PURPOSE: To determine the effect of a specific orthotic intervention and therapy protocol on proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint contractures of greater than 40° caused by Dupuytren disease and treated with collagenase injections. METHODS: All patients with PIP joints contracted at least 40° by Dupuytren disease were prospectively invited to participate ...

Keratosis pilaris (KP) has beenpresented as small keratotic follicular papules with or without surrounding erythema. Various treatments with laser or light therapy have been used for the management of KP with various clinical outcomes. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy for KP. ...

PURPOSE: Preventing a recurrence of Crohn's disease is a problem that remains to be solved. We evaluated the impact of using infliximab as a postoperative therapy on preventing the surgical recurrence of Crohn's disease. METHODS: We performed a pair-matched study comparing 100 patients who had received postoperative infliximab maintenance therapy ...

Background and objectives: The Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser has been successfully used in treating fine wrinkles, acne scars, and photoaged skin. However, the downtime typically lasts a week or more. The purpose of this study was to observe the efficacy of external cell growth factors after Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser ...

Background: Treatment of keloids is a therapeutic challenge. Objectives: To determine the outcome and the risk of recurrence after debulking cold steel surgery or carbon dioxide (CO2) laser ablation of earlobe keloids. Material and methods: The case records of 16 patients with earlobe keloids managed at Changi General Hospital, Singapore, ...

Acitretin is currently used alone or combined with PUVA (psoralen + UVA) or with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NBUVB), to treat moderate and severe psoriasis. However, little is known about the potential genotoxic/carcinogenic risk and the cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of these treatments. Our aim was to study the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects ...

OBJECTIVES: This study reviews our experience in bisphosphonate-associated jaw osteomyelitis (BJOM), focusing on the incidence, etiology, treatment, and long-term outcome. METHODS: Retrospective review of the clinical histories adult patients diagnosed with BJOM (1995-2008) in a tertiary hospital. RESULTS: BJOM was found in 30 of 132 (22.7%) consecutive patients with jaw ...

OBJECTIVE: Intrathecal therapy (ITT) for cancer pain is characterized by high initial cost followed by low maintenance costs. Non-ITT pain management is associated with steadily increasing cumulative cost that can equal the cost of ITT over time. The intent of this modeling project is to identify factors associated with relatively ...

BACKGROUND:Despite rehabilitation training, deficiency in knee joint position sense, muscular performance, postural control, and functional ability is common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Whole-body vibration therapy (WBVT), which is initiated from 3 months postoperatively, has proven benefits. However, the effect of earlier WBVT is unknown. PURPOSE:To investigate the effect ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hypertrophic scars and contractures are common following various types of trauma and procedures despite skilled surgical and wound care. Following ample time for healing and scar maturation, many millions of patients are burdened with persistent symptoms and functional impairments. Cutaneous scars can be complex and thus the ...

INTRODUCTION: The optimal nutritional strategy remains controversial, particularly in severely septic patients. Our aim was to analyze the effect of three nutritional strategies-enteral (EN), parenteral (PN), and combined nutrition (EN+PN)-on the outcome of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This secondary analysis of the prospective, randomized-controlled, ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of reduced-fluence photodynamic therapy (RFPDT) for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: This retrospective medical record review of consecutive CSC patients treated with RFPDT (full-dose verteporfin and laser fluence of 25 J/cm2) examined 22 eyes of 21 patients (20 males and one female). All patients were followed-up ...

Variceal bleeding has a 6-week mortality of 20%. Recent evidence suggests that early covered transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunts (TIPSS) can improve outcomes following a variceal bleed in selected patients. We aim to assess the outcomes following the insertion of covered TIPSS in a real-life intensive care setting. This is ...

Background: Frequent epistaxis, the hallmark of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) significantly affects quality of life. Hepatic involvement may be associated with capsular pain, abdominal angina, high-output cardiac failure and portal hypertension with ascites and variceal bleeding. Liver transplantation as well as hepatic artery embolization as invasive treatment options for hepatic ...

To assess the influence of oral anticoagulant therapy conversion to heparin (OAT-CH) on carotid endarterectomy (CEA) outcomes and the influence of unmodified oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) on carotid artery stenting (CAS) and to compare the outcomes of CEA in OAT-CH with CAS in ongoingOAT. The 30-day results from all patients ...

Focal hand dystonia (FHD) in musicians is a painless, task-specific motor disorder characterized by involuntary loss of control of individual finger movements. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of a combined behavioral therapy intervention aimed at normalizing finger movement patterns. Eight musicians with FHD had ...

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess pediatric urology practice patterns and factors which influence the use of Deflux® in the management of vesicoureteral reflux among pediatric urologists. METHODS: A 11-question survey was sent out to 476 pediatric urologists who are members of the Society for Pediatric Urology. RESULTS: 23.7% of ...

BACKGROUND: Recurrence of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection is the leading factor influencing the prognosis of the disease. Therefore, further improvement of long-term survival may depend on the prevention and treatment of the recurrent tumor. The aim of this research was to investigate the role of antiviral ...

Intra-abdominal infection (IAI) is a frequent complication found in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) and continues to be associated with considerable mortality. Tigecycline, the first-in-class glycylcycline has demonstrated a broad spectrum of activity against a wide range of bacteria commonly found in IAI. This observational retrospective study aimed to describe ...

BACKGROUNDAIMS: Identifying the impact of a patient's ethnicity on treatment responses in clinical practice may assist in providing individualized treatment regimens for chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The effectiveness of standard peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy and the need for triple combination therapy with protease inhibitors in Koreans remain matters of debate. ...

BACKGROUNDAIMS: The incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during sequential lamivudine (LAM) and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment is increasing. We investigated the antiviral efficacies of various rescue regimens in patients who failed sequential LAM-ADV treatment. Forty-eight patients (83.3% of whom were HBeAg-positive) who failed sequential LAM-ADV treatment were ...

To investigate the effects of postoperative intensive glycemic control on patient outcomes. Ineffective perioperative glycemic control has been associated with high mortality and morbidity rates among cardiac surgery patients. 212 cardiac surgery patients were allocated by a quasi-experimental design to: a) a control group (n = 107) with targeted blood glucose levels ...

Most chronic stroke patients present with difficulty in the manipulation of objects. The aim of this study was to test whether an intensive program of precision grip training could improve hand functioning of patients at more than 6 months after a stroke. This was a cross-over study; hence, at inclusion, ...

This was to evaluate changes in spheno-occipital synchondrosis one year after rapid maxillary expansion (RME), in order to assess the influence that any change might have on sagittal and vertical skeletal cephalometric variables. Patients were selected consecutively and grouped into: Group 1 comprised 30 Caucasian patients (13 m; 17 f) ...

The purpose of this study was to assess early treatment of deformational plagiocephaly using the Plagio Cradle, a modifiable cranial orthotic. Infants were included if they had treatment of deformational plagiocephaly with the Plagio Cradle beginning at 4 months or younger. Patients were prospectively stratified by the age treatment was ...

IBTR! 2.0 is a web-based nomogram that predicts the 10-year ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) rate after breast-conserving therapy. We validated this nomogram in Korean patients. The nomogram was tested for 520 Korean patients, who underwent breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy. Predicted and observed 10-year outcomes were compared for ...

: Limited evidence suggests that various formulations containing Balsam of Peru, castor oil, and trypsin (BCT) exert multiple actions that may promote wound healing such as shedding damaged skin cells, stimulation of localized blood flow, antimicrobial actions, and local analgesic actions. : An 81-year-old man was referred to our home-based ...

Lamivudine (LAM) and adefovir (ADV) are widely used in most Asian countries, though monotherapy is associated with the occurrence of resistance. To evaluate the efficiency of LAM and ADV combined treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients with compensated cirrhosis. 206 eligible Chinese patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio ...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether neo-adjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) prior to radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) for prostate cancer (PCa) is beneficial in terms of surgical outcomes and for preventing or delaying biochemical recurrence via single-surgeon case series study. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three men underwent RRP ...

Traditional periodontal open flap debridement (OFD) results in reduced pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival recession (GR) and postoperative pain and discomfort. The quest to overcome these shortcomings has led to research into Er,Cr:YSGG laser assisted pocket therapy (ELAPT). This study was designed to compare the clinical outcomes ...

BACKGROUND: Luteinising-hormone-releasing-hormone agonists (LHRHa) to treat prostate cancer are associated with long-term toxic effects, including osteoporosis. Use of parenteral oestrogen could avoid the long-term complications associated with LHRHa and the thromboembolic complications associated with oral oestrogen. METHODS: In this multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial, we enrolled men with locally ...

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in treating patients with refractory and/or relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Methods Totally three patients received rituximab as salvage therapy in our hospital. Rituximab was administered at a weekly dose of 375 mg/m for 2 or 4 consecutive weeks. After clinical ...

BACKGROUND: Despite the efficiency of venom immunotherapy, the effects on basophils and mast cells remain incompletely understood and probably vary according to the treatment phase. OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of build-up and maintenance venom immunotherapy on individual basophils. METHODS: Intracellular histamine and its release was analyzed flow cytometrically by ...

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are treated with intravenous epoprostenol or intravenous or subcutaneous treprostinil. Little is known about longitudinal hemodynamics and outcomes of epoprostenol, treprostinil, and transitions from epoprostenol to treprostinil. METHODS: This was retrospective study of 77 pediatric patients (47 idiopathic PAH, 24 congenital ...

To evaluate effective alternative antibiotics in treatment of cefotaxime-resistant spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. One hundred cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis [ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear cell count (PMNLs) ≥ 250 cells/mm at admission] were empirically treated with cefotaxime sodium 2 g/12 h and volume expansion by intravenous human albumin. All patients were ...

OBJECTIVE: To identify and review original studies on balloon and rigid dilatation as primary therapy for laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) in pediatric patients. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: A comprehensive search strategy in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted and limited to human studies published in ...

Emerging data, including results from two systematic reviews, suggest that with appropriate antimicrobial selection, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can be successfully treated in less than 7 days, rather than the 7-14 days frequently utilized. Shorter course therapy has the potential not only to improve efficacy, safety, and compliance, but also to minimize the ...

BACKGROUND:: Up to 20% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) become steroid-dependent during their course. Thiopurines are recommended in steroid-dependent UC, but their efficacy is debated. Data exploring the use of infliximab in these patients are scarce. Aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of infliximab in steroid-dependent ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Periodontitis may alter the systemic condition in patients with diabetes and hence interfere with glycemic control. The objective of this study was to determine the quantifiable changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) after periodontal non-surgical therapy plus azithromycin in a mixed population of patients with poorly controlled diabetes. ...

BACKGROUND: Recent technological advances have allowed superficially spreading intramucosal carcinomas of the esophagus to be successfully resected by circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection (cESD). After this procedure, esophageal strictures develop in most patients and are mainly treated by endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD). OBJECTIVE: To compare oral steroids plus EBD with EBD ...

BACKGROUND:Early goal-directed therapy is a time-sensitive therapeutic algorithm with a tiered approach to target hypoperfusion and cardiovascular collapse within the first 6 hours of septic shock. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend norepinephrine or dopamine as the initial vasoactive agent for resuscitation in septic shock, reserving the administration of vasopressin ...

Abstract Background: This study examined real-world etanercept and adalimumab treatment patterns in patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or both. Methods: This retrospective analysis utilized data from patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or both from a large, US claims database. Outcome measures included persistence on index therapy; pauses (7-59 days) and ...

PURPOSE: This study investigated the site-specific effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in osteoarthritis of the knee in rats. METHODS: Sixty SD rats were divided into five groups. Group I was the control and received sham surgery without anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) and medial meniscectomy (MM) and no ESWT. ...

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of narrowband-ultraviolet B (NB-UVB)-alone, the combination of NB- UVB and topical calcipotriol and the combination of topical calcipotriol, NB-UVB, and betamethasone therapies. Material and Methods: Forty-five patients with vitiligo were randomize divided into three groups. The first group ...

OBJECTIVES: To determine the most effective first-line rescue therapy for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) nonresponders, using IVIG, prednisolone, or both, to prevent coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs). STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 359 consecutive patients with Kawasaki disease who failed to respond to initial IVIG. RESULTS: CAAs up ...

OBJECTIVE: To document the treatment of all patients with infected aortic grafts at Christchurch Hospital between 1999 and 2010, focussing on the mortality and morbidity of those treated without graft explantation. METHODS: Cases of infected aortic grafts were reviewed. Cases required a compatible clinical syndrome, CT imaging and tissue/blood culture ...

Primary prophylaxis has been proven as the gold standard for preserving joint function in severe haemophilia. Secondary prophylaxis in children has also been shown to have a more beneficial effect on joint protection as on-demand treatment. The outcome of delayed secondary prophylaxis started in adulthood is rarely studied. The case ...

AIMS: In candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), the choice between pacemaker (CRT-P) and defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation is still debated. We compared the long-term prognosis of patients who received CRT-D or CRT-P according to class IA recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and who were enrolled in a ...

The authors report a case of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel-induced cystoid macular edema (CME) without fluorescein angiographic leakage in a patient being treated for metastatic breast cancer. The CME briskly improved 3 weeks after the chemotherapeutic agent was discontinued and was completely resolved after 6 weeks. Patients receiving taxane therapy must ...

Abstract: Objective: The available data on the statin effects in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are still conflicting. We investigated the impact of short- and long-term statin therapy on lipid profiles in CKD patients requiring or not requiring dialysis. Research Design and Methods: Data from Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, ...