Medicine
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Review
Effects of Pilates exercise programs in people with chronic low back pain: a systematic review.
The Pilates method has recently become a fast-growing popular way of exercise recommended for healthy individuals and those engaged in rehabilitation. Several published studies have examined the effects of Pilates method in people with chronic low back pain (LBP). The objective of this study is to describe and provide an extensive overview of the scientific literature comparing the effectiveness of the Pilates method on pain and disability in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP. ⋯ We found that there is a dearth of studies that clearly demonstrates the efficacy of a specific Pilates exercise program over another in the treatment of chronic pain. However, the consensus in the field suggests that Pilates method is more effective than minimal physical exercise intervention in reducing pain. These conclusions need to be supported by other proper investigations.
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This systematic review examined whether the available evidence justifies using hepatic resection (HR) during later stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which contravenes treatment guidelines but is current practice at many medical centers. Official guidelines and retrospective studies recommend different roles for HR for patients with large/multinodular HCC or with HCC involving macrovascular invasion (MVI). Several databases were systematically searched for studies examining the safety and efficacy of HR for treating HCC involving a single large tumor (>5 cm) or multiple tumors, or for treating HCC involving MVI. ⋯ There was an upward trend in 5-year OS in patients with either type of HCC. HR is reasonably safe and effective at treating large/multinodular HCC and HCC with MVI. The available evidence argues for expanding the indications for HR in official treatment guidelines.
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We studied the effect of Age-Adjusted Comorbidity Index Score in colorectal cancer patients who underwent similarly aggressive treatment. Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we identified 5643 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical resection and chemoradiation from 2007 through 2011. We estimated survival according to Age-Adjusted Comorbidity Index Scores and 5-year survival using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, adjusting for sex, oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and hospital characteristics. ⋯ In rectal cancer patients, patients with an AAC score of 4-5 had a 28% greater risk of death within 5 years (adjusted HR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1.02-1.61), and those with AAC ≥ 6 had a 47% greater risk (adjusted HR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.15-1.90). Age and burden of comorbidities influence survival of patients with colonic or rectal cancer. Age-Adjusted Comorbidity Score remains an independent prognostic factor even after adjusting for the aggressiveness of treatment.
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Observational Study
Effect of endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal neoplasms and risk factors for postoperative stricture.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) enables wider tumor resection compared with endoscopic mucosal resection and en bloc resection of superficial esophageal neoplasms. However, ESD may cause difficult-to-treat stricture of the esophagus, and therefore, prediction of and measures against postoperative esophageal stricture are critical. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ESD on superficial esophageal neoplasms and identify risk factors associated with esophageal stricture after ESD. ⋯ Furthermore, in 45 subjects with resection of >75% of the esophageal circumference, whole resection of the esophagus was the only independent risk factor for stricture. This study suggests that ESD has a strong therapeutic effect on superficial esophageal neoplasms; however, a greater extent of resection of the esophagus increases the risk of postoperative esophageal stricture. Preventive measures against development of postoperative stricture require further study.
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This report describes an endovascular repair of a residual type A dissection using a medical device that is not marked by european conformity (CE) or Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The patient underwent ascending aortic surgery for acute type A dissection. The 2-year angio-computed tomography demonstrated patency of the residual false lumen with evolution into a 6 cm aneurysm, the extension of the dissection from the aortic arch to the aortic bifurcation with thrombosis of the right common iliac artery. ⋯ We used the Najuta thoracic stent graft and successfully handled the pathology in a multiple-phase treatment. Technology is evolving with specific grafts for the ascending and fenestrated grafts for the aortic arch. In this single case the Najuta endograft, in spite of the periprocedural problems, was a valid therapeutic option.