Medicine
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We analyzed mortality (all-cause and lung cancer-specific) and time to follow-up treatment in stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) compared with ablation therapy and radiation therapy. From Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data, patients diagnosed with stage I and II NSCLC between 2000 and 2015 were identified. Outcomes were mortality (overall and lung cancer-specific) and time to follow-up treatment. ⋯ Among stage I and II NSCLC patients, PDT was associated with improved survival, compared with radiation alone; and longer time to follow-up treatment compared with ablation. Currently, PDT is offered in various combinations with surgery and radiation. Larger studies can investigate the efficacy and effectiveness of these combinations.
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Physical activities, such as resistance training and walking, are known to be effective against chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, few studies have examined the associations of walking and resistance training with CLBP in the general older population. Therefore, this study analyzed these relationships in the older Korean population (aged ≥65 years), with the goal of determining which exercise is better for CLBP. ⋯ In this cross-sectional study, walking was associated with a lower risk of CLBP. In particular, walking >5days per week had the maximum benefit in a lower risk of CLBP. Therefore, clinicians can consider recommending walking to patients with CLBP for optimal pain improvement.
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The aim of this study is to retrospectively analyze and evaluate the effect of transverse thoracic muscle plane (TTP) block as a routine analgesic strategy for cardiac enhanced recovery after surgery in sternotomy. Patients received TTP block after general anesthesia and tracheal intubation were included in this study. The baseline clinical data of the patients, intraoperative use of sufentanil, internal mammary artery separating time, the postoperative duration of invasive ventilation, visual analogue scale, the compression times of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia in the first 3 days after surgery, and postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded. ⋯ The postoperative duration of invasive ventilation of patients with normal and mildly impaired pulmonary function was significantly correlated to the use of sufentanil (P = .027, .009). TTP block has certain analgesic effect and can reduce sufentanil use in medium-length cardiac surgery and postoperative use of opioids. It is indicated that TTP block can be used as a routine enhanced recovery after surgery strategy for sternotomy in cardiac surgery.
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Case Reports
Liver cyst with biliary communication treated with endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage: A case report.
Simple liver cysts are common, and usually benign and asymptomatic, requiring little to no treatment. Liver cysts with biliary communication, however, are rare and require effective treatment to avoid recurrence. ⋯ Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage can treat liver cyst with biliary communication.
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Observational Study
How to manage falls in hospitalized patients: A single center experience in allogeneic stem cell transplantation setting.
In allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), falls can lead to immediate and late consequences and in some cases to death. We analyzed risks and causes of falls with root cause analysis (RCA) based on which improvement interventions were implemented. A retrospective observational study was conducted to analyze with RCA data of incidence reports and medical records of patients admitted; an expert panel identified actions to prevent falls, which were collected in a checklist. ⋯ Finally, 16 actions, collected in a "safe comfort" checklist, were identified to prevent falls. Diuretic drugs inducing hyper-diuresis, self-insufficiency, poor patient compliance, orthostatic hypotension, fever, night-time and obstacles within inpatient units are the most common contributing factors. Therefore, administration of diuretic and antihypertensive drugs should be rescheduled and a multidimensional risk assessment scale integrated with a preventive action plan, such as the safe comfort checklist, should be implemented to reduce falls.