Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of visual feedback balance training with the Pro-kin system on walking and self-care abilities in stroke patients.
Some scholars' studies have demonstrated that Pro-kin balance system training is able to promote the recovery of the balance function in stroke patients. The present study has expanded on those studies, and was not merely limited to studying balance, but also encompassed walking and self-care abilities of the patients; furthermore, the association among balance and walking and self-care abilities was also explored. A total of 40 stroke patients were randomly and equally divided into 2 groups: the control group (n = 20) and the treatment group (n = 20). ⋯ The FAC and BI readings were significantly increased after treatment (P < 0.05), and the treatment group outperformed the control group (P < .05). Furthermore, the balance function was shown to be strongly correlated with the walking and self-care abilities (P < .01). The present study has demonstrated that the use of the Pro-kin visual feedback balance training system in combination with conventional training is a viable method for improving walking and self-care abilities of stroke patients.
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Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common condition characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal fullness and epigastric pain. With the limitations of conventional Western medical treatments, symptoms often recur and lead to poor quality of life. Soyo-san (SYS) is a traditional herbal medicine that has been frequently used to treat indigestion. This protocol was designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of SYS for treating FD through a systematic review and meta-analysis. ⋯ This study will determine the safety and efficacy of SYS for the treatment of FD. REVIEW REGISTRY UNIQUE IDENTIFYING NUMBER:: reviewregistry969.
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Comparative Study
Retrospective cohort trial protocol of screw fixation compared with hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients.
There is limited evidence for the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the hemiarthroplasty versus screw fixation in elderly patients with the displaced femoral neck fractures. Our current investigation aimed at assessing the complications, functional outcome, and revision rate of the patients (over 65 years old) who received internal fixation or hemiarthroplasty via a same senior surgeon. ⋯ It was assumed that hemiarthroplasty would result in fewer revisions or complications and better functional scores in comparison with internal fixation technique.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Evaluation of automated volumetric breast density software in comparison with visual assessments in an Asian population: A retrospective observational study.
This study aims to compare Quantra, as an automated volumetric breast density (Vbd) tool, with visual assessment according to ACR BI-RADS density categories and to determine its potential usage in clinical practice. Five hundred randomly selected screening and diagnostic mammograms were included in this retrospective study. Three radiologists independently assigned qualitative ACR BI-RADS density categories to the mammograms. ⋯ Hence, this study adds to the available evidence to support the potential use of Quantra as an adjunct tool for breast density assessment in routine clinical practice in the Asian population. We found 13.5% is the best cut-off value to stratify dense to non-dense breasts in our study population. Its application will provide an objective, consistent and reproducible results as well as aiding clinical decision-making on the need for supplementary breast ultrasound in our screening population.
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Observational Study
Association between treatment package time and clinical predictors in oropharyngeal cancer.
The aim of the present study is to investigate the association of treatment package time with the survival outcomes and clinical parameters in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. A total of 49 patients who underwent definitive treatment were enrolled. The treatment package time was calculated in days from the start of any treatment to the completion of all treatments, including postoperative treatment and salvage surgery for residual tumor. ⋯ Moreover, a treatment package time of ≥118 days was significantly correlated with shorter overall survival and distant metastasis-free survival. On multivariate analyzes, Brinkman index ≥450 was significantly associated with shorter oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma-specific and locoregional recurrence-free survival, and the presence of synchronous cancer was significantly associated with shorter overall and distant metastasis-free survival. In conclusion, a relatively long treatment package time was a predictor of low survival outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma by univariate analysis.