Medicine
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Meta Analysis
Comparison between computed tomography-guided core and fine needle lung biopsy: A meta-analysis.
This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the safety and diagnostic performance between computed tomography (CT)-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in lung nodules/masses patients. ⋯ CT-guided CNB could achieve better sample adequacy than FNAB did during the lung biopsy procedure. However, the CNB did not show any superiorities in items of diagnostic accuracy and safety.
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Review Case Reports
Internal carotid artery occlusion related to poorly controlled rheumatoid arthritis presenting with continuous hand shaking: A case report and literature review.
Limb-shaking syndrome is a special manifestation of transient ischemic attack, resulting from internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. Extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are likely to occur in patients with severe or active RA. RA may accelerate atherosclerotic processes through inflammation. Here, we present a case of ICA occlusion related to poorly controlled RA that presented with continuous hand shaking. ⋯ Continuous hand shaking (nonepileptic focal myoclonus) can be the initial presentation of ICA occlusion in patients with poorly controlled RA. Every patient with RA should be treated aggressively with anti-rheumatic agents since RA is an independent risk factor for stroke. Additionally, every patient with RA should be surveyed for ICA stenosis, especially in those with poor control.
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Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune cholestasis liver disease. There were many studies comparing a combination of glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants to a single UDCA therapy in PBC patients, while the literature demonstrated divergent finds. To evaluate the effectiveness of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) combined with glucocorticoids and (or) immunosuppressants on biochemistry, immunology, histology, clinical symptoms, and adverse reactions of PBC from the perspective of evidence-based medicine. ⋯ Overall, the combination therapy showed no improvement in key biochemical parameters and limited improvement in liver pathology. Besides, the side effects were more serious. Therefore, in the current treatment regimen, it is not recommended for PBC patients.
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The prevalence of lumbosacral radiculopathy is estimated to be approximately 3% to 5% in patient populations. Lumbosacral radiculopathy is largely caused by a complex interaction between biomechanical and biochemical factors. Nerve block therapy (NBT) mainly treats lumbosacral radiculopathy by improving the biochemical factors, whereas acupotomy mainly focuses on improving the biomechanical factors. Therefore, it is thought that synergistic effects may be obtained for the treatment of lumbosacral radiculopathy when both NBT and acupotomy are combined. However, no study in China and Korea, where acupotomy is majorly provided, has reported the effects of such a combination treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of the concurrent use of a deeply inserted acupotomy and NBT for the treatment of lumbosacral radiculopathy. ⋯ This trial has received complete ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary's Hospital (IS20OISE0085). We intend to submit the results of the trial to a peer-reviewed journal and/or conferences.
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Poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is often secondary to poststroke, which is common in stroke patients, induced difficulty in rehabilitation and seriously affects their quality of life. Currently, effective treatments are still limited. Researches show that acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a good effect on PSCI. However, there is no consistent conclusion at present. Therefore, THE purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture combined with TCM in the treatment of PSCI. ⋯ The systematic review will provide a new paradigm for acupuncture combined with TCM in the intervention of PSCI, and further provide scientific evidence for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with TCM in the treatment of PSCI.