Methods: Sixty-four patients aged 18-60 years, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class I-II who underwent elective surgery were randomised to a Marsh group (n= 32) or Schnider group (n= 32). All the patients received a 1 μg/kg loading dose of dexmedetomidine, followed by TCI anaesthesia with remifentanil at 2 ng/mL. After the effect-site concentration (Ce) of remifentanil reached 2 ng/mL, propofol TCI induction was started. Anaesthesia induction commenced in the Marsh group at a target plasma concentration (Cpt) of 2 μg/mL, whereas it started in the Schnider group at a target effect-site concentration (Cet) of 2 μg/mL. If induction was delayed after 3 min, the target concentration (Ct) was gradually increased to 0.5 μg/mL every 30 sec until successful induction. The Ct at successful induction, induction time, Ce at successful induction and haemodynamic parameters were recorded.
Results: The Ct for successful induction in the Schnider group was significantly lower than in the Marsh group (3.48 [0.90] versus 4.02 [0.67] μg/mL;P= 0.01). The induction time was also shorter in the Schnider group as compared with the Marsh group (134.96 [50.91] versus 161.59 [39.64]) sec;P= 0.02). There were no significant differences in haemodynamic parameters and Ce at successful induction.
Conclusion: In the between-group comparison, dexmedetomidine reduced the Ct requirement for induction and shortened the induction time in the Schnider group. The inclusion of baseline groups without dexmedetomidine in a four-arm comparison of the two models would enhance the validity of the findings.
METHODS: The public record (hard and electronic copy) was examined.
RESULTS: Twenty case histories were identified of men with no apparent mental disorder (other than pedophilia) who completed suicide shortly after exposure or threatened public exposure and/or early or potential legal punishment.
CONCLUSION: This evidence strongly suggests that exposure or threatened public exposure of pedophilia and/or early or potential legal punishment creates a predicament, which may lead to completed suicide.
Methods: This study utilised a cross-sectional design and was conducted at a single centre where convenience sampling was employed to collect data from elderly patients (> 60 years) admitted to geriatric and medical wards at Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar during a 2-month period (July 2017-August 2017). Patients were excluded from this study if their hospital admission was planned for an elective procedure or if neurocognitive and hepatic impairment were diagnosed prior to the hospital admission. Medicines with Ach properties were identified and classified according to the anti-cholinergic drug scale (ADS). Univariate and multiple logistic regression statistical analyses were performed to assess its impacts on falls, confusion, and LOS.
Results: A total of 145 elderly patients with a mean age of 71.59 years old (SD = 8.02) were included in the study. Fifty-two percent of the participants were female, and the average hospital stay was 6 days (SD = 2.09). Medicines with Ach properties were administered in 62% (n = 90) of the cases. The most commonly prescribed medicine with Ach properties was furosemide (n = 59), followed by ranitidine (n = 44), warfarin (n = 23), and methylprednisolone (n = 22). Compared to patients who did not receive medicines with Ach properties, patients who received them had a significantly higher risk of falls [odds ratios (OR) = 2.61; 95%CI: 1.18, 5.78; P = 0.018], confusion (OR = 3.60; 95%CI: 1.55, 8.36; P = 0.003), and LOS (OR = 4.83; 95%CI: 2.13, 10.94; P < 0.001). Multiple comorbidities also showed a significantly increased risk of falls (OR = 3.03; 95%CI: 1.29, 7.07; P = 0.010).
Conclusion: Medicines with Ach properties had a significant impact on elderly patients' health. Strategies for rationally prescribing medicines with Ach properties to Malaysian elderly patients need to be improved and be recognised as an important public health priority.
METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2013 and December 2015 in Cu Chi General Hospital. The following dengue-related treatment costs were calculated: hospitalisation, diagnosis, specialised services, drug usage and medical supplies. Average cost per case and treatment cost across different age was calculated.
RESULTS: In the study period, 1672 patients with dengue fever were hospitalised. The average age was 24.98 (SD = 14.10) years, and 47.5% were males (795 patients). Across age groups, the average cost per episode was USD 48.10 (SD = 3.22). The highest costs (USD 56.61, SD = 48.84) were incurred in the adult age group (> 15 years), and the lowest costs (USD 30.10, SD = 17.27) were incurred in the paediatric age group (< 15 years).
CONCLUSION: The direct medical costs of dengue-related hospitalisation place a severe economic burden on patients and their families. The probable economic value of dengue management in Vietnam is significant.
Methods: Participants were screened for their balance using the single-leg balance test (SLBT) and were assigned to either the positive or the negative SLBT groups. Fifty-four individuals with CAI (N = 27 per group) were recruited and completed four clinical tests including the foot-lift test (FLT), the time-in-balance test (TIBT), the modified star excursion balance test in the posteromedial (mSEBT-PM) direction and the side-hop test (SHT). The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve coupled with Youden index were calculated to determine the optimal cut-off scores of each test.
Results: We found significant differences in balance between groups for all tests, with good to excellent values for the area under the ROC curve (AUC). All four tests reached good to excellent sensitivity and specificity values and had significant cut-off scores to discriminate balance performance among CAI participants.
Conclusion: All four clinical tests can be conducted with their respective cut-off scores to quantify balance impairment in individuals with CAI.