Medicine
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Melioidosis is an infectious disease that is initiated by a bacteria recognized as Burkholderia pseudomallei. Despite the high fatality rate from melioidosis, there is a minimal published study about the disease in Malaysia. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors of mortality among melioidosis patients in northern Malaysia. ⋯ Based on the blood investigations, the adjusted HRs from the final model showed that all 3 blood investigations were included as the prognostic factors for the disease (low platelet: HR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.22-2.54, P = .003; high white blood cell: HR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.06-2.11, P = .023; high urea: HR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.76-4.85, P < .001; and low level of urea: HR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.69-4.29, P < .001). By contrast, melioidosis patients with diabetic had 30.0% lower risk of dying from melioidosis compared to those with non-diabetic (HR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52-0.94, P = .016). Identifying the prognostic factors of mortality in patients with melioidosis allows a guideline of early management in these patients, which may improve patient's survival.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
The clinical effects of sodium hyaluronate, polyethylene glycol, and dextran-70 eye drops in relieving dry eye after phacoemulsification.
To compare the clinical efficacy of sodium hyaluronate eye drops, polyethylene glycol eye drops, and compound dextran eye drops in the treatment of dry eye after phacoemulsification of cataract. A total of 99 patients with dry eye after cataract phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation were treated in our hospital. Patients were divided into group A (sodium hyaluronate eye drops), group B (polyethylene glycol eye drops), and group C (dextran-70 eye drops). ⋯ In addition, there were no significant differences in tear breakdown time, corneal staining score, Schirmer I test, and dry eye symptom score between group A and group B (P > .05). At 3 days to 60 days after operation, the incidence of dry eye in group A (12.12%) and group B (18.18%) was lower than that in group C (39.39%), and the incidence of dry eye in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P < .05). The effect of sodium hyaluronate eye drops elicited a greater beneficial impact as compared to polyethylene glycol eye drops and dextran-70 eye drops.
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Case Reports
Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in left ventricular assist device: A case report.
Mechanical circulatory support such as the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has become widely implemented in the treatment of end-stage heart failure, whether as bridge-to-transplant or as destination therapy. The hemodynamic effects of arrhythmia on LVADs and its management are significant in determining the long-term outcome of these patients. Both atrial arrhythmia and ventricular arrhythmia are commonly seen after implantation of the device. There are no strict guidelines, however, on the need for intensive management of arrhythmias in LVAD. In this case report, we present a patient with new onset atrial fibrillation after LVAD implantation which leads to acute decompensating heart failure. The patient was treated with catheter ablation. The intervention demonstrated positive outcomes for this patient. ⋯ In this case report, we present the first successful case in Korea of atrial fibrillation in LVAD treated with catheter ablation. This case suggests setting catheter ablation as a routine first-line treatment for atrial arrhythmia in LVAD patients, especially when the arrhythmia predisposes the patient at risk for decompensating heart failure.
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This study aims to identify predictive factors associated with surgical intervention and the visual outcome of orbital cellulitis and to evaluate the treatment outcomes. A retrospective study involving 66 patients (68 eyes; 64 unilateral and 2 bilateral) diagnosed with bacterial orbital cellulitis was conducted between November 2005 and May 2019. The mean (± standard deviation) age was 42.1 (± 25.8) years (range: 15 days-86 years). ⋯ We found that the abscess volume was strongly predictive of surgical intervention. Pre-treatment poor VA and the presence of relative afferent pupillary defect can predict the worst visual outcome. Hence, early detection of optic nerve dysfunction and prompt treatment could improve the visual prognosis.
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Comparative Study
Simulated versus physical bench tests: The economic evaluation of the InSilc platform for designing, developing, and assessing vascular scaffolds.
In silico medicine allows for pre-clinical and clinical simulated assessment of medical technologies and the building of patient-specific models to support medical decisions and forecast personal health status. While there is increasing trust in the potential central role of in silico medicine, there is a need to recognize its degree of reliability and evaluate its economic impact. An in silico platform has been developed within a Horizon 2020-funded project (In-Silc) for simulations functional to designing, developing, and assessing drug-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffolds.The main purpose of this study was to compare the costs of 2 alternative strategies: the adoption of In-Silc platform versus the performance of only physical bench tests. ⋯ In silico medicine tools can decrease the cost of the research and development of medical devices such as bioresorbable vascular scaffolds. Further studies are needed to explore the impact of such solutions on the innovation capacity of companies and the consequent potential advantages for target patients and the healthcare system.