BACKGROUND: In models of dopaminergic neuronal loss, the dopamine agonist pramipexole has exhibited neuroprotective properties. The Pramipexole On Underlying Disease (PROUD) study was designed to identify whether early versus delayed pramipexole initiation has clinical and neuroimaging benefits in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Between May 24, 2006, and April ...

PURPOSE: Bilateral native nephrectomy (BNN) with simultaneous kidney transplantation (SKT) is becoming more common for patients with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in the living donor nephrectomy era. Single center reports evaluating the short and long-term outcomes of SKT have been published but are generally limited by their small sample sizes. ...

PURPOSE: FDG PET has been suggested to have predictive value in the prognosis of oesophageal carcinoma. However, the retrospective studies reported in the literature have shown discordant results. Additionally, only four studies have evaluated FDG PET during chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with different histological lesions. The purpose of this study ...

BACKGROUND: The duration of hepatic vascular inflow occlusion and the amount of intraoperative blood loss have significant negative impacts on postoperative morbidity, mortality and long-term survival outcomes of patients who receive partial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhosis. AIM: This study aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes of partial ...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether, in chronic hepatitis C-positive naive patients recruited in the routine clinical setting and treated with pegylated-interferon-α2b (Peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV), the sustained virologic response (SVR) is durable over the long term and whether it is associated with a decrease in liver complications and incidence of glucose ...

BACKGROUND: Everolimus-eluting stents (EES) have shown favorable clinical outcomes. However, there have been no studies evaluating early vascular response after EES implantation. We designed a prospective study to compare the neointimal response between zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) and EES at 3 and 12 months using serial optical coherence tomography examinations. METHODS ...

To assess proper soft tissue balancing of the varus arthritic knee between posterior oblique ligament (POL) release group and superficial medial collateral ligament (SMCL) release group. This retrospective study was performed on 186 patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from January 2011 to December 2011. ...

To evaluate the effect of autotransfusion system in minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Seventy-one patients who underwent unilateral minimally invasive TKA between October 2009 and June 2010 were selected. The first group included 36 patients who received standard vacuum drainage and the second group, 35 patients who underwent autologous ...

AIM: Ileocolic anastomosis is performed using a stapled or manual technique,but with either there is a risk of bleeding from the suture line. The aim of this study was to analyse retrospectively bleeding after different anastomotic technique. METHOD: Patients having elective right colectomy were divided according to the type of ...

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of cementless primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in sickle cell patients compared to the remaining cohort of osteonecrosis patients who did not have this disease. Thirty-two sickle cell patients (42 hips) who had a mean age of 37years and mean ...

Objective: The purpose of the study is to compare the effects of lidocaine alone, epinephrine-combined lidocaine and prilocaine with octapressin on the cardiovascular system during minor oral surgery of sedated cardiac dental patients under local anesthesia. Methods: Connected to a Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor for a total of 5 hours ...

PURPOSE: Although pseudomembranes are the hallmark manifestation of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD), there are scant data specifically addressing their impact on the clinical outcome. We investigated whether the formation of pseudomembranes predicts a worse CDAD outcome. METHODS: CDAD patients hospitalized during 2010 underwent sigmoidoscopy and were followed prospectively. In addition, ...

Background: Target anticoagulation levels for warfarin in Japanese patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) are unclear. Methods and Results: Of 7,527 patients with NVAF, 1,002 did not receive warfarin (non-warfarin group), and the remaining patients receiving warfarin were divided into 5 groups based on their baseline international normalized ratio (INR) of prothrombin ...

PURPOSE: The purpose of this review was to determine if there is an ideal operation for large symptomatic articular cartilage lesions on the undersurface of the patella in young patients. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed was conducted to determine the outcome of operations performed for large patellar lesions in ...

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although routine transection of the C2 nerve root during atlantoaxial segmental screw fixation has been recommended by some surgeons, it remains controversial and to our knowledge no comparative studies have been performed to determine whether transection or preservation of the C2 nerve root affects patient-derived sensory outcomes. PURPOSE: ...

BACKGROUND:: The optimal timing of tracheostomy in neurosurgical patients is not well established. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the effect of the timing of tracheostomy on clinical outcome in mechanically ventilated neurosurgical patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS:: A total of 125 neurosurgical patients, ...

Potatoes contain solanaceous glycoalkaloids (SGAs), which inhibit both butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The present study investigated the effect of preoperative consumption of potatoes on succinylcholine-induced block and recovery from anesthesia. ASA I-II, adult patients, scheduled for elective surgery, were included in a randomized, blind and controlled study. Patients were ...

AIM: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the use of the StarClose vascular closure device for repeat arterial closure in patients with hepatic malignancy undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients with hepatic malignancy who had undergone arterial closure with the StarClose device was ...

BACKGROUND: & Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can require surgical resection and also lead to colorectal cancer (CRC). We investigated the cumulative incidence of resection surgeries and CRC among patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: We analyzed data from a cohort of patients who participated in ...

There is a substantial preoccupation with different surgical approaches and minimally invasive techniques that may improve clinical outcomes for patients who undergo total hip arthroplasty. This study assessed the impact on hospital-related outcomes of the direct anterior approach (DAA) compared with the posterior approach (PA) performed by a single surgeon ...

AIMS: Experiences with novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) early after atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation are limited and show controversial results. We aimed to assess the longer-term safety, efficacy, and acceptance of NOACs in a large real-world cohort of patients presenting for AF catheter ablation.METHODS AND RESULTS: From July 2010 until ...

ObjectivesThis randomized double-blind study was designed to compare the postoperative analgesic effect of clonidine administered intravenously or in wound infiltration with bupivacaine. METHODS: /st>Sixty adults of ASA grade I-II undergoing open cholecystectomy were randomly allocated into three groups. Group 1 (control group) patients received wound infiltration with 30 ml of ...

Objective: To describe patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting regardless of ductal morphology in high risk patients with hypoplast physiology undergoing hybrid stage I palliation (PDA stenting and placement of bilateral pulmonary artery bands). Background: Hybrid palliation is an accepted alternative for patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Patients weighing less ...

BACKGROUND: Despite routine preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) with periampullary cancer, its optimal duration has not been established. The objective of this study was to investigate PBD in severely jaundiced patients. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with periampullary tumors who underwent surgery with intent to cure after PBD for severe obstructive ...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) classification on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of impaired renal function according to CKD classification has not been thoroughly investigated in very elderly TAVI cohorts. ...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in gait profile between patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy control and to create motion characteristics that will differentiate between them. METHODS: Twenty three patients diagnosed with knee OA and 21 healthy matched controls underwent a gait test ...

OBJECTIVE: Despite increasing use of neural monitoring (IONM) there is limited information on normative elecrophysiologic EMG parameters. The objective of this study is to define normative parameters of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN) intraoperative neuromonitoring during thyroid surgery associated with normal postoperative vocal cord function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quantitative analysis of ...

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of using the autogeneous coronoid process as free graft for reconstruction of mandibular condyle and to achieve structural, functional, as well as esthetic rehabilitation of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article presents the clinical results of ...

BACKGROUND: -Remote magnetic navigation (RMN)-guided ablation with three-dimensional (3D)-image integration could provide maximum benefit in patients with complex anatomy. We reviewed supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) ablation in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients to assess the contribution of these technologies. METHODS AND RESULTS: -One-hundred-and-fifty-four SVT ablation procedures (228 SVTs) using a ...

BACKGROUND: -For ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), it is unclear how baseline INR affects the dosing of unfractionated heparin (UFH). METHODS AND RESULTS: -A retrospective review of 170 consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation with baseline ACT and INR values was performed. Patients were group according to INR < 2.0 (G ...

Argatroban was used as the anticoagulant during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in a patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II undergoing mitral valve replacement. Dosage was reduced because of preoperative congestive liver disorder. Perioperative coagulability was poor, and, ultimately, failure of hemostasis led to a fatal outcome. Although argatroban use as ...

BACKGROUND: This randomized prospective study compared three ablation strategies in patients with longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LPeAF). It also explored the best procedural endpoint from among the following: circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) + left atrial (LA) linear lesions (roofline, mitral isthmus) + complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) ablation, PVI ...

Patients with mitral stenosis with severe pulmonary hypertension constitute a high-risk subset for surgical commissurotomy or valve replacement. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) on percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) procedural success, short- and long-term clinical outcomes (i.e., mortality, mitral ...

We sought to determine whether preoperative baseline echocardiographic analysis and the type of surgical procedure are predictive of the magnitude and timing of postoperative left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients undergoing valve surgery for pure severe mitral regurgitation (MR) secondary to leaflet prolapse. Seventy-two consecutive patients without coronary artery disease ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy is emerging as a promising therapeutic approach for acute ischemic stroke. This study was aimed at identifying factors influencing outcomes after thrombectomy with a Solitaire stent device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five consecutive patients treated with thrombectomy using Solitaire FR were retrospectively included. Clinical, imaging ...

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) + endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation (EPLBD) vs isolated EST. We conducted a retrospective single center study over two years, from February 2010 to January 2012. Patients with large (≥ 10 mm), single or multiple bile duct stones (BDS), submitted ...

The prevalence of penetrating wartime trauma to the extremities has increased in recent military conflicts. Substantial controversy remains in the orthopaedic and prosthetic literature regarding which surgical technique should be performed to obtain the most functional transtibial amputation. We compared self-reported functional outcomes associated with two surgical techniques for transtibial ...

Background: After reports of cardiac impairment caused by mitral annuloplasty with rigid rings, several prosthetic rings with semi-rigidity were introduced. The influence of semi-rigid rings on postoperative cardiac function remains unknown. This study compared postoperative cardiac function between patients receiving a semi-rigid prosthetic ring and those receiving a flexible ring or ...

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the magnitude of reduction in hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA between baseline and week 4 of peginterferon-ribavirin treatment influences the probability of achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) in patients without a rapid virological response (RVR). METHODS: Data of 151 genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C ...

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients who had osteonecrosis to see if prior hip preserving surgery affected outcomes. Implant survivorship, Harris hip scores, and radiographic outcomes were compared between 87 patients (92 hips) who had undergone ...

OBJECTIVES: The NOBORI(TM) Biolimus-Eluting versus XIENCE(TM)/PROMUS(TM) Everolimus-eluting stent Trial (NEXT) was designed for evaluating non-inferiority of biolimus-eluting stent (BES) relative to everolimus-eluting stent (EES) in terms of target-lesion revascularization (TLR) at 1-year. BACKGROUND: Efficacy and safety data comparing biodegradable polymer BES with durable polymer cobalt-chromium EES are currently limited. METHODS: ...

OBJECTIVES: To review the outcomes of supraglottoplasty performed in children with severe laryngomalacia at a pediatric university teaching hospital and to determine if these outcomes are influenced by gender, age at time of supraglottoplasty, or medical comorbidities. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of children who underwent supraglottoplasty for severe laryngomalacia between ...

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical significance of type II endoleaks (ELII) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). METHODS: From January 1997 to June 2012, a total of 344 patients received TEVAR in our institution. ELII was diagnosed in 30 patients (8.7%; 13 males; median age: 65 years, range: 24 to 84 years), ...

Patients with decompensated heart failure, volume overload, and hyponatremia are challenging to manage. Relatively little has been documented regarding the clinical course of these patients during standard in-hospital management or with vasopressin antagonism. The Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in Heart Failure Outcome Study With Tolvaptan database was examined to assess ...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To define long-term health-state utility outcomes in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal, cohort study. METHODS: The short-form (SF)-12 survey was issued to the 168 patients who were enrolled in an initial study evaluating short-term utility outcomes following ESS. SF-12 ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of varicocelectomy on sperm retrieval at testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and at spermiograms in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational study was conducted from April 2008 to December 2011. The study included men with a clinical diagnosis of nonobstructive azoospermia with a ...

BACKGROUND: To assess prospectively the incidence of chronic and neuropathic pain in patients undergoing anteroaxillary thoracotomy with postoperative epidural analgesia or controlled-release oxycodone pain regimen. METHODS: 77 patients who underwent anteroaxillary thoracotomy were enrolled in our observational study. 40 patients received postoperatively a standardized oral analgesic protocol with controlled-release oxycodone ...

PURPOSE: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been efficacious for treating hip fractures in healthy older patients. However, in those patients with fractures a widely variable prevalence of dislocation has been reported, partly because of varying durations of follow up for this specific end-point. The purpose of the present study was ...

BACKGROUND: The etiology of corrosive esophageal strictures is different from that reported in Western literature, with acid ingestion being a major cause. This study evaluated functional and morphological changes in the colon used as neoesophagus. METHODS: Functional changes in the neoesophagus were evaluated by symptom score of dysphagia and manometry. ...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patient selection, safety, feasibility, and midterm results of percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion. BACKGROUND: Oral anticoagulants (OAC) are the gold standard for stroke prevention in most patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). As the LAA is the main source of AF-related thrombi, LAA occlusion might reduce the ...