured microscopically between a fixed reference point on the steel plate and the reference arm. The abutment was then unscrewed and removed. The same procedure was carried out to rotate the abutment counterclockwise and measure the angle value corresponding to the counterclockwise rotational endpoint. The rotational freedom was finally determined from the differences in the angles between the clockwise and counterclockwise rotational endpoints. Rotational freedom angle values were summarized as descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations). The normality test (Kolmogorov-Smirnov) was applied, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was performed. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to isolate the implant system differences from each other (α=.05).

RESULTS: The lowest mean rotational freedom angles were obtained for Bone Level (conical connection, 0.17 degrees) and Tapered Screw-Vent (nonconical connection, 0.05 degrees). These systems were followed in increasing order by ID CAM M (conical connection, 0.50 degrees), Seven (nonconical connection, 1.98 degrees), and Naturall+ (conical connection, 2.49 degrees). Compared with each other, all implant systems had significant statistical differences in rotational freedom angles (P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were found among the 5 implant systems. The lowest mean rotational freedom angles were obtained both with a conical connection (Bone Level) and a nonconical connection (Tapered Screw-Vent).

PMID:34238536 | DOI:10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.04.027

J Laryngol Otol. 2021 Jul 9:1-7. doi: 10.1017/S0022215121001596. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyse if there were any associations between patulous Eustachian tube occurrence and climatic factors and seasonality.

METHODS: The correlation between the monthly average number of patients diagnosed with patulous Eustachian tube and climatic factors in Seoul, Korea, from January 2010 to December 2016, was statistically analysed using national data sets.

RESULTS: The relative risk for patulous Eustachian tube occurrence according to season was significantly higher in summer and autumn, and lower in winter than in spring (relative risk (95 per cent confidence interval): 1.334 (1.267-1.404), 1.219 (1.157-1.285) and 0.889 (0.840-0.941) for summer, autumn and winter, respectively). Temperature, atmospheric pressure and relative humidity had a moderate positive (r = 0.648), negative (r = -0.601) and positive (r = 0.492) correlation with the number of patulous Eustachian tube cases, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The number of patulous Eustachian tube cases was highest in summer and increased in proportion to changes in temperature and humidity, which could be due to physiological changes caused by climatic factors or diet trends.

PMID:34238392 | DOI:10.1017/S0022215121001596

Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 2021 Jun 30;43(3):395-401. doi: 10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.13752.

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the application value of abbreviated comprehensive geriatric assessment(aCGA)in elderly female breast cancer patients. Methods Eight aspects of the traditional CGA were simplified to form the aCGA assessment table,based on which the patients were classified into three grades of A,B and C according to the total scores.This study enrolled the elderly female patients with breast cancer aged 70 years and above who were treated in PUMC Hospital from June 2018 to January 2020.Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG)scoring and aCGA grading were performed respectively,and the results of the two methods were compared. Results Of the 162 patients,111(68.5%)were classified by the aGGA method as grade A,43(26.5%)as grade B,and 8(5.0%)as grade C;131(80.9%)cases have concurrent diseases,and the most common complications were hypertension(n=89),cardiovascular diseases(n=47)and diabetes mellitus(n=39).The ECOG score was 0-1 in 133(82.0%)cases,2 in 24(14.8%)cases and 3 in 5(3.2%)cases.The ECOG score showed 133(82.0%)cases with good status and 29 cases with poor status.However,according to the aCGA classification,111 cases were in good health status and 51 cases were in poor health status;the difference in the result between the two groups was statistically significant(χ ²=14.24,P<0.001).Conclusion Compared with ECOG score,aCGA grading can more comprehensively evaluate the health status of elderly female breast cancer patients and can be applied to the patients aged 70 and above.

PMID:34238415 | DOI:10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.13752

J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021 Jul 8;50(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s40463-021-00525-x.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a high efficiency rapid standardized OR (RAPSTOR) for hemithyroid/parathyroid surgery using standardized equipment sets (SES) and consecutive case scheduling (CCS) on turnover times (TOT), average case volumes, patient outcomes, hospital costs and OR efficiency/stress.

METHODS: Patients requiring hemithyroidectomy (primary or completion) or unilateral parathyroidectomy in a single surgeon’s practice were scheduled consecutively with SES. Retrospective control groups were classified as sequential (CS) or non-sequential (CNS). A survey regarding OR efficiency/stress was administered. Phenomenography and descriptive statistics were conducted for time points, cost and patient outcome variables. Hospital cost minimization analysis was performed.

RESULTS: The mean TOT of RAPSTOR procedures (16 min; n = 27) was not significantly different than CS (14 min, n = 14) or CNS (17 min, n = 6). Mean case number per hour was significantly increased in RAPSTOR (1.2) compared to both CS (0.9; p < 0.05) and CNS (0.7; p < 0.05). Average operative time was significantly reduced in RAPSTOR (32 min; n = 28) compared to CNS (48 min; p < 0.05) but not CS (33 min; p = 0.06). Time to discharge was reduced in RAPSTOR (595 min) compared to CNS (1210 min, p < 0.05). There was no difference in complication rate between all groups (p = 0.27). Survey responses suggested improved efficiency, teamwork and workflow. Furthermore, there is associated decrease in direct operative costs for RAPSTOR vs. CS.

CONCLUSION: A high efficiency standardized OR for hemithyroid and parathyroid surgery using SES and CCS is associated with improved efficiency and, in this study, led to increased capacity at reduced cost without compromising patient safety.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2.

PMID:34238389 | DOI:10.1186/s40463-021-00525-x

J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jul 9. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2021-0023. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To compare cardiometabolic risk factors of Brazilian children and adolescents with international reference values. Cardiometabolic risk factors constitute the Metabolic Syndrome, whose evaluation is important to assess pediatric populations’ health and potential to experience metabolic disorders.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study that included 2,250 randomly selected children and adolescents (55.6% girls), aged 6 to 17. Cardiometabolic parameters (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], systolic and diastolic blood pressures [SBP and DBP], total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], TC:HDL-C ratio, triglycerides [TG], glucose and peak oxygen uptake [VO₂peak]), and clustered risk scores were compared to international age- and sex-specific reference values. A clustered risk score was calculated by summing the WC, glucose, SBP, TG, and the TC:HDL-C ratio Z-scores divided by five. A second clustered was calculated including VO₂peak (inverted) Z-score, but divided by six.

RESULTS: The clustered risk score, considering the all ages sample, was better in the Brazilian boys (-0.20 [-0.41;0.01] and -0.18 [-0.37;0.01], including or not VO₂peak, respectively) but not significantly, and worse in girls (0.24 [0.05;0.43] and 0.28 [0.11;0.44], including or not VO₂peak, respectively) than the international reference. Additionally, Brazilian youth had a statistically better profile in TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TC:HDL-C ratio, and VO₂peak (only girls) as well as a worse profile in BMI, WC, SBP, DBP, TG (only girls), and VO₂peak (only boys).

CONCLUSIONS: The clustered cardiometabolic risk score (including or not VO₂peak), considering the all ages sample, was better in the Brazilian boys, but not significantly, and worse in girls compared to the international reference.

PMID:34237809 | DOI:10.1515/jpem-2021-0023

Drug Metab Pers Ther. 2021 Jul 8. doi: 10.1515/dmdi-2021-0104. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To mitigate the incidence of recurrent stroke in patients, dual antiplatelet therapy comprising aspirin and clopidogrel is usually administered. Clopidogrel is a prodrug and its bioactivation is catalyzed by cytochrome P450 (CYP)2C19. The main objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of CYP2C19*2 carriers in Saudi ischemic stroke patients and assess the suitability of using genotyping to guide antiplatelet therapy in a university hospital setup.

METHODS: This prospective (2018-2019) study was conducted on 256 patients (age 61 ± 12.5) clinically diagnosed with ischemic stroke who were genotyped using Spartan RX CYP2C19 assay.

RESULTS: From the total patient group (256), upon admission, 210 patients were prescribed either aspirin, clopidogrel or dual antiplatelet therapy. Of the 27 patients with the CYP2C19*2 allele who were prescribed clopidogrel (18) or dual antiplatelet therapy (9), only 21 patients could be followed up for a period of six months post stroke event, in addition to 21 age- and sex-matched patients with the normal allele. The CYP2C19*2 allele carriers had a statistically significant increased risk of recurrent stroke compared to patients carrying the normal allele.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the suitability of using genotyping to guide antiplatelet therapy in ischemic stroke patients in a clinical setting.

PMID:34237806 | DOI:10.1515/dmdi-2021-0104

Drug Metab Pers Ther. 2021 Jul 8. doi: 10.1515/dmdi-2021-0117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Majoon-e-Seer Alvi Khan, a compound Unani formulation, has been indicated in disease conditions simulating dyslipidemia. The present study was done to substantiate the efficacy of Majoon-e-Seer Alvi Khan (MSAK) in dyslipidaemia on scientific parameters.

METHODS: A randomized, single-blind, Standard controlled, clinical trial was carried out on 40 patients of dyslipidemia who were randomly allocated into test (n=30) and control (n=10) groups. The test drug, MSAK, and control drug, tablet Atorvastatin was given to the respective group for 60 days along with lifestyle modification.

RESULTS: The test drug significantly alleviated the symptoms of subjective parameters (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant reduction in lipid profile of the patients in the test group (p<0.05) than control drug treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: The study evidenced that Majoon-e-Seer Alvi Khan is potentially effective and safe in the treatment of dyslipidemia. However, a multicentre study with a robust study design is required to generalize the results.

PMID:34237808 | DOI:10.1515/dmdi-2021-0117

Am J Perinatol. 2021 Jul 8. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731633. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:34237775 | DOI:10.1055/s-0041-1731633

J Knee Surg. 2021 Jul 8. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731722. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Total knee replacement (TKR) is one of the most common orthopaedic procedures performed, and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been developed and incorporated into inpatient surgical pathways to improve patient outcomes. Under ERAS recommendations, multimodal prophylaxis has been used to help manage postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following TKR. Dexamethasone is one of the commonly used for this and the anti-inflammatory properties could depress vagal activity, reducing postural hypotension (PH). The hypothesis of this study is that postoperative dexamethasone use is associated with lower rates of early postoperative PH following TKR surgery. In our institution, patients who undergo elective primary TKR are admitted on the day of surgery and follow a standardized ERAS protocol. Data on patients who underwent elective primary TKR under a single adult reconstruction team from September 2017 to March 2020 were reviewed and analyzed. A review of demographic characteristics, surgical data, postoperative medications, and postoperative notes was performed. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the effect of the use of dexamethasone on PH, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) calculated after accounting for potential confounders. Of the 149 patients were included in the study, 78 had dexamethasone postoperatively, and 71 did not. Patients who had received dexamethasone were statistically less likely to suffer from PH (OR = 0.31, p = 0.03) and less likely to develop PONV (OR = 0.21, p = 0.006). Patients who had received dexamethasone were more likely able to participate in early physiotherapy (OR = 2.42, p = 0.14), and this result was statistically insignificant. The use of postoperative intravenous dexamethasone is significantly associated with lower rates of postoperative PH after TKR. However, more studies are required to assess the optimal dosing amount and frequency, as well as to assess other factors which can enhance early postoperative patient mobilization as part of our goals for ERAS. This therapeutic study reflects level of evidence III.

PMID:34237779 | DOI:10.1055/s-0041-1731722