Medicine
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Although intravenous dexamethasone prolongs the duration of analgesia for peripheral nerve blocks (PNB), the optimal dose of dexamethasone is not yet determined. This protocol aims to compare the analgesic effects of different doses of intravenous dexamethasone on PNB. ⋯ The results of this study will provide evidence for the dose selection of intravenous dexamethasone in PNB.
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Approximately half of people with heart failure have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tolvaptan is reported to be effective in treating heart failure. However, the safety and efficacy of its use in patients with CKD is uncertain. In this study, we conducted a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan on patients with heart failure and CKD. ⋯ This review can provide convincing evidence to help clinicians make decisions when dealing with heart failure and CKD.
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Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have been shown to have various musculoskeletal problems, the postoperative outcomes of total knee arthroplasty procedure might be less predictable if performed on a patient who has PD. We conducted a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the functional outcomes, activity levels, mortalities, implant survival rates, and complications of total knee arthroplasty in patients with PD. ⋯ This study may provide evidence for the clinical application of total knee arthroplasty in patients with PD.
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The treatment of acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) effective and safe for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) is not yet known. This systematic review will objectively and systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of ACE in CLBP according to the existing evidence. ⋯ This systematic review will objectively and systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of ACE in CLBP according to the existing evidence, which can give high level clinical recommendations to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.
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Anemia is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, there are limited data on whether anemia on admission is a long-term prognostic factor in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. We sought to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic consequences of anemia in patients with ACS treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in Korea. ⋯ Compared with patients with normal hemoglobin, we detected a significantly increased risk for all-cause mortality in patients with anemia (adjusted hazard ratios for moderate and mild anemia, respectively: 8.26 [95% confidence interval: 3.98-17.15], P < .001 and 2.60 [1.54-4.40], P < .001). Among patients with ACS, anemia is prevalent and is strongly associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular events. Clinical trials will prospectively evaluate the efficacy of treatment for anemia on the outcomes of patients with ACS.