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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

The morbidity of heparin therapy after development of pulmonary embolus in patients undergoing thoracolumbar or lumbar spinal fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: The postoperative course of patients who developed a pulmonary embolus after thoracolumbar or lumbar spinal fusion treated with heparin was studied to quantify the morbidity risk of anticoagulation. OBJECTIVE: To compare the morbidity risk of heparinization with that of an alternative form of therapy--inferior vena cava filter placement. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Therapeutic heparinization was the current treatment of choice for patients who develop thromboembolic disease after surgery. Although heparin usage was reported to be associated with a number of complications after other orthopedic and general surgical procedures, no information was available to identify complications of heparinization after lumbar or thoracolumbar spine surgery or to define the risk of such complications. METHODS: Twenty-two members of the Scoliosis Research Society were polled to determine their experiences with the anticoagulation of this subset of patients. Surgeons polled had a combined experience of 250 man-years and had performed more than 13000 thoracolumbar and lumbar spinal fusions. The MEDLINE database was used to review pertinent English language publications describing inferior vena cava filter complications, effectiveness, safety, and indications for use. RESULTS: Nine patients were located who fit the inclusion criteria of this study. Six (67%) had complications attributable to heparinization. Clinically significant complications of filter placement ranged from 0.12% to 10.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Heparinization after the development of pulmonary embolus in patients recently undergoing spinal fusion is associated with a high complication rate. The morbidity of vena cava filter placement is low and should be considered a treatment alternative in the treatment of patients who experience pulmonary embolus after surgery.

Adolescent↗

The effect of stage of Parkinson's disease at the onset of levodopa therapy on development of motor complications.

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the stage of Parkinson's disease (PD) (according to the Hoehn and Yahr staging system) would affect the length of time between the introduction of levodopa therapy and appearance of levodopa-associated motor complications. Forty patients with clinically definite PD were studied. In all, clinical and therapeutic data were collected from the time of diagnosis to the time of levodopa-associated motor complications (i.e. dyskinesia, motor fluctuations). In 17 patients, levodopa could be started in Hoehn and Yahr stage I (H & Y-I; 16.2 months after the onset of PD), whilst in 13 patients levodopa could be started in H & Y-II (19.6 months after the onset of the disease) and in 10 in H & Y-III (45.1 months after the onset of PD). Cox proportional hazard regression model shows that the PD patients in whom the initial levodopa treatment was introduced at stage III develop both dyskinesias and motor fluctuations significantly earlier than the patients whose levodopa started in stage I and II of PD. The median interval to develop dyskinesias was 66, 72 and 24 months for patients in whom levodopa was introduced in stage I, II and III, respectively. These values were 64, 55 and 14 months for motor fluctuations. These findings add to the clinical arguments that favour an essential role of severity of PD at levodopa initiation as a risk factor for the development of levodopa-associated motor complications.

Age of Onset↗

Therapist's and client's perceptions in behaviour therapy: the development and cross-cultural analysis of an assessment instrument.

This paper describes the use of a scale to assess the therapist's perception of the client and the client's perception of the therapist within behaviour therapy. A factor analysis revealed specific therapist and client factors which describe aspects of each participant's activity within sessions. The results suggest that the therapist's interpersonal manner is important in treatment and that attention should be given to this in training behaviour therapists.

Adult↗

A planimetric study of therapy-dependent development of temporal bone pneumatization in secretory otitis media.

The present study is based on the results of a planimetric investigation of temporal bone pneumatization in 43 children. Radiological and clinical follow-up studies 10 years after therapy for secretory otitis media indicate an adaptation in the size of pneumatization to an almost normal area. The increase shows that a myringotomy is sufficient in cases of serous effusion, whereas a mucous fluid requires long-term middle ear ventilation.

Adolescent↗

Helicobacter pylori isolated from patients who later failed H. pylori eradication triple therapy readily develop resistance to clarithromycin.

In this study, the ease of selection of clarithromycin resistance was investigated in clarithromycin-susceptible Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients with H. pylori infection prior to the administration of triple-combination eradication therapy (clarithromycin plus amoxicillin plus a proton pump inhibitor). Clarithromycin-susceptible strains isolated from ten patients in whom the eradication therapy was successful and from six patients in whom the eradication therapy was unsuccessful were exposed serially to subinhibitory concentrations of clarithromycin. The number of transfers required for the MICs of the strains to increase by 8- and 32-fold were 6.6 and 7.2, respectively, in the successful eradication group, and as few as 2.4 and 1.5, respectively, in the unsuccessful eradication group. The number of transfers required for the A2142G or A2143G point mutation of the 23S rRNA gene to be detected in the strains were 5 and 8, respectively, for the strains in the successful eradication group, and 1 and 2, respectively, for the strains in the unsuccessful eradication group. These results suggest that patients in the unsuccessful eradication group were infected with strains of H. pylori that readily became resistant to clarithromycin on exposure to the drug.

Amoxicillin↗

The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale: development and validation of the general measure.

PURPOSE: We developed and validated a brief, yet sensitive, 33-item general cancer quality-of-life (QL) measure for evaluating patients receiving cancer treatment, called the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) scale. METHODS AND RESULTS: The five-phase validation process involved 854 patients with cancer and 15 oncology specialists. The initial pool of 370 overlapping items for breast, lung, and colorectal cancer was generated by open-ended interview with patients experienced with the symptoms of cancer and oncology professionals. Using preselected criteria, items were reduced to a 38-item general version. Factor and scaling analyses of these 38 items on 545 patients with mixed cancer diagnoses resulted in the 28-item FACT-general (FACT-G, version 2). In addition to a total score, this version produces subscale scores for physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being, as well as satisfaction with the treatment relationship. Coefficients of reliability and validity were uniformly high. The scale's ability to discriminate patients on the basis of stage of disease, performance status rating (PSR), and hospitalization status supports its sensitivity. It has also demonstrated sensitivity to change over time. Finally, the validity of measuring separate areas, or dimensions, of QL was supported by the differential responsiveness of subscales when applied to groups known to differ along the dimensions of physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being. CONCLUSION: The FACT-G meets or exceeds all requirements for use in oncology clinical trials, including ease of administration, brevity, reliability, validity, and responsiveness to clinical change. Selecting it for a clinical trial adds the capability to assess the relative weight of various aspects of QL from the patient's perspective.

Adult↗

Novel treatments and therapies in development for pancreatic cancer.

Until recently, 5-fluorouracil was the most widely used treatment for non-resectable pancreatic cancer. This treatment, however, only resulted in a median survival time of approximately 4 months. In the last few years, gemcitabine has rapidly become the new treatment benchmark, due more to its superior clinical benefit rather than to it conferring an increased median survival (approximately 5-6 months). Thus, the outlook for patients with pancreatic cancer is still relatively bleak. A number of new treatment options are presently being investigated. Some of these are combination therapies involving gemcitabine and other chemotherapeutic agents or radiation. Other novel treatment strategies are also already being evaluated in clinical studies. Some of the more promising treatments in development are discussed and evaluated in this article.

Animals↗

[Therapy of developed atherosclerosis].

Atherosclerosis is a reversible process and is an excessive response to damage of the vascular wall. It comprises a number of cellular processes and humoral modulations/regulations the pathogenesis of which is intensively studied. The reversibility of atherosclerosis changes fundamentally the approach to its prevention and therapy, and the effectiveness of anti-aggregation and antihyperlipaemic therapy has been proved. Other preventive and therapeutic procedures are intensively studied.

Arteriosclerosis↗

[Clinical development of therapy with two antihypertensive agents in fixed combination].

Changing the blood pressure brings counter-regulatory effects into play which may impair the antihypertensive efficacy of treatment targeted at a single blood pressure regulatory factor. Thus, diuretics stimulate the renin angiotensin and catecholamine systems and, in some cases, vasopressin. Arteriolar vasodilators stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system, while blockade of the renin-angiotensin system itself triggers a reactive release of renin which may then serve to restore normal circulating angiotensin II levels. Rational combinations can therefore be developed to neutralize the effects of counter-regulation and achieve blood pressure control at lower drug doses and hence with fewer side-effects. Such combinations can also be prescribed in steadily increasing doses of each drug, to achieve blood pressure control by a process of 3-stage titration. The stringent rules governing the clinical development of such combinations are reviewed: formulation, pharmacokinetics, pilot studies, factorial design, high-risk patients. One advantage of combination therapy is that it enhances compliance, as an entire treatment is contained in a single pack of drugs. A disadvantage is the potential multiplicity of combinations between the five or six major classes of antihypertensive drug.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Long-term follow-up of 12 patients with the late-onset variant of argininosuccinic acid lyase deficiency: no impairment of intellectual and psychomotor development during therapy.

To date, two variants of argininosuccinic acid lyase deficiency, the second most common enzymatic defect of the urea cycle, have been described. Most of the previous studies reported on outcomes involving neurological and intellectual impairment in affected children. This study is the first to demonstrate that the physical and mental development of such children can be normal and adequate for their age if they are treated with a low-protein diet and/or arginine supplements. Since 1973, 12 Austrian children suffering from argininosuccinic acid lyase deficiency have been detected in the Austrian Neonates Screening Program and could have been followed up. After confirmation of diagnosis, all the children were administered a daily arginine supplement (3 to 4 mmol/kg per day) in conjunction with either a normal diet or a special diet in which protein intake was restricted to 1.2 to 1.5 g/kg per day. Routine checks, including physical examination, determination of biochemical parameters, and IQ tests, were performed so the further development of these 12 patients with respect to treatment could be observed. It can be concluded that early treatment of partial argininosuccinic acid lyase deficiency results in normal intellectual and psychomotor development.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Cognitive-behavioural approach to understanding obsessional thinking.

BACKGROUND: Obsessional ruminations (obsessions without any accompanying overt compulsive behaviour) were previously considered especially difficult to treat. METHOD: Cognitive-behavioural theory regarding obsessional problems is discussed. Strategies for therapy developed on the basis of this theory are reviewed. RESULTS: The cognitive-behavioural theory of obsessive-compulsive disorder proposes that obsessional problems occur as a consequence of the particular meaning or significance which patients attach to the occurrence and/or content of intrusive thoughts. When intrusions are interpreted (appraised) as indicating increased personal responsibility, this results in both distress and the occurrence of neutralising behaviour. Cognitive-behavioural treatment seeks to change responsibility beliefs and appraisals, and thereby reduce distress and eliminate neutralising responses which usually occur as covert neutralising (mental rituals). Evidence is emerging for the success of therapy developed on this theoretical basis. CONCLUSIONS: Recent developments in the psychological conceptualisation of obsessional ruminations have improved the prospects for successful therapy.

Anxiety Disorders↗

Challenges and opportunities for enhancing biotechnology and technology transfer in developing countries.

Biotechnological innovation is gaining increased recognition as an important tool for improving global health. The challenge, however, lies in defining the role of technology transfer to develop therapies for diseases prevalent in developing countries. During the past decade, a large disparity emerged between the developed and developing world in accessing affordable medicines because of the pharmaceutical industry's focus on health areas bearing greatest profits. Discussed herein are several mechanisms that provide partial solutions to this challenge. The Office of Technology Transfer of the US National Institutes of Health has increased its technology licensing pertaining to neglected diseases to partners in developing regions. Establishing partnerships through the transfer of technologies and assisting indigenous institutions build R and D capacity may positively impact policies on protection of intellectual property rights and increase multinational company investments in lesser-developed countries. This will most probably result in the development of more accessible therapies for those in need.

Biotechnology↗

Targeting HIV: antiretroviral therapy and development of drug resistance.

Inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PR) are widely used in the clinical treatment of AIDS. However, the emergence of drug-resistant variants of HIV-1 severely limits the long-term effectiveness of these drugs. In this review, the molecular basis of resistance to RT and PR inhibitors will be addressed, focusing on the mutations that confer resistance to nucleoside and non-nucleoside drugs. The emergence of multidrug-resistant viruses results from the introduction of potent antiretroviral therapy and involves the combined effects of different drug-resistance mutations. The optimization of current antiretroviral drug regimens and the development of new drugs are challenging issues in HIV chemotherapy.

Animals↗

Stent graft treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: recent developments in therapy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Minimally invasive endovascular techniques for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms have significantly reduced the morbidity of these procedures compared with standard surgical repair. In addition, patients with extensive comorbid medical illnesses in whom standard operative repair is contraindicated may be successfully treated using endovascular means. RECENT FINDINGS: Recently, several important developments have significantly advanced this area of treatment. The Food and Drug Administration has approved four endovascular stent grafts for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms: the Medtronic AneuRx, the W.L. Gore Excluder, the Cook Zenith, and the Guidant Ancure. The Zenith received approval for marketing in 2003 and has gained relatively wide use, in part because of its ability to treat aneurysms with relatively large-diameter implantations zones. Also in 2003, Guidant Corporation withdrew the Ancure graft from marketing and distribution. The withdrawal was influenced by difficulties encountered using the graft's delivery system and improper reporting to the Food and Drug Administration. Enrollment has also been recently completed for the phase II Food and Drug Administration trials of the Medtronic Talent graft and the Cordis Fortron graft. These devices have been approved for use in the European Union and are awaiting Food and Drug Administration panel meeting in the United States. Several significant advances have also occurred recently in stent graft research and development. Of particular significance has been the initiation of the phase I trial of the Trivascular Enovus graft. Deployment of the Trivascular graft may be accomplished through a delivery system that is considerably reduced in profile. The potential for percutaneous application of the graft may be available in the future. In selecting the specific stent graft to be used for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, the specific graft characteristics must be considered, particularly with regard to the individual patient's anatomic and physiologic characteristics. Comparative analysis of the several of the various stent grafts has been performed. Results have varied with regard to the need for secondary interventions, aneurysm sac size reduction, and the occurrence of continued perfusion of the aneurysm sac. In addition, the indications for use of endovascular grafts compared with standard open surgery have not yet been fully defined. SUMMARY: This article describes the general principles of use for endovascular devices for the repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. It details the features and results for the devices in current use, and highlights the recent developments in stent graft treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗

[Function of the abdominal wall and development and therapy of hernias (among others: the para-colostomy hernia)].

The peritoneal cavity has a fascial skeleton with musculature that is nearly always active, i.e. it has resting tone activity. During pneumoperitoneum this resting activity increases very markedly. The pelvic floor and its integrated sphincters also have a similar type of spontaneous activity depending on Onuf's nucleus in the spinal cord together with the somatic and autonomic nerves. Hernias such as umbilical hernias develop with disruption of a scar. While in a child the common inguinal hernia develops in an open vaginal processus, in an adult it develops as the result of a congenital muscular defect in the abdominal wall. A femoral hernia develops in a gap through the pressure of the resting activity of the abdominal wall. A paracolostomy hernia develops after an incision in the fascial skeleton and after pull-through of a very adipose sigma-mesosigma. It can often be treated it by pulling a slim colon segment through the innervated rectus muscle incision and closing the gap in the fascial skeleton with a running suture. Incisional or umbilical hernias can be successfully treated by suturing with a continuous nonabsorbable thread. The best therapy for inguinal hernias is suturing of the hyperplastic fascia transversalis and the reconstruction of the muscle sphincter mechanism. Bassini operated on very large hernias with hyperplastic fascia, thereby achieving excellent results. Fascial hyperplasia has been shown to follow the use of tissue expanders.

Abdominal Muscles↗