METHODOLOGY: A single center, prospective, single-blind randomized trial was conducted to estimate the survival of post-dialysis euvolemic hypertensive patients when treated with lorsartan 50 mg every other day. Post-dialysis euvolemic assessment was done by a body composition monitor. Covariate Adaptive Randomization was used for allocation of participants to the standard or intervention arm, and the follow-up duration was twelve months. The primary end point was achieving targeted blood pressure (BP) of <140/90 mm Hg and maintaining for 4 weeks, whereas secondary end point was all cause of mortality. Pre-, intra-, and post-dialysis session BP measurements were recorded, and survival trends were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.
RESULTS: Of the total 229 patients, 96 (41.9%) were identified as post-dialysis euvolemic hypertensive. Final samples of 88 (40.1%) patients were randomized into standard (n = 44) and intervention arms (n = 44), and 36 (81.8%) patients in each arm completed a follow-up of 12 months. A total of eight patients passed away during the 12-month follow-up period (6 deaths among standard arm and 2 in intervention arm). However, the probability of survival between both arms was not significant (p = 0.13). Cox regression analysis revealed that chances of survival were higher among the patients in the intervention (OR 3.17) arm than the standard arm (OR 0.31); however, the survival was found not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: There was no statistical significant difference in 1 year survival of post-dialysis euvolemic hypertensive patients when treated with losartan 50 mg.
METHODS: Diurnal variation of intraocular pressure was measured in 202 eyes of suspected open-angle glaucoma patients and 100 control eyes, at 4-hourly intervals for 24 hours (phasing). Based on the phasing results, optic disc changes and visual field defects, the patients were diagnosed as primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG), ocular hypertension (OHT), or physiologic cup (PC), or still remained as glaucoma suspects due to inconclusive diagnosis. The last group (glaucoma suspects) was then followed up 6-monthly for their eventual outcome.
RESULTS: The highest percentage of suspected glaucoma patients had peak (maximum) readings in the mid-morning (10-11 A.M.) and trough (minimum) readings after midnight (2-3 A.M.); the highest percentage of control group had peak readings in the late evening (6-7 P.M.) and trough readings after midnight (2-3 A.M.). The mean amplitude of variance was 6 mm Hg in suspected glaucoma group and 4 mm Hg in the control group. After 'phasing', 18.8% of the suspected glaucoma patients were diagnosed as POAG, 16.8% as NTG, 5% as OHT, and 28.7% as physiologic cup; 30.9% remained as glaucoma suspects. After 4 years follow-up, 70% of the glaucoma suspects still remained as glaucoma suspects, 6.7% developed NTG and another 6.7% POAG; 16.6% were normal.
CONCLUSIONS: Serial measurement of IOP ( phasing) in a 24-hour period is still needed, in order not to miss the peak and the trough IOP readings in suspected open-angle glaucoma patients, which helps in better management of glaucoma. Among 30.9% of patients who remained as glaucoma suspects after the initial phasing, 13.4% developed NTG/POAG over a period of 4 years.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to find a correlation between sonographic measurements of ONSD value with ICP value measured via the gold standard invasive intracranial ICP catheter, and to find the cut-off value of ONSD measurement in predicting raised ICP, along with its sensitivity and specificity value.
METHODS: A prospective observational study was performed using convenience sample of 41 adult neurosurgical patients treated in neurosurgical intensive care unit with invasive intracranial pressure monitoring placed in-situ as part of their clinical care. Portable SonoSite ultrasound machine with 7 MHz linear probe were used to measure optic nerve sheath diameter using the standard technique. Simultaneous ICP readings were obtained directly from the invasive monitoring.
RESULTS: Seventy-five measurements were performed on 41 patients. The non-parametric Spearman correlation test revealed a significant correlation at the 0.01 level between the ICP and ONSD value, with correlation coefficient of 0.820. The receiver operating characteristic curve generated an area under the curve with the value of 0.964, and with standard error of 0.22. From the receiver operating characteristic curve, we found that the ONSD value of 5.205 mm is 95.8% sensitive and 80.4% specific in detecting raised ICP.
CONCLUSIONS: ONSD value of 5.205 is sensitive and specific in detecting raised ICP. Bedside ultrasound measurement of ONSD is readily learned, and is reproducible and reliable in predicting raised ICP. This non-invasive technique can be a useful adjunct to the current invasive intracranial catheter monitoring, and has wide potential clinical applications in district hospitals, emergency departments and intensive care units.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: RCTs comparing postoperative comorbid disease resolution such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, joint and musculoskeletal conditions, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and menstrual irregularities following LVSG and LRYGB were included for analysis. The studies were selected from PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, Current Contents, and the Cochrane database and reported on at least one comorbidity resolution or improvement. The present work was undertaken according to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The Jadad method for assessment of methodological quality was applied to the included studies.
RESULTS: Six RCTs performed between 2005 and 2015 involving a total of 695 patients (LVSG n = 347, LRYGB n = 348) reported on the resolution or improvement of comorbid disease following LVSG and LRYGB procedures. Both bariatric procedures provide effective and almost comparable results in improving or resolving these comorbidities.
CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review of RCTs suggests that both LVSG and LRYGB are effective in resolving or improving preoperative nondiabetic comorbid diseases in obese patients. While results are not conclusive at this time, LRYGB may provide superior results compared to LVSG in mediating the remission and/or improvement in some conditions such as dyslipidemia and arthritis.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of adults aged 18 and above attending a blood pressure screening program in community in conjunction with May Measurement Month 2017 in Malaysia. A structured self-administered questionnaire was given to the participants who gave verbal consent. Data analysis was done using SPSS v. 23 and multiple logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of knowledge on actions to be taken during stroke and recognition of stroke symptoms.
RESULTS: Out of 4096 respondents, 82.9-92.1% of them able to recognise the common stroke symptoms. and 74.2% of the study respondents will go to hospital within 4.5 h of stroke onset. According to binomial logistic regression analyses, adults aged 45 years old and above (OR 1.39 95%CI 1.01-1.92), being Malay (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.27-2.40), being non-smokers (OR = 2.491, 95% CI: 1.64-3.78), hypertensives (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.02-2.42)and diabetics (OR: 2.54, 95% CI:1.38-4.69) are determinants of right actions to be taken during stroke. Meanwhile, respondents aged 45 years old and older (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.39-2.03), being Malay (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.24-1.79), hypertensive (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04-1.66) and those who had a previous history of stroke (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.01-5.00) are determinants of good recognition of stroke symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS: The overall knowledge of stroke in our study population was good. Older age, being Malay, non-smokers, hypertensives and diabetics are determinants of right actions to be taken during stroke. Meanwhile, older age, being Malay, hypertensive and those who had a previous history of stroke are determinants of good recognition of stroke symptoms.