Group @ cats shed fewer oocysts for a shorter time than did control cats of group @ .


Oral administration of cyclosporine in accordance with the protocol for this study did not potentiate the enteroepithelial phase of T gondii infection .


Cats with high cyclosporine blood concentrations at the time of primary T gondii infection may be at risk of developing systemic toxoplasmosis .


Ibrutinib is an oral Bruton 's tyrosine kinase inhibitor , recently approved for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma ( MCL ) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia ( CLL ) patients with at least one prior therapy .


We developed a population pharmacokinetic ( PK ) model for ibrutinib in patients .


Ibrutinib PK data ( @,@ observations/@ patients ) were available from the following clinical studies : ( @ ) A phase I dose-escalation study in recurrent B cell malignancies ( dose levels of @-@ @ mg/kg/day and fixed dose of @ mg/day ) ; ( @ ) a phase II study in MCL ( fixed dose level of @ mg/day ) ; ( @ ) a phase Ib/II dose-finding study in CLL ( fixed dose levels of @ and @ mg/day ) .


Different compartmental PK models were explored using nonlinear mixed effects modeling .


A two-compartment PK model with sequential zero-first-order absorption and first-order elimination was able to characterize the PK of ibrutinib .


The compound was rapidly absorbed , had a high oral plasma clearance ( approximately @,@ L/h ) and a high apparent volume of distribution at steady state ( approximately @,@ L ) .


PK parameters were not dependent on dose , study , or clinical indication .


The fasting state was characterized by a @ % relative bioavailability compared with the meal conditions used in the trials and administration after a high-fat meal .


Body weight and coadministration of antacids marginally increased volume of distribution and duration of absorption , respectively .


The proposed population PK model was able to describe the plasma concentration-time profiles of ibrutinib across various trials .


The linear model indicated that the compound 's PK was dose independent and time independent .


To observe the efficacy differences between acupoint catgut embedding at cervical Jiaji ( EX-B @ ) points combined with electroacupuncture ( EA ) at acupoints near ear and simple EA for the treatment of nervous tinnitus .


Sixty-three patients were randomly divided into an observation group ( @ cases ) and a control group ( @ cases ) .


The observation group was treated with acupoint catgut embedding at C@-C@ Jiaji ( EXB @ ) points on the affected side combined with EA at acupoints near ears , including Ermen ( TE @ ) .


Tinggong ( SI @ ) , Tinghui ( GB @ ) , etc. ; the control group was treated with EA at regular acupoints near ears alone .


The EA treatment was given five times per week , and the acupoint catgut embedding was given once every two weeks .


All the treatment was given for @ weeks .


The Tinnitus severity score ( TSS ) was applied to assess the severity of tinnitus before the treatment , @ weeks , @ weeks and @ weeks into treatment and one month after treat ment .


Also the efficacy of two groups was compared .


After the treatment , the severity of tinnitus was both improved in two groups at each time point ( all P < @ ) .


which was more significant in the observation group ( P < @ , P < @ ) .


The cured and markedly effective rate was @ % ( @/@ ) in the observation group , which was superior to @ % ( @/@ ) in the control group ( P < @ ) .


The short-term and long-term efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding at cervical Jiaji ( EX-B @ ) points combined with electroacupuncture are both superior to those of simple electroacupuncture for treatment of nervous tinnitus .


To observe the clinical efficacy difference on vegetative state in children between acupoint injection combined with plum-blossom needle and western medication based on basic treatment .


Forty-eight children of vegetative state were randomized into an observation group and a control group , @ cases in each one .


On the basis of the treatment of transcranial magnetic stimulation apparatus , balancing treatment apparatus and massage , the acupoint injection and tapping method with plum-blossom needle were adopted in the observation group , in which Xingnaojing injection , mouse nerve growth factor ( mNGF ) injection , monosialotetrahexosylganglioside sodium injection ( MSI ) , compound Danshen injection were divided in @ pairs and were injected respectively in Baihui ( GV @ ) , Yongquan ( KI @ ) , Fengfu ( GV @ ) , Yamen ( GV @ ) and the others , @ mL in each acupoint , once a day for continuous @ days .


Additionally , the tapping method with plum-blossom needle was used on the Governor Vessel and Jiaji ( EX-B @ ) on the back .


In the control group , the intravenous infusion was adopted with citicoline sodium injection , mannitol injection and dexamethasone injection .


The treatment was given once a day , @ days of treatment made one session and totally @ sessions were required in the two groups .


The clinical efficacy , the vegetative state score and the mean curing time were observed after @ days , @ days and @ days of treatment between the two groups .


The effective rates were @ % ( @/@ ) , @ % ( @/@ ) and @ % ( @/@ ) in @ days , @ days and @ days of treatment in the observation group and @ % ( @/@ ) , @ % ( @/@ ) and @ % ( @/@ ) in the control group respectively .


The efficacy in the observation group was superior to those in the control group ( P < @ , P < @ ) .


The vegetative state score was improved apparently after @ days , @ days and @ days of treatment as compared with those before treatment separately ( all P < @ ) .


It was improved obviously at the each time point after treatment in the observation group as compared with that in the control group ( @ + / - @ vs @ + / - @ , @ + / - @ vs @ + / - @ , @ + / - @ vs @ + / - @ , all P < @ ) .


The mean curing time was ( @ + / - @ ) days in the observation group , which was shorter apparently than that of ( @ + / - @ ) days in the control group ( P < @ ) .


Based on basic treatment acupoint injection combined with tapping method of plum-blossom needle achieve the reliable efficacy on vegetative state in children .


Three-percent hypertonic saline ( HTS ) is a hyperosmotic therapy used in pediatric traumatic brain injury to treat increased intracranial pressure and cerebral edema .


It also promotes plasma volume expansion and cerebral perfusion pressure , immunomodulation , and anti-inflammatory response .


We hypothesized that HTS will improve concussive symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury .


The study was a prospective , double-blind , randomized controlled trial .


Children , @ to @ years of age with a Glasgow Coma Scale score greater than @ , were enrolled from a pediatric emergency department following closed-head injury upon meeting Acute Concussion Evaluation criteria with head pain .


Patients were randomized to receive @ mL/kg of HTS or normal saline ( NS ) over @ hour .


Self-reported pain values were obtained using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale initially , immediately following fluids , and at @ to @ days of discharge .


The primary outcome measure was change in self-reported pain following fluid administration .


Secondary outcome measures were a change in pain and postconcussive symptoms within @ to @ days of fluid administration .


We used an intention-to-treat analysis .


Forty-four patients , ranging from @ to @ years of age with comparable characteristics , were enrolled in the study ; @ patients ( @ % ) received HTS , and @ ( @ % ) received NS .


There was a significant difference ( P < @ ) identified in the self-reported improvement of pain following fluid administration between the HTS group ( mean improvement = @ ) and the NS group ( mean improvement = @ ) .


There was a significant difference ( P = @ ) identified in the self-reported improvement of pain at @ to @ days after treatment between the HTS group ( mean improvement = @ ) and the NS group ( mean improvement = @ ) .


We were unable to determine a difference in other postconcussive symptoms following discharge .


Three-percent HTS is more effective than NS in acutely reducing concussion pain in children .


There is good evidence of the positive effects of person-centered care ( PCC ) on agitation in dementia .


We hypothesized that a person-centered environment ( PCE ) would achieve similar outcomes by focusing on positive environmental stimuli , and that there would be enhanced outcomes by combining PCC and PCE .


@ Australian residential aged care homes with scope for improvement in both PCC and PCE were stratified , then randomized to one of four intervention groups : ( @ ) PCC ; ( @ ) PCE ; ( @ ) PCC + PCE ; ( @ ) no intervention .


People with dementia , over @ years of age and consented were eligible .


Co-outcomes assessed pre and four months post-intervention and at @ months follow-up were resident agitation , emotional responses in care , quality of life and depression , and care interaction quality .


From @ homes randomized , @ people with dementia were recruited .


At follow-up the mean change for quality of life and agitation was significantly different for PCE ( p = @ , p = @ , respectively ) and PCC ( p = @ , p = @ respectively ) , compared with the non-intervention group ( p = @ , p = @ respectively ) .


Quality of life improved non-significantly for PCC+PCE ( p = @ ) , but not for agitation ( p = @ ) .


Improvements in care interaction quality ( p = @ ) and in emotional responses to care ( p = @ ) in PCC+PCE were not observed in the other groups .


Depression scores did not change in any of the groups .


Intervention compliance for PCC was @ % , for PCE @ % and for PCC+PCE @ % .


The hypothesis that PCC+PCE would improve quality of life and agitation even further was not supported , even though there were improvements in the quality of care interactions and resident emotional responses to care for some of this group .


The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number is ACTRN @ .


Neuropathic pain is a condition resulting from injury to the peripheral and/or central nervous system .


Despite extensive research over the last several decades , neuropathic pain remains difficult to manage .


The authors conducted a randomized , placebo-controlled , double-blinded , and crossover clinical trial to examine the effect of @ % topical diclofenac ( TD ) on neuropathic pain .


The authors hypothesized that @ % TD would reduce the visual pain score and improve both quantitative sensory testing and functional status in subjects with neuropathic pain .


The authors recruited subjects with postherpetic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome .


The primary outcome was subject 's visual pain score .


Twenty-eight subjects completed the study ( @ male and @ female ) with the mean age of @ yr .


After @ weeks of topical application , subjects in @ % TD group showed lower overall visual pain score compared with placebo group ( @ -LSB- @ -RSB- vs. @ -LSB- @ -RSB- , difference : @ ; @ % CI , @ to @ ; P = @ ) as well as decreased burning pain ( @ -LSB- @ -RSB- vs. @ -LSB- @ -RSB- , difference , @ ; @ % CI , @ to @ ; P = @ ) .


There were no statistical differences in constant pain , shooting pain , or hypersensitivity over the painful area between the groups .


This self-reported improvement of pain was corroborated by the decreased pain summation detected by quantitative sensory testing .


There were no statistically significant changes in functional status in these subjects .


There were no complications in both groups .


The findings indicate that @ % TD may serve as an effective treatment option for patients with neuropathic pain from postherpetic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome .


Powered or manual toothbrushes are daily-used instrument in the Western area for the control and removal of bacterial biofilm .


Among powered-toothbrushes , sonic technology has shown to produce fluid turbulent activity that might assist in plaque removal ; however , limited knowledge is available in-vivo .


The objectives of this study were to compare the plaque removal efficacy of two different toothbrushes in a population not familiar with sonic technology , and to collect and analyse data regarding oral hygiene habits .


The null-hypothesis was that a sonic toothbrush is able to remove a superior amount of plaque compared to the manual type .


Forty young adult patients were enrolled in the study .


A single-cohort crossover clinical trial was designed .


For each patient , three appointments were scheduled : the first ( T@ ) was used for oral care education and explanations of toothbrushes techniques , for a preliminary professional hygiene session , and for delivery of a questionnaire ; at one week ( T@ ) , plaque evaluation was performed ( Turesky modification of the Quigley and Hein index ) at baseline and after asking patients to brush with the randomly selected manual or sonic device .


At the last appointment ( week @ , T@ ) , the same plaque evaluations of T@ were repeated asking patients to brush with the other toothbrush .


Entire mouth indexes were calculated and mean reductions in whole mouth plaque scores were obtained ( pre-brushing minus post-brushing values ) for the two tested toothbrushes .


Multiple ANOVA tests ( p = @ ) were used @ ) to compare plaque levels between male and female subjects at baseline and post-brushing , regardless the type of toothbrush , and @ ) to differentiate between mean reductions in whole mouth plaque scores according to the type of toothbrush ( manual versus sonic ) .


The study population was subjected to descriptive statistical analysis ; potential relationships between socio-demographic variables and obtained plaque scores were evaluated ( Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests ) .


Full-mouth plaque levels were reduced at post-brushing sessions , regardless the device , by approximately @ % ( p < @ ) .


Mean plaque index reductions for manual and sonic toothbrush were of @ @ and @ @ , respectively .


A statistically significant difference was found between the two devices ( p = @ ) .


The powered sonic toothbrush removed about @ % more plaque than the manual type .


From the collected questionnaire financial data , willingness to pay ( WTP ) values expressing economic efforts of patients for the purchase of toothbrushes were of Euros @ @ and of Euros @ @ , for the manual and sonic devices , respectively .


Within the limitations of the study , in subjects without any previous experience of a similar technology , the single use of the sonic toothbrush showed a significantly greater plaque reduction compared to the manual traditional toothbrush ( null-hypothesis accepted ) .


The effect of vitamin D replacement on hemoglobin ( Hb ) concentration in subjects with concurrent deficiencies of vitamin D and iron is not known .


We report on an investigator-initiated , randomized , single-blinded , placebo-controlled , @-week interventional trial .


Thirty subjects with iron-deficiency anemia ( serum ferritin < @ g/l ) were randomized to an intervention arm ( cholecalciferol , i.e. vitamin D@ , @ million units i.m. once ) or placebo .


In all subjects , iron deficiency was corrected with parental iron .


Other causes of anemia were excluded with appropriate investigation .


The primary end point was a rise in Hb concentration .


Baseline parameters of age , BMI , hemogram values and levels of serum ferritin , @-hydroxyvitamin D -LSB- @ ( OH ) D -RSB- and parathyroid hormone ( PTH ) were similar in the @ arms .


Twelve weeks after vitamin D replacement , there was a significant increase in @ ( OH ) D levels ( @ @ vs. @ @ ng/ml , p < @ ) and a decrease in PTH levels ( @ @ vs. @ @ pg/ml , p = @ ) in subjects in the intervention arm when compared to the placebo arm .


However , the increments in serum ferritin and Hb concentration in the intervention and placebo arm did not differ .


Vitamin D replacement in subjects with iron-deficiency anemia after iron correction does not improve Hb concentration further .


Premedication with intranasal dexmedetomidine ( DEX ) has shown to be an effective sedative in pediatric patients .


This prospective , randomized , and controlled investigation was designed to evaluate whether the difference in intranasal DEX dosing would produce different beneficial effects on the attenuation of cardiovascular and arousal responses during anesthesia induction and intubation .


Forty children , aged from @ to @years , of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II and scheduled for elective adenotonsillectomy randomly received intranasal DEX @gkg ( -@ ) ( group D@ ) or @gkg ( -@ ) ( group D@ ) @min before anesthesia induction .


Anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane in oxygen flow .


Mean arterial pressure ( MAP ) and heart rate ( HR ) as measurements of cardiovascular response and bispectral index ( BIS ) as an index of arousal response were recorded every @min after intranasal DEX administration and measured every @min for @min after intubation .


Sedation status , behavior scores , and mask induction scores were also assessed .


Mean arterial pressure did not show statistical differences during the anesthesia induction , but did demonstrate significantly milder responses to laryngoscopy and intubation in group D@ compared with group D@ .


Change in HR was consistent with MAP during laryngoscopy and intubation .


Patients who received @gkg ( -@ ) DEX presented with deeper sedation and less anxiety by the assessments of the alertness scale , behavior score , and BIS scores .


Group D@ dosing achieved more favorable scores in children undergoing mask induction .


Intranasal DEX @gkg ( -@ ) administered @min before anesthesia induction provides considerable effect to attenuate the increase in MAP caused by intubation response .


Changes in HR and BIS also demonstrate that this kind of premedication provides effective attenuation of intubation response .


And preoperative intranasal DEX @gkg ( -@ ) produces optimal-sedation , more favorable anesthesia induction course in pediatric patients .


Premedication of intranasal DEX is a considerable way to blunt cardiovascular and arousal responses to endotracheal intubation .


To assess the effect of ginger consumption on glycemic status , lipid profile and some inflammatory markers in patients with type @ diabetes mellitus .


In a double-blinded , placebo-controlled clinical trial , @ type @ diabetic patients were enrolled .


They allocated randomly into ginger group and control group .


They consumed @mg ginger versus @mg wheat flour placebo daily for @ weeks .


Serum sugar , lipids , CRP , PGE@ and TNF were measured before and after intervention .


Ginger reduced fasting plasma glucose , HbA@C , insulin , HOMA , triglyceride , total cholesterol , CRP and PGE significantly compared with placebo group ( p < @ ) .


There were no significant differences in HDL , LDL and TNF between two groups ( p > @ ) .


Ginger improved insulin sensitivity and some fractions of lipid profile , and reduced CRP and PGE in type @ diabetic patients .


Therefore ginger can be considered as an effective treatment for prevention of diabetes complications .


Low-dose ketamine has been used perioperatively for pain control and may be a useful adjunct to intravenous ( IV ) opioids in the control of acute pain in the emergency department ( ED ) .


The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of low-dose ketamine as an adjunct to morphine versus standard care with morphine alone for the treatment of acute moderate to severe pain among ED patients .


A double-blind , randomized , placebo-controlled trial with three study groups was conducted at a large , urban academic ED over a @-month period .


Eligible patients were @ to @ years old with acute moderate to severe pain ( score of at least @ out of @ on the numerical pain rating scale -LSB- NRS -RSB- and pain duration < @ days ) who were deemed by their treating physician to require IV opioids .


The three study groups were : @ ) morphine and normal saline placebo ( standard care group ) , @ ) morphine and @ mg/kg ketamine ( group @ ) , or @ ) morphine and @ mg/kg ketamine ( group @ ) .


Participants were assessed at @ , @ , and @ minutes after study medication administration and received rescue analgesia as needed to target a @ % reduction in pain .


The primary outcome measure of pain relief , or pain intensity reduction , was derived using the NRS and calculated as the summed pain-intensity ( SPID ) difference over @ hours .


The amount and timing of rescue opioid analgesia was evaluated as a secondary outcome .


The occurrence of adverse events was also measured .


Sixty patients were enrolled ( n = @ in each group ) .


There were no differences between study groups with respect to age , sex , race/ethnicity , preenrollment analgesia , or baseline NRS .


Over the @-hour poststudy medication administration period , the SPIDs were higher ( greater pain relief ) for the ketamine study groups than the control group ( standard care @ , interquartile range -LSB- IQR -RSB- = @ to @ ; group @ @ , IQR = @ to @ ; and group @ @ , IQR = @ to @ ; p < @ ) .


The SPIDs for the ketamine groups were similar ( p < @ ) .


When compared to standard care , group @ sustained the reduction in pain intensity up to @ hours , whereas group @ was similar to standard care by @ hours .


Similar numbers of patients received rescue analgesia : standard care group , seven of @ , @ % ; group @ , four of @ , @ % ; and group @ , four of @ , @ % ( p = @ ) .


Among those receiving rescue analgesia , those in the standard care group received analgesia sooner than either low-dose ketamine group , on average .


More participants in the low-dose ketamine groups reported dysphoria and dizziness .


Low-dose ketamine is a viable analgesic adjunct to morphine for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain .


Dosing of @ mg/kg is possibly more effective than @ mg/kg , but may be associated with minor adverse events .


Future studies should evaluate additional outcomes , optimum dosing , and use in specific populations .


Melasma is distressing for patients and challenging for physicians to treat .


Clinical data from controlled comparative studies is lacking to support the efficacy , longevity , and safety of laser treatments for melasma .


Compare the efficacy and safety of low fluence Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet ( @,@ nm ) laser ( Nd : YAG ) versus low-fluence Q-switched alexandrite laser ( @nm ) ( QSAL ) for the treatment of facial melasma .


Twenty male and female subjects with moderate to severe mixed-type melasma on both sides of the face were randomized to six , weekly treatments with the low-fluence Q-switched Nd : YAG laser on one side and the low-fluence QSAL to the other side .


Two independent investigators conducted Modified Melasma Area and Severity Index ( MMASI ) evaluations and subjects completed self-assessment questionnaires at baseline , after three treatments and each follow-up visit @ , @ , and @ weeks after the last treatment .


Standardized digital photographs were taken at baseline and at each subsequent follow-up visit .


One male and fifteen females , mean age of @ ( range @-@ ) years , completed the @-week study .


Both laser treated sides showed a significant improvement in MMASI evaluations after two treatments ( @ % improvement on the QS-Nd : YAG , @ % QSAL ) and each follow-up visit @ ( @ % QS-Nd : YAG ; @ % QSAL ) , @ ( @ % QS-Nd : YAG ; and @ % QSAL ) , and @ weeks ( @ % QS-Nd : YAG ; and @ % QSAL ) after the last treatment , but no significant difference was seen between study groups at any visit .


There was also no significant difference in subject evaluation of improvement between both treatment sides at any visit .


Both laser treated sides were tolerated well , and no serious adverse events were noted .


Only one subject was taken out of the study due to development of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation bilaterally .


Both low-fluence Q-switched Nd : YAG and low-fluence QSAL were equally effective at improving moderate to severe mixed-type facial melasma .


This was a single-center trial and patients were not able to use complimentary lightening agents during the study .


This is a prospective , randomized , multicenter , investigator-initiated trial to evaluate the @-month effectiveness of isovolemic hemodilution ( IH ) with prompt versus deferred intravitreal injections ( IVI ) of ranibizumab @ mg for the treatment of macular edema secondary to early central retinal vein occlusion ( CRVO ) .


Eyes with macular edema due to CRVO having occurred not more than @ weeks previously received either monthly ranibizumab IVI in combination with IH ( group I , n = @ ) or IH alone ( group II , n = @ ) .


From month @ to @ , the patients in both groups could be treated with monthly intravitreal ranibizumab .


The main outcome variables were gain of visual acuity and the course of central retinal thickness as measured with optical coherence tomography .


At @ months , eyes in group I on average gained +@ ( @ ) letters compared to +@ ( @ ) letters in group II ( p = @ ) .


This result was achieved with significantly fewer injections in group II .


Additionally , @ % of the eyes in group II did not need ranibizumab IVI during the @ months of the trial .


Ranibizumab IVI in addition to IH proved to be highly effective in increasing visual acuity and reducing macular edema secondary to CRVO .


Initial IH in early CRVO may be a first treatment option in patients anxious about IVI .


Friction foot blisters are a common injury occurring in up to @ % of marathoners , the most common injury in adventure racing , and represent more than @ % of medical visits in multi-stage ultramarathons .


The goal of the study was to determine whether paper tape could prevent foot blisters in ultramarathon runners .


This prospective randomized trial was undertaken during RacingThePlanet @-mile ( @-km ) , @-day self-supported ultramarathons in China , Australia , Egypt , Chile , and Nepal in @ and @ .


Paper tape was applied prerace to one randomly selected foot , with the untreated foot acting as the own control .


The study end point was development of a hot spot or blister on any location of either foot .


One hundred thirty-six participants were enrolled with @ ( @ % ) having completed data for analysis .


There were @ % women , with a mean age of @ @ years ( range , @-@ years ) and pack weight of @ @ kg ( range , @-@ kg ) .


All participants developed blisters , with @ % occurring by day @ and @ % located on the toes .


No protective effect was observed by the intervention ( @ versus @ ; @ % versus @ % ; P = @ ) , with fewer blisters occurring around the tape on the experimental foot than under the tape ( @ vs @ ; @ % versus @ % ) , yet @ % of study participants when queried would choose paper tape for blister prevention in the future .


Although paper tape was not found to be significantly protective against blisters , the intervention was well tolerated with high user satisfaction .


The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of intraoperative infusion of @ % human albumin versus @ % normal saline on early and late graft function in renal transplantation .


This prospective , randomized study was conducted on @ patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing kidney transplantation .


Patients were @ males ( @ % ) and @ females ( @ % ) with a mean age of @ @ years ( range @-@ years ) .


Patients with cardiac disease and liver dysfunction were excluded from the study .


Twenty-two of the @ patients were given intraoperative intravenous infusion of @ % human albumin with @ % normal saline ( albumin group ) , and the remaining @ patients received intraoperative intravenous infusion of @ % normal saline alone ( saline group ) , as part of the intraoperative fluid hydration to keep central venous pressure between @ and @ mm of Hg .


There was no statistically significant difference in mean intravenous fluid volume infused until the end of surgery between the saline group and the albumin group ( P = @ ) .


Time of onset of diuresis and total intraoperative urine output were statistically insignificant between the two groups ( P = @ , P = @ , respectively ) .


Post-transplant serum creatinine on day @ , @ and @ between the albumin and saline groups were comparable ( P = @ , P = @ , P = @ , respectively ) .


Post-transplant urine output on day @ , @ and @ between the albumin and saline groups were also comparable ( P = @ , P = @ , P = @ , respectively ) .


Mean postoperative weight gain was higher in the saline group compared with the albumin group , but was not statistically significant ( P = @ ) .


This study revealed that the use of @ % human albumin as an intraoperative volume expander provides no more benefit than the use of @ % normal saline in terms of immediate graft function in living donor renal transplantation .


To observe the clinical efficacy differences between regular acupuncture combined with acupuncture at trigone of urinary bladder and simple regular acupuncture for treatment of urination dysfunction induced by spinal cord injury .


Sixty patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group , @ cases in each one .


The control group was treated with regular acupuncture at Sanyinjiao ( SP @ ) , Zusanli ( ST @ ) , Zhongwan ( CV @ ) and Tianshu ( ST @ ) , etc. .


Based on the treatment of control group , the observation group was additionally treated with intensive needling at trigone of urinary bladder , once a day , @ min per treatment .


Ten treatments were considered as one course , and there was an interval of two days between courses , @ courses of treatment were given in two groups .


The improvement of urination function in two groups was evaluated , and the efficacy of urination function in two groups was compared .


After treatment , the times of urine leakage , maximum urine output , bladder capacity and residual urine were all improved in two groups ( all P < @ ) .


The improvement of times of urine leakage , bladder capacity and residual urine in the observation group was superior to that in the control group ( all P < @ ) .


The total effective rate was @ % ( @/@ ) in the observation group , which was superior to @ % ( @/@ ) in the control group ( P < @ ) .


The efficacy of regular acupuncture combined with intensive needling at trigone of urinary bladder on urination dysfunction induced by spinal cord injury is significantly superior to that of simple regular acupuncture .


To investigate the curative effects of Xuebijing ( XBJ ) injection , a Chinese patent medicine , on severe pulmonary contusion ( PC ) .


Sixty-three patients with PC were randomized to conventional therapy plus XBJ injection ( n = @ ) or conventional therapy alone ( n = @ ) .


Between groups differences in corticosteroid treatment , immune regulation therapy , hemofiltration , infusion volume , transfusion volume and antibiotic period were measured , as were intensive care unit ( ICU ) - free time , ventilation time , @-day mortality rate and incidence of ventilation-associated pneumonia ( VAP ) .


Serum concentrations of procalcitonin ( PCT ) , tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-alpha ) , interleukin ( IL ) -@ , and IL-@ , white blood cell ( WBC ) counts and percentages of human leukocyte antigen DR / CD@ + ( HLA-DR/CD@ + ) peripheral blood mononuclear cells were compared .


Markers of ventilation were determined by blood gas analysis and ventilator parameters .


WBC counts and serum concentrations of PCT , TNF-alpha , IL-@ and IL-@ were reduced significantly more quickly , and CD@ + percentage was increased significantly earlier , in the XBJ group than in the control group ( P < @ each ) .


The level of ventilation and oxygenation index were ameliorated earlier in the XBJ than in the control group ( P < @ ) .


XBJ treatment significantly reduced ICU-free time , ventilation time and incidence of VAP ( P < @ each ) , but had no effect on @-day mortality rate


XBJ treatment can shorten ICU-free and ventilation times and reduce the incidence of VAP , improving outcomes in patients with severe PC .


XBJ may act by regulating inflammation and immunity , alleviating systemic inflammatory response syndrome induced by trauma .


This study aimed to investigate the effects of a simulation-based curriculum for ward-based care on ward round ( WR ) performance .


Variability in surgical outcomes does not relate to surgical skill alone .


Prevention , diagnosis , and treatment of peri - and postoperative morbidity are dependent on provision of high-quality ward-based care .


The focal point of this is the surgical WR .


Although WR conduct is learned primarily through experience , a simulated environment and validated assessment tools may enable measurement and enhancement of WR quality .


Junior surgical residents were randomized either to a half-day educational intervention with lectures , structured feedback , and debriefing , or to standard practice ( control ) .


All conducted a standardized , validated , simulated WR of @ patients .


Surgical Ward Care Assessment Tool and W-NOTECHS rating scales were used for technical and nontechnical skills assessment , respectively , and compared between groups .


Subjects completed pre - and posttest confidence questionnaires and feedback forms .


Twenty-nine trainees were randomized to intervention ( n = @ ) or control ( n = @ ) .


Baseline confidence and demographics were equal between groups .


Intervention group demonstrated better patient assessment : @ @ % ( control ) versus @ @ % ( P = @ ) , management @ % @ % versus @ @ % ( P = @ ) , and nontechnical skills : W-NOTECHS @ @ versus @ @ ( P < @ ) .


Hundred percent of subjects felt that the curriculum improved their practice .


Conducting WRs is a crucial skill but not currently subject to formal training .


Implementation of a comprehensive curriculum for surgical WRs led to significant improvement in quality of patient assessment , management , and nontechnical skills .


Improved WR performance may lead to earlier identification and amelioration of complications and improve patient outcomes .


To explore the enhancing effect of alcohol consumption on attractiveness ratings , in that few studies on the Beer Goggles effect control the stimuli attractiveness level and researchers have seldom considered extending the effect to stimuli other than faces .


Male and female participants ( n = @ ) were randomly assigned to alcohol consumption or placebo groups .


Both groups were asked to assess the attractiveness of two types of pictures ( faces and landscapes ) with three levels of attractiveness for each stimulus category ( high , moderate and low ) .


We found significant interactions between beverage type and attractiveness level .


Attractiveness ratings for moderate - and low-attractiveness faces were significantly higher in the alcohol compared with placebo condition , while there was no significant difference for high-attractiveness stimuli between these two conditions .


As for landscapes , only low-attractiveness stimuli were rated significantly higher in the alcohol condition .


Whether or not alcohol consumption leads to an increase in attractiveness ratings depends on the initial attractiveness of the stimulus materials .


Alcohol consumption tends to affect ratings for stimuli with relatively low attractiveness .


Furthermore , this effect is not limited to faces ; it extends to other types of stimuli like landscapes .


To describe the minimum inhibitory concentration ( MIC ) of fungal isolates to natamycin and voriconazole , and to compare these MICs to previous ocular susceptibility studies .


Experimental laboratory study using isolates from a randomized clinical trial .


The Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial I was a randomized , double-masked , multicenter trial comparing topical natamycin and voriconazole for fungal keratitis treatment .


Susceptibility testing to natamycin and voriconazole were performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute methods .


The relationship between organism and MIC was assessed .


A literature review was performed to compare results to previous ocular susceptibility studies .


Of the @ patients enrolled in the trial , MICs were available for @ ( @ % ) .


Fusarium ( n = @ ) and Aspergillus species ( n = @ ) were the most commonly isolated organisms .


MICs to natamycin and voriconazole were significantly different across all genera ( P < @ ) .


The MIC median ( MIC@ ) and @th percentile ( MIC@ ) for natamycin were equal to or higher than voriconazole for all organisms except Curvularia species .


Compared to other organisms , Fusarium species isolates had the highest MICs to voriconazole and Aspergillus flavus isolates had the highest MICs to natamycin .


Our results were similar to previous reports except that the voriconazole MIC@ against Aspergillus species was @-fold higher and the natamycin MIC@ against Aspergillus fumigatus was @-fold higher in our study .


In this large susceptibility study , Fusarium isolates were least susceptible to voriconazole and A flavus isolates were least susceptible to natamycin when compared to other filamentous fungi .


In the future , susceptibility testing may help guide therapy if performed in a timely manner .


To determine the optimal duration of energy corrective treatment of ischemic stroke ( II ) with cytoflavin or ascorbic acid .


A multicenter randomized clinical trial included @ patients , aged @-@ years .


Patients were randomized into @ groups : the control group ( n = @ ) received ascorbic acid ; cytoflavin group @ ( n = @ ) was treated for @ days and cytoflavin group @ ( n = @ ) for @ days .


In all groups , mean NIHSS score was @ , @ % of patients scored @ and on admission , @ % of patients had consciousness impairment of different severity .


Cytoflavin treatment was more efficient than ascorbic acid that can be explained by different pharmacologic mechanisms .


Treatment with cytoflavin for @ days resulted in a significant decrease of ischemia zone volume by @ % , treatment with cytoflavin for @ days - by @ % , which was associated with better outcomes in neurologic and functional status .


Ascorbic acid demonstrated no effect on morphologic parameters .


Prolonged treatment with cytoflavin in critically ill patients led to significant improvement in clinical and morphologic variables compared to the @-day course .


In patients with less severe condition comparable results were obtained .


Our data justify the need for personalized integrated antioxidant and energy correction therapy .


To assess the effect of an opioid administered topically onto a standardized skin wound in patients without significant comorbidity .


Findings to date are contradictory , often obtained from multimorbid patients with wounds lacking uniformity .


Forty-four patients undergoing surgery for skin grafting were randomly assigned to receive morphine ( @ , @ or @ mg/@cm ( @ ) wound size ) in hydroxyethylcellulose gel or placebo applied onto the excised split-thickness donor wound at the end of surgery .


Pain , supplementary systemic opioids and adverse effects were assessed during the first @h after application .


Healing was examined when the dressings were removed .


Morphine doses ranged from @ to @ mg ( mean @ standard deviation @ mg ) .


No differences in pain scores or use of supplementary analgesics were found between the groups .


Serious adverse effects did not occur ; healing was not impaired .


Large intragroup variability was observed for pain scores , wound sizes and supplementary analgesia .


Patients treated with topically applied morphine gel onto standardized skin wounds did not report lower pain scores compared with placebo-treated patients .


Larger groups would be required to arrive at definitive conclusions .


The split-thickness skin graft model can be used for future research .


To prospectively observe the long-term antiviral efficacy and safety of telbivudine ( LDT ) administered as a monotherapy and as a combination therapy with adefovir dipivoxil ( ADV ) in patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ) and positivity for hepatitis B e antigen ( HBeAg ) .


A total of @ patients with HBeAg-positive CHB were randomly divided into treatment groups for LDT monotherapy ( n = @ ; @ mg orally , once daily ) and LDT+ADV combination therapy ( n = @ ; LDT @ mg plus ADV @ mg orally , once daily ) .


The shortest treatment course was @ weeks and the longest was @ weeks .


At treatment weeks @ , @ , @ ?


, @ , @ , @ , and @ patients were tested for hepatitis B virus ( HBV ) DNA , HBeAg seroconversion and ALT normalization time ; in addition , the incidence and type of adverse drug reactions were recorded .


Data were statistically analyzed to determine the significance of differences observed between groups .


The rate of patients experiencing more than or equal to @ log HBV DNA reduction was higher in the LDT + ADV group ( @ % ( @/@ ) vs. LDT : @ % ( @/@ ) , X@ = @ ) .


The HBV DNA negative rates of the LDT and LDT + ADV groups were @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , and @ % and @ % at week @ ( comparison between two groups for each point P more than @ ) ; both groups showed higher early and rapid sustained HBV DNA negative rates .


For the HBeAg seroconversion , the rates of the LDT and LDT + ADV groups were @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , @ % and @ % ( X@ = @ ) at week @ , and @ % and @ % at week @ ; however , pairwise comparison showed no statistically significant differences between the groups ( P more than @ ) .


Similarly , there was no significant difference between the two groups in incidence of resistance at week @ ( @ % and @ % ) , week @ ( @ % and @ % ) , week @ ( @ % and @ % , X@ = @ ) , week @ ( @ % and @ % ) , and week @ ( @ % and @ % ) ( all P more than @ ) .


Three patients experienced muscle soreness ( LDT , n = @ ; LDT + ADV , n = @ ) and two patients experienced increased creatine phosphokinase ( LDT , n = @ ; LDT + ADV , n = @ ) ; all side effects resolved spontaneously or with symptom-appropriate treatment .


The long-term efficacy of LDT as a monotherapy or as a combination therapy with ADV was similar and the two different treatment approaches were associated with similar rates of resistance .


The long-term safety was good for both treatment approaches .


To assess the efficacy and safety of inhaled nebulized hypertonic saline ( HS ) solution in infants with acute bronchiolitis .


Totally @ patients with acute bronchiolitis ( clinical severity score @ , aged @-@ months ) admitted to the Capital Institute of Pediatrics from November @ to January @ were enrolled .


All the subjects were assigned to receive @ ml compound ipratropium bromide solution for inhalation and @ ml budesonide firstly , twice a day .


Then , the subjects were randomized to receive @ ml doses of nebulized @ % HS ( Group A ) , @ % HS ( Group B ) or @ % NS ( Group C ) , twice a day .


The treatment lasted for @ days .


Clinical severity scores before treatment and @ , @ , @ h after treatment were documented .


Bronchospasm , nausea and emesis were recorded to assess safety .


A total of @ patients completed this research.Group A included @ cases , Group B included @ cases , Group C included @ cases .


Demographic characteristics , pre-treatment duration and clinical severity score before treatment were similar among the @ group.Seventy-two hours after treatment , the clinical severity score of Group A , B , and C were @ ( @ ) , @ ( @ ) and @ ( @ ) .


At @ , @ , and @ h after treatment , the clinical severity score were significantly different among the three groups ( ( @ ) = @ , @ , @ , P < @ ) .


One patient in Group A got paroxysmal cough everytime as soon as he received @ % HS ( @ times ) .


Other @ patients in Group A got paroxysmal cough once .


The incidence of adverse effect of Group A was @ % ( @/@ ) ; no adverse event occurred in other group .


The incidence of adverse effect among this three group was significantly different ( ( @ ) = @ , P < @ ) .


Inhalation of nebulized @ % and @ % hypertonic saline could decrease clinical symptoms of patient with acute bronchiolitis ; @ % HS was superior to @ % HS .


But @ ml dose of @ % HS may induce paroxysmal cough .


This study tested the effectiveness of moxibustion on pain and function in chronic knee osteoarthritis ( KOA ) and evaluated safety .


A multi-centre , non-blinded , parallel-group , randomised controlled trial compared moxibustion with usual care ( UC ) in KOA .


@ South Korean patients aged @-@ were recruited from @-@ , stratified by mild ( Kellgren/Lawrence scale grades @/@ ) and moderate-severe KOA ( grades @/@/@ ) , and randomly allocated to moxibustion or UC for four weeks .


Moxibustion involved burning mugwort devices over acupuncture and Ashi points in affected knee ( s ) .


UC was allowed .


Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Questionnaire ( K-WOMAC ) , Short Form @ Health Survey ( SF-@v@ ) , Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) , physical performance test , pain numeric rating scale ( NRS ) and adverse events were evaluated at @ and @ weeks .


K-WOMAC global score at @ weeks was the primary outcome .


@ patients ( @ mild , @ moderate-severe ) were allocated to moxibustion , @ ( @ mild , @ moderate-severe ) to UC .


K-WOMAC global score ( moxibustion @ + / - SD @ , UC @ + / -@ , p < @ , effect size = @ ) , NRS ( moxibustion @ + / -@ , UC @ + / -@ , p < @ , effect size = @ ) and timed-stand test ( moxibustion @ + / -@ , UC @ + / -@ , p = @ , effect size = @ ) were improved by moxibustion at @ weeks .


The primary outcome improved for mild but not moderate-severe KOA .


At @ weeks , moxibustion significantly improved the K-WOMAC global score and NRS .


Moxibustion improved SF-@ physical component summary ( p = @ ) , bodily pain ( p = @ ) , physical functioning ( p = @ ) and social functioning ( p = @ ) at @ weeks , with no difference in mental component summary at @ and @ weeks .


BDI showed no difference ( p = @ ) at @ weeks .


After @ moxibustion treatments , @ adverse events included first ( n = @ ) and second degree ( n = @ ) burns , pruritus and fatigue ( n = @ ) .


Moxibustion may improve pain , function and quality of life in KOA patients , but adverse events are common .


Limitations included no sham control or blinding .


To examine the speed and trajectory of changes in sleep/wake parameters during short-term treatment of insomnia with cognitive-behavioral therapy ( CBT ) alone versus CBT combined with medication ; and to explore the relationship between early treatment response and post-treatment recovery status .


Participants were @ adults with insomnia ( mean age , @ years ; @ women , @ men ) who underwent a six-week course of CBT , singly or combined with @ mg zolpidem nightly .


The main dependent variables were sleep onset latency , wake after sleep onset , total sleep time , sleep efficiency , and sleep quality , derived from sleep diaries completed daily by patients throughout the course of treatment .


Participants treated with CBT plus medication exhibited faster sleep improvements as evidenced by the first week of treatment compared to those receiving CBT alone .


Optimal sleep improvement was reached on average after only one week for the combined treatment compared to two to three weeks for CBT alone .


Early treatment response did not reliably predict post-treatment recovery status .


Adding medication to CBT produces faster sleep improvement than CBT alone .


However , the magnitude of early treatment response is not predictive of final response after the six-week therapy .


Additional research is needed to examine mechanisms involved in this early treatment augmentation effect and its impact on long-term outcome .


Parapneumonic empyema ( PPE ) is a frequent complication of acute bacterial pneumonia in children .


There is limited evidence regarding the optimal treatment of this condition .


The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of drainage plus urokinase versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the treatment of PPE in childhood .


This prospective , randomized , multicenter clinical trial enrolled patients aged < @ years and hospitalized with septated PPE .


Study patients were randomized to receive urokinase or thoracoscopy .


The main outcome variable was the length of hospital stay after treatment .


The secondary outcomes were total length of hospital stay , number of days with the chest drain , number of days with fever , and treatment failures .


The trial was approved by the ethics committees of all the participating hospitals .


A total of @ patients were randomized to treatment and analyzed ; @ were treated with thoracoscopy and @ with urokinase .


There were no differences in demographic characteristics or in the main baseline characteristics between the @ groups .


No statistically significant differences were found between thoracoscopy and urokinase in the median postoperative stay ( @ vs @ days ) , median hospital stay ( @ vs @ days ) , or days febrile after treatment ( @ vs @ days ) .


A second intervention was required in @ % of children in the thoracoscopy group versus @ % in the urokinase group ( P = @ ) .


Drainage plus urokinase instillation is as effective as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery as first-line treatment of septated PPE in children .


The reported coverage of the measles-rubella ( MR ) or measles-mumps-rubella ( MMR ) vaccine is greater than @ % in Zhejiang province .


However , the incidence of measles , mumps , and rubella remains high .


In this study , we assessed MMR seropositivity and disease distribution by age on the basis of the current vaccination program , wherein the first dose of MR is administered at @ months and the second dose of MMR is administered at @-@ months .


Cross-sectional serological surveys of MMR antibodies were conducted by collecting epidemiological data in Zhejiang province , China in @ .


In total , @ participants were randomly selected from two surveillance sites .


Serum MMR-specific immunoglobulin G levels were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay .


The geometric mean titers and seroprevalence with @ % confidence intervals ( CIs ) were calculated by age and gender .


Proportions of different dose of vaccine by age by vaccine were also identified .


Statistically significant differences between categories were assessed by the Chi-square test .


Over @ % seroprevalence rates of measles were seen in all age groups except < @ months infants .


Children aged @-@ years were shown lower seropositivity rates of mumps while elder adolescences and young adults were presented lower rubella seroprevalence .


Especially , rubella seropositivity was significantly lower in female adults than in male .


Nine measles cases were unvaccinated or unknown vaccination history .


Among them , @ % ( @/@ ) patients were aged @-@ years while @ % ( @/@ ) were infants aged @-@ months .


In addition , @ % ( @/@ ) patients with mumps were children aged @-@ years , and @ % ( @/@ ) rubella cases were aged @-@ years .


A timely two-dose MMR vaccination schedule is recommended , with the first dose at @ months and the second dose at @-@ months .


An MR vaccination speed-up campaign may be necessary for elder adolescents and young adults , particularly young females .


The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping ( KT ) on the body functions and activity of children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy ( CP ) .


This study was designed as a single-blind , randomized , controlled trial .


Thirty children with unilateral spastic CP were randomized and split equally between the KT group ( eight males , seven females ; mean age @y -LSB- SD @y @mo -RSB- range @-@y ) and the control group ( seven males , eight females ; mean age @y @mo -LSB- SD @y @mo -RSB- range @-@y ) receiving usual care .


All participants were evaluated with the Functional Independence Measure for Children ( WeeFIM ) , the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency ( BOTMP ) , the Gross Motor Function Measure ( GMFM ) , short-term muscle power , agility and functional muscle strength tests .


Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to evaluate within and between-group differences respectively .


The level of significance was accepted as p < @ .


There were significant differences in muscle power sprint ( p = @ ) , lateral step-up test right ( p = @ ) , sit to stand ( p = @ ) , attain stand through half knee right ( p = @ ) , BOTMP Gross scores ( p = @ ) , and WeeFIM total ( p = @ ) and self-care scores ( p = @ ) between the groups ( p < @ ) .


Kinesio Taping is a promising additional approach to increase proprioceptive feedback and improve physical fitness , gross motor function , and activities of daily living in children with CP .


To compare the clinical effects between closed reduction and internal fixation ( CRIF ) and total hip arthroplasty ( THA ) for displaced femoral neck fracture .


In this prospective randomized study , @ patients aged above @ years with hip fractures ( Garden III or IV ) were included from January @ to December @ .


The cases were randomly allocated to either the CRIF group or THA group .


Patients with pathological fractures ( bone tumors or metabolic bone disease ) , preoperative avascular necrosis of the femoral head , osteoarthritis , rheumatoid arthritis , hemiplegia , long-term bed rest and complications affecting hip functions were excluded .


During the @-year follow-up , CRIF group had significantly higher rates of complication in hip joint , general complication and reoperation than THA group ( @ % vs. @ % , P < @ ; @ % vs. @ % , P < @ ; @ % vs. @ % , P < @ respectively ) .


There was no difference in mortality between the two groups .


Postoperative function of the hip joint in THA group recovered favorably with higher Harris scores .


For displaced fractures of the femoral neck in elderly patients , THA can achieve a lower rate of complication and reoperation , as well as better postoperative recovery of hip joint function compared with CRIF .


Induction chemotherapy ( IC ) before radiotherapy lowers distant failure ( DF ) rates in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck ( SCCHN ) .


The goal of this phase III trial was to determine whether IC before chemoradiotherapy ( CRT ) further improves survival compared with CRT alone in patients with N@ or N@ disease .


Treatment-naive patients with nonmetastatic N@ or N@ SCCHN were randomly assigned to CRT alone ( CRT arm ; docetaxel , fluorouracil , and hydroxyurea plus radiotherapy @ Gy twice per day every other week ) versus two @-day cycles of IC ( docetaxel @ mg/m ( @ ) on day @ , cisplatin @ mg/m ( @ ) on day @ , and fluorouracil @ mg/m ( @ ) on days @ to @ ) followed by the same CRT regimen ( IC + CRT arm ) .


The primary end point was overall survival ( OS ) .


Secondary end points included DF-free survival , failure pattern , and recurrence-free survival ( RFS ) .


A total of @ patients were randomly assigned .


The most common grade @ to @ toxicities during IC were febrile neutropenia ( @ % ) and mucositis ( @ % ) ; during CRT ( both arms combined ) , they were mucositis ( @ % ) , dermatitis ( @ % ) , and leukopenia ( @ % ) .


Serious adverse events were more common in the IC arm ( @ % v @ % ; P = @ ) .


With a minimum follow-up of @ months , there were no statistically significant differences in OS ( hazard ratio , @ ; @ % CI , @ to @ ) , RFS , or DF-free survival .


IC did not translate into improved OS compared with CRT alone .


However , the study was underpowered because it did not meet the planned accrual target , and OS was higher than predicted in both arms .


IC can not be recommended routinely in patients with N@ or N@ locally advanced SCCHN .


To evaluate the effects and costs of three doses of behavioral weight-loss treatment delivered via Cooperative Extension Offices in rural communities .


Obese adults ( N = @ ) were randomly assigned to low , moderate , or high doses of behavioral treatment ( i.e. , @ , @ , or @ sessions over two years ) or to a control condition that received nutrition education without instruction in behavior modification strategies .


Two-year mean reductions in initial body weight were @ % ( @ % Credible Interval = @-@ @ ) , @ % ( @-@ @ ) , @ % ( @-@ @ ) , and @ % ( @-@ @ ) for the control , low - , moderate - , and high-dose conditions , respectively .


The moderate-dose treatment produced weight losses similar to the high-dose condition and significantly larger than the low-dose and control conditions ( posterior probability > @ ) .


The percentages of participants who achieved weight reductions @ % at two years were significantly higher in the moderate-dose ( @ % ) and high-dose ( @ % ) conditions compared with low-dose ( @ % ) and control ( @ % ) conditions ( posterior probability > @ ) .


Cost-effectiveness analyses favored the moderate-dose treatment over all other conditions .


A moderate dose of behavioral treatment produced two-year weight reductions comparable to high-dose treatment but at a lower cost .


These findings have important policy implications for the dissemination of weight-loss interventions into communities with limited resources .


Self-report questionnaires are an important method of evaluating lifespan health , exercise , and health-related quality of life ( HRQL ) outcomes among elite , competitive athletes .


Few instruments , however , have undergone formal characterization of their psychometric properties within this population .


To evaluate the validity and reliability of a novel health and exercise questionnaire , the Trojan Lifetime Champions ( TLC ) Health Survey .


Descriptive laboratory study .


A large National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I university .


A total of @ university alumni ( age range , @ to @ years ) , including former varsity collegiate athletes and a control group of nonathletes .


Participants completed the TLC Health Survey twice at a mean interval of @ days with randomization to the paper or electronic version of the instrument .


Content validity , feasibility of administration , test-retest reliability , parallel-form reliability between paper and electronic forms , and estimates of systematic and typical error versus differences of clinical interest were assessed across a broad range of health , exercise , and HRQL measures .


Correlation coefficients , including intraclass correlation coefficients ( ICCs ) for continuous variables and agreement statistics for ordinal variables , for test-retest reliability averaged @ , @ , @ , and @ for HRQL , lifetime health , recent health , and exercise variables , respectively .


Correlation coefficients , again ICCs and , for parallel-form reliability ( ie , equivalence ) between paper and electronic versions averaged @ , @ , @ , and @ for HRQL , lifetime health , recent health , and exercise variables , respectively .


Typical measurement error was less than the a priori thresholds of clinical interest , and we found minimal evidence of systematic test-retest error .


We found strong evidence of content validity , convergent construct validity with the Short-Form @ Version @ HRQL instrument , and feasibility of administration in an elite , competitive athletic population .


These data suggest that the TLC Health Survey is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing lifetime and recent health , exercise , and HRQL , among elite competitive athletes .


Generalizability of the instrument may be enhanced by additional , larger-scale studies in diverse populations .


Physical therapy has not been evaluated much for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency before .


The question is whether balneohydrotherapy and usual care combined is superior to usual care alone .


In a randomized trial comparing spa therapy versus waiting list patients were treated on an out-patient basis in a private spa center .


Patients had to be between @ and @ years old , with chronic venous insufficiency ( stage @ or @ according to the CEAP classification ) .


The balneohydrotherapy group received @ days of treatment in Aix-Les-Bains spa center continuing their usual care .


The control group continued their usual care as well during the study .


The balneohydrotherapy program consisted of Kneipp therapy ( @ minutes ) , walking @ minutes in a special mineral water pool with underwater jets at @ C , massage and bathing in a mineral water tub at @ C.


The main outcome criterion was the number of patients with @ % self assessed improvement on the Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire at three months after therapy .


@ patients were assessed for eligibility , @ were randomized @ retired drew back their consent and were not included in the intention to treat analysis .


None were lost to follow up .


After three months @ ( @ % ) patients improved in the balneohydrotherapy group and @ ( @ % ) in the control group .


The difference between groups was significant ( odd ratio @ -LSB- @ - @ -RSB- , relative risk reduction @ -LSB- @ - @ -RSB- ) .


There were no serious side effects .


Balneohydrotherapy seems to improve quality of life of patients with chronic venous insufficiency .


To determine the efficacy of prostaglandin administration during the proliferative phase in order to improve pregnancy rates following frozen embryo transfer during a hormone replacement cycle ( HRC ) .


From September @ through March @ , patients ( n = @ ) were recruited who had undergone oocyte retrieval during a stimulation cycle with clomiphene and had deferred fresh embryo transfer ( ET ) due to a thin uterine endometrium .


All patients were less than @ years of age and underwent thawed ET following all embryo cryopreservation , and were randomly divided into two groups for thawed ET using a conventional hormone replacement cycle with or without prostaglandin derivatives ( prostaglandin or conventional group ) .


Prostaglandin derivatives were administrated during the proliferative phase .


Pregnancy and implantation rates following frozen ET were compared between the two groups .


Although the endometrial thickness on the day of ET was similar for the prostaglandin and conventional groups , the pregnancy and implantation rates for the prostaglandin group were @ % and @ % , respectively , which was significantly higher than the rates for the conventional group ( P < @ ) .


Among patients who avoided fresh ET due to a thin endometrium , the pregnancy rate following a thawed cycle was low .


However , it was improved when prostaglandin derivatives were used during the proliferative phase .


Family-based treatment is an efficacious outpatient intervention for medically stable adolescents with anorexia nervosa .


Previous research suggests family-based treatment may be more effective for some families when parents and adolescents attend separate therapy sessions compared to conjoint sessions .


Our service developed a novel separated model of family-based treatment , parent-focused treatment , and is undertaking a randomised controlled trial to compare parent-focused treatment to conjoint family-based treatment .


This randomised controlled trial will recruit @ adolescents aged @-@ years with DSM-IV anorexia nervosa or eating disorder not otherwise specified ( anorexia nervosa type ) .


The trial commenced in @ and is expected to be completed in @ .


Participants are recruited from the Royal Children 's Hospital Eating Disorders Program , Melbourne , Australia .


Following a multidisciplinary intake assessment , eligible families who provide written informed consent are randomly allocated to either parent-focused treatment or conjoint family-based treatment .


In parent-focused treatment , the adolescent sees a clinical nurse consultant and the parents see a trained mental health clinician .


In conjoint family-based treatment , the whole family attends sessions with the mental health clinician .


Both groups receive @ treatment sessions over @ months and regular medical monitoring by a paediatrician .


The primary outcome is remission at end of treatment and @ and @ month follow up , with remission defined as being @ % expected body weight and having an eating disorder symptom score within one standard deviation of community norms .


The secondary outcomes include partial remission and changes in eating pathology , depressive symptoms and self-esteem .


Moderating and mediating factors will also be explored .


This will be first randomised controlled trial of a parent-focused model of family-based treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa .


If found to be efficacious , parent-focused treatment will offer an alternative approach for clinicians who treat adolescents with anorexia nervosa .


Restoring patient homeostasis after coronary angiography , the gold standard diagnostic test for coronary heart disease is usually achieved by manual compression of the puncture site using a sandbag and prolonged bed rest .


However , this process frequently results in patient complaints of back pain and discomfort .


The aim of study was to assess the effect of positioning on patient outcomes after coronary angiography .


This study used a single-blind randomized control trial approach .


The sample consisted of @ patients who had undergone a nonemergency coronary angiography via the femoral artery .


Balanced block randomization was used to allocate participants into intervention and control groups .


Routine care for the intervention group ( n = @ ) was adjusted to include the following : ( @ ) intermittent changes to patient body and head position in bed during first @ hours after catheterization , ( @ ) reduction of sandbag compression time on the puncture site to @ hour , and ( @ ) regular examination for bleeding during the first @ hours after catheterization .


Intervention group participants were allowed to ambulate without restriction @ hours after catheterization .


Patients in the control group ( n = @ ) received routine care , consisting of ( @ ) @-@ hours of bed rest in the supine position with the affected leg fixed straight and immobilized and ( @ ) sandbag compression on the puncture site for @ hours .


The main outcomes used in this study were level of back pain , discomfort , foot pain , bleeding , and hematoma .


Intervention group patients had significantly less back pain and foot pain and higher comfort than the control group at the second , third , and sixth hour after catheterization ( p = @ ) .


There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of amount of bleeding and hematoma ( p > @ ) .


Findings suggest that changes in patient position may be safer in the early period of postcatheterization bed rest than currently indicated in standard practice protocols .


Furthermore , limiting sandbag compression to @ hour has no measurable effect on the incidence and severity of vascular complications .


The treatment of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is still not well settled and at times is very frustrating .


Number of protocols have been reported with variable results outcome in various conditions .


The main pillar of treatment of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is use of immunomodulating and suppressive drugs in various combinations .


The herbal preparations have also been reported to have immunomodulating property .


The study has been planned to record Immunomodulating and antiproteinuric effect of Hippophae rhamnoides .


In the present study had @ groups having @ patients of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in each group have been included .


The patients were subjected to haematological , biochemical , immunological investigation at @ , @ , @ and @ months interval with dietic advise .


Group A have been put on standard treatment , whereas group B on Badriphal in the well worked up doses .


The hydroalcoholic extract of @ mg twice daily of Badriphal was given to group B as add on treatment .


Patients were followed up with definite protocol at monthly interval for @ months .


At the end of @ month patients showed improvement in the symptoms of oedema , anorexia , oliguria in the herbal group .


The urinary estimation of protein showed significant decrease in Group B with elevation of S. albumin levels .


The inflammatory cytokines has showed significant decrease at the end of @ month .


Thus the pilot study showed beneficial effect of the herbal preparation Hippophae rhamnoides as add on treatment .


A large perspective study is recommended to establish these findings .


This study was performed to assess the effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on the metabolic profiles of vitamin D insufficient persons with type @ diabetes .


In a parallel designed randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial , a total of @ non-smoker individuals with type @ diabetes and insufficient @-hydroxyvitamin D , aged > @ years , were recruited from the Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Centre .


Participants were randomly assigned to four groups receiving : ( @ ) @,@ U/week vitamin D + calcium placebo ; ( @ ) @,@ mg/day calcium + vitamin D placebo ; ( @ ) @,@ U/week vitamin D + @,@ mg/day calcium ; or ( @ ) vitamin D placebo + calcium placebo for @ weeks .


A study technician carried out the random allocations using a random numbers table .


All investigators , participants and laboratory technicians were blinded to the random assignments .


All participants provided @ days of dietary records and @ days of physical activity records throughout the intervention .


Blood samples were taken to quantify glycaemic and lipid profiles at study baseline and after @ weeks of intervention .


@ participants were randomised in each group .


During the intervention , one participant from the calcium group and one from the vitamin D group were excluded because of personal problems .


Calcium-vitamin D co-supplementation resulted in reduced serum insulin ( changes from baseline : -@ @ pmol/l , p = @ ) , HbA@c -LSB- -@ @ % ( -@ @ mmol/mol ) , p = @ -RSB- , HOMA-IR ( -@ @ , p = @ ) , LDL-cholesterol ( -@ @ mmol/l , p = @ ) and total/HDL-cholesterol levels ( -@ @ , p = @ ) compared with other groups .


We found a significant increase in QUICKI ( @ @ , p = @ ) , HOMA of beta cell function ( HOMA-B ; @ @ , p = @ ) and HDL-cholesterol ( @ @ mmol/l , p = @ ) in the calcium-vitamin D group compared with others .


Joint calcium and vitamin D supplementation might improve the glycaemic status and lipid profiles of vitamin D insufficient people with type @ diabetes .


Various genetic polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with antipsychotic-induced weight gain .


In this study , we aimed to determine whether risk polymorphisms in @ candidate genes are associated with reduction in body mass index ( BMI ) of patients following switching of antipsychotics to aripiprazole or ziprasidone .


We recruited @ schizophrenia patients with metabolic abnormalities and who have been on at least @year treatment with other antipsychotics ; they were then switched to either aripiprazole or ziprasidone .


They were genotyped , and their BMI monitored for @ months .


Significant associations with reduction in BMI at @months following switching were found in two of these genes : with rs@ of the ADRA@A gene ( CC+CG -LSB- -@ kg/m -RSB- vs GG -LSB- -@ kg/m -RSB- , p = @ ) and with rs@ of the MTHFR gene ( AA -LSB- -@ -RSB- vs AC+CC -LSB- -@ -RSB- , p = @ ) .


The study data indicated that carriage of the ADRA@A rs@ GG genotype and the MTHFR rs@ C allele are associated with BMI reduction in this population following switching of antipsychotics to aripiprazole and ziprasidone .


Total hip replacement provides pain relief and improves physical function and quality of life in patients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis .


The incidence of hip replacement operations is expected to increase due to the growing elderly population .


Overall , the posterior approach and lateral approach are the two most commonly used approaches for hip replacement operations .


The posterior approach is associated with an increased risk of revision due to dislocations , and some studies have shown that the lateral approach is associated with reduced patient-reported outcomes , including physical function and pain ; however , this has not been investigated in a randomised controlled trial with a twelve-month follow-up .


We hypothesized that the lateral approach has an inferior outcome in patient-reported outcome compared with the posterior approach after one year .


The trial is a prospective , double blinded , parallel-group controlled trial with balanced randomisation -LSB- @ : @ -RSB- .


Patients with hip osteoarthritis scheduled for hip replacement surgery , aged @-@ years , will be consecutively recruited and randomised into two groups .


Group A will receive hip replacement using the posterior approach , and Group B will receive hip replacement using the lateral approach .


The primary end-point for assessing the outcome of the two interventions will be twelve months after surgery .


Follow-up will also be performed after three and six months .


The primary outcome is Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score , subscale of `` Physical function Short form '' ( HOOS-PS ) Secondary outcome measures include two other subscales of HOOS ( `` Pain '' and `` Hip related Quality of Life '' ) , physical activity level ( UCLA activity score ) , limping ( HHS ) and general health status ( EQ-@D-@L ) .


Explorative outcomes include physical function test , @D-gait-analysis and muscle strength .


To our knowledge , this is the first randomised controlled trial comparing the posterior approach with the lateral approach with patient reported outcome as the primary outcome and with a twelve-month follow-up .


This study tests the effectiveness of motivational interviewing compared with the usual care for Chinese hypertensive patients .


A randomised controlled trial was used .


One hundred and twenty eligible participants were randomly assigned to either the control group ( usual care group ) or the intervention group ( motivational interviewing group ) .


The results of this study demonstrated that the total scores and the mean scores for each dimension of the adherence questionnaire were increased in the intervention group ( P < @ ) , and the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of the hypertensive patients greatly decreased in the intervention group during the six months of the motivational interviewing counselling ( P < @ ) .


The application of motivational interviewing for hypertensive patients is a promising approach for sustaining the clinical benefits of adherence behaviour .


Motivational interviewing should be provided to hypertensive patients at hospitals and community health centres to assist patients in controlling their BP and to enhance treatment adherence .


A series of training courses on the motivational interviewing technique should be provided to nurses .


Ataluren was developed to restore functional protein production in genetic disorders caused by nonsense mutations , which are the cause of cystic fibrosis in @ % of patients .


This trial was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of ataluren in patients with nonsense-mutation cystic fibrosis .


This randomised , double-blind , placebo-controlled , phase @ study enrolled patients from @ sites in @ countries in North America and Europe .


Eligible patients with nonsense-mutation cystic fibrosis ( aged @ years ; abnormal nasal potential difference ; sweat chloride > @ mmol/L ; forced expiratory volume in @ s -LSB- FEV@ -RSB- @ % and @ % ) were randomly assigned by interactive response technology to receive oral ataluren ( @ mg/kg in morning , @ mg/kg midday , and @ mg/kg in evening ) or matching placebo for @ weeks .


Randomisation used a block size of four , stratified by age , chronic inhaled antibiotic use , and percent-predicted FEV@ .


The primary endpoint was relative change in percent-predicted FEV@ from baseline to week @ , analysed in all patients with a post-baseline spirometry measurement .


This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT@ .


Between Sept @ , @ , and Nov @ , @ , @ patients were randomly assigned , of whom @ in each treatment group had a valid post-baseline spirometry measurement .


Relative change from baseline in percent-predicted FEV@ did not differ significantly between ataluren and placebo at week @ ( -@ % vs -@ % ; difference @ % -LSB- @ % CI -@ to @ -RSB- ; p = @ ) .


The number of pulmonary exacerbations did not differ significantly between treatment groups ( rate ratio @ -LSB- @ % CI @-@ @ -RSB- ; p = @ ) .


However , post-hoc analysis of the subgroup of patients not using chronic inhaled tobramycin showed a @ % difference ( @ % CI @-@ @ ) in relative change from baseline in percent-predicted FEV@ between the ataluren and placebo groups at week @ ( -@ % -LSB- -@ to @ -RSB- vs -@ % -LSB- -@ to -@ -RSB- ; nominal p = @ ) , and fewer pulmonary exacerbations in the ataluern group ( @ events -LSB- @-@ @ -RSB- vs @ events -LSB- @-@ @ -RSB- ; rate ratio @ -LSB- @-@ @ -RSB- ; nominal p = @ ) .


Safety profiles were generally similar for ataluren and placebo , except for the occurrence of increased creatinine concentrations ( ie , acute kidney injury ) , which occurred in @ ( @ % ) of @ patients in the ataluren group compared with one ( < @ % ) of @ patients in the placebo group .


No life-threatening adverse events or deaths were reported in either group .


Although ataluren did not improve lung function in the overall population of nonsense-mutation cystic fibrosis patients who received this treatment , it might be beneficial for patients not taking chronic inhaled tobramycin .


Treatment of idiopathic headshaking in horses is complicated by an incomplete understanding of underlying pathophysiology and partially effective treatments .


If an inflammatory etiology exists , corticosteroids could be beneficial .


An anti-inflammatory dose of dexamethasone reduces the signs of idiopathic headshaking in a field setting .


Convenience sample of @ adult horses with idiopathic headshaking syndrome .


Cases were recruited from the general population and diagnosed by attending veterinarians .


Prospective , blinded clinical trial .


Pulsed dosing was with oral dexamethasone ( @ mg PO Q@h @ days , q@ weeks for @ months ) or placebo ( inert paste ) .


Owners were blinded and asked to score the headshaking from @ to @ ( @ = most severe ) @ days per week .


The change in headshaking scores ( HS ) over each treatment pulse was compared between groups by ordinal logistic regression .


Twelve horses completed the trial .


There was no significant difference between treated or placebo horses ( P = @ ) .


Sun ( P @ ) , wind ( P = @ ) , and exercise ( P @ ) significantly increased HS .


No benefit of dexamethasone treatment was detected for idiopathic headshaking .


The results confirmed previous reports of common triggers for headshaking behavior


Stenosis of the internal carotid artery has been associated with cognitive impairment and decline .


However , studies testing the effect of carotid revascularisation on cognition have had conflicting results .


This may in part be explained by variation in the flow territory of the carotid artery .


In @ to @ % of the patients , the posterior cerebral artery is mainly or exclusively supplied by the internal carotid artery via a foetal-type posterior cerebral artery .


In these patients , ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis is likely to result in a larger area with hypoperfusion than in case of a normal posterior cerebral artery .


Patients with a foetal-type posterior cerebral artery could therefore benefit more from revascularisation .


We compared the effects of carotid revascularisation on cognition between patients with a foetal-type and those with a normal posterior cerebral artery .


Patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis@ % , enrolled in the International Carotid Stenting Study ( ICSS ) at a single centre , underwent detailed neuropsychological examinations before and @ months after revascularisation .


Cognitive test results were standardized into z-scores , from which a cognitive sumscore was calculated .


The primary outcome was the change in cognitive sumscore between baseline and follow-up .


Changes in cognitive sumscore were compared between patients with an ipsilateral foetal-type and those with a normal posterior cerebral artery , as assessed with CT or MR angiography .


Of @ patients enrolled in ICSS at the centre during the study period , @ had both angiography at baseline and neuropsychological examination at baseline and at @-months follow-up .


The cognitive sum score decreased by @ ( @ % confidence interval , @ to @ ) in @ patients with an ipsilateral foetal-type posterior cerebral artery and by @ ( @ % CI , @ to @ ) in @ patients with a normal posterior cerebral artery ( mean difference , -@ ; @ % CI , -@ to -@ ) .


This did not change essentially after adjustment for baseline factors .


An ipsilateral foetal-type posterior cerebral artery appears to increase cognitive decline after carotid revascularisation .


Our findings have to be reproduced in an independent study before further implications can be made .


Outpatient nonhospice palliative care has been shown to provide many benefits to patients facing advanced illness , but such services remain uncommon in the U.S. Little is known about the association between clinic-based outpatient palliative care consultation and the timing of hospice enrollment .


To determine whether there are differences in hospice length of service ( LOS ) between patients who were seen vs. patients who were not seen in an outpatient palliative care clinic before enrollment in hospice .


Using a retrospective study of medical records , a `` prior palliative care clinic '' group was formed of those hospice patients who had had a nonhospice clinic-based outpatient palliative care consult before hospice admission ( n = @ ) .


For those patients , `` control '' hospice patients without prior clinic-based palliative care were chosen who were matched by age , gender , median income of their zip code , and diagnostic group .


Both groups were restricted to patients who died while enrolled in hospice .


LOS for these two groups was compared using standard statistical methods of survival analysis .


Prior palliative care clinic patients had a median LOS of @ days , whereas control patients had a median LOS of @ days ( @ % CI for difference between the medians @-@ days ) .


The difference between the LOS distribution curves was statistically significant by the log-rank test ( P < @ ) .


Hospice patients who had clinic-based outpatient palliative consults before hospice enrollment tended , on average , to have a longer LOS in hospice than patients who did not .


This study evaluated the effects of aclidinium bromide , a long-acting muscarinic antagonist indicated for maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) , on exercise endurance , dyspnea , lung hyperinflation , and physical activity .


In this randomized , double-blind , crossover study , patients with stable COPD and moderate-to-severe airflow limitation received aclidinium @ g twice daily or placebo via Genuair/Pressair ( a ) for @ weeks ( @-week washout between treatment periods ) .


The primary endpoint was change from baseline to Week @ in endurance time , measured by constant work rate cycle ergometry testing at @ % peak incremental work rate .


Changes from baseline in intensity of exertional dyspnea ( Borg CR@ Scale ) and trough inspiratory capacity were secondary endpoints .


Additional endpoints included changes from baseline in other spirometric , plethysmographic , and physical activity ( assessed by objective accelerometer measurement ) parameters .


Efficacy endpoints were analyzed using an analysis of covariance model .


In total , @ patients were randomized and treated ( mean age @ years ; mean post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in @ s @ L -LSB- @ % predicted -RSB- ; mean endurance time @ s ) .


After @ weeks , endurance time was significantly increased with aclidinium versus placebo ( treatment difference @ s ; p < @ ) .


At Week @ , aclidinium significantly reduced dyspnea intensity at isotime during exercise ( treatment difference -@ ; p < @ ) and improved trough inspiratory capacity ( treatment difference @ mL ; p < @ ) versus placebo .


Significant improvements in spirometric , plethysmographic , and some physical activity parameters were observed with aclidinium versus placebo .


These results suggest that aclidinium significantly improves exercise endurance , exertional dyspnea , hyperinflation , and physical activity in patients with COPD .


Canagliflozin is a sodium glucose co-transporter @ inhibitor approved for treating patients with type @ diabetes .


This study evaluated renal and non-renal effects of canagliflozin on postprandial plasma glucose ( PG ) excursion in patients with type @ diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin .


Patients ( N = @ ) were randomized to a four-period crossover study with @-day inpatient stays in each period and @-week wash-outs between periods .


Patients received Treatments ( A ) placebo/placebo , ( B ) canagliflozin @ mg/placebo , ( C ) canagliflozin @ mg/canagliflozin @ mg , or ( D ) canagliflozin @ mg/canagliflozin @ mg on Day @/Day @ in one of four treatment sequences ( similar urinary glucose excretion -LSB- UGE -RSB- expected for Treatments B-D ) .


A mixed-meal tolerance test ( MMTT ) was given @ minutes post-dose on Day @ of each period .


A single dose of canagliflozin @ mg reduced both fasting and postprandial PG compared with placebo , with generally similar effects on fasting PG and UGE observed for Treatments B-D .


An additional dose of canagliflozin @ mg ( Treatment C ) , but not @ mg ( Treatment D ) , prior to the MMTT on Day @ provided greater postprandial PG reduction versus placebo ( difference in incremental glucose AUC@-@h , -@ % for B vs A ; -@ % for C vs A ; -@ % -LSB- P = @ -RSB- for C vs B ) , leading to modestly greater reductions in total glucose AUC@-@h with Treatment C versus Treatment B or D. Canagliflozin was generally well tolerated .


These findings suggest that a non-renal mechanism ( ie , beyond UGE ) contributes to glucose lowering for canagliflozin @ mg , but not @ mg .


This study aimed to explore the effects of massage on the state anxiety of patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI ) .


In accordance with the principle of the minimum allocation of imbalance index for comparability , a total of @ cases that were ready to receive PCI were divided into two groups ( @ in the intervention group and @ in the control group ) .


The patients in the control group received routine care , whereas the patients in the observation group were given massage intervention .


The state anxiety , heart rate , and blood pressure of the two groups were observed and compared .


Massage treatments reduced the emergency response and level of anxiety of cardiovascular patients before PCI .


The post-intervention blood pressure , heart rate , and pain score of the intervention group were significantly better than those of the control group ( P < @ ) .


Health professionals should pay attention to and strengthen the exploration of the effects of reasonable care intervention mode under PCI to promote the physical and mental health of patients , as well as improve their medical care satisfaction .


A substantial proportion of patients with Parkinson 's disease ( PD ) have concomitant cognitive dysfunction .


Identification of biomarker profiles that predict which PD patients have a greater likelihood for progression of cognitive symptoms is pressingly needed for future treatment and prevention approaches .


Subjects were drawn from the Deprenyl and Tocopherol Antioxidative Therapy of Parkinsonism ( DATATOP ) study , a large clinical trial that enrolled initially untreated PD patients .


For the current study , Phase One encompassed trial baseline until just prior to levodopa administration ( n = @ ) , and Phase Two spanned the initiation of levodopa treatment until the end of cognitive follow-up ( n = @ ) .


Correlations and linear mixed models were performed to determine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between baseline amyloid @-@ ( A@ ) , total tau ( t-tau ) , and phosphorylated tau ( p-tau ) in cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF ) and measures of memory and executive function .


Analyses also considered APOE genotype and tremor - vs. rigidity-dominant phenotype .


No association was found between baseline CSF biomarkers and cognitive test performance during Phase One .


However , once levodopa treatment was initiated , higher p-tau and p-tau/A@ predicted subsequent decline on cognitive tasks involving both memory and executive functions .


The interactions between biomarkers and cognition decline did not appear to be influenced by levodopa dosage , APOE genotype or motor phenotype .


The current study has , for the first time , demonstrated the possible involvement of tau species , whose gene ( MAPT ) has been consistently linked to the risk of PD by genome-wide association studies , in the progression of cognitive symptoms in PD .


The objective of this study was to determine whether a mindfulness program , created for the workplace , was both practical and efficacious in decreasing employee stress while enhancing resiliency and well-being .


Participants ( @ ) recruited from The Dow Chemical Company were selected and randomly assigned to an online mindfulness intervention ( n = @ ) or wait-list control ( n = @ ) .


Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale , the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire , the Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale , and the Shirom Vigor Scale at pre - and postintervention and @-month follow-up .


The results indicated that the mindfulness intervention group had significant decreases in perceived stress as well as increased mindfulness , resiliency , and vigor .


This online mindfulness intervention seems to be both practical and effective in decreasing employee stress , while improving resiliency , vigor , and work engagement , thereby enhancing overall employee well-being .


The @ integrin monoclonal antibody vedolizumab is hypothesised to be gut selective .


Effects of vedolizumab on immune responses to parenterally or enterally administered antigens were investigated .


In this randomised , double-blind , placebo-controlled , phase I trial , healthy participants received a single intravenous dose of vedolizumab @mg ( n = @ ) or placebo ( n = @ ) .


After @days , participants began intramuscular hepatitis B vaccine ( HBV ; days @ , @ , @ ) and oral cholera vaccine ( OCV ; days @ , @ ) regimens .


The study was designed to demonstrate a @ % non-inferiority margin for the between-group difference in the primary end point : percentage of participants with HBV seroconversion at day @ ( serum hepatitis B surface antigen ( HBs ) antibody titre @IU/L ) .


OCV seroconversion at day @ ( > @-fold increase in serum cholera toxin ( CT ) antibodies ) was a secondary end point .


A total of @ ( @ % ) placebo-treated and @ ( @ % ) vedolizumab-treated participants responded to HBV .


Geometric mean anti-HBs titres were similar for placebo ( @ IU/L ) and vedolizumab ( @ IU/L ) at day @ .


A total of @ ( @ % ) placebo-treated and @ ( @ % ) vedolizumab-treated participants responded to OCV at day @ .


Geometric mean anti-CT IgG levels were higher for placebo than for vedolizumab at day @ ( @ vs. @ ELISA Units ( EU ) / mL ) and day @ ( @ vs. @ EU/mL ) .


Anti-CT IgA results were similar .


Adverse events were consistent with previous experience .


One serious adverse event ( spontaneous abortion ) was reported for placebo .


Vedolizumab did not alter the response to parenterally administered antigens but reduced the response to oral antigens , demonstrating its gut-selective mechanism of action .


In a Japanese Phase II study , the hepatitis C virus NS@/@A protease inhibitor simeprevir demonstrated potent antiviral activity and significantly improved sustained virologic response rates when added to peginterferon -@ a/ribavirin in treatment-nave patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype @ .


CONCERTO-@ was a Phase III , randomized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial .


Treatment-nave adults ( @ years ) with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype @ infection ( hepatitis C virus RNA @ log@ IU/ml ) were randomized ( @:@ ) to simeprevir @mg once-daily with peginterferon -@ a/ribavirin for @ weeks then response-guided therapy with peginterferon -@ a/ribavirin for @ or @ weeks , or to placebo with peginterferon -@ a/ribavirin for @ weeks then peginterferon -@ a/ribavirin for @ weeks .


Overall , @ patients were treated .


Sustained virologic response @ weeks after treatment end ( primary efficacy endpoint ) was achieved in @ % of simeprevir - and @ % of placebo-treated patients ( p < @ for stratum-adjusted between-group difference ) .


Overall , @ % of simeprevir-treated patients met response-guided therapy criteria and completed treatment at week @ ; sustained virologic response rate at @ weeks in these patients was @ % .


One simeprevir - ( @ % ) and two placebo-treated patients ( @ % ) experienced viral breakthrough ; respective viral relapse rates were @ % and @ % .


Overall adverse event profile in simeprevir-treated patients was comparable to that in patients who received peginterferon -@ a/ribavirin alone .


Simeprevir once daily with peginterferon -@ a/ribavirin significantly improved sustained virologic response rate @ weeks after treatment end in treatment-nave patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype @ infection , with a shorter @-week treatment duration in most patients .


The treatment of bipolar disorder type I ( BD-I ) with a comorbid cocaine dependence disorder ( CDD ) is a challenge in current psychiatric practice .


Drugs with proven efficacy in manic/mixed episodes , such as atypical antipsychotics and mood stabilizers , sometimes do not prevent depressive relapses ; on the other hand , the use of antidepressants during acute depressive episodes may increase the risk of a manic switch .


The aim of the present study was to investigate the short-term efficacy of bupropion augmentation in acutely depressed BD-I patients with co-occurring CDD .


Twelve depressed BD-I patients , with a comorbid CDD , treated with valproate @ to @ mg/d and aripiprazole @ mg/d , were randomly assigned to receive bupropion @ mg/d as an open-label add-on therapy ( n = @ ) or to continue their previous treatment ( n = @ ) .


After @ weeks of observation , patients receiving add-on therapy with bupropion have improved in terms of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores and Drug Abuse Screening Test scores , with respect to those of the comparison group , whereas no significant increase of Young Mania Rating Scale scores over time was observed .


Our preliminary findings suggest that combining bupropion with mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics may be a good therapeutic option in short-term treatment of depressed BD-I patients with comorbid CDD .


Previous analysis of a single data set in acute pain following third molar extraction demonstrated a strong relationship between the speed of reduction of pain intensity and overall pain relief , as well as need for additional analgesia .


Individual patient data analysis of a single randomized , double-blind trial of placebo , paracetamol @ mg , ibuprofen sodium @ mg and ibuprofen-poloxamer @ mg following third molar extraction .


Visual analogue scale pain intensity ( VASPI ) and other measurements were made at baseline , every @-@ min , and at @ , @ , @ , @ , @ , @ and @ min .


Most patients produced consistent VASPI results over time .


For placebo and paracetamol , few patients achieved low VASPI scores and maintained them .


For both ibuprofen formulations , VASPI scores fell rapidly during the first hour and were then typically maintained until later re-medication .


Analysis of all patients showed that rapid VASPI reduction in the first hour was strongly correlated with good overall pain relief ( high total pain relief over @-@ h ) , and with lesser need for additional analgesia within @ h. Results for this analysis were in very good agreement with a previous analysis , validating the relationship between fast initial pain intensity reduction and overall good pain relief in this setting .


In acute pain following third molar extraction , faster acting analgesic formulations provide earlier onset of pain relief , better overall pain relief and a less frequent need for additional analgesia , indicating longer lasting pain relief .


To determine the effects of subanesthetic ketamine in dogs with pyometra on C-reactive protein ( CRP ) concentrations following surgery .


Prospective , nonconcealed , alternating allocation controlled trial .


Veterinary teaching hospital .


Sixteen dogs diagnosed with pyometra .


The tentative diagnosis of canine pyometra was based on compatible history , physical examination findings , ultrasonographic findings , and hematological evaluation .


Two different anesthesia and analgesic protocols with and without low-dose ketamine were used during and following ovariohysterectomy in @ female dogs ( n = @ per group ) that were diagnosed with naturally occurring pyometra .


Dogs were sequentially allocated to treatment groups in an alternating fashion without concealment .


Serum was collected before , @ , and @ hours after surgery for CRP measurement .


Perioperative physical parameters in the @ groups of dogs were similar .


The serum concentrations of CRP in both groups were essentially the same before surgery , but significantly increased in the control group and decreased in ketamine group at @ hours after surgery .


Low-dose ketamine attenuated the postoperative concentration of serum CRP in dogs with pyometra compared with dogs that did not receive ketamine in the perioperative period .


Further studies are warranted to determine the clinical implications of these findings .


In the United States certain minority groups , such as racial/ethnic immigrant women , are less likely than non-Hispanic White women to be screened for cervical cancer .