STUDY DESIGN: The study is a prospective observational study which included 122 patients who had symptomatic POP stage III and IV. AvaultaPlus™ (collagen coated, CC group) was compared to Perigee™ (non collagen coated, NC group). Introital ultrasound morphology, measure of neovascularization by color Doppler and clinical outcomes were assessed. Student t test was used for comparison of pre- and post-operation continuous data (p value of <0.05).
RESULTS: A total of 110 (CC group=50, NC group=60) women completed the study. A woman in the CC group developed ureteral injury. Both groups had comparable morphologic and clinical outcomes however, the onset of changes in mesh thickness and neovascularization occurred earlier in the NC group (1 month) compared to the CC group (6 months to 1 year).
CONCLUSION: CC group was comparable to the NC group in terms of erosion rate, ultrasound and clinical assessment. Collagen coating may induce delayed inflammatory response however may also delay tissue integration. The onset of changes in mesh thickness and neovascularization may give us an insight toward utilization of collagen coated mesh for host-tissue integration.
METHODS: One hundred sixty-six healthy Malaysians of different ethnicities (51.2% women, aged 21-77 years) underwent NCS using a standard protocol. Correlations of various factors to NCS were determined, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to develop predictive equations for each parameter.
RESULTS: Age and ethnicity were the commonest independent factors influencing NCS followed by gender, height, weight, and body mass index. Increasing age predicted a reduction in lower limb motor and all sensory nerve action potential amplitudes and decrease in motor and sensory (except sural) conduction velocities. Ethnic Indians had slower motor and sensory conduction velocities in several nerves and also had differences in action potential amplitudes.
CONCLUSIONS: NCS parameters in multi-ethnic Malaysians were influenced independently by various demographic and physical factors, including ethnicity. Muscle Nerve 54: 244-248, 2016.
STUDY DESIGN: Participants were randomized to intravenous bolus injection of 100mcg carbetocin or 10IU oxytocin after cesarean delivery of the baby. The primary outcome is any additional uterotonic which may be administered by the blinded provider for perceived inadequate uterine tone with or without hemorrhage in the first 24hours after delivery. Secondary outcomes include operating time, perioperative blood loss, change in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, blood transfusion and reoperation for postpartum hemorrhage.
RESULTS: Additional uterotonic rates were 107/276 (38.8%) vs. 155/271 (57.2%) [RR 0.68 95% CI 0.57-0.81 p<0.001; NNTb 6 95% CI 3.8-9.8], mean operating time 45.9±16.0 vs. 44.5±13.1minutes p=0.26, mean blood loss 458±258 vs. 446±281ml p=0.6, severe postpartum hemorrhage (≥1000ml) rates 15/276 (5.4%) vs. 10/271 (3.7%) p=0.33 and blood transfusion rates 6/276 (2.2%) vs. 10/271 (3.7%); p=0.30 for carbetocin and oxytocin arms respectively. There was only one case of re-operation (oxytocin arm). In the cases that needed additional uterotonic 98% (257/262) was started intraoperatively and in 89% (234/262) the only additional uterotonic administered was an oxytocin infusion over 6hours.
CONCLUSION: Fewer women in the carbetocin arm needed additional uterotonics but perioperative blood loss, severe postpartum hemorrhage, blood transfusion and operating time were not different.
METHODS: Healthy participants aged ≥ 60 years with no neurological conditions were recruited from rural and urban locations in Malaysia. HGS and KPS were measured using hand grip and key pinch dynamometers. Basic demographic data, anthropometric measures, modified Barthel Index scores and results of the Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) were recorded.
RESULTS: 362 subjects aged 60-93 years were recruited. The men were significantly stronger than the women in both HGS and KPS (p < 0.001). The hand strength of the study cohort was lower than that of elderly Western populations. Significant correlations were observed between hand strength, and residential area (p < 0.001), FRT (r = 0.236, p = 0.028), TUG (r = -0.227, p = 0.009) and JTHFT (r = -0.927, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: This study established reference ranges for the HGS and KPS of rural and urban elderly Malaysian subpopulations. These will aid the use of hand strength as a screening tool for frailty among elderly persons in Malaysia. Future studies are required to determine the modifiable factors for poor hand strength.