Medicine
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The comparative efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors, statins, and ezetimibe to lower lipid levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the benefits and harms of the lipid-lowering agents in these patients. ⋯ PCSK9 inhibitors were the most effective lipid-lowering agents in improving lipid levels. Furthermore, PCSK9 inhibitors achieved similar CV benefits like statins, while PCSK9 inhibitors were not associated with any increased risk of statin-related side-effects. Thus, PCSK9 inhibitors may also be recommended as promisingly first-line lipid-lowering treatment for patients with hypercholesterolemia, especially for these with statins intolerance or resistance.
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Pain after hemorrhoidal surgery bothers both clinicians and patients. Somatosensory stimulation treatments have shown promising effect on the pain after hemorrhoidal surgery, but the comparative effectiveness between them has not been studied. We aim to determine the relative effectiveness among these treatments on pain relief after hemorrhoidal surgery by using network meta-analysis. ⋯ The result of this network meta-analysis will clarify which is the relatively best somatosensory-stimulation treatment in relieving postoperative pain caused by hemorrhoidal surgery, and the review will, therefore, guide the management of postoperative pain after hemorrhoidal surgery for clinicians and patients. This review does not require ethical approval and will be reported in a peer-reviewed journal.
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Previous clinical trials have reported that vinpocetine can be used for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction. However, its efficacy is still inconclusive. In this systematic review study, we aim to assess its efficacy and safety for the treatment of poststroke cognitive dysfunction (PSCD). ⋯ PROSPERO CRD42018115224.
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Adequate intravenous fluid replacement is recommended as an effective nonpharmacologic strategy for reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), one of the most common and stressful complications of general anesthesia. We aimed to evaluate the effect of hydration, according to the type of fluid, on PONV as previous studies have reported inconsistent results. ⋯ Colloid administration had a more preventive effect on PONV than crystalloid administration in patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia for more than 3 hours but did not show a preventive effect in patients undergoing anesthesia for <3 hours.
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Removing an indwelling urinary catheter as soon as possible is the cornerstone of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) prevention. However, implementing this measure may be challenging in clinical settings. To evaluate the impact of implementing a healthcare workers (HCWs) educational program and a daily checklist for indwelling urinary catheter indications among critical patients on the incidence of CAUTI. ⋯ HCWs education and daily evaluation of indwelling urinary catheter indications were highly effective in reducing the rates of catheter utilization as well as the incidence density of CAUTI.