The American journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A prospective randomized comparison of loop recorders versus Holter monitors in patients with syncope or presyncope.
The initial management of syncope or presyncope typically involves short-term cardiac monitoring using a Holter monitor. A loop recorder is used to extend the period of monitoring to increase the probability of obtaining a symptom-rhythm correlation. Loop recorders and Holter monitors are both used commonly, but their utility has not been compared prospectively. ⋯ Loop recorders have a much higher diagnostic yield for patients with syncope or presyncope as compared with Holter monitors. The utility of loop recorders is limited by some patients' inability to operate them correctly.
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Comparative Study
Older Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders dying of cancer use hospice less frequently than older white patients.
Cancer is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans, yet little is known about their use of hospice care. We examined hospice use by Asian patients compared with white patients, and assessed whether utilization differs among those born in the United States or abroad. ⋯ Older Asian Americans dying of cancer, especially those who are born abroad, are less likely than white patients to use hospice care at the end of life. Additional research is needed to understand the reasons for these differences and to eliminate potential barriers to hospice care.
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To determine if kidney stone composition can predict the underlying medical diagnosis, and vice versa. ⋯ Stone composition has some predictive value in diagnosing medical conditions, and vice versa, especially for noncalcareous stones.