Annals of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A prospective randomized comparison of the efficacy of standard antiviral therapy versus ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block for acute herpes zoster.
To evaluate the effectiveness of repetitive thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) under ultrasound (US) guidance for acute pain associated to herpes zoster (HZ) and its prophylactic effects on post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). ⋯ US-guided repetitive TPVB significantly reduced the HZ-BOI and the PHN incidence compared to antiviral therapy alone. It might be considered as an early intervention and preventive strategy to the development of PHN after acute HZ.KEY MESSAGEThis is a prospective randomized comparative study. We made a hypothesis that US-guided repetitive thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) using a transverse short axial (TSA) approach to treat thoracic herpes zoster (HZ) in acute phase could reduce the burden of illness associated to acute pain. Moreover, this therapy might be a feasible preventive strategy to reduce the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia.
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A systematic review was commissioned to support an international expert group charged to update the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organisation (WHO)'s vitamin D intake recommendations for children aged 0-4 years. ⋯ The evidence report provided the expert group with a foundation and core set of data to begin their work to set vitamin D nutrient reference values. To move the field forward, future studies should use standardised 25(OH)D assay measurements and should examine the relationship between long-term vitamin D status and health outcomes.Key MessagesResults of a large complex systematic review suggest the current totality of evidence from trials and prospective observational studies do not reach sufficient certainty level to support a causal relationship between vitamin D intake and asthma, wheeze, eczema, infectious diseases, or rickets (most trials reported no rickets) in generally healthy infants and young children.In this systematic review, the only body of evidence that reached a moderate level of certainty was regarding the effect of daily vitamin D supplementation (vitamin D3 or D2 supplements to infants/children) on increasing serum 25(OH)D concentrations. However, currently there is no consensus on the definitions of vitamin D status, e.g. deficiency, insufficiency, sufficiency and toxicity, based on serum 25(OH)D concentrations.This systematic review provided an international expert group a foundation and core set of data through intake-response modelling to help set vitamin D nutrient reference values for infants and children up to 4 years of age.
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Psychotropic medications are commonly prescribed among adults with intellectual disability, often in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the extent, range, and nature of the available research on medication use and practices and medication management in people with intellectual disability taking psychotropic medications for behaviours that challenge. ⋯ These findings can inform prescribing interventions and highlight the need for timely and comprehensive patient outcome data, especially on long-term use of high doses of psychotropics and what happens when reduce or stop prescribing these doses.KEY MESSAGESPsychotropic medications are frequently prescribed for people with intellectual disabilities, often at high doses and these medications are associated with both positive and negative patient outcomes.Work to rationalize psychotropic use has been reported with interventions aiming to reduce polypharmacy or deprescribe a single psychotropic medicine. These interventions had mixed success and risk of relapse was documented in some studies.Limitations in sample size and heterogenous patient cohorts make it challenging to understand the risks and benefits associated with reducing or stopping psychotropic medicines.Patient, carer, and clinician partnerships are critical to advance medication management.
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There was a five-fold increase in COVID-19 hospitalization case counts among children and adolescents between June and October 2021. However, polls suggest that adolescent COVID-19 vaccination coverage has plateaued in the United States. ⋯ Parental intention to vaccinate their children has remained relatively stable throughout the late summer and early fall of 2021. Encouraging paediatricians to discuss the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, addressing concerns and misinformation, as well as recommending and offering vaccines are important for increasing parental confidence in vaccines as well as vaccination uptake among adolescents.KEY MESSAGEReceipt of ≥1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine among adolescents ages 12-17 years increased five percentage points, from 56% (July) to 61% (October), with significant increases across most sociodemographic variables.Approximately one quarter of parents were unsure about or reluctant to vaccinate their children, which remained consistent from July to October.Encouraging paediatricians to discuss the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, addressing concerns and misinformation, as well as recommending and offering vaccines is important for increasing parental confidence in vaccines as well as vaccination uptake among adolescents.
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Percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) has been viewed as first-line treatment for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA), yet detailed guidance is lacking for best practice of PCD. This study investigated characteristics of patients with PLA who had received PCD, identified factors associated with prolonged fever, and aimed to evaluate the relationship between timing of PCD and clinical improvement. ⋯ Large abscesses with loculation could be successfully treated with PCD, and early PCD protected patients with PLA from prolonged fever. Our findings suggest that early intervention should be provided if PCD is indicated in clinical practice.KEY MESSAGESLarge abscesses and multiloculated abscesses can be treated with percutaneous catheter drainage.Early percutaneous catheter drainage is identified as a protective factor of prolonged fever among patients with pyogenic liver abscesses.Early intervention should be provided if percutaneous catheter drainage is indicated for pyogenic liver abscesses.