Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
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Seizures are common in palliative care patients and its control is essential in the management of these patients as it helps to reduce suffering at the end of life. Subcutaneous levetiracetam has been used off-license for seizure control in palliative care. ⋯ Subcutaneous levetiracetam was well tolerated and effective in controlling seizures in palliative care when oral administration or intravenous access was not an option. Randomized controlled trials are needed to elucidate the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous levetiracetam in clinical practice.
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Satisfactory masticatory function is a significant indicator of improved oral health-related quality of life in older adults, either with or without artificial teeth. The purpose of this study was to examine masticatory performance of older adults with different prosthodontic reconstructions and occlusion, as well as to compare subjective and objective assessment of chewing performance. ⋯ This study revealed a strong positive correlation between the subjective masticatory assessment in older adults using the validated questionnaire and the objective clinical test of the mixing ability of two chewing gums. Our data on influence of the number and the type of FTU on masticatory performance will be valuable when planning prosthodontic therapy.
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The aims of the study were to assess the prevalence of steatopygia on bone scintigraphy of obese patients and to evaluate its effect on the appearance of the lumbar spine, and the added benefit of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and SPECT/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in overcoming possible artifacts. ⋯ Steatopygia is common on bone scintigraphy of obese patients, higher in females and morbidly obese patients. Obesity-related artifacts in bone scintigraphy, including attenuation effect and edge artifact, are common in this patient group. SPECT or SPECT/CT improves the diagnostic accuracy by overcoming the effects of steatopygia seen on planar images.
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Osteoporosis patients with fragility fractures and vertebral deformities have impaired quality of life (QOL). The phase angle, an index calculated from bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measurements, has been reported to be related to clinical outcomes, mortality, and QOL in various diseases. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the phase angle and QOL in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. ⋯ The phase angle in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients was significantly related to QOL after adjusting for age, BMI, ASMI, and BMD. As the phase angle is a parameter that can be measured easily and noninvasively, it might be a useful aid for QOL assessment in osteoporotic patients.
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Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) may affect the course and outcome of COVID-19, but withholding them could permit disease activity. This study aimed to understand the course of COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with MS on disease-modifying therapies. ⋯ These findings suggest that DMT may not adversely affect the course of COVID-19 in MS patients; however, patients on B-cell-depleting agents trended toward a worse outcome.