Medicine
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Review Meta Analysis
Coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and a biomechanical study of a triple endobutton technique.
Operative intervention is recommended for complete acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation to restore AC stability, but the best operative technique is still controversial. Twelve fresh-frozen male cadaveric shoulders (average age, 62.8±7.8 years) were equally divided into endobutton versus the modified Weaver-Dunn groups. Each potted scapula and clavicle was fixed in a custom made jig to allow translation and load to failure testing using a Zwick BZ2.5/TS1S material testing machine (Zwick/Roell Co, Germany). ⋯ From our systematic review of 21 studies, which involved comparison of the modified Weaver-Dunn technique with other methods, the majority showed that the modified Weaver-Dunn procedure had significantly (P<.05) greater laxity than other methods including the endobutton technique. The triple endobutton reconstruction proved superior to the modified Weaver-Dunn technique in restoration of AC joint stability and strength. Triple endobutton reconstruction of the coracoclavicular ligament is superior to the modified Weaver-Dunn reconstruction in controlling both superior and anteroposterior displacements with a failure load that approximates the intact ligament.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effect and safety of deep needling and shallow needling for functional constipation: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.
Aupuncture is widely used for functional constipation. Effect of acupuncture might be related to the depth of needling; however, the evidence is limited. This trial aimed to evaluate the effect and safety of deep needling and shallow needling for functional constipation, and to assess if the deep needling and shallow needling are superior to lactulose. ⋯ No obvious adverse event was observed in the deep or shallow needling group. Deep and shallow needling at Tianshu (ST25) can improve intestinal function remarkably and safely. Therapeutic effects of deep and shallow needling are not superior to that of lactulose; however, the sustained effects of deep and shallow needling after stopping the acupuncture treatments are superior to the therapeutic effect of lactulose, which might qualify the superiority of deep and shallow needling.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of blinding with a new pragmatic placebo needle: a randomized controlled crossover study.
Placebo control is a useful method for determining the efficacy of a therapy. In acupuncture researches, the preferred method for placebo control is acupuncture using a placebo needle that has a blunt tip and achieves no skin penetration. We performed a crossover study to validate the blinding effect of a new type of placebo needle. ⋯ The influences of age, sex, educational level, acupuncture experience, needle sensation, acupuncture pain, and needle acceptability on volunteers' perception of needle penetration were not significant. The pragmatic placebo needle is a valid control for acupuncture research. It produces a good subject blinding effect with a similar appearance to conventional acupuncture needles and no skin penetration when applied.
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Multicenter Study
Separate and joint effects of diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease on the risk of acute coronary syndrome: a population-based cohort study.
Patient with diabetes (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a higher risk of developing acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, only a few studies have investigated the separate and joint effects of DM and CKD on the risk of ACS, especially population-based studies under age-, sex- and various cardiovascular risk factor-stratifications. By using a national diabetes cohort derived from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified a total of 416,143 DM and 541,724 non-DM patients, including 51,208 DM/CKD and 8,894 non-DM/CKD patients, in 2000 who did not have a history of ACS (ICD-9: 410. ⋯ When all three selected risk factors were included, CKD was associated with a higher risk of ACS than DM (AHR: 1.43 [1.27-1.60] vs. 1.25 [1.22-1.29]). In conclusion, DM and CKD were associated with different levels of risk for ACS according to age, sex and certain cardiovascular risk factors. Strategies aimed at preventing ACS should therefore be individualized according to the presence of DM, CKD and various cardiovascular risk factors.
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To investigate the incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and Type 1 ROP in extremely preterm Chinese infants. A retrospective review of medical records was performed of all extremely preterm neonates (gestational age, GA≤28 weeks) screened for ROP from 2007 to 2012 at an ophthalmology centre in Hong Kong. Thirty-three maternal and neonatal covariates were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses for both ROP and Type 1 ROP. ⋯ On multivariate analysis, neonatal congenital heart disease and greater GA were protective factors for ROP development (P≤0.04). On the other hand, 4 risk factors were associated with Type 1 ROP development in univariate analysis, including: lower GA, lighter BW, multiple pregnancies, and invasive mechanical ventilation (all P≤0.02); while there was no significant risk factors on multivariate analysis. A lighter BW and lower GA were the only common independent risk factors for both ROP and Type 1 ROP while neonatal congenital heart disease and greater GA were the protective factors against ROP.