Body and earlobe piercing are common practices in the USA today. Minor complications including infection and bleeding occur frequently and, although rare, major complications have been reported. Healthcare professionals should be cognizant of the medical consequences of body piercing. Complications vary depending on the body-piercing site, materials used, experience of ...

Bayesian inference in medical decision making is a concept that has a long history with 3 essential developments: 1) the recognition of the need for data (demonstrable scientific evidence), 2) the development of probability, and 3) the development of inverse probability. Beginning with the demonstrative evidence of the physician's sign, ...

Antipsychotic medicines are the cornerstone pharmacotherapy for patients with psychotic disorders. Early and continuous management of psychoses improves the quality of life, decreases hospitalization and reduces medical costs. However, many psychotic patients are not fully compliant with treatment, and thus they more often experience a relapsing course with a suboptimal ...

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of proton pump inhibitors on symptomatic inflammatory esophagogastric polyps (IEPs) in a pediatric cohort and to determine the optimal duration of treatment. Methods: The 11 patients with IEPs were managed with lansoprazole. Follow-up endoscopies were performed at 2 and ...

Aim: We sought to determine whether weight and body mass index measurement were taken into consideration when prescribing second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medication to a child. Methods: Two hundred clinicians were surveyed using a hypothetical clinical case vignette at a child psychopharmacology, postgraduate medical education course. The vignette described an overweight ...

Generalized dystonic syndromes may escalate into persistent episodes of generalized dystonia known as status dystonicus that can be life-threatening due to dystonia-induced rhabdomyolysis and/or respiratory compromise. Treatment of these conditions usually entails parenteral infusion of antispasmodic agents and sedatives and occasionally necessitates a medically induced coma for symptom control. The ...

Vertigo has been described by medical doctors since Antiquity, but the condition is not limited to human medicine. It is also interesting to note that vertigo-related disorders were long only mentioned in the descriptions of migraine: however, in the Corpus Hippocraticum, a pain with vertigo (odunê kai skotodiniê) was not ...

Diagnostic information for psychiatric research often depends on both clinical interviews and medical records. Although discrepancies between these two sources are well known, there have been few studies into the degree and origins of inconsistencies. We compared data from structured interviews and medical records on 1,970 Han Chinese women with ...

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this interim final rule to amend its adjudication regulation regarding compensation for disabilities suffered by veterans who served in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations during the Persian Gulf War. This amendment is necessary to extend the period during which disabilities associated ...

To describe the patterns and predictors of adherence to topical glaucoma medication during hospitalization for medical disease. Retrospective, nonrandomized, and comparative case-series. Medical records of all the patients hospitalized with a secondary diagnosis of glaucoma between January 2006 and March 2009 were reviewed. Baseline characteristics of all patients were recorded ...

The majority of in-flight passenger medical events are managed by cabin crew. Our study aimed to evaluate the reliability of cabin crew reports of in-flight medical events and to develop a symptom-based categorization system. All cabin crew in-flight passenger medical incident reports for an airline over a 9-yr period were ...

High-altitude travel, for mountain climbing, trekking, or sightseeing, has become very popular. Therefore, the awareness of its dangers has increased, and many prospective travelers seek medical advice before setting forth on their trip. We selectively searched the literature for relevant original articles and reviews about acclimatization to high altitude and ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) has a positive impact on substance use and health outcomes among HIV-infected opioid dependent patients. The present study investigates non-medical use of opioids by HIV-infected opioid-dependent individuals treated with buprenorphine or methadone. Methods: The MANIF 2000 study is a longitudinal study that enrolled a ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Pharmacological intervention is essential for managing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Adherence to medication regimens however is a major problem. Poor adherence leads to significant motor deterioration and inadequate symptom control. This results in poor quality of life. Whilst interventions to improve medication adherence have shown considerable benefit ...

Morbid anatomy underwent extraordinary development in Paris during the last years of the eighteenth and the first half of the nineteenth century, for both philosophical and political reasons. The protagonists of this progress were primarily clinicians whose purpose was to link symptoms with pathological lesions and to elaborate a pertinent ...

In the clinical practice of psychiatry, presence or absence of particular symptoms is based on the subjective interpretation, by the clinician, of mental and behavioural descriptions offered by the patient. However, this subjectivity that characterizes the diagnostic decision making process may limit the reliability of diagnosis. In this current study, ...

ABSTRACT: Self medication with antibiotics has become an important factor driving antibiotic resistance. This study investigated the period prevalence, patterns of use, and socio-demographic factors associated with self medication with antibiotics in Yogyakarta City Indonesia. This cross-sectional population-based survey used a pre-tested questionnaire which was self-administered to randomly selected respondents ...

BACKGROUND: Psychotropic medications are commonly used for depressive symptoms among people living with HIV/AIDS. PURPOSE: We examined the relationships between adherence to psychotropic medications, depressive symptoms, and antiretroviral adherence. METHODS: We assessed depressive symptoms among 324 people living with HIV/AIDS across a 3-month period (70% men; mean age 45 years; 90% ...

OBJECTIVE:: To identify the most common neurological and behavioral symptoms treated by medications in individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS), factors associated with treatment variability, and difficulty in swallowing a pill. METHOD:: A total of 1019 caregivers provided information about 1064 sons and 299 daughters with FXS in a US ...

Treatment and management for severe dysphagia consist of medication, rehabilitation and surgery. It is important to understand the prognosis of causative disease and dysphagia. The use of drug for dysphagia is restrictive and not so effective. Rehabilitation is widely applied. Restorative training is for acute cerebrovascular disorders and compensatory methods ...

Ischemic colitis is a rare adverse effect of antipsychotic medications and is most commonly associated with the phenothiazine class of antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine and olanzapine. The risk is further increased when antipsychotics are taken in conjunction with anticholinergics. A 27-year-old man with a history of bipolar ...

The authors present a case of a college student who suffered acute gallium poisoning as a result of accidental exposure to gallium halide complexes. This is extremely rare and has never been reported in the literature. Acute symptoms after the incident, which initially presented as dermatitis and appeared relatively not ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among individuals with radiographic-confirmed osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: We included 2679 participants of the Osteoarthritis Initiative with radiographic tibiofemoral knee OA in at least one knee at baseline. Trained interviewers asked a series of specific questions relating to ...

BACKGROUND: Data on attaining and maintaining symptom remission associated with specific antipsychotic medications are rare and variant. AIMS: To examine remission rates and their variation by antipsychotic medication in chronic schizophrenia in the National Institute of Mental Health Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) given it has an 18-month ...

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) in the treatment of uncontrolled glaucoma with a prior aqueous tube shunt. A prospective, nonrandomized, interventional clinical trial with up to 2 years of follow up included 25 eyes of 25 consecutive glaucoma patients with a previous tube shunt and ...

Evidence is conflicting regarding the effectiveness of creating a low-allergen environment or reducing allergen exposure to control asthma exacerbations. This study determined the association of house dust mite (HDM)-specific IgE levels with asthma symptom control, selected medications, family history of allergic disease, and exposure to second-hand smoke and household pets. ...

Many medical toxicologists are interested in participating in a practice-based, multicenter research and toxicosurveillance network. In 2009, the American College of Medical Toxicology established the Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC). One facet of ToxIC is a registry that can be used for surveillance of new or old agents, assessment of treatment ...

BACKGROUND: An association between asthma and antibiotic usage has been demonstrated, and the issue of reverse causation and confounding by indication is much debated. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to study the association between different classes of antibiotics and prescription of asthma medication in a register-based cohort of all Swedish children, ...

Physician distress is common and has been associated with negative effects on patient care. However, factors associated with resident distress and well-being have not been well described at a national level. To measure well-being in a national sample of internal medicine residents and to evaluate relationships with demographics, educational debt, ...

Aims:  Efficacy of antimuscarinic therapy for overactive bladder (OAB) has been demonstrated; however, the durability of its effects is unknown. The study was conducted to evaluate symptom change and retreatment rate after discontinuation of antimuscarinic therapy. Also, we tried to find risk factors for retreatment. Methods:  This was a prospective, ...

Background:  Medication overuse headache is a common condition with a population-based prevalence of more than 1-2%. Treatment is based on education, withdrawal treatment (detoxification), and prophylactic treatment. It also includes management of withdrawal headache. Aims:  This guideline aims to give treatment recommendations for this headache. Materials and methods:  Evaluation of ...

Abstract Background: Noisy respiratory secretions (NRS) at the end of life have been described in 23%-92% of deaths in palliative care units. Despite limited evidence to support the efficacy of the antisecretory medications, hyoscine hydrobromide and glycopyrrolate, administration of these medications remains standard palliation. Predicting those at risk of NRS ...

The Treatment Guideline Subcommittee of the Taiwan Headache Society evaluated both the acute and the preventive treatments for cluster headache now being used in Taiwan, based on the principles of evidence- based medicine. We assessed the quality of clinical trials and levels of evidence, and referred to other treatment guidelines ...

Films are produced with the aim of entertaining people, but recently there has been increasing use of films to educate medical trainees about various disorders, symptoms of these disorders, patient-therapist interactions, and various other medical and psychiatric issues. Discussions in academic circles have moved from criticism of negative portrayals of ...

PURPOSE: To investigate the risk factors associated with work-related allergy-like symptoms in medical doctors. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaire survey and CAP test were conducted among medical school students in the 4th grade of their 6-year medical course in 1993-1996 and 1999-2001. Follow-up questionnaires were sent in 2004 to the graduates. These ...

Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eskisehir, Turkey. Nasal polyposis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa. Etiology remains unclear, but allergy, asthma, aspirin sensitivity, cystic fibrosis, and infection have been associated with the disease. Clinically, nasal obstruction, anosmia/hyposmia, rhinorrhea, postnasal drainage, headaches, facial ...

In this paper, the authors suggest an approach that may be helpful in teaching medical humanities to medical students. In the context of an honours class on medicine and literature, students (1) read a novel on an illness, (2) interviewed a patient with the medical condition described in the novel ...

The major treatment strategies for DH are gluten restriction or medical treatment with sulfones. Control of the cutaneous manifestations, but not the gastrointestinal changes, is rapid with dapsone. In addition to control of the cutaneous signs and symptoms of DH, dietary gluten restriction also induces improvement of gastrointestinal morphology and ...

Introduction. Seasonal variation in asthma has been widely recognized. The aim of this study was to describe seasonal patterns of asthma symptoms and asthma medication use in a cohort of pediatric asthma medication users and to study determinants of seasonal childhood asthma. Methods. For this study, 602 children participating in ...

Background: There is little data about the combined effects of COPD and obesity. We compared dyspnea, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), exacerbations, and inhaled medication use among patients who are overweight and obese to those of normal weight with COPD. Methods: We performed secondary data analysis on 364 Veterans with ...

Intermittent claudication (IC) due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD) causes substantial impairment in quality of life, and is strongly associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The overall medical approach to management focuses on reducing cardiovascular events, preventing progression of underlying PAD (eg, limb loss), and improving symptoms. Aggressive secondary ...

Rationale: Occupational exposures can contribute to the exacerbation as well as the onset of asthma. However, work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) has received less attention than occupational asthma (OA) that is caused by work. Objectives: The purpose of this Statement is to summarize current knowledge about the descriptive epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and ...

Constipation is traditionally defined as three or fewer bowel movements per week. Risk factors for constipation include female sex, older age, inactivity, low caloric intake, low-fiber diet, low income, low educational level, and taking a large number of medications. Chronic constipation is classified as functional (primary) or secondary. Functional constipation ...

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a debilitating pain disorder of unknown origins and a paradigmatic contested illness. As with other contested illnesses, the reality of fibromyalgia is disputed by many physicians. Thus, millions of individuals who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia must cope with chronic symptoms as well as medical and public skepticism. ...

Background: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be helpful for many people who experience psychosis; however most research trials have been conducted with people also taking antipsychotic medication. There is little evidence to know whether CBT can help people who choose not to take this medication, despite this being a very ...

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is highly prevalent and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The medical management of PAD involves a comprehensive approach to the patient with emphasis on cardiovascular risk factor modification in addition to therapies directed at treatment of limb symptoms. This manuscript will review the current ...

Medication adherence for chronic medical illnesses has been studied extensively, but there is limited data evaluating medication adherence for comorbid medical illnesses in a psychiatric population. Furthermore, only one study has evaluated both medication adherence and clinical outcomes between the two populations. Examining medication adherence rates and clinical outcomes are ...

Abstract The National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) believes that emergency medical services (EMS) medical directors may prescribe any legally marketed product for off-label use. This document is the official position of the NAEMSP.

Background and objectives: Antipsychotic medications are a potential cause of hyperprolactinaemia and may be implicated in the development of pituitary adenomas. This review examines the effect of different antipsychotic medications on prolactin and sexual function, and provides practical guidelines for investigation and management of antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinaemia. Method: Literature review. Results ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:/b> The purpose of this case report is to raise physical therapist awareness of Horner syndrome as a "red flag" for immediate medical referral. CASE DESCRIPTION: /b> A 45-year-old man sought physical therapy for examination and treatment of neck pain and headache symptoms 5 days after experiencing a ...