METHODS: Men diagnosed with CPPS and ED (n = 50) were prescribed with LSWT. The LSWT was administered in 10 sessions over the course of 5 weeks at 3,000 pulses with .25 mJ/mm2 energy flow and 5 Hz frequency. Outcome parameters were measured before and after LSWT.
RESULTS: Clinical symptoms related to CPPS and ED were measured using four validated questionnaires namely National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM). The effect of LSWT on each of the three domains of NIH-CPSI, namely Pain, Symptoms, and Quality of Life (QoL) were also analyzed. Uroflowmetry was measured to assess LSWT effect on urine voiding. The mean baseline CPPS symptoms on NIH-CPSI domains of pain, symptoms and QoL were 9.92 ± 5.72 (mean ± SD), 5.14 ± 14.5, and 8.02 ± 3.17, respectively. LSWT resulted in significant reduction of CPPS symptoms on all NIH-CPSI domains (Pain = .9 ± 1.37; Symptoms = .74 ± 1.03; QoL = 1.16 ± 1.78). The baseline means of CPPS symptoms on IIEF, IPSS, and SHIM were 45.42 ± 16.24, 24.68 ± 9.28, and 14.28 ± 6.02, respectively. LSWT significant improved CPPS symptoms on IIEF (49.48 ± 28.30) and IPSS (9.04 ± 7.01) but not on SHIM (16.02 ± 9.85). No statistically significant differences were observed with all uroflowmetry parameters.
CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrated for the first time the safety and efficacy of LSWT administered in 10 sessions over 5 weeks in improving symptoms of CPPS and ED without causing any significant adverse effect to the patient.
METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of published articles in electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, PEDro, Medline (via Ovid), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, using the following search terms: "stroke"; "upper extremity"; "Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy"; and "Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation." The search included published studies, conferences, and presentations. The article selection, data extraction, and quality evaluation will be conducted independently by 2 reviewers. The 3rd and 4th reviewers will assist in resolving any disagreements that may arise between the 2 reviewers. The risk of bias in the included studies will be assessed using the PEDro scale and Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Narrative synthesis and meta-analysis will be performed based on the characteristics of the included articles, including the risk of bias (if sufficient information is available).
RESULTS: This review summarizes the available evidence and could assist therapists in choosing the best treatment for poststroke upper extremity dysfunction.
CONCLUSION: This study will provide the available evidence on the effectiveness of CIMT and NMES on upper extremity function in patients with stroke.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required because the review will be based on publicly available literature. The findings of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and updates will be made depending on whether sufficient additional evidence modifies the conclusions of the review. Any changes made to the methods throughout the review will be stated in the article.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023415645.
PATIENT CONCERNS: A 73-year-old Asian gentleman with underlying hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, chronic renal failure, and history of chronic smoking presented to the emergency department with acute left lower limb swelling of 1 day. On examination, the patient was tachycardic (110 beats/minute) and hypertensive (168/84 millimeters mercury (mmHg)). The entire left lower limb was swollen with notable pitting oedema, tenderness, and warmth; left calf swelling was measured to be 4 centimeters (cm).
DIAGNOSES: The patient's Wells score of 4 placed him in the high-risk group for deep vein thrombosis. Serum D-dimer was subsequently found to be elevated at 926 nanograms/milliliter (ng/ml). Compression ultrasonography revealed a thrombus in the left deep femoral vein, confirming the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. The ultrasonographic evaluation was extended to the abdominal aorta due to the patient's high risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, and a 7-cm aneurysm was indeed found. Further computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging localized it to the infrarenal region, with left common iliac vein compression resulting in stagnant venous return.
INTERVENTIONS: Emergency endovascular repair was performed with insertion of an inferior vena cava filter.
OUTCOMES: The patient was subsequently monitored in the intensive care unit and uneventfully discharged after 2 weeks.
LESSONS: Such clinical presentations of deep vein thrombosis are rare, but physicians are reminded to consider screening for abdominal aneurysms and other anatomical causes before heparinization in patients who seemingly do not have thromboembolic risk factors. This is especially so for the high risk group of male deep vein thrombosis patients aged 65-75 years with a history of smoking who have yet to be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysms, in line with United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations.
METHODS: Systematic and comprehensive search of relevant studies will be conducted using electronic databases such as Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. The title, abstract, keywords, and full texts will be screened for eligibility. Studies to be selected are randomized controlled trials (RCT) from inception until April 2023. Studies based on structured PD training either in the form of training, education, program, multidisciplinary approach, or self-management targeted at both PwPD and their adult caregivers will be selected. Only full-text articles available in the English language will be included. Full-text articles will be inspected by 2 independent reviewers to produce the final set of articles that meet the eligibility criteria. A third reviewer will be engaged if no consensus is achieved between the first and second reviewers. Version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) will be used to evaluate the quality of papers and inform the risk of bias.
RESULTS: This review will provide an outlook on the effects of structured PD training programs on mobility and QoL of PwPD. In addition, it will provide insight into the effects of such training on the caregivers' burden, knowledge of PD, and QoL.
CONCLUSION: This review findings may help clinicians and researchers to understand the effect of structured and comprehensive PD training programs for PwPD and their adult caregiver.
METHOD AND ANALYSIS: A randomized, nonblinded, controlled trial will be carried out by recruiting a total of 66 eligible allergic rhinitis patients who fulfill the inclusion criteria from a university health center. The subjects will be randomly assigned into 2 groups: intervention group receiving facial candling treatment and control group (no treatment given). Samples of blood and nasal mucus will be collected right before and after intervention. Samples collected will be analyzed. The primary outcomes are the changes in the level of SP in both blood and mucus samples between both groups. The secondary outcomes include the levels of inflammatory mediators (ie, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13) and the severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms as measured by a visual analogous scale and QoL using the Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ).
ETHICAL AND TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocols are approved from the Ethical and Research Committee of the Universiti Teknologi MARA (REC/113/15). The trial is registered under the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12616000299404). The trial was registered on 03/07/2016 and the first patient was enrolled on 10/12/2016.
CONCLUSION: Facial candling is one of the unique treatments using candles to reduce the severity of symptoms and inflammation. This is the first ever study conducted on facial candling that will give rise to new knowledge underlying the effects of facial candling on severity of symptoms and inflammation relief mechanism mediated by substance P and inflammatory mediators.
METHOD: A systematic literature search of electronic databases for peer-reviewed articles was conducted. After an initial search, we found 792 articles through different electronic databases. After manually removing duplicates and articles that did not meet the criteria, 25 articles were included in our review.
RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were studied, 35 (78%) cases were male and 10 (22%) cases were female, showing male predominance. The mean age of all participants was 29.2 ± 10.3 years. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain 21 of 21 (100%), nausea 17 of 21 (81%), and vomiting 12 of 20 (60%). Ultrasound was normal in the majority of patients, with findings of mild pancreatitis. Computerized tomography scans revealed pancreatic edema and inflammation in 7 of 20 (35%) patients, and findings of necrotizing pancreatitis and complex fluid collection were visualized in 3 of 20 (15%) patients. Dilatation of intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary ducts was not seen in any patients. The overall prognosis was good, with reported full recovery.
CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis should be included in the differential diagnosis for the etiology of acute pancreatitis, which would help in early intervention and treatment for the mitigation of the rapidly progressive disease.
OBJECTIVE: We aim to perform a systematic review to evaluate the cardiovascular outcomes and mortality associated with IBD patients.
METHODS: A systematic literature search has been performed on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus from inception till May 2022 without any language restrictions.
RESULTS: A total of 2,029,941 patients were included in the analysis from 16 studies. The mean age of the patients was 45.6 years. More females were found compared with males (57% vs 43%). The most common risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) included smoking (24.19%) and alcohol (4.60%). The most common comorbidities includes hypertension (30%), diabetes mellitus (14.41%), dyslipidemia (18.42%), previous CVD (22%), and renal disease (10%). Among outcomes, all-cause mortality among IBD patients was 1.66%; ulcerative colitis (UC): 15.92%; and Crohn disease (CD): 0.30%. Myocardial Infarction (MI) among IBD patients were 1.47%, UC: 30.96%; and CD: 34.14%. CVD events among IBD patients were 1.95%. Heart failure events among IBD patients were 5.49%, stroke events among IBD patients were 0.95%, UC: 2.63%, and CD: 2.41%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: IBD patients are at higher risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, especially in women. Although there remains a lack of concrete treatment algorithms and assessment parameters that better characterize IBD risk factors, nutritional modifications and physical activity should be at the forefront of CVD prevention in IBD.