Medicine
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Case Reports
Using acellular porcine dermal matrix (XCM Biologic® Tissue Matrix) to repair a giant omphalocele: A case report.
An omphalocele is an abdominal wall birth defect, and a giant omphalocele (GO) is defined as an omphalocele having a diameter >5 cm or containing a herniated liver. GOs are usually treated in stages and in this case, during the silo reduction, dehiscence occurred at the suture site of the axis ring and skin edge, which was repaired using synthetic absorbable mesh. ⋯ Repair of GOs using an acellular porcine dermal matrix can be considered a viable treatment option.
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The associations between blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/albumin ratio and poor prognosis in patients with diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain to be clarified. ⋯ This meta-analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between BUN/albumin ratio and poor outcome in patients with COVID-19. Additional large-scale prospective studies are needed to verify our findings.
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Pneumonia is the fifth most common cause of death among the Japanese population, with 97% of the deaths occurring among older adults aged ≥65 years. The incidence ratio of aspiration pneumonia is high among the older adults. Therefore, its prophylaxis is important in geriatric medicine. In our previous studies, we reported that stimulation of acupoints at stomach meridian 36 and kidney meridian 3 of the lower limbs with a press needle improved the swallowing function of patients with dysphagia. Improvements in swallowing function may prevent aspiration pneumonia. This study aims to investigate the protective efficacy of press needle stimulation in the lower limbs for aspiration pneumonia. ⋯ This study will evaluate the effects of press needle on the prevention of aspiration pneumonia and the improvement of swallowing function in patients. The results of this study will help support the prophylaxis of aspiration pneumonia.
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Post-stroke cognitive impairment and dementia (PSCID) is the main source of morbidity and mortality after stroke worldwide. It is one consequence of ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cognitive impairment and dementia after the clinical stroke may contribute to the clinical expression of PSCID, which are prevalent clinical symptoms, especially in the elderly. Current problems in the field of PSCID are related to a lack of harmonization of the classification and definition, deficiency of well-defined diagnosis, deficiency of standardized and objective treatment plans, etc. Auricular therapy can effectively improve the symptoms of patients with PSCID. However, there has been no systematic review of auricular therapy for PSCID. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of auricular therapy in patients with PSCID. ⋯ This study investigated the efficacy and safety of auricular therapy in patients with PSCID, providing clinicians and patients with additional options for this disease.
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Multicenter Study
Pulmonary embolism in COVID-19, risk factors and association with inflammatory biomarkers.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected millions of people worldwide resulting in a substantial number of hospitalizations. Venous thromboembolism including pulmonary embolism is a known complication of COVID-19 pneumonia although its incidence in such patients is unclear. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we looked at the incidence of pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 patients and its associations with various risk factors including demographics, comorbidities, inflammatory markers and coagulation profiles. ⋯ Patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 pneumonia had a relatively high incidence of pulmonary embolism. D-dimer was the only associated laboratory parameter associated with pulmonary embolism. However, further research is needed to evaluate its predictive and prognostic utility, particularly in an older population.